Temple University Athletics
Saturday, January 2
Liacouras Center
5:30 p.m.
Temple University
vs
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Kansas
Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University
#18/19 Temple Hosts #1/1 Kansas In Saturday Showdown
12.31.09 | Men's Basketball
Soldout game to be televised live on ESPN2
Game Notes
PHILADELPHIA - For the first time since the arena opened in 1997 the Liacouras Center will play host to the top-ranked men's basketball team as #1/1 Kansas takes the floor Saturday against #18/19 Temple in the season's most anticipated showdown. Tip-time is 5:30 p.m. for the soldout game which will be televised live on ESPN2 and can be heard on 1210 AM WPHT.
Temple (11-2), off to its best start since 1993-94, concluded its first perfect December since 1987 with its seventh straight win Wednesday, a 70-60 victory at Northern Illinois.
The team's defense, which that ranks third in the nation in scoring (54.2 ppg.) and fourth in three-point percentage (.240), has propelled the Owls into the Top 20 for the first time since 2001. Led by senior co-captains Ryan Brooks and Luis Guzman, Temple has controlled the tempo of the game on offense, and ranks fourth in the nation in fewest turnovers per game (10.5 ppg.).
Brooks leads a balanced Cherry and White squad in scoring with a 15.8 average. Junior forward Lavoy Allen, a preseason first team All-Atlantic 10 selection, averages a double-double (10.6 ppg./10.6 rpg.) while sophomore guard Juan Fernandez, who has topped 20 points in three of the last four games, averages 14.3 points and 3.6 assists per game.
Top-rated Kansas extended the nation's longest home-court winning streak to 50 games with an 81-51 win against Belmont on Dec. 29. The Jayhawks, 12-0, average 87.8 points per game, are giving up 58.6 points and rank in the top five nationally with a +29.2 scoring margin. Freshman guard Xavier Henry leads the team in scoring (16.4 ppg.), three-pointers (28) and steals (21). Senior guard Sherron Collins is averaging 13.8 points on the season and is second on the team with 24 three pointers and 51 assists. The game is a homecoming for sophomore twins Marcus (11.6 ppg.) and Markieff (7.4 ppg.) Morris, who played at nearby Prep Charter High. The two played at the Liacouras Center in the 2007 and 2008 City Championship games, winning the title in '07.
Kansas leads the series 6-3 and won last year's meeting, 71-59, at Allen Fieldhouse (12/20). The Owls defeated then #1 Kansas on Dec. 22, 1995, a 74-66 overtime decision in the Jimmy V. Classic held at the Meadowlands, for their last win in the series.
PHILADELPHIA - For the first time since the arena opened in 1997 the Liacouras Center will play host to the top-ranked men's basketball team as #1/1 Kansas takes the floor Saturday against #18/19 Temple in the season's most anticipated showdown. Tip-time is 5:30 p.m. for the soldout game which will be televised live on ESPN2 and can be heard on 1210 AM WPHT.
Temple (11-2), off to its best start since 1993-94, concluded its first perfect December since 1987 with its seventh straight win Wednesday, a 70-60 victory at Northern Illinois.
The team's defense, which that ranks third in the nation in scoring (54.2 ppg.) and fourth in three-point percentage (.240), has propelled the Owls into the Top 20 for the first time since 2001. Led by senior co-captains Ryan Brooks and Luis Guzman, Temple has controlled the tempo of the game on offense, and ranks fourth in the nation in fewest turnovers per game (10.5 ppg.).
Brooks leads a balanced Cherry and White squad in scoring with a 15.8 average. Junior forward Lavoy Allen, a preseason first team All-Atlantic 10 selection, averages a double-double (10.6 ppg./10.6 rpg.) while sophomore guard Juan Fernandez, who has topped 20 points in three of the last four games, averages 14.3 points and 3.6 assists per game.
Top-rated Kansas extended the nation's longest home-court winning streak to 50 games with an 81-51 win against Belmont on Dec. 29. The Jayhawks, 12-0, average 87.8 points per game, are giving up 58.6 points and rank in the top five nationally with a +29.2 scoring margin. Freshman guard Xavier Henry leads the team in scoring (16.4 ppg.), three-pointers (28) and steals (21). Senior guard Sherron Collins is averaging 13.8 points on the season and is second on the team with 24 three pointers and 51 assists. The game is a homecoming for sophomore twins Marcus (11.6 ppg.) and Markieff (7.4 ppg.) Morris, who played at nearby Prep Charter High. The two played at the Liacouras Center in the 2007 and 2008 City Championship games, winning the title in '07.
Kansas leads the series 6-3 and won last year's meeting, 71-59, at Allen Fieldhouse (12/20). The Owls defeated then #1 Kansas on Dec. 22, 1995, a 74-66 overtime decision in the Jimmy V. Classic held at the Meadowlands, for their last win in the series.
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