Temple University Athletics
Saturday, November 18
Philadelphia, Pa.
1:00 P.M.
Temple University
vs
Columbia
Photo by: Mike Conway
Men's Basketball Returns Home To Face Columbia
11.17.23 | Men's Basketball
Game Info: Saturday, November 18, 2023 - 1:00 p.m.
Location: Liacouras Center - Philadelphia, Pa.
Watch: ESPN+ | Listen: 1210 WPHT | Live Stats: Owlsports.com
Social Media
Twitter/X: @TUMBBHoops | Instagram: @tumbbhoops
Tweet #Team128
Promotions: Canned Food Drive - Fans who bring a non-perishable canned food item to the game will receive $5 off their game ticket.
Opening Tip
After a pair of road contests, the Temple University men's basketball team returns to the Liacouras Center for the first of three in a row at home, taking on the Columbia Lions on Saturday, November 18. Tipoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
Last Time Out - Owls Outlast Dragons in Big 5 Opener
In its first Big 5 game of the year, the Owls held off the Drexel Dragons and ran its record to 3-0 on the season with a 66-64 win.
BY THE NUMBERS
Filling The Sheet
So far this season, Sam Hofman has done a lot of the little things that have helped the Owls win games. His minutes have increased in each game as have his contributions. He has had at least five points and five rebounds in each game. His most impressive game to date was on Tuesday at Drexel when he had eight points, a team-high seven rebounds and three steals.
Block Party
Steve Settle III has used his length to the Owls advantage this season, blocking six shots in three games, an average of two swats a contest. Last season,Temple's blocks per game leader had 1.1. TU has not had a player record more than two blocks a game in a season since Micheal Eric posted 2.1 an outing in 2011-12.
Valuing The Ball
Temple has continued to hold on to the ball, committing fewer turnovers in each of their three successive games this season. The Owls turned the ball over just five times against Drexel, its first game with five or less since March 7, 2015 against UConn. TU is 17th nationally with just 8.3 miscues a contest. While a small sample size, the number is a marked improvement from last season where the Owls gave the ball away 13.6 times a game.
Adjust Your Calendars
Two Temple men's basketball games have had time adjustments. The game on Saturday against Columbia has been moved to 1:00 p.m. (originally a 2:00 p.m. tipoff). Likewise, the March 2 game against Tulsa has been moved up an hour to 1:00 p.m.
Charitable Contributions
The Owls have feasted at the charity stripe in the early going, ranking ninth in the nation in free throw percentage at 83.1 and are 14th in the country in free throws made at 21.3 a game. Temple has made at least 15 from the line in each game so far.
Scouting Report
Columbia is 2-2 on the season and is coming off a 105-60 win against SUNY-Delhi on Wednesday. The Lions were selected eighth in the Ivy League in the preseason coaches poll.
It has been a tale of opponent level for CU, going 2-0 against Division III foes, averaging 95 points per game against Bard and SUNY-Delhi. It is 0-2 against Division I opponents and has surrendered 78 points a contest against Providence and UAlbany.
Five players average nine or more points a game for Columbia, led by Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa at 11.8 a night. Kenny Noland and Avery Brown post 10.5 and 10.3, respetively. Blair Thompson is just under double figures, tallying 9.8 a contest with Zavian McLean scoring 9.3. Thompson tops the team at 4.3 rebounds a game and Rubio De La Rosa has 11 assists.
The Lions have done a good job in the early going of defending the perimeter, ranking in the top-50 nationally as opponents shoot just 25.0 percent from distance. They also sit ninth in NCAA Division I with 13.2 steals per game.
Rebounding has been an issue for Columbia, who pulls in 35.8 boards a contest, second to last in the Ivy League and in 247th in D1. For what they have done defensively beyond the arc, the Lions haven't shot well from deep themselves, hitting. 30.4 percent.
Jim Engles is in his eighth season with the Lions, posting a record of 48-123 in Morningside Heights. Prior to joining the Lions he spent eight years at NJIT. He guided the Highlanders to 20 or more wins in his last two seasons and advanced to the CollegeInsider.com Tournament semifinals in both 2015 and 2016.
Wait, What?
As incredible as it may seem for two schools that have played a combined 251 seasons and 5,807 games, Saturday is the first time that Temple and Columbia have ever met in men's basketball.
Picarelli Firing Long Distance
One of the reasons Temple brought in Matteo Picarelli as a transfer was to shoot the three and so far he has done just that. He has taken 22 shots overall, 19 of them from beyond the arc 86.3 percent. Throughout his career, 78.4 percent of Picarelli's field goal attempts have come from three-point range.
Check Your TV Listings
The NABC announced on Wednesday that Temple's game in the Brooklyn Showcase against UAlbany on December 10 will be on the YES Network. Streaming information will be made available at a later date.
Props
Jahlil White's big week earned him some recognition. The junior was named the Big 5 Player of the Week and was selected to the AAC Weekly Honor Roll.
Up Next
The Owls remain home for the second of three contests in a row at the Liacouras Center, taking on Ole Miss on Wednesday, November 22. Tipoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
Location: Liacouras Center - Philadelphia, Pa.
