Four Years Straight

Dionte Christmas never had the opportunity to take out Villanova in his four year career. Tonight, he and the Owls left the Pavilion to a chant of "Na-Na-Na-Na"'. It was not a pretty sight for Temple, as they dropped their third straight loss- this against Philadelphia rival Villanova.

There was much anticipation for this game: a possible upset, Juan Fernandez's apperance. Neither of these occured. In fact, this was not just a loss, but an ugly loss. A 62-45 Villanova loss sealed the deal on a Big 5 championship, and also sent Temple under .500 for the first time this year.

Temple came into this game with an early lead, winning 25-22 at the half. With around 14 minutes to play, the Owls found themselves up 8, controlling their own destiny.

It was then that Villanova's Corey Fisher (right) came to life. The 6'1" guard stunned Temple as he was red hot off the bench. Fisher was able to single handedly bring his team back, and seal the deal for a victory. The sophomore finished the game with a career high 23 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists.

For Temple, the second half became an unwanted nightmare, as Dionte Christmas' went into an incredible slump- the worst time to do so. Shooting a combined 4-19 overall, Christmas and the Owls began digging themselves an even bigger hole to get out of.

We mentioned in our last post that the key to this game would have been an overall team effort in execution, precision, and an overall feel for the game. Take a look at the final stats in these categories:

Points

Villanova- 62*
Temple- 45

Rebounding

Villanova- 32*
Temple- 26

Steals

Villanova- 7*
Temple- 4

Temple's troubles all seemed to form in the second half, where the lead was in their favor. Putting aside scoring, the problem in this game was the execution in both positions. The guard play was an absolute joke, and it was a contributor to why the post play became unreliable.

Size did not seem to matter in this matchup, as the Wildcats out-hustled the big men to 6 more rebounds. Temple had the height advantage by over 4 inches, and still found a way to grab almost 10 rebounds under their average. Villanova's overall athleticism was too much to handle.

Sergio Olmos fouled out of his first game this season, finishing with 8 points. He shot 1-6 from the floor, and his points came from the foul line. Lavoy Allen, who disappeared completely early in this game, finished with 2 points and 5 turnovers. The bright side, however, is that freshman Michael Eric (left) finished the game with 9 points, 1 block, and 4 rebounds. This hopefully will shed some light under the boards as the year progresses.

As for Juan Fernandez, it looks like Coach Dunphy will look to debut him in another week when the Owls take on Kent State. In an OwlScoop.com interview, Fernandez seemed fine with the decision, making the point that he still needs to get used to the faster pace.

Temple now drops to 5-6, heading out to the MAC's Kent State. The Owls will try to bounce back in just their 3rd home game of the season.

Villanova (12-1), on the other hand, will begin a rough run as they begin their Big East conference schedule against Marquette. This will be the Wildcats' 3rd away game of the season.

Stay tuned for our preview of Kent State later in the week.

Villanova 62, Temple 45

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A Classic at The Pavilion

A sell out crowd will be in attendance for this highly anticipated Big 5 matchup. Two of college basketball's premiere programs will face off in Philadelphia for a city classic. After a week off for both teams, the Temple Owls and Villanova Wildcats with square off at the Pavilion. Temple (5-5) will head into this game trying to end a 2-game skid; their latest loss comes to Long Beach State, 76-71. Villanova (11-1), on the other hand, will look to continue a 3-game winning streak since their 78-68 victory over Navy.

Here's a look at Jay Wright's 15th ranked Wildcats, and how they've been so successful this year:

In an extremely talented Big East conference, Villanova has easily been able to hold their own. Though there has not been conference play, their 11-1 record puts them in 4th place amongst 8 other ranked teams. Though the level of talent that the Wildcats have played isn't the highest (with the exception of Texas), the team has still been able to hold their own in 11 other games. Take a look at these statistic comparisons between both teams.

Points

Temple (70 points per game)
Villanova (75 points per game)*

Rebounds

Temple (35 rebounds per game)
Villanova (38 rebounds per game)*

Turnovers

Temple (15 turnovers per game)
Villanova (12 turnovers per game)*

Here's a look at our breakdown of both team's advantages and disadvantages:

Villanova: Advantages

As was Tennessee, the Wildcats are another team that has no problem using the depth on their bench. Their main power, obviously, comes from their first 6. Nova's "triple threat" consists of forward Dante Cunningham (left), and guards Scottie Reynolds and Corey Stokes. These guys account for more than half of the team's scoring, and they also have a key part in rebounding. Villanova is both and offensively and defensively sound team. Keeping their own turnovers to 12 per game, the team caused problems on the defensive side of the ball. The Wildcats average 8 steals and 3 blocks per outing, causing problems for the teams they face. In this matchup, they are also the stronger team from the foul line, shooting 76%. Their other advantage, besides their on court play, is the factor of a home game. In the 12 games the team has played, only 2 of them have been away. Considering "neutral" games at the Palestra, this should definitely give the team a huge boost in this matchup.

