November 15, 2008 | AP Press

CHARLESTON, S.C. — Dionte Christmas scored 26 points and Temple made 10 straight free throws down the stretch to beat the College of Charleston 70-65 in the Charleston Classic on Saturday.

The Owls (2-0) will play in the championship on Sunday against the winner of the Clemson-Texas Christian game, which will be played Saturday night.

The Cougars trailed by 13 with less than 10 minutes to play, but got back into the game on the 3-point shooting of guards Marcus Hammond and Andrew Goudelock.

Hammond, who made 5-of-6 shots from 3-point range, led the Cougars with 15 points. Goudelock finished with 13.

Christmas was 9-for-9 from the free throw line and contributed seven rebounds.

Temple outrebounded the Cougars 47-27.

November 14, 2008 | AP Press

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Dionte Christmas scored 26 points and Temple held on to beat East Tennessee State 79-65 on Friday in a first-round game in the Charleston Classic.

Christmas also had 11 rebounds and six assists, leading four players in double figures for the Owls, who (1-0) will play against the winner of Friday night’s game between College of Charleston and Southern Illinois-Edwardsville.

ETSU (0-1) will play the loser of the Charleston-SIU-Edwardsville game.

The Buccaneers rallied from a 20-point deficit in the second half to cut the lead to nine with 3:28 to play but Temple put the game away with free throws and key defensive stops in the closing minutes.

The scoring leader in the Atlantic 10 each of the last two seasons, Christmas got his senior season off to a good start.

Mike Smith and Courtney Pigram combined for 37 points for the Buccaneers.

Temple led by as many as 17 points in the first half and 44-28 at halftime.

Christmas had 15 of his 26 points in the first half.

Location: Philadelphia, PA

Enrollment: 34,000

Founded: 1884

President: Dr. Ann Weaver Hart

Athletic Director: Bill Bradshaw

Athletic Web Sites: owlsports.cstv.com, temple.rivals.com, temple.scout.com

Nickname: Owls

Colors: Cherry and White

Arena: Liacouras Center

Capacity: 10,206

Average Attendance: 6,117

Head Coach: Fran Dunphy

Overall Record: 343-224 (62.7% Winning Percentage)

Record at Temple: 33-31

2007-2008 Record: 21-13 (11-5) A10 Tournament Champion NCAA Tournament Round 1

Assistants: Dave Duke, Matt Langel, Shawn Trice

ROSTER

2 Ryan Brooks JR G 6-4 200 Lower Merion, PA
3 Martavis Kee SO G 6-2 180 G Fort Lauderdale, FL
*10 Luis Guzman JR PG 6-3 200 Paramus, NJ
11 T.J. DiLeo FR WG 6-2 195 Cinnamonsin, NJ
*14 Sergio Olmos JR F/C 7-0 220 Spain
15 Semaj Inge SR G 6-4 190 Camden, NJ
*22 Dionte Christmas SR G/F 6-5 205 Philadelphia/Lutheran Christian (PA)
23 Ramon Moore R-FR WG 6-4 180 Philadelphia
*24 Lavoy Allen SO PF 6-9 235 Morrisville, PA
30 Craig Williams SO F 6-9 240 St. Croix, Virgin Islands
33 Andrew Randall WF 6-6 205 Philadelphia
50 Michael Eric R-FR C 6-11 225 Nigeria/ Church Farm (PA)
Juan Manual Fernandez FR PG 6-4 195 Argentina

*Returning starters (4)

OVERVIEW

It’s safe to say that doubts about Fran Dunphy’s ability to succeed in
the A-10 have been answered, and emphatically so. The former Ivy League
king had a rough go in his debut (12-18), but he quickly restored
Temple to its usual spot among the league elite. The Owls won 12 of
their last16 regular-season games, captured the A-10 tournament title
and earned their first NCAA bid in seven years.

Some skeptics still question whether Dunphy can recruit at the A-10
level. After all, the Ivy League does not issue scholarships. Only time
will tell, but Dunphy clearly is a shrewd judge of talent and he’s
better than most coaches at developing players. As long as he gets
enough good players, Dunphy will find a way to keep Temple near the top
of the A-10 heap.

