Whacker
11-26-2009, 01:40 PM
Cincinnati (OH) – Temple Owls
Previous Record (Conf)
22-12 (11-5)
Key Non-Conference Games
Siena (21 Nov), Villanova (13 Dec), Kansas (2 Jan),
Projected Conference Record (Finish)
10-6 (5th)
Conference Home-and-Home Partners
St Joe’s, Rhode Island, LaSalle
Outlook
Temple lost all-conference guard Dionte Christmas and his 19.2 points per game, but this year’s Temple team might be tougher to defend. Too often last season the owls handed the ball to Christmas and waited for him to bail them out. The Owls will be forced to find scoring from multiple sources leading to a more balanced offense. Temple is rock solid at point with Juan Fernandez and underneath with forward/center LaVoy Allen. Both of these players will need to expand their roles and get consistent production from Dunphy’s supporting cast.
Fernandez is a big point guard with a great handle and excellent court vision. He values the basketball (a Dunphy trademark) and creates match-up problems with his size. His teammates will have learned by now to expect the ball at any time.
Lavoy Allen was 3rd team all conference last season as a sophomore and could post double figures all season in points and rebounds. He’s relentless on the glass and an excellent finisher. He has soft hands and is an excellent passer. Allen has all of the skills to dominate the A10, but needs to find the fortitude to do it.
“He’s a terrific basketball player — a very fundamentally sound player,” Owls coach Fran Dunphy said. “The next step for Lavoy is wanting to be great. And if he ever gets that in his mind-set, I think he’s going to be a terrific, terrific player.”
Senior Ryan Brooks is a deadly three-point shooter (.410 last season) and solid all-around player. As one of only two seniors, he’ll need to provide leadership and steady play if the Owls hope to duplicate their 9-8 road record (4-4 in the A10) from last season.
Junior forward Craig Williams is a good shooter and efficient scorer, but needs to improve his defense and rebounding to crack the starting line-up. Senior guard Luis Guzman will provide minutes at both guard positions.
In Fernandez, Allen and Brooks, Temple has a core of talented players to build around. Dunphy will need to polish a few rough gems from his freshmen and sophomore classes to compete for the A-10 title.
Sophomore shooting guard Ramon Moore was perceived as one of the best talents in Philly leading the Public League in scoring and winning the League MVP. But that was two years ago, and after redshirting his first year to concentrate on academics, he only played in thirteen games last year before being declared academically ineligible. If Moore can stay eligible and regain his form, he would provide Dunphy with another shooter to stretch the defense.
Freshman wings Rahlir Jefferson and Kahlif Wyatt have the athleticism to contribute, but whether they have the skill set remains to be seen. Freshman Carmel Bouchman from Israel is a typical Euro-style forward with a decent handle and deft touch from the perimeter. While unlikely to gain any post-season accolades, he should provide valuable minutes for Dunphy off the bench.
Spotlight On
Last year in a back-up role, Argentinean Juan Fernandez had almost a 2:1 assist to turnover ratio and proved to be a competent three-point threat. This year he’ll need to expand his scoring role, while still running the offense. He needs to learn how to finish in the lane, using his size to create space or absorb contact – an area he struggled with last year. Fernandez also struggled to keep quicker point guards in front of him, an area where Dunphy may have to adjust his scheme to compensate. Overall, Fernandez understands the offense and Dunphy’s expectations and is poised for a break-out season.
Best Case Scenario
Fernandez and Allen play like first-teamers and Brooks benefits from their breakout seasons. Dunphy is able to find two or three under-classmen to contribute significant minutes. Guzman or Williams give the Owls an unexpected boost. Dunphy is able to put three-shooters on the floor at any time creating match-up nightmares for opposing defenses as they game plan for stopping LaVoy Allen.
Worst Case Scenario
LaVoy Allen remains a good, but not great player proving incapable of carrying a team. Dunphy juggles he line-up all season unable to find any consistent production behind his three best players.