Villanova: Disadvantages

A crucial factor in this game will be the overall size of Villanova. The team does not have a true center, and their tallest active player is 6'8". The Wildcats will have to deal with the inside presence of Sergio Olmos (7'0") and Lavoy Allen (6'10"). Both of these players have been reliable in the paint, and will present a problem for Villanova on offense and defense. Even at guardplay, the Wildcats are outsized between 1-4 inches. Overall, this element provides numerous problems for any statistical category, and will be interesting to see the adjustments made for this.

Temple will be in this game looking to improve their 5-5 record, and stop Villanova from sweeping the Big 5 title. Here's a look at the Owls off of their loss to Long Beach State:

Temple: Advantages

As we mentioned in our section on Villanova, size should be a major factor in this game. Two of Temple's top contributors are Lavoy Allen and Sergio Olmos. Both of these players are much bigger than their counterparts, and could potentially cause problems under the boards. Lavoy Allen, still nursing a previously broken thumb, has had no problems producing as usual. Olmos is coming off another double-digit game, and will be a key part to the Owls success. At guards, also, Temple has the advantage in height, but statistically are pretty even. This will be an overall effort for TU if they'll take another Top 25 upset.

Temple: Disadvantages

We find all of our disadvantages for the Owls in the stats. There are three key stats listed above that show Villanova having the overall advantage. Those three (points, rebounds, and turnovers) are the areas they we believe will be crucial to this game. With a team like Villanova, it's all about producing. Temple will need to step it up like they did against Tennessee, or else anything could happen. Once again, Temple will be playing away for another important game, and the Pavilion will not be any easier with the craziness of Nova Nation.

Tonight's matchup will be an interesting one, and it will be all about execution- who wants it more.

As always, here is our projected starting 5.

Sergio Olmos (12 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist)
Antonio Pena (8 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists)

Lavoy Allen (10 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists)
Dante Cunningham (17 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist)

Dionte Christmas (21 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists)
Corey Stokes (12 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist)

Ryan Brooks (13 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist)
Corey Fisher (9 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists)

Semaj Inge (9 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists)
Scottie Reynolds (15 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists)

Hoot to Watch For: We mentioned earlier that both teams will have to give it their all as a whole, and today Owls fans might be in for a treat. Argentian star Juan Fernandez (right) will make his debut as an Owl, wearing Number 4. Although the 6'4" guard has not even been in Philadelphia for a week, look for possible playing time, and a glimpse at the future.

You can catch tonight's game on ESPNU, Channnelsurfing.net, or 1210 WPHT.

Go Owls!

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Coming Home Empty Handed

Fran Dunphy's squad might not have headed into the Golden State looking for riches, but at least a victory. For the second time in this young season, the temple Owls have dropped two games in a row. Last year's Atlantic 10 Champions are now at a record of 5-5; one that does not sit well with the gans or team. For the 2nd consecutive game, Temple has made costly mistakes that potentially cost them the game. There are several key points that cannot be reitterated enough:

1) Consistency
2) Turnovers
3) Hustle

You can go back to any of our archived posts from this year, and you will notice that a main Advantage/Disadvantage has been a matter of consistency. Nobody can stress it enough: tournament-bound teams find ways to win, and it all begins with getting into a winning "groove". a team that produces is a team that competes. A team that competes is a team that wins. A team that wins is a team that goes somewhere- you can quote that one. It's common knowledge. It's not like this squad is defective in any specific area. Whether it's home or away, day or night, there has been no time where Temple has been able to establish a "winning trend" this year. 2-game winning streaks, 2-game losing streaks are both here. It's about coming out to play day in and day out, no matter the competition.

Next is the Owls' issue with turning the ball over. Take a look at these statistics:

Temple: 19 turnovers (12 from Guards, 7 from Post)
LBSU: 16 turnovers (11 from Guards, 5 from Post)

In the days of John Chaney's Owls, turnovers were unacceptable. Since the Hall of Fame Coach's departure, things have not been the same.The point guard position has been a large problem for this team: between Semaj Inge, Luis Guzman, and the occasional Ramone Moore, it has still yet to be decided who the true starting floor general is. It should not be a matter of waiting for the arrival of Juan Fernandez, but that might even be the case. Not only have the turnovers been a cause of the backcourt's play, but also by the post players. As a whole, the team must pay more attention to their court awareness, and then the progression will after.

