Raymond Rose Dynasty: La Salle Explorers, Atlantic 10 (NCAA Basketball 10)

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I've always wanted a La Salle Explorers dynasty, having been schooled at La Salle in Manila, ever since I started legacies with College Hoops 2K8. But because the way I play my CH2K8 legacies, which is CPU vs. CPU that plays all teams in the conference, it would be outrageously unwieldy considering the enormous 14-team lineup in Atlantic 10. It's totally different here with NCAA Basketball 10.

I will be using the same format/ same settings as my other dynasty, New Beginning: A UC Riverside Dynasty (NCAA Basketball 10), with DeadlyCane's sliders and fine tuned to suit my style with 19-minute halves.

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LA SALLE EXPLORERS (2009-2010)

TOUGH SEASON AHEAD... John Giannini decided to move up as the school's new Athletic Director and vacate the head coaching post after 4 years at the. The decision was easy taking after former UC Riverside head coach Raymond Rose affirmed his desire to move to Philadelphia and rebuild the Explorers. For this season, however, Rose and the Explorers will try nothing but hard to improve on a disappointing 11th place in Big West and make this a winning season from last year's 15-17 (8-8) record.

Expectations are high though as Rose is blessed by four returning seniors focused on returning the program to the NCAA Tournament with main man/ shooting guard Rodney Green leading the quartet. Green is one of four players from Giannini's first full recruiting class which includes Yves Bartel (75), Kimmani Barrett (76) and Reuben Gilliam (76).

Rose also welcomes center Aaric Murray (76), a prized recruit, to La Salle. Murray spurned several programs from top conferences to sign with the Explorers. A preseason All-Atlantic 10 Rookie Team selection, Murray is expected to see immediate playing time in 2009-10.

BACKCOURT... One of the top point guards in the conference, Rodney Green (76) returns for his fourth year as a starter. Green is a big point guard at 6-foot-5 and uses his height advantage to post up smaller opponents. He will be joined in the backcourt by Reuben Gilliam (76), 6-foot-6 shooter with exceptional range.

A pair of freshman, Parrish Grant (71) and T.T. Carey (66) will look to gain experience in their rookie campaigns. Junior walk-on Greg Daniels (65) provides depth.

FRONTCOURT... In the front court is a pair of athletic forwards in Kimmani Barrett (76) and Yves Bartel (75). Barrett is a slasher, shoots well front from three and will figure in the Explorers' scoring load while Bartel is a good inside player and a great rebounder.

Freshman Aaric Murray (76) is big, athletic and skillful post player. Back up center Vernon Elridge (74) will see significant playing time in the post. Elridge, a junior transferee from Mississippi State, sat out last year to complete his eligibility. Both he and Murray will add muscle in rebounds and both offense and defense.

Junior Jerrell Williams (70) will be coming from the bench for Barrett at the 3 position. Williams will use his athleticism and speed for points. Another junior Steve Worthington (66) and redshirt freshman Devon White (64) will compete for minutes in a deep frontcourt. Worthington earned a scholarship after walking onto the team while White sat out last season as a redshirt and is now primed to contribute as a freshman.

La Salle Explorers 2009-2010
#	NAME	POS	HT	WT	CLASS	HOMETOWN
1	Vernon Eldridge	C	6'9	230	Sr.	Brooklyn NY
2	Devon White	C	6'8	240	So.	Philadelphia PA
3	Terrell Williams	SF	6'8	210	Jr.	Parterson NJ
4	Parrish Grant	SG	6'2	170	Fr.	Philadelphia PA
5	Kimmani Barrett	SF	6'6	195	Sr.	Parterson NJ
10	Rodney Green	SG	6'5	190	Sr.	Philadelphia PA
12	Yves Bartel	PF	6'7	210	Sr.	Elizabeth NJ
20	Jerrell Williams	SF	6'8	210	Jr.	Parterson NJ
21	Matt Sheehan	PF	6'10	235	Fr.	Philadelphia PA
23	T.T. Carey	SG	6'5	185	Fr.	Colonial Beach VA
24	Aaric Murray	C	6'10	230	Fr.	Philadelphia PA
25	Greg Daniels	PG	5'10	160	Jr.	Nazareth PA
34	Reuben Gilliam	PG	6'5	195	Sr.	Brooklyn NY
41	Steve Worthington	PF	6'8	215	So.	Baltimore MD

Schedule of Non-Conference Games

Nov 7, 2009 vs. McNeese State Cowboys

Nov 11, 2009 at Fairleigh Dickinson Knights

Nov 13, 2009 at Appalachian State Mountaineers

Nov 14, 2009 vs. Navy Midshipmen

Nov 19, 2009 at Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns (Puerto Rico Tip-Off)

Dec 4, 2009 at Arizona State Sun Devils

Dec 6, 2009 vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Dec 11, 2009 vs. New Mexico State Aggies

Dec 12, 2009 at VCU Rams

Dec 22, 2009 vs. Boston College Eagles

Dec 29, 2009 vs. Norfolk State Spartans

Dec 30, 2009 at Villanova Wildcats

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La Salle takes part in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off

Nov. 15 Philadelphia PA - La Salle will take part in the 8-team Puerto Rico Tip-Off scheduled on November 19 and thereafter at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan PR. The tournament's top seeds are the South Florida Bulls and the Weber State Wildcats. The Highlanders will be matched against the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns in the first round.

