Chronicowls '13 Temple-Dayton

From the  recent Chronicowls post following the one-point win over Charlotte: "here’s hoping that all their remaining contests have fairy tale endings."
From a Chronicowls reader, after today's match-up with Dayton: "Temple won, barely, against Dayton, fairy tales prevail!!"

I 'Can't' Believe that We Have Won.
More to follow.

Chronicowls '13 Temple-Charlotte

Temple 89-Charlotte 88

Want a villain in the nearly disastrous Charlotte game? Start with the carefree lad who missed the half court shot, for a cool 10 grand, by a country mile. Or the sea of no-shows (capacity minus an announced 4,785) who no-showed to not cheer these Owls on (despite those expensive Expressway billboards). How ’bout the “Our defense needs a lot of work at this point” (quoth Dunphy) non-defense? Or was it Scootie Randall singlehandedly, who, in 36 agonizing minutes, amassed 0 field goals, 2 free throws, 3 offensive out of 5 rebounds, and 2 assists but 4 turnovers—to total 2 points.

That’s one point every 18 minutes, while surprising Dalton Pepper bagged 11 points in his 18 minutes. In fact, he and Jake O’Brien, with a most impressive 22 including a sparkling, game-high 4 of 5 from out there, both scored season highs. Khalif Wyatt chipped in a game-high 25 while Rahlir H-J with 11 was the fourth Owl in double figures. Not to mention his career-high 5 steals.

Somebody say steals? The Owls had 10 vs. the slow-starting 49ers’ 8. Turnovers? Sloppiness ruled this contest as Temple committed “only” 13—five of them in the final 2:09 to trigger a frenetic photo finish—vs. a whopping 19 by Charlotte. That’s 32 damaging “here y’ares” in a 40-minute game between two perfectly presentable teams with an aggregate 32-12 won-loss record. Poor passing, poor catching, poor luck.

Because of the turnovers…because Temple blew an early 13-point lead (among others)…because Dunphy stayed with Randall far too long…because the Owls prevailed by one fragile point (48-47) in the second half…because Charlotte shot a glittery 60.4 percent from the floor, without its suspended leading scorer (DeMario Mayfield)…because Charlotte racked up treys twice as effectively (7-10 to 7-19) as the Owls…and because skid happens, the game went down to the wire.

The proverbial and absolute wire, that is. It took Wyatt’s final (of 10-13 on the night) foul shot with 8.3 seconds remaining to stave off the 49ers’ Pierria Henry’s barely-buzzer-beating three. No way it should’ve been this close. Not when Temple needed to show major moxie after the 1-point loss to St. Joe’s just four days back. Not when they’re heading to loud and sold-out Dayton, the conference’s 38.7 percent 3-point shooting juggernaut, for Saturday brunch. Not when Charlotte had been annihilated by 20 and 28 points their last two road games. And not when the Big Dance, from this vantage point, is viewed through cataracts.

But the fans won tacos, the Owls won the game and here’s hoping that all their remaining contests have fairy tale endings. Speaking of which, our group next headed to the redoubtable Jack’s Firehouse, guarding the prison on Fairmount, for a spot of libation liberation. And we witnessed true magic—3-Card Monte with 3 stainless steel mixers and 3 maraschino cherries, till, WHOOPS, where’d the fourth cherry, then, WOW, a lime, and, WHA’ZIS, now that lemon, all come from? Ask Matt behind the bar there to blow your mind as he did ours. And if you’re a self-respecting bourbon fan, the vast selection is to drink for. 

--Post by Chronicowls contributor Tall Phil

 

Chronicowls '13 Temple @ St. Joe's

Post by blog contributor Scott Matlack

St Joes 70 - Temple 69

With 5:39 remaining Temple had a 9 point lead after another three-point basket by Khalif Wyatt. But you have to take the good with the bad with Wyatt, and he was late getting back to cover Carl Jones who nailed his own 3 to spark a 12-3 run to tie the game at 64 a few minutes later. 4,200 raucous fans cheered on St Joe's at Hagan Arena Saturday night in a very exciting Big Five game that unfortunately had the Owls losing.

 

Wyatt made a three-point shot from about 40 feet with 10.4 seconds remaining to trail by one. Temple fouled Jones who missed the front end of a one-and-one. Wyatt then drove the length of the court with time running out but his shot was blocked by Kanacevic. With .7 seconds left Wyatt received the inbound pass open enough to set before shooting but he rushed it and the shot fell well short. And that was the game.
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Inside vs. outside - The Hawks pounded the ball down low and Temple seemed unable to stop Ron Roberts (18 pts), CJ Aiken (16 pts), and Halil Kanacevic (12 pts). Meanwhile, Temple shot 11-31 from beyond the arc.

Wyatt scored a career-high 34 points to lead all scorers but had plenty of opportunities to pass the ball to wide open teammates when everyone in a St. Joe's uniform collapsed on him. That, to me, is the problem with the Owls offense. No balance at all. Cummings was the only other Owl who scored in double figures.
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Temple is now 3-4 in the A-10 and may need to win the conference tournament to get in the NCAA tournament. I thought Temple had talent and depth but I now don't know what to make of this team.
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With 7 minutes remaining Dunphy pulled Randall after a stupid turnover. I never witnessed Dunphy so angry.
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Banners rolled out by the Hawk faithful:

Temple made : The Big East dissolve

Khalif - for a good time call 510-233-9876

Wyatt - that isn't the kind of penetration Dunphy was looking for.

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Timeout break entertainment I enjoyed -

Putting contest from the baseline. Both gents got the ball in the half court circle. Looked pretty tough.

A couple of fit gals did jump rope, ran through a serpentine, jumping jacks, push-ups, then made a lay up. My achilles was hurting just watching it.
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We had a beer at the Landmark Americana before the game where there was a Temple following with some free food, then went to McShea's in Narberth afterwards.

Hagan Arena is intimate, but it doesn't have the charm of the Palestra. We couldn't see the scoreboard because of obstructions. What idiot designed the place? Don't ever hire an architect from St Joes.
I was wishing I was at the Liacouras Center, in a comfortable seat, with a cold beer.