Men’s basketball Big 5 preview

by Jason Weisbecker

Thursday November 12, 2009 

Men’s basketball Big 5 preview thumbnail

College basketball season has arrived which means it is time to look at the Big 5. The Big 5 is a collaboration of Philadelphia’s five major Division I schools – Villanova, Temple, St. Joseph’s, LaSalle, and UPenn. Bellow is a team-by tam look at each school. To view the team’s outlooks individually, check back to phillysportsblogs main page.

Villanova Wild Cats

 Coming off last year’s Final Four Appearance, Jay Wright’s squad is not only the favorites to win the Big 5 and the Big East, but also an early favorite to make it back to the Final Four. The Wildcats are ranked #5 (AP) and #6 (USA Today) in the latest Pre-Season polls. The loss of 1st team All Philly Big Five Dante Cunningham (16.1 ppg. and 7.5 rpg,) Dwayne Anderson and Shane Clark to graduation will definitely be hard for the Wildcats to overcome. The Cats will also be without forward Reggie Redding for the first 10 games until he becomes a “Student in good Standing” according to University policy. 

 2008-2009 Recap:  The Wild Cats went on an improbable run through the NCAA Tournament all the way to the Final Four losing to eventual National Champion North Carolina. They finished the season with a record of 30-8 overall and 13-5 in the Big East.

 Backcourt: This is by far the strongest part of the team. Led by senior captain Scottie Reynolds and juniors Corey Fisher and Corey Stokes, the Wildcats return one of the best back courts in the country. Reynolds, who put his name in the NBA hat, but eventually decided to return for his senior year, was named Most Outstanding Player of the 2009 East Regional, Honorable Mention All Big East and 1st team All Philly Big Five. He is a favorite for not only Big East Player of the Year, but National Player of the year as well. Fisher is back after being named Big East 6th man of the year last season. Stokes is a model of consistency at the other guard spot.

 Frontcourt: If there is a weak point on this year’s team or better yet, a question mark, it would be the front court. However, coach Wright expects big things out of the combination of red shirts, transfers and a few freshman. Red shirt freshman Marice Sutton is expected to jump right in at the center position. Sutton is a 6’11 natural shot blocker, who can play with his back to the basket. Perhaps the biggest addition for the Wildcats is Duke transfer Taylor King. King is a 6’6 forward who averaged 5.5ppg in 34 games with Duke. King has the ability to be a prolific scorer as he was in his high school days as a McDonalds All American in 2007, averaging 26.6 points per game.

 Recruits: The Cats have one of nation’s top recruiting classes. According to Scout.com it is ranked #2 and ESPN has the class ranked #3. Jay Wright brought in two McDonalds All Americans in Dominic Cheek and Maalik Wayns. Despite their great depth at the guard position, these youngsters are expected to play a significant role this season. Coach Wright also recruited two teammates from Montrose Christian in Maryland, Isaiah Armwood and Mouphtaou Yarou. Yarou is expected to start in the front court, while Armwood will also see minutes.

 Biggest Loss(s):The dominating play of Dante Cunningham will be missed. 

 Key Player(s): Scottie Reynolds is by far the key to their success.

Pleasant Surprise(s): Taylor King will be the biggest surprise of not only the team, but the entire Big East. I expect a great year from King. 

 Freshman of the Year: Well, if you count red shirt freshman, then Marice Sutton will run away with this. However, as far as true freshman go, I will say Mouphtaou Yarou. 

 Prediction:

Big 5: 1st

Big East: 1st

Bonus: 2nd straight Final Four appearance

 

LaSalle Explorers

LaSalle fans should have a lot to cheer for this season as the Explorers return four players that averaged double-digit scoring last season. Rodney Green is like to be an All-Atlantic 10 player and will do a little bit of everything his season.

2008-2009 Recap: Green led the team to an 18-win season. LaSalle also played well against its Big 5 foes, going 3-1, with its only loss coming against Villanova. However it did not do enough in the A-10 Tournament to earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament.

Backcourt: Green returns for his fourth year as a starting point guard and could end up being the best player in the Big 5. Last season he averaged 17.8 points, five boards and three assists per outing. He will be joined by Ruben Guillandeaux, who averaged 10.1 ppg and led the team with 44 made threes.

