Filling Empty Holes

With the 2008-2009 season coming and going, the Temple Owls will have a number of gaps to fill for next year's redemption. The Owl's Nest has compiled a "shopping list" of what coach Fran Dunphy might want to look for during the off-season:

- Consistent Scoring
- Center position
- Point guard

Temple will lose three starters from their roster next year: Dionte Christmas, Semaj Inge, and Sergio Olmos. These three absences will leave Temple with a lot of expectations to fill, dealing with these problems.

Here's a look at the team's current roster:

Guards

6'4" Ryan Brooks (SR)
6'4" Juan Fernandez (SO)
6'3" Luis Guzman (SR)
6'3" T.J. DiLeo (R-FR)

Forwards

6'9" Lavoy Allen (JR)
6'9" Craig Williams (JR)
6'5" Rafael DeLeon (SR) *Walk-on*

Centers

6'11" Michael Eric (SO)
6'8" Dante Wooten (SO) *Walk-on*

The Owls have filled spots for this upcoming season at the guard and forward positions. The two players are:

6'6" Rahlir Jefferson
6'3" Khalif Wyatt

One of the major concerns for the 2009 regards who will take the helm of scoring. With Dionte Christmas departing, the Owls will lose their high-scorer. Players like Ryan Brooks and Lavoy Allen will need to step up and contribute.

We will probably see more action from Scootie Randall, who scored nearly 20 points per game in high school.

The next matter of business would have to be the post play presence. Losing 7'0" Sergio Olmos presents problems down low, as his size was the key reason to shutting down some of Temple's toughest opponents.

Micheal Eric, who seemed raw in his first year of eligibility, will definitely make a larger impact coming into his sophomore year. He flashed signs of potential, as his overall athleticism distances him from your average big.

As Temple fans have debated through the recent years, 2009 will once again be a battle for the point guard position. Before the arrival of Juan Fernandez, there was a lot of speculation as to who would control the ball. With another year of experience, Fernandez might just be that guy. He will, of course, have to duke it out with senior Luis Guzman, who would love to see more action on the court.

It's an early recovering process for Temple basketball, and we've got a long way until the pieces to the puzzle are put together, and the Owls refuel for another great run to the tournament.

 Subscribe via RSS

Temple to the Big Ten?

Could Temple potentially end up in the Big Ten?

Today there was an interesting post on OwlScoop.com, featuring an article from NewsDay.com regarding an expansion team the the Big Ten.

Mike Rose, the author of the titled "Big Ten should add Temple", presents a very good point as to why Temple would be a good candidate for the 12th spot.

Some of the points argued concern:

- Recruiting
- Media attention
- Overall competitiveness
- Playoff implications

This opinion I assume covers both basketball and football exception, and really cause my eye.

Here's a link to the article: "Big Ten should add Temple"

OwlScoop.com discussion: BIG TEN SHOULD ADD TEMPLE :)

Although this is just an opinion, it proposes a reasonable arguement for both Temple Athletics, as well as the Big Ten.

 Subscribe via RSS

One and Done

Dionte Christmas, Semaj Inge, and Sergio Olmos definitely did not want to see their collegiate careers end this way.

The Owls will return home from the NCAA Tournament, after being eliminated in the first round by Arizona State. For the most part, it seemed that Temple was playing catchup to the scorching hot Sun Devils- that's not to say the Owls didn't put up a fight.

Instead of being the "James Harden Show", all eyes were focues on sharp-shooter Derek Glasser. A guard that averages just 9 points a game, he finished the first half just one point shy of his career high. So much of the defense was focused on containing Harden that it left the 3 point shooting a clear path.

Although this season came to a sudden end in the tournament, there are way more positives that outnumber and overpower the negatives. Some of this year's highlights:

- Dionte Christmas winning his 3rd scoring title in a row
- Temple beating #8 Tennessee at the Liacouras Center
- The appearance of Juan Fernandez
- Back-to-back Atlantic 10 Champions
- NCAA Tournament bid
- Series sweep of St. Joseph's

Along with these, there were a number of other great achievements that will be remembered during this 2009 season.

Unfortunately, this is where the seniors of this year end their time at Temple. The last of the remaining (with the exception of Lou Guzman) John Chaney era will go off on their ways, hopefully extending their basketball careers elsewhere.

The Owl's Nest would like to thank Sergio Olmos, Semaj Inge, and Dionte Christmas for their efforts. Your leadership has brought the Owls back to the days of Coach Chaney's prime- an NCAA Tournament norm.

As for this blog, it's year one in the books. Although our season is over, we will continue to bring you coverage on off-season moves and recruitment. We appreciate our readers, and hope you continue to take interest in our posts.

Congratulations to the 2009 Atlantic 10 Champions!

Go Owls!

 Subscribe via RSS

Time to Dance

After a long week of NCAA Tournament anticipation, we have finally reached Friday- the second day of the first round.

We've seen blowouts, we've seen upsets, and we've seen the predictions sway. When the temple Owls take on the Arizona State Sun Devils later today, nothing will be
any different: a classic to become.

We'll preview the Owls first round matchup, and what it will take to pull the 6-11 seed upset later today.

It's March Madness, featuring the Temple Owls and Arizona State Sun Devils!

---

Arizona State Sun Devils

Offensively: Recently named to USWBA's All-American team, the heart of this offense revolves around James Harden. A great scorer and passer, Harden is a threat from any spot on the court. Along with him is the talent of Jeff Pendergraph, ASU's big man. Pendergraph's size and ability to execute with the ball serves as a potential problem, even with the Owls' small height advantage. These two players will be the key to performing against Temple's defense.

