Xavier’s Derrick Brown, playing against URI’s Parfait Bitee and Joe Mbang in last year’s Atlantic 10 tournament semifinals, is one of Xavier’s powerhouses this year.

AP / Mel Evans

So why are we writing about college basketball in late July when we should be thinking about the Red Sox, Yankees, Patriots or making birdies?

Just because.

To some sports fans, baseball is a bore and the Patriots are galloping through what the estimable Allen Iverson once correctly stated is “practice. We’re talkin’ about practice!”

With that in mind, here is a summer primer on happenings in the Atlantic 10 and Big East. Just for kicks, we’ll even list the schools in a projected order of finish.

ATLANTIC 10

1. Xavier (27-6, 14-2): You know you have it rolling when an Elite Eight team loses three critical seniors and is still picked in the top 25. Derrick Brown, B.J. Raymond and C.J. Anderson give the Muskies more than enough firepower for an eighth NCAA trip in the last nine seasons.

2. Temple (21-12, 11-5): The Owls won 20 games for the first time in eight years and awarded coach Fran Dunphy with a two-year extension. Dionte Christmas (19.7 ppg) is back and young big man Lavoy Allen could get help from impressive additions Ramone Moore and Andrew Randall.

3. UMass (21-10, 10-6): No A-10 team lost more than the Minutemen and we’re not talking about coach Travis Ford. We have no idea whether Derek Kellogg can coach a lick, but we like his backcourt of Chris Lowe and Ricky Harris.

4. Charlotte (20-13, 9-7): The 49ers earned an NIT berth and only one player that averaged over five minutes of playing time, Leemire Goldwire, is gone. Bobby Lutz welcomes a top recruit in wing scorer Rashad Coleman.

5. Dayton (21-10, 8-8): The Flyers suffered a URI-like collapse that meant a trip to the NIT. Chris Wright leads a talented group that could win 20 games again.

6. Saint Joseph’s (21-13, 9-7): It’s tough picking a Phil Martelli team with the league’s best big man (Ahmad Nivins) this low, but the A-10 is deep once again. Nivins and guards Tasheed Carr and Darrin Govens are all keepers.

7. LaSalle (15-17, 8-8): The loss of Darnell Harris is big, but it looks like the Explorers are finally ready to make a move this season with six of their top seven scorers back. Athletic wing Rodney Green (13.2 ppg) and impressive young big man Jerrell Williams (9.4 ppg) lead the way.

8. Richmond (16-14, 9-7): We didn’t see the Spiders play all year, but they have everyone back and a good coach in Chris Mooney. That could add up to a better than eighth-place finish.

9. Rhode Island ( 21-12, 7-9): The Rams will feel the loss of Will Daniels and Parfait Bitee big-time. Jim Baron has some nice young pieces, but unless Delroy James, Keith Cothran and perhaps frosh Stevie Mejia and Orion Outerbridge develop quickly, it’s hard to see how the Rams could be as dangerous as they were last winter. It’s also tough to ask newcomers to play college-level defense, especially on a team where the veterans haven’t grasped the concept very much either.

10. Saint Louis (16-15, 7-9): Rick Majerus moves SLU into its new campus building, Chaifetz Arena, with eight new players to go with Kevin Lisch and Tommie Liddell. The Big Man won’t be this low in the standings for long.

11. George Washington (9-17, 5-11): Karl Hobbs bounced Maureece Rice out of the program and he’ll move forward with a strong trio of Rob Diggs, Damian Hollis and Noel Wilmore.

12. Duquesne ( 17-13, 7-9): The Dukes posted a winning season for the first time in 14 seasons, and then shot-blocking center Shawn James and guard Kojo Mensah both applied for the NBA draft (neither drew a sniff). Melquan Bolding (a ex-Louisville recruit) and Connecticut player of the year B..J. Monteiro are promising new faces.

13. St. Bonaventure (8-22, 2-14): The Bonnies won’t be last? Attleboro’s Mark Schmidt is moving things ahead. JUCO recruits Ray Blackburn, Lewis Leonard and Jonathan Hall offer hope.

14. Fordham (12-17, 6-10): Big trouble in the Bronx as the Rams slide backwards.

BIG EAST

1. Louisville (27-9, 14-4): Rick Pitino has the best front line in America in Earl Clark, Terrence Williams and frosh big man Samardo Samuels. Guards Andre McGee, Edgar Sosa and Jerry Smith aren’t bad, either.

2. UConn (24-9, 13-5): When Hasheem Thabeet returned to Storrs, the words ‘national title’ started flowing. Getting A.J. Price’s injured knee right is top priority. Frosh Nate Miles and Ater Majok help the front line.

3. Pittsburgh (27-10, 10-8): Getting Levance Fields back is huge, and big man DeJuan Blair and forward Sam Young are a great duo.

4. Notre Dame (25-8, 14-4): This could be Mike Brey’s best Irish team. Luke Harandogy and Kyle McAlarney return and will be as explosive as ever.

5. Marquette (25-10, 11-7): It’s the last go-round for Dominic James, Jerel McNeal and Wes Matthews. If any big guy has a pulse, new coach Buzz Williams will be smiling.

6. Villanova (22-13, 9-9): Jay Wright has everyone back and, more important, a year older. League’s quickest team can build on Sweet 16 finish.

7. Georgetown (28-6, 15-3): Hoyas will miss the defense of Roy Hibbert and Patrick Ewing more than most observers see. Still have DaJuan Summers and Austin Freeman, not to mention one of the nation’s top recruits in 6-foot-10 Greg Monroe.

8. Syracuse (21-14, 9-9): Donte Greene went pro, but a backcourt with Jonny Flynn, Eric Devendorf, Andy Rautins and Paul Harris will win a lot of games.

9. West Virginia (26-11, 11-7) If Joe Alexander stuck around, WVU would be top 10 in the country. As it is, they’re borderline top 25 with Johnston’s Joe Mazzulla taking the keys at point guard. Frosh Devin Ebanks and Kevin Jones were Bob Huggins steals.

10. Providence (15-16, 6-12): The Friars have everyone back and a new coach, but they didn’t change conferences. For this group to jump up three or four spots, Sharaud Curry needs to be very good, Weyinmi Efejuku must be a consistent force and someone needs to play interior defense. Welcome to the Big East, Keno Davis.

11. Seton Hall (17-15, 7-11): Gritty Pirates have good guard scoring punch but need a few big men to stand up. Recruit Melvyn Oliver (6-9, 290) fills the big part of the equation.

12. Cincinnati (13-19, 8-10): Mick Cronin has recruited very well with Yancy Gates, Cashmere Wright and Texas transfer Mike Williams. The Bearcats’ talent base is growing quickly.

13. Rutgers (11-20, 3-15): Recruits Greg Echenique and Mike Rosario show that Fred Hill can indeed sign New Jersey’s best. Young Knights may be one year away from a sharp rise .

14. DePaul (11-19, 6-12): Young talent base headed by Dar Tucker, Mac Koshwal could be ready to make a move.

15. St. John’s (11-19, 5-13): We like Justin Burrell and Anthony Mason, but there weren’t many gains on the recruiting trail and that spells trouble for the Storm.

16. South Florida (12-19, 3-15): Seven new players headed by Gus Gilchrist, Teeng Akol and Mike Mercer combine with a solid backcourt, but Bulls remain buried in this league.

kmcnamar@projo.com