No matter who you're playing, hustle should never be a problem. Against both Kansas and Long Beach State, the Owls gave up numerous fast break points. Along with this, there were uncontested shot attempts, unguarded players, and much more. It all comes down to defense pressure. A press isn't a press for nothing- same goes for any kind of defense. In these past two losses, Temple has committed 40 personal fouls compared to their opponents' 31. The defensive pressure needs to pick up. We have seen this year in many cases that Temple has the ability to score, but the problem has been stopping being scored on.

This is obviously an upsetting outcome, but credit must go to Long Beach State for taking it to the Owls- for 40 minutes, the 49ers were the better team.

As predicted, Donovan Morris and Stephon Gilling came up big for their teams. Over the course of the game, the 49ers' backcourt accounted for 50% of the team's points (76), 33% of the team's rebounds (31), and 46% combined shooting.

For Temple, Dionte Christmas was able to perform as usual, but not at the right time. Although he was about to rack up 19 points, it wasn't until the final 4 minutes of play that he began to get hot. This presented a problem for the Owls, trailing at half time.

Click below to access the ESPN box score of this game:

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/boxscore?gameId=283570299

The Owls will head back to Philadelphia, trying to end the 2-game skid against Big 5 rival and 16th ranked Villanova. Long Beach State will head out on the road against Oregon.

Final Score: Long Beach State- 76, Temple Owls-71

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Heading Further West

Just two days after their 71-59 loss to Kansas, the Temple Owls will be heading further west to take on a 4-5 Long Beach State squad. They'll look to extend their record to 6-4 after tonight. The 49ers, looking to go .500 tonight, are coming off a 75-61 loss to Montana State, and are trying to shake off a 4-game losing streak. Coincidentally, the first three games the 49ers had lost in were all away games. It's a battle in The Golden State: The Temple Owls vs. The Long Beach State 49ers.

As mentioned before, Long Beach State is coming off their 4th straight loss to Montana State. Prior to this matchup, the 49ers had lost three in a row on the road to Weber State, Syracuse, and San Francisco. In these games, the team averaged a point differential of 12 points per loss. As a team, however, LBSU averages 70.2 points, compared to the 73.6 points they have given up.

Long Beach State: Advantages

Long Beach State has been able to produce consistently when it comes to scoring the basketball. Don't be surprised if the 49ers attempt to out-hustle the Owls with their depth; the team has a solid 11-man rotation that they use regularly, and the majority of these guys find efficient ways to provide for their team. Two key players to look out for are Donovan Morris (left) and Stephon Gilling. Morris, averaging a solid 16 points per outing, has carried this team to their current record. The 6'3" senior guard is a team player, complimenting his points with 4 rebounds and 2.5 assists. The other guy that will be on the scouting report is 6'2" guard Stephon Gilling. The junior is also a double digit scorer, averaging 10 points per game. Along with this Gilling averages 2 rebounds and 1 assist to just 25 minutes of play. Another situation that might erupt is the fact that Long Beach State has two 7'0" centers on the bench. Along with 6'10" Brian Freeman, this could potentially cause some problems down low for the Owls.

Long Beach State: Disadvantages

What is very surprising is that Long Beach State averages a mere 33 rebounds per game. With so much height down low, it seems ironic that they do not produce much more. Temple have been able to take advantage of the glass in many games, despite only managing 36 boards of their own. Another problem that LBSU might face is the possibility of a bad shooting night, which really is unpredictable. As a team, the 49ers shoot 43% from the court- look for Temple to possibly move into a zone defense in order to force the outside shots.

Our quick look at the Owls' opponent. Now here's what Temple has on them.

Temple Owls: Advantages

Coming off a disappointing loss to Kansas this weekend, the Temple Owls will look to bounce back from what was a unusual performance. Their record is currently 5-4, and this game is looked at as a way to bounce back for their upcoming match against Villanova. The team leaders for TU are seniors Dionte Christmas and Sergio Olmos. Christmas, the All-American Candidate, has shown that he can easily take over games when the time comes. His 21 points per game will hopefully propel the team to their 6th win of the season. Down low, there is Center Sergio Olmos. In only his 5th game of the year, Sergio is going to have to take control when he faces a wall of defenders against Long Beach State's tall post game. After a disappointing showing against Kansas late in the game, Sergio and the team hope that his presence will cause more of a problem, as it did against Tennessee. The Owls' main advantage in this game will be guard play. With their overall taller backcourt, Temple will have to be aggresive offensively and defensively to bounce back.

