Off The Boards
By Jack Scheuer
January 25, 2017 Edition
Here’s an early start on my All Big 5 team, and it seems like this year the choices are easier than in the past. One reason would be that I think three Villanova players, Josh Hart, Kris Jenkins and Jalen Brunson, should all be on the first team. The last time that happened was in the 2004-05 season, and they were also Wildcats (Allen Ray, Randy Foye, and Kyle Lowry). My other 2 picks for this year’s team would be B.J. Johnson and Jordan Price, both from La Salle.
In addition, this season I will submit an All Bad Luck Team, consisting of Saint Joseph’s Shavar Newkirk and Checco Oliva, Villanova’s Phil Booth, and Temple’s Josh Brown and Trey Lowe. They are five players who were being counted on to be major contributors, but were sidelined with injuries.
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After being upset by Marquette last night, Villanova should be out for bear when it meets 12th- ranked Virginia at the Wells Fargo on Sunday, and it won’t be easy. The Cavaliers are talented, well-coached by Tony Bennett, and as usual, play terrific defense. They are number one in the nation in scoring defense this season, and over the last three years have been first twice, and second the other time. All-America candidate London Perrantes, at 6-2, leads the Cavaliers in scoring and assists, while 6-5 Marial Shayok averages 10 points per game.
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One very impressive freshman who doesn’t seem to get the attention of some of the others is Dennis Smith Jr. from N.C. State. The reason he’s been below the radar is probably because his team has 7 losses including a 51-point drubbing at N. Carolina. A 6-3 guard, Smith is averaging 19.5 points and 6 .5 assists a game. And does it all without any hint of show boating.
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Trivia Time: Who holds the 76’ers record for most blocked shots in one season? Answer at the end of the column.
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The Jackson Five: Justin (North Carolina); Frank (Duke), Josh (Kansas), Tadric (Georgia Tech), and Vance (UConn), Jackson’s all, are performing very nicely on the court this season. Frank, Josh and Vance are freshmen, the other two are juniors.
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This and That: Hard to believe that Milwaukee, Detroit, Orlando, and Oklahoma City all gave up on Ersan Ilyasova. He’s been very effective for the Sixers….The Thunder’s Andre Roberson is struggling from the foul line. He’s 28 for 68 (41%)…. Former Quaker Tony Hicks is averaging 4.3 points per game, and 11.5 minutes for 13th-ranked Louisville….Meanwhile, at # 10 Oregon, ex -Wildcat Dylan Ennis scores 11.6 per game and leads the Ducks in minutes played ….Upcoming: Temple is home with Memphis tonight, and Penn visits La Salle.; Tomorrow, Drexel hosts Hofstra; and on Saturday the Dragons welcome Charleston, La Salle visits Hawk Hill, and Temple travels to Houston.
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Answer to Trivia Time: During the 1994-95 season, the long–forgotten Shawn Bradley blocked 274 shots.
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