SportsLine.com Report
March 17, 2000

Round 1: Leopards zone out against Owls

It doesn't seem to matter if a team has experience against Temple's funky matchup-zone defense. Either way, the Owls have caused all sorts of problems with in the early rounds of the NCAA tournaments in the past.

Lafayette plays the same defense but its offense didn't react to Temple's version as if it was facing its own in practice. The Leopards had trouble getting good looks at the basket and fell 73-47 in the East Regional in Buffalo.

"Obviously we knew we had a bad draw," Lafayette coach Fran O'Hanlon said. "We played against a zone we play and we felt confident in how we would attack it."

Lafayette shot 36 percent and the Owls improved their second-in-the-nation defense that had allowed only 55.4 points per game previously.

Tyson Whitfield had 15 points and Brian Ehlers, the two-time Patriot League player of the year, added 13 for Lafayette.

"I felt it was real tough to get open against the zone in the first half when they had the adrenaline pumping and they were looking to extend the zone and pressure us," Whitfield said.

It was the second straight NCAA appearance for the Leopards, who ended a 42-year drought last season with a 75-54 first-round loss to Miami.

How They Got There

Lafayette, which does not offer athletic scholarships, earned the Patriot League's automatic berth by routing Navy 87-61 at home in the tournament championship game. It is the Leopards' second straight trip to the NCAA Tournament after not being there since 1957. Last year, Lafayette, as a No. 15 seed, lost to No. 2 Miami (Fla.) 75-54.

Starting Lineup

• PG Tim Bieg (5-11, 185, Jr.): Bieg is overshadowed by his teammates, but league coaches know who is the Leopards' catalyst. Bieg (8.1 ppg) is not afraid to shoot if left open and was 6-for-13 from 3-point land in the semifinals and finals of the league tournament.
• SG Brian Ehlers (6-4, 205, Sr.): Ehlers (17.3 ppg) is the league's two-time Player of the Year and two-time scoring champion. He is also the team's assist leader (3.34) and without a doubt the most versatile player in the league's 10-year existence.
• SG Tyson Whitfield (6-4, 194, Jr.): The Leopards pose matchup problems because they play two shooting guards at a time and the athletic Whitfield (12.4 ppg) can be more dangerous than Ehlers. He's a streak shooter and can carry the Leopards for a half. Primarily a perimeter player, he added seven rebounds, six steals and seven assists to 17 points in the title conquest of Navy.
• PF Rob Worthington (6-6, 215, So.): Worthington (3.9 ppg) starts and plays 19 minutes a game, but this is a position by committee. His job is to set screens and take care of the dirty work.
• C Stefan Ciosici (6-11, 260, Sr.): The fifth-year senior came back from a serious knee injury and capped his senior season by being named the Tournament MVP. Ciosici (11.2 ppg, 6.6 rpg) may have lost a step in quickness, but his offensive game has more variety and he won't hesitate to stick a 17-foot jumper.

Keys to Success

If the 6-11, 260-pound Ciosici, one of the strongest players in the east, stays out of foul trouble, the Leopards possess a deadly inside-outside game, as they almost always field three capable 3-point shooters on the court at the same time.

Former Pittsburgh coach Ralph Willard, now at league rival Holy Cross, said Lafayette shoots the ball better than anyone in the Big East.

The Leopards have been susceptible to halfcourt pressure, but if they can get into their offensive sets, they'll surprise people with their shooting ability. If Lafayette needs to match up with bigger teams, it will use Ciosici and 7-foot Frank Barr together, with Barr playing forward.

The Coach

Success is a double-edged sword for Lafayette fans because the better the Leopards become, the more they worry fifth-year coach Fran O'Hanlon will leave for a higher-profile job. The former Penn assistant and Villanova Hall of Fame player, O'Hanlon took over a program that was 2-25 in 1994-95. Without the use of scholarships -- Lafayette offers only need-based financial aid -- O'Hanlon methodically built a winner. O'Hanlon is 83-60 entering the NCAA Tournament.

The Bench

Lafayette's depth and versatility makes it the best team in the Patriot League and a candidate to spring a first-round upset. Sophomore guard Brian Burke (7.2 ppg) is a 90-percent free-throw shooter and can hit the 3-pointer from 25 feet. Guard Reggie Guy is a defensive stopper at the point. In the front court, Lafayette can bring in 7-foot Frank Barr and 6-10 Mick Kuberka to play either forward or center. Freshman Greg McCleary (6-5, 195) is an excellent passer and logged his most minutes of the season in the championship win over Navy.

Offense

The Leopards' attack often has been referred to as a poor man's Princeton. For basketball purists, Fran O'Hanlon's passing game is a joy to watch. Not many teams can backdoor Princeton players like Lafayette has done in the past. Not too many teams in the country shoot from the outside as well as the Leopards, either. Lafayette is 240-for-610 (39 percent) from 3-point range.

Defense

Lafayette's primary defense is a matchup zone that gives first-time opponents fits. The Leopards like to trap in the corners, especially when 6-11 Ciosici and 7-foot Barr are in the game together. Occasionally, the Leopards will play man-to-man, but if the zone is working, they won't leave it.