Atlantic 10 Championship Futures: Predictions, Favorites & A-10 Title Preview
Updated November 3, 2026
Updated November 3, 2026
The 2027 Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Championship features a competitive field led by VCU, Saint Louis, and Dayton, with several other programs capable of making a run through the conference tournament. The A-10 has established itself as one of college basketball's strongest conferences outside the traditional power leagues, and the race for its automatic NCAA Tournament berth should be closely contested.
The defending tournament champions return a strong core led by Lazar Djokovic and Nyk Lewis.
Josh Schertz's team features an efficient offensive system and returning standouts.
Anthony Grant's Flyers have the interior presence of Amaël L'Etang and a strong defensive identity.
The Patriots bring backcourt talent and a strong defensive foundation this season.
Led by Jean Aranguren, GW has experience and offensive potential.
The defending tournament champions return a strong core led by Lazar Djokovic and Nyk Lewis.
Josh Schertz's team features an efficient offensive system and returning standouts.
Anthony Grant's Flyers have the interior presence of Amaël L'Etang and a strong defensive identity.
The Patriots bring backcourt talent and a strong defensive foundation this season.
Led by Jean Aranguren, GW has experience and offensive potential.
VCU is our prediction to win the 2027 Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Championship. The Rams entered the season having captured consecutive conference tournament titles, and their combination of roster continuity, defensive versatility, and postseason experience makes them a compelling choice when making college basketball predictions this year.
During the 2025–26 season, VCU held opponents to approximately 49% effective field goal shooting while maintaining a low offensive turnover rate. Those characteristics are particularly valuable in a single-elimination tournament, where limiting efficient scoring opportunities and protecting possessions can determine close games.
The return of Lazar Djokovic, Nyk Lewis, and Brandon Jennings provides VCU with an established foundation on both ends of the court. Djokovic offers interior scoring and rim protection, while Jennings brings defensive stability to the backcourt. The addition of forward Torey Alston also strengthens the Rams' rebounding, potentially addressing an important factor in tournament play: limiting opponents' second-chance opportunities.
Saint Louis represents VCU's strongest challenge after producing an outstanding offensive efficiency profile in 2025–26, including a 59.9% effective field goal percentage. However, VCU's combination of defensive versatility, returning contributors, and recent conference tournament success gives the Rams a slight edge in our championship projection. The expectation is another closely contested A-10 title race, with VCU ultimately emerging as the tournament champion.
Seeding Matters
The top four seeds receive double byes into the quarterfinals, creating a significant advantage over teams that must navigate additional elimination games.
VCU vs.s SLU
The two programs were separated by just one point in the preseason conference poll, making their head-to-head matchups and potential tournament meeting particularly important.
Contrasting Styles
Saint Louis relies heavily on efficient shooting and offensive execution, while VCU emphasizes defensive versatility and limiting opponents' scoring opportunities.
Back to Brooklyn
The 2027 tournament moves to Barclays Center after being held in Pittsburgh in 2026, removing traditional home-court advantages and making performance at a neutral site an important consideration.
