LaSalle's Giannini has made critical recruting errors

LaSalle was beaten by 46 points last Tuesday night by a good Miami team.  It was the worst loss in LaSalle Men's Basketball history.   Early in the game, it became obvious that Miami was faster, stronger and very much taller than the Explorer players. 

LaSalle coach, John Giannini, basically has a team of guards. many times, the tallest player on the court is 6'5".     Giannini left a gaping hole in his recruiting plan by not having one or two big men as part of his 2015-16 squad.    After losing 6'11" Steve Zack and 6'8" Jerrell Wright to graduation last year, the only legitimate front court players left were senior, Rohan Brown (career scoring average of 2.0 ppg), and unproven sophomore, Tony Washington  (0.5 ppg in 2014-15).

To compound the lack of front court depth, LaSalle has a dismal 42%field goal percentage this season. 

Giannini's team of poor shooting guards and swing men will struggle to win 10 games this season.    The 2015-16 season is shaping up to be one of the worst teams ins school history.  

Coaches need to look 2 or 3 years out and anticipate potential holes in the team's makeup.  In LaSalle's case, they were left short......no pun intended. 

2015 Eagles disappoint fan base (again)

Chip Kelly's Eagles will soon complete a historically bad season.  Fans and media had high expectations for this squad, many picking the Birds to make it to Super Bowl 50.     That all went up in flames right out of the gate with consecutive losses to start the season.    It never got better from there.   This team was bad in every aspect of the game this season.  Constant penalties, missed tackles, dropped balls, etc.  doomed the Eagles in 2015. 

Statistically, this team was near the bottom in most categories, including:

31st - Last in the NFL in Total Defense
26th - Points allowed
3rd most penalized team in the NFL
2nd most fumbles
24th in Rushing average

I'd like to say that 2016 is a promising year for the Birds, but major questions still exist such as who will be the Quarterback next season ; will there be more depth in the Offense line next season ; and will Demarco Murray show glimpses of his 2014 season, or a continued deterioration of his skills.

Stay tuned.
 

Nova Schools LaSalle

Villanova had their way with LaSalle on Sunday night at the Pavilion, beating the Explorers by 29 points (76-47).   The Wildcats, ranked #9 in the latest USA Today poll, never trailed and exposed LaSalle's lack of  a front court by outrebounding the Explorers 31-20.   

LaSalle's season shooting woes continued Sunday, as the team shot a paltry 32% from the field, including making only 46% of their free throws.  With the exception of Jordan Price, who is averaging 24 points per game, there are limited options for LaSalle on the offensive side.     Coach John Giannini's squad will be hard pressed to win 10 games this season.   Giannini was left a huge void when Steve Zack and Jerrell Wright graduated in the Spring.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel for the Explorers, as next season's team will have three transfers who become eligible.  They include 6'9" Demetrius Henry from South Carolina, 6'0" Pookie Powell from Memphis and 6'7" Ron Johnson from Syracuse.   All three should contribute heavily.

If Jordan Price returns for his Senior year, the 2016-17 squad should be a top tier Atlantic 10 team.

LaSalle Men's Basketball Team Grades for 2013-14

The LaSalle Men’s basketball team entered the 2013-14 season with high expectations following a Sweet 16 appearance last year.    The Explorers lost their leading scorer, Ramon Galloway, but returned 4 starters from a 24 win team.

The tone was set early this season, with an opening game loss at home to Manhattan.  The Explorers have struggled the entire year finding any type of momentum. In addition, at times, the team lacked energy and a swagger that comes from a tournament team.

Three quick conference wins early in January had LaSalle leading the Atlantic 10 conference and excitement built.  However, the Explorers proceeded to lose 8 of their next 9 conference games and any hope of a tournament selection faded.

This season will go down as one of the biggest disappointments in LaSalle Men’s college basketball history.   

Here are my grades for the 2013-14 LaSalle Explorers. 

Tyreek Duren – A - Despite a painful foot injury, Duren was consistent throughout the year and put the team on his back during critical times.   His 14.8 PPG scoring average leads the team.    Although his shooting percentage dropped to 41% this season, he was by far the most clutch scorer on the team. He will leave LaSalle as one of the best point guards to play at 20^th & Olney.

