The Temple Owls will take on the Kansas Jayhawks at 5:30 Saturday. The Owls cracked the top 25 this week for the first time in over 8 years. Temple also finished a perfect 7-0 December. Temple hasn't been perfect in a December since 1987. Kansas is typically ranked in the top 10 and have maintained the #1 rank all year. The game is going to be televised on espn 2 and is sold out as this is the first #1 ranked team to play the Owls in the liacouras center. This game should be anticipated by many college basketball fans as 2 top 20 teams are facing off before the conference schedule begins.
Temple continues to play tenacious defense and keep opponents to below average scores. Temple ranks 3rd in the nation in scoring defense with 54.2 ppg. They also rank 4th in 3 point percentage at .240. Temple also plays very clean games by only turning the ball over 10.5 times per game which ranks 4th nationally. Temple will look to slow down another fast, high scoring offense by slowing down the tempo and limiting 2nd chance opportunities for Kansas. Temple has been up to the task of stopping high scoring offenses, most notably Villanova and Seton Hall. Lavoy Allen will be an X factor for the Owls as he leads the team with 10.6 rebounds per game and 1.8 blocks per game. He will have to be tough inside and stop Kansas from getting offensive boards and getting easy layups. Juan Fernandez will have continue making baskets if Temple wants to keep up with the Kansas offense. Ryan Brooks who leads the team with 15.8 points per game will also need to get open and make baskets to give Temple a chance.
Kansas ranks in the top 5 nationally with a +29.2 scoring margin. They will look to push the tempo and get a lot of fast break opportunities. Kansas is lead by freshman sensation Xavier Henry who scores 16.4 points per game and senior Sherron Collins who was a preseason second team all american and averages 13.8 points per game. Cole Aldrich will be a tough match up for Lavoy Allen down low as Cole Aldrich was a preseason 1st team all american and averages 11.2 points per game and 10.1 rebounds per game. Kansas is littered with talented players and some of Temples less known players will have to step up to keep with the talent of Kansas.
Prediction
This is Kansas first ranked opponent this year. Kansas has only played one true road game all year. This bodes well for Temple as they are already battle tested. Temple has played 2 ranked opponents (Georgetown ad Villanova). They beat Villanova by 10 and lost by 1 to Georgtown on final shot by Georgetown. This game is important for both teams as Kansas wants to prove they are legit as #1. Temple also wants to prove that they are ranked for a reason and that Villanova wasn't just a fluke. The Owls beat #1 ranked Kansas in 1995 in the Jimmy V classic 74-66 in OT.
Final Score
Kansas 76
Temple 69
