The Bell Tolls for UD

"This is the part where I go off for the last time this year. The thoughts have to leave my head for me to move on back to real life.

I want to be the guy that hands these seniors their diplomas. I have to make sure they're really out of eligibility. Kurt and London are summer flings. Fine for what they are, and there were those few times where she really used her tongue well, but come late August it's time to move on and she disappears from your mind. Marcus was great for a while, but turned crazy. Maybe down the road the fond memories will come back. Mickey Perry was the fat friend, just always there for no apparent reason. Lowery, well, yeah. He played.

What a disappointing senior class.

I really hope BG is just punting this season with the way he's coaching. I know he's a system guy, but there's a difference between sticking to the system and just watching the old lady walk out in front of the bus. I think the worst part for me is the fact that he's taking no responsibility in the press (Doog). Maybe Doog's just not asking the questions the Trucker wants asked (your job now Secaur).

Wait till next year!!!!

I actually think next year will be better than this one, if for no other reason than lowered expectations. I've seen Staten many times, and he's just that damn good. Josh Parker was pretty good at Drake. Between (likely) progression from Benson, Paul Willie, Kavanaugh, a straight beast mode CJ and the rest of the freshmen I think the team will be far more talented. If, and it's a BIG IF, BG can tweak the system to match the smaller, more guard oriented roster I think the Flyers can be pretty damn good. If this year has taught me anything, it's that talent simply matters more than age and experience.

I'm sitting the next couple weeks out. I'll watch, but I won't care about the result. When Xavier rolls Richmond on Saturday it will make any potential win over the Spiders mean far less, so the season all comes down to AC. That's when I'll care again."

-- Adam

Dayton vs. Temple

Effective Field Goal Percentage (eFG%): adjusts for the fact that a 3-point field goal is worth one more point than a 2-point field goal.
Turnover Percentage (TO%): is an estimate of turnovers per 100 plays.
Offensive Rebouning Percentage (OR%): measures a team's ability to get offensive rebounds.
Free Throw Rate (FT Rate): is a measure of both how often a team gets to the line and how often they make them.

		S	MIN	PTS	FGM	FGA	FG%	2PA	2PA	2P%	3PM	3PA	3P%	FTM	FTA	FT%	OR	DR	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF
	C. Wright	*	30	12	4	11	36.4	4	10	40.0	0	1	0.0	4	5	80.0	3	10	13	0	1	0	1	1
	R. Lowery	*	27	7	2	9	22.2	0	5	0.0	2	4	50.0	1	2	50.0	0	3	3	3	1	0	4	4
	M. Johnson	*	25	4	2	5	40.0	2	5	40.0	0	0		0	0		1	3	4	2	2	1	0	3
	K. Huelsman	*	24	3	1	8	12.5	1	8	12.5	0	0		1	2	50.0	0	7	7	0	0	1	2	1
	L. Warren	*	18	2	1	3	33.3	1	3	33.3	0	0		0	0		1	4	5	2	0	0	2	4
	C. Johnson		23	3	1	4	25.0	0	0	0.0	1	4	25.0	0	0		2	1	3	1	0	0	1	1
	P. Williams		18	3	1	4	25.0	0	1	0.0	1	3	33.3	0	0		0	0	0	0	1	0	0	2
	M. Perry		15	4	2	5	40.0	2	4	50.0	0	1	0.0	0	0		1	1	2	2	0	0	0	4
	D. Searcy		9	0	0	4	0.0	0	4	0.0	0	0		0	0		2	2	4	0	0	1	1	1
	L. Fabrizius		8	3	1	4	25.0	0	0	0.0	1	4	25.0	0	0		1	0	1	0	0	0	1	0
	J. Benson		3	0	0	0		0	0	0.0	0	0		0	0		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	UD		200	41	15	57	26.3	10	40	25.0	5	17	29.4	6	9	66.7	12	33	45	10	5	3	12	21
		S	MIN	PTS	FGM	FGA	FG%	2PA	2PA	2P%	3PM	3PA	3P%	FTM	FTA	FT%	OR	DR	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF
	TU		200	49	17	53	32.1	15	38	39.4	2	15	13.3	13	21	61.9	11	31	42	13	5	4	8	13
	L. Allen	*	39	9	3	8	37.5	3	7	42.8	0	1	0.0	3	5	60.0	4	13	17	3	0	3	0	3
	R. Brooks	*	37	11	5	12	41.7	5	9	55.5	0	3	0.0	1	2	50.0	0	3	3	1	1	0	2	1
	R. Moore	*	30	13	4	12	33.3	4	10	40.0	0	2	0.0	5	6	83.3	2	1	3	1	0	0	1	0
	L. Guzman	*	27	2	0	4	0.0	0	1	0.0	0	3	0.0	2	4	50.0	0	3	3	7	2	0	0	2
	M. Eric	*	13	4	2	4	50.0	2	4	50.0	0	0		0	0		2	2	4	0	1	0	1	3
	J. Fernandez		28	7	2	8	25.0	0	3	0.0	2	5	40.0	1	2	50.0	0	2	2	1	1	0	2	3
	R. Jefferson		25	3	1	4	25.0	1	4	25.0	0	0		1	2	50.0	2	4	6	0	0	1	1	1
	C. Williams		1	0	0	1	0.0	0	0	0.0	0	1	0.0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Reconnaissance: Temple University