The latest edition of the Owls certainly has enough good players. To be
sure, Temple will feel the loss of Second Team A-10 selection Mark
Tyndale and unsung point guard Chris Clark. Yet Temple returns a good
core of veterans and several promising newcomers.

The Owls are led by Dionte Christmas, the scintillating 6-5 scoring
guard and one of the frontrunners for A-10 player of the year. Just as
important to Temple’s success is the maturation of 6-9 sophomore Lavoy
Allen, the most talented young bigman in the league. He and senior
Sergio Olmos combine for a very effective low-post pairing.

Replacing Tyndale is impossible – he did so much for the team – but
Dunphy has good options. Junior Ryan Brooks was one of the top scoring
reserves in the A-10 and former Philly prep star Ramon Moore suits up
after a redshirt season.

Perhaps the biggest weakness is point guard. Luis Guzman started last
season, but Clark was always in the game when it mattered most. He was
a much better 3-point shooter and a calming influence on teammates.

Guzman might start again, but the 6-3 junior is not a natural playmaker
or a great outside shooter. Nor is his chief competitor for the
position, senior Semaj Inge. If neither can handle the job full time,
Dunphy could turn to Argentine sensation Juan Fernandez when he joins
the team in December.

DEPARTED PLAYERS

Mark Tyndale (15.9 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 4.3 apg, 49% FG, 77% FT) Strong-bodied
6-5 senior shook off early struggles to deliver an MVP-caliber
performance. Tyndale mostly scored on strong drives to the hoop, mixing
in an occasional 3-pointer (37% 3PG). He directed the offense from the
small-forward spot, setting up teammates for easy baskets (145 assists,
5th in the A-10). While Tyndale did turn the ball over (117) more than
any player in the league, he usually made smart decisions when it
counted most. As a defender, Tyndale never realized his considerable
potential, but he did a better job as a senior and racked up 54 steals,
many of which he converted into easy baskets.

Chris Clark (7.5 ppg, 87% FT, 59 assists, 24 steals). Small point
guard, little used before his senior year, saved his best for last. The
5-8 Clark became indispensable as the team’s sixth man. A stabilizing
force on offense, he took excellent care of the ball (just 27 turnovers
in 755 minutes). Just as important, Clark gave the Owls a welcome
outside punch when defenders ganged up on Tyndale and Dionte Christmas.
He hit nearly 42% of his treys – compared to 29% in his first three
years – including a game winner vs. Ohio. Clark also played pesky
on-the-ball defense, though his size put him at a disadvantage in
half-court sets.

RETURNING PLAYERS

Dionte Christmas (19.7 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 2.5 apg, 44% FG, 37% 3PG, 77% FT).
The league’s leading scorer can put the ball in the basket every which
way from any part of the court. Almost impossible to stop in the open
floor, the 6-5 Christmas pulls up for treys or swoops in for layups. At
time he contorts himself like a pretzel, especially on baseline drives,
but somehow he finds a way to finish. The greater the degree of
difficulty, it seems, the better he shoots. He looks least comfortable
when he has plenty of time to spot up.

Temple would not have made the NCAA tournament, however, if all
Christmas did was score. He dishes to teammates after dribble
penetration, (86 assists), rebounds very well for his size and made
marked improvement in his defense (46 steals). He’s as complete a
player as there is in the A-10. “I don’t know of a better player in the
country,” said St. Louis coach Rick Majerus.

To elevate his game as senior Christmas has provide more leadership.
That means exercising better shot selection, cutting down on turnovers
(96) and taking charge on defense. With his length and quickness,
Christmas should be a great defender, not just a good one. He still
takes some plays off or gambles unnecessarily.

