2008–09 Atlantic 10 Conference men's basketball season

August 2023 2008–09 Atlantic 10 Conference men's basketball season #193980 #FFFFFF NCAA Division I Basketball 175px January 7, 2009through March 14, 2009 14 CBS College Sports NetworkESPN Regular season Atlantic 10 Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year Tournament 2009 Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Tournament 2009 Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Tournament Basketball 07–08 09–10 The 2008–09 Atlantic 10 Conference men's basketball season marked the 33rd season of Atlantic 10 Conference basketball. Preseason Xavier University was seen as the favourite to win the league by coaches and media in the preseason poll after having won the regular season the two previous years and also reaching the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament.""2008-09 Atlantic 10 Men's and Women's Basketball Prospectus."."Atlantic 10 Conference, 14 August 2008. Retrieved on 17 April 2015."Xavier The Choice To Seize 2008-09 A-10 Men's Basketball Title."Atlantic 10 Conference, 28 October 2008. Retrieved on 17 April 2015. No A-10 side was in either the AP Poll or the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' poll top 25, Xavier dropping out from last season in 26th and 30th place respectively after losing 3 starters in the offseason, the university was in the lesser Sporting News Top 40 at 19th along with Saint Joseph's at 32nd and Temple at 38th."Xavier Men's Basketball Ranked 19th By The Sporting News."Atlantic 10 Conference, 15 October 2008. Retrieved on 17 April 2015. The Musketeers' Derrick Brown along with the Owl's Dionte Christmas were named to the John R. Wooden Award preseason top 50 candidate list in November."Derrick Brown, Dionte Christmas Named To Wooden Award List."Atlantic 10 Conference, 7 November 2008. Retrieved on 17 April 2015. Brown was also named to the Naismith Award watch list on December 18."Reigning Naismith Trophy Winner Tyler Hansbrough Headlines 2008-09 Early-Season Watch List."Naismith Award, Atlanta, 18 December 2008. Retrieved on 17 April 2015. Another individual award, the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award selected Christmas and Jimmy Baron of Rhode Island on their 30-man preseason candidate list."Three A-10 Basketball Student-Athletes Nominated For Lowe's Senior CLASS Award."Atlantic 10 Conference, 22 December 2008. Retrieved on 17 April 2015. It was speculated if Christmas would be the first player in league history to lead the A-10 in scoring three seasons in a row whilst Ahmad Nivins of Saint Joseph's and Chris Lowe of Massachusetts also aimed to lead the conference for the third time, in field goal percentage and assists respectively."A-10 Notebook - Nov. 11."Atlantic 10 Conference, 11 November 2008. Retrieved on 17 April 2015. Atlantic 10 Preseason Poll RankTeam1 Xavier (44)2 Temple (12)3 Dayton (3)4 Saint Joseph's5 Charlotte (2)6 Massachusetts7 Saint Louis8 Richmond9 Rhode Island10 La Salle11 George Washington12 Duquesne13 Fordham14 St. Bonaventure First-place votes in parentheses Preseason All-A10 Team First Team Derrick Brown, Xavier Dionte Christmas, Temple Kevin Lisch, Saint Louis Chris Lowe, Massachusetts Ahmad Nivins, Saint Joseph's Second Team Rob Diggs, George Washington Ricky Harris, Massachusetts Tommie Liddell, Saint Louis Lamont Mack, Charlotte Chris Wright, Dayton Third Team C. J. Anderson, Xavier Kevin Anderson, Richmond Jimmy Baron, Rhode Island Rodney Green, La Salle David Gonzalvez, Richmond Preseason A10 All-Rookie Team thumb|180px|Tu Holloway Melquan Bolding, Duquesne Kenny Frease, Xavier Terrell Holloway, Xavier Mark Lyons, Xavier Paul Williams, Dayton Preseason