Defensively: Arizona State is also a very defensively sound team. In their matchup zone, many of their opponents end up having trouble producing. Their overall athleticism and hustle causes a lot of problems when they are protecting their goal.

On the Stat Sheet:

- Points: 69.5 points per game
- Rebounds: 31.3 rebounds per game
- Turnovers: 11.5 turnovers per game

Schedule:

Key Wins: UCLA, California
Key Losses: Baylor, Washington State

Temple Owls

Offensively: The Owls are led by Dionte Christmas, who will look to redeem himself this year in the tournament. A dangerous
shooter, Christmas has seemed to make more moves to the basket. Along with Christmas comes the threat of Lavoy Allen. At 6'9", Lavoy Allen has the ability to score down below and clean up missed baskets. The Owls will look to use their size
advantages down low in this game.

Defensively: Temple will have their eyes on Harden and Pendergraph as their primary targets. Ryan Brooks, the Owls best defender, will cover one of these assignments. While Harden is not the fastest player on the court, his moves with the ball are quick and effective.

On the Stat Sheet:

- Points: 69 points per game
- Rebounds: 36.9 rebounds per game
- Assists: 15.6 assists per game

Schedule:

Key Wins: Tennessee, Xavier
Key Losses: Long Beach State, Miami (OH)

Teams by Comparison:

RPI

Temple- 30
Arizona St.- 31

SOS

Temple- 41
Arizona St.- 37

* Jeff Pendergraph has one of the nation's highest scoring percentages, proving he can score wherever he is.
* Dionte Christmas will need to continue his heat from the A10 tournament, and get into the groove early.
* Big men Sergio Olmos and Lavoy Allen will need to create early presences to take advantage.
* Besides James Harden, it will be extremely needed that a supporting cast shows around him.

Here's a look at our projected starting lineups:

6'4" Semaj Inge (7 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists)
6'1" Derek Glasser (9 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists)

6'4" Ryan Brooks (11 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists)
6'5" James Harden (21 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists)

6'5" Dionte Christmas (19 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists)
6'3" Ty Abbott (7 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists)

6'9" Lavoy Allen (11 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists)
6'6" Rihards Kuksiks (10 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists)

7'0" Sergio Olmos (8 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist)
6'9" Jeff Pendergraph (15 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assists)

Hoot to Watch For: An effort from the Owls backcourt and postplay will need to show up for this game. The Owls need to keep this game close, and take wide shots. If they can execute, they should give Arizona State a shocker.

Go Owls!

 Subscribe via RSS

Hidden Talent

Pac-10 basketball is not necessarily the most popular basketball conference out there, and many of the nation's top players that reside here are easily thrown under the radar. When the Temple Owls take on the Arizona State Sun Devils, there will be one key name at the top of the scouting report: James Harden (pictured below).



We've compiled a ton of information on this guy to help give you a glimpse of what Ryan Brooks, preferably, will be up against. Here's our bio on the Pac-10 Player of the Year:

James Harden (Soph., Arizona State)

Ranked the 2nd best sophomore in the country by DraftExpress.com, James Harden presents a number of problems for the Owls' defense. Standing at 6'5", the phenom from Los Angeles, CA has the ability to execute in several ways. He is a pure scorer, and can go off for 20-30 points any time he is in the groove. Here's a look at some of his statistics:

- 20.8 points
- 4.2 assists
- 5.5 rebounds

These stats go to show what a talented individual this kid is, day in and day out. A key ability for Harden is that he can create his own opportunities off the dribble. It is noted that his first step with the ball is powerful and explosive. The highly rated NBA prospect has a variety of moves that he has available that can catch any defender off-guard.

Don't get the idea though that this guy is purely a scoring machine. At times, his assist total can be very deceiving. James Harden is as good as a team player can be- he is one willing to give up a take to the basket for an extra pass, or even pull out to his any open man. This ability also causes problems for ASU's opponents, as teams become over-focused with attempting to cover Harden.

If there are any disadvantages that Harden possesses, they are not too hard to pick up. As many scouts note, #13 is more willing to take the ball to the strong side, instead of switching it up. Not to take away from his right handed attempts, but there is a minor notice of obviousness when predicting which way he wants to go. That being said, James Harden has elevated his game to the point that it is difficult to stop him at times. In addition to this, Harden's other noticeable problem is a common one, and that is being able to hit the jumper off his own dribble. Like Dionte Christmas, James Harden's stronger area is coming off a pick, or setting up for a shot.

In the Pac-10 Conference Tournament, Harden averaged an unsurprising 20.3 points per game, but struggled in the Championship against USC. He was held to only 10 points in the team's loss. The Trojans had a lot of success against Harden, only allowing 4 and 10 points scored in their matchups. I'm sure Coach Dunphy and the Owls will be studying that game tape for a while.

James Harden is not your average guard, and has the ability to cause a lot of problems for Temple. Ryan Brooks, the Owls' defensive specialist, will have his work cut out for him as he prepares for the future NBA prospect.

The Owl's Nest will continue to keep you updated in the days leading up to Temple's dance with Arizona State.

 Subscribe via RSS

Q&A with PitchForkNation

As tournament time approaches, The Owls' Nest will keep you up-to-date with the latest in TU's matchups. On Friday, the Owls will take on the Arizona State Sun Devils, a team that is hungry for a victory.

