The Temple Men's basketball program is ranked in the top 25 for the first time since November 2001. The Owls were finally able to get in the top 25 after defeating two unbeaten teams, Villanova and Seton Hall back to back. The Owls are 9-2 on the year and have multiple impressive wins including Siena, Virginia Tech, Penn State, Villanova and Seton Hall. To further their resume they lost a one point heart breaker to #15 Georgetown. 
Temple basketball will take on Seton Hall Saturday at 7pm. Seton Hall is the 4th undefeated Big East opponent Temple will face this year. So Temple won't be afraid of Seton Hall since they have already played a lot of good teams out of the Big East. However, Temple is 1-2 in games vs undefeated Big East opponents, the most recent being a comeback win vs #3 Villanova. Hopefully Temple can use that big win vs Nova to get them pumped for the next few tough games games before the conference schedule starts. Temple will face yet another high scoring team. Seton Hall averages over 90 ppg which is more than nova averaged. However, Temple proved vs. Nova their defense is legit and can stop a high powered offense. It wont be easy as Seton Hall has 4 players that average over 10 ppg. They also have 2 more players that average over 9 ppg. Temple will have to slow down the tempo of the game to try and mess up Seton Hall's rhythm and have it be a low scoring affair which plays in their favor. Temple will hope that Juan Fernandez can have a repeat performance from the Nova game where he scored 33 points and was 11-15 from the field and 7-9 from behind the arc. Temple will also hope that Brooks can continue gaining confidence and become the scorer they thought he could be at the beginning of the season. 
The picture says it all. As Temple fans stormed the court you could tell how much this win meant to the Temple Owls. Villanova had owned them the past few years and came in today thinking they would easily win again. Temple thought otherwise. Temple hadn't beat a top five team since 2000 vs Cincinnati who was ranked #1. Villanova wasn't quite ranked that high but the win is just as impressive. Villanova came into the game averaging 84 ppg. Temple held them to 65 which is the lowest score Villanova has had all year. It just proves how tough Temple's defense is. Villanova was up at one point 33-19. Temple just kept fighting back though. Temple has a never quit attitude that some teams lack. They fought all the way to take a 42-37 lead early in the 2nd half. Temple never gave that lead up. Temple was lead by their Argentinian hero Juan Fernandez who has become one of Temples better shooters this season. Fernandez drained 7 3 pointers en route to a 33 point performance. Brooks added 20 points to lead the temple attack. "I've been thinking about this game all week," Fernandez said. "I know Temple didn't beat Villanova for a long time. I think we needed this win. I think we need to prove ourselves." well Fernandez certainly proved himself tonight leading the owls to a huge comeback win vs rival Villanova. Temple fans may be thinking "who needs Christmas when you have Fernandez?" Lavoy Allen added 10 points and 17 rebounds. Allen dominated the glass by having 10 more rebounds then any other player from either team. Guzman lead the team with 7 assists. Every Temple player helped in their own way to lead the team to victory.
Villanova was led by Scottie Reynolds who scored 23 points. Antonio Pena had 16 points and Corey Fisher had 14 points as the only other double digit scorers for the Wildcats. 5 Villanova players average double figure point totals but only 3 scored in double figures. Temple's defense had Villanova struggling to find a rhythm all game. Villanova also wanted to push the tempo but Temple kept slowing the pace of the game down preventing Villanova from getting any fastbreak points.
This is the greatest moment for any temple fan. Beating a rival at home who is ranked in the top 5 and in come from behind fashion. Temple beat a ranked Tennesse team last year. That win is nothing compared to the win tonight vs the #3 ranked Villanova Wildcats. This win should give temple a boost. Temple has a few more tough games before the out of conference schedule is over. Their next game is against Seton Hall. They also play Kansas to finish their out of conference schedule. A game that nobody gives Temple a chance in seems like a much better game now that Temple proved they could hang with any team in the nation. Kansas may want to pay attention because if they overlook the owls like Villanova may have, they might get their wings clipped. Temple is now 8-2 on the year and looks to keep their winning streak going against an undefeated Seton Hall team Saturday. Go Owls!
Temple takes on Villanova at the Liacouras center at 3pm on Saturday. This is Temple's first Big 5 game of the year. The Big 5 is a tournament involving all five Philly teams: Temple, Villanova, St. Joe's, Penn and La Salle. Villanova already beat every other team and looks to beat Temple for its fourth sweep of the Big 5 in 5 years. Temple however proves to be a formidable opponent. Temple is 7-2 on the year and both losses were by single digits to Georgetown and St. Johns. 7-2 is Temple's best start since 1994. Villanova is 9-0 and looks to go 10-0 for the first time since 2005. Temple proves to continue being a tough defensive team. Temple ranks in the top ten in three point defense and opponents PPG defense. They also rank 24th in field goal percentage. Temple holds teams to 53 ppg. They will look to keep that statistic going vs Villanova. Temple will have to shoot better as Villanova is very good at scoring on a constant basis.
