Temple University Athletics
Dunphy Leads New Look Owls Against Buffalo In Liacouras Center Debut
11.24.06 | Men's Basketball
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Nov. 24, 2006
PHILADELPHIA - Temple fans will get their first look at their new Owls Monday when first-year head coach Fran Dunphy and his charges make their 2006-07 debut at the Liacouras Center against the Buffalo Bulls. Besides Dunphy and freshmen Ryan Brooks and Luis Guzman, Owl Nation will need to adjust to new offensive and defensive styles after nearly a quarter century of Hall of Fame Coach John Chaney-style basketball.
Dunphy, who won 310 games in 17 years at Penn, is the first head coach to switch from one Big 5 school to another in the storied history of Philadelphia basketball. The prefect person to take over the reins from a legendary coach, Dunphy brings with him a man-to-man helping defense, replacing the trademark match-up zone made famous by Chaney. He also has instilled the motion offense that he utilized to guide the Quakers to 10 NCAA Tournaments. Chaney had run a set offense during his tenure on North Broad Street.
The Owls, the last team to open the 2006-07 season, debuted with a 63-54 loss at 2006 Mid-American Conference champion Kent State on November 21. With four of last year's top five scorers not on the roster, Dunphy started a line-up that combined to average just 15.6 points per game.
Senior Dustin Salisbery led Temple with a game-high 23 points. Sophomore Dionte Christmas matched his career-high with 12 points while junior DaShone Kirkendoll added a career-high 11 points off the bench. The undersized Owls were out-rebounded to the tune of 42-20, including a 25-7 second half disadvantage that helped the Golden Flashes overcome a 10-point halftime deficit.
Buffalo, which returns three starters from a 19-win team, is off to a 4-2 start under the direction of eighth-year head coach Reggie Witherspoon. The Bulls feature a balanced scoring attack led by senior forward Yassin Idbihi (13.0 ppg./7.0 rpg.). Sophomore guard Eric Moore (12.8 ppg.) and senior forward Parnell Smith (12.2 ppg.) also score in double figures.
