Tag Archives: Big 5

Maryland vs. Villanova – A Critical Showdown: I Can’t Wait for This Shit!

November 17, 2023 By in Big 5, Villanova Basketball Tags: , , Leave a comment

It goes down tonight…

For a couple of hours, beginning at 8:30 pm, the Finneran Pavillion on the campus of Villanova will become the center of the college basketball universe.

A clash between two storied programs, Maryland and Villanova, is set to unfold. The excitement is palpable, the stakes are high, and both teams, under the leadership of second-year coaches, are desperate for a turnaround.

Kyle Neptune, handpicked by the legendary Jay Wright to inherit the keys to the Bentley at Villanova, faces the daunting task of steering the Wildcats back to their former glory. With only a 50 percent win rate since Wright’s retirement and notable local losses to Temple and Penn, the Main Line faithful are becoming restless. Neptune assumed the reins at a program with high expectations, accustomed to Sweet 16s, Final Fours, and National Championships.

Kyle Neptune, Villanova Head Coach

Despite a respectable 17-17 record and a post-season appearance in the NIT in Neptune’s inaugural season, Villanova demands more… Much more… The dynamic duo of Justin Moore and Cam Whitmore, crucial to the program’s success last season, battled injuries, preventing the smooth ride off the lot that Neptune hoped for. Nonetheless, the Main Liners, spoiled by Wright’s two decades of sustained success, yearn for the continuation of their program’s storied legacy.

Toward that end, Neptune and his staff have reloaded. There is a renewed sense of optimism following the the arrival of new talent. On paper, Villanova seems poised for a return to prominence on the national stage. They are healthy and outside of the Milwaukee Bucks signing Dame Lillard, Villanova has made some of the best free agent acquisitions in basketball.

TJ Bamba, Villanova Wing

This Villanova roster is talented, older and very experienced. They picked up Tyler Burton, a Second Team All-Atlantic 10 selection and All-District in NABC District 4 (A-10) who led Richmond with 19.0 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. They brought in TJ Bamba who averaged 32.2 minutes,15.8 points, 3.7 rebounds while starting all 31 games in his third season for Washington State. Hakim Hart decided to return home after a season where he tied for second on the Terrapins with a career-best 11.4 points per game while adding 4.1 rebounds per game. Hart started all 35 games of the season averaging a team-high 32.8 minutes per game while coming in second on the team with 91 assists and 41 steals. Camden High product, Lance Ware represents another key acquisition. Last season, Ware played in 28 games, including six starts while averaging 2.0 points and 2.0 rebounds per game.

Lance Ware, Villanova Forward

The Wildcats still have Eric Dixon, a second team All-Big East selection who led the Wildcats in scoring at 15.4 points per game and also added 6.6 rebounds per contest. They also have a healthy Justin Moore. Two years ago, Moore was named Second Team all-Big East and First Team All-Philadelphia Big Five. He saw he his season ended by a tear in his right achilles tendon suffered in the final minute of Villanova’s 50-44 victory over Houston in the NCAA South Regional Final. Last season, Moore returned from surgery on Jan. 29 and played 32.0 minutes per game over 13 games and contributed 13.5 points and 3.5 rebounds per contest. Jordan Longino, Brandon Hauser and Chris Arcidicano round out a deep and balanced Villanova rotation.

The pressure is on Neptune to get the Bentley rolling again. The rims are polished, the paint is glistening, the sound system is sweet. Let’s drive this muthafucka. The talent is there; now, it’s a matter of making the pieces fit seamlessly and reviving the winning culture that defines Villanova basketball.

On the other side of the court, Maryland, led by coach Kevin Willard, faces its own set of challenges. Fresh off disappointing losses to Davidson and UAB in a four-team tournament, Willard acknowledges the hurdles posed by the early season setbacks. The transfer portal churned the roster, and integrating new faces with three promising freshmen takes time.

Kevin Willard, Maryland Head Coach

Donta Scott, a fifth-year senior and key player for Maryland, is undergoing a slow start to the season. Willard attributes some of Scott’s struggles to experimentation with his position, indicating a willingness to adapt for the team’s success.

When asked about Scott’s early season struggles, Willard said, “Donta’s been great… He brings it every night. He’s our leading plus-minus guy so far this year. He’s been a huge difference. There’s a huge difference for us when he’s on the court and when he’s off the court. Some of his struggles offensively earlier are my fault because I tried to be cute and put him at three spot and the four spot. But he’s just one of those guys that just, I think in five to six, seven, eight years when he’s gone and come back, people are going to look at what his numbers are, what he did, what he won, and really respect the heck out of Donta.”

The Terps’ success, however, hinges on the performances of Scott, along with standout players Julian Reese and Jahmir Young. Tonight, especially, the Terps need Scott to step up in front of his friends and family members. They will also need big performances out of Young (14.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 5.7 apg) and Reese (13.0 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 2.0 bpg).

Jullian Reese, Maryland Forward

The anticipation for tonight’s game is palpable, heightened by the sellout Main Line crowd still reeling from recent local losses. For a fanbase accustomed to success, each defeat is a bitter pill to swallow. The Terps, aware of the hostile environment they step into, need a stellar performance from their core players to silence the fervent Villanova faithful.

As the clock ticks down to 8:30 pm, the Finneran Pavilion becomes the epicenter of college basketball, a battleground where redemption, pride, and the pursuit of excellence converge. Tonight’s matchup is not just a game; it’s a pivotal moment for both programs striving to reclaim their positions atop the college basketball hierarchy. The Main Line faithful, hungry for success, and the Terps, determined to overcome early setbacks, set the stage for an unforgettable night of college basketball. The journey towards redemption begins on the hardwood, where Maryland and Villanova will leave it all on the court in a bid to turn their seasons around.

Khaafiq Myers, South Philly PG: A Scouting Report

July 6, 2023 By in Catholic League Basketball, Neumann-Goretti Tags: , Leave a comment

CAMDEN, NJ – July 6, 2023 – It was the summer of 2011, I was watching the Sonny Hill League High School playoffs. South Philly was strong as usual. John Davis (Neumann-Goretti), BJ Johnson (Lower Merion), Junior Fortunat (Roman Catholic) and Biggie Minnis (Atlantic Christian) were some of the headliners for a South Philly franchise that had been passed down from Claude Gross and Tee Shields to Arthur “Bunky” Russell. While we were in the Audenried Gym adjacent to I-76 and not on Broad Street at McGonigle Hall, the Hill League was still the THE Hill League.

During a break in the action, Biggie Minnis’ Mom, Chandra walked a skinny, tiny little kid over to me and said “we got one more Del… One last Myers coming through.” With that, I was introduced to Khaafiq Myers. With Chandra’s stamp, he was officially on the Black Cager radar screen. After all, she’s seen every single one of the great South Philly Ballers of the past 40 years. Shit… She grew up in the same house with some of toughest customers to emerge from Da P.

Over the past 12 years, I’ve watched that skinny little boy grow up and become a bonafide backcourt bully. Khaafiq Myers is now entering his final year of high school basketball. Despite his relatively small stature, standing at around 5’11” and weighing only 160 pounds, he has established a well-earned reputation for dominating opposing guards over the past two years. His aggressive style of play, exceptional lateral quickness, and defensive tenacity make him a force to be reckoned with on the court. He’s known for taking the ball in the open court in a very disrespectful manner. His ability to impose his will on opponents has often left them hesitant to even dribble the ball up the court.


Strengths:

Lateral Quickness and Defensive Tenacity: Khaafiq’s outstanding lateral quickness enables him to stay in front of his man effectively. His relentless defensive pressure often disrupts opponents’ offensive sets and forces turnovers, showcasing his defensive tenacity.

