2009–10 Temple Owls men's basketball team

Preseason

The team is set to play their home games at Liacouras Center, which has a capacity of 10,206. They are in their 28th season as a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference. Coming back from their 2008–09 season, they compiled a record of 22–12 and won the Atlantic 10 men's basketball tournament for the second consecutive year.

However, Temple lost star player Dionte Christmas to graduation, whom Blue Ribbon Yearbook said that, if "anything good that happened to the Owls last year, Christmas had a hand in it." He led Temple in three statistics: points per game (19.5), three-pointers completed (107), and total steals (51); he finished second in two more: rebounds per game (5.5) and assists (28). In addition, he was an honorable mention All-American and scored 2,000 points over his college basketball career. Also graduating were two other starters: 7–0 center Sergio Olmos, who was selected as an All-A10 Tournament player, and point guard Semaj Inge.

Temple's schedule was announced on September 3, 2009, consisting of a school record-tying 31 games in the regular season. The out-of-conference portion, adopted on July 21, was regarded as one of the toughest in college hoops. The highlights of it include: Georgetown and Siena, which began the season ranked; Virginia Tech, a competitor in the Atlantic Coast Conference; Penn State, who won the 2009 National Invitation Tournament; and Villanova and Kansas, two top 10 teams.

Due to these factors, Temple was picked to finish fifth in the conference by the Atlantic 10 Preseason Poll, tied with Duquesne. Lavoy Allen was the only team member selected on the Preseason All-Atlantic 10 First Team. The Blue Ribbon Yearbook gave the backcourt a grade of B, the frontcourt a B, the bench/depth a C+, and the intangibles a B+. They commented that "the Owls have had a way the last couple years of surprising people," and that while Temple "might still surprise some people, but don't expect it to be with an NCAA Tournament berth."

Recruiting

Incoming signees

2010–11 team recruits

Roster

Players

Coaches

Schedule

end_year = 2010| bgcolor = #FFFFFF| color = #FF0000 bgcolor = #FF0000| color = #FFFFFF}} |- align="center" bgcolor="#D8FFEB" | 1 | November 14 | Delaware | W 76–56 | Ryan Brooks – 23 | Lavoy Allen – 15 | Juan Fernandez – 5 | Bob Carpenter Center, Newark, DE (3,080) | 1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFE6E6" | 2 | November 17 | Georgetown (#19) | L 46–45 | Allen – 12 | Allen – 14 | Luiz Guzman – 6 | Verizon Center, Washington, DC (8,712) | 1–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#D8FFEB" | 3 | November 21 | Siena | W 73–69 | Fernandez – 20 | Allen – 7 | Allen – 5 | Liacouras Center, Philadelphia, PA (6,759) | 2–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#D8FFEB" | 4 | November 24 | Ball State | W 66–46 | Brooks – 17 | Allen – 9 | Allen/Brooks – 7 | Liacouras Center, Philadelphia, PA (3,597) | 3–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#D8FFEB" | 5 | November 27 | Virginia Tech | W 61–50 | Allen – 18 | Allen – 10 | Fernandez – 6 | Palestra, Philadelphia, PA (3,750) | 4–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFE6E6" | 6 | November 28 | St. John's | L 55–48 | Ramone Moore – 10 | Rahlir Jefferson – 12 | Fernandez – 4 | Palestra, Philadelphia, PA (3,469)

Season

Preconference season

The Owls kicked off their season on November 14, 2009 with a 76–56 win against the University of Delaware, sending the Fighting Blue Hens to their fourth straight loss as a home opener. On November 17, the Owls failed to capitalize on preseason No. 19 Georgetown Hoyas' sloppy play, as the Hoyas were victorious 45–46. The game featured more fouls (18) and turnovers (16) than completed baskets (15) for Georgetown, playing their home opener at the Verizon Center. Georgetown led 19–13 at halftime, but Temple managed to mount a comeback, as they led with 6 seconds left in regulation until Hoya Greg Monroe scored the winning 3-pointer. After the game, Temple's 68-game winning streak when opponents scored less than 50 points was crushed.

On November 21, Temple beat the Siena Saints, after overcoming a six-point deficit at the half to end the game at 73–69. As a result, the Owls began receiving votes in the 2008-09 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings for the week of November 23. After an easy win against Ball State on November 24, the Owls next faced Virginia Tech in the semifinals of the Philly Hoop Group Classic. Temple overcame Malcolm Delaney's 32 points to defeat the Hokies 60–51 on November 27. Their 4–1 start was the Owls' best since 2000.

The team suffered their second loss of the season by the undefeated Red Storm of St. John's on November 28, in the championship game of the Philly Hoop Group Classic. Temple led 22–21 at the half, but the Red Storm went on a 14–2 run in the beginning of the second half from which the Owls could not recover, and St. John's won 55–48. This caused Temple to lose all support in the national rankings. The Owls rebounded with three consecutive wins: against Western Michigan, Penn State, and Miami (Ohio). The Penn State game was notable in that it was the second lowest scoring game in the 13-year history of the Liacouras Center. Ryan Brooks's 19 points, the only Owl scoring in double figures, helped lead Temple over the Nittany Lions 45–42 in the largely defensive matchup.