The season is now on life support, ladies and gentlemen. You don't need me to tell you this, as you surely heard the legions of Flyers fans touting each of our past few games as "must wins". Well, it's difficult to start branding games as "must wins" as so much of our fate is out of our hands. All it takes is for a couple other bubble teams like UConn to continue accumulating a few quality wins and make a little noise in their conference tourney and the good ship Flyer, already taking on disconcerting amounts of water, will capsize.

Books: athlete kryptonite.What we can do is try to pile up some victories ourselves and make ourselves up all sexy and flaunt our shit come SS. Our best chance at catching the SS's eye is Wednesday's night affair with conference kingpin, the Temple Owls. While, it's going to take some serious makeup to disguise our 5-5 record in our most recent 10 games, a win on the road against a ranked Temple squad would be hard to ignore.

The Owls come into the game with very few serious blemishes on their resume.  Of their 5 losses, 2 come against heavyweights Georgetown and Kansas, 2 conference road losses to Charlotte and Richmond, and an inexplicable loss to St. Johns where they shot 28% from the field.

Temple is a quintessential sum is greater than its parts team. Collectively, they're scoring only 66 points a game on 44% from the field and 33% from 3. But they rebound well, take care of the ball, and lock down on D (allowing 58 a game). The per game averages are a bit deceptive though. The Dunph prefers games be played at a snail's pace.

Another noticeable trait of this Owls team is their size. They've got it everywhere and Franchester won't send anyone under 6'3" out on the floor. The 8 players that see significant time go 6'3", 6'4", 6'4", 6'4", 6'6", 6'9", 6'9" and the gangly mass known as Michael Eric. So, they're long.

Meet the players. As I said, nobody on the roster is going to blow you away. It's just a collection of solid players willing to buy into the system for the greater good.

The de facto leader is Ryan Brooks. He goes for just under 15 and 5 boards a game on a volume-esqueZooey Deschanel: Nothing to do with anything. 42% from the field and 32 from 3. He runs hot and cold. He had a sterling 2 points against Richmond but has also exploded for 29 against UMass.

Lavoy Allen is the other name you're most likely to recognize. He's averaging a double-double at 11 and 10 a game. He also passes surprisingly well averaging 2.5 assists a game. Throw in a block and a half a game and you've got yourself a legitimate inside presence.

Juan Fernandez is the type of player you love to hate. He's getting an efficient 12 a game and is a deadeye from deep (44%). He distributes the ball with aplomb (just under 4 assists per) and was the player voted most likely to be described as "crafty". But his despicableness stems from his nonchalance and smoldering Argentinian good looks. He should never be left alone with your sister.

Temple too has a Mr. Intangibles. In Philly, he goes by the name Luis Guzman. He can't shoot, doesn't rebound or distribute all that well, but brings heaps of veteran headiness to the floor. He'll play defense like his pants are on fire because, like an NFL special teams star, he can only get by on scrappiness and guile.

As Owlified mentioned in the Q&A, Ramone Moore has been coming on strong of late. Over the last six games he's averaged nearly 17 per. For a dude averaging under 8 a game, that's a veritable explosion of scoring. He'll do his damage inside the arc on jumpers and getting to the hoop. He's doing it all rather efficiently at 49% from the field.

