No. 6 Villanova Wildcats
Last Season: 25-8, 3-1 Big 5Coach: Jay Wright, entering 10th season, 178-91 with the Wildcats
Projected Starters: So. G Maalik Wayns (Named to Big East All-Rookie Team for 2009-2010) Sr. G Corey Fisher (Led the team in assists last year) Sr. G Corey Stokes (Started 27 games for the Wildcats last season) Sr. F Antonio Pena (Team’s leading rebounder has improved into a reliable scorer inside) So. F/C Mouphtaou Yarou (Strong rebounder showed marked improvement at the end of last season)
Last Year at Villanova: Guard Darren Smith netted 21 points, a career high, as the Quakers were blown out by Villanova, 103-65.
No. 22 Temple Owls
Last Season: 29-6, 4-0 Big 5; first-round loss to Cornell in the NCAA tournamentCoach: Former Penn coach Fran Dunphy, entering fifth season, 84-49 with Temple
Projected Starters: Jr. G Juan Fernandez (2010 Atlantic 10 Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player) Jr. G Ramone Moore (Last season's sixth man will move into a bigger role this year) So. F Rahlir Jefferson (Played in 32 games last year but did not start) Jr. F/C Micheal Eric (Fifth on the team in scoring last year) Sr. F Lavoy Allen (First Team All-Atlantic 10 Conference)
Last Year at the Palestra: In Jerome Allen's home debut, Penn played well but lost to the Owls, 60-45.
St. Joseph's Hawks
Last Season: 11-20, 2-2 Big 5Coach: Phil Martelli, entering 16th season, 289-187 with the Hawks
Projected Starters: Sr. F Idris Hilliard (Third-leading scorer last season) Jr. C Todd O’Brien (Started in 21 games last season after transferring from Bucknell) So. G Justin Crosgile (Came back from injury to start 19 straight games in 2009-10) So. G Carl Jones (Played in all 31 games as a freshman, averaging 9.6 points per game) Fr. G Langston Galloway (Slasher who can finish around the basket; named to 2010-2011 Atlantic 10 Preseason All-Rookie Team)
Last Year at the Palestra: In the Quaker’s Big 5 finale, they struggled with turnovers and were defeated 85-64 by the Hawks.
La Salle Explorers
Last Season: 12-18, 1-3 Big 5Coach: Dr. John Giannini, entering seventh season, 83-97 with the Explorers
Projected Starters: Fr. G Tyreek Duren (Named First Team Class AAA All-Pennsylvania last year) Sr. G Ruben Guillandeaux (Averaged 9.5 points and 3.3 assists last season before a stress fracture took him off the court) Jr. G Earl Pettis (Sat out last season after transferring from Rutgers) Sr. F Jerrell Williams (Averaged 10.1 points per game and 7.1 rebounds last season) So. C Aaric Murray (2009-10 Big 5 Rookie of the Year)
Last Year at the Palestra: Guard Zack Rosen's 29 points weren't enough for a 'W,' as the Quakers fell 76-57 to the Explorers.
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