Temple entered the top 25 in national rankings for the first time since 2001.

Rankings

Main article: 2009–10 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings

Awards & honors

;Lavoy Allen

• Preseason All-Atlantic 10 First Team
• November 30, 2009 Philadelphia Big Five Player of the Week
• November 30, 2009 Temple University Athlete of the Week
• December 14, 2009 Philadelphia Big Five Honor Roll
• January 11, 2010 Philadelphia Big Five Player of the Week
• January 11, 2010 Temple University Athlete of the Week

;Ryan Brooks

• November 16, 2009 Philadelphia Big Five Honor Roll
• December 7, 2009 Philadelphia Big Five Honor Roll
• December 21, 2009 Philadelphia Big Five Player of the Week
• December 21, 2009 Temple University Athlete of the Week
• January 4, 2010 Philadelphia Big Five Honor Roll

;Juan Fernandez

• December 14, 2009 Philadelphia Big Five Player of the Week
• December 14, 2009 Temple University Athlete of the Week
• December 20, 2009 A-10 Player of the Week
• January 6, 2010 Temple University Athlete of the Month

References

References

1. (2009). "Temple Owls". CBS Interactive.
2. "Temple". ESPN Internet Ventures.
3. (October 22, 2009). "Team Preview: Temple". [[ESPN]].
4. "2009–10 Temple Men's Basketball Media Guide: Preview". [[Temple University]].
5. (September 3, 2009). "Men's Basketball Announces 2009–10 Schedule". [[Temple University]].
6. (July 21, 2009). "Kansas, Villanova Highlight 2009–10 Non-Conference Men's Basketball Schedule". [[Temple University]].
7. (October 22, 2009). "2009–10 Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Preseason All-Conference Teams". CBS Interactive.
8. Kazanjian, Zohrab. (2009). "2009–10 Temple Men's Basketball Media Guide: Coaching Staff". [[Temple University]].
9. (November 15, 2009). "Temple 76, Delaware 56". [[ESPN]].
10. (November 18, 2009). "Hoyas blow 12-point second-half lead but hold off Owls". [[ESPN]].
11. (November 22, 2009). "Temple 73, Siena 69". [[ESPN]].
12. (November 23, 2009). "2010 NCAA Men's Basketball Rankings (Nov. 23)". ESPN Internet Ventures.
13. (November 24, 2009). "Temple 66, Ball State 46". [[ESPN]].
14. (November 27, 2009). "Temple 61, Virginia Tech 50". [[ESPN]].
15. (November 29, 2009). "St. John's 55, Temple 48". [[ESPN]].
16. (November 30, 2009). "2010 NCAA Men's Basketball Rankings (Nov. 30)". ESPN Internet Ventures.
17. (December 2, 2009). "Temple 76, W. Michigan 70". [[ESPN]].
18. (December 6, 2009). "Temple 45, Penn St. 42". [[ESPN]].
19. (December 9, 2009). "Temple 64, Miami (Ohio) 42". [[ESPN]].
20. (December 5, 2009). "Men's Basketball Wins Defensive Struggle With Penn State, 45–42". [[Temple University]].
21. (December 21, 2009). "Men's Basketball Cracks Top 25 For First Time Since 2001". [[Temple University]].
22. (December 14, 2009). "2010 NCAA Men's Basketball Rankings". ESPN Internet Ventures.
23. (February 17, 2010). "ESPN.com's Power Rankings". ESPN Internet Ventures.
24. (November 30, 2009). "Allen and Sweeney Named Big 5 Weekly Award Winners". [[Philadelphia Big Five]].
25. (November 30, 2009). "Athletes of the Week – Lavoy Allen". [[Temple University]].
26. (December 14, 2009). "Temple Sweeps Big 5 Honors". [[Philadelphia Big Five]].
27. (January 11, 2010). "Allen and Ford earn Big 5 Honors". [[Philadelphia Big Five]].
28. (January 11, 2010). "Athletes of the Week – Lavoy Allen". [[Temple University]].
29. (November 16, 2009). "Big 5 Players of the Week Announced". [[Philadelphia Big Five]].
30. (December 7, 2009). "Big 5 Names Players of the Week". [[Philadelphia Big Five]].
31. (December 21, 2009). "Men's Basketball Cracks Top 25 For First Time Since 2001". [[Temple University]].
32. (December 21, 2009). "Athletes of the Week – Ryan Brooks". [[Temple University]].
33. (January 4, 2010). "Villanova Sweeps Big 5 Honors Again". [[Philadelphia Big Five]].
34. (December 14, 2009). "Juan Fernandez Named Philadelphia Big 5 Player of the Week". [[Temple University]].
35. (December 14, 2009). "Athletes of the Week – Juan Fernandez". [[Temple University]].
36. (December 14, 2009). "Atlantic 10 Notebook – December 20". CBS Interactive.
37. (January 6, 2010). "Athletes of the Month – Juan Fernandez". [[Temple University]].