Allow me a bit of digression on Mr. Moore. He was redshirted his freshman season for the express purpose of "acclimating himself to the rigors of university life". Then during his redshirt freshmLooking healthy, Tom.an season he was shut down after 13 games due to academics. First, college isn't hard. All you have to do is show up to classes, be passingly familiar with the material, and take your tests. Voila, degree. Now imagine having someone hold your hand through all of this while you navigate your way through classes tailored for athletes (read: effortlessly easy). Ramone Moore couldn't do this. I realize the time demands of being a major college athlete are many, but to struggle through the easiest major on campus while being coddled speaks to effort not ability. But boy can he put the ball in the basket.

The Surreal Life - Temple. I was looking at Temple alumni in an effort to fill more space when I noticed quite a motley crew of former Owls. First they've got actor/drug fiend Tom Sizemore. Daryll Hall and John Oates of Hall & Oates fame are an almuni. Bob Saget's terribly unfunny ass (his rebirth as a foul-mouthed miscreant is more contrived then LeBron's pre-game chalking) too. The two guys behind juvenile rockers The Bloodhound Gang managed to graduate as Owls. Throw in the Cos for good measure, add cameras and liquor and tell me you wouldn't watch that mess.

The Numbers Game.

		PPG	FG%	FT%	3P%	RPG	ORPG	DRPG	APG	TPG	SPG	BPG	FPG
	UD	70.3	42.2	66.5	33.1	38.8	11.9	26.5	14.9	14.7	6.3	3.5	19.6
	TU	66.1	43.5	69.2	33.7	37.1	11.3	25.8	14.8	10.7	4.9	3.0	15.7
	UD Opponents	61.9	39.6	64.5	31.8	32.5	10.1	22.4	11.0	14.6	6.0	3.4	18.9
	TU Opponents	57.8	38.2	70.4	28.3	32.9	9.9	23.0	9.6	11.8	5.5	3.1	16.7

Prediction Time. The Flyers are capable of playing with anyone, Temple included. The game will likely remain close because The Dunph will take the air out of the ball with staunch D and a clock eating offense. I'd like to channel John and remain optimistic about this game, but I don't see us hanging around a more savvy, better coached, and more disciplined team. Ramone Moore continues his strong play of late goes for 20 and then goes back to his dorm to study. Kurt Huelsman posterizes Lavoy Allen and in a postgame interview demands Blackburn compensate him for the loot he made on the G.O.A.T. shirts. The Flyers lose by 8 and Wabs quietly celebrates all the ensuing NIT cash.

An Interrogatory with: Temple University

This blog is like your average marriage, it will last beyond its usefulness and will continue until someone gets killed or goes missing. I rallied the troops Sunday night and told them that we must finish the drill, it’s imperative that we wrap up the season with the type of class and conviction this site is known for. With that being said, we are going to push forward and act as if this team can reclaim the promise they entered the season with, however irrational that sentiment may be.  We are not going to give up on this program until the clock hits triple zeros in a second round loss to Cincinnati in the NIT.

Juan can put the final nail in the coffinEnter "Owlified" to provide us with some insight on tomorrow night’s contest. He operates the Owl’s Nest, the premier blog for all things Temple.  We had a virtual sit down where we discussed Temple’s surprising season, Fran Dunphy’s sense of style, America’s number one ski bunny, and whether or the Atlantic Ten has reached its tipping point. It’s an enriching journey, a quick trip to the other side.

Lastly, you can check out the enlightening insight I provided at Owlified's site, as I return his serve with my own take on Wednesday’s clash of the titans.

TB: Coming into this season, most observers thought Temple would slide a little and finish anywhere from fifth to seventh in the conference. Obviously, the loss of Dionte Christmas led many to wonder where the scoring would come from.  At the same time, with players like Ryan Brooks, Lavoy Allen and Juan Fernandez coming back, one would have to think that the Owls would be more competitive than people were given them credit for. From a personal standpoint, what’s been the biggest surprise/disappointment of the season thus far?

O: The biggest surprise in my opinion is the way that several players have stepped up and filled in the gaps left by the guys we lost. Juan Fernandez has enhanced his game by becoming not only a great passer, but also a deadly shooter. In the last few games we've seen the production of Ramone Moore greatly increase as well. Ryan Brooks and Lavoy Allen for the majority of the season ahve also been players the team can count on for efficient production day in and day out.

TB: As a follow up question, it’s clear that Temple is going dancing come March (what does that feel like?). What are the expectations going forward?  How far can this Owl squad realistically advance?

