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PHILADELPHIA – The La Salle men's basketball team has been predicted to finish third in the Atlantic 10 Conference in preseason voting conducted by the league's head coaches and media members. In addition, three Explorers—seniors Tyreek Duren and Tyrone Garland and junior Jerrell Wright —were named to the preseason all-conference teams.
 
La Salle is coming off a trip to the NCAA Sweet 16 and #24 final ranking in the USA Today/Coaches Poll. The Explorers won 24 games in 2012-13, including ranked victories over Butler, VCU and Kansas State and return nine of their top ten scorers from a year ago.
 
The Blue and Gold received 265 points in the poll behind VCU (307) and Saint Louis (288). Massachusetts was picked to finish fourth followed by Saint Joseph's, Richmond, Dayton, George Mason, Rhode Island, George Washington, Fordham, St. Bonaventure and Duquesne.
 
Duren was named to the preseason All-Atlantic 10 first team one year removed from being selected to the all-conference second team. The Philadelphia product also received first team All-Big 5 honors and all-district recognition last season after averaging 14.3 ppg. and 3.3 apg. as a junior. He has started 72 straight games as an Explorer and enters his final campaign ranked ninth in program history in assists (392) and steals (176).
 
Garland and Wright were each named to the third team. Garland finished third on the team in scoring at 13.0 ppg. despite sitting out the first seven games after transferring from Virginia Tech. His "Southwest Philly Floater" to propel La Salle past Ole Miss and into the Sweet 16 will be remembered by Explorer fans for a long time.
 
Wright had an outstanding NCAA Tournament, averaging 14.5 ppg. and 5.8 rpg. while shooting 81.4% from the field in four games. No player in NCAA history that has played at least three games and made at least four field goals per game has shot such a high percentage. For the season, he averaged 10.8 ppg. and 6.7 rpg.
 
Season tickets are on sale by calling 215-951-1999 or emailing tickets@lasalle.edu. Recent grads (2009-13) can purchase tickets as low as $100. More information can be found here.