Duquesne Dukes Fan Forum / Around the A10

**Posted by DuqLaw95** 11/04/2025 8:24 pm

The A10 went a perfect 11-0 last night. Granted, none of the teams faced the toughest competition. However, there were some nice blowout wins last night of 20 plus points, including, of course, by our beloved Dukes.

Fordham is giving it their best shot to make the league 11-1 against lowly NJIT tonight. Regardless, I’m expecting big things from the A10 this season.

**Posted by coffee** 11/05/2025 11:42 am

They almost did it again on Day 2. All won except fir Fordham vs NJIT.

Richmond has yet to play.

Interesting - Busting Brackets has the Dukes finishing # and referenced our exhibition win at VA Tech.

Last edited by coffee (11/05/2025 11:44 am)

**Posted by DuqLaw95** 11/06/2025 9:18 am

Another solid outing for the league last night, with Richmond dominating Southern Virginia 84-56, and La Salle making easy work of Coppin state 87-59.

So far the only blemish on the season continues to be Fordham's embarrassing home loss to NJIT.

Two more games today with Saint Louis taking on Chicago St. at 8:00 PM and Loyola Chicago taking on Pennsylvania's own Mercyhurst at 9:00 PM.

Last edited by DuqLaw95 (11/06/2025 9:18 am)

**Posted by BluffHunter** 11/06/2025 11:34 am

KenPom rankings less than a week into the 25/26 season:
#49 Dayton
#60 VCU
#64 Saint Louis
#79 George Washington
#83 George Mason
#107 Rhode Island
#108 Duquesne
#110 Loyola Chicago
#112 Saint Bonaventure
#114 Saint Joseph's
#119 Richmond
#149 Davidson
#178 La Salle
#257 Fordham

Fordham really dragging the league down already. Before their loss to NJIT they were #188 on KenPom. If that pack from 6th to 11th (#107-#119) that Duquesne is included in can all get themselves sub-100 that would be fantastic for the league. Seems like the Mountain West, the A-10s most comparable conference is having a down year... time for the Atlantic 10 to take advantage of that!

**Posted by duq.dog** 11/06/2025 11:23 pm

Good to see another Western PA Catholic school in Mercyhurst beat Loyola. #360 out of #365 in KENPOM going into the game.

I do not care if they turn it around. Maybe unpopular, but I will gladly root against every other A10 team on any given night. An at large has not been obtainable in half a century so what is the point in rooting for the conference? It is a 3 to 4 game season come march at the end of the day.

Excited to see a bit more of a test tomorrow for the Dukes. Sacred Heart is not a pushover.

**Posted by coffee** 11/07/2025 1:24 pm

I root for all A10 member schools when they are not playing the Dukes. I don’t want to be a member of a bottom dwelling conference like they are in football with the NEC.

**Posted by DuqLaw95** 11/07/2025 2:26 pm

It makes no sense not to root for other A10 schools in non-conference play. This league is still capable of producing quality at-large tournament bids (see Dayton in 2023/2024). I think this year is one of those years. VCU, Dayton, and GW all look like potential automatic bid qualifiers , and I could see Duquesne and St. Louis being in the conversation as well if things go their way.

A stronger conference makes us all better, that's why bottom feeders like Fordham and La Salle do nothing but hurt the conference, and Loyola's loss last night is terrible for the conference.

**Posted by BluffHunter** 11/07/2025 2:44 pm

DuqLaw95 wrote:
It makes no sense not to root for other A10 schools in non-conference play. This league is still capable of producing quality at-large tournament bids (see Dayton in 2023/2024). I think this year is one of those years. VCU, Dayton, and GW all look like potential automatic bid qualifiers , and I could see Duquesne and St. Louis being in the conversation as well if things go their way.

A stronger conference makes us all better, that's why bottom feeders like Fordham and La Salle do nothing but hurt the conference, and Loyola's loss last night is terrible for the conference.

100% agree. Maybe not the inclusion of Lasalle. They even made the Sweet Sixteen in 2013. And just renovated their gym so who knows what’s around the corner. Fordham on the other hand…

**Posted by PhoenixRising2** 11/07/2025 3:35 pm

I’m starting to think that Loyola’s coach, Drew Valentine, is the A10’s current version of Dayton’s Brian Gregory - a coach who could attract and assemble talent but didn’t have a clue on how to coach them.

**Posted by DuqBlue** 11/07/2025 6:15 pm

As a fan of a program that was an A10 bottom feeder for many many years (Duquesne), I root for all the A10 teams out of conference and in the NCAA tournament. We are lucky they didn’t bounce our asses out.

**Posted by MikeR** 11/07/2025 6:22 pm

DuqBlue wrote:
As a fan of a program that was an A10 bottom feeder for many many years (Duquesne), I root for all the A10 teams out of conference and in the NCAA tournament. We are lucky they didn’t bounce our asses out.

I agree Blue. It wasn't too long ago when we were embarrassingly losing to NJIT (twice at home). I remember the grumbling on the A10 Board about cutting us loose.