Floor General and Playmaking: As a point guard, he possesses excellent court vision and decision-making skills. He consistently demonstrates his ability to read defenses, penetrate the lane, and find open teammates with crisp passes. His playmaking abilities contribute significantly to his team’s offensive success.

Penetration and Pressure on Defense: Khaafiq’s skill in beating defenders off the dribble allows him to penetrate the lane effectively. This puts tremendous pressure on the defense, often leading to opportunities for scoring or creating open shots for his teammates.

Areas for Improvement:
Inconsistent Jump Shooting: Although the South Philly point guard excels in various aspects of the game, his jump shooting remains inconsistent. Developing a more reliable jump shot will be crucial for his growth as a player. Improving his shooting percentages, particularly from the free-throw line and beyond the arc, will increase his overall offensive effectiveness.

College Prospects: If Khaafiq can address this weaknesses and improve his shooting percentages, he has the potential to become a legitimate mid-major plus or high-major college prospect. Meeting the benchmarks of shooting above 75 percent from the free-throw line and north of 40 percent from the three-point range would significantly enhance his value as a scorer and playmaker. College coaches would be drawn to his defensive prowess, leadership qualities, and ability to create scoring opportunities for himself and teammates.

Recommendations:
Shooting Development: The player should dedicate significant time to developing his jump shot. Consistent practice and guidance from shooting coaches will help him refine his shooting technique and increase his shooting percentages. Improving his mechanics, shot selection, and shot release will lead to a more reliable and consistent shooting stroke.

Strength and Conditioning: Given his slight stature, adding strength and muscle mass will enhance his ability to withstand physical play and finish at the rim against bigger opponents. Focusing on strength and conditioning training, along with proper nutrition, will improve his overall athleticism and durability.

Basketball IQ and Decision Making: Continuously working on his basketball IQ and decision-making skills will allow him to make better choices on the court. Studying game film, learning from experienced coaches, and analyzing different offensive and defensive strategies will further enhance his understanding of the game.

Conclusion: Khaafiq, the last in a long line of tough and savvy Myers guards, is a formidable force on the basketball court. His combination of defensive intensity, playmaking abilities, and penetrative skills make him a valuable asset to any team. By addressing his inconsistent jump shooting and continuing to refine his overall game, he has the potential to excel at the collegiate level. College coaches will be enticed by his defensive prowess, leadership qualities, and ability to create scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates. With focused development and continued improvement, Khaafiq Myers has the opportunity to make a significant impact early in his career at the next level

St. Joe’s vs Temple: A BIG Big 5 game… Can You Still Say That?

December 4, 2022 By in Uncategorized Tags: , , Leave a comment

I am a fan of Big 5 basketball. Subconsciously, I approach every matchup looking for streamers to rain from heavens after the first made basket for each team. For young readers unfamiliar with the tradition, once upon a time, during Big 5 games after each team’s first made basket, fans would throw streamers of their team’s colors onto the playing surface.

The NCAA banned this traditional practice in 1985. Ostensibly, because they thought it was dangerous. I actually think they banned it because they couldn’t figure out a way to monetize it.

The NCAA can always be counted on to do some nut shit…

For 67 years, Philadelphia’s Big 5 — LaSalle, Pennsylvania, St. Joseph’s, Temple and Villanova — have waged a unique Philly college basketball round robin. Nowhere else in America will you find five Division 1 basketball programs in on metropolitan area competing so intensely for a “made up” title. The Big 5 is not a league or conference. Winning the Big 5 doesn’t lead to an NCAA appearance… It doesn’t improve your national rankings.

For nearly 7 decades, the reward has been the winners ability to talk shit to the losers for the next 12 months… In other words, it meant a lot!

Like so many things from my childhood era, the Big 5 is different these days. They don’t play all the games at the Palestra on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania. The programs have abandoned college basketball’s cathedral in favor of campus arenas… Better chance to win at home.

On Tuesday, yet another interesting and dare I say it… BIG… Big 5 matchup will take place at the Liacouras on North Broad Street.

Why? Why, one might ask would you categorize this as a BIG game? After all, both programs are several years removed from national prominence.

The game is BIG because somethings gotta give… To varying degrees, Aaron McKie and Billy Lange are lurching toward the point where they have to shit or get off the toilet.

Aaron McKie

McKie is now in his 4th season after taking the reigns from one of his mentors, Fran Dunphy. His record, 41-44 (.482) overall and 20-29 (.408) in the AAC, has been lackluster by Temple standards. Two Temple coaches, Harry Litwack and John Chaney, are in the Basketball Hall of Fame. Temple currently sits 5th in all-time victories trailing only certified blue bloods Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina and Duke. Viewed from a historical perspective, McKie is off to a rather inauspicious beginning.

Nonetheless, there has been steady improvement in the Owl program under McKie. He has finished 10th, t-8th and 4th the past three seasons… Gotta keep moving up… He has some talented young players in the fold. The Owls have also demonstrated a willingness to fight for some of the top talent in the Greater Philadelphia region. Hysier Miller is from South Philly. Zach Hicks is from Camden. Jalil White and Taj Thweatt played for Wildwood Catholic. Khalif Battle is a Trenton native. McKie and his staff are beating the local bushes. West Catholic’s Zion Stanford joins the fold next season.

Billy Lange

Lange is also in his 4th season leading the Hawks. He succeeded Phil Martelli who coached at St. Joseph’s for 24 seasons. Lange’s record, 25-64 (.284) overall and 10-38 (.208) in the A10 has been atrocious. Hawk faithful had become accustomed to, more or less, regular post-season appearances. Martelli led Saint Joseph’s to seven NCAA Tournaments and 6 NIT (13 total post-season) appearances in 24 seasons as head coach.

Up to this point, Lange has made very zero progress toward returning the Hawks to contention for post-season tournament appearances. St. Joseph’s has finished t-13th, 13th and t-12th past three seasons. Like McKie, Lange has had some success in local recruiting. Neumman-Goretti’s Jordan Hall has moved onto the NBA after just 2 seasons on Hawk Hill. Roman Catholic alum Lynn Greer III has taken over the point guard position. Camden High graduate Rasheer Fleming is one of the more intriguing freshman in the mid-Atlantic region. Substitute guard, Quin Berger played scholastically at Westtown.

Lange also successfully recruited Philadelphia natives, Rahmir Moore, Chereef Knox and Dahmir Bishop each of whom has transferred to other programs. Next year, three more highly regarded Philly prospects are scheduled to arrive at 54th and City Ave. as Shawn Simmons, Anthony Finkley and Xzayvier Brown begin their collegiate careers.

Both teams need a win in the worst way.

Tuesday’s contest is a rubber match for Lange and McKie. In their first meeting on December 10, 2019 at the Liacouras Center, McKie’s Owls literally beat the shit down the legs of the Hawks by 47 points (108-61). It was one of the most lopsided Big 5 games I have ever witnessed over the past 40 years.

Hard dunk after strong dunk after powerful dunk… As Buddy Ryan would say, The Hawks “lifted their skirts” early…

With Covid-19 wreaking havoc on schedules, they Owls and the Hawks would not play each other in 2020.

Lange would exact revenge on December 11. 2021 in the cozy confines of Hagan Arena. Jordan Hall, 26 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals put on a magnificent performance as the Hawks smacked the shit out of the Owls by a final score of 68-49.

The McKie-Lange scorecard stands at 1-1.

Erik Reynolds

So what should we expect on Tuesday? St. Joseph’s is gonna rely heavily on Erik Reynolds, II to generate some offense. I would anticipate Temple’s defensive stopper, Jalil White, to be nose to nose with Reynolds for much of the evening. White is a strong, long, athletic wing with exceptional lateral quickness. For this years Temple squad, he basically has one job… Stop the best muthafucka on the other team from scoring. White does it rather well.

