Location: Philadelphia, PA

Enrollment: 7,554

Founded: 1863

President: Br. Michael McGinniss

Athletic Director: Dr. Thomas Brennan

Athletic Web Site: goexplorers.cstv.com, lasalle.scout.com, explorerbasketball.blogspot.com, lasalle-explorers.com

Nickname: Explorers

Colors: Blue and Gold

Arena: Tom Gola Arena

Capacity: 4,000

Average Attendance: 2,087

Head Coach: John Giannini

Overall Record: 350-215 (61.7% Winning Percentage)

Record at La Salle: 53-66

2007-2008 Record: 15-17 (8-8) No Post Season

Assistants: Walt Fuller, Horace Owens, Ashley Howard

ROSTER

0 Darryl Partin SO WG 6-4 180 Seattle, WA/Charis Prep (NC)
1 Vernon Goodridge JR C-F 6-9 230 Brooklyn, NY/Miss. State
2 Kyle Griffin SO 6-3 185 Allentown, PA/Germantown Academy (PA)
5 Kimmani Barrett JR G/F 6-6 190 Paterson, NJ
*10 Rodney Green JR G 6-5 190 Philadelphia
*12 Yves Mekongo Mbala JR PF 6-7 210 Elizabeth, NJ/St. Patrick’s (NJ)
14 Devon White FR PF 6-8 230 Philadelphia
*20 Jerrell Williams SO 6-8 210 Paterson, NJ/ Northfield Mt. Hermon (MA)
21 Terrell Williams SO 8 210 Paterson, NJ/ Northfield Mt. Hermon (MA)
*31 Paul Johnson SR F 6-6 195 Washington, DC
34 Ruben Guillandeaux JR PG 6-5 195 Brooklyn, NY/St. Patrick’s (NJ)

*Returning starters

OVERVIEW

The Explorers began last season with devastating losses to lowly programs such as Howard and Morgan State and easily could have folded. They didn’t.

The catalyst for a rally: an about-face by coach John Giannini. He installed talented swingman Rodney Green as fulltime point guard and scrapped his structured offense in favor of a free-flowing attack. LaSalle lost four straight non-home games to Mississippi, Depaul, Villanova and Florida State, but the team was extremely competitive and nearly pulled a few upsets.

The newly confident Explorers went on to win eight of their first 13 league games, including six on the road. LaSalle even won its first-round game in the A-10 tournament and gave eventual winner Temple its toughest battle during the four-day event.

Back from that team is every single player except one: clutch sharpshooter Darnell Harris. The departure of the 6-1 Harris, a Second Team All-League selection, is no small matter. He led the team in scoring and accounted for almost half of LaSalle’s 3-point shots, hitting an amazing 48% behind the arc. His loss puts LaSalle in the same situation as Charlotte and Dayton, other A-10 squads that lost elite scoring guards.

Like those teams, LaSalle has no shortage of options. Ruben Guillandeaux, the 6-5 junior, appears ready to replace Harris and supply outside shooting (career 40.4% 3PG). Sophomore gunner Kyle Griffin will also help.

What’s more, the half-court offense will be tilted to inside play to take advantage of 6-9 newcomer Vernon Goodridge. The 230-pound transfer from Mississippi State dominated practice last year and gives Giannini a low-post presence he’s always lacked.

“You have to have a little bit of patience, but he’s going to have a significant impact on this team,” Giannini said. “If he plays up to his potential, we could have a very special year.”

Goodridge will get help from rising 6-8 sophomore Jerrell Williams, one of the best young forwards in the league, and a cast of athletic tweeners ranging in height from 6-5 to 6-7.

The performance of Green at point remains a work in progress and Giannini needs to find a couple of go-to players when LaSalle needs a bucket. Yet the Explorers might just have enough balance inside and out to compete for the A-10 title.

DEPARTED PLAYERS

Darnell Harris – It took slightly more than three years, but the undersized Harris finally accepted his role as go-to scorer (16.6 ppg). He became more aggressive, hit a number of big baskets and led the Explorers to a surprising 7th place finish in conference play. Despite being the focal point of opposing defenses, Harris rarely took a bad shot or made careless turnovers (just 36 for the season). He canned a gaudy 48% of his treys, many from well behind the arc. The rest of his game was all too ordinary, but Harris’ efficient shooting propelled LaSalle far up the A-10 totem pole. He was selected to the All-Conference Second Team for his efforts.