Previous Record (Conf)
22-12 (11-5)
Key Non-Conference Games
Siena (21 Nov), Villanova (13 Dec), Kansas (2 Jan),
Projected Conference Record (Finish)
10-6 (5th)
Conference Home-and-Home Partners
St Joe’s, Rhode Island, LaSalle
Outlook
Temple lost all-conference guard Dionte Christmas and his 19.2 points per game, but this year’s Temple team might be tougher to defend. Too often last season the owls handed the ball to Christmas and waited for him to bail them out. The Owls will be forced to find scoring from multiple sources leading to a more balanced offense. Temple is rock solid at point with Juan Fernandez and underneath with forward/center LaVoy Allen. Both of these players will need to expand their roles and get consistent production from Dunphy’s supporting cast.
Fernandez is a big point guard with a great handle and excellent court vision. He values the basketball (a Dunphy trademark) and creates match-up problems with his size. His teammates will have learned by now to expect the ball at any time.
Lavoy Allen was 3rd team all conference last season as a sophomore and could post double figures all season in points and rebounds. He’s relentless on the glass and an excellent finisher. He has soft hands and is an excellent passer. Allen has all of the skills to dominate the A10, but needs to find the fortitude to do it.
“He’s a terrific basketball player — a very fundamentally sound player,” Owls coach Fran Dunphy said. “The next step for Lavoy is wanting to be great. And if he ever gets that in his mind-set, I think he’s going to be a terrific, terrific player.”
Senior Ryan Brooks is a deadly three-point shooter (.410 last season) and solid all-around player. As one of only two seniors, he’ll need to provide leadership and steady play if the Owls hope to duplicate their 9-8 road record (4-4 in the A10) from last season.
Junior forward Craig Williams is a good shooter and efficient scorer, but needs to improve his defense and rebounding to crack the starting line-up. Senior guard Luis Guzman will provide minutes at both guard positions.
In Fernandez, Allen and Brooks, Temple has a core of talented players to build around. Dunphy will need to polish a few rough gems from his freshmen and sophomore classes to compete for the A-10 title.
Sophomore shooting guard Ramon Moore was perceived as one of the best talents in Philly leading the Public League in scoring and winning the League MVP. But that was two years ago, and after redshirting his first year to concentrate on academics, he only played in thirteen games last year before being declared academically ineligible. If Moore can stay eligible and regain his form, he would provide Dunphy with another shooter to stretch the defense.
Freshman wings Rahlir Jefferson and Kahlif Wyatt have the athleticism to contribute, but whether they have the skill set remains to be seen. Freshman Carmel Bouchman from Israel is a typical Euro-style forward with a decent handle and deft touch from the perimeter. While unlikely to gain any post-season accolades, he should provide valuable minutes for Dunphy off the bench.
Spotlight On
Last year in a back-up role, Argentinean Juan Fernandez had almost a 2:1 assist to turnover ratio and proved to be a competent three-point threat. This year he’ll need to expand his scoring role, while still running the offense. He needs to learn how to finish in the lane, using his size to create space or absorb contact – an area he struggled with last year. Fernandez also struggled to keep quicker point guards in front of him, an area where Dunphy may have to adjust his scheme to compensate. Overall, Fernandez understands the offense and Dunphy’s expectations and is poised for a break-out season.
Best Case Scenario
Fernandez and Allen play like first-teamers and Brooks benefits from their breakout seasons. Dunphy is able to find two or three under-classmen to contribute significant minutes. Guzman or Williams give the Owls an unexpected boost. Dunphy is able to put three-shooters on the floor at any time creating match-up nightmares for opposing defenses as they game plan for stopping LaVoy Allen.
Worst Case Scenario
LaVoy Allen remains a good, but not great player proving incapable of carrying a team. Dunphy juggles he line-up all season unable to find any consistent production behind his three best players.