Temple University Athletics
Men's Basketball Cracks Top 25 For First Time Since 2001
12.21.09 | Men's Basketball
Owls ranked #21 by AP, #25 by ESPN/USA Today
PHILADELPHIA – The Temple men's basketball team, riding a five-game win streak that includes wins over two previously unbeaten Big East teams (#8/8 Villanova and Seton Hall), has cracked the Top 25 for the first time since November, 2001. Off to their best start since the 1993-94 team opened at 16-2, the Owls are ranked #21 by the Associated Press poll and #25 by the ESPN/USA Today poll.
“This is great for the University, the students, alumni and fans of the program,” Temple head coach Fran Dunphy said. “Our focus, however, remains on our next opponent, which is Bowling Green, then after that a game at Northern Illinois before hosting #1 Kansas. We just need to continue going about the business of getting better as a basketball team – one game at a time.”
Picked to finish tied for fifth in the preseason Atlantic 10 Conference coaches/media poll, the Owls have put together their run to the rankings with a defense that ranks third in the nation in scoring defense (55.1 ppg.) and fourth in three-point percentage defense (.239).
Led by senior co-captains Ryan Brooks and Luis Guzman, the Owls have controlled the tempo of the game on offense, and rank fourth in the nation in fewest turnovers per game (10.2 ppg.). Brooks, named Philadelphia Big 5 Player of the Week today, leads a balanced Cherry and White squad in scoring with a 15.2 average. Junior forward Lavoy Allen, a preseason first team All-Atlantic 10 selection, averages a double-double (11.5 ppg./10.4 rpg.) while sophomore guard Juan Fernandez, who was named the Atlantic 10 Conference Player of the Week on Sunday, averages 13.5 points and 3.8 assists per game.
The Owls are off this week and next take the court on Monday, December 28 (7:00 p.m.) against Bowling Green at McGonigle Hall. It is “Turn Back The Clock” Night as Temple will be playing its first regular season game in its old home since opening the Liacouras Center in 1997. The team will wear retro uniforms from the 1980s and fans can purchase tickets to the game for $9.00 and there will discounted concession prices throughout the game.
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