Temple University Athletics
TEMPLE EXTENDS POSTSEASON STRING TO 22 SEASONS WITH NIT INVITE
3.13.05 | Men's Basketball
PHILADELPHIA -- The Temple University men's basketball program extended its postseason streak to 22 consecutive seasons when it accepted an invitation to compete in the 2005 National Invitation Tournament. The Owls (16-13) will travel to Blacksburg, VA to take on the Virginia Tech Hokies (16-13) on Tuesday night (8:00 p.m.). The game will be televised live on ESPNU.
Temple, which placed second in the Atlantic 10 Conference's East Division (11-5), has never lost to former A-10 member Virginia Tech. The Owls own a 9-0 all-time mark against the Hokies, who finished fourth in the Atlantic Coast Conference with an 8-8 league mark. The last meeting between the schools came on March 9, 2000. Temple won that contest, an Atlantic 10 Tournament Quarterfinal game, 71-52. Virginia Tech left the A-10 the following season, moving to the Big East Conference.
Head coach John Chaney will return to the sidelines for the contest seeking his 500th win at Temple. The Hall of Fame mentor sat out the A-10 Tournament and the team's final three regular season games due to his actions in the team's February 22 match-up against Saint Joseph's. He has a 499-237 record in his 23 seasons at the University.
The winner of the Temple-Virginia Tech game will play the winner of the Northeastern at Memphis contest in the second round.