O: It's always a great feeling when your team is somewhat ahead of the game, and doesn't have to earn its way in or bust. The expectations this year are higher than the last two years because this team is arguably better than the past two. Being predicted as a 4-seed or 5-seed sets this team up for a matchup which would probably favor the Owls, unlike the previous years. I would at least like to see this team get through the first round, and make a push for the Sweet 16.

TB: Other than the fact that this Flyer team has absolutely nothing to lose, and could possibly injure one of your key cogs with their thoughtless play, is there anything that scares you about this UD team coming into Philly on Wednesday night? Anything at all?

O: Dayton is one of those teams in my opinion whose record in certain aspects is deceiving. Several of this team's losses have come against some of the top teams in the country. The Flyers have been challenged throughout this season by some of the best teams, and now have the experience of playing a nationally ranked team on the road. This is definitely a game that Temple fans cannot look past one bit.

Eric = 10% man, 90% flailing armsTB: A social conundrum: you are sitting on a plane in a few weeks headed to Indianapolis for the Final Four. It’s clear that the older lady next to you has unfortunately soiled herself while she was catching a few winks. Although the smell, and oddly the heat, is overpowering, you are torn. Do you inform the stewardess, thereby embarrassing the woman in front of the entire cabin, or do you sit there and take it, saving the elderly lady from a potentially scaring social interaction?

O: I'd embarrass her, and alert the stewardess. Her incapability to refrain from controlling her bowels has disrupted my deep thoughts regarding Temple in the Final Four-- this cannot possibly be.

TB: I was watching the Temple/Rhode Island game a few weeks back and was impressed with the play of the Naughty Nigerian, Michael Eric. Question, who the fuck is Michael Eric and why hadn’t I heard of him until the Rhody game? Additionally, it’s clear that a name like “Michael Eric” is completely made up – it sounds like the type of alias a Jewish comic adopts so people in Middle America will find him funny without thinking about the fact that his people killed their messiah.  So, you have to ask yourself this, what horrible crime did “Mr. Eric” commit back in his homeland that caused him to abscond to our country? Any thoughts, rumors, or wild accusations?

O: Micheal Eric finally broke his personal ice and played to his potential. Reason you probably have not heard of him is because his teammate has constantly taken the headlines with his dominating production (Lavoy Allen). For the most part, M.E. sees the majority of his playing time during the first half. Coach Dunphy usually makes the decision as to whether he'd rather go with a four guard offense with more scoring power, or a 3-guard/2-big offense with a better ability to rebound. I have absolutely no idea what landed Michael in this country besides the fact that he is a talented basketball player with a lot of upside.

TB: I appreciate Fran Dunphy due to the fact that he is what a college coach, in my mind, should look like. He is frumpy, mustachioed and bald. I’m sick and tired of the Pitinos, Jay Wrights, and Caliparis of the college coaching world.  Manicures, coffee colonics and Brioni suits are not representative of what I desire in a head basketball coach.  After all, these guys are in the business of exploiting young, undereducated black men for their athletic talents, not managers of hedge funds. Considering that the Owls had the original bagman of the sidelines, John Chaney, can I assume that you agree with my take – that college coaches should look like they just rolled off a sidewalk heating grate and walked into the gym?

O: I absolutely despise Jay Wright and John Calipari, so I have no problem agreeing with you on that. Those two are looking pretty for the cameras. The game is not a fashion statement.

Mancuso >> VonnTB: Solve the most pressing issue currently facing our country: Lindsey Vonn or Julia Mancuso? Please show your work.

O: I'd go with Julia Mancuso. Using my graphing calculator, several functions, and common denominators, i was able to come up with this equation: (2x+3y=4y+3x*5z). As it began graphing Ms. Mancuso, I received a "SYNTAX ERROR," and my calculator began to spark. The answer was clear.

TB: Richmond’s backcourt vs. Temple’s.  Who’s the best unit in the Atlantic Ten? I’m a huge proponent of Anderson and GonzalVez, but am willing to listen to any reasonable argument.

O: This is too hard to answer. Kevin Anderson and Gonzalvez are both great scorers, and we've actually already seen this matchup (with an injured Fernandez). Temple's backcorut basically consists of four players: Fernandez, Moore, Brooks and Guzman. I'll give the edge to UR's backcourt, merely because the two have come up extremely big when called upon. They've won the big games, and this is exactly the reason they are in the top 25 and will be dancing in March.

TB: This is something we have been discussing on the Review for a few weeks now, let’s get your take. Does the fact that the Atlantic Ten is likely to get at least 3-4 bids mean that college basketball is in a bad place right now, or does it indicate that the league is capable of playing with the big boys if given the chance?

