The Atlantic 10 Conference is looking for a March home and March respect.

First the home: New commissioner Dan Liebovitz is examining options for where the A-10 holds its annual men’s postseason tournament.

Since being held in Atlantic City, New Jersey, from 2007 to 2012 it’s rotated between Brooklyn (eight times), D.C. (three), Pittsburgh (twice), and Dayton (2021-coming out of the pandemic).

“I’m trying to identify a place where somewhere could be our home destination, somewhat permanently. Each has its own challenges with the NCAA Tournament bidding process at times,” Liebovitz told WTOP at the A-10 Media Day in D.C. last month.

“Somebody will not want to go long-term with the A-10 because they want to hold the right to have a first round or a regional with the NCAA’s, and maybe their full-time tenant doesn’t want to be displaced for two years. That can be challenging to get to one place for four, five, or six years, but that would be the goal.”

Related stories

Now for respect: Can an Atlantic 10 conference that used to place three teams in the NCAA Tournament somewhat regularly (from 2013-18 the league averaged just under four bids a year) get to that level again with the overall field expanding to 76 schools? Four schools within driving distance of D.C. hope to hear their name that Sunday in March.

VCU was voted the preseason favorite by one voting point over Saint Louis. Both teams made the NCAA Tournament last year with the Rams making their 15th appearance this century under a seventh different coach. What is it in the special sauce at the Siegel Center?

“It’s crazy. I was talking with their athletic director Ed McLaughlin earlier and we were talking about that and I think a big part of that is Ed. Part of it is the infrastructure and the resources, but I think Ed has done a good job,” Field of 68 host Jeff Goodman said.

“You look at who they’ve gotten in, I think they’re high-character guys for the most part who can really coach and it’s really hard to screw it up. It’s one of those jobs that frankly it’s built to win.”

And this year’s team is built to win again with forward Nyk Lewis and guard Lazar Djokovic each earning preseason first-team recognition.

“In terms of specifics, we’re trying to be as high-level a defensive team as we can be, I think that’s really important for us,” head coach Phil Martelli Jr. said. “We have the tools to do it. That’s something we really need to pinpoint- if we’re high level in that the rest of that will come along with it.”

George Mason was picked fourth in the preseason poll. Last year’s 20-2 start included wins over VCU, Richmond, and George Washington but the Patriots hit the Atlantic 10 buzz-saw and finished 11-7 in league play before early exits in the A-10 Tournament and NIT.

“We went into the portal intentionally with finding live bodies because of the way we play defensively,” head coach Tony Skinn said. “And I think one through 15 right we’re really healthy, we’re competitive, and it’s allowing for a lot more accountability that I’ve probably had in the three year’s I’ve been a head coach.”

Mason’s backcourt will feature high-scoring transfer Baraka Okojie (20 points per game at Mercer last season) along with Brayden O’Connor who returns after missing most of last season with injury.

“His leadership is something. It makes my job so much easier,” Skinn said. “He’s as tough a player as I’ve ever coached. He shows up every single day.”

George Washington was picked fifth in the preseason poll and also advanced to the NIT last year after ranking second in the A-10 in scoring, fourth in shooting, and sixth in percentage from three.

“Last year’s team was — even with Rafael (Castro) missing six games — was a historically good offensive team, I think the sixth best in the history of the Atlantic 10,” head coach Chris Caputo said. “I think this team is probably a little bit more well-balanced, I think we probably have got a little more chops defensively while also having the ability to score. I like the seriousness of approach, I like the demeanor of the group.”

Last year’s team was also one of the unluckiest in Division I, according to kenpom.com‘s ratings. Can GW win the nail biters this year?

Richmond was picked ninth and this roster has a non-Richmond look: eleven new players for a program that traditionally has rarely brought in or lost players to the portal in previous years. Two of the new Spiders played together at Butler last season: Burke, Vriginia, native Jamie Kaiser (you might remember him from playing at Maryland in 2023-24) and 6-foot-9 forward Jack McCaffery (son of ex-Iowa and current Penn head coach Fran McCaffery).

“Those guys can have a tremendous impact. Jamie is kind of the ideal college athlete in terms of his work ethic, his approach, his ability,” head coach Chris Mooney said. “And Jack for being such a young player has so many of the qualities that we love in terms of his sense for the game, the understanding, and how skillful he is.”

But as the season begins, the “two Georges” and the “Commonwealth’s Capital combo” are chasing Saint Louis, who was the only Atlantic 10 school to receive votes in the Preseason AP or Coaches Top 25. The Billikens boast a pair of players named to the A-10 Preseason first team and two more receiving mention last month.

Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.

© 2026 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.