La Salle Men's Basketball Media Guide 2009-10 La Salle University
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La Salle University La Salle University Digital Commons La Salle Basketball Media Guides University Publications 2009 La Salle Men's Basketball Media Guide 2009-10 La Salle University Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.lasalle.edu/basketball_media_guides Recommended Citation La Salle University, "La Salle Men's Basketball Media Guide 2009-10" (2009). La Salle Basketball Media Guides. 78. http://digitalcommons.lasalle.edu/basketball_media_guides/78 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the University Publications at La Salle University Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in La Salle Basketball Media Guides by an authorized administrator of La Salle University Digital Commons. For more information, please contact careyc@lasalle.edu. ** V *r\ «u 7 12 tlnntlc 1 ' " ' lil-g 1 « 1 . n 'M^UGFTT FROM LA SALLE Rasual Butler Butler is one of nearly 30 Explorers TO PLAY IN THE NBA OR ABA. m45 / ** TO THE NBA r LA SALLE QUICKFACTS School: La Salle University Location: Philadelphia, PA Enrollment: 6,221 Founded: 1863 President: Brother Michael J. McGinniss, F.S.C., Ph.D. Web Site: www.lasalle.edu Athletic Web Site: www.goexplorers.com Athletic Phone: 215-951-1425 Nickname: Explorers Colors: Blue (540) and Gold (7406) Home Court/Capacity: Tom Gola Arena (4,000) Athletic Director: Dr. Thomas Brennan Senior Associate Athletic Director: John Lyons Associate Athletic Director: Kale Beers Assistant Athletic Director: Mary Ellen Wydan Assistant Athletic Director: Chris Kane BASKETBALL INFORMATION Head Coach (alma mater/year): Dr. John Giannini (North Central College '84) Record at School (years): 71-79 (6th) Overall Record (years): 368-228 (20th) Assistants (alma mater/years at La Salle): Walt Fuller (Drexel'87/5th) Horace "Pappy" Owens (Rhode Island *83/6th) Harris Adler (Univ. of the Sciences *98/6th) Director of Operations: Sean Neal (La Salle '07/2nd) Video Coordinator: Terrence Stewart (Rowan '96/ist) Basketball Office Phone: 215-951-1518 Best Time to Reach Coach: Contact SID 2008-09 Record (Conference Record/Finish): 18-13 (9-7/tie 5th) All-Time NCAA Tournament Record: 11-10 (11 appearances) All-Time NIT Record: 9-10 (11 appearances) Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 8/4 Starters Returning/Lost: 4/1 MEDIA INFORMATION Assistant AD/Communications: Kevin Bonner Office Phone: 215-951-1513 Cell Phone: 484-880-3382 Fax: 215-951-1694 E-Mail Address: bonner@lasalle.edu Press Row Phone: 215-438-5158 Ticket Office: 215-951-1999 te Athletic Communications Mailing Address: 1900 W. Olney Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19141 Tom Gola Arena has limited seating for working media. All seating requests will be handled on a first-come, first-served basis. All game day press and photo pass requests for home and away games should be made at least 24 hours in advance. All interview requests for coaches or players should be directed to Kevin Bonner. www.goexplorer 4 77 La Salle Basketball 2009-10 Opponents Salle 91 The Record Book Men's Basketball Media Guide 25 Coaching Staff 139 35 The University 2009-10 Explorers 153 WHY WE ARE THE EXPLORERS La Salle University's nickname - Media Information the Explorers - was announced 59 by the Collegian in March 1932 as the winning entry to a student 2008-00 Season in Review contest. However, in the fall of 1931, a Baltimore sportswriter covering the La Salle/St. John's (Md.) football game erroneously alluded to La Salle as being named for the French explorer La Salle, not St. John Baptist de La Salle. Were the two events related? We'll never know for sure. -^*2* ^- JJillMuJiMj The second largest city on the East Coast and the fifth largest in the nation, Philadelphia has retained its neighborhood spirit while supporting a metropolitan population of 5.7 million. The cradle of democracy, Philadelphia is home to the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, where our country first took shape and our forefathers wrote the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution. Center City boasts hundreds of galleries featuring the latest in painting, sculpture, photography and video art, including the world-renowned Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Barnes Foundation. Philadelphia also supports the nation's largest and most developed city park system (Fairmount Park) that offers 8,700 acres of trees and trails winding the length of the city. Center City's South Street, Boathouse Row along the Schuylkill River, the Delaware Waterfront and Manayunk, a canal neighborhood with some of the best shops and restaurants in the tri-state area, are also unique to the city. Citizens Bank Park, Home of the 2008 World Series Champion Philadelphia Phillies :; Philadelphia is Ir J to eight professi_ •] sports teams: ~; Phillies (baseba J 76ers (basketbal j Eagles (football) :! Flyers (hockey) .1 Phantoms (hocki j Wings (lacrosse) I Kixx (indoor soc J Union (outdoor fX& """"' 49 