Temple University Athletics
Temple Tops Atlantic 10 Poll
11.4.99 | Men's Basketball
PHILADELPHIA (The Associated Press) -- Temple was the overwhelming choice Thursday to win the Atlantic 10 Eastern division and Xavier was tabbed as the top team in the West in voting by coaches and media.
Temple, which advanced to the NCAA Eastern Regional final before losing to Duke last season, got 41 of 42 votes in the East. Xavier received 30 first-place votes. La Salle was picked second in the West, followed by George Washington, Dayton, Virginia Tech and Duquesne.
George Washington, which lost point guard Shawnta Rogers, got eight first-place votes. Coach Tom Penders believes Bernard Barrow will be a worthy replacement for Rogers.
"He's one of the better point guards I've ever recruited and the quickest I've ever had," Penders said.
Dayton and Virginia Tech each got two first-place votes.
Massachusetts was picked second in the East, followed by St. Bonaventure, which got the only first-place vote that didn't go to Temple. St. Joseph's was picked fourth, followed by Rhode Island and Fordham.
As usual, Temple coach John Chaney was lukewarm about heavy expectations being placed on his team.
"The problem that you have with that is very often somebody else sets goals for you," Chaney said. "You have to be very conscious of the kids living up to everybody else's expectations. That's a constant battle."
Xavier lost starters James Posey, Gary Lumpkin and Lenny Brown, but got Darnell Williams back from a knee injury.
"Those were three great players, but college is a four-year deal," Xavier coach Skip Prosser said. "Now somebody else has to step forward."