We've teamed up with Justin, the editor of PitchForkNation.com to get a little more information on what ASU is all about. Take a look:

---

Q: As you know, it's been a while since we've seen the Sun Devils appear in the NCAA Tournament. What does this team bring to the table?

The Sun Devils have been all over the place this season, but it hasn't been for a lack of excitement and/or frustration. However, what Arizona State brings on a night-to-night basis is a tenacious, frustrating 3-2 matchup zone, strong post play and, of course, James Harden.

Two years ago, the Sun Devils were so undersized and undertalented that the team had no other option than to play a zone defense, since Herb Sendek simply didn't have the personnel available to play a competitive man-to-man D. It quickly turned into somewhat of a sensation in the Pac-10 as, even though ASU finished 2-16 in conference, even the top teams in the conference that season struggled mightily to score. Now, Jeff Pendergraph has developed into a solid post defender (when he's not in foul trouble), Derek Glasser always has a hand in someone's face and Rihards Kuksiks has become this team's best wing defender.

Jeff Pendergraph is one of the nicest kids and fiercest competitors I've ever met or covered. He absolutely can't stand losing and, trust me, he's seen a lot of it during his time in Tempe. JP has a unstoppable motor and great court vision. When he gets loose in the paint, look out, because once he gets started moving around, he's virtually unstoppable. He's also recently developed a very nice touch from the top of the key, bringing an added outside shooting dimension to his game. His one drawback is, as I mentioned, is that he tends to play a bit out of control and can get into foul trouble.

James Harden is the Pac-10 Player of the Year, the conference's leading scorer, a cult hero in Tempe and has the fiercest beard this side of the Mississippi. Watch some highlights of him and you'll get why he's going to be a guaranteed lottery pick.

What the Sun Devils really lack is depth. Herb Sendek only runs his team about 7 or 8 players deep and, outside of the three guard rotation of Derek Glasser, Ty Abbott and Jamelle McMillan, no one on the team has a backup that can put in a ton of quality minutes.

Q: We know the capabilities of All-American James Harden, but what advantages are brought by the rest of the team?

It's probably easier here to go over some of the players ASU boasts on an individual basis:

I've already told you all about Jeff Pendergraph. He's the glue guy on this team and the Devils struggle when he's not on the floor since he doesn't have another quality big guy to back him up.

Derek Glasser has developed into a very good point guard. He's not much of a scoring threat, so don't let his stats from the Pac-10 Title game fool you. His better assets include his ballhandling ability and his passing. He and Pendergraph have developed a sound inside-outside game in which each of them know exactly where they are on the floor.

Ty Abbott wishes he was this team's shooter, and he really could be, except for the fact that he's wildly inconsistent. For the past two years, Abbott has dominated from outside the arc during the non-conference season and then went ice cold in the Pac-10. At one point, I was pretty sure that he was 0-for-12398 from three-point range. However, he really calmed down and heated up during the conference postseason in the absense of Jamelle McMillan. The key for him is his first shot of the game. If it falls, he's going to heat up. If it doesn't, he'll start to force and he'll start to miss.

Rihards Kuksiks, aka The Baltic Bomber, is the Sun Devils' real long-range threat. Kuksiks has a nice, fluid shot motion and is almost perfect on the corner three. Lately, he's developed more confidence and has been finding himself at the top of the key more and he's just not afraid to shoot from wherever. He's also fairly quick on his feet, making him a valuable wing defender.

Jamelle McMillan was hampered by a groin pull in the Pac-10 Tournament but really started to play the best basketball of his career in the latter half of conference play. He's not the best shooter in the world but he makes up for it with limitless energy and defensive tenacity. He's always got a hand in someones face and very rarely misses a switch or a screen. Look for Abbott to get the start at this position but for Jamelle to play at least 15-17 minutes if he's healthy enough.

Jerren Shipp and Eric Boateng are the other two main bench players for Arizona State. Shipp, the brother of UCLA's Josh, plays the wing while Boateng, a Duke transfer from the UK, is the guy Sendek sticks into the middle when Pendergraph is in foul trouble. Neither bring a ton to the table, but as of late, Shipp has found a bit of the shooting touch that he developed during his freshman year at ASU and Boateng has become a bit of a shot blocker.

Q: What are the Owls truly in for when they take on Arizona State?

The two things that the Owls will have to prepare themselves for are the zone and the abundance of threes the Sun Devils take. On the offensive end, no one on the team (save JP) is afraid to take the shot from three-point range. Herb Sendek is on record saying that he wouldn't mind if the Devils took 90% of their shots from the land of three, as long as they were quality looks. The trap the Sun Devils find themselves in is making the three their only option when Pendergraph isn't even neutralized. On the other end, your guards and perimeter players should be prepared to take a lot of shots in case Pendergraph gets Lavoy Allen into foul trouble or the guards have trouble moving the ball down low to your post players.

Q: What is a disadvantage that this team has that could be costly during this game?

I'd like to say that if the Sun Devils turn the ball over a ton of times, they'll lose, but they coughed the rock up 17 times at home against UCLA and still won. However, this team could get in too deep if they struggle to get the ball down low to Pendergraph and the three isn't falling. That's exactly what happened two weeks ago at home against Stanford, when the Sun Devils couldn't hit a shot to save their lives, Pendergraph was a non-factor and ASU lost a terrible game to the terrible Cardinal. Simply put: if the Sun Devils stroke from three isn't falling, they might be in for a long afternoon.

