Temple Not Intimidated By No. 1 Villanova
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Devin Coleman has been through the wars. So has Jaylen Bond. The Temple seniors have been through every kind of college basketball crucible imaginable.
So Wednesday night will be nothing new to them when No. 1 Villanova (22-3 overall) visits the Liacouras Center at 7 p.m. for a nationally televised game that will be the first major event of the 2016 Philadelphia sports calendar.
Does it make Coleman and Bond quiver? Hardly. Coleman was a former standout at Friends Central before going to Clemson, and then transferring into Temple. Bond was a major high school star at Plymouth-Whitemarsh before transferring back to the Philadelphia area from Texas.
"At this point in time, it's all about who competes the hardest," Coleman said. "We have a veteran team that's been through a lot. We'll watch a lot of film and study, but we're just as excited for this as any other game. I'll stick to my same preparation and compete. I don't get too up or too down for whom we play. It's just about going out there and playing basketball."
Bond is taking the same approach. He noted Temple's resolve in tight games. The Owls have shown a propensity to come back and win. Temple (16-8) trailed UConn on Feb. 11, 54-42, with 5:51 left to play and won, 63-58. The Owls were down against Tulsa on Feb. 4, 70-65, with a mere :26 left and won the game in overtime, 83-79.
"We're going compete on every position at both sides of the court," said Bond, Temple's leading rebounder (8.4 rpg). "Villanova is a great team. They're No. 1 for a reason and we're looking to come into that game and beat them. We're not intimidated at all by them. It doesn't matter to us about the rivalry or anything. We have a great group of guys who are focused on making the tournament. That's what we're playing towards now."
Defense has been the difference for Villanova. The Wildcats are among the best defensive teams in the nation, giving up 61 points a game, making them the eighth-best scoring defense in the country.
Temple, on the other hand, has had issues on defense. It's something Owls' coach Fran Dunphy stressed after Temple's 77-65 American Athletic Conference victory over South Florida on Sunday.
"I don't think we defended very well (against USF)," Dunphy said. "I wasn't elated. Again, the defensive numbers weren't very good for us. That's always the first line you look at. I'm sure they heard Villanova talk after the Connecticut game, but we have to play our best basketball each and every time out."
For Temple to have any chance, the Owls are going to have to shoot like they did against SMU, when they hit 14-of-29 (48.30%) from three-point range, and 27-for-58 (46.60%) overall. The Owls began against South Florida, hitting 13 of their first 16 shots.
Temple does pose some problems for Villanova. The Owls have numerous scoring options, from sophomore forward Obi Enechionyia (9.8 ppg), senior guard Quenton DeCosey (16.6 ppg), and Coleman (9.7 ppg) off the bench.
Dealing with Villanova inside will be trouble. Temple has no one to match up with Villanova's 6-11 senior center Daniel Ochefu (10.5 ppg, 8.2 rpg), and the guard trio of senior Ryan Arcidiacono (12.4 ppg), junior Josh Hart (15.2 ppg) and freshman Jalen Brunson (10.2 ppg) are averaging a combined 37.8—almost half of Villanova's 75.8 scoring average a game.
No. 1 Villanova at Temple
When: Wednesday, 7 p.m.
Where: The Liacouras Center.
Records: Villanova (22-3 overall, 3-0 Big Five); Temple (16-8, 2-1).
Coaches:
Villanova, Jay Wright (15th year at Villanova, 341-155; overall, 463-240; 10-5 vs. Temple).
Temple, Fran Dunphy (10th season at Temple, 209-116; overall, 519-279; 6-15 vs. Villanova).
Series: Villanova leads, 46-43
Probable starters:
Villanova
F Kris Jenkins, 6-6, Jr., 10.8 ppg.
C Daniel Ochefu, 6-11, Sr., 10.5 ppg.
G Jalen Brunson, 6-2, Fr., 10.2 ppg.
G Josh Hart, 6-5, Jr., 15.2 ppg.
G Ryan Arcidiacono, 6-3, Sr., 12.4 ppg.
Temple
F Obi Enechionyia, 6-9, So. 9.8 ppg.
F Jaylen Bond, 6-8, Sr., 9.9 ppg.
G Josh Brown, 6-3, Jr., 8.1 ppg.
G Quenton DeCosey, 6-5 Sr., 16.6 ppg.
G/F Dan Dingle, 6-7, Jr., 4.4 ppg.
Streaks:
- Temple carries a season-best 5-game winning streak and has won 8 of its last 9.
- Villanova carries a 5-game winning streak into the contest and has won 14 of its last 15.
- Last meeting: Dec. 14, 2014, Villanova won, 85-62 at The Pavilion.
