Men's Basketball | December 10, 2015
PHILADELPHIA – The 1968-69 La Salle men's basketball team, which went 23-1 and reached as high as #2 in the national polls, was one of five teams inducted into the Philadelphia Big 5 Hall of Fame on April 11, 2016 at the Palestra.
"These five teams were magnificent squads who brought great joy and pride to the city of Philadelphia," said Steve Bilsky, Executive Director of the Big 5. "Over the last few years, we had tossed around the idea of selecting a year to honor teams rather than individuals, and decided that the 60th anniversary would be an appropriate time. In addition to all the wonderful players who participated on these great teams, you can't help but be reminded why the Big 5 is often referred to as the cradle of college basketball coaches."
Many consider the 1968-69 Explorers the best team in Big 5 history.
The 1968-69 Explorers were coached by National Basketball Hall of Famer Tom Gola and featured four future NBA players and Big 5 Hall of Famers in its starting lineup. Sophomore Ken Durrett (20.0 ppg., 11.8 rpg.) was the Big 5 MVP that season and senior Larry Cannon (18.9 ppg., 6.4 rpg., 6.1 apg.) would be drafted fifth overall in the NBA Draft.
Senior Bernie Williams (18.4 ppg.) was also a NBA Second Round Draft pick following the season and classmate Roland "Fatty" Taylor (11.5 ppg.) played five seasons combined in the ABA and NBA.
Current Temple coach Fran Dunphy was also on that squad, along with Ed Holzer, Ed Szczesny, Stan Wlodarczyk, Greg Cannon, Joe Markmann, Bill Michuda, Stan Witalec, Bob Walters and Bob Walsh.
The Explorers started the season on an eight-game winning streak before falling to South Carolina, 62-59, in the Quaker City Tournament at the Spectrum. La Salle would go on to win its final 15 games, but was ineligible to compete in the NCAA Tournament that season.
The Blue and Gold went 4-0 in Big 5 play for the first time and won the City Series championship.
The other teams inducted include the 1970-71 Penn Quakers, the 1984-85 Villanova Wildcats, the 1987-88 Temple Owls and the 2003-04 Saint Joseph's Hawks.
