Guest post by blog contributor Scott Matlack
Temple 71, Richmond 64
Temple squandered a 13 point lead in the first half but kept the
Spiders scoreless for more than six minutes late in the second half to take the
win. It was the first game in some time where someone other than Wyatt
(Randall 21 points) led Temple in scoring. This was one of the most
balanced offensive games of the year for the Owls with four players in double
figures:
Hollis Jefferson 11
Randall 21
Wyatt 19
Lee 12
It was good to see Scootie Randall come out of his shooting slump (8 - 13 from
the field) but most impressive, I thought, was the play at both ends by Anthony
Lee who contributed a double-double (12 points, 13 rebounds). The Owls
will have to get better at taking care of the ball if they are to continue to
win. With guard T.J. DiLeo nursing a high ankle sprain the Owls had 15
turnovers against only 12 assists.
Temple great Hal Lear had his jersey retired at halftime.
A commentary by season ticket-holder Tim Cousounis on the fan experience of Temple University hoops
20130127
Chronicowls '13 Temple-Penn
For Philadelphia college hoops fans, it's been an extraordinary week. Four wins over top 25 teams by local schools. Don't recall such a week in my lifetime. Are we witnessing the resurgence of Philly college hoops?
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More than 40,000 fans entered through the turnstiles of basketball arenas, college and pro, in Philadelphia yesterday. Almost half of that number, including Chronicowls reader Mike P., were part of a sold-out Wells Fargo Center to see one of the finest singular performances we're likely to see in many a year (think Holiday). The Hagan Center on St. Joe's campus was similarly standing room only. Those fortunate to hold tickets saw the Hawks outscore Xavier. And 7700 fans were in attendance at Verizon Wireless Arena in Richmond to see LaSalle top VCU and claim its second consecutive win over top 25 opponent (first time in 60 years, I read). The Owls meanwhile travelled to Indianapolis for a first-ever matchup with Butler, where a sold-out arena of 10,000 awaited the intrepid Owls. 1 for 12 shooting from Jake O'Brien and Dalton Pepper, an early injury which sidelined T.J. Di Leo for the rest of the game, and a porous defense, anchored by Khalif Wyatt, proved the Owls' undoing against the 9th ranked home side.
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The Cherry and White were home this past Wednesday evening for their second Big Five contest of the campaign, against the Quakers of Pennsylvania. Penn hardly looked the part of a squad that had lost 14 of their first 17 games. And Temple hardly looked like a side that had won 12 of its first 17.
School had returned to session, so the Cherry Crusade were out in full force. And the Diamond Gems had returned from the national dance competition in Orlando. And their vocal support lifted a sluggish Owl team to an expected victory.
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Second largest crowd (6700) of the season, most of whom it seemed parked in the garage, were at the Liacouras Center for the Temple-Penn matchup. Must have been the sub-20 degree temperature that drove fans to indoor parking. The Owls most attractive home game this season is shaping up to be the one where the Explorers from LaSalle will be heading south on Broad to the Liacouras Center.
The victor of that game will likely be this season's winner of the Big Five. That game has to be a sellout, doesn't it?
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Before the loss to Butler, Temple had fallen out of the top 50 in the RPI rankings. There are now 4 schools in the Atlantic 10 ahead of the Owls, including LaSalle. Temple has losses to canisius (ranked 117) and St. bonaventure (sitting at 130). An at-large NCAA berth isn't looking probable right about now. But no doubt the rest of the season promises to be interesting. Make your plans to become part of the Temple hoops fan experience. And share your thoughts by posting your comments here on Chronicowls (look for the Post Your Comments link below).
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More than 40,000 fans entered through the turnstiles of basketball arenas, college and pro, in Philadelphia yesterday. Almost half of that number, including Chronicowls reader Mike P., were part of a sold-out Wells Fargo Center to see one of the finest singular performances we're likely to see in many a year (think Holiday). The Hagan Center on St. Joe's campus was similarly standing room only. Those fortunate to hold tickets saw the Hawks outscore Xavier. And 7700 fans were in attendance at Verizon Wireless Arena in Richmond to see LaSalle top VCU and claim its second consecutive win over top 25 opponent (first time in 60 years, I read). The Owls meanwhile travelled to Indianapolis for a first-ever matchup with Butler, where a sold-out arena of 10,000 awaited the intrepid Owls. 1 for 12 shooting from Jake O'Brien and Dalton Pepper, an early injury which sidelined T.J. Di Leo for the rest of the game, and a porous defense, anchored by Khalif Wyatt, proved the Owls' undoing against the 9th ranked home side.
-------------------------
The Cherry and White were home this past Wednesday evening for their second Big Five contest of the campaign, against the Quakers of Pennsylvania. Penn hardly looked the part of a squad that had lost 14 of their first 17 games. And Temple hardly looked like a side that had won 12 of its first 17.
School had returned to session, so the Cherry Crusade were out in full force. And the Diamond Gems had returned from the national dance competition in Orlando. And their vocal support lifted a sluggish Owl team to an expected victory.
