A10 Tourney Report w/HOTPO 15 Update

Was going to take a spring break off-week this week, but the Atlantic 10 conference tournament yesterday energized me significantly. 

Last night's evening sessions included two teams from the HOTPO 15, so let's dig in with a quick update.

HOTPO "Locals" Update

George Mason is making a case for an NCAA tourney invite and they are a team the HOTPO will be watching closely going forward. Patrick Stevens of the Washington Post wrote an interesting article about Mason coach Tony Skinn that highlighted his positive effect on the program. Yesterday, the Patriots looked good in their quarterfinal victory over George Washington, 80-65.

Mason was down four at the half, but came out for the second half blazing. They have two guards that can run the offense and attack off the dribble, a big man in 6'8", 265 pound Jalen Haynes who has a sweet lefty stroke and gives Charley Barkley 1983 vibes and their pep band is worth the price of admission alone. Fun, fun team to watch and the HOTPO is going to get to Eagle Bank Arena in Fairfax, Virginia to see them next year. 

As the HOTPO was coming up from the metro and walking to Clyde's for some pregame action, the happy VCU fans were coming out of the center following an easy victory over St. Bonaventure, 76-59. The Rams are one of the few mid-major teams that should be invited even if they don't win their conference tournament. I don't think anybody would look forward to playing them. 

Indiana did their thing Thursday - underperformed and lost to Oregon, 72-59. They are a tough watch - can't shoot, turn the ball over way too much, and often get lost on defense. That loss was deadly and they likely will not be invited to the tourney. 

Dayton bonked last night. Lost to a mediocre St. Joe's team, 73-68. Roosevelt Chapman ain't walking through that door. 

Georgetown is bad - lost first round of the Big East tourney to a bad DePaul team, 71-67.

A10 Tourney Logistics Review

I am an unabashed Capital One Center fan. There are not many things I like more than popping up out of the Gallery Place/Chinatown Metro to a game day environment. Yesterday will be one of my spectacular memories of a sporting event in the District. 

I linked up with a West Point classmate at my favorite pregame spot - Clyde's - steps away from an entrance. While I lament the lack of attendance for the collegiate athletes playing yesterday, we were sitting in spacious 200-level seats with no lines at the restroom or the concession stands. To top it all off, I was able to snag an Uber from the Metro quickly coming home and got back to the HOTPO headquarters before anyone had turned in for the evening. 

HOTPO with "Downtown" Dante Orland Brown at Clyde's prior to the evening session of the Atlantic 10 quarterfinals - Dante raved about the prime rib and I enjoyed the always on point Oysters Rockefeller. Clyde's always works. 

Quick snap to document in-person coverage that you can only get here.

George Mason pep band deserves accolades - they add to the environment.

HOTPO 15 Review

Ten of the HOTPO 15 are locks to make the tournament, but Fox Sports published a great summary of bubble teams if you aren't finding your team in our 15. 

Here are the HOTPO 15 with their current (as of Saturday, 3pm) Joe Lunardi's Bracketology seeding/invite estimate: 

• Auburn: 1 East vs. 16 Iona/St. Francis winner
• Florida: 1 West vs. 16 Norfolk State
• Duke: 1 East vs. 16 American/Jackson State winner
• Alabama: 2 Midwest vs. 15 Wofford
• Houston: 1 Midwest vs. 16 SIU Edwardsville
• Tennessee: 2 East vs. 15 Bryant
• Iowa State: 4 East vs. 13 Akron
• Michigan: 5 East vs. 12 Xavier/Boise State winner
• Arizona: 4 West vs. 13 Lipscomb
• Maryland: 3 East vs. 14 UNC Wilmington
• George Mason: Out
• VCU: 11 Midwest vs. 6 Ole Miss
• Dayton: First Four Out
• Indiana: First Four Out
• Georgetown: Out

Auburn, Duke, Houston and Florida are all excellent (in that order), deserving of a #1 seed and barring injury (looking at you Cooper Flagg) or random misfortune, going to go deep in the tourney. 

Alabama and Tennessee are just behind the excellent teams, extremely well-coached, but have tiny deficiencies that will keep them from the Final Four. 

Iowa State got bumped from the Big 12 conference tournament by a good BYU team, but sometimes a conference tournament loss can be the spark that ignites a team.

Arizona is still rolling in the Big 12 tourney and plays Houston tonight - again, should be enlightening, but non-binding. 

Maryland and Michigan play each other tomorrow. The Wolverines beat a "pretty damn good" Purdue team and the Terrapins beat a possibly better Illinois team yesterday. Their matchup tomorrow will be enlightening, but will likely have absolutely no correlation to their NCAA tournament performances - both are the type of teams that can make noise or disappear immediately with a first-round loss.