Have you looked recently at what has gone on in the Atlantic 10? Come on my friends, take a deep look. I bet you don't realize how much quality the league has on top.

Look at some of the great wins by Xavier (over Indiana and Creighton), by Dayton (over Louisville, Miami-Ohio and Holy Cross), by Charlotte (over Southern Illinois, Davidson and Wake Forest). My friends, there is mania breaking out in Rhode Island. The fans are supportive up there with wins over in-state rival Providence and a win at Syracuse up in the Carrier Dome. What a week for Jim Baron! Will Daniels has been sensational as a unique frontcourt player. Baron's son Jimmy has been putting on a show, shooting the trifecta.

The Rams are 10-1 with the lone loss coming by just four points at Boston College. Add in wins over UAB and South Florida and there is reason for enthusiasm for the Rhode Island fans.

The A-10 is off to a fast start and it looks like several teams will be dancing come tournament time. It is sad to see commissioner Linda Bruno announced she is stepping down, but this farewell year could be a special one. She has been so dedicated to making her conference it could be.

It has been a good season for the conference with the arrival of Rick Majerus at Saint Louis. The conference has marquee names on the sidelines with others like Phil Martelli at St. Joseph's. Travis Ford has done a nice job at Massachusetts as his Minutemen have already gotten wins against Syracuse and Boston College already this season. Look at Ron Everhart's Duquesne team giving Pittsburgh a scare.

Then there is star power on the court … remember names like Brian Roberts at Dayton, Stanley Burrell and Drew Lavender at Xavier, Leemire Goldwire at Charlotte, Gary Forbes at Massachusetts, Michael Lee at St. Bonaventure, Shawn James at Duquesne, Pat Calathes and Ahmad Nivins at St. Joseph's, Bryant Dunston at Fordham and Dionte Christmas at Temple. These guys have not received much national publicity but believe me, they can flat out play.

Keep an eye on the A-10, a conference moving up in the RPI rankings and in the VBDI (Vitale Bald Dome Index). Exciting things have been happening early on for that league.

Dick Vitale coached the Pistons and the University of Detroit before broadcasting ESPN's first college basketball game in December 1979. Send him a question for possible use on ESPNEWS.