La Salle Loss Could Cost Explorers Tournament Bid

         La Salle closed the regular season today with a crushing defeat to the 16th ranked Saint Louis Billikens.  While losing to the #16 team in the nation is nothing to be ashamed of, the loss may cost La Salle an at-large bid they had seemed destined to receive.  The loss drops the Explorers to 21-8 and 11-5 in Atlantic 10 play, and probably leaves them on the outside looking in for the NCAA Tournament as it stands now.  To make matters worse for La Salle, Kentucky, who was also on the bubble, upset 11th ranked Florida earlier today and now seems likely to receive one of the last four at-large bids.  While Kentucky is 21-10, they lack impressive wins on the season with the exception of todays victory over Florida, and it seems likely they will make the tournament more because the name on the front of their jerseys than because of their resume.  La Salle will now need an impressive showing in the upcoming A-10 Tournament if they still have hopes at receiving an at-large bid.  Today's loss proves to be a setback that La Salle simply could not afford to end the season.  The Explorers kept the game close in the first half but were outmatched in the second, with poor defense and little scoring.
           The Explorers entered the locker room at halftime trailing only 31-29, this despite poor shooting from Tyreek Duren and Ramon Galloway.  Galloway shot only 1-9 in the first half and finished the game 3-12 with 8 points.  While Duren eventually finished the game with 13, the players who kept La Salle in the game in the first half, Sam Mills and Tyrone Garland, could not maintain their impressive performances in the second half.  Mills and Garland finished the game with 12 and 15 points respectively, but the Billikens simply proved to be too much for the Explorers in the second half, capitalizing on poor La Salle defense and shooting.  The Explorers now find themselves with a bit a desperation entering the A-10 Tournament, as they will need a deep run and possibly a tournament championship if they hope to be dancing.  While I still believe La Salle belongs in the tournament over a team like Kentucky, the selection committee seems to sometimes pay more attention to the name on the front of the teams jerseys and ignore their resumes.  The pressure is on for La Salle, and now the question is, will Ramon Galloway and Tyreek Duren thrive under the pressure and lead to Explorers to the big dance?  Only time will tell, but La Salle finds themselves on the outside looking in as of now.