Explorers’ freshmen looking good

By Adam Bagni
Collegian Staff
January 24, 2007

After a deflating one-point loss to Penn on Thursday, a disappointed John Giannini couldn’t help but be optimistic. After all, he couldn’t even remember how many times his team has been on the losing end of close games.

“People can do their research, but the number of games that have come down to the last possession is a lot,” Coach Giannini said after the 93-92 loss.

That research will lead you to six – the number of games La Salle has played this year that have been decided by three points or less. In those games, La Salle is 1-5.

After I noted that the number of close calls was, in fact, six, Giannini responded tellingly. “They’re going through a learning process. I feel badly for our older guys, but I thoroughly believe that in the next 20 months we can learn how to teach them six better plays.”

Now sitting at 8-11, and just 1-4 in the Atlantic 10 Conference, the men’s basketball team has had an interesting, see-saw season, to say the least. They started the year red-hot at 6-2, but have now lost nine of their last 11 games. The Explorers have been fairly impressive in losses to Massachusetts and Dayton, but have also looked weak in games against teams like the University of Maryland at Baltimore County and Niagara.

Can it be that simple, though? Is youth the major factor behind the way this season has developed?

Well, yes, I think so. With five freshmen, all of whom are active contributors in each game, the Explorers are currently progressing through a constant learning process. Experience really does go a long way when things get hot.

The great thing about La Salle is that, despite its inexperience, the freshmen are very promising. Rodney Green won A-10 Rookie of the Week for the second straight week Sunday, his third overall selection of the season. Kimmani Barrett has turned into a solid sixth man, shooting 58 percent from the field. Yves Mekongo Mbala and Ruben Guillandeaux, meanwhile, have been pretty solid, if not spectacular.

After Sunday’s loss to St. Bonaventure, Monday’s Phila-delphia Daily News ran the headline, “Things getting dim for struggling La Salle.”

Sure, maybe for this season. But the future is bright.

News of accusations highlights La Salle’s solid PR

After hearing about the potential fines and/or sanctions La Salle could face as a result of the 2003 sexual assault allegations, I couldn’t help but think about Miami and Duke.

For weeks (and months in Duke’s case), I can recall seeing both universities’ presidents over and over on media outlets such as ESPN.

Commentators have been quick to criticize Miami’s Donna Shalala for her weak, one-game suspension of members of the football team after a violent fight broke out during a game Oct. 14.

More recently, press conferences by Duke President Richard Brodhead are often used as B-roll when commentators criticize the school for prematurely suspending three students in a rape case that increasingly appears concocted by a politically motivated district attorney.

When news of potential penalties for La Salle circulated Dec. 20, there were no huge debates or major national media coverage. Sure, Miami and Duke are more well-known schools, but I think a good portion of that is the direct result of how La Salle handled itself in the days following the firestorm: no repeated press conferences, no room for coaches who violate the Cleary Act; and a no-tolerance policy for students who act with such moral disregard.

Those in charge should be proud of their commitment to rightfully keep La Salle portrayed in a positive light.

bagnia1@lasalle.edu