Big 5 set for exciting basketball season

by Brian O'Connell sports commentator

Well sports fans it is that time again. It is time to break out the top 25 pre-season polls, call your cable company to get your satellite updated for the entire ESPN package because college basketball is back. Who can believe it? It seems like it was about a month ago Temple was upset by Seton Hall and Duke fell to Florida who eventually went on to ---.the championship game before losing to Michigan State

But, now it is time for a new season. And here in the city of Philadelphia, the Big 5 is ready to blow the roof off the greatest building in basketball, the Palestra. Let's start over at nearby Villanova. The Wildcats have high expectations this year mainly due to the return of sophomores Ricky Wright, Aaron Matthews and Gary Buchanan. Add into the mix Jermaine Medley, the team's only senior and some other quality players and you have a pretty good team. But the big impact should come from Kentucky transfer, Michael Bradley. He will be the starting center and teams should fear this guy because he can really light it up from inside. Remember all of the close games they had last year? Well, those losses should become wins and the 'Cats should advance to the NCAA tournament.

Over at Broad and Olney, Speedy Morris is in deep trouble this year. The LaSalle Explorers will really have to step it up if they hope to compete in the Atlantic 10 conference this year. That will be difficult with only two proven scorers in Victor Thomas and Rasual Butler. The huge loss will be that of Donnie Carr. He finally became a team player after shooting the ball every time he saw one. Julian Blanks returns as the Explorers' starting point guard. Blanks, Thomas and Butler will be counted on this season to give 110 percent if LaSalle expects to contend for anything.

Down at University City, the Pennsylvania Quakers and coach Fran Dunphy start the post Michael Jordan-Matt Langel era. The duo in the backcourt did many spectacular things for the team the past four years like win a few Ivy League championships. They are gone, but Quaker fans do not hang your heads. Sophomore phenom Ugonna Onyekwe and Geoff Owens return to give the Quakers some threats. Onyekwe has the chance to become an NBA player while Owens has to handle the inside. It appears the Quakers could be on their way to yet another Ivy League championship. This is what people are saying now because the championship has always come down to Penn and Princeton. But Princeton did Penn a favor by losing just about all of its talent and coach Bill Carmody.

Down on Broad Street are the Temple Owls. This team will not come close to last year's team, but they will be good because Coach John Chaney is still there. He has a difficult ask of replacing leading scorer Mark Karcher, forward Lamont Barnes and stand out point guard Pepe Sanchez. However, Lynn Greer returns as the point guard and Quincy Wadley as the shooting guard. Up front the Owls will feature Kevin Lyde and Ron Rollerson who could take up the entire lane himself. Expect Alex Wesby to see more time this year. Keep an eye on newcomers Carlton Aaron, Ron Blackshear and David Hawkins. As usual, Chaney has the probably the most difficult non-conference schedule in the country which features Duke, Wake Forrest, Wisconsin and Depaul. Expect the Owls to once again make the NCAA tournament with this killer non-conference schedule. Their play will not look so pretty early on in the season, but start keeping an eye on the Owls around mid- January.

And finally over on City Line Ave are the St. Joseph's Hawks. After a three-year absence from the post-season, the Hawks appear to have what it takes to make a post-season appearance. It all starts with the returning players. Let's start with Villanova transfer Marvin O'Connor who had a great rookie season in a Hawks' uniform. However, he has to learn to control his emotions and rebound the ball more. Expect him to be a great al-around player this year. Bill Phillips will give the Hawks a good inside threat at the forward position. One thing Phillips can do is shoot the basketball. He has such perfect form that his teammates last year wanted him to shoot the ball more. Look for him to average double figures in points and rebounds. Another player who has to find his range is senior Frank Wilkins. After a lousy year last year, expect Wilkins to hit from the baseline. Also up front is junior Damian Reid. He has bulked up a little and has to become more of an inside threat by taking the ball to the basket more often. Alex Sazanov will back up Reid at the center spot. Sazanov is the first ever seven footer to come through St. Joseph's basketball program. He redshirted last year to put on some muscle and work on his game. Expect him to have an impact this season. At the guards will be Na'im Crenshaw who will sit out the first semester to focus on his studies so he can regain his extra year of eligibility next year. However, the big news on Hawk Hill this year is freshman point guard Jameer Nelson, who led Chester High to the Pennsylvania state championship. Coach Phil Martelli has said that Nelson is so good at the position that he is just not a freshman, he is better. Backing up Nelson is freshman Tyrone Barley who is just as tough. The guard position is set and Martelli could not be happier. Some key reserves include John Bryant, Jeff Miller, Erick Woods and Phil Martelli Jr., the coach's son.