Sam Mills – C+ – Mills was expected to be the sharp shooter the team needed from 3-point range.    His scoring average dropped to 7.6 ppg and his .383% shooting was the worst in his 4-year career.

Tyrone Garland – C-  – Garland had a great run in last year’s NCAA tournament and had a chance to make his mark on the college basketball landscape this season.  His Southwest Philly Floater caught the eye of a lot of people.  However, his shooting this season has been simply atrocious.    His .336 shooting percentage, including a pathetically low .234 % from 3 point range has hurt this team.   At times, Garland looked disinterested in playing and his defense was below par.     Garland’s senior season may be one of the biggest disappointments in the last 25 years at LaSalle.

Steve Zack – B+ – Zack is LaSalle’s most improved player.  His defense has been very good this year and he leads the Atlantic 10 in rebounding.    Offensively he has improved a great deal too.   He needs to improve on his shooting percentage a bit for a big man. Zack will be a key force on the 2014-15 LaSalle squad.    Good year, Steve.

Jerrell Wright – B – Overall, Wright had a good year.   He is a high percentage shooter and can be counted on to grab rebounds when needed.    Unfortunately, Wright encountered early foul trouble in many games and spent most of the first halves of games on the bench.      He also needs to improve on his free throw shooting (58%).    Not a bad year.

Khalid Lewis – C- – A highly touted transfer from Delaware, Lewis was basically a flop this year.  Coach Giannini raved about him early and how he has so much potential.    His shooting percentage of .260% makes Garland look like Ray Allen.   Lewis did not get the playing time he needed in order to develop due to the logjam of senior guards on the team.    He has to work on his shooting and will be counted on to run the team next year.    

DJ Peterson – C+ – Peterson almost transferred this summer, but Coach Giannini talked him out of it.   He probably should have let him go.   DJ had a bad year  He was counted on coming into this year for his 3 pt shooting and defense.   His shooting percentage of .364% was his worst in 3 years and his 3 point accuracy of .265% was, well, just bad.      Peterson’s minutes were down this year and Giannini’s use of him was very inconsistent.  

Rohan Brown – Incomplete - If I were Brown, I’d transfer. The LaSalle team was out rebounded a lot this season.    Giannini never adjusted and went with a traditional lineup of 2 forward, 2 guards and a center.    He stayed with 3, sometimes 4 guards, costing Brown minutes.    The last 4 games this season, Brown has played 5 minutes.    He had a decent run in last year’s NCAA tournament and I expected to see him play more.    

Taylor Dunn – C+ – His playing time over his tenure here at LaSalle has diminished every year.    A scrappy player, Dunn is a low percentage shooter (wow, he fits in nicely on this team).    Due to the over abundance of guards, he was never going to see any significant playing time.

Jermaine Davis – Incomplete – After redshirting last year, I thought we’d see more of him.   Gianinni’s 3 guard offense cost Davis any chance of playing. 

Hank Davis – No grade  - We always root for the walk on’s.

OJ Lewis – Who ?  

John Giannini – C-    Coach Giannini had a bad year coaching.   His constant pining about losing Ramon Galloway was getting old.   Galloway was very god, but John had 4 starters return from a 24 win team and proceeded to reign over one of the most disappointing seasons in LaSalle basketball history.  That sounds a bit dramatic, but there were very high expectations this season.   At times, the team seemed constrained by Giannini’s predictable offense, that consisted of a high ball screen from Steve Zack, numerous passes out on the perimeter and eventually a low percentage shot as the shot clock wound down.      His lack of adjustments this season were painful.     Players have bad years, and so do coaches.  Giannini had a bad one.  

LaSalle's Dismal Season Continues - Giannini on the Hot Seat

LaSalle became a .500 team yesterday by losing on their home court to city rival, St. Joe's.  After a quick lead, LaSalle never had control of the game and St. Joe's defeated the Explorers rather easily.

Coach John Giannini, after the game, indicated his team lacks passion to compete at the elite level.   Of course, he caveated it by saying how great his kids are and they work hard, etc.

By stating his team lacks passion, Giannini hung himself.   Coaches that can't motivate their teams are typically fired.    This LaSalle team came into 2013-14 season with high expectations after a Sweet 16 appearance last year.  It was Giannini's job to keep his team hungry and develop a swagger of an elite team.      So, by admitting yesterday that his team "lacked passion" is a direct reflection on his ability to coach this team.

