Saint Louis is one point from the top as A10 forecasts another tight race

Saint Louis received 10 first-place votes and still finished second in the Atlantic 10 preseason poll. VCU’s 308-307 edge, announced October 19, leaves barely any separation between last season’s regular-season co-champions.

The Billikens have four preseason honorees, including first-team guards Trey Green and Kellen Thames. VCU counters with first-team selections Lazar Djokovic and Nyk Lewis and a returning group that supplies 59 percent of last season’s scoring.

The conference said its head coaches and select media members voted. The one-point margin between the top two repeated the separation in last year’s preseason voting.

Both favorites have established players

VCU returns seven players and 59 percent of its scoring, according to the school. Lazar Djokovic and Nyk Lewis made the preseason all-conference first team, while Brandon Jennings received second-team and all-defensive honors.

Djokovic averaged 13.2 points and 5.2 rebounds last season. Lewis, the league’s rookie of the year, started 35 games and shot 36.2 percent from three-point range. Jennings contributed 1.7 steals per game, giving the Rams a returning defender alongside their two first-team selections.

Saint Louis had four players earn preseason honors. Guards Trey Green and Kellen Thames joined the first team. Amari McCottry made the second team, and Ishan Sharma the third. Thames and McCottry also made the all-defensive team.

That makes the narrow poll margin easier to understand: the voters see proven players on both sides. VCU and Saint Louis each went 15-3 in conference play last season and each won a game in the NCAA Tournament, according to the A10’s announcement.

The dates ahead

VCU hosts James Madison in an exhibition October 25 at 2 p.m. before opening its regular season against Little Rock on November 2 at 7 p.m. The exhibition does not count toward the Rams’ regular-season record.

Conference play begins December 30 with all 14 teams in action. The Atlantic 10 tournament returns to Barclays Center in Brooklyn from March 10 through March 14, when the championship game is scheduled for CBS.

Sources

• VCU: Preseason favorite and returning personnel
• Atlantic 10: Preseason poll and honors
• Hoops HD: Atlantic 10 media-day recap