<em>College Basketball: </em> Owls Readying for Fordham
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Fresh off returning to the AP Top 25, the Temple Owls will continue with Atlantic-10 play on Wednesday night as they host Fordham.
The Owls are now ranked 24th in the country (see related story), and head coach Fran Dunphy appreciates people taking notice of his program's success.
"I think it's always nice recognition for your program and for your university to be included in that list, there's no question about that," he told KYW Newsradio on Tuesday morning. "It's not something that you think about on a daily basis. You are just trying to prepare and win the next game that is in front of you. Obviously you need to win to stay up there."
Hear the entire interview in this CBS Philly SportsPod...
As for the matchup with Fordham, the Owls already have a win over the Rams to their credit this season. They rolled to a 70-51 victory back on January 5th, in North Jersey.
Fordham is just 6-15 overall and 0-9 in the Atlantic-10, but Dunphy says you can't take them lightly.
"They have four double-figure scorers in their program," he points out. "One is (sophomore forward) Chris Gaston, who is arguably the best stat stuffer in our league in terms of rebounds and scoring. He's averaging a double-double (15.2 ppg, 11.1 rpg) and is just a really solid player and a tough guard for us, in all honesty, with our big guys.
"Then they have three perimeter guys who all shoot the three, and all average double figures. So you have to pay attention to them," Dunphy added.
Temple is 17-5 overall this season, 7-2 in the Atlantic-10 and a perfect 10-0 at home.
Reported by Matt Leon, KYW Newsradio 1060.
