City of Brotherly Love: Run LaSalle, Run

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2019 NCAA Tournament



West Region



3rd Round

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[font="Comic Sans MS"] (2) La Salle Explorers vs. (10) Illinois State Firebirds



We weren’t tested against Delaware, but against Illinois State we were tested and then some. Illinois State backcourt of Marcelle Olsen and Billy Miller did an excellent job of breaking our pressure. Offensively that duo did a great job of breaking down our defense, their play was the prime reason Illinois State led 37-32 at halftime. The struggle in the second half continued, a three by Olsen his fourth of the game gave Illinois State a 58 lead with 7 minutes left in the game. Inserted into the game Calvin Capel scored a quick six points to cut their lead to two. At the three minute mark a three from Miller gave Illinois State a 65-62 lead. Matt Graves in the midst of an 0 for 10 shooting game found Eddie Robinson in the corner, he was fouled as he made our only three of the game. Converting the foul shot put us up 66-65. Olsen’s floater put the Firebirds up 67-66 with two minutes left. Ryan Jones nailed a baseline jumper to put us up 68-67. Ryan then picked off a bad pass and raced down the court for a layup to make the score 70-67 with a minute left. Olsen missed an off balance three which Eddie Robinson rebounded. Down the stretch we made our foul shots and escaped with a 75-67 win.



La Salle Player of The Game: Eddie Robinson 21 points 9 rebounds.
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[JMD]

Never knew Eddie Robinson coached FCS football at Grambling State AND played basketball at La Salle.

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2019 NCAA Tournament



West Region



Sweet 16

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[font="Comic Sans MS"] (2) La Salle Explorers vs. (3) Oregon Ducks



Both teams struggled in the first half on offense, a combination of good defense and woeful shooting led to an ugly start for both teams. At halftime the score was tied at 30, to start the half both teams were still sluggish. Needing a spark I decided to remove the starters and put 5 bench players in the game. The unit of Colin Walker-Marco Williams-Calvin Capel-Peter Lutz-Aaron Slider sparked us and them some. The unit went on a 24-5 run to bust the game wide open. The blowout was on as we won with ease 79-54. Our bench scored 38 points as a unit. Defensively we forced 19 turnovers and held Oregon to 29.2% shooting from the field.



La Salle Player of The Game: Matt Graves 14 points 8 rebounds.
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[JMD]

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[font="Comic Sans MS"] (2) La Salle Explorers vs. (10) Illinois State Firebirds
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Were you thinking too much about Pontiac when you were typing this?

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2019 NCAA Tournament



West Region



Elite 8

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[font="Comic Sans MS"] (2) La Salle Explorers vs. (1) Louisville Cardinals



Kareem Prescott would be the focus of our defense, the Louisville shooting guard came into the game averaging over 20 points per game. For the game we would unveil a Box and 1 defense, this would be the first time we have used this defense during my tenure. The decision to go with a Box and 1 was based off film I saw of Louisville, in one of their losses Prescott struggled mightily against that defense. A pattern began to develop in the first half which I wasn’t thrilled with, Louisville was getting to the foul line a lot. I just couldn’t take it anymore, I used some words to the ref which got me a technical foul. None of my staff or players have ever seen me lose my temper in this kind of manner. In the first half Louisville went to the foul line 25 times. Our depth came into play, most teams would be in trouble if their starters got in foul trouble. The fact we regularly play 10-11 players each game prepared us for this situation. Despite the disparity on foul shooting we trailed 43-46 at halftime. Louisville kept us at bay until a 11-2 run gave us a 67-64 lead with 6 minutes left. Peter Lutz gave us a 80-79 lead with 50 seconds left. Travis Lane tapped in a Prescott miss to put Louisville up 81-80 with 30 seconds remaining. Marco Williams pull up shot gave us the lead again with 10 seconds left. Prescott missed a shot with seconds left, Tip Greene’s shot was blocked by Peter Lutz. The ball came to Curtis Ward, his shot bounced off the rim as the clock expired. We finally did it, mad celebrations ensued as we were on our way to Atlanta for the Final Four.