Lynn Greer III has provided a steady hand at the point guard spot for the Hawks. He is a big, strong point guard with solid ball-handling and passing skills. In this, his first real season of collegiate competition he has struggled mightily with his shooting. He is shooting just 36.4 from the floor and a paltry 13.3% from behind the 3-point line. He also needs to cut down on the turnovers. Greer had 6 last game and is averaging over 4 per contest. He will square off against another Catholic League point guard. Hysier Miller is a throwback pass-first point guard for the Owls. Still finding his way, Miller has a stranglehold on the point guard spot for the Owls. While scoring over 7 ppg, he is dishing 4.8 apg while limiting his turnovers to just 2.1 per game.

Khalif Battle and Damian Dunn

Temple’s dynamic scoring duo of Battle and Damian Dunn contribute anywhere from 35 to 45 points almost every game. They will be a tough matchup for Cam Brown and Reynolds on the defensive end of the floor. Kacper Klaczek and Rasheer Fleming will have to chase Temple marksman Zach Hicks off screens all night. Hicks has shown hat he is capable of hitting 3’s in bunches.

Transfer center Jamile Reynolds has been very good at times for the Owls. He has provided them with a legitimate low-post offensive presence as well as solid rebounding. St. Joseph’s center Ejike Obinna, on the other hand, has struggled and his production is down considerably across the board when compared to last that of last season.

So who wins?

Well… I don’t foresee another blowout either way. St. Joseph’s should be motivated coming off a dreadful 17 point loss in a buy game to visiting Fairleigh Dickinson. Temple bounced back from an opening night loss to Wagner in a buy game to knock off Villanova. Can the Hawks duplicate such a feat? Naaaaah… Temple’s will try mightily to limit Reynolds’ offensive production. I just don’t think the Hawks have enough firepower to win at Liacouras this year.

I like Temple by 8.

It’s Early… Why Give a Fuck?

November 26, 2022 By in Uncategorized Tags: , , Leave a comment

All hoop heads face the same dilemmas in a world of limitless viewing options. Which college teams to follow? Which college games to watch? Which college players to track?

Jack Clark, NC State transfer

Here I make explicit the teams I try to monitor and why… Every day, I look for boxscores and check the standing for these programs.

The Black Cager give a fuck list…

ProgramLeagueRecordWhy it matters to Black Cager Sports
AuburnSEC6-0, 0-0Bruce Pearl is a friend of Black Cager Sports. Asst. Coach Ira Bowman is a Penn alum. Super talented freshman Chance Westry is on the roster.
Maryland Big 106-0, 0-0Kevin Willard is in his 1st year with Donta Scott, Hakim Hart and Julian Reese headlining. Big 10 basketball in the DMV.
Miss. StateSEC6-0, 0-0Darryl Scholfield disciple David Anwar is 1st year Asst. Coach with the Bulldogs. Philadelphia native is one of the nation’s elite recruiters.
St. John’sBig East6-0,0-0Mike Anderson is clearly influenced by Nolan Richardson… St. John’s gets on your ass… They pick you up when you arrive at the hotel… Shoes Vetrone is a top assistant. Big East basketball in NYC.
Kansas StateBig 126-0, 0-0Jareem Dowling is an asst. coach
Penn StateBig 106-1,0-0Micah Shrewsberry has something brewing… Seth Lundy, Andrew Funk, Jameel Brown and Demetrius Lilly are on the roster. Mike Green, Adam Fisher and Mike Farrelly are on staff. Big 10 basketball in central Pennsylvania.
NC StateACC6-1, 0-0Jack Clark starts for the Wolfpack.
Virginia TechACC6-1, 0-0Christian Webster is an asst.coach.
KansasBig 126-1, 0-0Joe Dooley is on staff.
MichiganBig 105-1,0-0 Juwan Howard is head coach. Phil Martelli is asst. coach.
FordhamA105-1, 0-0Keith Urgo is head coach.
MiamiACC5-1, 0-0Isaiah Wong and Wooga play for the Hurricanes. DJ Irving is an asst. coach.
TowsonCAA5-1, 0-0Rahdir Hicks ia a PG.
FGCUASUN5-2, 0-0Pat Chambers is my guy. Dahmir Bishop and Blaise Vespe are my youngbuls. Shep Garner is on staff.
RutgersBig 104-1, 0-0Freshman Derek Simpson is currently starting PG. Paul Mulcahy and Caleb McConnell are close to coming back. Big 10 basketball in central New Jersey.
UMassA104-1, 0-0Frank Martin is my guy… Sool Diggins is my youngbul. My guy, Taquan Woodley, is away from the team for personal reasons.
BryantAmerica East4-1, 0-0Phil Martelli Jr. is an asst. coach
Kentucky SEC4-2, 0-0Began involvement in college basketball with Bruiser Flint at Coppin State and UMass with John Calipari. Lance Ware is on the roster. DJ Wagner, Aaron Bradshaw and Justin Edwards will be on the roster next year.
HofstraCAA4-2,0-0Aaron Estrada is a muthafucka… Currently averaging 22.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg and 4.2 apg… Christian Tomasco, Khalil Farmer and Griffin Barrouk are on the roster. 
ColgatePatriot4-2, 0-0Matt Langel has emerged has one of the finest basketball coaches in the nation. Colgate has finished 1st in each of the past 4 years and 2nd five years ago. A likely target for high major programs going forward. 
St. BonaventureA104-2, 0-0Anquan Hill is on the roster. Sean Neal is an asst. coach.
MarquetteBig East4-2, 0-0Stevie Mitchell starts for the Golden Eagles. 
ProvidenceBig East4-2, 0-0Ed Cooley is had coach. Ed Croswell, Cliff Moore and Jared Bynum play for the Friars.
Seton HallBig East4-2, 0-0Shaheen Halloway is head coach. Corey Lowery is an asst. coach.
LongwoodBig South4-3, 0-0Graham Bousley is on staff.
WagnerNEC3-2, 0-0Donald Copeland is in his 1st season as Head Coach. Scott Rogers and Pete Lappas are asst. coaches. Wagner beat Temple at Temple.
American Patriot3-2,0-0 Mike Brennan is Head Coach. Matt Delaney is on the roster. American beat Georgetown at Georgetown.
PrincetonPatriot3-2, 0-0It’s Princeton
George WashingtonA103-2,0-0 Chris Caputo is head coach. Dwayne Lee is an asst. coach.
VCUA103-2, 0-0Ace Baldwin is PG. Jimmy Martelli is on staff.
DePaulBig East3-3, 0-0Tony Stubblefield is head coach. Bino Ranson is an asst. coach.
Drexel CAA3-3, 0-0Zach Spiker is in his 7th year at the helm. His record at Drexel stands at 79-106 (.427) overall and 36-63 (.364) in the CAA. He led the Dragons to the NCAA tournament in 2021. Will Chavis is a top assistant. Justin Moore, Kobe Magee, and Luke House are on the roster.
GeorgetownBig East3-3, 0-0Now in his 6th year, Patrick Ewing’s record is 71-87 (.449) and 26-63 (.292) in Big East play. Abysmal performance for a once mighty Georgetown program.
Cal St BakersfieldBig West3-3, 0-0Mike Scott is an asst. coach. Kaseem and Kareem Watson are on the roster
Penn IVY3-4, 0-0Seventh year head coach, Steve Donahue is 95-80 (.540) and 44-34 (.564) in the Ivy League. 
AlbanyAmerica East3-4, 0-0Dwayne Killings is head coach. Bob Jordan and Ryan Daly are on staff. Da’kquan Davis, Tairi Ketner, NyMire Little and Aaron Reddish are on roster. 
HowardMEAC3-5, 0-0Kenny Blakeney is Head Coach. It’s Howard.
Coppin StateMEAC3-5, 0-0Sam Sessoms is the PG. Justin Steers in on the roster.
La SalleA102-3, 0-0Fran Dunphy in Head Coach. Donnie Carr is an Asst. Coach. Jig Brickus and Khalil Brantley are in the backcourt.
St. Joseph’sA102-3, 0-0Billy Lange is in his 4th season as had coach. His record is 24-63 (.274) and 10-38 (.208) in the A10. Lynn Greer III, Rasheer Fleming, Quin Berger and Christian Winborne ar on the roster. Xzayvier Brown, Anthony Finkley and Shawn Simmons arrive on Hawk Hill next season. 
TempleAmerican2-4, 0-0Fourth year coach Aaron McKie’s record is 38-44 (.470) and 20-29 (.408) in the AAC. Hysier Miller and Zack Hicks are starters. Zion Stanford arrives next season.
VillanovaBig East2-4, 0-0Kyle Neptune is following the greatest coach in Big 5 history. He’s hit potholes Wildcat fans didn’t know existed. The ‘adjustment period’ for NovaNation. Eric Dixon, Chris Arcidiacono, Jordan Longino and Nnanna Njoku are on the roster. It’s Nova…
St Francis (PA)NEC2-4, 0-0Zahree Harrison is a Philly PG. Myles Thompson, Gestin Liberis and Wisler Sanon II are on the roster.
TulsaAmerican2-4, 0-0Yaphett King is an asst. coach
Morgan StateMEAC2-5, 0-0Kevin Broadus is head coach. Khalil Turner is a starter.
RiderMAAC1-4, 0-0Kevin Baggett is head coach. Geoff Arnold is asst. coach. Allen Powell, Ajiri Ogemudo-Johnson, Tariq Ingraham, Allen Betrand and Anthony McCall are on the roster
Delaware StMEAC1-4, 0-0Stan Waterman is head coach. Horace Owens is asst. coach. Aaron Lemon-Warren, Ray Somerville, Kareem Ewell, Jevin Muniz, are on the roster
MerrimackNEC1-5, 0-0Jaylen Stinson is the PG.
Florida StateACC1-6, 0-0Jalen Warley, Naheem McLeod and Jeremiah Bembry are on the roster.

