Hoops Supplement | Big five preview

Per usual, the Quakers will take on the other four teams of the historic Big Five this season and the competition will be tough. These Philadelphia squads bring an array of returning talent and skilled freshman. Facing Penn is also a Temple team that made it to the second round of the NCAA tournament last season

La Salle
Last year’s record: 21-13, 1-3 Big 5

Head Coach: John Giannini, entering 9th season, 119-128 with the Explorers

Players to watch:

• Ramon Galloway: Second team All-Atlantic 10, second team Big 5. Senior guard averaged 14.1 points and 3.5 assists per game in 2011-12.

• Tyreek Duren: Second team Big 5. Junior guard started every game last season for the Explorers, averaging 13.2 points and 4.0 assists per game.

• Jerrell Wright: Powerful sophomore forward was named Big 5 Rookie of the Year last year, posting 9.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game in limited minutes.

Last year at the Palestra: La Salle led wire-to-wire thanks to a strong defensive effort and held off a late 8-0 Penn run to win, 68-57.

Gametime: Saturday, Jan. 5, 2 p.m. at La Salle

Saint Joseph’s
Last year’s record: 20-14, 3-1

Head Coach: Phil Martelli, entering 18th season, 320-223 with the Hawks

Players to watch:

• Langston Galloway: Second team All-Atlantic 10, first team Big 5. Junior guard was the Hawks’ second-leading scorer last year with 15.5 points per game.

• C.J. Aiken: Second team Big 5. Junior forward scored 10.9 points per game and was the Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year in 2011-12.

• Ronald Roberts Jr.: Atlantic 10 Sixth Man of the Year. Came off the bench in every game and averaged 10.9 points last season.

Last year at the Palestra: Galloway’s 32 points weren’t enough for St. Joe’s as Penn won, 84-80, behind Tyler Bernardini’s 24 points.

Gametime: Saturday, Jan. 19, 5 p.m. at the Palestra

Temple
Last year’s record: 24-8, 3-1; lost to South Florida in second round of the NCAA Tournament

Head Coach: Former Penn coach Fran Dunphy, entering 7th season, 134-65 with the Owls

Players to watch:

• Khalif Wyatt: Second team All-Atlantic 10, first team Big 5. Senior guard was Owls’ second-leading scorer last season with 17.1 points per game.

• Rhalir Hollis-Jefferson: Senior forward averaged 9.3 points and 6.6 rebounds per game last year.

• Daniel Dingle: Nationally-ranked recruit leads strong freshman class trio.

Last year at the Palestra: Behind 27 points from Zack Rosen, Penn took Temple to overtime, but the Owls triumphed in a thriller, 73-67.

Gametime: Wednesday, Jan. 23, 7 p.m. at Temple

Villanova
Last year’s record: 13-19, 2-2

Head Coach: Jay Wright, entering 12th season, 237-130 with the Wildcats

Players to watch:

• Mouphtaou Yarou: Senior center averaged 11.3 points and 8.2 rebounds per game last season and started all 32 contests.

• James Bell: Explosive senior guard averaged 7.0 points and 3.8 rebounds per game in injury-shortened 2011-12 season.

• Mislav Brzoja: Freshman guard won a gold medal for Croatia at this summer’s U18 European Championship.

Last year at Villanova: The Wildcats got off to a strong start and led, 38-20, at halftime. They held off a late Penn surge to prevail, 73-65.

Gametime: Saturday, Dec. 8, 8 p.m. at the Palestra

SEE ALSO

Hoops Supplement | Learning to fly

Hoops Supplement | Scott Pera not a complete stranger

Hoops Supplement | New assistant coach Ira Bowman emerges a leader

Hoops Supplement | Polykoff left alma mater for Penn

Hoops Supplement | Soisson: No top-level opponents? This season, no problem

Hoops Supplement | Penn’s new faces

Hoops Supplement | Where are they now?

Hoops Supplement | Ivy teams at a glance

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