A10 All-Defensive Team Lavoy Allen, Temple Derrick Brown, Xavier Kevin Lisch, Saint Louis Chris Lowe, Massachusetts Garrett Williamson, Saint Joseph's Regular season Xavier captured its third consecutive Atlantic 10 regular season crown with a 12–4 record in Conference play, it had been undefeated in conference play until four late-season losses to Duquesne, Dayton, Charlotte, and Richmond. The last A-10 program to enter the tournament as #1 seed thrice in a row was Temple in 1998–00. It moved the university into the top 25 in the national rankings (see below) of both the AP Poll (17th) and the ESPN/USA Today poll (18th)."Field Set For 2009 A-10 Men's Basketball Championship."Atlantic 10 Conference, 7 March 2009. Retrieved on 18 April 2015. On individual records, Temple's Dionte Christmas entered tournament play tied with Player of the Year Ahmad Nivins at 19.2 ppg in his quest to lead the conference in scoring for a record third consecutive time. Nivins' 62.5% put him in the driving seat to equal Alexander Koul's record in 1995–97 as the only players in A-10 history to lead the league in field goal percentage three consecutive years."A-10 Announces Men's Basketball All-Conference Teams."Atlantic 10 Conference, Philadelphia, 9 March 2009. Retrieved on 17 April 2015. They would both achieve these feats in post-season, Christmas with 19.5 ppg and Nivins with 61.2%, Massachusetts' Chris Lowe finished second in his similar pursuit of assists leading. Postseason Atlantic 10 Tournament 2009 Atlantic 10 men's basketball tournament All the games were held at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. Conference awards and honors Weekly awards Atlantic 10 Players of the Week Throughout the conference season, the Atlantic 10 offices name a player and rookie of the week. Week Player of the week Rookie of the weekNovember 16"A-10 Notebook - Nov. 16."Atlantic 10 Conference, 16 November 2008. Retrieved on 17 April 2015. Dionte Christmas, TempleTrey Blue, Fordham Ahmad Nivins, Saint Joseph's November 23"A-10 Notebook - Nov. 23."Atlantic 10 Conference, 23 November 2008. Retrieved on 17 April 2015. Jimmy Baron, Rhode Island Eric Evans, Duquesne Andrew Nicholson, St. Bonaventure November 30"A-10 Notebook - Nov. 30."Atlantic 10 Conference, 30 November 2008. Retrieved on 17 April 2015. Damian Saunders, DuquesneChris Wright, Dayton Andrew Nicholson, St. Bonaventure December 7"A-10 Notebook - Dec. 7."Atlantic 10 Conference, 7 December 2008. Retrieved on 17 April 2015. Ahmad Nivins, Saint Joseph'sAndrew Nicholson, St. Bonaventure B.J. Raymond, Xavier December 14"A-10 Notebook - Dec. 14."Atlantic 10 Conference, 14 December 2008. Retrieved on 17 April 2015. Dionte Christmas, TempleJio Fontan, Fordham Aaron Jackson, Duquesne December 21"A-10 Notebook - Dec. 21."Atlantic 10 Conference, 21 December 2008. Retrieved on 17 April 2015. Tommie Liddell, Saint Louis Eric Evans, Duquesne December 28"A-10 Notebook - Dec. 28."Atlantic 10 Conference, 28 December 2008. Retrieved on 17 April 2015. Ahmad Nivins, Saint Joseph's Eric Evans, Duquesne Jio Fontan, Fordham January 5"A-10 Notebook - Jan. 5."Atlantic 10 Conference, 5 January 2009. Retrieved on 17 April 2015. Aaron Jackson, Duquesne Willie Reed, Saint Louis January 11"A-10 Notebook - Jan. 11."Atlantic 10 Conference, 11 January 2009. Retrieved on 17 April 2015. Derrick Brown, XavierAndrew Nicholson, St. Bonaventure Ahmad Nivins, Saint Joseph's January 18"A-10 Notebook - Jan. 18."Atlantic 10 Conference, 18 January 2009. Retrieved on 17 April 2015. Dionte Christmas, Temple Alberto Estwick, Fordham Chris Johnson, DaytonJanuary 25"A-10 Notebook - Jan. 25."Atlantic 10 Conference, 25 January 2009. Retrieved on 17 April 2015. Justin