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two local favorites to play tomorrow
Villanova held off St Joes on Wednesday night by a 97-89 score to run their record to 9-0. A Big 5 showdown looms when they go to Temple to face the 7-2 Owls who are 6-1 since losing to Georgetown by a single point in a low scoring affair 46-45 on November 17th. The Owls are playing a suffocating defense this year, only allowing 3 of their opponents to score more than 50 points so far this year.
The Villanova Wildcats have gotten used to scoring early and scoring often, so it will be a case of a high octane offense running into a smothering defense when the cross town rivals meet up tomorrow afternoon at 3:00 pm. Villanova was a pre season pick to be a top ten team this year, following their final four performance of 2008. So far they dispatched LaSalle, winning by 18 and got by St Joes as I stated, but in my opinion, Sunday’s game against the Owls will show their true mettle.
The Owls simply have the best matchup against the powerful Villanova squad. Temple averages over 5 steals and 3 blocks a game and has held opposition to under 50% shooting all year long. It is early yet, but I think we will see a much reduced offensive output from the Wildcats, who have five players scoring in double digits. I predict a game more suited to the Owls as they slow down the tempo and look for steals, cut off passing lanes, and fly to the ball defensive style that will produce a score in the 60’s, favoring them, rather than the higher scoring end to end alley ooping triple passing assist laden 80 + point games the Wildcats have been known to win over the past 2 1/2 seasons.
Of course, the Owls are going to have to take care of the ball, as the Wildcats have averaged over 8 steals a game themselves, but if you look at the caliber of opponents played, the statistics don’t portray a fair comparison between these two teams. Villanova has mostly played sub .500 teams so far this year, whereas Temple has played some truky tough programs, including Georgetown, Virginia Tech and St Johns.
My guess is the Wldcats will pull it out, winning 65-62 but will trail with less than five minutes remaining and come roaring back to win in and remain unbeaten. The Owls are good, and I was also excited over the football program this year, but they are not quite at Villanova’s level when it comes to basketball. Expect strong showings from Ryan Brooks and Ramone Moore on the Owls end, and the counter attack from Scottie Reynolds and Corey Fisher from the visitors end of the court.
If Villanova wins, as they should, they really don’t have another serious test for more than a month, when they face Georgetown on January 17 2010. If they remain undefeated at 16-0 going into that game, the first of a home and away series with Georgetown, it could well be a meeting between 2 top ten teams that may have a lot to do with the eventual seedings for the NCAA tournament. For now, all we can do is watch and enjoy, and hope Villanova can keep up the good work. They certainly have their work cut out for them with 8 meetings against teams currently ranked in the top 20 in the final month of their season.
Little brother fights back … Big 5 update
Did you ever compete against a younger brother growing up?
Time after time you would beat your younger sibling in whatever challenge was on the table. Whether it was backyard whiffle ball or eating Oreos, you always had the upper hand. Sure there were time’s when you let you brother almost win (kinda cruel wasn’t it?), but by the events end you always got the upper hand. After all, that’s what being the big brother is all about.
I was reminded of that this week watching the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. It is an event that features 11 teams from the ACC taking on 11 teams from the Big Ten. For the last 10 years it has been big brother picking on little brother year after year. There were times when little brother got close and may have fooled some into thinking he had a chance, but in the end it never developed. Coming in to this season the ACC was 10-0 in the event.
Then something funny happened. On Wednesday Wisconsin took down mighty Duke to give the Big Ten a 6-5 win his season, their first such in the rivalry.
At last a victory for little brother.
Will it last? Probably not. The ACC may just go on and win the next ten vents. But for one day, little brother stands tall.
Now an update on the Big 5:
La Salle (3-2): The Explorers have performed about as well as expected thus far, getting nice wins over Davidson and Tulane, and holding their own against a much better Villanova team, before fading in the second half. Rodney Green has given the team a consistent low post threat, providing 17 points and seven rebounds a game.
Penn (0-4): Off to the worst start in the Big 5, Penn has had trouble on offense, scoring over 65 just once. That came in a tough 97-95 overtime loss to Drexel. The team has a shot at its first win on Friday when it takes on Navy (3-4).
Saint Joseph’s (3-3): It’s been an uneven season for the Hawks, who have dropped three straight after a hot start. Things don’t look to get any easier for St. Joe as it faces a Cornell team that is 6-2 and Villanova in its next two contests. The Hawks do have balance, with four players averaging between 10.3 and 12.5 ppg.