O: The league this year has proved that it is capable of competing -- even beating -- some of the best and most talented teams in the country. The Atlantic 10 conference does not get the respect it truly deserves, so to the outsiders this is a "bad thing." For us A10 fans, it's finally time to show that this conference can compete with many of the elite teams.

TB: Prediction time. Usually I’d ask you what team would win, the margin of victory, and who would shine for your team. Given the current state of affairs on the Flyers, I just require the margin of victory and which Temple player will lead the way for the Owls.

O: Temple wins by 7. Ramone Moore once again will have a spectacular game and lead the Owls to victory.

The Hexagon Revisited

Handsome Joe, still suckling from the A-10 teetSeven days have passed since we were first dropped blindly into the Hexagon. Although none of the six teams have reached a positive or negative critical mass, there is a slightly clearer picture of where the conference chips will fall.  No team has done itself enough disserve to earn dismissal from the six-sided circle. We are probably a week or so away from officially eliminating anyone from hexagonal competition. The most likely candidate? Regrettably, I think we all know the answer to that one.

Handsome Joe’s brackets came out earlier today, and the A-10, according to the King Bracketologist, still has six bids on the board (Charlotte’s hold appears to be the most feeble). I still think that four is a more plausible number, five being a stretch. Let’s quickly take a glimpse at last week’s winners and losers before diving back into the Hexagon.

Winners

• Out of any team in the conference, Richmond helped itself the most over the past week. Two victories, roadies against Saint Bonaventure and Rhode Island, catapulted the Spiders up to their rightful spot at the top of the league. 
• In one of its last remaining tests, Temple, led by mystery man Michael Eric, disposed of Rhode Island in its only game last week. 
• Xavier took a trip down to Gainesville and won one for the league, beating the Gators and earning some respect for the Atlantic Ten.

Losers

• Rhode Island harmed itself more than any other member of the Hexagon.  A loss at home to Richmond and a defeat at Temple over the weekend put a major dent in the Rams' post-season hopes.
• Charlotte will continue to fight its image as a pretender in a rocky sea of contenders. In its only matchup this week, the 49ers were absolutely manhandled by the Gem City cagers. No one has a firm grasp on what this Charlotte team is all about.
• Could a banked three-pointer be the difference between the NCAA tournament and the NIT? Depending on how things play out, Kwamain Mitchell’s desperation heave could come back to haunt Dayton come Selection Sunday. The Flyers lost all the momentum they built up over their past two pinksockings against Xavier and Charlotte.



Last week we looked at the Hexagon from an ease of schedule perspective, this week we’re using schedule strength as a predictor for the final standings.

1st) Temple: The Owls have the easiest slate of games left. With only one hexagonal matchup on tap, at home against Dayton, Temple would appear to be in the driver’s seat as far as first place in the league is concerned. The only possible misstep would be at Saint Louis, but I have a feeling the Dunphy’s squad will take care of business and roll in that one.  Currently 8-2, Temple could feasibly run the table and end the year with 14 league wins. Even with a conservative outlook, it’s realistic to think that the Owls end up with at least 13 wins and at least a share of the conference regular season title.   

2nd) Xavier: The Muskies went out and represented the league well, taking down the mighty Gators in Gainesville for their seventeenth win of the season. Xavier has three very winnable games left on their docket – St. Joe’s, @ Fordham and closing out the year with Saint Bonaventure. That’s eleven wins without even breaking a sweat. If they can take down Charlotte on the road this weekend, X has a very good shot of getting 13 wins and challenging Temple for the conference crown. Like the Owls, the Muskies could conceivably win six in a row and end up with 14 W’s. The jury is still very much out on Charlotte and they get Richmond at home.

The Rick will have much to say over the next three weeks.3rd) Richmond: Richie is a near lock to get at least 12 wins in league play. With two cupcakes this week, Fordham and George Washington (both at home), the Spiders will likely move to 11-2 and hold onto first place for the time being. Out of any team in the Hexagon, Richmond closes out with the toughest trifecta of games: at Xavier, against UD, and closing their campaign on the road against Charlotte. Still, even with a win in just one of those three games (likely candidate = Dayton), the Spiders probably walk into the postseason chins held high with twelve conference wins. Reasonably speaking, third place is probably a worst-case scenario for Richie at this juncture.