Temple Knocked Off Nova & Changed the Sheets

November 12, 2022 By in Uncategorized Tags: Leave a comment

Last night, Temple Head Coach Aaron McKie and the Owls broke out the 1,000 thread count Egyptian linen. This was after they painstakingly scrubbed the mattress and emptied a few cans of Febreze to counter the lingering stench. You see… On Monday, in a season opening “buy game” against tiny Wagner, Temple SHIT the bed.

After leading Wagner by 3 at the half… Temple was up, at home, by 15 (57-42) with 7:38 left in the game. With 1:49 remaining, Temple was up 8, 67-59. With 0:43 left Temple was still up 5, 69-64. Somehow, Wagner managed to force the game into overtime and eventually come away with a 76-73 victory. Wagner picked up a nice check and a huge road win against a strong American Athletic Conference team.

The sheets were heavily soiled… You couldn’t even wash ’em… Just throw ’em in the trash…

This was not the way anyone expected the 2022-23 campaign to begin on North Broad Street. Plenty of folk figured the Owls could be 1-1 after two games. But nobody… I mean absolutely nobody had the Owls losing to Wagner and bouncing back to knock off mighty Villanova. Wagner, led by first year Head Coach, Donald Copeland has been a very strong NEC program for several years. They deserve respect and shouldn’t be taken lightly. But coming back from 15 down late in the 2nd half to defeat Temple on the road?

Naaaah… Didn’t see that coming… WTF?

Damian Dunn and Khalif Battle in post-game press conference

Next up… Villanova…

Seems like the Wildcats have been steamrolling Big 5 opponents since Eisenhower was in the White House. Villanova’s Big 5 record over the past decade or so has to be something like 73-1. Their ascension to “blue blood” status has correlated with the demise of the venerable Big 5. Most nights, it feels like me and about 4 or 5 of my fellow fifty-sumthins are the only Big 5 fans left.

But guess what?

A fucking classic Big 5 game broke out on Broad Street tonight. The cast of characters was different, but the storyline was very familiar to Ol’ Heads. Playing the role of John Pinone was Eric Dixon and Caleb Daniels portrayed Stewart Granger. For Temple, Damian Dunn did a great job as Terrance Stansbury and Granger Hall was played by Jamille Reynolds.

What a night!

Khalif Battle

No cap (as the kids say), I regret not sneaking in some streamers and tossing them on the court after the first made baskets. At several points during the game, I closed my eyes and pretended that I was in the Palestra with my ass hurting from sitting on 95 year old HARD wooden bleachers with about 57 coats of grey paint serving as a cushion.

From the time I discovered the Big 5 in the late 70’s til around the time Jay Wright convinced Kyle Lowry to go from Norf Philly to the Main Line, anything could happen in a Big 5 game. It didn’t matter what the records were… It didn’t matter what the rankings were…

Anything could happen… Comebacks, overtime games and buzzer beaters were the norm…

Big 5 basketball was lit!

The 3,000-4,000 Temple students that stormed the court TWICE after the game probably would not believe I saw Penn play Michigan State in the Final Four. To those kids, I would be something akin to Commander McBragg, if I asked “Did I ever tell you about the time I watched top-ranked Temple go into the Dean Smith Center, and beat the shit down the legs of North Carolina with a 19-0 run that erased a five-point Carolina lead at the start of the second half and depart with an 83-66 shellacking in front of 21,444 stunned Tar Heel faithful?” Coming of age during the Jay Wright era, the 18-22 year court stormers would think such tales were filled with unlikelihoods and outright impossibilities.

But that was the Big 5 I grew up on… Michael Brooks and Lionel Simmons were the best players in the nation and they plied their trade at 20th and Olney. St. Joe’s guard Mo Martin was as good as anyone else in the country. Jerome Allen and Matt Maloney impersonated Clyde and Pearl for about 3 years on 33rd Street.

It was truly a different era.

Temple, under Hall of Fame coach John Chaney, would routinely dominate wire to wire and you wouldn’t see so much as a high five amongst the Owls. No celebrations… Kicking ass is what they were supposed to do.

You could turn on a Temple-Villanova game and witness Howie Evans scoring 17 points while dishing out 20 assists with ZERO (0) turnovers to lead the Owls to victory.

Maaaaaan… I desperately miss shit like that…

That’s why last night’s game meant so much to me. For one night, at least, the Big 5 was back. For more than a decade, the Big 5 has not been the Big 5. With Wright at the helm, the Wildcats transformed the Big 5 into Gladys Knight and the Pips.

Everybody knows Gladys… People pay to see Gladys… The Pips? Not so much…

But last night, we had two headliners. Just like back in the day.

Eddie Kendricks AND Curtis Mayfield…

The Big 5 was BACK…

I think… Maybe… Kinda… Sorta…

Well at least the sheets are fresh and clean…

As for the game itself, I feign objectivity… I had a lot of favorites on that court… Eric Dixon and Chris Arcidiacono are my young bucks. I am proud of the careers they have put together with the Wildcats. Both were subjected to a rather high level of scrutiny when they decided to play on the Main Line. Both have had to rumble for every minute of playing time and earn their position as front line players in the Wildcat program.

