Jan. 17, 2013

Saint Louis selected to win Atlantic 10 title

Saint Louis was picked to capture its third Atlantic 10 championship, in voting of the league’s 15 head coaches and as released by the conference office.

The Billikens, who claimed crowns in 2006 and 2010, received 10 first-place votes and 210 points. Saint Louis returns all but two starters from the 2012 team that won a school-record 41 games, including all three weekend starting pitchers. The Billikens shared the regular-season title with tourney champion Dayton at 17-7. St. Louis skipper Darin Hendrickson (pictured above) was named A-10 Coach of the Year.

Rhode Island got a pair of first-place votes and placed second with 197 points, followed closely by newcomer VCU, with three first-place votes and 193 points.

Charlotte came in fourth, followed by Dayton, Richmond, Xavier, Saint Joseph’s, Fordham, Massachusetts, St. Bonaventure, La Salle, Temple, Butler and George Washington.

The 2013 campaign begins on Friday, Feb. 15, with conference play kicking off the weekend of March 22-24. St. Louis will travel to Dayton that initial conference weekend. The Atlantic 10 Championship will be held May 22-25 at Robert and Mariam Hayes Stadium on the campus of Charlotte. The tournament will be a seven-team double elimination format.

2013 Atlantic 10 Preseason Poll

Team, Points (First Place) (2012 A-10, Overall Records)

1. Saint Louis 210 (10) (17-7, 41-18)

2. Rhode Island 197 (2) (16-8, 33-25)

3. VCU 193 (3) (15-15 CAA, 34-25)

4. Charlotte 168 (9-14, 21-32)

5. Dayton 149 (17-7, 31-30)

6. Richmond 147 (14-10, 30-26)

7. Xavier 146 (13-11, 28-28)

8. Saint Joseph’s 120 (13-10, 25-32)

9. Fordham 109 (12-12, 22-34)

10. Massachusetts 89 (14-10, 22-22)

11. St. Bonaventure 74 (10-14, 23-25)

12. La Salle 67 (7-17, 20-33)

13. Temple 56 (7-17, 19-34)

14. Butler 42 (10-20 Horizon, 22-34)

15. George Washington 33 (6-18, 20-35)

(photos courtesy of Saint Louis Media Relations Office)