By: Marc Narducci
PHILADELPHIA - Billy Lange knows all about the process.
Entering his third season as St. Joseph University's men’s basketball coach, Lange spent seven seasons as an assistant with the Sixers, in times that started poorly and ended with promise.
Lange was part of what is known as the “Process” where the Sixers lost big, accumulated draft choices and then rebuilt the team.
During his first three years, the Sixers were 47-199, including a 10-72 debacle in 2015-2016. Yet when Lange departed in March of 2019 to accept the St. Joe's job, the Sixers were in the process (there is that word again) of making their second of what is now four straight postseason appearances.
When Lange replaced coach Phil Martelli at SJU, the cupboard suddenly became awfully bare as several key players decided to transfer.
That first year the Hawks were short of bodies and talent in a 6-26 season. Injuries and COVID-19 ruined last season, and the Hawks limped to a 5-15 mark.
Now in the his third season, it could be the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel for Lange. His first two seasons have been a sort of an unintentional process.
“When I took this position at St. Joe’s it was an honor and a blessing and it still is,” Lange said during Atlantic-10 media day. “Whatever was in front of me then, I signed up for it.”
Of course, that didn’t mean he had to like it.
“Last year I truly felt bad for our fan base and really bad for the team because I truly believe had we stayed healthy, whether it was COVID or injuries, that was a good team,” Lange said. “I thought that was fun and exciting and a good team.”
Of course, that was the team he envisioned before all the injuries.
“I am excited about the group but I’m not any more excited than I was two years ago,” Lange said. “I’ve seen the light since the first day we got here, we’re building this as an incredible foundation of the old story St. Joe’s basketball.”
St. Joseph University head coach Billy Lange in game vs. La Salle. (photo by Mike Nance for PSD)
Fellow Philadelphia Atlantic-10 coach Ashley Howard of La Salle University is in a similar situation.
Howard is entering his fourth season and his first began with 10 consecutive losses.
Talk about needing to remain positive.
The Explorers would win 10 of their final 21 games that season, showing plenty of fight.
La Salle took another leap his second year, going 15-15, winning four of its final six games before the A-10 Tournament and the season was canceled due to the pandemic.
La Salle University head coach Ashley Howard in game vs. St. Joe's. (photo by Mike Nance for PSD)
Then last year the Explorers slid back to 9-16.
So, like St. Joe's, this is a potential statement year for La Salle to show that through a difficult process, there is hope to move up.
“Our league is extremely competitive, a lot of great, coaches, great programs, great players and in order for us to get to that next step, we have to really come to grips with who we are, who we want to be,” Howard said.
Neither team has done much to impress the prognosticators, but as the old saying goes, the games aren’t played on paper.
The preseason Atlantic-10 poll has St. Joe's picked to finish 10th in the 14-team league. La Salle was picked 12th.
Yet both teams can point to some developments that could move the needle in a positive direction
For St. Joe's, it was the return of 6-7 sophomore swingman Jordan Hall, who played his final two high school seasons at Neumann-Goretti, where he led the Saints to a 45-13 record.
Last season Hall earned All-Rookie honors in the A-10 after averaging 10.6 points, 5.9 rebounds and 5.7 assists, showing a true all-around game.
After the season Hall entered his name for NBA Draft consideration, with the option to pull out. He then announced on May 4 that he was transferring to Texas A&M.
Then in late June, he not only announced he was pulling his name out of the NBA Draft, but that he would be returning to St. Joe's.
The Hawks couldn’t have caught a bigger break.
“I think everything kind of sped up for me last year in the spring season, and I got kind of ahead of myself a little bit” Hall said. “I thought at the time it was the right decision to explore other options, but with time and me talking to people, the best ideas, the best decision, was to come back and I agreed on it and me and my circle agreed on it.”
In addition, 6-8 sharpshooter Taylor Funk decided to return. Now a graduate student, Funk was second on the team in scoring, averaging 17.4 points and first in three-point percentage (.354).