Temple: Disadvantages

Something that anyone familiar with Temple basketball can agree to is that this team so far has been so inconsistent. You never know whether you'll get the Temple that beat Tennessee, or the Temple that lost to Miami (OH). All that matters is that this team needs to be prepared for this game BEFORE looking ahead to Villanova. Long Beach State has the potential to play with good teams- they gave Wisconsin a good game. Coming off of a loss, the Owls will need to keep a better mindset then Long Beach State. They are sure to be determined to knock off Temple to end this 4 game losing streak. The Owls will need to come out early, and jump the gun.

There's our quick look into both teams. Here's a view of our projected starters for this matchup:

Semaj Inge- (8 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists)
Casper Ware- (9 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists)

Ryan Brooks- (13 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist)
Donovan Morris- (17 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists)

Dionte Christmas- (21 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists)
Stephon Gilling- (10 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist)

Lavoy Allen- (10 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists)
Cornel Williams- (6 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist)

Sergio Olmos- (12 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist)
Brian Freeman- (2 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists)

Hoot To Watch For: In this game, we're going to say to watch for Temple's guardplay as a whole to be a main factor. Dionte Christmas, Ryan Brooks, Semaj Inge, and Luis Guzman (right) can all use their size. Long Beach State has two athletic backcourt players, so it will be a pretty intense matchup. Sergio Olmos has a lot in for him, that is if the big men are played.

Should be an interesting game. Check it out via radio on 1210 WPHT, or www.thebigtalker1210.com at 9:00 EST.

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Around the A-10: Conference Updates (12/21)

So here we are in a new post I'd like to call "Around the A-10". Every Sunday we will give you the latest updates around the Atlantic 10 Conference. We'll have the latest matchups, upcoming games, records, and overall standings around the league. Let's get started:

(#1) Dayton Flyers

Starting off another spectacular season, Brian Gregory and his squad have gotten themselves to a 10-1 record. Two key victories so far for the team come against Auburn and Marquette. On the other hand, the team's one and only loss comes against a very talented Creighton team. Judging by the players' performances, this success has boiled down to a total team effort. Chris Wright and Marcus Johnson so far have led their team in scoring, but Charles Little and Chris Johnson are closely behind. The Flyers next few games include Marshall, George Mason, and Toledo- all winnable games. As a team, what might be needed to be worked on is the Assist/Turnover ratio (1/1). If the team could find their solid floor general, they can become a very dominant team above all else. Look for the Dayton Flyers to hold their #1 spot after the week progresses.

Ranking Movement: None (1st)

(#2) #7 Xavier Musketeers

Up until recently, the Musketeers were playing their "as usual" basketball. Currently 10-1, the team suffered their first loss yesterday in ugly fashion to #6 Duke. The team has had their share of competitive games so far, one of them being against the Memphis Tigers. Statistically, the team is looking real well with a "3 forward" oriented offense. Leading the 7th ranked Musketeers are Derrick Brown, D.J. Raymond, and C.J Anderson. All these of these players are averaging double digits, along with a fair share of rebounding/assists. With their upcoming schedule, the team should play an interesting game against Butler, and after Robert Morris/Virginia. If Xavier is able to get 7'0" Kenny Frease into the mix of things, results should increase even more. His size would definitely increase the rebounding for the team (39 rpg). This is another team we believe that will hold onto their #2 spot in the conference.

Ranking Movement: None (2nd)

(#3) George Washington Colonials

Looking to bounce back from a dissapointing 9-17 season last year, the Colonials have shown that they are back to contend for an Atlantic 10 Championship. Getting off to a 5-2 start, the team so far has held close in both of their losses. Similar to Xavier, the Colonials are led by 4 players who account for two-thirds of the team's production. Those players are Damian Hollis, Rob Diggs, Noel Wilmore, and Tony Taylor. These 4 players are the reason that this team has jumped out ahead so early. Upcoming games for George Washington include Sacramento State, Vermont, and Longwood. Expect the Colonials to play red-hot, and collect 2 more wins by the end of the week. What the team lacks however is the presence of a big man, which might be a positive for their style of play. George Washington has a firm hold of the 3rd place spot this week.

Ranking Movement: None (3rd)

(#4) St. Bonaventure Bonnies

No word or words can describe the unbelievable changes that have been going on in Western New York. Now at their best start since 2001, the Bonnies are looking to make possible the impossible. In the last 5 years, their combined record is an upsetting 30-98. This year, the past records are no representation of their work. St. Bonaventure is now on a 4-game winning streak, led by 4 outstanding players. Jonathan Hall, Chris Matthews, Ray Blackburn, and Andrew Nicholson have all paved the way for such a successful start. The Bonnies' overall statistics have increased over the last few years astonishingly for the better. Upcoming games this week only include Niagara, who will present STBN with a challenge. We're predicting that this might be our first Standings' change if the Bonnies lose, so we'll play it out as it is.