Also, and this is a bit of a stretch, but the Sun Devils have a problem getting off the mat after getting smacked in the mouth. After losing a heartbreaker to Washington in Seattle in overtime, the team came out flat and lethargic two days later in another overtime loss, this one to Washington State. Five days later, they came out with zero energy and zero interest and lost to Stanford. That loss to USC in the Pac-10 Final is one of those games where Sendek was outcoached and the Devils blew a big lead. Now though, there's no tomorrow for the Devils if they can't get up and play Friday against Temple.

Q: If you could sum up this year's ASU team with one word, what would it be and why?

Maddening. The Sun Devils have been so up and down over the last month and a half that it really turned into a frustration. At one point, they're winning games but cant score more than 55. The next, they're rattling off five consecutive wins, beating the likes of Arizona and UCLA at home AND on the road, but turning the ball over at a huge clip. Then they're blowing leads and letting their stars foul out. My biggest issue with the Sun Devils is that, at some points, you just don't quite know what you're going to get out of them on a night-to-night basis.

Q: Gives us one interesting and unusual fact about Arizona State University.

I'm proud to say that I am an alum of the great Arizona State University and have seen and done plenty in and around Tempe. If you've never visited the Valley of the Sun, I really encourage you to do so and I'll even personally welcome you with open arms. Ask all my Georgia friends when they came down here for their game here in September.

Interesting fact: Sparky, the mascot for the Sun Devils and the logo that is considered our trademark, was actually designed by a member of Walt Disney's animation department.

Unusual fact: Hayden Lawn, near the main library on the ASU campus, is considered the main quad area on the Tempe Campus. What's unusual about the lawn is a sort of edifice that rises from the center of it that doesn't have a name or a purpose other than as a skylight for the underground library. This structure is commonly (and hilariously) referred to as the "Nipple of Knowledge" because of it's shape and resemblance to...well...a nipple...and is used as a main reference point on the campus.

You can see the nipple just to the right and behind the main facade of Hayden Library here: http://www.asu.edu/tour/tempe/lib.html

Q: Score prediction for Friday's game?

It's going to come down to if Temple can contain James Harden and which team's set of guards can hit more from the outside. My vote is for the Devils, 75-62.

---

For more on the Arizona State Devils, please check out PitchforkNation.com!

As we make our way to Friday, The Owl's Nest will continue to bring you coverage of Temple's first round dance with ASU!

 Subscribe via RSS

And the Lucky Number Is...

The Temple Owls have earned their ticket for a spot in the 2009 NCAA Tournament, and last night was when Owls fans would find out their opponent.

Temple, ranked as an 11th seed this year, will be taking on the 6th ranked Arizona State Sun Devils in what will be a potentially down-to-the-wire game.

We will have complete coverage of both teams later tonight, as well as some Q&A with the writers of PitchforkNation.com!

For more in-depth coverage about this year's tournament selections, check out the following links:

2009's ESPN Official Bracket
CBS Sports Bracket Breakdown: Midwest | West | East | South

 Subscribe via RSS

Selection Sunday Chat

Feel free to join us for NCAA Bracketology chat tomorrow at 7:00!

We're Going Dancing!

For the second year in a row, the Temple Owls will be present for Selection Sunday, waiting for their name to be called in the NCAA Tournament.

This afternoon, the Owls took out Duquesne to win their second straight A10 title and will return the the NCAA Tournament. Along with this, Dionte Christmas looks to have passed Ahmad Nivins for the Atlantic 10 Scoring Title.

Here are some statistics from this afternoon's Conference Championship:

Leading Scorers

(TEM) Dionte Christmas, 29
(DUQ) Aaron Jackson, 20

Leading Rebounders

(TEM) Lavoy Allen, 14
(DUQ) Damian Saunders, 10

Leading Assistmen

(TEM) Semaj Inge, 8
(DUQ) Aaron Jackson, 6

ESPN Bracketologist Joe Lunardi has the Owls as a 12-seed, but the Selection Sunday Committee will be the ones to decide. The Owls were a 12-seed last year, but fell to Michigan State in the first round.

Be sure to tune in to ESPN at 7:00 tomorrow for the Selection Sunday Show!

If you're interested in joining The Owl's Nest bracket pool, please email me at OwlsNestBlog@gmail.com! We'll run this through ESPN, and I'll give you the information.

Final Score;

Temple- 69
Duquesne- 64



 Subscribe via RSS

The Stage is Set

Approximately one year ago on this day, the Temple Owls were in the same position as they were last year. The familiar words "win out" came to mind as the Owls upset the Xavier Musketeers to advance once again to the 2009 Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament Championship.

After their 55-53 win over #19 Xavier, Temple awaited their opponent in the second game, which featured Dayton and Duquesne.

Jumping to an early start, the 7th seeded Dukes were able to overcome the fast pace of the Flyers, and make their way to the Championship (the first time in over 20 years).

This will be our preview of this afternoon's game, as this will be the deciding factor in the conference's best team. It's the defending Temple Owls, taking on the Duquense Dukes!

We'll run this one a little differently, as this game has a lot more at stake for both teams:


Overall: Temple Owls

Offensively:

Led by the deadly scorer in Dionte Christmas, the Owls have had a lot of recent success dividing up scoring in this Atlantic 10 Tournament. We've seen players like Ryan Brooks and Semaj Inge get more involved in the offense, obviously more than ever this year. The Owls' ability to make extra passes and wise offensive decisions has been a reason this team has had more success. In yesterday's game against Xavier, Temple was more often giving Christmas the opportunity to utilize his size by driving to the basket. Sergio Olmos and Lavoy Allen both provided important rebounding and second chance points, as it became a larger factor in their upset.