Temple (5-2): Fran Dunphy has his team off to a fast start, though the Owls have not knocked off anyone that would be considered a quality opponent. Their best showing (at least credibility wise) might have been a loss, when they led Georgetown for much of the fourth quarter before falling by one. As expected, Ryan Brooks is leading the team in scoring with 13.6 per game.
Villanova (7-0): After a couple of close wins in the first week of the season, the Wildcats appear to have hit their stride. Led by Scottie Reynolds (13.9 ppg) Villanova has risen to No. 3 in the rankings and is a favorite to get to the Final Four. Their first big test may not come until Jan. 2 when they open Big East play against Marquette.
Wildcats return to their dominating ways !
Villanova took no prisoners as they faced city rival Penn. The Quakers never had a chance as they trailed by 30 at the end of the half. The #6 Wildcats played a nearly flawless game and finished with a 38 point victory, 103-65.
Jay Wright coached a masterful game and the Wildcats fired on all cylinders to start the season 2-0, albeit against a much inferior Quaker team that is not nationally ranked and will probably have trouble finishing above .500 this season. Malik Wayns led the team with 16 points, and 3 other starters scored 14 as 6 players scored a dozen or more in perhaps the most balanced offensive attack in the Big East.
Being the best in the Big East is no joke either as this conference has 6 teams ranked in the top 25 nationally and boasts 10 teams that have started off 2-0 or 3-0 to start the season. Once interconference play starts this will change, but when you look at the Big East against any other conference you see how dominant they are as a group. Villanova, Georgetown, Seton Hall, Connecticut, West Virginia, Louisville, Depaul, Syracuse, St Johns, and Providence all play here.
Villanova is fortunate in that they have a relatively light schedule early, and overall play some easier teams out of conference, but in order for any team to finish with 30 wins in the Big East, they need to be on top of their game every 3rd night or so for the next 3 months.
Villanova may be the team to beat, as early as it is, but a potential speed bump in a city rival from the Atlantic 10 lies in wait, in the LaSalle Explorers. These two traditional Philly powers meet on November 28th, and in my opinion, if one team dominates this meeting, they will be the team to watch. Every game is a tough one, but if the Wildcats get by the Explorers, the next true test of their mettle may well occur on January 11th when they have to travel to Louisville to play the now ranked 22nd Cardinals who could well still be undefeated at this time.
Louisville boasts a strong team with veteran starters and an extremely young bench. This could prove to be a huge potential asset or an equally large liability depending on how these games play out, but I for one would not want to face Louisville at home if they enter this game at 16-0 or 15-1 and ranked in the top ten with something to prove. With five major teams, six if you wish to count Drexel, Philadelphia probably stands one of the best chances of a city being represented in the final four, and I think the year should be an exciting one for the fans as we wait to see who it is going to be !
My early vote is on Villanova, a team that has won 19 of their last 20 contests against other big 5 teams, and 6 straight against Penn, and has a winning streak at the Pavilion that dates back to January of 2007. They shot 59% from the field and totally dominated the contest wire to wire, looking much more relaxed and confidant than they did in their season opener where they struggled early against the Knights before pulling away for an 84-61 victory.
This team looked like the final four contender from last year, the one ranked #6 by ESPN and AP voters early this year, and the one that should lead a group of superior Philadelphia teams in the NCAA this year. Oh, good times, and more to come !!
Temple misses free throws, chance for upset
Something tells me Fran Dunphy is going to have his players taking plenty of free throws at practice this week.
Had they simply made a few on Tuesday night, Temple would be celebrating a great early season victory.
The Owls hit just 6-of-13 free throws against Georgetown, dropping a heartbreaker, 46-45 to the 20th ranked Hoyas in.
While plenty of players had their hands in the free throw futility, it was Raymone Moore’s miss that was the most glaring. With Temple up one with 23 seconds left Moore missed the front end of a 1-and-1. Greg Monroe put the Hoyas up for good with a layup with 6.5 seconds left.
The good news is that the Owls defense looked sharp, holding Georgetown to just 19 points in the fist half. The bad news is that the Owls scored just 13 in the fame.
A one point loss to a ranked team isn’t bad, but I’m not one to put too much stock in moral victories. The Owls had Georgetown on the ropes and never delivered the knockout blow.
Get your boys on the free throw line in practice Fran – 46 percent is not going to cut it
Men’s basketball Big 5 preview
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
Villanova season preview
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(es):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 season preview
LaSalle
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 season preview
Temple
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. His speed an athleticism also makes him a tough cover.
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. Joseph’s season preview
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)
UPenn season preview
University of Pennsylvania
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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