Sherman Diaz – Energetic swingman (3.6 ppg, 43.6% FG) was a good defender who gave LaSalle a spurt here and there, but he was an unreliable shooter and a suspect decision maker.

RETURNING PLAYERS

Rodney Green (13.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 3.2 apg, 46% FG, 45 steals). After LaSalle’s early-season struggles, Giannini took a gamble by having the swingman handle the ball. Lacking a true point guard on the roster, he really had no choice. The experiment was shaky at first and can only be seen as a mixed success, but it bodes well for the upcoming campaign. Although Green struggled with turnovers (111) all year, he grew more comfortable running the offense and created matchup problems for opponents. His size allows him to pass over smaller defenders or muscle past them with dribble penetration. He also showed a much improved shot, hitting 16 of 47 three-pointers (34%) after failing to make a single trey as a freshman. Green is one of the few players who can grab a board, race down the court, score himself or set up a teammate. At just 6-5, he also one of the best players in the league at posting up.

As much as he’s improved, Green is not yet a complete player. His perimeter game and decision making are still suspect and he’s not always an attentive defender. How much he improves in those areas could determine if LaSalle reaches the postseason for the first time since the school joined the A-10 in 1996. It’ll help that Green will have a healthy Ruben Guillandeaux to share point duties and ease the pressure on him. When Guillandeaux is in the game, it frees up Green to attack the basket. He’s one of the best slashers in the league and a surprisingly good finisher inside.

Giannini likens Green to Mardy Collins. The former Temple star also transitioned from high school forward to college point guard and turned himself into a first-round NBA draft pick in the process. While Giannini won’t go as far to say the same will happen to Green, it’s not outside the realm of possibility. “Rodney has really progressed,” Giannini said.

Jerrell Williams (9.1 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 43% FG, 55% FT, 23 blocks). The 6-8 combo forward, named to last year’s All-Rookie Team, is one of the league’s future stars. In just his first year, he led LaSalle in rebounding and finished third in scoring. Williams is most effective in the paint, using his quickness and long arms to score and rebound. He reached double figures 17 times and grabbed 10-plus boards in eight games. Among returning A-10 players, only Kahiem Seawright and Derrick Brown averaged more rebounds.

Williams appears to have plenty of room to elevate his game. He’s shown ability to take defenders off the dribble, a means of attack that would become more lethal if he improves his 3-point shot (9-40). The presence of a legitimate bigman such as Goodridge should also give Williams more room to operate. And with Goodridge in the game, Williams won’t have to defend bigger players as much. He committed 86 fouls as a freshman trying to guard opponents who often outweighed him by 20 or 30 pounds. Turnovers were another problem. Williams coughed up the ball 85 times, and many of his turnovers were just plain silly. Everyone on LaSalle has to do a better job taking care of the ball, but especially Green and Williams. “He still needs to cut down on turnovers,” Giannini said.

Kimmani Barrett (7.8 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 49% FG, 28% 3PG). All-purpose 6-6 forward was a key contributor as a sophomore even though his overall game didn’t improve much. Barrett struggled early on like most of his teammates and failed to produce consistently. He’s not a good outside shooter, preferring to attack the basket or hit the offensive glass. He also turns the ball over too much. What should be his strength, defense, is merely above average. Barrett should be a lockdown defender with his length and footwork.

As a junior, Barrett has to expand his game or risk losing time. Goodridge will get plenty of minutes at center and require Jerrell Williams and Yves Mekongo Mbala to man the forward spots more often. There’s not much room in the backcourt either unless Barrett’s shows more outside punch. The guess here is that Barrett will respond to the challenge. The high-strung Explorers need a utility player exactly like him. Barrett is smart and versatile, and steady if unspectacular, at both ends of the floor.

Ruben Guillandeaux (7.7 ppg, 45% FG, 39.4% 3PG, 2.1 apg). Big 6-5 guard began last year on the bench with a wrist injury and never found his rhythm, alternating good stretches with bad. Yet a healthy Guillandeaux will be expected to help fan the flames of LaSalle’s resurgence. He might be the best shooter on the team and is one of the few Explorers who can create his own shot.

A smooth ball-handler, Guillandeaux likes to use quick jab steps or stop and pop, generally avoiding forays to the rim. When Green plays point, Guillandeaux likes to set up behind the 3-point line to catch and shoot. When the roles are reversed, he does a solid job to find Green or other teammates for open shots (51 assists, 27 turnovers). Guillandeaux is not a true point and has trouble defending smaller guards, but he’s more than capable of handling the position for 15-20 minutes a game.

