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| INSIDE THE NUMBERS |
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2000-01 record: 15-17;
6-10 in A-10 (4th/West)
Postseason: None. Last NCAA appearance was in 1992.
RETURNING LEADERS
Points: Cleaves 11.7
Rebs: Okosa 8.2
Assists: Cleaves 2.5
FG: Okosa 45.1%
3pt: Cleaves 40.49%
FT: Farmer 83.3%
01-02 Stats:
La Salle | A-10
KEY LOSSES
Rasual Butler | 20.9 ppg
Julian Blanks | 8.9 ppg
PROJECTED STARTERS
G | Jer. Thomas | Fresh
G | Mike Cleaves | Soph
G | Ra. Quadri | Junior
F | Ch. Okosa | Senior
C | J. Jean-Baptiste | Jr.
Player to Watch
Jermaine Thomas
Freshman Guard
Could have chosen champs, but instead followed Hahn to help rebuild Colonials program.
DATE TO REMEMBER
This Big Five meeting with Villanova in the Palestra will give LaSalle its first look at one of the better freshman classes in the Big East, the Wildcats' grouping of Jason Fraser, Curtis Sumpter, Randy Foye and Allan Ray.
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LA SALLE
EXPLORERS
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He helped fill the cupboard as an assistant at Maryland, which won the national title last season, and now second-year Explorers coach Billy Hahn is doing the same at LaSalle. Good thing, because the biggest cup in there has gone. Rasual Butler has graduated, taking with him 2,125 career points, but a new star could be on campus already in Jermaine Thomas, a 6-2 a point guard who was the Maryland state player of the year last year. Thomas might have gone to Maryland -- he's said to be that good -- but opted for LaSalle to follow Hahn. He comes just in time, what with last season's starting point guard, Julian Blanks, also gone. The other three starters are back, including two other guards, 5-10 Mike Cleaves (11.7 ppg) and 6-3 Rasheed Quadri (5.0 ppg). Senior big man Chukwunike Okosa (11.3 ppg, 8.2 rpg), a solid contributor last season as a transfer, is potentially a dominant force inside.
TOUGH ENOUGH..............................
Hahn has nice options inside, not only with the 6-10, 235-pound Okosa - known as Reggie Okosa last season -- but also with 6-9, 270-pound junior backup Joel Jean-Baptiste. If the latter can keep in playing shape, that's two big bodies for Hahn to throw at opposing teams. A third is freshman Steve Smith, who goes 6-8, 225 and is well regarded.
TOUGH ENOUGH?..............................
Freshman point guards are scary creatures, but Hahn probably has no choice but to turn his team over to one, Thomas. And Thomas might just prove ready, especially with the help of two experienced guards, Cleaves and Quadri, to cover his back..
BOTTOM LINE..............................
LaSalle's 15 victories last season were its most in 10 years, and it's A-10 tournament semifinal showing was its best finish ever. Duplicating either feat won't be easy for a team having to replace its No. 4 all-time scorer (Butler) and starting point guard (Blanks). But it's possible, if the freshman, Thomas, is as good as advertised.
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