PHILADELPHIA - The La Salle men's basketball team will begin its 2011-12 season a few months early as the Explorers will play the first of four exhibition games in Canada beginning on Saturday night versus Carleton University. Head Coach Dr. John Giannini's squad has been practicing since July 25 in preparation for the foreign trip.
“We really enjoy our chemistry and our players,” Giannini said. “What we are trying to do now is really teach basic defense. We've spent 90% of our time on half-court defense. We think that's where games are won and lost.”
The Explorers received good news earlier this week when South Carolina transfer Ramon Galloway received a waiver from the NCAA and will be eligible to compete during the 2011-12 season. His first action could come in Canada on Saturday. Galloway averaged 10.7 ppg. for the Gamecocks last season in the competitive SEC.
Galloway is part of a deep and talented guard rotation. Senior Earl Pettis and sophomore Tyreek Duren are back as returning starters and bring a veteran presence to the lineup. Pettis averaged 9.1 points per game in 32 starts last season and has played nearly 100 college games. His experience will be key for a team with seven underclassmen in the regular rotation.
Duren burst on the scene last season at point guard, earning Atlantic 10 All-Rookie honors. He averaged 9.8 ppg. and 4.4 assists per game while setting a La Salle freshman record for steals. A pass-first point guard by trade, he may be asked to shoulder more of the scoring load this season.
Sophomores Sam Mills and Taylor Dunn are also back in the backcourt. Mills was among the top three-point shooters in the conference last season, connecting on 43.5%. He scored 5.4 points per game in 32 contests last season.
Dunn is another long-distance threat that sat out last season following a transfer from Winthrop University. The son of a former college head coach, Dunn has a high basketball IQ and can play both guard positions.
D.J. Peterson, a freshman, is a left-handed shooting guard originally from Minnesota. He averaged 15 points per game as a prep player at Lee Academy in Maine last season.
In the front court, junior Devon White is the most veteran big man. The Philadelphia native appeared in all 33 games and averaged 4.4 ppg. and 3.2 rpg. and has been a post presence his two years in Blue and Gold.
Redshirt freshman Matt Lopez returns after a season of practicing and getting stronger. The seven-footer gained weight in the offseason and possess good footwork and agility for a player his size.
A pair of freshman, Jerrell Wright and Steve Zack, join White and Lopez in the paint. Wright was a top recruit out of Philadelphia's Dobbins Tech, earning city player of the year honors from numerous publications. Zack measures just short of seven foot tall and averaged a double-double last year for Red Land High School.
Senior walk-on Matt Sheehan provides leadership and depth in the front court.
Scouting the opponents:
Carleton is coming off of its seventh Canadian National Championship in the past nine seasons. Head coach Dave Smart owns a remarkable 288-29 career record and a 27-1 mark last season. The Ravens will also host exhibition games against Illinois State, Central Florida, Saint Louis, Akron, Albany, Niagara and UC Santa Barbara this summer.
Ottawa finished 14-14 last season, including 9-5 over its last 14 games. The Gee-Gees finished third in the OUA East Division, 11 games back of Carleton. Ottawa will also play Albany, Saint Louis and UC Santa Barbara this summer.