4th) Rhode Island: URI had some miscues this week, losses to Richmond and Temple, which certainly takes some of the spark out of their surprising season. Still, the worst is clearly behind Jim Baron’s squad as the Rams will be clear favorites in four of their five remaining contests. Better yet, their one remaining Hexagonal opponent is Charlotte; an opponent many feel has a stench of pretense all over it.  If URI gets by Saint Louis on the road this Wednesday, they likely ride a wave of momentum into their matchup with Charlotte (Rhody has Fordham and Saint Bonnie before hosting the Niners). Again, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that Rhode Island could close out the season with five wins, as their five remaining games do not pose a sizeable obstacle.

5th) Charlotte: Presently tied for second, the Niners still enjoy a two game lead on the Flyers, a one and a half game cushion on Rhode Isalnd -- this fact cannot be understated.  The best news for the 49ers is that four of their last six games are at Halton Arena. The one downside for Charlotte would appear to be their strength of schedule. So although they may finish in front of Rhody and Dayton in the standings, they may be the sixth team in terms of the NCAA tournament without some quality wins down the stretch.  An excessively conservative estimate would have the Niners going 3-1 over the next two weeks (wins against Duquesne, GW, St. Joe’s, and a loss to Xavier), putting their conference record at 11-3 heading into its final two games. Splitting their last two games, @ URI and at home versus Richmond, would probably put Bobby Lutz’s club in the 3rd/4th place slot.  However, looking at their resume, they would be best served by winning at least two of their three reaming Hexagonal matchups; otherwise the Niners will have some work to do in Atlantic City.  

6th) Dayton: It’s hard to imagine that the current seventh place team in the Atlantic Ten has a shot at an NCAA berth, but that’s the unfortunate state of college basketball in 2010. It will be next to impossible for the Flyers to reach the top four of the conference, so UD will simply have to focus on not tripping over its own feet from here on out. A loss outside the Hexagon puts the Flyers squarely on the bubble, regardless of whether they sweep Richmond and Temple (which, let’s be frank, is an unlikely occurrence anyway). Most observers believe that eleven wins, and one victory in AC (a loss at UD Arena, in the conference tournament, will be the final nail in the Dayton’s coffin) puts them in the Dance with a double-digit seed. Simple math tells us that UD will need to go 5-1 over the next three weeks to solidify a bid, 4-2 won’t cut it. Unfortunately for the Flyers, this means getting a win at either Richmond or Temple, a tall order for a team that has once again struggled to get wins on the road this season.

The Atlantic 10 Rodeo

Welcome back to The Atlantic 10 Rodeo.  As with every Monday, we will review the news throughout the past week, the week’s top performers, and also take a look at what to watch during the upcoming week.  Let’s get it started:

News

Temple Continues Their Dominance

• Temple welcomed Xavier into Philly on Wednesday for a showdown of A-10 unbeatens.  Led by Ryan Brooks’ 22 points on 7-12 shooting, the Owls shot lights out (59.2%) to down the Muskies 77-72.  The win solidified Temple as the ONE team to beat in the A-10 as they improve to 17-3 (5-0).  If Brooks can continue to produce like he did against X, he could give Crawford (18 points, 6-16) a run for his money for my personal A-10 POY vote.

Dayton Gets Upended at SJU

• There’s only one thing to say about this game: FUCK.

Xavier Bounces Back

• With a short turnaround between Temple and URI, the Muskies were able to bounce back and maintain their spot behind Temple in conference standings.  Paced by Jordan Crawford’s first career double-double (21 points, 12 boards), the Muskies were able to secure the 72-61 W.  This game was home to the worst stat line of the week:
  • Kenny Frease, XU
    • 11 min, 1-2 FG, 0-2 FT, 0 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 5 PF
    • Foul out in 11 minutes of action, almost as good as Bob Fiehly.

Top Performers

Jordan Crawford- XU vs. URI

• The aforementioned first career double-double for Crawford came in the form of 21 points and 12 reb.  This stat line looks like a Chris Johnson-esque game for a guard.  Now if only we can get CJ to not disappear as much as Crawford, we’ll be in good shape.  Crawford will need to continue to have games like this in order to stay atop the Harry Baujan POY standings.

Chris Wright- UD vs. SJU

• The only player to make the trip out to Philly was Wright.  Without the help of his teammates, CW was able to put up a career best 28 points on 12-20 shooting.  Finally we got a glimpse of the CW that is projected to be a first round NBA draft pick.  Now if we could get a few more UD players to show up this could be a force to be reckoned with.  If not, we UD fans are going to have a long February. 

