2009-10 Result: 29-6 (14-2 in the Atlantic 10) lost to Cornell 78-65 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Coach: Fran Dunphy 394-212 in 21 seasons (84-49 in four campaigns with Temple).
Thirty-three Owls have signed contracts with teams in the National Basketball Association including Mardy Collins who currently plays with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Twenty-eight Temple teams have danced in March. The Owls advanced to the National semi-finals in ’56 and ’58. Owl squads went to the Elite Eight in ’44, ’88, ’91, ’93, ’99 and ’01.
Notable Non-Conference Tilts: 11/12 vs. Seton Hall, 11/25 at California, 12/5 at Maryland, 12/9 vs. Georgetown, 12/30 at Villanova, 2/23 at Duke.
Stat of Identity: 38.3 field goal percentage defense (7th in the country).
Key Returners:
Juan Fernandez 31.6 mpg, 12.6 ppg, 1.8:1 A/T
Lavoy Allen 34.5 mpg, 11.5 ppg, 10.7 rpg
Ramone Moore 18 mpg, 7.6 ppg, 3.1 rpg
Michael Eric 15.7 mpg, 5.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg
Rahlir Jefferson 16.6 mpg, 3.9 ppg, 2.6 rpg
Craig Williams 11.9 mpg, 3.8 ppg
By Paul Casey Gotham
It’s been ten years since the Temple Owls won a game in the NCAA Tournament. Seems odd considering the denizens of North Broad Street took 12 decisions during the decade of the 90s.
Fran Dunphy has taken the Cherry and White to the dance the last three years. Each time the clock struck midnight before Temple found their stride. Dunphy’s 2010-11 Owls seem destined for another trip to the tournament. This time the fifth-year coach will have all the ingredients possible for a run.
Dunphy returns three starters from last year’s squad: Lavoy Allen, Juan Fernandez and Michael Eric. Ramone Moore, the A-10’s sixth man of the year, will easily transition into the starting five.
With a season and a half experience under his belt, Fernandez is a weapon that Dunphy has not had in his tenure at Temple. The junior forward from Argentina sees the floor well as evidenced by his nearly 2:1 assist to turnover ratio. At the same time, Fernandez is capable of a scoring outburst that can put away a game such as the 33 points on 7-9 shooting from behind the arc when the Owls downed Villanova 75-65. Now, he knows the league and has experienced play in March. A combination sure to make for happy times in the Liacouras Center.
Allen does it all. The 6’9″ senior averaged a double-double last year. The combination of Fernandez and Allen should give opposing defenses fits. There will be no opportunity to double down on Allen with Fernandez roaming the perimeter.
6’11” Eric is there to clean up what is left over. Eric will see increased playing time. He will need to be active on the offensive glass.
Freshmen Anthony Lee, Jimmy McDonnell and Aaron Brown will compete for time on the floor.
I think it will be a good year on N Broad. Lavoy Allen made plenty of Owls happy but not giving into the temptation of the NBA. Both he and Eric have been late bloomers in terms of strength. Hopefully both have found the weight room in the Liacourous Center. Allen has a knack for the ball and rebounding, which I think will make him always find a niche with some team in the NBA.
The only glaring problem will be at point. I actually see Juan Fernandez calling some plays for Dunphy in the half-court. The A-10 will not give the Owls many nights off.
I like Fernandez as a playmaker.