Ranking Change: Down (T-5th)

(#5) Rhode Island Rams

On the road to another successful season, the Rams are in for a change to move up to the 4th Atlantic 10 spot. Currently 8-4, the team's key wins come against VCU and Penn State. The 4 losses are unrepresentative of their team, with several against Villanova, Duke, and Providence. Jimmy Baron, Keith Seawright, and Keith Cothran lead Rhode Island lead this talented team averaging 15-20 points apiece. Their upcoming game this week will feature an away match against a struggling Farleigh Dickinson (1-7). With a possible win this week, the Rams will be looking at an early 4th place spot, as mentioned before. One area the team can improve on would be their post play. With such a strong backcourt, the down low presence using Sophomore Will Martell could be deadly.

Ranking Change: Up (4th)

(#6) Duquesne Dukes

In somewhat of the same situation as last year, the Duquense Dukes have gotten out to a 6-4 start. Their four losses have all against quality teams: Duke, West Virginia, Old Dominion, and Pittsburgh. Other than these challenges, the Dukes have had no problem holding their own with 6 wins. Leading the team to their above .500 record Aaron Jackson and Damian Saunders. Both guys have produced well, fitting their roles perfectly. Along with St. Bonaventure and St. Louis, Duquesne has the opportunity to be in a 3-way tie for 5th place if they win. Their next game will be against North Carolina Central (0-13). If the Dukes don't have any problems, this is an easy win for their squad.

Ranking Change: Up (T-5th)

(#7) Saint Louis Bellikens

For Rick Majerus' Billikens, you could say things are going "alright". There are a few bumps here or there with the team's 6-4 record that could have gone other ways. Two losses Saint Louis would surely love to have back are the games against Detroit (3-7) and Southern Illinois (4-6). Their top performers so far this year are guards Keven Lisch and Tommie Liddell. These two have shared the workload for the squad, but there are also several others that have been key contributors. This week, the Billikens will face off with DePaul (6-4) in what could be a decent game. With a win, Saint Louis will be a part of that 3 team 5th place tie. A better shooting performance on the year will surely be a big time factor in their gameplay (40%).

Ranking Change: None (7th)

(#8) Temple Owls

In what has been a roller coaster season for Coach Fran Dunphy's Temple Owls, this early year has been a real inconsistent outcome. The Owls, just 5-4, have had big wins over Penn State and Tennessee, but losses to Miami (OH) and Buffalo have overshadowed it. As it is known, the main contributor for Temple is none other than Dionte Christmas. A streaky player, Christmas has shown he can knock down the big shots- the question is when? This week, the team will have a matchup in Long Beach State. If the Owls want to turn their season around fully, a win here will start them off as they head to Villanova after. The one major factor with this team is their consistency, and their ability to show up strong day in and out.

Ranking Change: Up (6th)

(#9) La Salle Explorers

The La Salle Explorers have an intersting team so far into their season. Coach John Giannini and his team have built a .500 record at 5-5. Their losses come against quality teams in Villanova and Connecticut. This is a team that can stick with the best, and beat who they need to beat. Top scorers on the team include Rodney Green, Kimmani Barrett, and Yves Mekongo-Mbala. This week's game will be against Mt. Saint Mary's, a game that should push their record to 6 wins. In order to get there, though, the Explorers are going to need an inside presence- the team's tallest player is 6'9.

Ranking Change: None (9th)

(#10) Richmond Spiders

Here we have another team that has had an interesting season. The Richmond Spiders, 5-5, now have the opportunity to jump up in the rankings a few spots with 2 more wins this week. David Gonzalvez and Kevin Anderson will look to combine their 17 points per game, and get a quick two against Bucknell and UNC-Whilmington. With these two wins, the Spiders can propel themselves back over .500. These two wins can easily get themselves among other teams with ties in the Conference. Though it is early, this team will have to face 6 of the top Atlantic 10 squads, which they'll need momentum to build up. Their biggest challenge in getting these quality wins is the rebounding factor. If they want to win, the Richmond Spiders will need to bump up their 29 rebounds per game.

Ranking Change: Up (8th)

(#11) Saint Joseph's Hawks

In what has been an upsetting season so far for the Hawks, Phil Martelli and his squad will have the opportunity to bounce back from this 4-5 record. This week, SJU will face Cornell, and a very good Sienna squad. Leading the team are Ahmad Nivins, Darren Govens, and Tasheed Carr. Supposing the Hawks are able to win 1 of the 2 games, the team should be alright for now. For the Hawks, there's no real one area that describes the troubles the team is having. It's all about finishing games, and jumping the gun from the get go.