Defensively:

Against both St. Joe's and Xavier, Temple needed to contain both the post game, but also shots behind the arch. In previous games, the Owls have had trouble getting beat on dribbles, but also leaving a man open for a decent look. Ryan Brooks, who consistently shows why he's the team's best defender, has gotten a lot of help from Dionte Christmas up high. Against the Musketeers, Christmas was able to tally 4 steals, which was his season high. 4 blocks from senior center Sergio Olmos did not hurt as well, as he faced the likes of Jason Love and Kenny Frease.

On the Stat Sheet:

- Points: 69 points per game
- Rebounds: 36.8 rebounds per game
- Turnovers: 12.8 turnovers per game

Schedule:

Key Wins: #8 Tennessee, Penn State, #19 Xavier
Key Losses: Miami (OH), Buffalo, Long Beach State

Overall: Duquesne Dukes

Offensively:

Judging by last night's performance, the Duquesne Dukes come into this game with expectations higher than ever. Aaron Jackson, the team's leading scorer, received help from a hot Melquan Bolding, who lit up 7 three pointers against Dayton. Jackson, Bolding, Eric Evans, and Damian Saunders all scored double-digit points their past game, so the scoring is there. The Dukes overall are a very athletic team, and can be deadly when pushing the ball downcourt for a fast break.

Defensively:

The Dukes are a defensively sound team as well, holding Dayton to 28% 3PT shooting and just four trips to the foul line. On top of that, they forced the Flyers into 16 turnovers- 1/3 of these coming from forward Chris Wright. Damian Saunders also came up big on the defensive end himself, getting 4 blocks during the game. Along with this, he also recorded 3 steals- a definite advantage during the course of the game.

On the State Sheet:

- Points: 78.5 points per game
- Rebounds: 33.6 rebounds per game
- Turnovers: 14 turnovers per game

Schedule:

Key Wins: Dayton, Xavier
Key Losses: Old Dominion (OOC)

Teams by Comparison

RPI

Duquesne- 70
Temple-34

SOS

Duquesne- 102
Temple-43

Some general notes on both teams for today's game:

* Lavoy Allen (TEM) is dealing with a sprained ankle- he played against Xavier, though, managing a double-double

* Jason Duty (DUQ) suffered some sort of ankle injury last night against Dayton- noticeable limp while he played

* Melquan Bolding scored 24 points his past game, hitting 7 three pointers. He is a definite game-changer.

* Dionte Christmas caught fire for the first time in a while, so his ability to score might give Temple an advantage

Here's our look at this game's projected starters, as well as how each player performed previously.

Temple Owls Starting 5

6'4" Semaj Inge (7 points, 4  rebounds, 3 assists)

* A guy who has really blossomed this post-season, Semaj Inge has played his best basketball it seems over the course of the Atlantic 10 Tournament. He has played very well on both sides of the ball, and will be needed to beat a talented Duquesne.

6'4" Ryan Brooks (11 points, 4  rebounds, 2 assists)

* Averaging 14 points in the last two games, Ryan Brooks has become a threat to the opposition. His ability to score off the dribble has allowed him to do so. Brooks has also been the Owls' key defender.

6'5" Dionte Christmas (19 points, 6  rebounds, 3 assists)

* Seeming to have found his shot, Dionte Christmas will provide a true factor in the Owls returning to the tournament. Christmas had shown flashes of defensive hustle as well, collecting 4 steals.

6'9" Lavoy Allen (11 points, 9  rebounds, 2 assists)

* Nursing a sprained ankle, Lavoy Allen still found his way to a double-double in yesterday's game. Allen will once again be a key factor for this team, as the height advantage he gives will serve as a problem for the Dukes.

7'0" Sergio Olmos (8 points, 4  rebounds, 1 assist)

* The 7-foot spaniard has played some great basketball, controlling the paint partially with no other help. Olmos has shown some aggressiveness lately with the ball, which will present an advantage against an undersized opponent.

Duquesne Dukes Starting 5

6'1" Jason Duty (7 points, 2  rebounds, 1 assist)

* With a possible ankle injury, Jason Duty struggled somewhat with just 2 points. Besides that, Duty has been a major reason the Dukes have won some of their bigger games.

6'4" Aaron jackson (18 points, 6  rebounds, 6 assists)

* The leading scorer for this team, Aaron Jackson scored a game-high 24 points to help lead his team into the A10 Conference Champiobship. This being his senior year, he'll be sure to make a big impact in taking down the Owls this time around.

6'4" Melquan Bolding (10 points, 4  rebounds, 1 assist)

* Hitting 7 three pointers against Dayton really helped this team get to where they are. Bolding is a proven "steal" at times, coming up strong when the team needs him. He will provide a 3rd scoring option for this team.

6'5" Bill Clark (13 points, 5  rebounds, 3 assists)

* Playing only 25 minutes, Bill Clark is one of Duquesne's bigger players in the active lineup. He'll have to deal with a talented Lavoy Allen, but the 6'5" counterpart will be ready for the challenge.

