In the ever-evolving landscape of college basketball, the Atlantic 10 Conference has made a bold financial statement. Several A-10 teams are investing upwards of $3 million this transfer cycle alone, creating what Kevin Sweeney calls a “talent injection” that’s already yielding results through key player retentions and strong portal acquisitions.
The conference’s calculated gamble comes amid fierce competition from Power Four conferences, whose financial advantages have traditionally limited mid-major tournament success. 
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Star Power Fuels Tournament Ambitions
With 22 high-major players transferring into the league already, A-10 programs are leveraging unprecedented resources to build rosters capable of making NCAA noise beyond just qualifying.
Among the conference’s most impressive roster developments, Loyola retained Miles Rubin while Saint Louis secured Robbie Avila. George Washington kept Rafael Castro, and Dayton brought back two crucial starters.
Isaac Trotter noted, “One bigger, under-the-radar development in this portal cycle? The A-10 has real money. 22 (!) high-major players have transferred in already.”
Been saying for months to be prepared for a talent injection in the A-10 with a handful of teams planning to spend $3 million or more this cycle. Has paid off. Key retention (Rubin, Avila, Castro, L’Etang, etc) and some strong portaling. Hope it shows up in the win column. https://t.co/xTMNvsj9db
— Kevin Sweeney (@CBB_Central) April 28, 2025
The influx of talent spreads throughout the conference with VCU adding Ahmad Nowell, Bam Tracey and Tyrell Ward while Bonaventure secured Frank Mitchell. Saint Louis assembled perhaps the deepest group with Trey Green, Dion Brown, Ishan Sharma and Brady Dunlap all joining the program.
Fighting for More Than Just Tournament Bids
The A-10’s investment strategy represents a direct response to the widening resource gap between mid major conferences and basketball powerhouses. While securing NCAA Tournament berths remains crucial, each tournament “unit” generates approximately $2 million in revenue, the conference clearly has ambitions beyond merely qualifying.
Success would require breaking through significant barriers. Recent tournaments have been dominated by Power Four conferences, with all Sweet 16 teams in 2025 coming from the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, and ACC. For the A-10’s investment to truly pay dividends, its strengthened programs must achieve the increasingly rare feat of tournament upsets.
VCU’s 2025 A-10 tournament championship over George Mason secured a valuable automatic NCAA bid, but the conference’s ultimate goal extends further.
As Dr. Eric F. Spina, Chair of the A-10 Presidents Council, once stated, “The primacy of basketball in the A-10 and the wealth of opportunities created by basketball put the conference in an excellent position to build strength on strength.”
KEEP READING: Why College Basketball Players Keep Transfer Options Open After Declaring for the NBA Draft
The A-10’s $3 million gamble reflects a conference-wide commitment to basketball excellence amid collegiate athletics’ financial arms race.
With strategic investments in talent retention and acquisition, the A-10 is positioning itself for potential breakthrough performances, though history suggests the path to March glory remains steep for mid-major programs.
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