Off The Boards
By Jack Scheuer
March 6, 2019 Edition
Time for the annual Boards Awards tipping off with the 2018-19 All Big 5 team, which these year has six members; Seniors Phil Booth and Eric Paschall from Villanova; Senior Shizz Alston and junior Quinton Rose representing Temple; Saint Joe’s Charlie Brown, a redshirt sophomore and Penn’s AJ Brodeur, a junior, completes the team. Two other players, the Hawks’ Fresh Kimble and La Salle’s Pookie Powell certainly would have been in the mix, but unfortunately were hampered with injuries.
My Geasey Award winner as Most Valuable Player would be Booth; Saint Joe’s Jared Bynum is Rookie of the Year, while Fran Dunphy, completing his career at Temple, is the pick for Coach of the Year. I’m guessing that the powers-to-be at Temple are not overjoyed with that choice.
Though not in the Big 5, Drexel had several players who should be recognized: Senior Troy Harper leads the team in scoring, followed closely by junior Alihan Demir. Grad student Trevor John broke the single season record for most made 3-pointers and freshman point guard Camren Wynter, who led the team in assists and minutes played, definitely looks like a future star.
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This week’s Player of the Past is St. Joe’s Mike Hauer, who, though generously listed at 6-4, was the ultimate power forward. In his three seasons at Hawk Hill, starting in 1967-68, he averaged 19.2 points per game, and finished with 1,496 points. He also pulled down 12.5 rebounds, including 26 twice, and 25 in another game. The Monsignor Bonner grad was All-Big 5 first team in each of his three years, and is a member of both the Big 5 and St. Joseph’s Athletic Halls of Fame.
Bottom line: The Hawks always knew that anytime the team needed a rebound, Mike Hauer would be right there.
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Trivia Time: Speaking of rebounds, who is the Atlantic 10’s all-time leader in that department? Answer at the end of the column.
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Hofstra, coached by Philly guy Joe Mihalich, is 25 – 6, and the top seed in the Colonial Athletic Conference Tournament. The Pride is led by 6-2 Justin Wright-Foreman, who is second in the nation in scoring at 26.8 a game.
Hofstra has not been in the NCAA’s since 2001.
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Nice homecoming for Fatts Russell; The Imhotep Charter grad poured in 41 points in Rhode Island’s overtime victory over Saint Joe’s last night. The 5-10 sophomore guard scored his team’s last 19 points.
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This and That: Also last night, Wake Forest, a 26 point underdog, battled #4 Duke all the way before losing 71-70. A Wake shot at the buzzer rolled around the rim, but fell out….Damion Lee, who left Drexel for Louisville, is averaging 4.9 ppg for Golden State….Gonzaga coach Mark Few is certainly one of the nation’s best. His teams have averaged 33 wins over the last four seasons…. Nice to see B.J. Johnson get a shot with Atlanta. The 6-9 La Salle product is a very well-rounded player….Michigan, ranked # 7, has one senior on this year’s team…. Shizz Alston’s excellent season includes moving into 8th place on Temple’s all-time assist list. He has 128 dimes….Five words I’m really getting tired of hearing :”They’re going to the monitor”…. Upcoming: Tonight, La Salle is at Dayton; Tomorrow, Temple visits UConn; On Friday, Penn hosts Yale, and Saint. Joseph’s is at VCU; On Saturday, Temple has UCF, Villanova visits Seton Hall, La Salle is home with Fordham, and Penn welcomes Brown; On Sunday Drexel meets the College of Charleston in the CAA Quarterfinals.
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Answer to Trivia Time: David West is the Atlantic 10’s all-time leading rebounder with 1,309.
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