Chris Braswell- Charlotte vs. La Salle

• The freshman big man was one of 3 49er players (Braswell, Spears, Green) to score 20+ points on Saturday to slip by LaSalle 84-82.  Braswell finished with 21 points and 13 boards, while going a perfect 9-9 from the charity strip.  This performance puts Braswell on the verge of averaging a double-double on the season with 9.9 PPG and 9.2 RPG.

Rodney Green- La Salle vs. Charlotte

• There is not too much more that Green could have done to help the Explorers upset Charlotte.  Green finished the game with 32 points, 5 boards, and 5 assists.  The senior guard shot just under 50% for the game on 12-25 shooting including 3-5 from beyond the arc.  Look for Green to continue to score in bunches as he averages 44% from the field and 15 FGA per game.

Ryan Brooks- Temple vs. Xavier

• Guard play has been the driving force for the Owls this season with 39.5 PPG coming from Brooks and Juan Fernandez.  Brooks did not shy away from improving his 16 PPG average by dropping 22 points on Xavier to keep Temple unbeaten in conference play.  Brooks shot 58% from the field, hit 8 of 9 freebies, and yanked down 7 boards.  Watch out Crawford, Brooks is comin’ for ya.

Andrew Nicholson- St. Bonaventure vs. UMass & Duquesne

• Normally the Bonnies do not draw too much attention, and well that’s because they’re not very good.  They do have something good going in the form of their 6’9 sophomore, Nicholson.  He is averaging 16.7 PPG and 7.8 RPG.  This week Nicholson not only had 1 top performance, but 2 in eerily similar games.  In a 70-69 win over Umass, Nicholson notched 26 points and 7 boards on 55% shooting.  3 days later in a 70-69 loss to Duquesne, Nicholson recorded 29 points and 7 boards on 58% shooting.  It will be interesting to see how Kaptain Kurt matches up with Nicholson in the post come Saturday night.

Looking Forward to This Week

1/26- URI @ UD

• If Chris Wright is the only Flyer to show up to this game, you can bet that the nation’s second longest home winning streak will come to a close.  The loser of this game risks falling to .500 in conference play and will put them in an outside looking in position.  Look for a high scoring affair as both teams average above 70 PPG.

1/27- Temple @ Charlotte

• The Owls look to remain undefeated in conference play as they travel to North Carolina to face off with the 49ers.  With a victory, Charlotte could move into a tie atop the A-10 at 5-1.  Look for a showdown between Brooks and Spears, 2 players who are capable of putting up 30.

1/30- SLU @ Richmond

• With both squads tied for 4th in conference standings this is likely to be a quality game.  Despite having 6 losses on the year, Richmond boasts a 9-1 home record.  A loss here will give either team their 7th on the year with roughly 10 to play, something that neither team can afford if they want to be dancing come March.

As always, be sure to check back next Monday for another installment of The Atlantic 10 Rodeo.

Temple University: Local Homicide Rate Down 3.5%!

Just when you thought the preview series of teams you can't name more than 2 players on was over, here we go again. Much like the Fresh Prince, Temple University is from North Philadelphia (born and raised) and hasn't let a couple of guys who are up to no good (4 on campus shootings since 2008) get in its way of living out max and relaxing all cool. The defending two time A-10 Tournament Champs will take the floor I just wanted to include this picture because I thought it would appeal to our target demographic.with a different looking line up this season. Only the last vestiges of John Chaney's recruits will suit up for Fran Dunphy who has had an extremely successful three years replacing the Temple legend. Dunphy will certainly have his coaching talents tested this season in search of his third NCAA berth in a row, as he lost 50% of his scoring from last season to graduation.

Joining us today to discuss the upcoming season is the proprietor of The Owl's Nest, Owlified. Owlified covers everything relevant in Temple athletics, which pretty much only includes football and basketball, and is confirmed to be the only person who knows more about Temple than Bill Cosby, without the creepiness. Owl (as I call him) is one of the rare beacons of talent in the barren world of blogging and you can follow him on twitter, subscribe to him on YouTube, or catch him on ESfrickinPN. The Blackburn Review has enough problems with grammar and this jerk is getting published on ESPN. Anyway, onto the questions...

