A Long Upcoming Week for the Owls

Temple will have plenty of time between now and their next game to do a number of things.

This week off will be crucial to allow players to heal mentally and physically from what has been an overall impressive season.

Juan Fernandez will have the opportunity to rest up from the head injury he sustained against Fordham several games back. TJ DiLeo will have some time to shake off the dangerous fall he had against Richmond.

Ryan Brooks will have time to shake the slump he has recently been in, along with Craig Williams.

Most importantly, though, the team as a whole will have some time to evaluate themselves in what has been such an incredible season thus far. This team has been ranked in the Top 25 for over two months, are nearing a 20 win season, and have their eyes set on another NCAA bid and third consecutive Atlantic 10 Championship.

This week off is an important time for Temple to see what needs to be worked on in order to have a successful finish to the regular season. After this break, there are only 7 games remaining on the schedule.

We've taken some time to point out some of the factors in games that Temple needs to fix up in order to better themselves for what remains this season:

Controlling the Game's Pace: A majority of team's that the Owls play tend to favor the faster game pace, unlike Temple's half court sets. Temple sometimes has a tendency to fall into the opponent's game plan by playing the opposition's style of play. The team's advantages fall under slowing the pace of the game down and running an offense to set up opportunities. Granted there are times when you outman someone pushing the ball, the majority of the team's production comes from the half court sets and needs to be focused on.

Points to this topic:

- Slow down and run a motion offense
- Play your team's pace, not the opponent

Utilizing Your Weapons: Part of scouting out an opposing team is finding the mismatches and areas where your team has the upper hand. The Owls are fortunate to have weapons and abilities at every position, which is one characteristic that makes this team so unique. That doesn't mean though that a spread out and diverse offense is always going to win games. When there's a good look in the paint, feed the big men. When there's an overload, swing the ball. If the team is hot on the outside, get the ball to the hot hand. The point is to not force a scoring outlet when there is already success somewhere else on the floor.

Points to this topic:

- Take advantage of the mismatches
- Don't shy away from who ever is making the plays

Establishing Momentum Early: We've seen Temple struggle from the starting minutes of the game and dig themselves a hole to climb out of. There are players on this team that have the ability to change the outcomes of games, but sometimes a player gets in his groove too late. Jumping out early on your opponent dictates the overall scheme of the game, and determines the momentum at times. Many times, the first minutes of the game are the most crucial ones on determining the outcome, and normally the team that comes out aggressive is going to get the job done.

Points to this topic:

- Jump on the opponent early
- Establish the game plan from the get-go

Decision Making: This could classify basically any of the topics we've already discussed, but we'll be a little more specific in this category: turnovers and blown opportunities. Smart players make the logical decisions that can quickly shift or build a team's momentum. A simple bad pass that is taken back on a fast break could dictate the outcome of a game. Whether it is an ill-advised shot, giving up a dribble, or blown possession, players need to focus on the most important keys to victory. Understanding the situation at hand and making the smart choices will only help make the team more productive.

Points to this topic:

- Make the smart play
- Put the team before yourself

These are just several pieces of Temple's game that could potentially determine the outcome of this season. There are many positives that outweigh the negatives, but those negatives are what the opposing team attacks.

This will be a long one for both the team and the coaching staff. Now is the time that Temple needs to play its top-notch basketball.