http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/mike_jensen RSS Feed for Inq Col Mike Jensen en-us Thu, 17 May 2012 16:10:46 GMT http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/mike_jensen/20120517_VCU_s_defection_cuts_both_ways_for_Drexel.html In his 14th year as athletic director at Drexel, Eric Zillmer absorbs the constant seismic shifts of the college sports landscape as business as usual. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/mike_jensen/20120511_For_La_Salle_rowers__a_lifelong_commitment_to_Dad_Vail.html Just off Kelly Drive, Frank McCloskey held up a hand Thursday afternoon, stopping a boat trailer from running over any rowers from St. Joseph's or Florida State or Purdue. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/mike_jensen/20120425_Villanova_s_Wright_working_on_foundation_for_future_success.html Jay Wright knows that last season wasn't just a failure on paper for Villanova, but an unwatchable debacle. When Wright's past teams made deep NCAA runs, "the stars all aligned," as the Wildcats coach put it. This time, it was more like space junk falling from the sky. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/mike_jensen/20120324_Syracuse_s_Jardine_thrives_in_the_spotlight.html BOSTON - The brightest lights always attracted him. "You're playing in front of 30,000 fans - on a low night, 25,000," Syracuse point guard Scoop Jardine said Friday about the huge crowds at the Carrier Dome. "When I first went to the Dome, it was the first time I ever signed an autograph. It was all she wrote right there for myself." http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/mike_jensen/20120322_Another_Philly_player_survives_Boeheim_s_boot_camp.html BOSTON - Game to game, his minutes nearly vanished. Two minutes. Four minutes. One minute. That's all Syracuse freshman Rakeem Christmas got. Over the last seven games of Syracuse's regular season, he was on the court for 17 minutes, total. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/mike_jensen/20120310_Black_Friday_for_Philly_basketball_teams.html ATLANTIC CITY - At halftime, determined to hang in, the La Salle Explorers told each other they were it, the only ones left. They used the events of the day as a little extra push, trying to carry a "Philly pride" torch, as Explorers guard Ramon Galloway put it. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/mike_jensen/20120308_Temple_took_a_tortuous_path_back_to_Big_East.html In looking at Temple's return to the Big East, it is natural to focus on the day the football team was kicked out of the league as a low point. But it wasn't necessarily even the lowest. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/mike_jensen/20120308_Big_East_realignment_will_face_challenges.html So how long will this shotgun marriage between traditional Big East basketball members and a far-flung collection of football schools hold? http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/mike_jensen/20120306_A_frustrating_night_for_the_Quakers.html PRINCETON - Zack Rosen stared at the stat sheet, shaking his head. His head kept right on shaking as his eye found more and more numbers. Penn's sensational point guard finally flicked the paper away with a finger like a poker player folding his cards. His coach saw Rosen drop his head into a hand. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/mike_jensen/20120306_Likable_Pettis_has_keyed_La_Salle_s_A-10_success.html This may not be a fact that Earl Pettis wants out there, but as his La Salle basketball career winds down, it is time to reveal an open secret, widely known on La Salle's campus.