Temple University Athletics
MEN'S BASKETBALL PREPARES TO HOST THE HOOSIERS
12.26.02 | Men's Basketball
The Owls have not played since suffering a 70-54 loss to then No. 14-ranked Illinois at the United Center in Chicago on Saturday, Dec. 14. Temple's 14-day break is its longest since a 20-day lay-over last season from Nov. 9 (vs. Maryland, L 82-74) to Nov. 29 (Charlotte, W 72-64).
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 21 to be televised.
The Owls were 1-1 with first assistant Nate Blackwell running the show in Chaney's absence. TU earned its first victory of the season in a 65-63 win at Penn State on Wednesday, Dec.11 before losing at Illinois three days later. Junior Brian Polk, the 2001-02 Atlantic 10 Sixth Man of the Year, saw his first action of the season against the Fighting Illini, scoring five points and grabbing four rebounds in 28 minutes. Polk did not dress and/or travel for the first six games in order to concentrate on his academics.
Prior to the PSU victory, Temple had lost five straight games to open the season, the worst start in the 107-year history of the program.
Indiana (8-1) is making its first trip to Philadelphia since a 59-53 loss to the Owls at The Spectrum on November 14, 1997. The Hoosiers are coming off a 70-64 loss to then No. 16 Kentucky last Saturday in Louisville. Freshman guard Bracey Wright leads IU in the scoring column, averaging 18.8 points per game.
