Friday, September 27, 2013

Profile: Spotlight on new 76ers guard Khalif Wyatt

Earlier this month the Philadelphia 76ers announced the signing of Norristown, PA native and Temple University standout guard Khalif Wyatt. Wyatt and the Sixers agreed to a partially guaranteed, multi-year contract on September 13th. Wyatt  is expected to be with the Sixers when they open the season on October 30th against defending NBA champs, the Miami Heat, but will also be spending some time with the Sixers D-League franchise, the Delaware 87ers. Khalif is 22 years old and will provide the Sixers with a much needed outside shooting presence. At Temple, Wyatt averaged 20 points per game in his senior season and actually bested the Sixers first round draft pick Michael Carter-Williams in a matchup at Madison Square Garden. Being signed to the Sixers must be a dream come true for a kid that grew up in the Philadelphia area and was a 76ers fan growing up. Wyatt joins fellow Temple alumni Lavoy Allen on the Sixers, the two played with each other for two years and look to team up again. I think this is an important signing for the Sixers who will be looking to develop their young players in a rebuilding year, and Khalif Wyatt will be one of those young players that provides a real boost off of the bench.

Monday, September 23, 2013

76ers to play preseason game at the University of Delaware's Bob Carpenter Center

On August 2nd the Philadelphia 76ers announced that they will be playing their third preseason game at the University of Delaware's Bob Carpenter Center. The game will take place on October 11th and matches the Sixers up against a rebuilt Boston Celtics team. 
The Bob Carpenter Center is now home to the Sixers new D-League team, the Delaware 87ers, that was established earlier this summer. This is a big move for a small state that does not have any major professional sports teams, and the 87ers should provide excitement on a nightly basis. 76ers fans, as well as basketball fans in general, finally will get to experience a marquee NBA game within their home state of Delaware and will be able to see a professional D-League team when the season starts.
For the 76ers, this preseason game should be very interesting since the team is clearly in rebuilding mode. There are a lot of new faces on the roster as well as a new coaching staff and this early preseason matchup should give fans a sense of what the 2013-2014 season will be like. 
The NBA season is right around the corner and for hoops fans in Delaware this game against the Celtics will provide some exciting basketball to end the offseason.