Atlantic 10 tournament hits Big Apple with big names, big hopes

NEW YORK – For these four days in March, the not-so-mid-major Atlantic 10 Conference will be dancing with the big boys.

The league's tournament moves into the sparkling new Barclays Center in New York City. Two of its members are ranked, and three others are in good position to make the NCAA tourney.

If the A-10 indeed earns five bids, that could possibly tie it for third among all conferences, behind just the Big East and Big Ten, based on some current (and of course ever-changing) projections. Five would match the conference's record, set in 1997 and '98.