La Salle's Tunde Vahlberg Fasasi shoots as Penn's Cam Thrower (5) and Nick Spinoso defend in the Big 5 Classic third-place game on December 2, 2023. (Photo: Wells Fargo Center)
By AARON BRACY
November 1, 2024
LA SALLE 2024-25 Big5Hoops.com Preview Package
-La Salle 2024-25 Capsule Preview
-La Salle Player Spotlight: Andrés Marrero
-La Salle Season Preview Podcast
Season Preview Story
For the third straight season under third-year coach Fran Dunphy, La Salle once again finds itself picked last in the Atlantic 10 Conference in the league’s preseason poll. The Explorers already have shown in each of the last two seasons under Dunphy that they were underestimated by the league’s media and coaches. And this season is shaping up to be more of the same.
Last season, La Salle finished 10th in the A-10 after being selected 15th of 15 teams before any games were played, winning six games in the conference before a first-round victory over George Washington in the conference tournament. The Explorers then played seventh-seeded St. Bonaventure down to the wire in a second-round matchup and were within a Daeshon Shepherd tip-in of forcing overtime at the buzzer.
In 2022-23, the Explorers were tabbed as cellar dwellers in October only to place 11th in March, then won a pair of games in the A-10 tournament that included a second-round upset of sixth-seeded Duquesne.
Dunphy hasn’t become the all-time Big 5 wins leader, with 611 career victories that also ranks 42nd in NCAA Division I history entering the season, for no reason. The veteran knows how to coach and knows how to get the best out of his players. This season figures to be no different, though the voters once again don’t think too highly of the Explorers. (Author’s note: In my media vote, I picked the Explorers to finish 13th in the league.)
Just Compete
Dunphy shrugged off the third straight slight against La Salle at the league’s media day on October 7 in Washington, D.C.
“We don’t talk about that too much,” Dunphy, who led Penn and Temple to 17 NCAA tournaments before taking the helm at his alma mater on April 5, 2022, said of the preseason ranking. “Our number one priority is, ‘Are we ready to go November 4th? Let’s play the best basketball we can.’ We want to be the best team we can be. We don’t think about it too much. Just looking forward to competing.”
Privately, the ultra-competitive though humble Dunphy likely is eager to prove the league prognosticators wrong once again. His players certainly are looking forward to the opportunity to show what they can do in the A-10.
“We’ve already proven in years before that we’re able to compete, so I’m just looking forward,” said 6-foot-3 junior guard Andrés Marrero, who averaged 7.9 points in an injury-plagued season a year ago.
A Rebuilt Roster and Hope
La Salle, like many schools, has had to rebuild its roster in the new era of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) and the transfer portal. However, there seems to be a particular excitement from Dunphy about what the Explorers have, both in a conversation on the Bracy Sports Media podcast interview in August and the coach’s address to reporters in D.C. earlier this month.
“I’m looking forward to what is on the horizon for us this year,” he said at media day.
Clearly, Dunphy likes the players La Salle has brought in, featuring five transfers and rookie Deuce Jones. The Explorers will be replacing four transfers who combined for 46.7 points: Khalil Brantley (15.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg; transferred to Oklahoma State), Jhamir Brickus (13.9 ppg; transferred to Villanova), Anwar Gill (9.3 ppg; transferred to Howard), and Rokas Jocius (8.5 ppg, 5.4 rpg; transferred to Central Florida).
Replacing them are five transfers and a freshman: 6-2 sophomore guard Eric Acker (LIU), 6-10 junior forward Mac Etienne (DePaul/UCLA), 6-2 freshman guard Jones, 6-9 junior forward Demetrius Lilley (Penn State), 6-foot graduate guard Corey McKeithan (Rider), and 6-7 graduate guard/forward Jahlil White (Temple).
All are intriguing for various reasons and each has something to prove, particularly Etienne, Lilley, and White.
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.
“Getting to know these guys is part of the fun for me,” Dunphy said.
La Salle also welcomes the return of Shepherd for his senior season. The Archbishop Wood product put his name in the transfer portal before deciding to return after averaging 10.6 points and 5.6 rebounds in 32.5 minutes while shooting 43.9 percent from the field last season.
A Snapshot Look
Here’s a snapshot look of several La Salle players by Dunphy.
–Acker: “Talented young man. Great burst of speed. Plays with great pace. I think he has a great future in front of him. He does everything well. Now, it’s all about putting it together. A lot is going to be expected of him.”
–Etienne: “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.’’’
–Lilley: “Demetrius is someone we’re excited by. He’s done everything we have asked him to do in summertime workouts.”
–Shepherd: “We love Shep. He’s an amazing athlete. We need him to be the best rebounder he can be, the best defensive player he can be, we need him to run the floor. Lots of expectations put on Shep, and I’m looking forward to him being the best version of himself every single day.”
–White: “Jahlil can be a complete player for us.”
A New Arena
Dunphy and Explorers fans will get a chance to see what they have beginning on November 4 when La Salle plays host to American in its season opener in the first-ever game at Glaser Arena. The Explorers’ new home court has energized the basketball program and the campus.
“I think everybody on campus is excited about it,” Dunphy said. “Our school is looking at good things in the near future, and this is all part of it. We’re excited.”
Said Marrero, “It’s a lot different to years before. It brings life to campus and the athletic department. We’re excited for November 4th.”
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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.