Atlantic Ten 2002-03 Season Recap
by David Francis
The 2002-2003 Atlantic 10 season will not be remembered for David West, or Dayton’s home-court win of the A-10 conference tournament, or having three teams in the tournament. Everyone will remember this as the year where St. Bonaventure’s forfeited 6 games and almost got kicked out of the conference for rules violations. And it’s a shame, because this was one of the better A-10 seasons in recent memory.
Xavier’s early exit opened the door for Dayton to win the conference tournament on their home floor, beating an upstart Temple team in the finals. The tournament was overshadowed by the Bonaventure controversy, but managed to provide some great games.
NCAA Tournament:
3rd-seed Xavier lost to Maryland in the second round
4th-seed Dayton lost in the first round to Tulsa
7th-seed St. Joseph’s lost to Auburn in the first round
All Conference Team:
Marques Green – St. Bonaventure – junior guard
Chris Monroe – George Washington – senior guard
Jameer Nelson – Saint Joseph’s – junior guard
Romain Sato – Xavier – junior guard
David West – Xavier – senior forward
Delonte West – Saint Joseph’s sophomore guard
Player of the Year:
David West, Xavier, Senior Forward
The A-10 player of the year was one of many awards this senior won. West, in his four years with the Musketeers, helped to transform the program from perennially loser to national powerhouse.
Freshman of the Year:
Gary Neal, LaSalle
Defensive Players of the Year:
Tony Dobbins, Richmond
Coach of the Year:
Jim Baron, Rhode Island
It was like Jim Harrick was back in town, except without the sexual haraassement. Brown turned Rhode Island into an A-10 contender this year, coming just a few wins shy of an NCAA birth. Look for big things from the Rams in years to come, as Baron was just granted a contract extension.
A-10 East
St. Joseph’s Hawks 22-5, 12-4
Starting Five:
Pat Carroll
Dave Mallon
Alexandre Sazonov
Jameer Nelson
Delmonte West
Key losses: Alexandre Sazonov, graduation
Statistical Leaders:
Jameer Nelson, 19.7 pts/game
Dwayne Jones, 6.3 rebounds/game
Jameer Nelson, 4.7 rebounds/game
Temple Owls 18-16, 10-6
Starting Five:
Alex Wesby
David Hawkins
Kevin Lyde
Lynn Greer
Quincy Wadley
Key losses: Quincy Wadley
Statistical Leaders:
David Hawkins, 16.9 points/game
Alex Wesby, 5.8 rebounds/game
David Hawkins, 2.8 assists/game
Rhode Island Rams 17-10, 10-6
Starting Five:
Lazare Adnigono
Brian Woodward
Jon Clark
Howard Smith
Dustin Hellenga
Key losses: Lazare Adingono, Howard Smith, Dustin Hellenga
Statistical Leaders:
Brian Woodward, 14.1 pts/game
Brain Woodward, 6 rebounds/game
Howard Smith, 4.1 assists/game
Massachusetts Minutemen 11-17, 6-10
Starting Five:
Jackie Rogers
Raheim Lamb
Micah Brand
Anthony Anderson
Marcus Cox
Key losses: Micah Brand and Jackie Rogers
Statistical Leaders:
Jackie Rodgers, 12.9 points/game
Jackie Rodgers, 5.5 rebounds/game
Anthony Anderson, 3.7 assists/game
Fordham Rams 3-26, 3-13
Starting Five:
Michael Haynes
Glen Batemon
John Blackgrove
Mark Jerrell Wright
Anthonique Wilson
Returning all starters
Statistical Leaders:
Michael Haynes, 15.2 points/game
Michael Haynes, 8 rebounds/game
Jermaine Anderson, 2.5 assists/game
St. Bonaventure Bonnies 13-14, 1-15
Starting Five:
Marques Greene
Vidal Massiah
Peter Van Paassen
J.R. Bremer
Mike Gansy
Returning five starters
Statistical Leaders:
Marques Greene, 21.6 points/game
Mike Gansy, 5.0 rebounds/game
Marques Greene, 8 assists/game
The Bonnies were forced to forfeit their 6 A-10 wins for NCAA rule violations. They then forfeited the remainder of their season in the midst of much controversy. The A-10 recently ruled that the Bonnies would not be expelled from the conference.
A-10 West
Xavier Musketeers 26-6, 15-2
Starting Five:
Keith Jackson
David West
Anthony Miles
Romaine Sato
Dedrick Finn
Key Losses: David West
Statistical Leaders:
David West, 20.1 points/game
David West, 11.8 rebounds/game
Dedrich Finn, 4.3 assists/game
Dayton Flyers 24-6, 14-2
Starting Five:
Brooks Hall
Keith Waleskowski
Sean Finn
Ramod Marshall
Mark Jones
Key Losses: Brooks Hall
Statistical Leaders:
Brooks Hall, 12.8 points/game
Keith Waleskowski, 8.2 rebounds/game
Romad Marshall, 4.8 assists/game
Richmond Spiders 15-12, 10-6
Starting Five:
Mike Skrocki
Jermaine Bucknor
Jonathan Collins
Tony Dobbins
Jeff Myers
Key losses – Jeff Meyers and Jonathan Collins
Statistical Leaders:
Mike Skorcki, 11.2 points/game
Tony Dobbins, 5.9 rebounds/game
Jeff Myers, 4.1 assists/game
LaSalle Explorers 11-16, 6-10
Starting Five:
Gary Neal
Steven Smith
Daalfo Larkai
Jermain Thomas
Mike Cleaves
Returning all five starters
Statistical Leaders:
Gary Neal, 18.6 points/game
Steven Smith, 8.1 rebounds/game
Jermaine Thomas, 4.3 assists/game
George Washington Colonials 11-16, 5-11
Starting Five:
Chris Monroe
T.J. Thompson
Greg Collucci
Darnell Miller
Carl Elliott
Key Losses: Chris Monroe
Statistical Leaders
Chris Monroe, 20.3 points/game
Mike Hall, 8.2 rebounds/game
T.J. Thompson, 6.1 assists/game
Duquesne University 9-21, 4-12
Starting Five:
Elijah Palmer
Simplice Njoya
Ron Dokes
Bryant McAllister
Jimmy Tricco
Returning all five starters
Statistical Leaders:
Kevin Forney, 13.4 points/game
Elijah Palmer, 5.5 rebounds/game
Bryan McAllister, 2.6 assists/game