------------------------
Second largest crowd (6700) of the season, most of whom it seemed parked in the garage, were at the Liacouras Center for the Temple-Penn matchup. Must have been the sub-20 degree temperature that drove fans to indoor parking. The Owls most attractive home game this season is shaping up to be the one where the Explorers from LaSalle will be heading south on Broad to the Liacouras Center.
The victor of that game will likely be this season's winner of the Big Five. That game has to be a sellout, doesn't it?
-----------------------
Before the loss to Butler, Temple had fallen out of the top 50 in the RPI rankings. There are now 4 schools in the Atlantic 10 ahead of the Owls, including LaSalle. Temple has losses to canisius (ranked 117) and St. bonaventure (sitting at 130). An at-large NCAA berth isn't looking probable right about now. But no doubt the rest of the season promises to be interesting. Make your plans to become part of the Temple hoops fan experience. And share your thoughts by posting your comments here on Chronicowls (look for the Post Your Comments link below).
20130121
Chronicowls'13 - Temple - St. Bonnie's
In winning for the first time at Liacouras Center, St.
Bonaventure played like a top 25 team.
60% plus accuracy from beyond the three-point arc, 85%
shooting from the free-throw line, and an assist-turnover ratio of better than
2:1 (21 assists,10turnovers). And all five starters scored in double
figures. Meanwhile, the Owls took more
than half of their shots outside the three-point mark (why, some would ask),
and made just about one-third of them.
The better team surely won
yesterday afternoon.
Jake O’Brien had 16 points with more than three minutes
remaining in the FIRST half. He had scored more than half of Temple’s points,
and had brought the Owls back into the lead after another slow start.
When O’Brien committed his
second foul with two minutes remaining in the half, Coach Dunphy substituted
for him. The Bonnies then outscored the
Owls 11-2 during the reaminder of the half, and went to intermission holding a
four-point lead. And O’Brien didn’t score the rest of the game. And Temple
never regained the lead.
_________________________________________________________________________________
School is not back in session, so the Cherry Crusade
(student section) was small in number. And the Diamond Gems were absent, as the
squad was competing once again at the national championships for dance teams.
No word yet on the outcome. For those
who missed the Gems, see photo below.
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Perhaps one of the finer performances of the afternoon was turned in by the Temple student chosen to “bowl” during one of the timeouts. A hefty prize awaits the student who rolls a bowling ball the length of the court and scores a strike. On most attempts over the course of the season, a “gutter” ball is rolled. This student knocked down seven of the pins.
And it’s refreshing to see some of the inane games that have passed for entertainment during time-outs replaced by noteworthy recognitions, like the one of a Temple professor with a lengthy list of accomplishments. Too bad someone decided it would be a good time to play loud background music while the PA announcer was reciting the professor’s accomplishments.
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Tough loss, but as one nearby fan commented at game’s end, “That’s
the crucible that is the A10”.20130106
Owls Meet Jayhawks
Very impressive effort by the Owls. Only made FOUR turnovers.
And made but 19 field goals, including NONE in a seven-minute stretch during the second half. And still the Owls were in the game.Here's a wrapup, as told on Twitter.
And made but 19 field goals, including NONE in a seven-minute stretch during the second half. And still the Owls were in the game.Here's a wrapup, as told on Twitter.
Chronicowls '13 - Owls Fly By Falcons to Close Out 2012
A fine finish to the year, and an inspiration to
Chronicowls. A rare New Year’s Eve game.
Alright, the competition didn’t exactly bowl us over (Bowling Green), but the
win was a highlight in at least two ways. The school’s 1800th win in
basketball, joining an elite group of SIX schools who have reached that
milestone. And as a dear friend once
advised me, “a milestone is but a marker by the side of the road that tells you
how far you’ve come, but leaves no clue as to where you’re headed.” I believe the Owls are headed to many more
milestones. The second highlight marking the win on New Year’s Eve is that it was
Temple’s first on that date (then again, the Owls had played just three times
on this date, losing to Fresno State in 1998 and to Villanova in 2002 and 2005).
Dinner and drink at Jack’s Firehouse, followed by the 6pm fireworks, completed
a highly satisfactory New Year’s Eve for
the Chronicowlers.
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Temple opens the 2013 calendar at #32 in the RPI
rankings. Conference competition kicks off
next week. No fewer than ten Atlantic 10
schools are ranked in the top 100 of the RPI, so the conference schedule will
be exceptionally tough this year (Temple’s final season in the Atlantic 10).
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2013 also begins with two difficult match-ups on the road,
Kansas (#2 in RPI) and Xavier, before the Owls return to the Liacouras Center
for a rare Saturday evening (6pm) tipoff on January 12. Two other attractive
home games this season should be LaSalle on February 21 and Virginia Commonwealth
(VCU) on March 10.--------
It’s now easier to follow the Owls. The Athletic Department
has released an app for the iPhone and Android.
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