Temple University Athletics
Men's Basketball Opens Season At #7/7 Tennessee Friday Night
11.6.07 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 6, 2007
PHILADELPHIA - Temple opens its 2007-08 season at #7 Tennessesse Friday night (7:30 p.m.). The game, which will be televised by FoxSports South, can be viewed nationally on ESPN Full Court, a pay-per-view channel carried by DirecTV, the Dish Network and some cable providers. The contest marks the first time the Owls have played a nationally-ranked opponent in a season-opener since playing at #3 Kansas to tip-off their 1993-94 campaign. The Cherry and White won that contest, defeating the Jayhawks, 73-59.
The Owls, under the direction of second-year head coach Fran Dunphy, sport a one-two punch in junior Dionte Christmas and senior Mark Tyndale. Christmas, a 6-5 guard, led the Atlantic 10 Conference in scoring with a 20.0 average while Tyndale, a 6-5 guard, finished a close second at 19.4 points per game. It marked the first time that one A-10 team accounted for the top two scorers in the Conference.
Junior point guard Semaj Inge (4.5 ppg.) is also back, providing Temple with three returning starters while fellow junior Sergio Olmos (2.8 ppg.) and incoming freshman Lavoy Allen, a 6-9 forward from nearby Pennsbury High, are expected to round out the starting five. Senior guard Chris Clark, a co-captain with Tyndale, and sophomore guard Ryan Brooks should see significant time off the bench.
Tennessee, under the direction of third-year coach Bruce Pearl, opens its season ranked seventh in both national polls. The Vols are led by 6-2 senior guard Chris Lofton, a preseason first team all-SEC selection. Lofton, who averaged 20.8 points while making 106 three-pointers, is joined in the backcourt by 6-2 senior JaJuan Smith. A second team preseason all-SEC selection along with Iowa transfer, 6-7 sophomore forward Tyler Smith (14.9 ppg.), JaJuan Smith averaged 15.2 points per game last year to help the Vols post a 24-11 mark and advance to the NCAA Sweet 16.
The teams have not met since December 15, 1973. In that game, Temple held the ball against the heavily-favored Volunteers, but still fell 11-6 in Knoxville. The series is deadlocked at 2-2.
Game notes to be posted Wednesday