Frankly, this team may have quit on him (Giannini).     With 6 games remaining in the regular season,  Giannini's future is riding on his ability to motivate his squad.   Due to tough road games at Dayton, Richmond and St. Joe's, this team could conceivably finish the regular season with a record under .500.

No Sweet 16 this year.   Time for a coaching change at 20th & Olney ?  We'll see.

LaSalle's Season Starts Today

After a Sweet 16 appearance last season, expectations were high for this LaSalle team.   At 12-11, Coach John Giannini's team is an after-thought now and has disappeared from the national college basketball landscape.

Today's game against city rival, St Joseph's is a season shaper.   If the Explorers lose, the 2013-14 season is pretty much over.  A win would keep some faint hope alive that LaSalle can turn around a disappointing season and get back on track.

Heartbreaking losses to VCU and St. Louis can either strengthen this team's resolve or put doubt in the mind about their ability to compete with the elite A-10 teams.   Giannini needs to convince this team that they are good enough to be one of the nation's top 68 teams.   The Explorers have the experience and talent to make some noise in the Atlantic-10 tournament.  It will start today at Tom Gola Arena on 20th and Olney Avenues.

Here we go Explorers, here we go !

Top of 2014 Phillies rotation - Best in the National League ?

The 2014 Philadelphia Phillies are average at best. But……is there a better top 3 starting rotation than Hamels, Lee and Burnett in the National League ?

Hamels - 8-14, ERA : 3.60, SO 202

Lee - 14-8, ERA: 2.87, SO 222

Burnett - 10-11, ERA: 3.30, SO 209

Doug Collins - NBA Coach of the Year

The Philadelphia 76ers are a playoff team. Wow, that sounds odd. We haven't heard that phrase in years. With 17 games left in the NBA regular season, the Sixers are comfortably positioned to make the Eastern Conference playoffs. At this point, they are a #7 seed, but the way they are playing they could easily move into the #6 seed, maybe even #5.

Much of this team's success can be attributed to new coach Doug Collins. He has breathed new life into this franchise. He is the ultimate player's coach. The Sixers have no real superstar, but are a cohesive team that plays hard every night.....just like Doug Collins did when he was a player.

When I was a kid, the 76ers drafted Collins #1 overall in 1973. He was a great shooting guard from Illinois State and played on the 1972 Olympic team. Before Julius Erving arrived in Philadelphia, Collins was my favorite player.

He's now my favorite coach. Thanks, Doug, for making 76ers basketball relevant again. Let's make some noise in the playoffs !

Another Losing Season for LaSalle

Oh well, yet another losing season. That makes it only 2 winning seasons in the past 19 years.

But, in the spirit of a true Explorer fan, there is always next season (yes, we say that every year).

LaSalle loses Ruben Guillandeaux, Jerrell Williams and Steve Weingarten. That won't be devastating to say the least. Ruben and Jerrell were turnover machines. Steve was a nice role player and a great cinderella story.

Next season, LaSalle will have an exciting young back court. Tyreek Duren should enmerge as one of the A-10's best point guards, and Sam Mills will add quickness and outside shooting.

Cole Stefan showed some promise this year. Who knows, maybe he'll be the next Tim Legler ? We can only hope.

The big question mark will be Aaric Murray. He's so talented and I don't think we've seen his true greatness yet. He will need to dedicate himself to the game this offseason with a strict weight lifting regiment and an attitude adjustment. He'll be one of the team's leaders and he'll need to show that by playing hard all game. If he dedicates himself more, he should be the A-10 player of the year. That may sound far fetched, but I truly believe it.

Earl Pettis and Devon White should be starters and play major roles.

Highly touted recruit, Jerrell Wright (from Dobbins Tech)is a real brusier. He's 6'8", 245 pounds and should play right away, maybe even be a starter.

We'll have two 7 footers next year with Matt Lopez and recruit Steve Zack. Let's hope they can contribute.

Finally, I'll assume John Giannini will be back. I'm hoping he adds an assistant (like a Doug Overton type) who can not only coach basketball, but also show these kids how to be winners. We need to get LaSalle basketball back on the map. The program is irrelevant now and we need to make some noise next year.

Here's hoping (and wishing) for a winning season in 2011-12.