Temple University Athletics
MEN'S BASKETBALL PREPARES FOR KEY A-10 MATCH UP AGAINST SAINT JOSEPH'S AT THE PALESTRA
2.11.03 | Men's Basketball
Temple's schedule is currently ranked as the fifth toughest in the nation according to the latest Sagarin ratings. TU has played three times teams ranked among the top 10 toughest tilts according to Sagarin, defeating Indiana (No. 3) and losing to South Carolina (4) and Charlotte (8).
The two teams are each others most frequent opponent of all-time and are meeting for the 132nd time. The Hawks defeated the Owls 65-55 at the Liacouras Center on Jan. 14, 2003 when guards Delonte West and Jameer Nelson combined for 51 of the Hawks' 65 points.
Temple is coming off its third consecutive road victory, a 61-50 win over Massachusetts last Saturday in Amherst. Once again, John Chaney's three freshmen came up big. Center Keith Butler posted the first double-double of his career, scoring 10 points while pulling down 11 rebounds. Guard Maurice Collins chipped in with 16 points along with three steals while forward Antywane Robinson pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds while contributing eight points. Robinson helped lead TU to a 44-26 advantage on the boards. The Owls are 7-1 when outrebounding their opponent.
Saint Joseph's comes into the contest winners of its last three games and five of its last six. The Hawks are coming off an 82-64 manhandling of Fordham in the Bronx, N.Y. on February 8. SJU shot a blistering 58.1 percent from the field en route to taking a commanding 48-22 lead at the break. Delonte West scored a game-high 31 points and sophomore Pat Carroll added 18.