Frontcourt: Yves Mekongo, and Kimmani Barrett return to the forward positions. Barret was second on the team in scoring (11.8) and has great range as evidenced by 35 made threes last season. Mekongo was good for 10.4 ppg and led the team with six boards a night. He is also a versatile player that can step out and hit the three. Having two big men that can shoot will stretch out opposing defenses.

Recruits: Aaric Murray is a consensus top 40 recruit and is the top-rated recruit that is playing outside of the BCS conferences. He is a preseason All-Atlantic 10 Rookie Team selection and will see immediate playing time.  Also watch out for guard T.T. Carey. Carey is the third all-time leading scorer in the state of Virginia, behind only Moses Malone and Allen Iverson.

Biggest loss(es): The Explorers did not lose a single key contributor from last year’s squad.

Key player(s): LaSalle’s hopes to get to the NCAA Tournament rest on Green.

Pleasant Surprise(s): The only thing that will make this season truly special is a trip to the NCAA Tournament. LaSalle getting there would certainly qualify.

Freshman of the Year: While I am intrigued by Carey, Murray will see more playing time and has the ability to be an NBA player in a few years.

Prediction: While Dayton, Xaveir and Duquense are drawing the most attention, the Explorers will be in the mix.

Big 5: 2nd

Atlantic 10: 3rd

 

Temple Owls

We can officially call this Fan Dunphy’s team. Dunphy took over for legendary coach John Chaney in 2006, but this will be the first time he is leading a team that is full of his recruits. It is hard to say Dunphy is on a hot seat because the Owls have qualified for the NCAA Tournament each of the last two seasons, but Temple has not had the measure of success that became the standard with Chaney running the show. This season could be a defining one for Dunphy.

2008-2009 Recap:  The Owls (22-12, 11-5) struggled to find an identity early in the season but turned it on during the A-10 Tournament and gained an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament. The Owls were eliminated in the first round of the tournament by Arizona State.

Backcourt: Senior Ryan Brooks returns as the starting shooting guard and will have an increased role with Dionte Christmas gone. He shot 41 percent from beyond the arc last season.

Frontcourt: Junior Lavoy Allen will be the go-to guy in the low post. Last season Allen averaged 11 points and nine boards. Allen is a high-energy player, whose aggressiveness makes him a menace on the offensive glass. Michael Eric will team with Allen in the frontcourt, but is not much of a scorer. He had a limited role last season and will be counted on this year mostly to use his 6’11 frame to clean up the glass. Argentinean Juan Fernandez, who averaged six points last season, will also see minutes.

Recruits: Rahlir Jefferson, a 6’6 freshman from Chester, Penn., is the highest-touted recruit on the team. The Owls have seven freshman on the roster, but it is Jefferson and guard Khalif Wyatt who standout. The duo faced off as high school seniors, with Wyatt scoring 31 and Jefferson going for 17 and 12 boards.

Biggest Loss(es): This one is easy. Dionte Christmas was one of best players to come through Temple in a decade. He provided scoring (20 ppg) and leadership, which will both be missed. Christmas was an All-American, though he didn’t get drafted. He was signed by the Sixers and later cut. The Owls also lost their starting center in Sergio Olmos. The 7-foter gave them 1.5 blocks a game, but averaged just four rebounds a night.

Key Player(s):  The Owls will try to spread the ball around this season, but it is Brooks that will be counted on to lead the scoring.

Pleasant surprise(s): Michael Allen will have a much bigger presence than he had last year on both ends of the court.

Freshman of the Year: It usually takes forwards longer to make an impact than guards, so Wyatt has the advantage.

Prediction: Because Christmas in no loner there expectations are tempered for the Owls.

Big 5: 3rd

A-10: 7th

 St. Josephs Hawks

 The St. Joseph’s Hawks are in a rebuilding year and most likely will finish 3rd or 4th in the Big 5. Losing seniors Ahmed Nivins and Tasheed Carr to graduation leaves the Hawks with two big holes to fill. Nivens is the reigning Atlantic 10 Player of the Year, 1st team All-Philly Big 5 and last season’s leading scorer (19.2 ppg.) and leading rebounder (11.8 rpg.) for the Hawks, while Carr was the calming influence and floor leader from the guard position.

