Preview
It's another strong defensive test that awaits the #9-ranked Georgetown Hoyas, which has faced a variety of challenges with the likes of Old Dominion, North Carolina State, Missouri, and Utah State, each of which failed to address the inside-outside combinations that have powered the Hoyas to an 8-0 start.
None of the five however, engage in what could best be described as a sticky defense employed by the Temple Owls, a persistent and defensive minded group which has held every opponent it has faced to 61 points or less this season and allowed only one team to shoot better than 38%. With a Georgetown team coming at a 51% mark from the field, defense will be the big story, though if Georgetown is able to get an early run from three point range, the second question follows: can Temple find the firepower to match it?
Much like Utah State before them, Temple depends heavily on a veteran starting lineup, with three returning starters from last season's 29-6 team. Junior guards Ramone Moore and Juan Fernandez each log over 30 minutes a game and are the top two scorers this season. Moore was the A-10's Sixth Man of the Year in 2009-10 season, and scored eight points off the bench in last year's loss to Georgetown at Verizon Center. Of Moore's 12.3 points per game average, a third of that comes from the free throw line, averaging 74%.
Moore has reached double figures in five of seven games this season, including 16 against Maryland, but must take a lot of shots to do it. Moore is only 11 of his last 38 shots over the last three games, and has given up nine turnovers. Fellow guard Juan Fernandez also has five double figure games and scored 14 against Maryland, but is shooting just 35% from the field. Both guards have been largely ineffective from three point range, combining for 5-23 (.217) three point shooting in its last three games and 11-53 (.207) for the year. In three guard sets, sophomore Khalif Wyatt (6.4 ppg) has proven more effective, hitting 56% of his shots and averaging just under 13 minutes a game.
The trapping defense employed by Temple have locked down opposing shooters while its inside game has been successful offensively. 6-6 junior Scootie Randall joined the starting lineup this season and is already making an impact, as he is second on the team in rebounds and combined for 17 points and 16 rebounds in his last two starts. Sophomore Rahlir Jefferson (5.1 ppg) may also see plenty of time in the game--his shooting has tailed off since the first three games of the season but he is a capable rebounder and defender.
6-9 senior Lavoy Allen is the man to watch for the Owls, even if his 10 points and seven rebounds seem modest in comparison to other pre-season All-America candidates. His 902 career rebounds in seventh all time in Temple history and he will likely become the school's fifth 1,000+ rebounder by season's end. Allen's 55% career shooting mark is a school record, but enters Thursday's game at a 48% mark, shooting 6-10 from the field with 13 points and 10 rebounds in the Maryland game. Allen's 21 rebounds against LaSalle last season were the most by a Temple player since 1973, and his quickness to the basket will be a test for Georgetown's defensive sets.
Against Georgetown last season, Allen played all 40 minutes, with 12 points and 14 rebounds, eight of these offensive rebounds, and coach Dunphy needs another full effort Thursday. Foul trouble remains a concern, however, as Allen has been in foul trouble in three of the last four games.
6-11 junior center Micheal Eric continues his progress as a second year starter. Eric doesn't take many shots but they are usually high percentage ones, and he is second on the team in offensive rebounds and accounts for 11 of the Owls' 312 blocks this season.
Points of concern for the Owls are offense, not defense. Temple held a 15 point lead on Maryland and absolutely hung on to win, 64-61, as the inside game went flat--the Owls picked up only three rebounds in the final four minutes as Maryland mounted its comeback. A better effort from its guards is vital, as well as getting point production from its bench, particularly Jefferson.
Some keys to the game:
* Adjusting From Outside: For Temple to keep the game close, it must neutralize the Georgetown three point shot while rediscovering a little of its own from the outside. Which offense will be better suited for adjusting to the defense and getting the open shots?
* Julian Vaughn: John Thompson III needs more than 15 minutes from Vaughn in this game, both for scoring as well as for defense, likely on switches to contain Allen going to the basket. Avoiding first half fouls for Vaughn is essential, even if it means more time earlier for Henry Sims as a result.
* "62": Georgetown has not scored fewer than 62 points and won since last season's Temple game, having lost to Old Dominion (61-57), Marquette (62-59), Syracuse (73-56), and West Virginia (60-58) last season under that scoring threshold; in fact, scoring 62 in three of those four would have won the game or forced overtime. Temple is 5-0 when scoring 62 or more this year, but has not allowed more than 61 all year. Georgetown has the offense to pick up the pace, but for this game Temple needs a slower tempo to win, and likely not much more than 62.
For Temple to win, Georgetown's guards are shut down from outside and Vaughn is bottled up inside, as foul trouble sends the Owls to grind it out at the free throw line. Any burst of three point shooting and inside give-and-go could be a knockout punch to a Temple team which cannot match Georgetown from the perimeter and will have a fight on its hands inside. The Owls made it a grinder of a game last season by keeping the score at a range better suited for the set-shot era, but this season's Hoyas should not make that mistake again.
