By Dustin Dow
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Xavier spent a total of 56 days in first place in the Atlantic 10 last season. From start to finish, the Musketeers rolled over A-10 competition, leaving little doubt as to which was the best team, especially after XU won the regular season with a 14-2 record and then won the A-10 Tournament, thus receiving the league's only NCAA Tournament bid.

Though No.18 Xavier (17-4, 8-1 A-10) by most accounts is a more complete team this season, the wins have been a little harder to come by. The uphill battle started with a conference season-opening loss to Richmond Jan.7 at Cintas Center. Since then, Xavier has faced must-win situations in every game just to keep pace with A-10 West co-leader Dayton (17-4, 9-1), which holds a half-game edge but is even in the loss column going into today's games. Xavier plays host to Rhode Island at noon, and Dayton meets A-10 East leader Saint Joseph's at 3p.m.

That a home game against Rhode Island (15-6, 7-3), once a conference doormat, is no gimme bears further evidence that Xavier is going to have to win a league title the hard way this season.

"It was easier last year because we didn't have as good of competition as we do this year," said Keith Jackson. "This year, we're going to have to earn it."

At least at the top, the conference is stronger this season as three teams are in the top 35 of the Ratings Percentage Index and six are in the top 100. Xavier, Dayton and Saint Joseph's are all but locks to make the NCAA Tournament, while Richmond and Rhode Island could play their way in. Last season, only Xavier finished in the top 50 of the RPI, at No.14.

But that opening loss to Richmond might have had as much to do with setting the tone for this season as anything else.

"We dug ourselves a hole with that loss," David West said. "I don't think the teams have been that different. Last year, we opened with a win at Dayton. The teams are the same; maybe we have had a different flow because of the start (with a loss). Teams are going to give us all they have now because we're in the Top 25, and it might be their only opportunity to play a ranked team all year."

Until Saint Joseph's joined Xavier in the Top 25 this week at No.25, West was right. No other A-10 team could boast a national ranking. Dayton remains just outside the poll as one of the teams receiving several votes.

Perhaps, the most pleasant surprise has been the emergence in the East of Saint Joseph's and Rhode Island, which were picked to finish fourth and fifth respectively in preseason media polls. The perceived lack of strength on that side of the conference had many wondering how much of an RPI hit Xavier would take once the conference season began. As of Friday, Xavier was ranked 21st in overall RPI, 14th in nonconference RPI and 40th in conference-only RPI with games against Dayton and Saint Joseph's still to come.

But until another team wins an A-10 title, the Musketeers are still viewed as the marked team in the league.

"They've got David West, Romain Sato, (Lionel) Chalmers," Rhode Island coach Jim Baron said. "We're going to have to bring our A-game."

Chalmers is still expected to come off the bench while he continues to rehabilitate his right foot. Xavier coach Thad Matta said as of Friday Jackson would remain in the starting lineup.

"(Thursday) they said I was starting," Jackson said. "I thought Lionel was going to start. I'm not really concerned about it. I've got to go in and take care of business."

MCBRIDE STOPS BY: Former Xavier standout and current Summit Country Day boys coach Walt McBride brought his team by practice Friday. McBride wanted to give his players something to do before it played Miami Valley Conference opponent Lockland Friday night.

McBride is in his second season as SCD coach.

E-mail ddow@enquirer.com