Ranking Change: Up (10th)

(#T-12) Charlotte Bobcats

It's too obvious that the Charlotte 49ers miss their star in Leemire Goldwire, who graduated this past year. Luckily, though, his absence has brought to the emergence of 4 players. Lamont Mack, Ian Andersen, An'Juan Wilderness, and Rashad Coleman have all improved and stepped their game up. So far this year, the 49ers are 4-6 with a game against Long Island this week. Charlotte will have the opportunity to improve their record for Duquense and Maryland. This team shows that can play with the best, losing to currently ranked #25 Clemson by 1. If the 49ers want to get closer to .500, though they'll need to keep progressing through becoming a team.

Ranking Change: Up (11th)

(#T-12) Massachusetts Minutemen

UMass is another team that is without the services of Gary Forbes. The Minutemen have suffered some crushing losses, but at the same time have had the satifaction of upsetting Kansas. After an early 6 game losing streak, UMass has one it's last 3- easily goes to show this team is picking up where they have been. The team's 3 guard offense features Ricky Harris, Anthony Gurley, and Chris Lowe. Also there is forward Tony Gaffney; all four of these players average double digits. The team will look to stretch their streak to four as they take on IUPUI. As the Minutemen continue their current success, look for the team to try to lower their turnovers, and pick up the slack on the boards.

Ranking Change: None (12th)

(#13) Fordham Rams

For the Fordham Rams, words cannot describe the trouble this team has gone through. The Rams are witnessing their worst start to the season since 2003, where they went 2-7. Team leaders Jio Fontan, Chris Bethel, and Mike Moore have done what they can do propel this team forward. This week, Fordham will look to get a few wins under their belt with games against New Hampshire and Tennessee-Martin. Give credit to Fordham for scheduling the competition they have, but right now it seems a little overwhelming for this team. If the team can pull themselves together, anything is possible- a decent recruiting class can easily get this squad going.

Ranking Change: (13th)

So here we are, another week through some exciting basketball. Here's a look at The Owl's Nest's look on this upcoming week, and where these teams will be:

Our A-10 Picks

1) Dayton Flyers
2) Xavier Musketeers
3) George Washington Colonials
4) Rhode Island Rams
5) Duquesne Dukes
5) St. Bonaventure Bonnies
6) Temple Owls
7) Saint Louis Billikens
8) Richmond Spiders
9) La Salle Explorers
10) St. Joseph's Hawks
11) Charlotte 49ers
12) Massachusetts Minutemen
13) Fordham Rams

Stay tuned for Next Sunday, where we'll check into how the Atlantic 10 teams have progressed so far.

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Lost in The "Phog"

Yesterday's game did not seem like the most representative of our squad. After a dominating win over Tennessee a week prior, the Owls were set out to face their 3rd real Out of Conference challenge: last year's NCAA Champion Kansas.

A 1:30 am arrival to the Allen Fieldhouse was not what Temple was looking to start off with. The trek to Lawrence, Kansas through hazardous weather was not the most intriguing experience. This malfunction not only caused problems getting to the Phog, but over the course of the game.

The game, as mentioned, was not what many Owls fast expected out of their team, who represented themselves on ESPN back to back. From an 11-2 deficit early with Lavoy Allen on the bench, something seemed wrong. Dionte Christmas, the streaky player that he was, seemed to be on the down side.

Although Kansas was coming off a loss to the A-10's UMass, the game was not a home game for either team. Kansas had not lost a game in the Fieldhouse for 29 consecutive games- a tough Temple squad was not going to stand in their way.

As we mentioned in our preview, there were several players who needed to really step it up in the game. Even maintaining a regular average isn't always enough to get you over the hump. The Owls were real inconsistent in this game, failing to score some of their easy baskets down low, and open jumpers outside. The biggest problem seemed to be, however, the lack of defense present. From wide open jumpers, to full court fast breaks, Temple could not find any way to slow down the intensity of the Jayhawks.

Two players that were key contributors as mentioned to this Kansas victory were Sherron Collins and Cole Adrich.

Collins is the heart and soul of this team. It seemed as if he capitalized on every missed Temple opportunity. He was dead on with his passing and shooting for most of the game when it counted, and was the spark that put Kansas up 11 with less than 10 minutes to go. The Junior Guard finished the game with 19 points and 6 assists.

The other deadly weapon we discussed in our preview was Center Cole Adrich. From the first possession, Owls fans knew that the 6'11" big man was going to present a problem. His first touch had been an easy 2 over Sergio Olmos. His ability also to run the floor. Adrich dominated the boards on careless mistakes made by the Owls. He finished the game with 13 points and 11 rebounds.