Watch: ESPN+ | Listen: 1210 WPHT | Live Stats: Owlsports.com
Social Media
Twitter/X: @TUMBBHoops | Instagram: @tumbbhoops
Tweet #Team128
Promotions: Canned Food Drive - Fans who bring a non-perishable canned food item to the game will receive $5 off their game ticket.
Opening Tip
After a pair of road contests, the Temple University men's basketball team returns to the Liacouras Center for the first of three in a row at home, taking on the Columbia Lions on Saturday, November 18. Tipoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
Last Time Out - Owls Outlast Dragons in Big 5 Opener
In its first Big 5 game of the year, the Owls held off the Drexel Dragons and ran its record to 3-0 on the season with a 66-64 win.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Hysier Miller led the Owls with 19. He also had six rebounds.
- Sam Hofman filled the stat sheet with eight points, seven rebounds and three steals.
- Matteo Picarelli was in double figures, scoring 11.
- Steve Settle III had a trio of blocks in the game.
- Temple turned the ball over just five times, its first game with five or fewer since 2015.
Filling The Sheet
So far this season, Sam Hofman has done a lot of the little things that have helped the Owls win games. His minutes have increased in each game as have his contributions. He has had at least five points and five rebounds in each game. His most impressive game to date was on Tuesday at Drexel when he had eight points, a team-high seven rebounds and three steals.
Block Party
Steve Settle III has used his length to the Owls advantage this season, blocking six shots in three games, an average of two swats a contest. Last season,Temple's blocks per game leader had 1.1. TU has not had a player record more than two blocks a game in a season since Micheal Eric posted 2.1 an outing in 2011-12.
Valuing The Ball
Temple has continued to hold on to the ball, committing fewer turnovers in each of their three successive games this season. The Owls turned the ball over just five times against Drexel, its first game with five or less since March 7, 2015 against UConn. TU is 17th nationally with just 8.3 miscues a contest. While a small sample size, the number is a marked improvement from last season where the Owls gave the ball away 13.6 times a game.
Adjust Your Calendars
Two Temple men's basketball games have had time adjustments. The game on Saturday against Columbia has been moved to 1:00 p.m. (originally a 2:00 p.m. tipoff). Likewise, the March 2 game against Tulsa has been moved up an hour to 1:00 p.m.
Charitable Contributions
The Owls have feasted at the charity stripe in the early going, ranking ninth in the nation in free throw percentage at 83.1 and are 14th in the country in free throws made at 21.3 a game. Temple has made at least 15 from the line in each game so far.
Scouting Report
Columbia is 2-2 on the season and is coming off a 105-60 win against SUNY-Delhi on Wednesday. The Lions were selected eighth in the Ivy League in the preseason coaches poll.
It has been a tale of opponent level for CU, going 2-0 against Division III foes, averaging 95 points per game against Bard and SUNY-Delhi. It is 0-2 against Division I opponents and has surrendered 78 points a contest against Providence and UAlbany.
Five players average nine or more points a game for Columbia, led by Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa at 11.8 a night. Kenny Noland and Avery Brown post 10.5 and 10.3, respetively. Blair Thompson is just under double figures, tallying 9.8 a contest with Zavian McLean scoring 9.3. Thompson tops the team at 4.3 rebounds a game and Rubio De La Rosa has 11 assists.
The Lions have done a good job in the early going of defending the perimeter, ranking in the top-50 nationally as opponents shoot just 25.0 percent from distance. They also sit ninth in NCAA Division I with 13.2 steals per game.
Rebounding has been an issue for Columbia, who pulls in 35.8 boards a contest, second to last in the Ivy League and in 247th in D1. For what they have done defensively beyond the arc, the Lions haven't shot well from deep themselves, hitting. 30.4 percent.
Jim Engles is in his eighth season with the Lions, posting a record of 48-123 in Morningside Heights. Prior to joining the Lions he spent eight years at NJIT. He guided the Highlanders to 20 or more wins in his last two seasons and advanced to the CollegeInsider.com Tournament semifinals in both 2015 and 2016.
Wait, What?
As incredible as it may seem for two schools that have played a combined 251 seasons and 5,807 games, Saturday is the first time that Temple and Columbia have ever met in men's basketball.
Picarelli Firing Long Distance
One of the reasons Temple brought in Matteo Picarelli as a transfer was to shoot the three and so far he has done just that. He has taken 22 shots overall, 19 of them from beyond the arc 86.3 percent. Throughout his career, 78.4 percent of Picarelli's field goal attempts have come from three-point range.
Check Your TV Listings
The NABC announced on Wednesday that Temple's game in the Brooklyn Showcase against UAlbany on December 10 will be on the YES Network. Streaming information will be made available at a later date.
Props
Jahlil White's big week earned him some recognition. The junior was named the Big 5 Player of the Week and was selected to the AAC Weekly Honor Roll.
Up Next
The Owls remain home for the second of three contests in a row at the Liacouras Center, taking on Ole Miss on Wednesday, November 22. Tipoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
Players Mentioned
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