Dixon has evolved to a point where he is a magnificent college player on the offensive end of the court. He is extremely strong with exceptional low post footwork and feathery soft shooting touch. Very few teams will be able to curtail his scoring with a lone defender. His quick 2 fouls helped Temple extend the lead in the first half. Villanova is a vastly different team with Dixon on the bench. Neptune realized this and gambled that Dixon could play spot minutes without picking up a 3rd foul before halftime. The strategy worked. Dixon was able contribute offensively, while avoiding another foul, and helped Villanova claw their way back into the game.

Arcidiacono has had to endure the inevitable comparison to his legendary older brother Ryan. Many implied and some outright asserted that Arcidiacono’s scholarship was some sort of gift or favor to the family. I call bullshit… Chris is a player… A winning basketball player… If we held a 100 meter dash featuring all the players in game he would come in near the back of the pack. If we held a high jump contest, he would finish near or at the bottom. But this ain’t the Olympics.

It’s Big 5 basketball…

In one of the best Big 5 games in recent memory, Arcidiacono played 36 minutes and pulled down a team high 10 rebounds. Because that’s what his team needed. Watching him tough it out and fight future NBA guards for a spot in rotation during the transfer portal era has been impressive. Grown man shit is what some call it…

On the Owls, Zack Hicks and Hysier Miller are my guys… McKie has decided to throw them in the deep end of the pool early in their careers. While their stat lines have not been overwhelming, they have been very smart and steady. These are my young bucks and truth be told, I wanted them to experience a Big 5 win last night.

Sometimes, the Pips should get to sing lead.

Aaron McKie, Temple Head Coach

Temple stars, Dunn and Khalif Battle scored 22 and 21 points respectively to lead the Owls, but the defensive effort put forth by Jalil White may have been the most impressive performance of the evening.

Charged with the task of slowing down the experienced and talented Caleb Daniels, White was more than up to the task. Daniels, like Gillespie, Brunson, Moore and a slew of other super talented guards before him, likes to back defenders down deep in the post and score or make plays for his teammates. White possesses enough strength, skill and determination to frustrate Daniels. He blocked or altered almost every shot attempt Daniels made while he was guarding him. When White switched off or was out of the game, Daniels was much more effective.

Reynolds, a 6’10, 285 lb transfer from UCF contributed a double-double in his first Big 5 game. One of the few players with the strength and girth to effectively bang in the low post with Dixon, Reynolds provides the Owls with a legitimate low post presence that has been lacking in recent years.

My only complaint was with the court storming… Temple has more wins than all but 4 other college basketball programs. Temple is supposed to win just about every time they play a basketball game on North Broad Street.

But I understand… Aaron McKie and Mark Macon are mere basketball “coaches” to the kids currently matriculating at Temple… Not two of the baddest muthafuckas to ever lace ’em up in Big 5 history.

Did I ever tell you about the time…

Neptune Leads Nova To Win Over La Salle in First Game at the Helm

November 8, 2022 By in Big 5, La Salle Basketball, Villanova Basketball Tags: , , , Leave a comment

PHILADELPHIA, PA: The College Basketball Season got underway today. Which game to watch live? Tough call for me… Donta Scott and Hakim Hart opened up their fourth season at Maryland under new Head Coach Kevin Willard. The Terps faced Niagara at home. Hysier Miller and Zach Hicks began their sophomore campaign at Temple. The Owls faced a tough Wagner squad led by Donald Copeland in his first year at the helm. Seth Lundy and Andrew Funk laced ’em up for Penn State against Winthrop.

Villanova Head Coach, Kyle Neptune

I decided to head to Villanova. I wanted to see if Fran Dunphy’s Xs & Os could overcome a distinct disadvantage in the Jimmies and Joes. Dunphy began his coaching career 50 years ago at the United States Military Academy (1971–72). Bear in mind, Dunphy is the all-time winningest coach in Big 5 history. After a three year hiatus, he’s back to coach his alma mater and lead his third Big 5 program.

Nova’s head coach, Kyle Neptune was 16-16 last year in his lone season at Fordham in the Atlantic 10 Conference before being tapped to succeed the greatest coach in Big 5 history. This matchup against the Explorers was Neptune’s inaugural Big 5 game.

Does the Big 5 matter? Was I alone in considering that aspect of the game? Did anyone else give even the slightest f*#k that this was a Big 5 contest?

La Salle Head Coach, Fran Dunphy and guard, Josh Nickelberry

Serious question… Just curious.

With 580 career wins, it seemed reasonable to give the X & O advantage to Dunphy. Neptune, however, had a rather distinct Jimmy & Joe advantage. Eric Dixon and Caleb Daniel are top notch veteran Big East performers. During his senior year in high school, Dixon was named by USA Today as Pennsylvania State Player of the Year. He was listed at No. 74 by espn.com in its Top 100 Prospects of 2019. Last season, Dixon started every one of Villanova’s 38 games during the run to another Wildcat Final Four. He averaged 9.1 points and 6.4 rebounds in 25.2 minutes per outing. A very efficient offensive player, he shot .498 from the field goal and .486 from behind the 3-point line. Last year he was awarded Most Improved Player by the Philadelphia Big Five.

This year he’s making an early case for best player in the Big 5.

Kyle Neptune and Villanova forward, Eric Dixon

He’s just one of the Neptune’s Jimmies…

And… There are several Joes.

Last year, Caleb Daniels averaged 10.2 points per game and helped Nova win the BIG EAST Tournament title and make it to another Final Four. Daniels was named to the All-NCAA South Regional Team and Second Team All-Philadelphia Big Five.

Brandon Slater started all 38 games last season. He scored 8.5 points and grabbed 3.7 rebounds for the Wildcats on their run to the Final Four.

Highly touted freshman Mark Armstrong was the 2022 Hudson County Interscholastic Player of the Year. He set a St. Peter’s Prep record with 1,776 career points. Armstrong was listed at No. 61 in ESPN’s Top 100 in the Class of 2022.

Keep in mind that Villanova has two (2) NBA Joes in street clothes at the moment. Senior guard, Justin Moore was named Second Team all-BIG EAST and First Team All-Philadelphia Big Five last season. He was the second leading scorer for the Wildcats, contributing 14.8 points per game and grabbing 4.8 rebounds per game. Moore tore his right achilles tendon suffered in the final minute of Villanova’s 50-44 victory over Houston in the NCAA South Regional Final. He is currently rehabbing the injury.

Freshman Cam Whitmore was the 2022 Gatorade Maryland Boys Basketball Player of the Year and a McDonald’s All-American. He was a two-time Baltimore Catholic League Player of the Year who also played in the 2022 Jordan Brand Classic. Whitmore was ranked No. 21 in the ESPN Top 100 of the Class of 2022.

Now… Keep in mind Whitmore and Moore were unavailable. Maybe… just maybe… Dunphy could scheme his way to an upset in a sold out Finneran Pavillion.

After all, it is a Big 5 game. Anything can happen… right?

Naaaaaah…

The Jimmies and Joes overcame the Xs & Os…

Indeed, there were moments when Eric Dixon looked like he was playing against Quakertown. He finished with 20 points on 8-17 shooting, including 2-4 from behind the 3 point line. Dixon also contributed 4 assists and 3 blocks. Grabbing only 2 rebounds, he’ll need to improve considerably on the boards going forward.

Daniels was magnificent. He finished with 24 points, while shooting an efficient 8-11 from the field and 6-7 from behind the 3 point line. Daniels also pulled down a game high 10 rebounds.

Villanova guard, Caleb Daniels

Dixon and Daniels bussed dey ass…

For the Explorers, Josh Nickelberry scored 22 points while shooting 7-12 from the field and 5-9 from 3. He also pulled down 6 rebounds and 2 assists.