La Salle Player of The Game: Peter Lutz 15 points 5 blocks.
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[SIZE="5"]2019 NCAA Tournament




Final Four
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[font="Comic Sans MS"] (2) La Salle Explorers vs. (2) Kansas Jayhawks



Kansas comes into the game led by shooting guard and Big 12 Player of The Year Matt Hordemann and all Big 12 small forward Kevin Cliff. After exchanging leads in the early stages of the game Kansas took control of the game, trailing by 11 towards the end of the game I switched the defense to a 2-3 Zone. We were able to chip away at the lead heading into halftime down by 6. Kansas started the half quickly, due to their shooting from three they essentially shot us out of the zone. The Kansas lead would bloom to 21 points. We keep fighting and fighting but the end a 76-84 ended our magical season. Matt Graves ended his college career with 13 points and 9 assists. Marcus Romar also playing his last college game finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Ryan Jones, Eddie Robinson, and Marco Williams were also in double figures with 10 points each. Keith Morris led 5 Kansas players in double figures with 16 points.



La Salle Player of The Game: Marcus Romar 18 points 10 rebounds.
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[JMD]

Excellent season coach!

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2019/2020 La Salle Explorers Roster

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[font="Comic Sans MS"]Starting Lineup


*Denotes Returning Starter

Colin Walker 6-5 Senior PG 3.5/4.5
Marco Williams 6-3 Junior SG 4/5
*Eddie Robinson 6-3 Junior SF 4/4.5
Calvin Capel 6-8 Senior SF 3.5/4.5
Peter Lutz 7-0 Junior C 4/4


Bench
Leon Woolfolk 6-2 Freshman SG 4/5
*Ryan Jones 6-1 Junior PG 3.5/4
Scott Lewis 6-9 Freshman RS PF 2/4
Dave LaRue 6-2 Senior RS SG 2.5/4
Mike Williams 6-3 Senior RS PG 2/4
Aaron Slider 6-7 Sophomore RS C 3/4

Redshirt

Traves Black 6-3 Freshman PG 2/4.5

Ineligible

*Derek Morrison 6-8 Sophomore C 2/4.5
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2019/2020 Non-Conference Review

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[font="Comic Sans MS"]The season started rough before we had our first game, Derek Morrison who started last season and was expected to be a key player this season was ruled academically ineligible due to grades. Derek is the first player during my time as La Salle coach who has been suspended for any reason. Not only do we run a clean program, we graduate all of our players. I told Derek that him not doing his work in the classroom has not only let him down but he has let his teammates down.


Our non-conference schedule was brutal. We had road games at (6) Wake Forest, (15) Texas, Illinois, USC, and Georgia. Number 18 Gonzaga, LSU, and Utah would pay us a visit this season. We gave up 53 first half points to Wake Forest, completely unacceptable. Though we fought back in the second half we fell 67-75. Calvin Capel making his first career straight recorded a double-double 10 points and 13 rebounds.



102 points, no we didn’t score that but it is the amount we gave up in our second game at USC. Falling 102-80 it was the worst defensive effort I have seen as coach. USC shot 60% from the field, 57% percent from three as they made 16 of them. Jelani Payne of USC lit us up for 49 points. Payne made 13 three’s. Safe to say it was a long flight back home. Things didn’t get much better during the home opener as UC Santa Barbara stunned us 66-63. We were 0-3 and rumblings around the program started.



In a gritty performance at Texas we got our first win 65-58. After a 55-61 home loss to Utah we rebounded by winning our last six non-conference games. Just as things were turning around Leon Woolfolk our sixth man was ruled academically ineligible.

La Salle overall record 7-4.

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2019/2020 Atlantic 10 Review

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[font="Comic Sans MS"]Marco Williams 18 points led four double figure scorers in a 77-68 win at Charlotte to start Atlantic 10 play. Peter Lutz strong performance down low, 16 points 7 rebounds and 3 blocks helped us defeat Fordham 76-68 in our A10 home opener. Marco Williams, Colin Walker, and Ryan Jones combined for 43 points in an 89-71 win at Richmond. After starting league play 4-0 we had a poor performance in a 67-78 home loss to Rhode Island.



In a 92-87 win at St. Joseph’s all five starters were in double figures. Marco Williams led the way with 24 points. We took a 6 game winning streak into a road game at St. Bonaventure. Three minutes into the game we had a major problem. Colin Walker was on the court in agony, it didn’t look good. The medical staff and coaching staff immediately rushed on the court. Tears were in his eyes has the stretcher took him off the court and to a local hospital. We would go on to win an ugly game 66-52, but no one was thinking about the game. All thoughts were on Colin Walker’s health, X-rays showed that he tore his MCL.



In a 63-75 loss Dave LaRue scored a career high 23 points, making 7 threes. Guys like Dave, Mike Williams were now being asked to play important roles due to the players we had out. We closed out the season with a 97-82 win against Richmond on Senior Night.



We went 14-2 in Atlantic 10 play to finish the season 21-6 overall with a national rank of 15.
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