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LOCATION: Philadelphia, PA
CONFERENCE: Atlantic-10 (West Division)
LAST SEASON: 13-15 (.464)
CONFERENCE RECORD: 8-8 (3rd)
STARTERS LOST/RETURNING: 1/4
NICKNAME: Explorers
COLORS: Blue & Gold
HOMECOURT: Tom Gola Arena (4,000)
COACH: William "Speedy" Morris
record at school 215-169 (13 years)
career record 215-169 (13 years)
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ASSISTANTS: Roland Houston (Rhode Island '82)
Jim Phillips (La Salle '94)
John Gallagher (St. Joseph's '98)
TEAM WINS: (last 5 years) 13-6-10-9-13
RPI (last 5 years) 134-189-178-183-171
1998-99 FINISH: Lost in conference quarterfinal.
ESPN.com Clubhouse
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There is much to like about La Salle's position heading into its fifth Atlantic 10 season. The Explorers have three all-conference candidates in Donnie Carr, Victor Thomas and Rasual Butler. The school has decided, at long last and with unnecessary delay, that Speedy Morris does indeed know enough about the game to continue as head coach. And Tom Gola Arena, which the Explorers finally had for a full season, provided their first true homecourt advantage since Lionel Simmons drew extra bodies to the Philadelphia Civic Center. There is the "donut" issue, however. As in, does this team have a center? Come to think of it, does it even have a power forward? Departed "five" man K'Zell Wesson, at 6-7, 254, was quite likely the most underrated player in the conference (if not beyond). His nightly double-double (15.6 ppg, 10.8 rpg) was even more important than the explosiveness of La Salle's "big three." Whereas the others could compensate for one another, Wesson was a one-man band underneath. Without Wesson, can the Explorers survive the inevitable off nights of Carr (.403 FG) and Butler (.380 FG)? Is there enough beef to insure that the league's worst defense (74.6 ppg) doesn't become even more porous? We'll know soon enough if Carr & Co. can simply outscore the team's other weaknesses. Carr, who once led the nation's freshmen in scoring (23.9 ppg in 1996-97) is a living definition of the term "less is more." He has evolved from a player who had to shoot to be effective. Now he both shares the ball and keeps his mouth shut, two characteristics which solidify his status as the club's senior statesman.
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Blue Ribbon Analysis |
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BACKCOURT B+ BENCH/DEPTH C
FRONTCOURT C INTANGIBLES B
The return of Speedy Morris, if ever in doubt, was confirmed when the Explorers won the first Atlantic 10 Tournament game of his tenure. That it was an 81-54 blowout over city rival St. Joseph's was even better, as the Hawks had won a series of nail-biters from the Explorers in recent years. The next steps becoming true A-10 contenders and a postseason tournament candidate may be a bit tougher. Working in La Salle's favor is a weakened West Division. Working against them is a passive defense which becomes even less threatening on the road, where the Explorers were just 2-12 last season. La Salle even lost at Duquesne, which was a Division I opponent in name only. The Explorers could finish anywhere from second to fifth in their division. We'll be optimistic and call it third place for Donnie Carr's finale. If La Salle gets any inside play at all, a winning overall record and the NIT are not out of reach. More likely is another season right around .500. Unless they change the rules to three-on-three |
Yet Carr has never played for a winning college team. Look for him to make the most of this final chance. Butler, Carr's one-time teammate at Roman Catholic High in Philadelphia (where Morris first became a local coaching legend), is the one Explorer who can dramatically improve his output. The slender 6-7 sophomore became eligible at mid-year and, if he can escape an off-season criminal matter, has the range and willingness to boost his numbers. Ideally, his shooting percentage should also rise. Remember, Butler played 17 minutes in his first college game (vs. Drexel) without having practiced with the team. It was almost as if he was an intern until the very late stages of last season. Thomas, meanwhile, just does his thing. He plays the "four" spot not because he is a power forward, but because he is the only candidate. He has learned to do some damage in and around the lane. Whether that continues without an accomplice such as Wesson remains to be seen. Point guard Julian Blanks, a 6-2 sophomore, started every game as a freshman and was a mostly pleasant surprise. Although not among the league's best point men, Blanks (7.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.5 apg) didn't hurt the Explorers and could really help if he becomes a more consistent shooter. This is not an unthinkable turn of events in that many point guards, when asked to start as freshmen, put the least work into their own offense. Garrett Bragg, a 6-11 junior, inherits the center spot. Bragg (1.8 ppg, 2.1 rpg) had his moments, most notably a season-high nine points in a double overtime victory over St. Joseph's, but he will likely be miscast as a starter. He will certainly not come close to Wesson's level of production. Frontcourt reserves, all of whom will have to step up their respective games, include 6-8 junior James Jordan (0.9 ppg, 2.1 rpg) and 6-8 sophomore Anwar Wilson (0.5 ppg, 0.6 rpg). 6-10 senior-to-be Bobby Collins (0.9 ppg, 2.2 rpg) did not return. Morris will try to get something out of unheralded 6-7 freshman Aleksander Pavlovich. The Serbian native posted 10.0 ppg and 4.0 rpg at Archbishop Spalding HS in suburban Maryland last year. Along with Jordan (eight starts), someone is going to have to play behind Bragg. Reserves are not as vital on the perimeter. Carr, Butler and Thomas, for instance, each played all 50 minutes in the double overtime game vs. St. Joseph's. The upside to La Salle's passive zone is that the Explorers don't expend much energy on defense. As such, it's hard to figure how much we'll see of newcomers Dwayne Jones, a 6-4 freshman from Mississauga, Ontario, and 6-7 frosh Mike Pidhirsky from nearby Father Judge HS in Philadelphia. Mike Sidebotham, a 6-0 senior, began last season as a manager before becoming a walk-on in January. He appeared in five contests and will return to a similar role.
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