By PAUL GOTHAM
If B.J. Johnson and Jordan Price are the La Salle Explorers’ version of John and Paul, then Pookie Powell plays the part of George Harrison.
Averaging more than 30 minutes per game, Powell hands out fewer than one turnover per contest for Dr. John Giannini’s Explorers who are of to a 2-1 start in Atlantic 10 conference play. His assist-to-turnover rate of 4.7 ranks him third in the nation.The 6-foot guard also scores 13.8.
“If you keep making tough passes and taking tough shots you’re really going to struggle,” Giannini said during the Atlantic 10’s weekly tele-conference. “You have to take what the defense gives you. That’s what Pookie does.”
Powell has committed multiple turnovers in a game just twice this season – two in a season-opening loss in overtime to Temple and two mishandles on the road against conference favorite Dayton. He has played five games, though, without a turnover. Per KenPom, his turnover rate (metric which computes the percentage of turnovers per 100 possessions) of 6.9 is 19th in the country.
“He plays the way any coach would want a guard to play,” Giannini stated. “He doesn’t lose the ball. He doesn’t turn it over very much. He’s a shot maker. He just has pretty good judgment especially in terms of making the safe play.”
After scoring single digits in three of five games, Powell has topped double figures in four straight including all three of La Salle’s conference matchups. He earned Philadelphia Big 5 Player of the Week honors scoring 14.5 a game to go with 6.5 assists, five rebounds and 2.5 steals while committing just one turnover in 61 minutes of play.
“He’s getting more confident as time goes on too,” Giannini added. “That’s where the increased scoring is coming from. He can do that, but just the last month or so he’s gotten comfortable.”
Johnson leads La Salle netting 19.1 a game and grabbing 6.4 rebounds. Price scores 17.2. Powell is shooting 48.8 from the floor over the last four contests.
“He’s always passed the ball and not turned it over, and now he’s starting to get a little more comfortable in terms of his own scoring ability.”
La Salle (8-5/2-1) travels to play at Rhode Island (10-5/2-1) on Thursday. A 7 pm tip is scheduled, and CBS Sports Network will televise the game.
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