Duquesne's men's basketball team ranked 11th, women's 9th in A10 preseason poll

The Duquesne men’s basketball team was picked to finish 11th in the Atlantic 10 preseason poll released Wednesday.

Defending A10 champion St. Bonaventure was a unanimous pick at No. 1, followed by Richmond, Saint Louis, VCU and Dayton.

The Bonnies (16-5 in 2020-21), who return all five starters, are ranked 23rd in the AP preseason poll.

Davidson, Rhode Island, George Mason, UMass and Saint Joseph’s rounded out the top 10.

Duquesne was followed by La Salle, George Washington and Fordham.

Duquesne did not have any players on the preseason all-conference teams.

The men’s basketball first team included Richmond’s Jacob Gilyard and Grant Golden, St. Bonaventure’s Osun Osunniyi and Kyle Lofton, Davidson’s Hyunjung Lee and Saint Louis’ Javonte Perkins.

The awards and poll were chosen by a panel of the league’s head coaches and select media members.

The 2021-22 season tips off Nov. 9, and conference play begins Dec. 30.

The A10 Tournament will be played March 9-13, at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.

A10 women’s basketball

Duquesne’s women’s basketball team was picked to finish ninth in the Atlantic 10 preseason poll.

Reigning A10 champion Dayton was picked to finish first, with Rhode Island, Fordham, Saint Louis and VCU rounding out the top five.

The preseason all-conference first team included Dayton’s Jenna Giacone, Fordham’s Anna DeWolfe, Rhode Island’s Emmanuelle Tahane, Saint Louis’ Ciaja Harbison, VCU’s Taya Robinson and UMass forward Sam Breen, a North Catholic graduate.

The A10 women’s tournament will be March 2-6, at Chase Fieldhouse in Wilmington, Del.