2008 Woodie Awards
St. Joe's faces Big 5 competitors
Sean Coit '09
Issue date: 12/1/06 Section: Sports
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Only a year removed from celebrating its 50th Anniversary, Philadelphia's storied Big 5 enters the second half of its first century in a state of transition.
There are two new Head Coaches in town, and many of the league's star players have departed to the NBA, but the Big 5 is sure to produce hotly contested games at the legendary Palestra once again.
Though the 5's programs have split into three respective conferences (Ivy League, Atlantic 10, Big East), the cross - town rivalries have undoubtedly endured.
Villanova, the only Big 5 school outside of Philadelphia's city limits, enters the season with the highest expectations and the most national attention of Philadelphia's teams.
Following a tremendously successful 2005-06 campaign that landed the Wildcats with a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, Head Coach Jay Wright will have to replace 1st round draft picks Randy Foye, Kyle Lowry, and Allan Ray, a trio that returned Villanova to the national spotlight.
Also gone is Jason Fraser, a senior standout last season, but as expected, the 'Cats have re - loaded quickly. Returning to lead the team are three pivotal seniors, point guard Mike Nardi and forwards Will Sheridan and Curtis Sumpter, an All - Big East talent only two years ago, who had to sit out last season thanks to torn ligaments in his knee.
Sophomores Shane Clark and Dante Cunningham will start beside the seniors, but freshman standout Scottie Reynolds from Herndon, VA will see significant time as well. Wright once again has the most talented roster in Philadelphia, and should win the Big 5 with ease, but could struggle in the perennially tough Big East.
Broad Street will never be quite the same without legendary Temple Head Coach John Chaney, and the Owls will find that out quickly this year, as Fran Dunphy, formerly the Head Coach at Penn, tries to re - build the struggling Temple program.
Like Wright at Villanova, Dunphy will be challenged to replace two star seniors from last year's team, NBA draft pick Mardy Collins and forward Antywane Robinson. Starting forward Mark Tyndale, and the physical center, Wayne Marshall, have both been declared academically ineligible, and will have to wait at least until the next semester to play.
There are two new Head Coaches in town, and many of the league's star players have departed to the NBA, but the Big 5 is sure to produce hotly contested games at the legendary Palestra once again.
Though the 5's programs have split into three respective conferences (Ivy League, Atlantic 10, Big East), the cross - town rivalries have undoubtedly endured.
Villanova, the only Big 5 school outside of Philadelphia's city limits, enters the season with the highest expectations and the most national attention of Philadelphia's teams.
Following a tremendously successful 2005-06 campaign that landed the Wildcats with a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, Head Coach Jay Wright will have to replace 1st round draft picks Randy Foye, Kyle Lowry, and Allan Ray, a trio that returned Villanova to the national spotlight.
Also gone is Jason Fraser, a senior standout last season, but as expected, the 'Cats have re - loaded quickly. Returning to lead the team are three pivotal seniors, point guard Mike Nardi and forwards Will Sheridan and Curtis Sumpter, an All - Big East talent only two years ago, who had to sit out last season thanks to torn ligaments in his knee.
Sophomores Shane Clark and Dante Cunningham will start beside the seniors, but freshman standout Scottie Reynolds from Herndon, VA will see significant time as well. Wright once again has the most talented roster in Philadelphia, and should win the Big 5 with ease, but could struggle in the perennially tough Big East.
Broad Street will never be quite the same without legendary Temple Head Coach John Chaney, and the Owls will find that out quickly this year, as Fran Dunphy, formerly the Head Coach at Penn, tries to re - build the struggling Temple program.
Like Wright at Villanova, Dunphy will be challenged to replace two star seniors from last year's team, NBA draft pick Mardy Collins and forward Antywane Robinson. Starting forward Mark Tyndale, and the physical center, Wayne Marshall, have both been declared academically ineligible, and will have to wait at least until the next semester to play.
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