Temple University Athletics
TEMPLE MEN'S BASKETBALL HEADS TO FORDHAM IN SEARCH OF WIN NO. 1600
2.21.03 | Men's Basketball
Hall of Fame head coach John Chaney has orchestrated an impressive turnaround, leading the Owls to six wins in their last eight games, after the team began the season with 0-5 and 4-11 records. Temple's 0-5 start marked the worst beginning to a men's basketball season in the 107-year history of the program. The Owls' early season growing pains included a stretch of six straight away games from Dec. 1 to Dec. 14, a record for consecutive regular season road games. In the midst of this traveling chore was a string of three games over a span of four days in the Carolinas, also a first in program history.
Upon returning from the Carolinas, TU was forced to play two games without Chaney after he was hospitalized for three nights with a mild case of pneumonia. Assistant coach Nate Blackwell, Chaney's first recruit at Temple, called the shots in his absence and directed TU to a 65-63 win at Penn State On Dec. 11 before falling short, 70-54, versus then No. 14 Illinois in Chicago on Dec. 14.
For the first time in Chaney's 21 years on North Broad Street, the Owls started three true freshmen before forward Antywane Robinson suffered a right ankle sprain against North Carolina State on February 15 to end the streak of three freshmen on the floor at tip-off at 21 games. 2002 Atlantic 10 Conference Sixth Man of the Year Brian Polk started in place of Robinson against Rhode Island last Wednesday, Feb. 19 and led Temple with 15 points in a 69-64 win. The Owls used double-digit scoring performances from all five of their starters to move within one half-game of U.R.I. for second place in the A-10 East standings. The second place finisher gets a bye in the opening round of the conference tournament which begins on Monday, March 10 at home sites before moving to Dayton, Ohio (March 13-15) for the championship rounds.
Following Sunday's game at Fordham, the Owls return home for three consecutive games, their longest home stand of the season. Temple meets Massachusetts on Wednesday, Feb. 26 before squaring off against St. Bonaventure (Mar. 1) and La Salle (Mar. 6).
Temple's schedule is rated as the fourth toughest in the nation according to the latest (Feb. 20) Sagarin Ratings.
For ticket information, call the Temple University Department of Athletics Ticket Office at 215-204-TIXX (8499).