6'7" Damian Saunders (13 points, 8  rebounds, 2 assists)

* As the team's true big man, Damian Saunders has really been the team's defensive threat. Saunders will once again need to come up big on both ends of the ball if he wants to get his team into the Big Dance.

"Hoot" to Watch For: This is the game that all teams in the Atlantic 10 hope for, and neither of these teams will want to go home empty handed. It's all or nothing here, and both the Temple Owls and Duquesne Dukes know that. Will the defending champions be able to repeat, or will a team without a title since the 1980's reclaim glory?

Catch the game on ESPN2 at 6:00!
Watch the game online at ESPN360.com!

 Subscribe via RSS

A10 Tourney 2009: Round 3

We've made it through two days of intense basketball, but there is still a lot to be played until two teams reach the Atlantic 10 Conference Championship.

Here's a look at the match ups for Friday, March 13th, and the final four remaining teams:

6:30 Game

#4 Temple Owls
#1 Xavier Musketeers

( PREVIEW | TU | XU )

9:00 Game

#3 Dayton Flyers
#7 Duquesne Dukes

( PREVIEW | UD | DUQ )


The winner of each game will move on to the Atlantic 10 Conference Championship.

We'll have more updates on the games during the course of the afternoon.

 Subscribe via RSS

A10 Tourney 2009: Round 1 Results

It's been an interesting Day 1 of the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament, but every game has seemed to go "as predicted" so far. Four games were played this Wednesday, and coincidentally one is still underway. Here's our results of Day 1, along with who the winners will take on.

GAME IN PROGRESS

(11) St. Bonaventure- 10
(6) Richmond- 12

( BOX SCORE | GAMECAST )

* The winner of this game will go on to play #3 Dayton. You can catch the game at 9:00.
FINAL SCORES (ROUND 1)

(9) St. Louis- 62
(8) La Salle- 60

* With the win, the Billikens will move on to play against #1 Xavier tomorrow. You can catch this game at 12:00.

( BOX SCORE | GAMECAST )

(5) Saint Joseph's- 72
(12) Charlotte- 62

* With the win, the Hawks will move on to play against #4 Temple tomorrow. You can catch this game at 2:30.

( BOX SCORE | GAMECAST )

(7) Duquesne- 91
(10) Massachusetts- 81

* With the win, the Dukes will move on to play against #2 Rhode Island tomorrow. You can catch this game at 6:30.

( BOX SCORE | GAMECAST )

We'll bring you more updates to what is going on as we head further towards the Atlantic 10 Championship!

 Subscribe via RSS

A10 Tourney 2009: Round 1

In what feels like it has been a quick season, we have arrived to the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament. We'll keep you up to date as we go from the beginning of the first round all the way to the Championship game.

Here's a list of the teams' rankings in this year's tournament, along with who they play this today, Wednesday, March 11th:


A10 Tournament Rankings

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

Now here's a look at the upcoming games for Round 1:

Bye Teams

#1 Xavier
#2 Rhode Island
#3 Dayton
#4 Temple

Games being played during Round 1:

Games determined by first round play:

(1) Xavier vs. (8) La Salle/(9) Saint Louis
(2) Rhode Island vs. (7) Duquesne/(10) Massachusetts
(3) Dayton vs. (6) Richmond/(11) St. Bonaventure
(4) Temple vs. (5) Saint Joseph's /(12) Charlotte

Following Games:

(8) La Salle vs. (9) St. Louis
(GAMECAST | LU | SLU )

(7) Duquesne vs. (10) Massachusetts
( GAMECAST | DU | UMASS )

(6) Richmond vs. (11) St. Bonaventure
( GAMECAST | RU | SBU )

(5) Saint Joseph's vs. (12) Charlotte
( GAMECAST | SJU | CHA )

Games will continue through Saturday, March 14, where the Champion will be decided.

 Subscribe via RSS

A Jumpshot Shy

Dionte Christmas had the chance to make history- but was a mere jumpshot away. After the Owls 63-53 win over George Washington, Christmas and Ahmad Nivins are dead squared in total points for the season- a tie for the scoring title.

The average does carry into the playoffs, so everything will be decided when Atlantic 10 Tournament time rolls around.

Besides that, the Owls as said were able to finish the regular season with a victory. Unfortunately for the Colonials, they will not carry on to the post-season.

Here are some key statistics from tonight's game:

Leading Scorers

(TEM) Lavoy Allen, 17 / Christmas/Williams, 9
(GW) Damian Hollis, 21 / Rob Diggs, 12

Leading Rebounders

(TEM) Lavoy Allen, 16 / Semaj Inge, 8
(GW) Rob Diggs, 10 / Damian Hollis, 6

Team Rebounding

(TEM) 51 rebounds
(GW) 33 rebounds

The Owls will head into the Atlantic 10 Tournament with a record of (19-11)(11-5) and at least a 4th spot. Hopefully this 2-game winning streak will help with some momentum in March.

Here are some other Atlantic 10 scorers, with some possible playoff implications:

Temple- 63
George Washington- 53

St. Bonaventure- 74
Charlotte- 68

Massachusetts-72
Rhode Island- 71

St. Joseph's- 71
Fordham- 54

Richmond- 80
Xavier- 75

Other Atlantic 10 games still in action:

Dayton- 65
Duquesne- 49

(6:31 remaining | GAMECAST)

La Salle- 52
St. Louis- 49

(5:13 remaining | GAMECAST)

Final score:

Temple Owls 63, George Washington Colonials 53

 Subscribe via RSS

The Grand Finale

TEMPLE (AWAY) vs. GEORGE WASHINGTON (HOME)
The Smith Center (Washington, DC)
March 7th, 2009 (7:30 PM TIP)

In what feels like a quickly passing season, the Temple Owls have had their ups and downs. At 7:30 tonight, the team will take on the George Washington Colonials(10-17)(4-11) to finish out the regular season with a potential 19-11 record.

