Temple Owls
American (23-9, 13-5)
Temple has had a very solid 2018-2019 campaign. It was not spectacular with the only headline grabbing win coming against Houston back on January 9th. There were not many bad losses either, with the most notable one coming against Penn. This is just the second time Temple has reached the NCAA Tournament during Coach Fran Dunphy’s six seasons with the Owls and the program is slowly turning into a consistent force in the American Athletic Conference.
Big Wins: 12/15 vs Davidson (77-75), 1/9 Houston (73-69), 3/9 UCF (67-62)
Bad Losses: 1/19 Penn (70-77), 2/9 at Tulsa (58-76), 2/26 at Memphis (73-81)
Coach: Fran Dunphy
Why They Can Surprise:
The Owls have three very good perimeter players who can take this team a surprisingly long way in the NCAA Tournament. Shizz Alston is the team’s top scorer, averaging 19.7 points per game. The 6-4 senior is the Owl’s most prolific and efficient outside shooter and also dishes out 5.0 assists per game. Fellow guards Quinton Rose and Nate Pierre-Louis can hit some shots too. Rose averages 16.5 points per game, while Pierre-Louis adds 13.3 points and 5.7 rebounds. Those three also play superb defense and are the main reason why Temple ranks 15th in the nation in total steals.
Why They Can Disappoint:
Temple’s biggest concern during the NCAA Tournament could be on the glass. J.P. Moorman, Damion Moore, Ernest Aflakpui and De’Vondre Perry are Temple’s top frontcourt players and they will have to work hard on the glass. There is a lot of frontcourt depth on this team and Coach Dunphy can keep his team fresh. That is a big plus for Temple, but that does not make them better rebounders. Temple has proven on occasion that they can outrebound some good teams and that will have to be the case in the NCAA Tournament if the Owls are going to make a little run.
Probable Starters:
Nate Pierre-Louis, Sophomore, Guard, 13.3 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 2.0 apg
Shizz Alston, Senior, Guard, 19.7 ppg, 5.0 apg
Quinton Rose, Junior, Guard, 16.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg
J.P. Mooreman, Sophomore, Forward, 5.8 ppg, 4.1 rpg
Damion Moore, Junior, Center, 3.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg
Key Role Players:
Ernest Aflakpui, Senior, Center, 5.9 ppg, 7.0 rpg
De’Vondre Perry, Sophomore, Forward, 4.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg
Alani Moore, Junior, Guard, 4.2 ppg
Justyn Hamilton, Sophomore, Forward, 4.1 ppg, 2.1 rpg
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 74.9 (115th in nation, 3rd in conference)
Scoring Defense: 70.9 (166, 7)
Field-Goal Percentage: 44.0 (201, 6)
Field-Goal Defense: 44.3 (212, 11)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 7.5 (200, 5)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 33.0 (248, 7)
Free-Throw Percentage: 73.1 (88, 1)
Rebound Margin: -2.9 (296, 12)
Assists Per Game: 14.6 (87, 3)
Turnovers Per Game: 11.0 (32, 3)
Recent Postseason Appearances:
| 2018 | NIT | First Round loss to Penn State |
| 2016 | NCAA | Round of 64 loss to Iowa |
| 2015 | NIT | First Round win over Bucknell |
| 2015 | NIT | Second Round win over George Washington |
| 2015 | NIT | Quarterfinal win over Louisiana Tech |
| 2015 | NIT | Semifinal loss to Miami (FL) |
| 2013 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over North Carolina State |
| 2013 | NCAA | Round of 32 loss to Indiana |
| 2012 | NCAA | Round of 64 loss to South Florida |
| 2011 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Penn State |
| 2011 | NCAA | Round of 32 loss to San Diego State |
| 2010 | NCAA | Round of 64 loss to Cornell |
| 2009 | NCAA | Round of 64 loss to Arizona State |
| 2008 | NCAA | Round of 64 loss to Michigan State |
| 2006 | NIT | Opening Round loss to Akron |
*all team stats through 3/10