2008-2009 Recap: The Hawks found themselves in the mix last season around midseason. Unfortunately, Martelli’s bunch went on to lose 7 of their last 10 games to finish 17-15 overall and 9-7 in the A-10. It appeared that the Hawks ran out of gas at the end of the season, as four players averaged 34 minutes a game.

Backcourt: The Hawks will depend heavily on their returning seniors Darrin Govens and Garrett Williamson. Govens will be depended upon to score and direct traffic. If the Hawks expect to compete in the Big 5 and A-10, Govens will have to increase last years 12.7 ppg output. Williamson, a defensive specialist is a big guard at 6’5 and will be looked at to shut down the opposition’s top scorer.

Frontcourt: To fill the void that was left by Nivens, Martelli will depend on junior forward Idris Hilliard to step right in and produce. Hilliard averaged 9.2 ppg and 5.5 rpg last season and is expected surpass those numbers while logging more minutes. 6-11 Sophomore transfer Todd O’Brian from Bucknell, will also be counted on to solidify the front court for the Hawks.

Recruits: Even though the Hawks are strong in the backcourt, they will also depend on two freshman guards, Justin Crosgile and Carl Jones. While Jones is expected to log more minutes then Crosgile, both will be counted on to spell Govens and Williamson. Freshman forward Carl Baptiste could also see some time this season.

Biggest Loss(s): Without a doubt, losing Ahmed Nivens is going to hurt.

Key Player(s): The key to the Hawks success will depend heavily on the play of Hilliard and Govens.

Pleasant Surprise(s): Transfer Todd O’Brian will be a pleasant surprise in the front court.

Freshman of the Year: Jones will get to play significant minutes and could be a starter by the end of the year.

Prediction:

Big 5: 4th

A-10: Middle of the pack (8th or 9th)

 

University of Pennsylvania Quakers

Penn is in a tough spot this year. They figure to be better than last year’s team which finished eight games under .500, but are not considered a serious threat to dethrone Cornell as Ivy League Champions. The team has a couple of nice players, but does not have that one guy who can put the team on his shoulders.

2008-2009 Recap: IT was not a pretty year for Penn as it went 10-18 and just 6-8 in the Ivy League. Some young players emerged, but the Quakers struggled to score points al year.

Backcourt: Tyler Bernardini led the team with 13.7 ppg, though he shot just 40 percent from the field. He has scored in double digits 20 times in the last two years. Now a junior, the Quakers will need Bernardini to elevate his game even further this year. Sophomore Zach Rosen scored 8.1 ppg lat year and was voted Big 5 Freshman of the Year. His 4.96 assist average led the Ivy League.

Frontcourt: Jack Eggleston will be the big man the Quakers will count on the most. He was good for 9.6 points and 5.9 rebounds last season and got stronger as the year went on. He scored in double digits 14 times last season and was 5th in the IVY League in rebounding.

Recruits: Junior transfer Zach Gordon will be joined by freshman Carson Sullivan, Sean Mullan and Brian Fitzpatrick on the roster. None of the freshmen are expected to make an immediate impact.

Biggest losses: Guard Harrison Gaines and his 9.9 scoring average will be missed by a team which lacks scoring options.

Key Player(s): Darren Smith. Three years ago Smith scored 17 points twice as a freshman and figured to be a main cog for years to come. A knee-cap injury cost him the last two seasons, so he will return as a wildcard. Penn needs some unexpected contributions and Smith could be that guy. Meanwhile, Bernardini will be counted on to win games.

Predictions: With most of its starters back Penn should be a couple games better this year. They will be a challenge to Cornell, who was a unanimous Ivy League No.1 in a preseason media poll.

Big 5: 5th

Ivy League: 4th

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Comments

One Response to “Men’s basketball Big 5 preview”

  1. jon on November 13th, 2009 3:57 pm

    sutton? he’ll be lucky to even get on the floor this year. Pena, Mouph and King will be getting all the minutes at the forward positions

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