O'B: I'm not going to lie to you, after Chaney left 4 years ago I was sure that Temple would go off in the sunset just like Bill Cosby did in 1995. I was indeed right, but only for one year. In the past two seasons Temple has won 43 games, won two A10 championships, and enjoyed an upset of then 8th ranked Tennessee. If you could only thank one person for your success of this team, is it Fran Dunphy for coaching these guys or John Chaney for recruiting them?It only takes this asshole 2 licks to get to the center of a tootsie roll pop.

Owlified: I'd attribute Temple's recent success to Coach Dunphy, who is definitely deserving a job well done. He entered the coaching position with what some might say were Chaney's "leftovers", and utilized them to their best abilities. During his time at Temple, Coach Chaney had always been a great recruiter, and left Dunph with two of the Owls' best players arguably ever. I believe though that the coaching has more of an effect on the player's talent, than he does himself.

O'B:Temple has taken a significant hit from graduation, losing 7-foot center Sergio Olmos, Semaj Inge, and He Who Shall Not Be Named. I'm sorry but I can't say it out loud, it just validates all the ulcers he's given me. With those three out the door, do you consider this a rebuilding year? How realistic are you expectations for a three-peat?

Owlified: To an extent, every year since Coach Dunphy's arrival has been a rebuilding year. This season we will get a taste of what coach has turned this program into so far, with the entire roster built of his recruiting. However, it will not be easy replacing 3 starters. To be honest, a situation like this is very difficult to predict post season chances until everything unfolds. Someone has got to fill those shoes.

O'B: Lavoy Allen is now the man at Temple University. His 14 double-doubles last season established We should rename Lavoy Allen "Easter" just to keep the theme of ruining Catholic Holidays going.that he was a premier post player in this conference. Yet, this season could be a different story, without a certain at will scorer on the perimeter streching defenses. Will the likes of Ryan Brooks and Juan Fernandez have enough firepower to keep the double teams off of Allen? 

Owlified: Ryan Brooks last year showed that he is a proven scorer, along with being an excellent defender. He has played under the wings of Mark Tyndale and Dionte Christmas (sorry, had to say it!).  I'd expect him, along with Lavoy Allen to serve as two of the Owls main threats. Juan Fernandez now has a year under his belt playing American ball, and I'd expect to see even more out of the rising star. Ramone Moore will also be returning, after sitting out most of the season getting academics straight. I believe that he will also play a large role in Temple's success.

O'B: How important will Juan Fernandez and his sexy Argentinian blood be to your team this year? Looking at your roster it seems like his development will be essential to your success on the court. Who else do you need to step up to content for another title? Who should we be watching for as a possible breakout player?

Owlified: Temple now has a true point guard, plain and simple. Fernandez sees the wide open floor, and hits the open man. He's also not afraid to make plays himself. As I mentioned in the previous question, though, players like Lavoy Allen and Ryan Brooks (the two remaining starters) will need to up their games drastically. As for a breakout player, I'd go with Ramone Moore. In his little time playing last year, the redshirt freshman proved he could make things happen with his tremendous play against Clemson. He's an exciting player to watch, and could potentially be that breakout player?

O'B: With all of his success, Chaney is unfortunately going to be remembered for trying to attack John Calipari and for sending in a goon to physically assault a St. Joe's player, which resulted in Chaney being suspended for the rest of the year. (Jon Bryant, the SJU player, suffered a fractured arm as a result).  Given his checkered history, how does the average Temple fan feel about Chaney's legacy?

Owlified: If you ask any Temple fan, Coach Chaney will go down as one of TU's greatest coaches ever (along with Harry Litwack). Coach ran a clean and proud program, which speaks louder than both of those incidents. Coach emphasized the importance of education, and growing up as good individuals. Basketball-wise, his history includes numerous trips to the Final Four, Elite 8, Sweet 16, and also #1 rankings in the country. (Also, any Temple fan would agree that Jon Bryant faked his fractured arm, as he was spotted without his brace fulling functioning with it on the sideline.)

O'B: Now for a prediction that we will unfairly hold against you come February. How does the Temple team of 09-10 compare to the past two championship teams and more importantly, how do you think they finish this year?

Owlified: Tough question. To be quite honest, I would say that last year's squad was more talented, and more experienced than this upcoming year's. That doesn't mean, however, that this team cannot get the job done. I see our team being very competitive in this difficult schedule we have, and a few victories against the big name teams will give us an idea as to the identity of this program. Prediction: Owls are once again in the position where they need to win the A-10, or they're done (but who knows?).

Thanks for the insight Owlified, enjoy getting the Fresh Prince theme song out of your head.