Khalil Brantley probed and penetrated throughout the contest. He managed to score a tough 11 points on 5-12 shooting from the field. He grabbed 4 rebounds and dished 2 assists.

Jhamir Brickus played a listless 34 minutes and did not score a point. Indeed, he only took 3 shots and 2 of them were 3 point attempts. La Salle will struggle to compete against quality opponents if Brickus is not contributing significantly at the offensive end.

Nonetheless, Dunphy kept it within reach… the Explorers were only down 11 with 2:37 remaining.

But it was not to be… Not tonight… The young coach with the Jimmies & Joes got the win. The winningest coach in Big 5 history learned something about his team… Gotta somehow get some of those Jimmies & Joes…

For the first time in the history of the Wildcat program, the Head Men’s Basketball coach is a Black man. Deserves mentioning, didn’t really factor in the game so I placed it here.

#RespeckNova

Black Cager Sports Providing NIL & Financial Education to 2022 Fall Classic Participants

September 18, 2022 By in NIL, Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment

The road to the college basketball in the mid-Atlantic region goes through Black Cager. In addition to counseling and advising top players like Zack Hicks (Temple) and Anquan Hill (St. Bonaventure). A substantial number of the mid-Atlantic region’s players participating in NCAA Division 1 and Division 2 basketball have taken part in at least one Black Cager Fall Classic, a premier showcase for elite high school basketball talent held this year in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Current NBA rookies Jalen Duren (Pistons), Jordan Hall (Spurs), Collin Gillespie (Nuggets) and Izaiah Brockington (Pelicans) are Fall Classic alums. College Stars Ace Baldwin (VCU), Jamir Watkins (VCU), Donta Scott (Maryland), Hakim Hart (Maryland), Eric Dixon (Villanova), Nnanna Njoku (Villanova), Taquan Woodley (UMass), Rahsool Diggins (UMass), Hysier Miller (Temple), Jay Heath (Arizona State), Ricky Lindo (George Washington), Justin Moore (Drexel), Lucas Monroe (Penn), Aaron Lemon-Warren (Delaware State), Christian Tomasco (Hofstra), Lynn Greer III (St. Joseph’s), Naheem McLeod (Florida State), Jermiah Bembry (Florida State), Dahmir Bishop (FGCU), Blaise Vespe (FGCU), Jaylen Stinson (Merrimack) and Jalen Carey (Rhode Island) are just a few of the scholarship recipients the tournament has produced.

With advent of Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) legislation and policy changes, student-athletes are in position to earn levels of compensation their predecessors could only dream about. Black Cager Sports recognizes the need to help high school participants better understand the NIL marketplace. Black Cager Sports wants to help high school athletes navigate “the new normal”.

Toward that end, EVERY one of the more than 700 student-athletes participating in the 2022 Fall Classic will be eligible to participate in the Black Cager NIL Cyber-Symposium on Thursday, October 13, 2022 at 7:00 pm.

This panel will discuss the current state of name, image and likeness (NIL) a year into the “new normal.” This panel will examine the challenges faced by athletes, athletic departments and conferences as they navigate the continually changing landscape. The panel will discuss financial opportunities, legal and regulatory landscape of NIL, and the changes that have occurred since the NIL marketplace opened last year. 

Additonally, EVERY one of the more than 700 student-athletes participating in the 2022 Fall Classic will be eligible to participate in the eight (8) week Black Cager Fall Classic First Generation Investors (FGI) Program.

Through the FGI Program student-athletes will learn about finance & investing. Topics include:
a. Personal finance (banking, credit, etc.)
b. The stock market
c. Portfolio management
d. The Power of Compounding

Black Cager participants completing the 8 week program will make investments using real funds ($100) provided by generous FGI donors.

The Black Cager Fall Classic, in addition to being a premier scholastic basketball event, has evolved into an immersive multi-week educational, professional development experience and gathering place for college bound high school athletes and some of college sports’ most important stakeholders to share cutting-edge ideas, discover new interests, and learn how to maximize NIL opportunities to build their brands and amplify their voices.

Whether it’s hearing from the some of the foremost college athlete endorsers, being inspired by their favorite pro-athlete turned business mogul, or having the opportunity to collaborate with like-minded professionals who want to shape the future of college athletics, high school student-athletes participating in all aspects of the Fall Classic will be equipped with the knowledge and relationships necessary to leverage their influence to create a better future for themselves and their communities.

Contact:

Delgreco Wilson, Founder

Black Cager Fall Classic

blackcager@gmail.com

Temple Alumni launch The TUFF Fund, a charitably-focused organization to promote and support Owl student-athletes

August 30, 2022 By in Temple Basketball Tags: , Leave a comment

PHILADELPHIA – A group of passionate Temple University alumni and donors have announced the formation of The TUFF Fund, a 501(c)(3) charitable fund intent on deepening the connection between Temple student-athletes and the Greater Philadelphia community using Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities. Prioritizing community-focused initiatives and partnerships in the Greater Philadelphia area, the TUFF Fund will maximize NIL opportunities for Temple student-athletes.

In accordance with NCAA guidelines, the Fund is not affiliated with Temple University.

The TUFF Fund will enhance Temple University as a nationally premier atmosphere of growth for student-athletes on the playing field, in the classroom, and throughout the community. With the Fund established, it will allow any and all Temple alumni, fans, and supporters to donate to a centralized fund to be dispersed directly to student-athletes in exchange for their involvement in charitable activities utilizing NIL agreements.

“Positioned in the 4th largest media market in the United States, with over 350,000 loyal and passionate alumni and a sprawling network of strategic corporate partners and philanthropic leaders, we felt it was necessary to spearhead an effort that will maximize the Temple student-athlete’s brand and marketing opportunities,” explained Andy Carl, a two-time graduate of Temple’s School of Sport, Tourism, and Hospitality Management (STHM) and executive director of The TUFF Fund. “As Philadelphia’s flagship university, Temple’s DNA is woven throughout this great sports region and we’re excited to harness those relationships.”

Rounding out the Fund’s executive leadership are Seth Goldblum, a 1993 graduate of Temple’s Fox School of Business and Chris Squeri, a 1996 STHM graduate. “I’m excited to be a part of something as truly transformational as the TUFF Fund can be for Temple. With the ever-changing college sports landscape, I feel it’s vitally important to be aggressive and progressive in the NIL space,” said Goldblum, senior managing director at CBIZ Private Equity Advisory.

Squeri, who was a student manager under legendary coach John Chaney notes, “This isn’t your grandparents’ Temple. We have a vibrant student and alumni population in the heart of a world-class city. It’s time to act boldly and be dynamic in our actions as a fan base and university. We’ve already seen significant private interest in The TUFF Fund and expect a tremendous impact moving forward.”

The Fund will identify and partner with Temple student-athletes, utilizing their expertise and passions to maximize the charitable impact their involvement will have in the North Philadelphia and surrounding communities. The TUFF Fund expects to activate community service initiatives in excess of 1,000 hours from the Fund’s NIL partnerships. To achieve these goals, the TUFF Fund will not only leverage relationships with regional and national brands, but will also enlist the help of passionate alumni and fans through fiscal support of the fund.Donors to the fund will have the opportunity to attend exclusive events, including in-person and virtual meet-and-greets with student-athletes, watch parties, camps, clinics, and other community initiatives.

The TUFF Fund was created under the legal guidance of Blank Rome LLP, a leading Am Law 100 law firm founded in Philadelphia that provides comprehensive sports law legal counsel on NIL legislature matters, to ensure compliance with all state, federal, and NCAA guidelines.

