La Salle

IN COLLEGE basketball, you often get judged by whether your team makes the NCAA Tournament and how it does when it gets there. That really does not give a complete picture, but we live in a snapshot world. Over the last eight seasons, La Salle has been .500 or better in Atlantic 10 games five times. Only Xavier (eight), Temple (seven) and Saint Joseph's (six) have done better. Saint Louis, Massachusetts, Richmond, Dayton and Rhode Island also have five .500 or better seasons. Even before the 2012-13 breakthrough, La Salle was gradually getting better and was competitive.

Coach John Giannini, who guided the La Salle men's basketball team to the Sweet 16, has been rewarded with a multiyear contract extension. Terms of the deal weren't disclosed, but athletic director Tom Brennan had said that Giannini's contract situation would be addressed shortly after the NCAA tournament run. This season La Salle went 24-10 and earned its first NCAA berth since 1992. The Explorers then won games over Boise State, Kansas State, and Ole Miss, advancing to the West Regional of the Sweet 16 before being eliminated by eventual Final Four participant Wichita State.

It was a night of reflection, celebration, and certainly emotion. La Salle officially put the bow on an exemplary 2012-2013 men's basketball season Tuesday in a banquet at Tom Gola Arena. A large crowd turned out to celebrate a season of great accomplishment for the Explorers, who went 24-10 and won three riveting NCAA tournament games to earn a spot in the Sweet 16. "I heard from hundreds of people going back to kindergarten, and the reason why is everybody watches the NCAA tournament," coach John Giannini said.

St. Joseph's senior Chatilla van Grinsven was named the Big Five women's basketball player of the year, and the Hawks' Cindy Griffin received coaching honors Tuesday. Joining van Grinsven on the first team were Villanova's Laura Sweeney (Cherokee), Penn's Alyssa Baron, Temple's Victoria Macaulay, and La Salle's Brittany Wilson. Penn's Keiera Ray was the rookie of the year. Baseball. In his second career start, freshman John Ryan (Paul VI) allowed just one run on three hits in eight innings for Immaculata (12-15)

The Inquirer TOP 10 BASEBALL Team   Rec. Records are through Tuesday. Last week's rankings in parentheses. 1. Coatesville (2)   8-1 2. Conestoga (1)   8-1 3. Malvern Prep (5)   13-3 4. Central Bucks East (6)   7-1 5. Bonner-Prendergast (8)   8-2 6. Neshaminy (NR)   7-1 7. Strath Haven (9)   9-0 8. Central Bucks South (4)   6-2 9. Spring-Ford (NR)   8-2 10. Pennsbury (7)

WHEN YOU SCORE 33 in a win over Syracuse at Madison Square Garden, 26 at Kansas, 34 at Saint Joseph's, 30 in a win over VCU and 31 in an NCAA win over North Carolina State and another 31 in a close NCAA loss to No. 1 seed Indiana, you have had a season that will get you noticed. Those scoring numbers were the highlights of Khalif Wyatt's senior season at Temple, so it was no surprise when it was announced Monday that Wyatt is the 2012-13 Big 5 Player of the Year. Wyatt is joined on the first team by La Salle's Ramon Galloway and Tyreek Duren.

La Salle went on a 9-0 run to overtake Temple en route to a 14-13 women's lacrosse win Sunday, its first Atlantic Ten Conference victory of the season. The Owls (8-6, 3-2 A-10) led, 13-5, with a little less than 18 minutes remaining but did not score again. Melanie Sarcinello (Marple Newtown) paced host La Salle (9-5, 1-4) with four goals. Lauren Ignacio netted three, including the game-winner off a free position with 12 seconds remaining. Caitlyn Brostrand (Camden Catholic) also had a hat trick.

The Chicago Sky made Delaware forward Elena Delle Donne the No. 2 pick in the WNBA draft Monday night. The 6-foot-5 Ursuline Academy graduate led the nation in scoring as a junior and was No. 2 as a senior. The Phoenix Mercury took 6-8 Baylor center Brittney Griner with the top pick. Notre Dame guard Skylar Diggins went third, to the Tulsa Shock. COLLEGES: The Big Five named Temple's Khalif Wyatt as Big Five men's basketball player of the year, La Salle's John Giannini as coach of the year, and Villanova's Ryan Arcidiacono as freshman of the year.

JOE MIHALICH is leaving behind 15 successful seasons at Niagara to take over Hofstra's troubled men's basketball program. Mihalich, 56, was announced by the school as its 12th basketball coach Wednesday. Mihalich is a former player and assistant coach at La Salle. He replaces Mo Cassara, who was fired March 22 following a 7-25 season. Four Pride players were arrested in November on burglary charges stemming from dormitory room break-ins. Hofstra lands an established coach and respected recruiter in Mihalich, who played a big role in reviving the Purple Eagles' proud tradition.