First Meeting

Temple and Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) have not played each other before.

Could there be a better time for their first meeting? Final home game of the regular season for the Owls. VCU ranked in the top 25. The Cherry and White in search of a victory to bolster their claim to a spot in the NCAA tournament. Four seniors playing in their final game at the Liacouras Center. Game on national TV (this will be the first time that CBS will be broadcasting a game from the Liacouras Center). 
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I would expect a sellout, but considering how disappointing the crowds have been this year, I won't predict one. I'll set the over/under at 9600.
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Virginia is a commonwealth. So is Pennsylvania. So why isn't Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) named Pennsylvania Commonwealth University (or PCU)?
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Several interesting subplots to watch for during the game.
Temple is ranked 11th in the nation in fewest turnovers per game (10.9). VCU plays an aggressive, full-court defense which has helped them to #1 in the nation in total steals and turnovers forced per game (20.1). Yet this same defense allows many easy baskets,  so VCU allows its opponents to make nearly 45% of their shots. Temple has won 18 of the 20 games this year when they've shot better than 40%.
Khalif Wyatt leads the Atlantic 10 conference in scoring. VCU leads the conference in team scoring average per game (nearly 80 points per game).
Both sides enter the game averaging an identical number of rebounds (35) and assists (14.9) per game.
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2013 marks the 25th anniversary of arguably the finest team in Cherry and White basketball history, the 1987-1988 team that finished the season ranked #1 in the Associated Press poll. That team will be honored at halftime this Sunday.
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Temple is presently ranked #43 in the RPIRPI rankings, an indication of how strong the A10 has been this year. A loss to VCU could drop the Owls out of the top 50,  thus making the Owls' performance in the A10 tournament the final determinant in whether they receive an NCAA invitation. The conference tournament in NYC (at the Barclay Center, not Madison Square Garden) next week will Temple's final one, as the Cherry and White will move to a yet-to-be-named conference. So, it's now official, the Owls will NEVER play a Big East Conference basketball game. If leaked reports play out, the Owls will be playing in the America 12 Conference. Huh?
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Owls are everywhere!  This one, at the PHS Flower Show, is ready for tomorrow's Whiteout!