Yahoo Sports will break down the top 10 leagues for the upcoming college hoops season working backward from No. 10 to No. 1. Here's a look at our No. 9 league, the Atlantic 10.

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For a league that waved goodbye to longtime stalwarts Xavier and Temple and name-brand newcomer Butler before last season, the Atlantic 10 didn't take nearly as big a fall as many expected.

Six Atlantic 10 teams made the NCAA tournament and Dayton advanced all the way to the Elite Eight as the Atlantic 10 finished sixth in conference RPI — ahead of the more heralded SEC and American Athletic Conference.

It's possible the Atlantic 10 maintains that level again this season, but it won't be easy considering the talent exodus the league endured this offseason. Twelve of the 15 players who made one of the Atlantic 10's three all-league teams last season are gone and two-time defending league champ Saint Louis is likely headed for a rebuilding season after graduating all five starters.

The program most likely to benefit from the roster turnover of its peers is VCU, which brings back six of its top eight scorers from an NCAA tournament team and adds the league's most highly rated recruiting class. The Rams should have ample motivation this season too after their 26-season ended in heartbreaking fashion last March when they blew a four-point final-minute lead in an opening-round overtime loss to 12th-seeded Stephen F. Austin.

VCU's strength this season should be a deep, multi-talented backcourt. Point guard Briante Weber is built for the Rams' full-court trapping pressure, using his long arms, quick feet and ball-hawking instinct to rack up an incredible 121 steals per game last season. Leading scorer Treveon Graham is a nightmare to keep out of the lane, while fellow wings Melvin Johnson and Jordan Burgess excel from the perimeter. And point guard JeQuan Lewis should also see ample playing time with his ability to change speeds and leave defenders flat-footed.

The graduation of Juvonte Reddic is a significant loss in the frontcourt, but the Rams are well-equipped to replace him on the defensive end. Shot-blocking specialist Mo Allie-Cox should step into the role of rim protector, inspiring a "Mo says No!" chant from the VCU faithful whenever he rejects an opponent. But he wasn't much of a back-to-the-basket scorer last season, which could be an issue since the Rams lack anyone else with that skill set.

Should VCU fail to live up to expectations, there are a handful of contenders who should be hot on the Rams' heels.

The return of forward Dyshawn Pierre and guard Jordan Sibert gives Dayton a chance to build on last year's Elite Eight run despite the loss of three starters and its top reserve. UMass also could be a threat if athletic center Cady Lalanne builds on last year's breakout season and guards Jabarie Hinds and Derrick Gordon combine to compensate for the loss of all-conference point guard Chaz Williams.

But the biggest threat to VCU may come from a George Washington program that ended a seven-year NCAA tournament drought last March and has no intention of being a one-hit wonder. Four experienced juniors return from a balanced, defensive-oriented team that won 24 games last season and went 14-1 at home.

From Rhode Island, to Richmond, to La Salle, to Saint Joseph's, there are a handful of potential surprise teams capable of cracking the top four and entering the NCAA tournament discussion.

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