Atlantic 10 reveals pairings for 2017-18 conference play

Only a couple of things get me through the summer doldrums: new uniform reveals and schedule announcements. It’s a really bland time of the year, but getting the chance to look at the next season’s upcoming matchups is always something that can bring interest and excitement.

That is especially the case for the Atlantic 10.

The Atlantic 10, one of the best mid-major conferences in the country, revealed its conference play pairings for the upcoming season on Wednesday afternoon. The actual dates and times are still to come, but today’s revelation gives us a moiety of what to expect.

At first glance, a few things stand out. For one, St. Bonaventure, a sleeper pick by some to win the A-10, will only get one game against both Dayton and VCU, and both of those games are away. While they still get a home-and-home with Rhode Island, the Bonnies won’t have much room for error against some of the conference’s best opponents.

Secondly, Saint Louis, looking to revive itself with the new, impressive additions brought in by Travis Ford, has a favorable schedule. Dayton and the Bonnies will both be tough home-and-home series, but getting a chance against them at home will be beneficial. Still, they will only have to play VCU and Rhode Island once, with both games at Chaifetz Arena. If the Billikens wants to make some noise in the A-10 this season, this is a schedule that will help them do it.

Finally, defending champion Rhode Island’s schedule does not do it any favors. The Rams play at VCU while also getting Dayton and St. Bonaventure in a home-and-home. Their home matchups are against some likely lower-tier teams, with George Mason being the biggest question mark there. Overall, it’ll make for a bit of a tough title defense.

More detailed previews are on the way, but by the looks of it, a thrilling season seems likely to be in store.

Full pairings, courtesy of the A-10, are below:

Davidson

Home – La Salle, Massachusetts, Saint Joseph's, Saint Louis, Fordham, George Washington, Rhode Island, Richmond, St. Bonaventure

Away – Dayton, Duquesne, George Mason, VCU, Fordham, George Washington, Rhode Island, Richmond, St. Bonaventure

Dayton

Home – Davidson, Fordham, George Washington, St. Bonaventure, Duquesne, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Saint Louis, VCU

Away – La Salle, George Mason, Richmond, Saint Joseph's, Duquesne, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Saint Louis, VCU

Duquesne

Home – Davidson, George Mason, La Salle, Richmond, Dayton, Fordham, George Washington, St. Bonaventure, Saint Louis

Away – Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Saint Joseph's, VCU, Dayton, Fordham, George Washington, St. Bonaventure, Saint Louis

Fordham

Home – George Mason, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Richmond, Davidson, Duquesne, La Salle, Saint Joseph's, VCU

Away – Dayton, George Washington, St. Bonaventure, Saint Louis, Davidson, Duquesne, La Salle, Saint Joseph's, VCU

George Mason

Home - Davidson, Dayton, St. Bonaventure, Saint Louis George Washington, Massachusetts, Richmond, Saint Joseph's, VCU

Away - Duquesne, Fordham, La Salle, Rhode Island, George Washington, Massachusetts, Richmond, Saint Joseph's, VCU

George Washington

Home – Fordham, La Salle, Rhode Island, Saint Joseph's, Davidson, Duquesne, George Mason, Richmond, VCU

Away – Dayton, Massachusetts, St. Bonaventure, Saint Louis, Davidson, Duquesne, George Mason, Richmond, VCU

La Salle

Home – Dayton, George Mason, St. Bonaventure, VCU, Fordham, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Saint Joseph's, Saint Louis

Away – Davidson, Duquesne, George Washington, Richmond, Fordham, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Saint Joseph's, Saint Louis

Massachusetts

Home – Duquesne, George Washington, Saint Louis, VCU, Dayton, George Mason, La Salle, Rhode Island, Saint Joseph's

Away – Davidson, Fordham, Richmond, St. Bonaventure, Dayton, George Mason, La Salle, Rhode Island, Saint Joseph's

Rhode Island

Home – Duquesne, George Mason, Richmond, Saint Joseph's, Davidson, Dayton, La Salle, Massachusetts, St. Bonaventure

Away – Fordham, George Washington, Saint Louis, VCU, Davidson, Dayton, La Salle, Massachusetts, St. Bonaventure

Richmond

Home – Dayton, La Salle, Massachusetts, Saint Joseph's, Davidson, George Mason, George Washington, Saint Louis, VCU

Away – Duquesne, Fordham, Rhode Island, St. Bonaventure, Davidson, George Mason, George Washington, Saint Louis, VCU

St. Bonaventure

Home – Fordham, George Washington, Massachusetts, Richmond, Davidson, Duquesne, Rhode Island, Saint Joseph's, Saint Louis

Away – Dayton, George Mason, La Salle, VCU, Davidson, Duquesne, Rhode Island, Saint Joseph's, Saint Louis

Saint Joseph's

Home – Dayton, Duquesne, Saint Louis, VCU, Fordham, George Mason, La Salle, Massachusetts, St. Bonaventure

Away – Davidson, George Washington, Rhode Island, Richmond, Fordham, George Mason, La Salle, Massachusetts, St. Bonaventure

Saint Louis

Home – Fordham, George Washington, Rhode Island, VCU, Dayton, Duquesne, La Salle, Richmond, St. Bonaventure

Away – Davidson, George Mason, Massachusetts, Saint Joseph's, Dayton, Duquesne, La Salle, Richmond, St. Bonaventure

VCU

Home – Davidson, Duquesne, Rhode Island, St. Bonaventure, Dayton, Fordham, George Mason, George Washington, Richmond

Away – La Salle, Massachusetts, Saint Joseph's, Saint Louis, Dayton, Fordham, George Mason, George Washington, Richmond