Lavoy Allen (8.1 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 56% FG, 74% FT). Fast-developing
forward, who’s only played organized ball for about six years, has huge
upside. He’s already the best young bigman in the A-10 and made
tremendous strides as a freshman. Allen has a nice touch around the
basket and is a good faceup shooter out to 18 feet. He even hit 2 of 5
treys and Dunphy says he’ll have the greenlight to take more 3-point
attempts as a sophomore. What’s even more impressive is Allen’s passing
ability (55 assists), either from the high post or down in the box. He
keeps his head up and does hold the ball too long.

His interior presence also became a major factor in Temple’s improved
team defense. After a fusillade of early-season whistles, Allen cut
down on silly fouls and used his body better to ward off opponents. He
still committed 105 fouls and was ejected from four games, but he
managed to stay on the floor longer. Allen swatted 52 shots – 5th in
the A-10 – and made opponents more reluctant to challenge Temple in the
paint.

Allen has to reduce his fouls and continue to improve on defense. Temple needs him on the court more as a sophomore. If he adds muscle
over the summer as expected, he should become a major force in the
paint. Last year he struggled to hold his ground against stronger
players. Another problem is Allen’s seeming reluctance to take charge.
He’s long and quick and few defenders in the A-10 match up with him
well. If he polishes his post game and plays aggressively, Allen could
be a 14-point-a-game scorer and an All-Conference performer in only his
second year. “Right now I think he wants to be good,” Dunphy said. “The
next step for Lavoy is wanting to be great.”

Sergio Olmos (5.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 56% FG). Spanish import played with
more confidence and intelligence as a junior and was a critical key to
Temple’s resurgence. Olmos made his presence felt especially on
defense. He did not bite on fakes as much, held his position and made
opponents hesitate. He blocked 49 shots and combined with Allen to give
the Owls a solid one-two punch inside.

For all his improvement, Olmos still committed 104 fouls and fouled out
of three games, though he like Allen managed to stay on the floor
longer as the season progressed. And for a player taller than anyone
who defends him, his post game is barely adequate and he rebounds
poorly for his size. Olmos lacks both quick reaction and the lower-body
strength to hold his position.

Despite those weaknesses, Olmos did convert 56% of his shots. He’s
learned how to seal off smaller defenders and finish with more
consistency. He also unveiled an accurate faceup jumper from the foul
line. If he improves as much as a senior as he did as a junior, Olmos
could actually be a force to be reckoned with down low. Even if he’s
not a star, he is a solid 7-footer in a league with very few of them.

Ryan Brooks (8.6 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 40% FG, 34.5% 3PG, 43 assists, 32
turnovers). The 6-4 swingman became a major scoring threat in his
second season and more is expected of him as a junior. Though not
spectacular at any one thing, Brooks is a good shooter and passer who
rarely makes bad decisions. In late situations he was usually at his
best, hitting a number of clutch shots even in games when he performed
poorly early on. Brooks is very smooth and never appears rushed. He
likes to shoot three’s off the catch or use upfakes to lift defenders
and glide in for layups. He’s not as good as Christmas at creating his
own shot, but he should score in double digits as a junior. What Dunphy
would also like is better rebounding. Brooks doesn’t grab many boards
given his size and the number of minutes he plays.

Luis Guzman (3.9 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1.6 apg, 44% FG, 54 assists, 45
turnovers). After barely playing as a freshman, the quick 6-3 guard was
inserted into the starting lineup in the sixth game of the season in
relief of Semaj Inge. Guzman did a decent job as a caretaker of the
ball even though he’s not a pure point. His biggest asset is his
ability to slice to the rim. Guzman has a nice burst and finishes well.
He didn’t hit many 3-pointers (15-47, 32%), but he has good form and
may become a better shooter with more experience. Although Guzman is a
solid player, he does not have a lock on his starting spot. The Owls
could use more production from his position.

Semaj Inge (3.1 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 50.6% FG, 36 assists, 24 turnovers).
Rangy 6-4 guard began the season as a starter, but he lost his job and
played sporadically the rest of the year. He got fewer than 10 minutes
a game in 15 contests, although he did play more than 20 minutes in six
others. Inge is a very good athlete and plays solid defense (20
steals), but his shaky decision making hurt the team. Too often he took
an ill-advised shot, made a bad pass or was out of position. The
offense usually worked more smoothly when Guzman or Clark was in the
game.