**Posted by Styles1229** 11/08/2025 11:17 am

BluffHunter wrote:
DuqLaw95 wrote:
It makes no sense not to root for other A10 schools in non-conference play. This league is still capable of producing quality at-large tournament bids (see Dayton in 2023/2024). I think this year is one of those years. VCU, Dayton, and GW all look like potential automatic bid qualifiers , and I could see Duquesne and St. Louis being in the conversation as well if things go their way.

A stronger conference makes us all better, that's why bottom feeders like Fordham and La Salle do nothing but hurt the conference, and Loyola's loss last night is terrible for the conference.
100% agree. Maybe not the inclusion of Lasalle. They even made the Sweet Sixteen in 2013. And just renovated their gym so who knows what’s around the corner. Fordham on the other hand…

They heard you. They thumped Mount Saint Mary 106-37 last night 😀

Last edited by Styles1229 (11/08/2025 11:18 am)

**Posted by DuqLaw95** 11/08/2025 5:23 pm

Looks like La Salle will take care of business against Monmouth. Their new arena looks nice, there might be some potential there. Perhaps I was wrong to put them in Fordham‘s category.

**Posted by BluffHunter** 11/08/2025 5:26 pm

Jim Ferry’s UMBC had Dayton within one possession until less than 30 second left today. Dayton victorious 77-71

**Posted by DuqBlue** 11/08/2025 5:36 pm

A-10 5-0 this afternoon. Nice win by GW over USF.

East Carolina v Richmond to round out the slate.

Last edited by DuqBlue (11/08/2025 6:15 pm)

**Posted by DuqBlue** 11/12/2025 5:57 pm

So UMass left the A10 to go 0-9 in the MAC for football and lose any sort of bb rivalry. It’s not like they have any shot at any meaningful bowl game in the MAC. I know Northern Illinois went to the Orange Bowl but that was sort of a miracle. Well I guess the extra couple of million was worth it to kill the enthusiasm for your athletics.

**Posted by PhoenixRising2** 11/12/2025 6:14 pm

DuqBlue wrote:
So UMass left the A10 to go 0-9 in the MAC for football and lose any sort of bb rivalry. It’s not like they have any shot at any meaningful bowl game in the MAC. I know Northern Illinois went to the Orange Bowl but that was sort of a miracle. Well I guess the extra couple of million was worth it to kill the enthusiasm for your athletics.

Ask UConn how that move worked out to support football. At least they had the sense to admit their mistake and headed back to the Big East.

**Posted by DuqBlue** 11/12/2025 7:08 pm

PhoenixRising2 wrote:
DuqBlue wrote:
So UMass left the A10 to go 0-9 in the MAC for football and lose any sort of bb rivalry. It’s not like they have any shot at any meaningful bowl game in the MAC. I know Northern Illinois went to the Orange Bowl but that was sort of a miracle. Well I guess the extra couple of million was worth it to kill the enthusiasm for your athletics.
Ask UConn how that move worked out to support football. At least they had the sense to admit their mistake and headed back to the Big East.

UConn and Memphis have been begging the Big 12 for admission. UConn at least has a stadium, although it’s in Hartford and not Storrs. No reason for Big 12 to admit them now when they can pick off who they want when ACC implodes with North Carolina, Clemson, Florida State and Miami all looking to Big 10 and SEC.

**Posted by PhoenixRising2** 11/12/2025 8:58 pm

The St. Joes Hawks just got smoked by Virginia Tech 94-59.

**Posted by BluffHunter** 11/12/2025 9:37 pm

KenPom update after tonight's games:
#64 VCU
#68 Dayton
#69 Saint Louis
#74 George Washington
#88 George Mason
#105 Saint Bonaventure
#112 Duquesne
#115 Richmond
#117 Rhode Island
#118 Davidson
#135 Saint Joseph's
#139 Loyola Chicago
#202 La Salle
#280 Fordham

**Posted by DuqLaw95** 11/19/2025 9:57 pm

Really nice win from Dayton tonight on the road against Marquette. Certainly the signature win for the A10 so far this season.

**Posted by PhoenixRising2** 11/21/2025 11:59 am

KenPom update as of this morning:
#53 George Washington
#56 VCU
#57 Saint Louis
#65 Dayton
#86 George Mason
#101 Rhode Island
#106 Richmond
#114 Duquesne
#117 Saint Bonaventure
#122 Davidson
#156 Saint Joseph's
#176 Loyola Chicago
#229 La Salle
#244 Fordham

A10 is the 7th best conference at +5.87, chasing down the Mountain West at +6.62.

**Posted by BluffHunter** 11/21/2025 3:20 pm

This is why folks should be rooting for A10 teams in non conference play. No landmine losses PLEASE

**Posted by PhoenixRising2** 11/21/2025 4:27 pm

BluffHunter wrote:
This is why folks should be rooting for A10 teams in non conference play. No landmine losses PLEASE

Absolutely right, BluffHunter. Right now, 14 of the 18 conference games would be against top 125 opponents; 6 of 18 vs. top 65 opponents.
I also LOVE the non-conference road games that the Dukes have been able to schedule. Villanova is #40 in KenPom, while Boise St is 60 and Nevada 116. These two final road games will be similar in quality to what the Dukes will face on the road in the A10.

**Posted by Washparick4** 11/21/2025 5:31 pm

Davidson just beat Boston College by 10.