Meanwhile the La Salle Explorers stormed to their fourth straight victory with no losses against the Navy Midshipmen, 91-87. Previously, the Explorers won their road two back-to-back games against the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights 84-73 and the Appalachian State Mountaineers 71-69. Senior guards Reuben Gilliam and Rodney Green lead the Explorers after 4 games with an average of 17.8 and 16.4 points a game while all-around small forward Kimmani Barrett has 13.6.

Coach Raymond Rose is elated the boys are responding positively from the hectic offseason training. If there's one thing Rose put emphasis on is defense and that will be put to test come Puerto Rico.

It will be rough sailing in December after that. The Explores will travel to Tempe AZ for a big match against against Pac-10's the Arizona State Sun Devils on December 4, then another series of big games at home against Big East's the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on December 6 and against WAC's the New Mexico State Aggies on December 11.

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La Salle def. Louisiana-Lafayette, 81-65 (Puerto Rico Tip-off 1st Round)

Nov. 19, San Juan PR - La Salle won its first round match against Louisiana-Lafayette, 81-65, at the Puerto Rico Tip-Off and advance to the second round of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off at the Coliseo de Pierto Rico in San Juan PR. The Explorers will meet the Vermont Catamounts for the right to battle the winner between topseed South Florida and Santa Clara University.

Up by 9 points at the the half, 36-27, the Explorers met tough opposition at the start of the second canto when the Ragin' Cajuns cut the lead to a single field goal, 49-47, but that their last hurrah. The Explorers went on a scoring tear and a crippling defense to mount an 18-0 run blanking the Ragin' Cajuns for 6 long minutes. It was over from thereon.

Rodney Green led the Explorers with 21 big points. Vernon Eldridge, who played most of the second half while Aaric Murray nursed his 4th personal foul at the bench, and Kimmani Barrett, who also had 8 assists, contributed 16 points apiece. Yves Bartel added 13 markers and 11 boards. Reuben Gilliam had only 7 points but dished out a game high 10 assists. Devon Buckels scored a game high 22 while Ty Braxton and Levar Wells combined for 17 points and 21 rebounds for the Ragin' Cajuns, which had the same total rebounds of 37 as the Explorers.

La Salle def. Vermont, 91-76 (Puerto Rico Tip-Off Semifinal)

Nov. 20, San Juan PR - La Salle is into the finals of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off after soundly beating Vermont, 91-76. The Explorers will play topseed South Florida after the Bulls led by Bobby Marshall and Eddie Hensley trounced the Santa Clara Broncos, 90-83. Marshall and Hensley had a combined total of 50 points in that game.

The Explorers had a 50-43 at the half but the Cartamounts made an early run in the second half to come close 50-49. Just happened to be the Catamounts' last stand as the Explorers poured it on and pulled away.

Reuben Gilliam was the hogh point man for the game with 17 points while Rodney Green and Aaric Murray added 14 and 12 respectively. Yves Bartel and all-around forward Kimmani Barrett, who also grabbed a game high 9 boards, contributed 11 apiece. Barrett combined with guards Gilliam and Green for 16 of the Explorers' 23 assists. Brian Barber and Devin Vasher led the Catamounts with 15 and 14 points while main man Leon Butts was limited to a measly 6 markers.

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La Salle captures the Puerto Rico Tip-Off Title
Explorers drub the South Florida Bulls, 89-80

Nov. 21, San Juan PR - La Salle captured the Puerto Rico Tip-Off Tournament title with an impressive win over Big East's South Florida, 89-80 at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan. This is the Explorers' seventh straight victory for the season with no losses earning them an ESPN TV broadcast when they play Pac-10's the Arizona State Sun Devils at the Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe AZ on December 4.

The championship game was close from the opening tip-off with the upperhand swinging both ways. Halftime score was deadlocked at 38-all. It was a pendulum affair once again from thereon as both teams battled tooth and nail for no clear advantage. The game was tied 8 more times, the last time at 72-all with 6:22 remaining. At that point the Explorers held the lead which they stretched to 5 points at 79-74, time down to 3:39.

After a series of baskets and with a little over a minute in the ball game a Jerrell Williams putback gave the Explorers a comfortable 7-point margin, 85-78 and with 57.9 ticks remaining. After their last offensive stand saw two misses from the arc, the Bulls went on a fouling spree to stop the clock. The Explorers calmly sank their free throws to seal the game and the title.

Rodney Green topscored with 22 points for the Explorers. Yves Bartel played a masterful game with a double-double performance of 15 points and a game high 12 rebounds. Jerrell Williams finished with 14 while Reuben Gilliam, who had 7 assists, and Kimmani Barrett added 13 and 11 respectively. Doug Glenn and Bobby Marshall were the leading scorers for the Bulls with 16 and 14 while Tim Metcalf and Eddie Hensley contributed 12 apiece.