If you recall, the tournament-bound Owls finished (18-12)(11-5) in 2008, going on to claim the A-10 Championship. It seems like deja vu now, as the team will most likely need to win out another year.

As Thursday's game presented a team milestone for the Owls, Dionte Christmas has the opportunity to achieve another. Ahmad Nivins was only able to score 7 points in SJU's 71-54 victory, giving Christmas the chance to claim his 3rd straight scoring title. To do so, he'll need to score at least 10 points tonight.

We'll preview the Owls final game against George Washington, giving you the insight on what both teams will need to do to win.

Overall: George Washington Colonials

Once a dominant team in the Atlantic 10, the Colonials unfortunately have not had the same success now. Sitting at (10-17)(4-11) overall, it doesn't seem likely that this team will be a tournament-bound squad. However, this team does have a lot of talent that can shock even some of the best. Leading this team is a scoring duo of forwards Rob Diggs and Damian Hollis- yes forwards. This GW team has a large height advantage in this game, as the average starter is over 6'5. Not only are these two the top scorers, but also the key element in the team's rebounding. Hollis and Diggs (left) both average 13+ points, but are still surrounded by a talented group.


Overall: Temple Owls

After a victory over Big 5 rival St. Joseph's, the Owls would love to take any winning momentum they can into the Atlantic 10 tournament. Unfortunately, this game will be played away from Philadelphia, which serves as a potential disadvantage to this team. That being said, there are a number of Temple players who would surely differ in this opinion. Leading the team is Naismith Award Candidate Dionte Christmas, who is a deadly force around the perimeter. The Colonials will have to play lockdown defense if they want to keep the senior from winning a 3rd scoring title. Along with Christmas are the talents of Ryan Brooks, Semaj Inge, Sergio Olmos (right), and Lavoy Allen. Their experience from last year's "crunch time" will surely go into effect as they finish out their regular season.

Teams by Comparison

RPI

TEMPLE- 41
G. WASH- 198

SOS

TEMPLE- 42
G. WASH- 115

* George Washington's record is very deceiving at this point, as their only focus is to get a win in their final game. This is the final game of the season for this team, and nothing would be better to end this year on a good note.

* The Colonials are taller overall than your average team, as 3 of the starting 5 are over 6'7". This could present problems for the Owls, as a number of these players present height advantages.

* If Christmas does want to claim is 3rd consecutive scoring title, he's going to have to perform as he does day in and day out. A slump will not help the Owls in their quest for an NCAA bid.

* Sergio Olmos managed to score double digits in his last home game, and will need to come up big tonight. The Owls are going against a team that has nobody near his height, so this advantage will need to be utilized.

Here's the projected starters for tonight's game:

6'4" Semaj Inge (7 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists)
5'11" Tony Taylor (7 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists)

6'4" Ryan Brooks (10 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists)
6'3" Noel Wilmore (8 points, 1 rebounds, 1 assist)

6'5" Dionte Christmas (20 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists)
6'7" Wynton Witherspoon (8 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists)

6'9" Lavoy Allen (11 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists)
6'8" Rob Diggs (14 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist)

7'0" Sergio Olmos (8 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist)
6'8" Damian Hollis (13 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists)

"Hoot" to Watch For: As we keep saying, the Colonials do have an interesting size differential in this game. Temple's Sergio Olmos might end up being a reason for the Owls' success. A down-low presence over two 6'8" players would surely be in Temple's favor.

You can catch tonight's game on 1210 WPHT, or try the following sites:

www.ChannelSurfing.net
www.TVPC.com
www.Justin.tv
www.BasketballForum.com

Go Owls!

 Subscribe via RSS

Owls Clinch Bye; Sweep Hawks

Yesterday night's game was a 2 in 1 offering for Temple Owls fans, as the team swept the St. Joe's Hawks for the first time since 2002. Senior Night had brought a lot of emotions, as viewers saw the last of Semaj Inge, Sergio Olmos, and Dionte Christmas at the Liacouras Center.

What Temple needed more than anything was a win tonight. Hopes for an at-large bid have now turned into getting the best spot for a run for the Atlantic 10 title. The team came out prepared and got the job done at home, where they beat the Hawks by a score of 68-59.

Here's a look statistically at how things went down yesterday night:

High Scorers

(TEM) Dionte Christmas, 23 points / Sergio Olmos, 14 points
(SJU) Tasheed Carr, 22 points / Ahmad Nivins, 17 points

High Rebounders

(TEM) Craig Williams, 9 rebounds / Dionte Christmas, 8 rebounds
(SJU) Ahmad Nivins, 16 rebounds / Tasheed Carr, 7 rebounds

Team FG %

(TEM) 42.0%
(SJU) 32.3%


..Click HERE for a full BOX SCORE of the game.

You might be asking: What does this outcome do? Well, here's the scenarios:

* Temple has now clinched themselves at least a 4th place finish, giving the Owls a first round bye in the NCAA Tournament. This will make a lot of things much easier when it comes down to reaching the Conference Championship. Temple is looking at at least getting there, and potentially repeating last year's success.