Inge could still play a very valuable role and Dunphy has said he
expects to rely more on him in his final season. He excels at attacking
the rim and can hit open shots (6-15 3PG). At times he gave the team a
spark, scoring 15 points vs. Providence, 14 points vs. St. Joseph’s and
17 vs. URI. Yet he needs to play smarter. The question is, can he?
After three years in the program, Inge might be like the proverbial
tiger that cannot change its spots. The example of Chris Clark, though,
gives hope.

Martavis Kee. The 6-2 Floridian, one of the highest rated recruits in
the league’s 2007-08 class, barely got off the bench. He saw just 8
minutes of action in 5 games. It doesn’t mean he can’t play, though.
Dunphy doesn’t like to play freshman guards. Kee will get a chance as a
sophomore, just like Luis Guzman did. He looked plenty athletic in
limited action and is supposed to be a good ball-handler who likes to
score via drives or treys.

Craig Williams – Big forward from the Virgin Islands played sparingly,
just 7 minutes in 6 games. Dunphy wanted Williams to get in better
shape. He is fairly athletic given his girth and seems to have some
decent skills.

NEWCOMERS

Ramon Moore – The Player of the Year in Philadelphia’s public league
two years ago, Moore redshirted to concentrate on academics and improve
his physique. Though almost 6-5, he weighed just 180 pounds when he
entered school. Moore is like many Temple wings. He’s long and
athletic, an explosive scorer who can attack the basket or drain the
triple. Temple insiders believe he’s a future star.

Michael Eric – Nigerian native was forced to redshirt despite
impressive academic credentials. Eric (No. 326 HoopScoop, 2007) has
only played basketball for a few years, but he’s a good shot-blocker with an improved touch.
While not a polished low-post threat, the Owls don’t need him to score
much. Allen will be relied upon for that. What Dunphy needs is a
defensive presence who can provide relief off the bench. Eric appears
capable of that role. “He can change some shots at the defensive end,”
Dunphy said.

Andrew Randall – The 6-6 swingman, nicknamed Scootie, was the latest
MVP of the Philadelphia Public League. Randall (No. 245, HoopMasters)
is seen as smart and tough with an unselfish game. He handles the ball,
makes the extra pass, rebounds and defends. Randall is also a good
scorer who can post up smaller opponents and hit some treys. Though
considered athletic enough to play on the wing, Randall may also need
to do some dirty work for the Owls inside.

Juan Manuel Fernandez – Star point guard on the Under-18 Argentine
National Team is an impressive talent who already knows how to control
an offense. Fernandez has great vision, uses his size to pass over the
top of defenses and is quite capable of hitting open treys. Temple made
the connection with Fernandez through former Owls great Pepe Sanchez.
While Fernandez is not nearly as good defensively, he could be one of
the league’s top freshmen. He won’t be eligible until December,
however, so it’s hard to expect Fernandez to jump right in just weeks
after arriving from his native country. By all accounts he’s seen as
Temple’s point guard of the future, if not this year then next.

T.J. DiLeo – Versatile 6-3 guard, a late bloomer, was named player of
the year in southern New Jersey by the Philadelphia Inquirer. A soccer
star in high school, DiLeo reportedly has quick feet and deceptive
athleticism. His most valuable skill is his outside shooting. In one
game as a senior DiLeo, son of an NBA
executive, scored 50 points and notched 9 three-pointers. He signed
with the Owls in the spring after heightened attention from recruiters.

SCOUTING REPORT

The departure of Tyndale, a terrific ball-handler and slasher, will require changes in how Temple runs its motion offense.

Instead of relying as heavily on penetration to break down defenses,
the guards are sure to feed the ball more frequently to Allen and
Olmos. Both are high-percentage shooters who attract double teams.
Allen in particular has game-changing skills but needs an aggressive
temperament to match.