“Blank Rome is excited to work with the TUFF Fund on its mission to connect student-athletes to our Philadelphia community through the use of compliant NIL deals,” said Cody Wilcoxson, an attorney in Blank Rome’s sports law group. “Andy and his team are going to make a difference for the local community and provide unique opportunities to Temple student athletes.”

For more information on The TUFF Fund or to make an immediate impact as a founding member, please visit http://www.TUFF-Fund.com.

Contact: Andy Carl
Phone: 610-334-5428
Email: info@tuff-fund.com
Tuesday, August 30th, 2022

Philly’s March Misery! Bring Back the Short Shorts…

March 10, 2017 By in Urban Education Tags: , , Leave a comment

We ain’t shit!

Philly is supposed to be a basketball town. At least, that’s how it’s been perceived all my life. Rodgers and Lear, Jack Ramsay and Cliff Anderson, Larry Canon and Kenny Durrett, Bilsky and Wohl, Corky Calhoun, Mike Brooks, John Pinone, Tim Smith, Mike Anderson… The list goes on and on…

Youngbucks…I know how this sounds… Believe me, I don’t want be that old guy we all know.

You know… that guy around the way, always talking about how good things were “back in the day”… He continuously compares contemporary developments unfavorably to the way it was when he was a kid… Inevitably, the old players and the teams that wore the really short shorts are always “better” in every way in every conversation.

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I really don’t wanna be that guy… I never liked that guy… Always thought he was wrong anyway…

But… Truth be told… The teams in the really short shorts were MUCH better than what Philly is putting out these days.

Other than Villanova… City 6 basketball stinks!

When I was 14 in March of 1979, Temple and Penn were in the East Region of the NCAA Tournament. Also, in that East Region that year were the following teams: North Carolina, Duke, Georgetown, Syracuse, Connecticut, Rutgers, Iona and St. John’s. Temple lost to St. John’s in the first round… Penn, however, knocked off Iona, North Carolina, Syracuse and then St. John’s to reach the Final Four where Magic Johnson and Larry Bird were waiting for the Quakers. The FINAL FUCKIN’ FOUR!! Penn.. yes… the Quakers!

When I was a kid… That’s how Philly rolled in March… My man Tony Price (pictured below) held it down.

tony-price-upenn

When I was 16 in March of 1981, ninth-seeded St. Joseph’s got past Creighton 59-57 in a closely fought 1st round battle. Next up was mighty DePaul featuring consensus All-Americans Mark Aguirre and Terry Cummings. Led by legendary Ray Meyer, the Blue Demons were heavy favorites over the scrappy Hawks featuring a bunch of local dudes.

In a low scoring affair, as expected, DePaul was up 7 with about 10 minutes to play. Slowly and steadily, St. Joseph’s chopped the lead to one point, 48-47, with 48 seconds left in the game. Then with 13 seconds left on the clock, St. Joseph’s fouled Skip “Money” Dillard who proceeded to miss the front end of the 1-and-1.

Without using a timeout St. Joseph’s Bryan Warrick pushed the ball up court and found freshman Lonnie McFarlan wide open in the right corner. Anyone and everyone knows that Lonnie loved to shoot… He shot early and he shot often… He took good shots and he took bad shots… But this time as he raised and cocked his arm to squeeze one off, two Blue Demons came running toward him. Instead of shooting, McFarlan passed (pictured below) the ball to John Smith underneath the basket for the game winning layup with 2 seconds left on the clock.

1981-NCAA

When I was young… That’s how Philly rolled in March… Fuck #1 DePaul… Take dat ass home…

When I was coming of age this was expected… The events of this era shaped my understanding of Philly college hoops.

With the good, came some really bad… Two years later, in January 1983, at the Palestra, John Thompson a Black Coach brought his predominantly Black Georgetown squad to town to face Villanova. In a shameful episode, Villanova fans held up several similar signs.  One bedsheet read “[Patrick] Ewing Is An Ape.”  What? Huh? Another Villanova fan wore a t-shirt that read, “Ewing Kant Read Dis.”  What the fuck? While Ewing jogged on the court for pregame introductions, yet another Villanova fan threw a banana peel on the court. I was done with Nova… DONE!

NCAA_tournament_guide_horiz_t640

When I was young… That’s also how Philly rolled…

Fuck those Nova racists!

Fast forward two years and Georgetown and Villanova met for the National Championship. On April 1, 1985, Villanova featuring Ed Pinckney, Dwayne McClain, Harold Pressley, Gary Mclain and Harold Jensen shot 22 for 28 (79%) from the field and defeated the Hoyas. It was a great performance and, for the most part, Philadelphia embraced the Champion Wildcats…

When I was young… That’s how Philly rolled…

Nonetheless, I sat that one out… No parade for me… The wounds from the treatment of Georgetown and Ewing at the Palestra were still too raw… Couldn’t get over it… I rooted for Georgetown… HARD!!

In the winter of 1987, John Chaney put THE Philly squad together… Howie Evans at the point… Mark Macon at the 2, Mike Vreeswyk at the 3, Tim Perry at the 4 and Ramon Rivas holding down the Center spot…

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They beat EVERYBODY!!

Well… almost everybody… UCLA (81-76), South Carolina (63-50), Mississippi (70-61) were among the victims during a 14-0 start. Then the Owls lost a tough one on the road by a single point to UNLV (58-59) before running off another 18 game winning streak. An 83-66 ASS-whuppin’ administered to the Tar Heels in Chapel Hill, North Carolina is indicative of the strength of this team. Damn… they were good! That squad would finally succumb in an Elite 8 matchup with Duke. They finished the year 32-2.

When I was young… That’s how Philly rolled…

At 34th and Market, the great Mike Anderson (pictured below) averaged over 19 points per game during his college career. The Engineering and Science alum led Drexel to their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 1986. They lost to eventual national champion, Louisville. Louisville featured Milt Wagner and Billy Thompson from the Camden dynasty on the  other side of the Ben Franklin Bridge. Anderson was named to the UPI and Sporting News honorable mention All-America teams in 1986. Anderson also led the Dragons to an upset win over David Robinson and Navy in the Palestra in 1987. Anderson would become the first Drexel basketball player to make the roster of an NBA team.

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When I was young… That’s how Philly rolled…

At 20th and Olney, from 1986 to 1990, a young man from South Philly scored 3,217 career points—the third-most in NCAA history. This was different era. Lionel Simmons played for one high school (Southern HS) and he played for one club (South Philly/Sonny Hill) in the summer. Simmons (pictured below) would be named the the Naismith, Wooden, AP and NABC National College Player of the Year in 1990, as well as a consensus first-team All-American. This Claude Gross protege became the only player in NCAA history to score more than 3,000 points and grab in excess of 1,100 rebounds. Simmons led the Explorers to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances (1988-90). He won three MAAC Player of the Year awards and he established the NCAA basketball record for most consecutive games with double-figure scoring (115).

032313_Simmons_600

When I was young… That’s how Philly rolled…

Now… we have Nova, the reigning National Champions. They play a beautiful brand of basketball. They play as a unit. Their coach is a true gentleman. One of their assistants is Philly’s own Ashley Howard (pictured below with the late Claude Gross). They just get it right. For example, they locked down the local kid having the best high school season a few weeks ago. This young man didn’t play on one of the shoe company circuits. He didn’t play for one of the established basketball powers. He is not uber-athletic or lightning quick. All that he did was play basketball BETTER than everyone else in the greater Philadelphia region this year. I really respect Howard and Wright for that!

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I’m learning to not hold the Nova sons accountable for the sins of their Nova fathers… It’s REALLY HARD!

Surveying the City 6 landscape, only one conclusion can be drawn: Other than Nova… We ain’t shit!

