Record: 40-39-5 (SD State -4 pending)
Temple: 2-2
WARNING: I'm a bit cold right now. We'll get the mojo back but just wanted to warn you.
The Temple Owls will cause me to drink this season. As I've chronicled in this thread, the talent is there to be a very good team. Juan Fernandez and Lavoy Allen are a 1-2 punch that a lot of teams would clamor for. The problem is that there is something wrong with Fernandez mentally and Allen needs to go to the Wizard and grow some balls. Allen also seems to think he's a perimeter shooter which is nowhere near what he is.
This team lives and dies by it's role players. Those would be Ramone Moore, Scootie Randall, Khalif Wyatt and Rahlir Jefferson. When these guys score, Temple's tough to stop. Moore has been up and down this year already. He needs to slash to the hoop more and draw fouls. He did that a lot against Maryland and the offense clicked. Randall and Wyatt are jump shooters who have the ability to drive but prefer the shots from range. Jefferson is Mr. Do Everything but he's suddenly grown some offense from last year when he was reluctant to shoot.
Another key is Michael Eric who has grown some low post moves but the problem is getting him the ball consistently and not having him shrink into the background.
The one constant this season has been the defense. This game will not be pretty. You will curse yourself for touching it. Temple drags you to their pace and will make you look foolish. Ask the Terps who couldn't pass or dribble for stretches of the game. Last year's game in DC was ridiculous. Poor FT shooting at the end killed Temple and they lost by one. Make no mistake though, Temple was the better team on the court that night.
The Hoyas two road games this season have been toughies gutting one out at Old Dominion and beating Missou in OT on a "neutral" court. Both games very easily could have been losses for the team but they picked up wins. Austin Freeman is their biggest threat. He shot 4-10 last season in the game between these two. Jason Clark hit big 3's in the OT against Missouri to win that game. He won't find as many open ones in this game.
Temple has covered 19 of their last 27 home games. This crowd will be electric and hopefully mostly Owls fans. Last year I was at the Kansas game there and it might as well have been Rock Chalk land. The key will be keeping them around and keeping Fernandez focused. He's a big key.
PREDICTION: I think this is tight and I think the Owls win. This is a very good team and they will use the Maryland game as motivation. Fernandez scores 16 and Temple wins 60-56. They know they should have won last year.
ELSEWHERE:
Xavier +1 -- Shenanigans in last year's game in Butler with the clock and X potentially wins. The Muskies need to get a good game from Kenny Frease as he needs to shut down Howard for Butler.
Leans:
Florida Over 135.5
Xavier Under 137
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