Season 111 in the Atlantic Ten could see some surprise teams to the rest of the Wilkinson world. With three teams poised to make the playoffs and a team looking for a renaissance, the conference is hoping to establish itself as a force. The University of Massachusetts is without a doubt the projected favorite to win the conference. No one in the A-10 has been able to knock the Minutemen off of their perch for nine straight seasons. They have dominated the competition and are on an impressive streak of three straight seasons of at least advancing to the third round of the playoffs. Coaches around the country seem to overlook the guys from Amherst, with their best roster in years it may be time to give respect where it’s due.
Umass brings an 81 game conference winning streak into this season. Who is our projected team to have the best shot to end the streak? Hop in your car and travel down I-95 south for about five hours and you’ll run into that team’s home base. Delaware looks like a power in the northeast these days. Coach Brenner has crafted a roster ready to take the crown. The Blue Hens run a vaunted balanced attack hoping to take down every team in its way. Can they get done is the question, they certainly have the talent to do it. Two teams leading the way for this conference, with their best rosters in years, and ready to battle on June 1, 2015. Mark your calendars as this one will be a standout. Let’s take a Look at our picks for offensive and defensive players of the year.
Projected Offensive Player of Year: Larry Chapman, Runningback, Delaware
This one was a tough one to pick. The Blue Hens senior quarterback Ronald McMillan and Massachusetts’ senior wide out Timothy Hall were also strongly considered for this pick. Chapman is our pick and is worth the price of admission to go see. The senior is ready to lead this team to the promise land and if Coach Brennner decides to feed the beast that could happen. He will have to thank his offensive line if that happens, enjoying the luxury of a line featuring four senior starters. I think he’ll take that any day, it’s a runningbacks dream to run behind a big nasty senior line
Projected Defensive Player of the Year: Eric Holloway, Defensiveback, Massachusetts
We said how hard it was to pick the projected offensive player of the year, well that can’t be said on the other side of the ball. Holloway was a landslide pick and will look to shut down opposing receivers and anyone else who crosses his path. The guy is a crack back with the strength to completely knock someone out and the quickness to hawk down just about anyone. He is the prime example of what a true cornerback looks like. Last season he accounted for seventy tackles and ten interceptions. Eric could easily reach 15 interceptions this season and cement himself as one of best defensivebacks to play in the Atlantic ten in the last ten seasons.
Team Previews:
Delaware:
Delaware should be a pretty formidable foe and force to be reckoned with. Coach Brenner has been quietly building the Blue Hens roster to compete for championships. The quarterback play in Newark could lead those crazy guys in blue to their first conference title appearance in ten seasons. First order of business is trying to take down the mighty Minutemen of UMASS. The schedule sets up nicely for Delaware taking on a few easier teams to work out any kinks. The big game out of conference will be a showdown with #12 East Tennessee State in Newark. Delaware has good chance to knock off the Buccaneers to set up a showdown with Northeastern. Delaware should get though that game and match-up with Umass for a battle of undefeated teams.
Projected Record- 12-1 (7-1) Losses: Massachusetts
Massachusetts:
After getting one for thumb last season for Coach Buck, UMass try’s to win an impressive tenth Atlantic Ten title in a row. The Minutemen will field one of their highest rosters in a few years and Coach Buck is looking to keep the gas pedal on full throttle. Umass seems to have the kinks worked out in the playoffs, accounting for all the playoff wins for the conference last season. Basically they are not afraid to carry the torch for the A-10 and do it with a smile. The big out of conference game is against #11 Drake in Amherst. This one will be close as the cupboard is full in Des Moines as well. Look for a close Minutemen escape in this one and a match up with Delaware for all the marbles.
Projected Record- 13-0 (8-0)
Northeastern:
Well it’s now or never for this team. After letting the assistants recruit for him in season one, Coach Tampafla took the reins and has accumulated some talent on the roster. The Huskies are still about a class away from really having a thought of winning the conference, and even then it may take a few more years with strong classes. The schedule does this team no justice and they’ll need to be on from the get go. They open up on the road against #24 Southeastern Louisiana, then tackle Youngstown State back in Boston. They will need to win one of these games as the next two are all likely losses against #21 Lafayette and Murray State. They should be able to compete and have a chance to knock off Austin Peay to close out of conference play. Immediately following that game they hook up with what should be an undefeated and ranked Delaware before seven simmys in conference play. The season could be a huge success or a disaster. We will go right in the middle with promise for the future.
Projected Record- 10-3 (7-1)
Villanova:
The Wildcats are looking to get back to where fans in Villanova feel the program should be. These guys are last team to hoist an Atlantic Ten trophy that doesn’t have the Massachusetts Minutemen’s name on it. Nova hired a new coach in Kas1007 who comes to build the boys in Villanova from Cheyney University. The administration liking what they saw in the young coach in the suburbs of Philadelphia. It’s not easy to win at school spoiled Coach Vivian C. Stinger’s women’s basketball run back in the day. Faculty still think it was just yesterday, news flash that was 1982! Coach Cubnation taking Cheyney to the third round is also shadows watching from affair. Kas1007 was able to overcome these burdens leading the wolves to two playoff berths. This season at Villanova maybe a struggle with very little talent to work with. The big out of conference game is against #12t Duquesne in Villanova. This one will be a blowout in favor of the Dukes. Nova will also face off and probably take two more big losses against Massachusetts and Delaware. If they can get by the easier teams on the schedule a winning record could be in store, that won’t be easily done though.
Projected Record- 8-5 (5-3)
Conference Championship Pick: Massachusetts vs. Northeastern
Winner: Massachusetts by 21.
5/23/2015 11:00 AM (edited)