<em>Basketball:</em> Temple, La Salle Ready for Key Matchup
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Both Temple and La Salle are playing good basketball these days as they get ready to meet Wednesday night at the Gola Arena.
The Explorers are 11-11 and hoping to extend a three-game winning streak. Head coach Dr. John Giannini says his team has been playing sharper lately.
"Our overall energy and focus on defense is better," Giannini told KYW Newsradio on Monday. "And it's showing up in the defensive statistics. Charlotte, for example, shot in the 30s (34% in the Explorers 91-86 double-overtime win on Saturday) against us, which is tremendous for us," he said.
Hear the entire John Giannini interview in this CBS Philly SportsPod...
The Owls are 15-5, and they have won their last two games.
Temple head coach Fran Dunphy says they bounced back from that loss to Xavier back on January 22nd.
"We felt OK about ourselves. We weren't happy that we lost that game, but we felt like we weren't far away," Dunphy told KYW this morning. "So I'm hoping that that attitude can continue as we go up to La Salle on Wednesday, because I think they are playing better and better."
Hear the entire Fran Dunphy interview in this CBS Philly SportsPod...
As for the match-up, Giannini is impressed with the Owls' discipline.
"They play hard, but they are not the kind of team that flies around. Because when you fly around you are prone to make more mistakes. They're a smart, tough team that wants to do the right things and not beat themselves," Giannini said of Temple.
And Dunphy says the Explorers are talented, too.
"They can get it to the rim, they can shoot it from the perimeter. (Center) Aaric Murray and (forward) Jerrell Williams are tough guards inside. So I think they've got all the ingredients you need to be a really high quality team, and it looks like they are hitting their stride right now," Dunphy said.
If Temple is able to win this game, it would be Dunphy's 100th win as the Owls' head coach.
Reported by Matt Leon, KYW Newsradio 1060.
