This NCAA Southeast match-up features two teams with contrasting styles, as a trip to the Sweet Sixteen is on the line at the McKale Center in Tucson, Arizona.
#7 Temple Owls (26-7/ 14-2 A10) vs. #2 San Diego State Aztecs (33-2/14-2 MWC)
PROBABLE STARTERS: San Diego State
F – #4 Malcolm Thomas (6‐9 220 Sr)
F -#15Kawhi Leonard (6‐7 225 So )
G -#22Chase Tapley(6‐2 200 So)
G -#23D.J. Gay (6‐0 170 Sr. )
F -#32 Billy White (6‐8 235 Sr.)
PROBABLE STARTERS – Temple
F #24- Lavoy Allen (6-9, Sr.)
F #32- Rahlir Jefferson (6-6 So.)
G #22- Aaron Brown (6-5 Fr.)
G #23- Ramone Moore (6-4 Jr.)
G # 4 – Juan Fernandez (6-4 Jr.)
TU TEAM STATISTICS SDSU
70.8 …….. Points Per Game………… 72.1
62.2……Opponents Points Per Game… 58.6
+8.6………….Point Differential……….+13.4
.449…….. Field Goal Percentage……..465
.413 …..Field Goal Percentage Defense…. .394
6.1………………3PT Per Game …………… 6.0
.351 ……… 3PT Percentage………….. .347
.345 ……Opp. 3PT Percentage……. .311
.698 …..Free Throw Percentage……. .697
35.8 …….Rebounds Per Game ……… 37.6
+2.8 ……. Rebound Margin…….+6.9
15.1…….Assists Per Game ……. 13.5
6.9……. Steals Per Game…….. 6.2
10.8……. Turnovers Per Game….. 10.9
+2.4 ……… Turnover Margin………. +1.7
Kind of worried on how Temple plans on guarding/stopping Leonard. They’re small and Leonard has a good face-up game, almost like he is a 3. He might be the difference. Temple’s defense has been revered since Dunphy got there, but every now and then they have major problems matching up with someone and don’t adjust well. Leonard might be that problem today.
Scootie Randall’s health is key.
https://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/owlsinq/Randall-expected-to-play.html
Randall should be a boost for them.. Their bench is short to begin with, so if he can give them some quality minutes.
I am starting to have a better appreciation for how smooth Juan Fernandez is.
He slows the game to his speed.
Wow – SDSU’s defense is making Temple look really passive. I can’t believe Leonard is hurting the Owls badly in transition with his ball-handling. Lavoy Allen needs a jumpshot lesson badly.
Owls VERY lucky to only be down 5 points at the half. Quite a contrast of styles/game plans; SDSU is putting up shots quickly while Temple looks like they’ve been studying Wisconsin game film. They are almost too passive and getting lucky breaks at the end of the shot clock. Someone is goin g to have to keep DJ Gay in front of the Owl defense in the second half.
Rey, you would have thought after the 5 or 6th jump shot – Allen would have started saying, “Why are they giving me this shot ?”
How many missed layups is that now for Temple??
The Owls look like they are trying to impersonate the Musketeers from last night.
Wow.. Reggie Miller coming down hard on Ramone Moore..
Temple does have the pace of the game right where it wants it.
Wow! Forget my previous comment. KHALIF!
10 total fouls this half?
What a great SOB play.
Wow!! That was close.. We are heading to overtime!!
SDSU has only shot 2 FTs all game. Temple’s defense is so stout in the halfcourt. Chase Tapley seemed to hit a big 3 everytime the Owls were closing in. Too bad there is no inside presence from Jefferson or Allen or this game would already be over.
It was – set a back pick for the inbounder. Temple switched off of it well though.
Wyatt!!! What a huge steal..
Did Ramone Moore commit the lane violation?
No it was Juan Fernandez.
Is Temple getting tired? Last couple of offensive possession haven’t been that good.
They look like they’re playiong not to lose. At what point does “slowing the game down” cause you to become to passive on offense? That’s what the Owls look like in the second OT.
Agreed. They have stopped attacking the basket and they are setting for long jumpers. Okay to run some clock and slow the game down – but you still have to get a good shot.
That ball wasn’t on its way down??
Sent guys to the FT line off contested jumpshots in OT, couldn’t get anything offensively, and both bigs (Jefferson and Allen) PASSED – yes, PASSED – the ball when they had it inside the paint. Until next year, Temple…
SDSU just proved themselves worthy of their seed.