Setting: Atlantic 10 powers collide when Fran Dunphy’s Temple Owls (13-4/ 3-1) descend upon the Cintas Center for a tilt with Chris Mack’s Xavier Musketeers (12-5/ 4-0).
Flashback: Ryan Brooks scored 22 as the Owls defeated the Musketeers 77-72 last January at the Liacouras Center.
Dunphy has taken Temple to “The Dance” each of the last three seasons. The Owls have punched 28 invitations to the NCAA tournament. Xavier has earned 21 NCAA Tournament berths, including last year’s Sweet Sixteen run and Elite Eight showings in 2008 and 2004. The Muskies have advanced to the Sweet Sixteen each of the last three seasons.
Foreshadowing: Thirty-three Owls have gone on to represent the Cherry and White in the National Basketball Association. Seventeen Musketeers have played in the National Basketball Association, including current stars Derrick Brown, Jordan Crawford, James Posey and David West.
TEMPLE-XAVIER COMPARISON
TU XU
68.9 Points Per Game 70.8
59.4 Opponents Points Per Game 65.5
+9.5 Point Differential +5.3
.448 Field Goal Percentage .454
.392 Field Goal Percentage Defense .405
4.8 3PT Per Game 5.4
.307 3PT Percentage .319
.331 Opp. 3PT Percentage .318
.681 Free Throw Percentage .746
36.2 Rebounds Per Game 34.5
+3.6 Rebound Margin +2.2
14.1 Assists Per Game 12.8
7.6 Steals Per Game 5.8
5.0 Blocks Per Game 3.1
12.2 Turnovers Per Game 12.3
+2.5 Turnover Margin +0.6
Temple, Xavier meet with much at stake
Tip-off is 3 p.m. Game is televised on ESPN 2. Please add to the conversation.
How about this stat – points in the paint: Temple 18 Xavier 40
Wow. What the heck has happened to Lavoy Allen???
Four fouls had something to do with it.
That’s two games in a row where an opposing player struggled with the whistle. Is it luck? Or is it the game plan?
No club trillion for Kevin Feeney.
Lavoy Allen’s stat line: 0-3, 3 boards, 4 fouls, no points
Good thing Khalif Wyatt came off the bench and knocked down shots for the Owls or this could have been ugly.
Andrew Nicholson on Wednesday vs. XU 13 points, 2 rebounds, 5 fouls
Yeah but Wyatt had the brain freeze with the foul on Holloway.
That’s a credit to McLean playing well with his back-to-the-basket.
I was shocked to see Frease beat the entire Owls defense down the floor for an easy basket..
Now that I think about it – I think a Xavier big man did it 4 or 5 times during the game. For a team that prides itself on defense – that is unacceptable.
Smitty – you’re absolutely right; the Owls gave up a lot of easy transition buckets. It seemed like everytime they were ready to close in and take the lead, Xavier’s big men somehow got up the floor. That killed them.
Great point Smitty. Xavier’s offensive identity is slowing becoming one of taking what the opponent gives them.
If Kenny Frease can get behind the defense, take it.