La Salle Explorers

La Salle basketball is one of the cornerstones of Philadelphia's storied Big 5 tradition, playing home games at Tom Gola Arena, named for the program's most legendary player. The Explorers carry the distinction of being the only Philadelphia Big 5 program to have won a national championship, giving La Salle basketball a special place in the city's hoops history. The program's identity is built on that golden mid-1950s era, even as the Explorers have worked to recapture relevance in the modern Atlantic 10. It's a proud, historic name in Philadelphia sports.

La Salle's high point came in 1954, when star forward Tom Gola led the Explorers to the program's only national championship, defeating Bradley 92-76 in the title game and earning tournament MVP honors. Gola remains one of the most versatile players in college basketball history, capable of playing all five positions, and his number is retired at the arena that bears his name. La Salle returned to the national championship game the following year, in 1955, before falling to San Francisco. The Explorers have not returned to that level of success since, but the 1954 title remains a defining piece of Philadelphia basketball history.