The Hawks return a veteran team, but must replace leading scorer Ryan Daly, the Archbishop Carroll graduate who averaged a team-high 18.5 points. Of course, as a symbol of lasts year, Daly only played 10 games due to injury.
Neumann-Goretti High School standout Jordan Hall will be returning to play for the Hawks. (PSD photo by Mike Nance)
There are some freshmen expected to make significant contributions, led by 6-2 Erik Reynolds II, who Lange says if the season were to begin today, would be the starting point guard.
“Erik brings (excellent) dribbling but also brings an element of speed that we do not have and it’s evident when he’s pushing it...” Lange said.
The Hawks also added some size with 7-0 sophomore Charles Coleman, a transfer from East Carolina and Ejike Obinna, a 6-10 graduate transfer from Vanderbilt.
As with St. Joe's, La Salle brings back an experienced group. The Explorers will be bolstered by the addition of Josh Nickelberry, a 6-4 junior transfer from Louisville.
Whether it’s Nickelberry or others, the Explorers would do well to have a go-to scorer. Maybe not a 20 point per game scorer, but one who can be counted on to be double-figure producer.
Last year nobody averaged double figures for La Salle, although 6-8 redshirt junior Jack Clark (9.9 ppg.) came awfully close.
“Honestly, we are pretty deep,” said Clark, a product of Cheltenham High.
Included is the return of the top three scorers – Clark, 6-4 junior Sherif Kenney (9.6 ppg.) and 5-11 sophomore Jahmir Brickus (8.8 ppg.). Clifton Moore, a 6-10 redshirt senior, who began his career at Indiana and was seventh in the A-10 with 1.4 blocks per game in his first season at La Salle, offers strength inside.
La Salle junior Sherif Kenney has been a constant force on offense for the Explorers. (PSD photo by Mike Nance)
So, both St. Joe's and La Salle have taken their proverbial lumps and, in the process, hope the experienced gained will mean a true step up during this Atlantic-10 season.
SAINT JOSEPH’S
Coach: Billy Lange (3rd season, 11-41),
Last season: 5-15, 3-9 A-10.
A-10 Preseason Poll: 10.
Catholic League/Inter-Ac Alumni: Chris Arizin, sophomore guard, St. Joseph’s Prep; Jordan Hall, sophomore guard-forward Neumann-Goretti (10.6 ppg.); Brian Geatens, sophomore guard, St. Joseph’s Prep.
Opener: Nov. 9 vs. U. of Maryland Eastern Shore, 8.
Big 5 matchups: Dec. 4 at Villanova, noon; Dec. 8, Penn, 7; Dec. 11, Temple, 1; March 2 at La Salle.
Outlook: The Hawks got a huge break when Jordan Hall decided to return. Taylor Funk (17.4 ppg.) is a perimeter threat and a key will be the development of freshman point guard Erik Reynolds II. The Hawks have a chance to be vastly improved but must learn how to win those close games.
LA SALLE
Coach: Ashley Howard (4th season, 34-52).
Last season: 9-16, 6-11 A-10.
A-10 Preseason Poll: 12.
Catholic League/Inter-Ac Alumni: Charles Ireland, freshman guard from La Salle College High. Kyle Thompson, redshirt junior guard, St. Joseph Prep/West Chester U transfer; Daeshon Shepherd, freshman guard Archbishop Wood. Christian Ray, junior guard The Haverford School.
Opener: Nov. 9 vs. Sacred Heart, 8.
Big 5 matchups: Nov. 28 vs. Villanova at the Palestra, 6; Dec. 1 at Temple, 7; Dec. 11 vs. Penn, 2; March 2 vs. St. Joseph’s, 7.
Outlook: Last year the Explorers didn’t have a single player averaging double figures in scoring, with 6-8 junior Jack Clark (9.9 ppg.) just missing out. Clark, sophomore guard Jhamir Brickus and 6-4 Josh Nickelberry, a junior transfer from Louisville, are all potential double-figure scorers. While La Salle isn’t expected to contend, the Explorers should improve their win total and have the ability to produce a winning record.