The Wait is Over: Men’s Basketball to Open Season Saturday Against NJIT

Saturday, December 19

4:30 PM

Temple University

NJIT

Photo by: Zamani Feelings

The Wait is Over: Men’s Basketball to Open Season Saturday Against NJIT

12.16.20 | Men's Basketball

Aaron McKie Interview

PHILADELPHIA – After a 24-day delay due to Covid-19 shutdowns, the Temple men's basketball team is set to host NJIT Saturday (Dec. 19/4:30pm/ESPN+/1210 AM WPHT) at the Liacouras Center. The game, initially scheduled for Nov. 25, was postponed as both teams had positive cases for the virus that week.

This ties the 1936-37 season for the latest start for a Temple men' basketball games in the program's recorded history. It is also the season opener for the Highlanders.

SCOUTING TEMPLE
> Temple, under the direction of head coach Aaron McKie, returns just two starters, five lettermen and 27 percent of its offensive production from last season's team.
> The Owls will be led by senior captains J.P. Moorman II and De'Vondre Perry. Moorman started 26 games in 2019-20, averaging 5.8 points and 5.1 rebounds per contest. Perry, who was a starter a sophomore, came off the bench to lead the team in three-point percentage (26-63, .413) while chipping in 6.2 points per game.
>Junior Jake Forrester is the team's other returning starter. A transfer from Indiana, Forrester made an immediate impact once receiving a NCAA waiver, averaging 7.5 points and shooting 53.3 percent from the floor.
> Redshirt freshman Damian Dunn is expected to start in the backcourt with true freshman Jeremiah Williams. A medical redshirt, Dunn played one game last season, but performed well for the Owls in their 2019 preseason trip to the Bahamas. Williams, a 6-5 point guard, averaged 16.8 points, 8.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists for Chicago's Simeon High last year. If he does start, he would become the first freshman to start the first game of a Temple season since Mardy Collins in the 2002-03 campaign.
> Redshirt sophomore Arashma Parks is the only other Temple player to see significant time last season. The 6-9 forward averaged 2.5 points and 2.4 rebounds last season while averaging 9.2 minutes per game.
> Look for transfer Khalif Battle (Butler) to see time in the backcourt this season along with freshmen Quincy Ademokoya and Nick Jourdain. Two other transfers, Tai Strickland (Wisconsin) and Brendan Barry (Dartmouth), are expected to contribute, but may not be able to compete in the opener.
> The Owls have won four-straight season openers and six-straight season openers held at the Liacouras Center. The last time Temple lost a season opener at home was in a 80-78 defeat against Auburn in 2004.

SCOUTING NJIT
> NJIT, entering its fifth season under the direction of head coach Brian Kennedy, will open its inaugural season as a member of America East in 2020-21.
> The Highlanders went 9-21 last season, winning six of their 16 ASUN match ups.
> Seniors San Antonio Brinson and Zach Cooks, as well as junior Souleymane Diakite will serve as the 2020-21 team captains, with Cooks leading the program for the second-straight year.
> Cooks, who was voted First Team America East, led the Highlanders in scoring (19.7 ppg), steals (1.8 spg), and field goals made (204-of-504). He led the ASUN in both points per game and steals per game, ranking second in field goals made as one of just two players to break 200.
> Diakite led the team in rebounds (8.5 rpg) and blocks (2.0 bpg), ranking third in the ASUN in both categories.