CINCINNATI (OH) – LaSalle Explorers

Previous Record (Conf)
18-13 (9-7)

Key Non-Conference Games
at Villanova (28 Nov), Kansas in KC, Missouri (12 Dec), Oklahoma St in Oklahoma City, OK (21 Dec)

Projected Conference Record (Finish)
11-5 (4th)

Conference Home-and-Home Partners
Massachusetts, George Washington, Temple

Outlook
LaSalle was only one or two more wins away from a post-season invite last season, returns three starters, a potent bench and a nationally recognized top 50 recruit. LaSalle is big, long and physical at every position. Head coach John Giannini has a veteran team with nine upper classmen that should be able to run his pro-style offense to perfection. In Giannini’s system the big men can shoot, the guards can score on the blocks and everyone crashes the boards. The Explorers are designed to exploit whatever mismatches are present.

The only component LaSalle is missing is a true point guard. Senior Rodney Green, a first-team All-Conference performer last season and a potential Player of the Year this year will be stuck running the point again year. A more natural scoring guard or wing, Green doesn’t have the ball-handling skills or play-making abilities to excel there. It’s a testament to his considerable talents that he is able to be one of the best players in the A10 while playing out of position.

While the Explorers have plenty of size, they do lack quickness on the perimeter a major reason they finished 12th in the A10 at defending the triple. LaSalle is at their best when they can control the glass and score in the lane – usually going one-on-one. When they face teams that are just as big and athletic, they lack the playmakers on the perimeter to generate any consistent offense.

Spotlight On
Freshman Aaric Murray (6-10 245) was a consensus top 50 recruit nationally and should start immediately. Murray was a late-bloomer only picking up basketball his sophomore year in high school, but the big man has developed rapidly. A non-entity on the AAU circuit his high ranking was based predominantly on his performance at the NBA Players Association Camp in the summer of 2008. Murray is comfortable with the ball, possesses above-average ball skills and is excellent and using his big body to defend and create space down low. Players with his size and skill set are rarely recruited to the A10 as freshman and he should challenge for A10 Rookie of the Year honors.

Best Case Scenario
Dr G. is able to find enough competent shooters to keep the Explorers from facing a zone every night which would negate their considerable size advantage. The veteran team plays like one and is able to significantly reduce their turnovers, a problem area last season. As usual LaSalle dominates the glass, and Murray leads the team while anchoring the defense negating the speed deficiencies on the perimeter.

Worst Case Scenario
LaSalle again dominates the glass and again gives the ball back to their opponents too often. LaSalle dominate the lower half of the A10, but Dr. G never finds a way to beat the best teams when they are just as big and athletic.