What Guillandeaux needs to show is more consistency and a little bit of fire. He only grabbed 2 offensive boards the entire season, a reflection of his unwillingness to get his hands dirty or possibly reinjure his wrist. LaSalle simply needs a bigger contribution from him. Giannini believes he’s ready to step up and fill much of the gap created by the graduation of Harris. He has all the tools to handle the job.

Yves Mekongo Mbala (8.3 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 45% FG, 41% 3PG, 48 assists). Muscular 6-7 forward performed much like he did as a freshman. Mbala got some tough buckets inside, crashed the boards and battled hard to defend the paint against larger opponents. The one area in which he clearly improved was outside shooting. Mbala connected on 26 of 63 three-point attempts, compared with 5 of 32 shooting as a freshman. He can’t knock down treys with a defender in his face, but Mbala is plenty accurate if given an open look. Unfortunately, he has yet to parlay his outside prowess with a consistent attack off the dribble and he’s not big enough to score regularly inside. That’s why he’s not a double-digit scorer. Can he do more? Yes. Mbala is an explosive athlete who does everything fairly well. The presence of Goodridge and maturation of Williams should give him more freedom as a junior to play his own game, floating inside or out as the situation requires.

Paul Johnson (6.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 44.5% FG, 51 assists). The 6-7 forward, Giannini’s first recruit and the team’s lone senior, is LaSalle’s designated lunch-pail guy. He gets the toughest defensive assignments, handles rebounding duties and sets picks for more skilled teammates. He’ll score a few buckets a game, mostly of the garbage variety, but offense is not his calling card. Johnson doesn’t shoot well outside (7-24 3PG) and lacks staple inside moves. His defense and rebounding alone, however, will earn him regular minutes. He’s strong and highly athletic and can defend several positions.

Terrell Williams (1.8 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 37% FG, 15 steals, 4 blocks). Second-year forward is not gifted offensively like his twin brother. He more closely resembles Paul Johnson, a defensive-minded player who takes care of the dirty work inside. One thing Terrell shares with his sibling, however, is a penchant for careless turnovers (31). That’s got to stop if he wants more playing time.

Kyle Griffin (3.5 ppg. 1.5 apg, 36% 3PG, 21 assists, 14 turnovers, 71% FT). The 6-3 combo guard suffered a knee injury as a freshman and saw his season cut short after 15 games. Griffin is not as athletic as his teammates, but he’s a careful ball-handler whose outside shooting could give him an important role. LaSalle might need him on the floor to spread out defenses and give the Explorers more opportunities to score inside. If he can’t make his shots, however, there’s little reason for him to be on the floor. He’s not a creative passer or a stalwart defender.

Darryl Partin (2.0 ppg, 35% FG, 27% 3PG, 6 assists, 15 turnovers). The 6-4 combo guard didn’t play much in his first season, though he did shine in close losses to St. Louis and URI, hitting a pair of treys in each game. Partin is definitely an A-10 level athlete. He’s just not a point guard or a dead-eye shooter. LaSalle recruited him for his defense, but he’s likely to remain a deep reserve unless he dramatically improves his jumper. Early preseason reports suggest he made progress and could see an expanded role.

NEWCOMERS

Vernon Goodridge – Transfer from Mississippi State, once a highly rated recruit (No. 52 by Rivals in 2006), did not do much in his first two years of college, averaging 2.1 points and 2.5 boards a game in limited minutes. Yet he’s big and athletic and still oozes potential. Goodridge has looked terrific in practice and much is expected of him. He gives Giannini his first legitimate bigman since the coach took over the program four years ago. At the very least Goodridge should become a defensive presence as a shotblocker and rebounder. If he demonstrates consistent scoring ability down low, LaSalle will be very dangerous. “He’s really physically gifted, “Giannini said. “He would rank with the best [most athletic] players I’ve seen in the A-10.”

Devon White – One of the better power forwards in Philadelphia, White signed with LaSalle in the spring after a terrific senior season. Though almost 6-8 and 230 pounds, White has never lifted weights in his life and probably could add 15-20 pounds to his frame. He’s not a bad shooter around the basket but needs to put a lot of work into offensive game. An excellent athlete with long arms, White was a ferocious rebounder and shotblocker in high school. Those are the areas in which he can contribute in his first year or two off the bench.

SCOUTING REPORT

LaSalle can forget about a top A-10 finish unless the players buckle down on defense. Opponents shot a higher percentage (46.6%) against the Explorers than any other team in the league.