It's another strong defensive test that awaits the #9-ranked Georgetown Hoyas, which has faced a variety of challenges with the likes of Old Dominion, North Carolina State, Missouri, and Utah State, each of which failed to address the inside-outside combinations that have powered the Hoyas to an 8-0 start.
None of the five however, engage in what could best be described as a sticky defense employed by the Temple Owls, a persistent and defensive minded group which has held every opponent it has faced to 61 points or less this season and allowed only one team to shoot better than 38%. With a Georgetown team coming at a 51% mark from the field, defense will be the big story, though if Georgetown is able to get an early run from three point range, the second question follows: can Temple find the firepower to match it?
Much like Utah State before them, Temple depends heavily on a veteran starting lineup, with three returning starters from last season's 29-6 team. Junior guards Ramone Moore and Juan Fernandez each log over 30 minutes a game and are the top two scorers this season. Moore was the A-10's Sixth Man of the Year in 2009-10 season, and scored eight points off the bench in last year's loss to Georgetown at Verizon Center. Of Moore's 12.3 points per game average, a third of that comes from the free throw line, averaging 74%.
Moore has reached double figures in five of seven games this season, including 16 against Maryland, but must take a lot of shots to do it. Moore is only 11 of his last 38 shots over the last three games, and has given up nine turnovers. Fellow guard Juan Fernandez also has five double figure games and scored 14 against Maryland, but is shooting just 35% from the field. Both guards have been largely ineffective from three point range, combining for 5-23 (.217) three point shooting in its last three games and 11-53 (.207) for the year. In three guard sets, sophomore Khalif Wyatt (6.4 ppg) has proven more effective, hitting 56% of his shots and averaging just under 13 minutes a game.
The trapping defense employed by Temple have locked down opposing shooters while its inside game has been successful offensively. 6-6 junior Scootie Randall joined the starting lineup this season and is already making an impact, as he is second on the team in rebounds and combined for 17 points and 16 rebounds in his last two starts. Sophomore Rahlir Jefferson (5.1 ppg) may also see plenty of time in the game--his shooting has tailed off since the first three games of the season but he is a capable rebounder and defender.
6-9 senior Lavoy Allen is the man to watch for the Owls, even if his 10 points and seven rebounds seem modest in comparison to other pre-season All-America candidates. His 902 career rebounds in seventh all time in Temple history and he will likely become the school's fifth 1,000+ rebounder by season's end. Allen's 55% career shooting mark is a school record, but enters Thursday's game at a 48% mark, shooting 6-10 from the field with 13 points and 10 rebounds in the Maryland game. Allen's 21 rebounds against LaSalle last season were the most by a Temple player since 1973, and his quickness to the basket will be a test for Georgetown's defensive sets.
Against Georgetown last season, Allen played all 40 minutes, with 12 points and 14 rebounds, eight of these offensive rebounds, and coach Dunphy needs another full effort Thursday. Foul trouble remains a concern, however, as Allen has been in foul trouble in three of the last four games.
6-11 junior center Micheal Eric continues his progress as a second year starter. Eric doesn't take many shots but they are usually high percentage ones, and he is second on the team in offensive rebounds and accounts for 11 of the Owls' 312 blocks this season.
Points of concern for the Owls are offense, not defense. Temple held a 15 point lead on Maryland and absolutely hung on to win, 64-61, as the inside game went flat--the Owls picked up only three rebounds in the final four minutes as Maryland mounted its comeback. A better effort from its guards is vital, as well as getting point production from its bench, particularly Jefferson.
Some keys to the game:
* Adjusting From Outside: For Temple to keep the game close, it must neutralize the Georgetown three point shot while rediscovering a little of its own from the outside. Which offense will be better suited for adjusting to the defense and getting the open shots?
* Julian Vaughn: John Thompson III needs more than 15 minutes from Vaughn in this game, both for scoring as well as for defense, likely on switches to contain Allen going to the basket. Avoiding first half fouls for Vaughn is essential, even if it means more time earlier for Henry Sims as a result.
* "62": Georgetown has not scored fewer than 62 points and won since last season's Temple game, having lost to Old Dominion (61-57), Marquette (62-59), Syracuse (73-56), and West Virginia (60-58) last season under that scoring threshold; in fact, scoring 62 in three of those four would have won the game or forced overtime. Temple is 5-0 when scoring 62 or more this year, but has not allowed more than 61 all year. Georgetown has the offense to pick up the pace, but for this game Temple needs a slower tempo to win, and likely not much more than 62.
For Temple to win, Georgetown's guards are shut down from outside and Vaughn is bottled up inside, as foul trouble sends the Owls to grind it out at the free throw line. Any burst of three point shooting and inside give-and-go could be a knockout punch to a Temple team which cannot match Georgetown from the perimeter and will have a fight on its hands inside. The Owls made it a grinder of a game last season by keeping the score at a range better suited for the set-shot era, but this season's Hoyas should not make that mistake again.