Harper, RichmondKenny Frease, Xavier Ahmad Nivins, Saint Joseph'sFebruary 1"A-10 Notebook - Feb. 1."Atlantic 10 Conference, 1 February 2009. Retrieved on 17 April 2015. Tasheed Carr, Saint Joseph'sAndrew Nicholson, St. Bonaventure B.J. Raymond, Xavier February 8"A-10 Notebook - Feb. 8."Atlantic 10 Conference, 8 Feb 2009. Retrieved on 17 April 2015. Aaron Jackson, Duquesne Andrew Nicholson, St. Bonaventure February 15"A-10 Notebook - Feb. 15."Atlantic 10 Conference, 15 Feb 2009. Retrieved on 17 April 2015. Lamont Mack, Charlotte Kwamain Mitchell, Saint LouisFebruary 22"A-10 Notebook - Feb. 22."Atlantic 10 Conference, 22 February 2009. Retrieved on 17 April 2015. Kevin Anderson, RichmondKwamain Mitchell, Saint Louis Rob Diggs, George WashingtonMarch 1"A-10 Notebook - Mar. 1."Atlantic 10 Conference, 1 March 2009. Retrieved on 17 April 2015. Damian Hollis, George WashingtonEric Evans, Duquesne Aaron Jackson, Duquesne All-Conference Awards Player of the Year: Ahmad Nivins, Saint Joseph's Rookie of the Year: Andrew Nicholson, St. Bonaventure Defensive Player of the Year: Tony Gaffney, Massachusetts Chris Daniels Most Improved Player of the Year: Aaron Jackson, Duquesne Sixth Man of the Year: Delroy James, Rhode Island Student-Athlete of the Year: Kevin Lisch, Saint Louis Coach of the Year: Jim Baron, Rhode Island Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball All-Conference Teams First Team Jimmy Baron, Rhode Island Dionte Christmas, Temple Aaron Jackson, Duquesne Ahmad Nivins, Saint Joseph's B.J. Raymond, Xavier Second Team Kevin Anderson, Richmond Derrick Brown, Xavier Tony Gaffney, Massachusetts Rodney Green, La Salle Chris Wright, Dayton Third Team Lavoy Allen, Temple Ricky Harris, Massachusetts Kevin Lisch, Saint Louis Lamont Mack, Charlotte Kahiem Seawright, Rhode Island Honorable Mention C.J. Anderson, Xavier David Gonzalvez, Richmond Marcus Johnson, Dayton Chris Lowe, Massachusetts Damian Saunders, Duquesne Rookie Team Melquan Bolding, Duquesne Jio Fontan, Fordham Chris Johnson, Dayton Kwamain Mitchell, Saint Louis Andrew Nicholson, St. Bonaventure Defensive Team Lavoy Allen, Temple Tony Gaffney, Massachusetts Ahmad Nivins, Saint Joseph's London Warren, Dayton Garrett Williamson, Saint Joseph's Academic Team Jimmy Baron, Rhode Island Luke Bonner, Massachusetts Jason Duty, Duquesne Will Martell, Rhode Island Yves Mekongo Mbala, La Salle Rankings + 2008–09 Atlantic 10 Conference Weekly RankingsKey: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking. RV = Received Votes AP Poll"2009 NCAA Men's Basketball Rankings - AP Top 25."ESPN.com. Retrieved on 17 April 2015. Pre Wk 1 Wk 2 Wk 3 Wk 4 Wk 5 Wk 6 Wk 7 Wk 8 Wk 9 Wk 10 Wk 11 Wk 12 Wk 13 Wk 14 Wk 15 Wk 16 Wk 17 Wk 18 Charlotte Dayton 27 26 30 30 37 41 42 36 26 31 25 31 30 33 Duquesne Fordham George Washington La Salle Massachusetts Rhode Island 42 43 40 Richmond Saint Louis St. Bonaventure St. Joseph's 53 Temple 45 43 33 35 Xavier 26 29 16 14 10 7 14 22 16 15 15 10 9 14 16 19 17 19 20 Post Tournament Results NCAA tournament Xavier (2–1) : Regional semifinals (Sweet Sixteen) Dayton (1-1): Regional second round Temple (0–1): Regional first round National Invitation Tournament Rhode Island (1-1): Second round Duquesne (0–1): First round College Basketball Invitational Richmond (2–1): Semifinal References 2 External links "Men's Basketball - Archives 2008-09", Atlantic 10 Conference. Retrieved on 18 April 2015. "2009-10 A-10 season prospectus (review of 2008-09)" https://web.archive.org/web/20160304002147/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/atl10/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/prospectusmens.pdf 2016-03-04 , CBS Sports Network. Retrieved on 18 April 2015.