Temple University Athletics
MEN'S BASKETBALL TAKES FLIGHT FOR CHICAGO TO MEET NO. 14 ILLINOIS AT THE UNITED CENTER
12.12.02 | Men's Basketball
Saturday's game is being televised nationally on ESPN. It is one of at least eight regular season contests this season that can be viewed across the country and one of at least 20 to be televised.
With first assistant Nate Blackwell running the show last Wednesday night, the Owls earned their first victory of the season in a 65-63 win at Penn State. Alex Wesby, the lone senior on the roster, showed the way in the second half, scoring 16 points and grabbing six rebounds after Temple trailed 32-30 at the midpoint. Wesby and fellow co-captain David Hawkins each scored a game high 19 points. Prior to the victory, Temple had lost five straight games to open the season, the worst start in the 107-year history of the program.
Illinois, ranked No. 14 in the ESPN/USA Today poll, is coming off a 80-68 home win over Eastern Illinois last Tuesday night. Senior forward Brian Cook leads the Illini with a 19.5 ppg. scoring average.
For the first time on North Broad Street under Chaney, three true freshmen dot the starting lineup in forward Antywane Robinson, guard Maurice Collins and center Keith Butler. Only once before under Chaney has Temple started three first-year players, which happened during the 1996-97 season when freshmen Pepe Sanchez and Lamont Barnes started along side first-year sophomore Rasheed Brokenborough to help lead TU to a 20-11 record and an NCAA Tournament berth.
Junior Brian Polk, the 2001-02 Atlantic 10 Sixth Man of the Year, will be in uniform for Saturday's contest. Polk did not dress and/or travel for the first six games in order to concentrate on academics.