Philadelphia Museum of Art and Fairmount Water Works ia. This is La Sailed February 2008 "This is no ordinary win. It's a statement that they are back." - John Griffin, CBS College Sports Analyst after Explorers out-dueled Saint Joseph's in Big Five classic DARNELL HARRIS 3-point Legend 2005-06 Season Explorer guard caps Explorers set all- La Salle gets big win, em biggg bye March a record-setting time marks for 23 season when he set Atlantic 10 wins, Steven Smith named La Salle, Big 5 and Atlantic 10 road Honorable Mention Atlantic 10 career wins, and finish 3rd Ail-American by the records for three- in the Atlantic 10. Associated Press point field goals by Coach Giannini Street and Smith's winning the National named a finalist for March 8 names La Salle Three-Point Shoot-Out Jim Phelan Award Smith named the 53rd best at the Final Four in (National Coach of Atlantic 10 college basketball San Antonio the Year) Co-Player of the Year program of all time 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 June 2005 ROAD Steven Smith named STEVEN SMITH 'Sualand Shaq' in WARRIORS Atlantic 10 Player of National Player Conference Finals: the Year for the Rasual Butler and Explorers have best of the Year second straight Shaquille O'Neal lead record in Atlantic 10 Candidate the Miami Heat into road games season, Honorable Mention All-American, August 10 game seven of the finishes career with Steven Smith NBA Eastern 1,940 points (seventh named as an official Conference Finals all-time at La Salle) candidate for the Wooden Award September 27 for the nation's collegiate Steven Smith signed by top basketball player the Philadelphia 76ers June 21 Steven Smith announces he has chosen to return for a fourth year at La Salle despite having pjfit l/SALl, earned his degree and wowed scouts in the Chicago NBA pre-draft i , 30 camp as certain draft pick This is Explorer Basketball. 2002 RASUAL BUTLER TIM Drafted by LEGLER Miami Heat Wins NBA Three-Point Rasual Butler becomes Shooting Contest 20th Explorer play the to 4 in the NBA and La Salle's fifth player to make the league in the past 1995 decade. Butler was also FIVE EXPLORERS named Honorable NAMED AMONG Mention All-America and ALL-TIME GREATEST First Team All-Atlantic 10 Philadelphia Daily News poll ranks five Explorers among Top 20 all-time in Philadelphia Basketball; Lionel Simmons named 2001 best of all-time; Ken Durrett EXPLORERS DEFEAT is third #18 RANKED SAINT JOSEPH'S Dream team "'rEt^-JES: August 2004 In a wild, high-scoring Dr. John Giannini affair at Tom Gola Arena Named Head Coach the Explorers knock-off conference and Big 5 rival Saint Josephs, 91-90 2004 2002 2001 I997 1995 1992 March EXPLORERS TO PLAY 2002 SETONHALLIN NCAAs Explorers make Dramatic basket by Bron Holland in game's final run at A-10 title seconds gives La Salle MAAC After becoming title and NCAA berth crowd favorites at the Atlantic 10 Championships in Philadelphia, the Explorers come up just shy of their first Atlantic 10 Finals appearance with a semifinal loss to Richmond 1997 CARR NAMED ATLANTIC 10 ROOKIE OF THE YEAR Explorer phenom averages 1992 23.9 points per game to earn Aa Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year RANDY WOODS honors Drafted by Clippers SIMMONS IS NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR L-Train becomes third La Sallian named National Player of the Year 1980 LA SALLE'S MICHAEL BROOKS Named Captain of the Olympic Team 1991 OVERTON drafted by Pistons Beginning of 12-year career for Explorer great 1991 1990 1987 I960 UNBELIEVABLE LEGLER BROOKS NAMED EXPLORERS signs with NATIONAL PLAYER E FINISH 30-2; NCAA Phoenix OF THE YEAR BOUND AGAIN! Suns Brooks leads Explorers to E Lionel Simmons leads Begins 10-year 22-9 record and an NCAA - - incredible run into second NBA career after Tournament berth round of NCAA's 1,699 points as Selected by the Clippers an Explorer with the ninth pick E in the NBA Draft _1K NA1IBNU >i scums UAUY F Fa, pay 5IS/55 E in saiii -g^, SO. MISS. 1987 79 63 EXPLORERS E 1990 PLAY FOR E SIMMONS Lionel, Explorers finally NIT TITLE drafted by Kings capture first-round win Southern Miss E Sensational Explorer takes 84-80 win finishes career with to deny Explorers E of their second 3,217 points (third all- NIT crown time in NCAA) E fc La Salle Big lime History: La Salle has had numerous All-Americans, three National Players of the Year (second only to Duke and Ohio state) a National Championship, an NIT Championship, and two Final Four appearances. *C W XH EXPLORERS PLAY IN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP u ^r^n r*~jsr GAME o a o * g*£ Lose to Bill Russell EXPLORERS and KC Jones-led ARE NATIONAL J*{- San Francisco squad CHAMPIONS! in National Final; Team routs finish the season Bradley 25-3 (92-76) to earn 1971 national title DURRETT named Second Team All-America 1971 1968-69 1955 1954 1952 1968-69 LA SALLE TAKES TOP GREATEST TEAM EVER HOOPS CROWN WITH Ineligible for post-season NIT WIN OVER DAYTON competition, the 1968-69 75-64 win over Flyers positions Explorers went 23-1 and are Explorers as No.