The young St. Louis U. team, which will have six freshmen getting playing time (and maybe seven if Cody Ellis is ever cleared by the NCAA) was picked to finish 12th in the Atlantic 10 by the league's coaches and media.

"We're just trying to make every practice every day a good learning experience," coach Rick Majerus said on a conference call as part of the league's media day Thursday. "It's a shame we don't have any juniors or seniors because you want that leadership. Though our future looks good, it's going to be a tough learning year for us. Hopefully that portends good things for the future."

Majerus said there was no update on the status of Ellis, whose arrival has been delayed by the NCAA Eligibility Center. Majerus also said he had been considering redshirting freshman Cory Remekun, but now probably won't. At 6-foot-7, 195 pounds, Remekun would benefit by adding some weight, but without Ellis, Remekun is SLU's second-tallest player and without him, the team would be down to nine scholarship players.

"We still may be able to do it," Majerus said, "but I don't know if we can get caught with just nine players."

Dayton, which went 27-8 last season, is the preseason conference favorite this season, followed by Xavier, which has been the dominant team over the past three seasons but has gone through a coaching change with former assistant Chris Mack succeeding Sean Miller, who left to take the job at Arizona. Richmond, which two seasons ago finished 12th, is picked for third and La Salle, which came in last in 2006-07, is picked for fourth. It looks like a bunch of rebuilding programs have finally blossomed.

"Over the course of time, these teams have taken bumps," St. Joseph's coach Phil Martelli said. "Now they're ready to take a shot at the top."