Is Temple the real deal?

by Eric Schwartz

Wednesday February 24, 2010 

Is Temple the real deal? thumbnail

Just how good is Temple?

That is a question many around the country will be thinking over in the coming weeks when the NCAA brackets are revealed and the Owls find themselves favored for at least a round.

Those who wonder how good Temple is might want to take a look at the Owls’ game tonight with Dayton at 6:30 p.m. A few things should be answered.

The Dayton Flyers were picked by just about every expert to win the win the Atlantic 10. While Temple (22-5, 10-2) has soared above expectations, Dayton (18-8, 7-5) has floundered and will need to win the A-10 Tournament to be one of the 65 teams to make your bracket.

That’s something the Owls know all about. Temple has been on the outside of the postseason picture looking in the last two years, only to win the A-10 Tournament and sneak in the Big Dance.

It is unclear how many teams the A-10 will get in this season, but three is a real possibility. Richmond (22-6, 11-2), who leads the conference, and Xavier (19-7, 10-2) each has resume’s that deserve consideration. The Owls’ 20th ranking tells you all you need to know about their chances of getting in.

When Dionte Christmas took his game and scoring ability to the next level after last season, Temple was left with a big hole that few – myself included – thought it could fill.

However the guard combo of Ryan Brooks Juan Fernandaz have combined for 27 points per night and forward Lavoy Allen has given the team a low post threat, averaging a double-double (11.4 ppg, 10.3 rpg). That inside-out balance has made the Owls such a tough team to beat. They can blow by the “man” defense and heve the shooters to rip apart the “zone.”

Tonight the Owls will get a big test. Dayton has been a disappointment and the only way to rectify that is to get hot over their final four games and roll into the A-10 Tournament with a host of momentum.

If Temple is as good as its resume claims it to be, Dayton’s run will never have a shot to get started.

Ten years ago under the tutelage of John Chaney, Temple earned a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament. This team will not get that high.

But with a strong finish, the Owls could be just as dangerous.

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