The Owls will now move to 5-4 on the year, while Kansas will improve to a record of 8-2. Temple will advance to play Long Beach State in another road game, while Kansas goes out on another challenge in Arizona.

For now, consistency is something that Temple will need to adjust to. If the team wants to play with the best, and be with the best, they are still going to have to prove it. As coach Fran Dunphy stated, the Tennessee game has yet to be determined a watershed moment yet. Each player needs to find their role day in and day out, and must find ways to excel at their positions all the time. Players will have their streaky times, but a pattern of events will not solve anything. Until now, it's back to the drawing board, as the quest for an NCAA bid is only going to get rougher and rougher.

Final Score: 71-59, Kansas.

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The Better Bird?

Tomorrow afternoon, the Temple basketball team will get back on the court with action against previously ranked Kansas. Coincidentally, A-10 foe Massachusetts knocked off the 25th ranked Jayhawks on ESPN after the Owls took out Tennessee.

Kansas, the home team in this one, will look to correct all matters that caused their 1 point fall to the Minutemen. Temple, on the other hand, hopes to repeat the outstanding performance they showed against the Vols last Saturday.

The game will be on ESPN2 at 2:30 tomorrow. You can also catch this game on ESPN360.com(Internet Service Pending). This will be another opportunity for Dionte Christmas and his squad to show the nation who Temple Basketball is, and that the team deserves to be recognized among the best this year.

Instead of Tyler Smith, Temple will have to look out for returning star Sherron Collins (right). The 5'11" junior guard is the team's leading scorer and assist man. His intensity and tenacity are what make up for the former 6th man's size.

Down low, Sergio Olmos and Lavoy Allen will have to put up with the force of Sophomore Cole Adrich. The 6'11" Sophomore comes into this game as the leading rebounder, averaging 10 boards per game.

Also in the mix for Kansas will be Freshman Marcus Morris, a Philadelphia native. The 6'8 wingman was recruited by over 10 teams, 3 of those being Big 5 schools (La Salle, St. Joseph's, Villanova). He was ranked the #6 player in the country at his position, and will make an immediate impact.

Here's are gameday matchups:

Dionte Christmas- (21 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists)
Tyshawn Taylor- (11 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists)

Ryan Brooks- (13 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist)
Brady Morningstar- (7 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists)

Sergio Olmos- (12 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist)
Cole Adrich- (14 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists)

Lavoy Allen- (9 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists)
Marcus Morris- (8 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist)

Semaj Inge- (9 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists)
Sherron Collins- (18 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists)

Honestly looking at these matchups, there's NO way anyone can say this will not be a good game. Statistically, everyone seems to match up very well- give or take on size. It's only a matter of who comes out with the willingness to win, and who wants
to make themselves shine on National Television.

Hoot to Watch For: In order for Temple to pull out another stunning victory, this one will need to go to the team as a whole. They have shown that they can take out the toughest in their own territory, but how they play away from home is another story. This game goes to the team's coaching and awareness. Dionte Christmas (left), Ryan Brooks and Sergio Olmos will need to play a constant game, similar to last week's performance. Lavoy Allen will look to get into the mix as he struggled against Tennessee due to foul trouble.

Make sure you check out the game tomorrow, it's going to be an ESPN "Classic".

Go Owls!

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What One Win Can Do

Today, Temple Basketball did the favor of assisting the Owls' Football team in acquiring 6 new recruits- yes, 6 in one day. This totals the Owls at 25 players for the 2009 Commitments already. Several of these players, however, got their "icing on the cake" from TU's Men's Basketball victory of #8 Tennessee.

Here are the names of the players, along with available player profiles:

- Kadeem Custis (6'5" 270 OL/DL)
- Bernard Pierce (6'0" 205 RB)
- Kwame Johnson (5'11" 185 DB)
- Marcus Green (6'1" 185 LB)
- Deonte Parker (5'11" 175 DB)
- Aaron Hush (6'3" 230 LB)

Be sure to tune in for information on Owls Football at the following sites:

www.OwlScoop.com
www.OwlsDaily.com
www.OwlSports.com
www.TempleFootballForever.blogspot.com

Temple-Kansas Preview set for tomorrow!

Go Owls!

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There's No Place Like Home....

For the Temple Owls basketball, what could be better than coming off a home win against #8 (16th Currently) Tennessee? This week only got better for Temple, as the AP Poll handed the team 2 Top 25 votes- a start for a team that has not been nationally ranked for quite some time.