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4-star Kam Chambers commits to La Salle next season

Meanwhile, Raymond Rose scooped up a welcoming recruitment news after 4-star player in Kam Chambers committed to wear the Explorers jersey next season. Chambers is a 6'4 191-lb shooting guard, who has impressive high school stats of 57.1 3PT and 19.4 PPG. The passer scorer is ranked # 143 in the nation and # 37 in his position.

Three 3-star high schoolers and a 2-star also committed to play for the coach Rose and the Explorers next season. Nathan Richardson, the first player to gave his nod, is a 6'2 192-lb point guard who is 44.9 3PT in high school. He is a passer scorer and is ranked # 331 and #78.

Two more 3-star point guards followed since. Billy Ray Bates is a 6'2 173-lb passer scorer with 14.4 APG and 11.5 PPG. He is ranked # 306 and #67. The other is 6'4 168-lb Benjamin Butts, also a passer scorer in high school with a more convincing stats of 30.7 3PT and 10.9 PPG, is ranked # 228 and #51.

The 2-star recruit is Jon Wood, a 6'6 2-4-lb small forward and ranked # 689 and # 134 in his 3-position. One more scholarship is up for grabs which coach Rose is reserving for a biggie.

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La Salle upsets no. 15 Villanova, 86-75

Dec 30, Pennsylvania PA - La Salle geared up its conference campaign peaking at the right time with a shattering 86-75 upset of no. 15 Villanova before a raucous crowd at the Pavilion in Pennsylvania. It was the Explorers final game of a perfect 14-0 off season before they go on the road to play Charlotte on January 4.

The Explorers were behind 37-43 at the half then battles the Wildcats toe-to-toe. Back-to-back treys by Rodney Green shut the Pavilion into silence and the Explorers coasted along to victory. Yves Bartel outplayed the Big East forwards with a team high 20 points. Rodney Green finished with 18 points and a game high 10 assists. Reuben Gilliam and Kimmani Barrett added 13 apiece while Aaric Murray had 9 points and a game high 11 boards. Scottie Reynolds led the Wildcats with a game high 27 points. Dwayne Anderson added 11 while Corey Stokes and Antonio Peña contributed 10 each.

Schedule of Conference Games

Jan 4, 2010 at Charlotte

Jan 10, 2010 at George Washington

Jan 16, 2010 George Washington

Jan 17, 2010 at Fordham

Jan 19, 2010 at Dayton

Jan 27, 2010 vs. Saint Louis

Jan 28, 2010 at Saint Joseph's

Jan 31, 2010 at Saint Louis

Feb 7, 2010 at St. Bonaventure

Feb 10, 2010 at Richmond

Feb 11, 2020 at Duquesne

Feb 17, 2010 vs Duquesne

Feb 18, 2010 at Xavier

Feb 21, 2010 vs. Dayton

Feb 25, 2010 vs. Xavier

Feb 28, 2010 vs. Richmond

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ATLANTIC 10 HIGHEST RATED PLAYERS

Chris Wright, Dayton (86)
Kevin Anderson, Richmond (82)
Damien Saunders, Duquesne (81)
Lavoy Allen, Temple (80)
Jason Love, Xavier (80)
Jon Page, George Washington (80)

ALL-ATLANTIC 10 TEAM (OFF SEASON)

First Team
Kevin Anderson, Richmond
Ricky Harris, Massachusetts
Alberto Estes, Fordham
Chris Wright, Dayton
Willie Reed, St. Louis

Second Team
Reuben Gilliam, La Salle
Marcus Johnson, Massachusetts
Jason Barber (St. Bonaventure)
Lavoy Allen, Temple
Andrew Nicholson (St. Bonaventure)

All-Freshman Team
Caleb Ricks, St. Joseph's
Lance Brown, Fordham
Derek Meeks, St. Louis
Richard Hughes, Charlotte
Aaric Murray, La Salle

Injured Starters
Damien Saunders, Duquesne (torn achilles)
Jio Fontenette, Fordham (torn achilles)
James Whitehead, Massachusetts (sprained wrist)

Atlantic 10 Basketball Conference Standings - Updated: Jan 1, 2010
TEAM	CONF	PCT	REC	PCT	STRK
Saint Louis	2-0	1.000	5-10	.333	2
Charlotte	1-0	1.000	7-7	.500	1
Saiant Joseph's	1-0	1.000	5-9	.357	4
Temple	1-1	.500	3-12	.200	-1
Massachusetts	0-1	.000	11-3	.786	-2
Dayton	0-1	.000	10-4	.714	-1
Richmond	0-1	.000	9-5	.643	-1
Duquesne	0-1	.000	6-8	.429	-1
La Salle	0-0	.000	14-0	1.000	14
St. Bonaventure	0-0	.000	11-2	.846	2
Xavier	0-0	.000	8-5	.615	-1
Rhode Island	0-0	.000	7-6	.538	1
Fordham	0-0	.000	5-8	.385	2
George Washington	0-0	.000	4-9	.308	2