A Look Back to 2009 Chronicowls

Last regular season home game last night. Last time we'll see Sergio and Semaj at the Liacouras Center. (I'm not going to count a NIT game if Temple should host one). And, of course, the last celebration at the Liacouras Center of Five Months of Christmas.
-------------------------
Last night's game drew the largest crowd of the season (just a little more than 9300). We figured the crowd would be a large one when at 7pm we came to a traffic standstill FOUR blocks from the Liacouras Center. There was even a line waiting to get IN the parking garage. Can't begin to imagine what the line was like getting OUT. We made sure we wouldn't find out - we parked on the street near 17th and Berks.
------------------------
Lines of traffic were hardly the last lines we encountered. The beer lines were exceptionally long. We did convey our best wishes to Peg, who has dutifully staffed the Yuengling kiosk near the lobby for at least two seasons, and perhaps more. She's graduating from Temple this spring with a degree in Nursing. We're confident she'll do well as she ventures out into the world after college (our health care system surely needs more nurses). Lines for the rest rooms were plenty long as well.
------------------------
In an evening full of "last times", there were several "first times". One of the regular halftime activities is a contest where a Temple student has 60 seconds to sink a basket from half-court. Of course, most have difficulty hitting the rim. Last night's contestant was sharp. His first six tosses each hit the rim, one going in-and-out. His seventh was an air ball. His eighth went IN! FIRST time I've seen that shot made since the Liacouras Center opened more than a decade ago. For his accomplishment, he won $5000 toward the first year lease of a Toyota. Another halftime contest involved two students rolling across the floor to furl themselves in a shroud, then unfurling themselves by rolling back across the floor, and having completed that inane activity, grabbing a basketball, dribbling down the court, and making a layup. I didn't notice what the student who scored first won for this prodigious feat, nor what company sponsored this event. I do know this was the FIRST time I saw this event, and I expect(and hope) it will be the LAST. I much prefer the halftime entertainment where two students encased in a styrofoam Dunkin' Donuts cup (shaped like a vest so that the contestants can use their arms to dribble and shoot the ball) race down the court to see who'll be first to make a layup and foul shot.
Another FIRST last night - the winning raffle number was announced precisely when we were advised the announcement would be made - at halftime. Took all season but finally somebody got it right.
----------------------
The Diamond Gems were in fine form last night,as was the Pep Band, which turned out, ,along with the Wild Cherry student section, in larger-than-usual numbers.
-----------------------
The seniors stood out last night on Senior Night. Christmas and Olmos were the two leading scorers, and Inge had a solid night, collecting 9 points, 4 steals, 2 blocks, while committing only one turnover. The Owls had a strong 1.6 assist/turnover ratio, committing only ten turnovers for the game. Fernandez had a steady floor game, putting up 5 assists and but 1 turnover. For context, consider that a 1.6 ratio for the season would have the Owls second in the country (as it is, their 1.2 ratio going into last night's game placed them at 34th -out of more than 300). Temple does lead the A-10 conference in assist/turnover ratio. Olmos is the first tall player in many, many years to steadily improve during his career at Temple. I think that speaks to Dunphy's coaching abilities (and that of his staff) . Temple's defense has improved considerably over the season (and it is now the top-ranked defense in the conference), another testament to the coaching staff.
-----------------------
While any win over St. Joe's is to be savored, this year's Hawk squad is mediocre. "Take away Nivins, and you've got Fordham" is how one of the neighboring fans put it last night. The Hawks went through an 8 minute stretch last night without a basket. What was disappointing was that the Owls built but an 11-point lead during that period, and of course St. Joe's came back to cut the deficit to 2. That was as close as the Hawks were to get.
-----------------------
It's been a good home season, 9 up, and just 2 down. Those two losses(Miami, Ohio and LaSalle) likely cost the Owls an at-large berth in the NCAA tournament. Now, the Owls must repeat last year's A-10 conference tournament championship to secure a spot in the NCAA tournament. Last night's win earned Temple a bye in next week's tournament in Atlantic City.
----------------------
The oddsmakers were right on again last night. Temple was favored by 8. With four and a half minutes left in the game, Temple was
ahead by 8. Sergio Olmos' foul shot with 10 seconds left in the game gave the Owls their final winning margin of 9.
---------------------
Likely, this is the final Chronicowls post of the season. I've enjoyed writing, and from your comments, I take it that most of you have enjoyed reading the posts. And in ways small and large, those of you who have joined me at the games have provided spark, inspiration, and insights that have found their way into these posts.

FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT
FOR THE CHERRY AND WHITE