This week will not get an easier, as the boys of North Broad Street will be heading down to Kansas for what should be a great game. The game is on Friday, so stay tuned for an update and a preview of the game later in the week.



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Owls Rock The Vols!

Let me begin by saying excuse me for my absence.

Several weeks ago, I was not so sure how this team, more this season, would turn out. Two straight losses to MAC teams had put has down to .500, nearly extinguishing Top 25 hopes at the time. From that moment, though, things had gotten better:

Several events happened while I was off from my postings:

1) Owls beat Penn State
2) Buffalo losses to UCONN by 4
3) Owls upset #8 Tennessee

These three occurrences have changed the visions of mine, as well as many others. These 3 events have made reality seem different then it was.

A win over a dominant SEC team is what the Owls needed, especially on National TV. The entire Sports World watching the Temple Owls manhandle the 8th ranked Vols by 16- 20 at the most. Dionte Christmas double Tyler Smith's points, and was able to keep his foul trouble where it was.

Sergio Olmos exploded in a career game, scoring 19 points. A dominant force defensively, he was a reason the Owls were able to maintain such great status through the game. Ryan Brooks was also extremely valuable, making plays as well.

This win does give us a look at what Temple could be, but the question is what is more representative:

Win over Tennessee?
Buffalo/Miami (OH) losses?

You make the call. The Owls will now head out to Kansas, who has just been upset by A-10 Foe UMass. Preview to come shortly.

Go Owls!

Isaac Newton's Universal Law

What goes up, must come down- this is the thought that the Temple Owls must be going through as they try to bounce back against Miami (OH). This past Saturday the team suffered a tough loss against Buffalo (one that really pondered the fans). What does this loss do to our season? How could we lose to such a team?

Well, unfortunately, things will not get any easier this Wednesday, as the Owls will be taking on another MAC team in that of Miami (OH). This is a team that stuck strong with last year's Final Four UCLA. This is also a team that gave A-10 foe Xavier a run. Their 2-3 record is very misleading, and Redhawks are not a program to just "skip the film" over.

Let's take a look at how Miami (OH) compares to Temple:

Points

Temple- 73
Miami (OH)- 58

ADVANTAGE: TEMPLE

Rebounds

Temple- 38
Miami (OH)- 32

ADVANTAGE: NONE

Foul Shooting

Temple- 72%
Miami (OH)- 76%

ADVANTAGE: MIAMI (OH)

This game can be considered unpredictable as far as a winner. Both teams will be coming off losses, but one team's performance was more productive than the others. The Owls are now in a position where as a whole they need to bounce back, but Miami (OH) is going to have the mentality to give another talented team a run for their money.

Although Temple does out-rebound the Redhawks, there's no telling what kind of performance we will get. Will Sergio Olmos make up for Lavoy Allen's presence? Will Michael Eric pick up the slack in the paint? These are two questions that we will have to wait until tomorrow to find out. Another issue that Temple will face is foul trouble- this past game, the Bulls went to the free throw line 25 times. Coach Dunphy's squad, on the other hand, went 11 times. Defense is the key to this game: Miami (OH) averages a mere 58 points per game. If Temple can step up the pressure, who knows what trouble the Redhawks could be in?

There's no guaranteeing anything as Temple fans now know. If the team takes this situation as "another one in the books", we could be in for a long season. Without bouncing back and getting the "must-wins", there's no telling which way we're headed.

The two studs that the Owls will need to take note of are guards Kenny Hayes (right) and Michael Bramos. The fact that both of these players run the floor will be an issue for both the backcourt and big men. Hayes, averaging 16 points, is a pure scorer for this squad. The defense should target him for pressure, seeing as he averages the most turnovers per game as well (3.4). Bramos is also this type of player, and so the backcourt of Luis Guzman, Ryan Brooks, and Dionte Christmas have their work cut out.

Hoot to Watch For: Once again, this game will be a matter of inside presence or not- that goes for offense and defense. It is astonishing to know that ONE players missing costed this team 26 rebounds under their average: 26! Michael Eric, Craig Williams hopefully, and Sergio will need to work together to make up for the missing Lavoy, and get the job done.

Make your way out for the Owls' home opener tomorrow night!

Go Owls!

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Radio Blog: December 1st, 2008

Our first show is now in the books, and it was really interesting to work out the controls. We hope you enjoy the information we brought to you this evening, and hope to enhance the show as it progresses.

Thank you to those who were able to call in or listen to the broadcast!

For those of you who might have missed the show, feel free to check out the Archived Show- we've provided a link at the bottom of the page.

Thanks again!

Go Owls!

LINK: December 1st, 2008 Online Radio Broadcast