ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) -Xavier, which returns three starters from last season’s regular-season champions, was the overwhelming No. 1 pick in the Atlantic 10 preseason poll Thursday.
The Musketeers, who the preseason No. 1 last season, received 42 of the 59 first-place votes cast by a panel of coaches and media members, easily outdistancing Rhode Island, which had five first-place votes.
Saint Joseph’s, which was No. 1 on seven ballots, was third followed by Fordham, Saint Louis and Dayton. Fordham and Dayton each had two first-place votes.
George Washington, the defending league champion, was seventh, followed by Massachusetts, which got one first-place vote, Temple, Charlotte, Duquesne, Richmond, La Salle and St. Bonaventure.
Junior swingman Ahmad Nivins of Saint Joseph’s was the only non-senior on the preseason all-conference team. He was joined by forwards Will Daniels of Rhode Island and Bryant Dunston of Fordham, and guards Drew Lavender of Xavier and Brian Roberts of Dayton.
The league has two new coaches this season, former Marquette and Utah head man Rick Majerus takes over at Saint Louis, while Mark Schmidt moves from Robert Morris to St. Bonaventure.
The Atlantic 10 tournament will be March 12-15 in Atlantic City.
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