Temple? Done! With a record of 16-16 (7-11 in the American Athletic Conference), Temple closed out the season with a loss to East Carolina in front of about 80 people in the first round of the AAC Tournament.

St. Joseph’s? Done! With a record of 11-20 (4-14 in the Atlantic 10 Conference), St. Joseph’s closed out the season with a loss to UMass in the first round of the A10 Tournament.

La Salle? Done! With a record of 15-15 (9-9 in the Atlantic 10 Conference), La Salle closed out the season with a loss to Davidson in their first game in the A10 Tournament.

Drexel? Done! With a record of 9-23 (3-15 in the Colonial Athletic Association), Drexel closed out the season with a loss James Madison in the first round of the CAA tournament.

Penn? Still alive… barely… With a record of 13-14 (6-8 in the Ivy League), Penn takes on Princeton (21-6, 14-0) Saturday at the Palestra in the first Ivy League Tournament.

That’s Philly’s brightest hope outside of Nova… Penn with 8 league losses might somehow, someway steal a game against Princeton (undefeated in the Ivy League)…

We are fucked!!

Bring back the short shorts…

Aaron McKie, Tyrone Pitts: From Evictions to Big 5 Success

December 4, 2015 By in College Athletics, NBA Basketball, Urban Education Tags: , , , 1 Comment

What do you see in this picture?

Pitts and McKie

Aaron McKie, Temple ’94 and Tyrone Pitts, Penn ’88

Most people probably see two American success stories… Aaron McKie (left) earned over $50 million dollars over the course of a solid 13-year NBA career. Drafted in the 1st round of the 1994 NBA Draft by the Portland Trailblazers, McKie was a key player for Portland, Detroit and Philadelphia. He finished his playing career with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Philly hoop heads will see a Simon Gratz High School graduate. They will recall his prolific three-year career at Temple (1991-92 thru 1993-94). A Big 5 legend, McKie started for all 92 games of his career, averaging 17.9 points per game while leading the Owls to 60 wins, three NCAA Tournaments and a trip to the 1993 Elite Eight.

mckie and chaney

Hall of Fame Coach, John Chaney and Aaron McKie

McKie was an honorable mention All-American (1993). He was named first-team All-Atlantic 10 (1993, 1994) and a member A-10 All-Championship team (1993). He balled out in the local rivalry games and was named first team all-Big 5 every year of his college career (1992, 1993, 1994). In addition, McKie was named Atlantic 10 Conference and Philadelphia Big 5 Player of the Year for his performance in the 1992-93 season, when he averaged a team-best 20.6 points per game.

Tyrone Pitts (top right), born and raised in Camden, New Jersey, is the largest minority general contractor in Southern New Jersey. This year, his firm KL Pitts Construction will generate in excess of $20 million in revenue. Like McKie, Pitts made his mark playing in Philadelphia’s Big 5.

tyronepitts

Tyrone Pitts with a picture depicting the balance between books and basketball

A high flying Palestra favorite and an All-Ivy League player, Pitts finished his career at the University of Pennsylvania with 1301 points. After trying out for the Philadelphia 76ers, Pitts embarked upon a highly successful 7 year professional career in several overseas leagues. Once his playing days were over, he returned to the Ivy league an assistant coach with Cornell University.

Longing to return to the Camden/Philadelphia region, Pitts joined Speedy Morris’ staff at LaSalle University. However, his training in Wharton business school allowed him to see business opportunities where others could not. For a while, he tried to maintain his responsibilities as a basketball coach and manage his investments in Camden real estate.

It soon became obvious that he would have to devote his full attention to managing over 100 full-time construction workers on multiple commercial, public and residential projects. Over the past year or so, his firm has totally renovated 175 low-income housing units in Camden and built a 110 unit senior housing complex in Lindenwold, New Jersey.

What you don’t see in the picture…

You don’t see the scared and insecure boys that came home from school to find padlocks on their front doors and their family’s precious few belonging strewn across the sidewalk. “I was in seventh grade when we got evicted from our house,” Pitts said. ”You can imagine the feeling I had. You come out of your house and see your things lying on the sidewalk. That feeling that hit me that day was something that I’d never like to come back to me again. From then on, I was kind of determined to succeed.”

eviction pic

Belongings on sidewalk following eviction

Addressing a group of children and community organizers at a Philadelphia Youth Basketball Foundation event, McKie conveyed the same feeling. “I came home one day and we were evicted. All I can remember is that there was a big padlock on our door and we no longer lived there. I’ll never forget that feeling.”

Pitts and McKie came of age in the 1980‘s. Cities like Philadelphia and Camden were in the throes of the crack epidemic. North Philadelphia and Camden had long been poor, highly segregated neighborhoods in which a majority of individual adults were either unemployed, had dropped out or never been a part of the labor force. Most of their peers were dropping out of school and many were entry level “lookouts” or “hand to hand” participants in the booming illegal street drug game.

But not these guys…

Pitts and McKie embraced sport as a way to help them develop and become productive citizens by learning life lessons. Despite growing up in the midst of despair and chaos, they were able to develop positive social sphere through sports. Basketball participation offered countless opportunities for socialization activities such as team work, fair play, respect for others and personal discipline.

Forced to deal with evictions and all that goes with that process, Pitts and McKie used basketball to develop coping mechanisms for anxiety, stress, and other factors that make up a low income urban Black male adolescent’s life.

Camden

A street in Camden, New Jersey

They leveraged basketball for access to education…

For McKie and his Temple running mate, Eddie Jones, it was a close call. Both were declared ineligible as freshmen by the NCAA. As reported by the Philadelphia Inquirer in July 1990, “Sources close to the program said that Eddie Jones, a highly touted 6-foot-6 swingman from Pompano Beach, Fla., and Aaron McKie, a 6-4 shooting guard from Philadelphia Public League champion Simon Gratz, had scored less than the required 700 of a possible 1,600 on the Scholastic Aptitude Test or 15 of a possible 36 on the American College Test.”

Time out…

Think about this for a minute… In 2013, the average SAT score at Simon Gratz High School was 682. Keep in mind that in 1994, four years after McKie and Jones sat for the test, the nation’s SAT scores were “recentered.” In other words means that every child in America got something like 100 free points added to his score. So… the current Gratz HS average of 682 is equivalent to 582 when McKie actually sat for the exam. That’s an indicator of how poorly the academic program at Gratz prepares students for college entrance exams.

Gratz kids ain’t supposed to make it… Shit… only 26% of Black males graduate in four years from Philadelphia’s woefully under-performing public schools.

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The NCAA has spent thirty years closing the window of opportunity for guys like McKie and Jones. They were fortunate to have John Chaney in a position to give them an opportunity to play collegiate basketball. For that, McKie is eternally grateful…

“This is the university that gave me an opportunity at life when no one else wanted to,” McKie said. “I was a Prop 48 coming in … I’m forever grateful to Temple … I was able to get my degree in 4 years.”

Pitts made the transition from the hardscrabble streets of Camden to one of the most competitive and highly regarded business schools in the nation. He has been able to apply his business education and improve the lives of Camden residents. His firm has been responsible for the construction and/or renovation of thousands of units of low-income and market rate housing. He employs hundreds of Camden residents in high paying construction jobs.

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Recognizing the importance of education, Pitts also co-founded the Arline Institute which provided small-group tutoring to over 6,000 low-income students attending under-performing public schools.

According to Pitts, “Attending Wharton allowed me to develop the skills necessary to apply the theories needed to overcome challenges in places like Camden. It helped me be in a position to make a positive impact.”

Basketball was the gateway for these success stories. When they had nowhere to live, they had their teams. They had their youth coaches. They had the structure that basketball provided. It helped them avoid the fate that befell so many of their contemporaries.

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