Villanova is top ten in the nation in scoring. They will look to push the tempo of the game and get a lot of fast break opportunities on Temple. Villanova will look for their scoring leader Scottie Reynolds to make clutch shots and set up other players for easy points. Scottie Reynolds is the key to Villanova's success on offense.
Prediction
It will be a much closer game then many people may think. It is a rivalry game and rivalry games are always closer than a normal game. Temple is also home so they should get a boost from the home crowd. This game will come down to whether Temple's defense can stop Villanova's offense. If not Villanova will look for an easy win.
Final Score
Villanova 79
Temple 73
The A 10 champion Temple Owls will take on the NIT champion Penn State Nittany Lions on Saturday. Temple is 5-2 this season and they are lead by senior guard Ryan Brooks who averages 13.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. Temple is also lead by 1st team all A 10 selection Lavoy Allen who averages 12.1 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. Temple however seems to be priding themselves on defense this year averaging 56 points against per game. This could be due to the fact that they no longer have Dionte Christmas, who was one of the most legendary scorers in A 10 history, to rely on to score 20 points a night. The defensive scheme seems to be working for Temple who is 5-2 this season, both losses being by single digits, one a last second heart breaker to 20th ranked Georgetown. However holding Penn State to a low score could be a challenge for Temple.
The Temple Owls had a terrific season, and are set to appear in their first bowl game in this century. With their great season, it was expected that many Owls would receive postseason honors. These honors have been handed out, with eight players being named to the First Team All-Mac.Elijah Joseph, LB
Colin Madison, OL
Darius Morris, OL
Andre Neblett, NT
Bernard Pierce, RB
Adrian Robinson, DE
Muhammed Wilkerson, DT
The following players all were named to the Second Team All-Mac:
Devin Tyler, OL
James Nixon, KR
The following players were all named to the Third Team All-Mac
Dominique Harris, CBAlex Joseph, LB
Amara Kamara, LB
Steve Maneri, TE
John Palumbo, OL
Temple led all the MAC teams in "All-Mac" selections with 15, which is the most nominees since joining the MAC back in 2007. Ohio was the next closest team with 12 nominees, followed by Central Michigan with 11. The Owls also had 8 First Team All-Mac selections, ranking them #1 in the MAC, followed by Central Michigan with 6.
In addition to the First Team All-Mac awards, there were other honors handed out to a few Temple athletes. Running Back Bernard Pierce was named the 2009 Freshman Of The Year by the MAC Conference for his superb play in leading Temple to a postseason bowl game. Defensive End Adrian Robinson was named the 2009 Defensive Player Of The Year, and even Coach Al Golden received an award for being the Coach Of The Year in the MAC.
Cherry & White Nation congratulates all of the players who received these awards, and we cannot wait to see Temple's bowl game appearance.
Temple rode a big run at the start of the 2nd half in a win over Western Michigan 76-70. Temple had four double figure scorers in the game. Temple was lead by Brooks with 17 points. Williams and Fernandez both had 14 points and Allen had 13 points. Brooks also had 10 rebounds which combines to be Brooks first double double this year. Temple was strong on the glass tonight out rebounding Western Michigan by 3. Temple had 39 rebounds total in the game and the Owls also had one of its cleanest games all year with only 6 turnovers. Temple had a much more productive game offensively shooting 41% from the field and 39% from behind the arc. This is much improved for Temple from last game. The 76 points tonight ties Temple's highest points mark of the season. Craig Williams had the hot hand from behind the arc making 4 of 7 shots. Western Michigan fought the whole game and kept it close. However they came up on the short end at the end of the game. Western Michigan was lead by their very talented senior guard David Kool who had 30 points on 10 of 19 from the field. He was perfect from the free throw line making all 7 shots. He was also 3 of 9 from behind the arc. His quick release shots had temple defenders late trying to defend all game. 30 points is the 2nd most points scored by one guy against Temple behind Malcolm Delaney who scored 32 points for Virginia Tech. Still a very impressive amount to put up vs any team let alone temple who seems to pride themselves on defense this year. Donald Lawson and Flenard Whitfield also scored in double figures. Lawson had 14 points on 5 of 9 from the field and 4 of 5 from the free throw line. Whitfield had 13 points on 5 of 10 from the field and 2 of 3 from the free throw line. As a team Western Michigan was 13 of 15 from the free throw line which is 87%.
Overall it was a very impressive game offensively for both sides. Temple however got more 2nd chance opportunities which lead to extra points for them, which may have cost Western Michigan the game. At the end of the game, Temple had 16 offensive rebounds. But it was a see saw game that brought many lead changes. However, Temple had the led at the end of the game which is the only lead that matters.
Temple goes to 5-2 on the year. Their next opponent is Penn State, who has a possible All America candidate Talor Battle, who can light up the scoreboard. Temple will have to buckle down defensively for the upcoming game. The game will take place at 4pm on Saturday at the Liacouras center. Go Owls!