* Saint Joseph's will not get the bye they were looking for, but can possibly take the next highest spot in the A10 tournament. Hypothetically, if the Hawks were able to win against Fordham, and the 3 teams ahead of them lose, they can force a tie with Duquense for a decent rank.

Both of these teams truly decide their own fate, and it all comes down to who will show up during the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament. For Temple, the team will have to regenerate for a game against George Washinton, and finish the final game strong. As for Saint Joe's, they'll take on a struggling Fordham team, and potentially build a run for the post season.

Congratulations to Semaj Inge, Sergio Olmos, and Dionte Christmas for their fantastic careers here at Temple- though the season is not over, the experience and joy of seeing you at the LC will not be forgotten.

Final Score: Temple 68, Saint Joseph's 59

 Subscribe via RSS

A Heated Battle: Part II

TEMPLE OWLS (HOME) vs. SAINT JOSEPH'S HAWKS (AWAY)
March 5, 2009
Liacouras Center (Philadelphia, PA)
7:00 Tip-off

It has been quite a while since my last post, and that is for one pure reason: sadness. The Temple Owls have had such a roller coaster season- once a competitive tournament bound team, now following the same path as last year.

Since our last update, the Owls have suffered losses to the La Salle Explorers, as well as a highly anticipated and meaningful game against Dayton.

The Explorers, whom Temple beat in their previous match, came into the Liacouras Center and shocked the Owls. Fans at that point were not so sure as to where this team would go, and Dayton almost seemed like a like look for an at-large bid. Unfortunately in Ohio, things did not work out.

So here we are, just two more games left in the regular season: the Owls will take on the St. Joe's Hawks, where they've seen success earlier this year.

We'll take a look at both teams currently, and how they match up.

Overall: St. Joseph's Hawks

The St. Joe's Hawks would agree that this year's performance is not their strongest. Sitting at (15-13)(8-6), the Hawks would love to hop two teams and receive the final bye spot for the Atlantic 10 tournament. SJU will have to take out the Owls, as well as their final game against Fordham. In a last minute effort the previous game, Saint Joseph's had an opportunity to get a last second steal, as poor foul shooting led to their turnaround. With plenty of time, though, Tasheed Carr hoisted a half court shot, with enough time to get a better look at the basket. Unfortunately, though, the Hawks were hit with another loss, this coming against their rival on ESPN2.

Leading this team is senior Ahmad Nivins, who has proven to be the team's true key to success. Nivins has given Dionte Christmas a run for the A10 scoring title, in fact leads him to tonight. Along with Nivins will be the athleticism of Idris Hilliard and Tasheed Carr.

The Hawks come into this game after a 73-62 victory over St. Bonaventure.

Overall: Temple Owls

Suffering a loss at Dayton is what truly threw the Temple Owls out of at-large contention. The team now comes home carrying a 2 game losing streak, and would love to end it against an underachieving Saint Joseph's. Dionte Christmas, who will play his final home game as a Temple Owl, would love to end an aggravating shooting slump and get this team back on track. At times, unfortunately, the Naismith Award candidate has not been the reliable player he once was, but has worked to improve his teammates for the sake of the team. I'm sure Temple fans would love to see a lights out performance from the reigning A10 leading scorer.

Behind Christmas are the talents of Ryan Brooks and Lavoy Allen. Both of these players will need to step it up, and HIT FREE THROWS if they want to sweep the Hawks.

Teams by Comparison

RPI

(TEM) 42
(SJU) 101

SOS

(TEM) 42
(SJU) 70

* Temple's main problem they will have to solve will be making their free throws. A final minute drought nearly cost them the game last time, as St. Joe's was able to lower the deficit to 1.

* Ahmad Nivins did not seem to have the same presence he usually does, and playing on the road will not make things any easier. The senior center will have to make his name heard if the Hawks want to produce efficiently.

* Owls fans will be hoping for Semaj Inge, Sergio Olmos, and Dionte Christmas to have big games in their final night at the Liacouras Center.

* St. Joe's will look to make up for earlier this year's game, where the Owls were able to defeat SJU at the Palestra on ESPN2.

Here's our projected starters for tonight's game:

6'4" Semaj Inge (7 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists)
6'1" Darrin Govens (13 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists)

6'4" Ryan Brooks (11 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists)
6'4" Tasheed Carr (13 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists)

6'5" Dionte Christmas (20 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists)
6'5" Garrett Williamson (6 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists)

6'9" Lavoy Allen (11 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assist)
6'7" Idris Hilliard (9 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist)

7'0" Sergio Olmos (8 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist)
6'11" Ahmad Nivins (20 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist)

"Hoot" to Watch For: No matter what the consequences or situations are, a Temple- Saint Joe's game is not one that you want to miss. This game's importance merely goes towards ranking in the Atlantic 10 tournament, as both teams will be fighting for their spot in the top 4 (byes). Neither of these teams are looking to get at-large bids to the NCAA Tournament, but the easiest road to claim would be nice. Look for this to be an exciting basketball game tonight.

Pictured above are Temple's three seniors, who will play their final collegiate home games tonight. They are:

- Semaj Inge
- Dionte Christmas
- Sergio Olmos

You can catch the game on CBS College Sports, as well as 1210 WPHT. If you'd like to watch it online, check any of the following websites:

www.ChannelSurfing.net
www.BasketballForum.com
www.TVPC.com

Go Owls!

 Subscribe via RSS