Nov. 4, 2009
La Salle Explorers vs. Holy Family Tigers
Date: Saturday, November 7
Time: 2:00 p.m. ET
Location: Tom Gola Arena
Game: Exhibition
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La Salle Explorers (2008-09: 18-13, 9-7 A-10; Big 5: 3-1)
Conference: Atlantic 10
Prior to the regular season tip-off on Saturday, Nov. 14, the La Salle Explorers will open up the 2009-10 campaign with a home exhibition game against Holy Family on Saturday, Nov. 7. The Explorers ended the 2008-09 season tied for fifth place in the Atlantic 10 and notched 18 wins for the second time in four seasons.
Losing only one scholarship player to graduation, the Explorers return four of the five starters from last season, not to mention a strong group of upperclassmen and a solid freshmen class. Four of the starters returning, all of which are seniors, averaged double-figures in 2008-09.
After leading the team in scoring average (17.8) and assists per game (3.9), Rodney Green was awarded with First Team All-Big 5 and Second Team All-Atlantic 10 honors in addition to being named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) District 4 team. In late October, the A-10 released its preseason poll and tabbed Green as a first team all-conference selection.
Fellow classmate, Yves Mekongo, captains the frontcourt after averaging 10.4 points per game and pacing the Explorers in rebounding average (6.0) in 2008-09. Following the season, Mekongo was named to the AAA National Academic All-America team by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) for the second time and was also selected as an ESPN The Magazine/Co-SIDA Academic All-American.
Rounding out the returning starters are seniors Kimmani Barrett (11.8 ppg) and Ruben Guillandeaux (10.1 ppg; .349 3-pt fg).
Holy Family Tigers (2008-09: 8-20, 7-10 CACC)
Conference: Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC)
After getting off to a slow start in 2008-09, the Holy Family Tigers opened up the New Year with a 5-2 record heading into February. They eventually went on to lose in the CACC quarterfinals to Goldey-Beacom, 70-56.
Heading into the 2009-10 season, the Tigers only return three players from last year. Sophomores Ben Badeen and Justin Swidowski and freshman Alex Kravchuk are greeted by two new upperclassmen, two sophomores and three freshmen. Swidowski, who started in all but one game last season, led the Tigers in scoring average (16.1), rebounding average (8.0), field goal percentage (.551) and three-point percentage (.464).
Despite giving up 73.9 points per game to its opponents, Holy Family pulled down 38.4 rebounds per game (+1.7 margin) and blocked 149 shots.
Eye on an Explorer: Aaric Murray
Freshman Aaric Murray headlines an exciting incoming class for the Explorers in 2009-10. An A-10 preseason all-rookie selection, Murray averaged 18.0 points and 12.4 rebounds as a senior at Glen Mills High School. Following his career at Glen Mills, the four-star recruit was tabbed as the fifth best center in the country by rivals.com and ESPNU picked him as the 59th best player in the nation. At 6-foot-10, Murray will play a significant role for the Explorers in the frontcourt alongside Mekongo and juniors Jerrell Williams and Terrell Williams.
