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Record: 6-6 (1-1 American)
Head Coach: Fran Dunphy
Kenpom: 136
The Temple Owls have played their best and worst games of the season in back-to-back contests to open up American conference play. In their conference opener, the Owls shot 50% from the floor and 10-22 from three in a 77-70 victory at #22 Cincinnati. Senior Quenton DeCosey was one of four players to score in double figures, finishing with a game high 19 points. In their next game, Temple shot 34.5% from the floor and a brutal 3-23 from behind the arc in a 77-50 loss at home to the Houston Cougars. Not one player scored in double figures for the Owls.
As Head Coach Fran Dunphy usually does, he scheduled a tough nonconference slate in order to get his team ready for American play. Temple lost to three ranked teams in nonconference play: #1 North Carolina 91-67 in their season opener, #22 Butler 74-69, and #16 Utah 74-68. They also beat Minnesota 75-70 and lost at Wisconsin 76-60. Clearly the Owls were ready for AAC play in their win over Cincinnati, yet they still overlooked the young up and coming Houston team.
Statistically, the Owls do not impress on the offensive end of the floor in terms of points (T-260th in the country), assists (241st), field goal percentage (324th), and three-point percentage (T-313th). They are averaging only 69.5 PPG and 12.6 APG while shooting 39.8% from the floor and 30.5% from three. However, Temple is fantastic at taking care of the basketball as they are averaging just 8.8 turnovers per game which ranks FIRST IN THE COUNTRY.
With seniors Jesse Morgan and Will Cummings graduating last year, Fran Dunphy has looked to Obi "Wan Kenobi" Enechionyia, Jaylen Bond, and Devin Coleman to step up in their second seasons with the program. Upperclassmen Josh Brown and Quenton DeCosey, will need to lead this otherwise unproven Owls team if they hope to knock off some of the best in the American.
Key Players:
#25 Quenton DeCosey, Senior, Guard (6-5, 205): 14.9 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 2.1 APG, 44.4% FG, 13-37 3PT
With Cummings and Morgan graduating, it is finally DeCosey's team and he is trying to make the most of it as he is the team's most experienced scorer. The senior is at his best in dribble-drive situations and will mostly play off the ball in the half-court set. He has scored in double figures in all but two games this season and his season high is a 24 point performance in the loss to Butler. In American play, DeCosey is averaging 14 PPG and is 8-15 from the floor.
#0 Obi Enechionyia, Sophomore, Forward (6-9, 220): 10.0 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 44.0% FG, 18-44 3PT
Enechionyia has made significant strides in his second season with the Owls as he is the team's second leading scorer. However, he is only averaging 22.5 minutes per game due to occasional foul trouble. The sophomore has committed at least 4 fouls in 4 games and has 8 games with at least three fouls. The talent is there for the young player but he must maintain consistency by staying on the court. He has scored in double figures in five games this season including a 25 point performance in 41 minutes in an overtime loss to Saint Joseph's.
#1 Josh Brown, Junior, Guard (6-3, 185): 8.0 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 4.2 APG, 34.8% FG, 9-29 3PT
Arguably one of the team's most important players, Brown has seen a major bump in minutes in his junior season. After averaging 21 MPG in his first two years, the 6-3 guard is now averaging 32.8 MPG as he is the team's starting point guard. Brown can affect the game in so many different ways including scoring, setting up teammates, rebounding, and on defense as he is a versatile defender who can guard the 1, 2, or 3. He has scored in double figures in five games this season, including four of his last five.
#15 Jaylen Bond, Senior, Forward (6-8, 240): 9.7 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 44.9% FG, 2-17 3PT
Bond was an immediate factor in his first season with the team last year and has seen even more of an increase in minutes and points. The transfer from Texas is an excellent rebounder but knew he was going to have to step up more in the scoring department, and he has done just that, scoring in double figures six times this season. While he is in a mini-slump in his last four games, he did have an impressive four game stretch earlier this season, averaging 13.3 PPG and shooting 53% from the floor.
#34 Devin Coleman, Senior, Guard (6-5, 205): 8.6 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 30.9% FG, 17-54 3PT
Coleman is in his second season with the team after transferring from Clemson. Only averaging 3.6 PPG in 11.4 MPG last season, the senior guard has seen an increase in points and minutes with a significantly less crowded backcourt. Coleman has scored in double figures four times this season including a 14 point performance in the win over Cincinnati.
Temple is coached by Fran Dunphy who is in his 10th season with the team where he is 199-114. After making it to the NCAA Tournament six straight years, he has failed to make it the past two, although last year finished with an NIT semifinal appearance. Before Temple, Dunphy was the head coach at Penn for 17 seasons where he went 310-163 and made the NCAA Tournament nine times. Overall, he is 509-277.