A steadier inside attack would also relieve pressure on the primary
ball-handlers, although Dunphy doesn’t put as much responsibility on
the point guard as other coaches. It’s a good thing, too. It’s arguably
Temple’s weakest position on the floor, at least until the Argentine
Fernandez suits up.

When defenses collapse, the bigmen will kick the ball out to open
shooters. Brooks and Christmas are proven commodities while Kee and
Moore are known to have deep range.

What’s more, Dunphy has a track record of improving the shooting
ability of his players. The Owls hit 47% of their shots last year,
compared to less than 40% in each of John Chaney’s final three seasons.

When all else fails, Christmas can be expected to take matters into his
own hands. He’s one of the few triple threats in the A-10. Yet every
defense in the league will be geared to stop him, so he’ll have to be
more of a creator. Christmas is such a good ball-handler, though, he
can even run the offense from the point late in the game if necessary.

The defense, a sore spot in Dunphy’s first season and a half, improved
dramatically in conference play. It was the single biggest source of
Temple’s resurgence. The Owls should continue to get better. Dunphy’s
Penn squads were always sound defensively and made opponents work hard
for their points. It doesn’t hurt to have a trio of shotblockers,
Olmos, Allen and now Michael Eric, guarding the post. That will allow
the guards to extend their defense to the new 3-point line.

Rebounding (-1.0 margin) is a bigger concern. The Owls were
outrebounded by nine teams in the A-10 and no longer have Tyndale,
their best boardman (7.2 rpg, 7th in the A-10). Others have to pick up
the slack, especially Olmos and Brooks.

PREDICTION

Once Dunphy puts his stamp on a program, winning becomes a habit year
in and year out. Now he has his deepest and arguably most talented team
in three years at Temple. Christmas is one of the best go-to players on
the East Coast and Allen appears headed for stardom. Those two will
often have the ball in their hands.

The Owls are a bit younger, however, and most other top teams in the
A-10 get better play from the point. Dunphy needs an improved
performance from returning guards such as Guzman and Inge as well as
solid contributions from one or two newcomers.

Temple is no lock to repeat as A-10 tournament champion. A second straight 20-win season, however, appears well within reach.

WH’s

NONCON PREDICTION: 9-5

W – East Tenn. State (Charleston Classic)
W – vs. Charleston/Southern Illinois (Charleston Classic)
L – vs. Clemson (Charleston Classic)
W – At Lafayette
W – At Buffalo
W – MIAMI (OH)
L – At Penn State
L – TENNESSEE
L – At Kansas
W – At Long Beach State
L – At Villanova
W – KENT STATE
W – At Eastern Michigan
W – At Penn (Palestra)

This is one of the tougher noncon skeds in the league. The Classic in Charleston pits Temple against a decent East Tennessee team to start, and I could see the Owls matching up again with Charleston in the second game. I call both wins. Temple gets revenge on Charleston, which erased a 25-point lead in the second half to beat the Owls last year. Temple ends with a loss to likely opponent Clemson. A respectable 2-1 start.

Lafayette and Buffalo should both end up as road wins. Miami Ohio is dangerous and could pull the upset, but I don’t think Temple loses four in a row – the next three games are at Penn State, home vs. Tennessee and at Kansas. I conservatively predict losses in all three, though all are winnable. Temple might have more talent than Penn State, but the Nittany Lions are a darkhorse in the Big 10 and they are playing at home. Kansas lost a ton to graduation, but they are also playing at home and bring in the usual topnotch recruits. If I had to bet, I’d say the Owls knock off Tennessee at home.

Traveling to Long Beach is a long trip and the school has a good coach in former Gonzaga boss Dan Monson. The team only won 6 games last year, however. Villanova will be one of the best teams in the Big East and the Cats have had Temple’s number in recent years. Kent State is good enough to beat Temple, but the Owls will be hungry after a loss to Nova. Eastern Michigan is mediocre at best and an improved Penn team still isn’t good enough to beat Temple unless the Owls are very flat.