The addition of Goodridge is part panacea. He gives Giannini a legitimate interior defender to challenge the A-10’s top post players. The undersized Explorer forwards have often been mauled inside, forcing the perimeter players to drop down. With Goodridge anchoring the paint, guards can hold their positions and forwards can offer weakside help.

Despite their small size, the Explorers have actually been one of the top rebounding teams in the A-10 over the past two years. Last season the team finished third (+3.7). LaSalle figures to be at or near the top of the league again in that category. Afterall, the team basically traded the 6-1 Harris for the 6-9 Goodridge.

In the backcourt, the steady improvement of Rodney Green is essential to the team’s success. He’s not a natural floor leader, but he made good progress after he was switched to point. “He finished up last year very strong,” Giannini noted.

Green still has a way to go, though. He committed 111 turnovers, third highest in the A-10. Jerrell Williams was almost as bad with 86. Not surprisingly, LaSalle finished last in the league in turnover margin (-2.09). That’s why opposing teams took more shots. A similarly poor margin could ruin LaSalle’s chance of a first-round bye in the A-10 tournament.

Outside shooting, however, might not pose as much of a problem. Guillandeax and Griffin are good shooters and Green and Mbala have improved dramatically. If Goodridge lives up to expectations, his teammates on the perimeter are sure to get better looks.

PREDICTION

The Explorers will benefit greatly from all of the experience acquired over the past two years. This is no longer one of the youngest teams in the league. Giannini can count on six seniors and juniors to lead the way. The players have struggled, and grown up, together, making the Explorers a tight-knit bunch.

“This is the first time we haven’t been relying on players who haven’t played before,” Giannini said.

What’s more, the team’s success away from home gives the players plenty of confidence. Last season LaSalle won eight games on the road, six of them in league play, including victories over St. Joseph’s and Richmond. Winning on the road is a prerequisite to contending for a conference title.

The evidence points to a breakthrough year, but much rides on Goodridge’s success in shoring up the interior and Green’s maturation as floor leader.

WH’s

NONCON PREDICTION: 10-4

W – MORGAN STATE
W – FLORIDA STATE
L – Connecticut (Paradise Jam, Virgin Islands)
W – TBA, likely Southern Miss (Paradise Jam, Virgin Islands)
W – TBA, likely Valparaiso (Paradise Jam, Virgin Islands)
W – BUCKNELL
L – At Hartford
L – VILLANOVA
W – RIDER
L – At Cornell
W – MT. ST MARYS
W – MANHATTAN
W – HOWARD
W – PENN

The Explorers are my darkhorse pick to win the A-10 title. They have a much more difficult unbalanced league sked this year, hence a 5th place spot, but I like older teams consisting of players who’ve grown up together. The frontcourt is sound and I think Green and Guillandeaux will prove to be one of the better backcourts in the league. Their ability to win on the road last year also impresses me. Really, it’s time that LaSalle step up to the plate and do some damage. And there’s a chance with UConn, Florida State and Nova on the menu.

To the noncon sked:

LaSalle has a chance to do major damage in its noncon slate with lots of home games, including a surprising appearance at Gola by Florida State.

I see the Explorers avenging last year’s loss at Morgan State, which lost its top two players from a 22-win team. Then I see a sold-out Gola carrying the home team to a win over a young, inexperienced Seminole team that the Explorers almost beat in Florida last year (76-81). Call this one of my sleeper picks in the A-10 this year.

The Paradise Jam likely opens with a loss to UConn, but imagine the shockwaves if LaSalle wins. I figure the team will split its four games in the Virgin Islands. I see a tough matchup with a good Southern Miss team but the rest of the bracket isn’t easy to figure.

Back at home, a weakened Bucknell should be a problem. A road game at Hartford before the Villanova matchup is a classic trap. Hartford won 18 games last year, brings all its best players back and fires up a lot of threes. As for Nova, the Cats can be beat, but they are more talented.

In the last five noncon games, Cornell on the road is the biggest test. The Ivy League school went 22-6 last season and is the clear favorite to win the league again. Almost all its top players are back and the Big Red have some size, if not as much quickness as LaSalle.

Among the other teams, Rider lost Jason Thompson to the NBA and will fall back. Mt St. Marys and Howard should get blown out. Manhattan could be trouble with its athleticism and energy. And finally Penn figures to be much improved, but LaSalle makes it two in a row over their Big 5 rival. That hasn’t happened since 1989-91.