Fran Dunphy, pictured in a game prior to Saturday, led La Salle past Saint Joseph's in his final regular-season game. (Photo credit: La Salle athletics)
By AARON BRACY
August 28, 2024
Big5Hoops.com
These are exciting times for coach Fran Dunphy and La Salle.
With a restocked roster and a new arena set to open in 2024-25, there is renewed optimism and energy around the Explorers program.
La Salle has a storied history that includes a national championship, but both the basketball program and the University have faced challenges in recent years. Now, though, there is hope that John Glaser Arena will help to elevate not just basketball at La Salle but also school and alumni spirit.
Dunphy, the all-time winningest coach in Big 5 history and 1970 La Salle graduate entering his third year leading his alma mater, spoke to Big5Hoops.com and the Bracy Sports Media podcast about the feeling of pride the arena will have on athletes, students and alumni. (You can listen to the entire podcast interview at the bottom of the story or by clicking HERE.) He also conceded that the Explorers will need to win to keep people coming to Glaser.
“Our job as coaches and players is to play the best that we can so people want to come and enjoy the fruits of the labor of the people who have donated the money, the Glaser family being the lead gift,” Dunphy said. “We’re so grateful for the people of La Salle doing what they have done.”
Dunphy knows how to win. He has taken Penn and Temple to 17 NCAA tournaments. During the course of research for my book on 2003-04 Saint Joseph’s – read a summary and preorder it by clicking HERE – it was astounding to review Dunphy’s record at Penn: In 17 years, Dunphy led the Quakers to 10 Ivy League titles, nine NCAA tournaments and 310 total victories that are the most of any Penn coach. He also directed a remarkable 48-game Ivy League winning streak and went undefeated in the league in 1993, ’94 and ’95.
As is his nature, Dunphy deflects credit for the Quakers’ amazingly consistent dominance, placing much of it on the deserving shoulders of guards Matt Maloney and Jerome Allen.
“They were just two beautiful guys to play basketball with,” Dunphy said. “They just knew how to play and they knew what it took to be a winner and they worked like crazy. When those combinations happen, you have a formula for success. When you can get your leadership to come from within the group, you are so much better served. And, for me, those two guys exuded leadership that wouldn’t be denied.”
While it would be unfair to compare any of Dunphy’s current guards to Maloney and Allen, Dunphy likes what he has seen in offseason workouts from Eric Acker, Corey McKeithan and Deuce Jones. The trio will be trying to fill the large shoes of undersized but tough and talented guards Jhamir Brickus (Villanova) and Khalil Brantley (Oklahoma State), who transferred following last season. Also leaving was veteran guard Anwar Gill (Howard). Acker had a fine rookie season at LIU while McKeithan brings veteran leadership after transferring from Rider. Jones is a highly touted freshman from Trenton, New Jersey.
“All three of those guys are going to have to do a lot of playmaking and scoring,” Dunphy said. “Both of those things are going to have to happen for us to have a good year.”
Three new faces in the front court, Mac Etienne (DePaul/UCLA), Demetrius Lilley (Penn State) and Jahlil White (Temple), have impressed Dunphy in different ways. All three come to 20th & Olney with something to prove. Etienne is a former four-star recruit who didn’t have expected success in the Pac-12 or Big East; Lilley was the first player at Lower Merion to record three straight double-double seasons since Kobe Bryant but wasn’t able to match close to that production at Penn State; and White was the Big 5 Rookie of the Year but battled injuries, inconsistency and a coaching change while playing for the Owls. All three have a fresh start and maybe a bit of a chip on their shoulders, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Of Etienne, Dunphy said, “His best days are certainly in front of him. He has the requisite skill level. Now it’s putting everything together, being healthy, really pushing himself to say, ‘I’ve got a pretty good level of talent. Now, I have to show people I can get this done at an Atlantic 10 level.’’’
Of Lilley, “Demetrius is someone we’re excited by. He’s done everything we have asked him to do in summertime workouts.”
Of White, “Jahlil can be a complete player for us.”
It all will get started for Dunphy and the Explorers on November 4th when they welcome American to Glaser. The Explorers’ nonconference portion of their schedule also includes a late-November trip to Daytona Beach, Florida; Big 5 games at Drexel (Nov. 16) and home versus Temple (Nov. 30); and a trip to North Carolina on Dec. 14.
“It’s a great opportunity for our guys,” Dunphy said of the contest against the Tar Heels.
The same can be said about the season, one that is full of excitement for the Explorers.
—
Aaron Bracy has been covering Philadelphia sports since 1996. His byline regularly appears on Associated Press stories. Follow Bracy on X: @Aaron_Bracy and like his Facebook and Instagram pages. His book on the 2003-04 Saint Joseph’s men’s basketball team is expected to be published on March 1, 2025. Read a summary and preorder it by clicking HERE. Contact him at aaron@big5hoops.com.