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By AARON BRACY aaron@big5hoops.com November 19, 2024 VILLANOVA, Pa.—You walk into the Pavilion for an early-season game at Villanova, and the vibe is off. At best, there is apathy among Nova Nation. At worst, there is disgust. People wonder whether the coach should be replaced. Everything just feels, well, off. The year is … 2011. The coach is … Jay … [Read more...] about Bracy Column: Villanova’s impressive rout of Penn is a step toward changing vibe, quieting critics

By AARON BRACY aaron@big5hoops.com November 17, 2024 Saint Joseph’s Derek Simpson is our pick for Big 5 Player of the Week in a difficult choice with no less than eight strong candidates. In Big 5 wins over Villanova and Penn this week, Simpson, the junior transfer from Rutgers, showed why he was so coveted on Hawk Hill out of Lenape High School before choosing the Big … [Read more...] about Big 5 Weekly Roundup, November 10–16: Saint Joseph’s Simpson tops Five Big 5 Stars after eye-opening week

By AARON BRACY aaron@big5hoops.com November 16, 2024 PHILADELPHIA – It was the kind of play, with instincts and athleticism, generally reserved for power conference players. Derek Simpson was one of those recently. On Friday night, he showed off the high-major talent that made him coveted in the Big Ten by Rutgers, where Simpson spent the last two seasons before … [Read more...] about Bracy Column: Derek Simpson’s incredible dunk was just one play but told so much about his game and promise of Saint Joseph’s season

By AARON BRACY aaron@big5hoops.com November 15, 2024 As a highly respected voice in Philadelphia sports for more than 50 years, Dan Baker was one of the first people I thought about when considering whom to ask to review A Soaring Season: The Incredible, Inspiring Story of the 2003–04 Saint Joseph’s Hawks. The book is being published by Brookline Books and slated to … [Read more...] about Dan Baker’s book review of A Soaring Season: “Masterfully detailed. You can’t put it down once you pick it up.”

By AARON BRACY aaron@big5hoops.com November 10, 2024 The opening week of the Big 5 was full of surprises, both good and not so good. Starting with the good, Drexel, La Salle, Penn, and Temple all started 2-0 while Saint Joseph’s (1-1) and Villanova (2-1) each suffered damaging home defeats to Central Connecticut and Columbia, respectively. Let’s take a look back at … [Read more...] about Big 5 Weekly Roundup, November 4–9: Temple’s Jamal Mashburn Jr. tops Five Big 5 Stars after scintillating start