Temple University Athletics
Temple Men’s Basketball Announces 2026-27 Non-Conference Schedule
9.23.26 | Men's Basketball
PHILADELPHIA - Temple University men's basketball head coach Adam Fisher announced the Owls' 14-game 2026-27 non-conference schedule Wednesday, highlighted by 10 games in Philadelphia and a three-game trip to the Paradise Jam in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Of the 10 Philadelphia games, six will be played at the Liacouras Center, two at the Palestra during its 100th anniversary season and one at Xfinity Mobile Arena as part of the Big 5 Classic. Temple will also play at La Salle.
"We're excited about the level of competition throughout our non-conference schedule," Fisher said. "It will challenge our team and help prepare us for American Conference play. We're also looking forward to playing throughout Philadelphia and giving our fans plenty of opportunities to see us compete."
Temple will welcome 2026 NCAA Tournament participants Villanova and Wright State to the Liacouras Center. Wright State captured the Horizon League regular-season and tournament championships, while Villanova earned an at-large berth as a No. 8 seed. The schedule also includes three Big 5 contests.
Temple opens the season against Central Connecticut State on Nov. 2 before heading to the Palestra on Nov. 8 to face Richmond. It will be the 22nd meeting between the programs, with the Owls holding an 11-10 advantage in the all-time series. They have met twice in the NCAA Tournament, with Temple winning both matchups in 1988 and 1991.
The Owls host Charleston on Nov. 11 in the third meeting between the programs and the first in Philadelphia. The teams split their first two contests, with Charleston winning in Puerto Rico in 2007 and Temple earning a 70-65 road victory in the 2008 Charleston Classic.
Temple visits La Salle for a Big 5 matchup Nov. 15. It will be the 126th meeting between the city rivals, with Temple holding an 82-43 advantage in the all-time series. The Owls earned a 90-63 victory over the Explorers last season at the Liacouras Center.
Temple makes its first trip outside Philadelphia when it travels to St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, for the Paradise Jam from Nov. 20-23. The Owls open against Middle Tennessee before playing two additional games based on tournament results.
Following Thanksgiving, Temple will play six consecutive games in Philadelphia. The Owls return to the Liacouras Center to host Villanova on Dec. 1 in the 98th meeting between the programs. It will be the Wildcats' first visit to North Broad Street since the 2022-23 season, when Temple defeated No. 16 Villanova, 68-64.
Temple heads down Broad Street for the Big 5 Classic at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Dec. 5. The Owls could face Drexel, Penn or Saint Joseph's as part of the tripleheader in South Philadelphia.
Temple returns to North Broad Street to host Cheyney on Dec. 9. The game brings together two programs connected by legendary head coach John Chaney, who began his collegiate coaching career at Cheyney University, the nation's oldest historically Black college or university.
Chaney compiled a 225-59 record during 10 seasons at Cheyney, leading the Wolves to eight NCAA Tournament appearances and the 1978 NCAA Division II national championship. He took over at Temple in 1982 and became the winningest head coach in program history, posting a 516-253 record with 17 NCAA Tournament appearances and five trips to the Elite Eight during his 24 seasons on North Broad Street. Chaney won 741 games during his collegiate coaching career and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001.
Temple returns to the Palestra to face St. Bonaventure on Dec. 12. The Owls hold a 53-7 advantage in the all-time series and have won nine of the last 10 meetings. It will be the first matchup between the former Atlantic 10 rivals since 2013.
The Owls welcome Dartmouth to the Liacouras Center on Dec. 16 for the first meeting between the programs since the 1958 NCAA Tournament. Temple defeated Dartmouth, 69-50, in the East Regional final that season to advance to the Final Four. The Owls lead the all-time series, 3-1.
Temple hosts reigning Horizon League champion Wright State on Dec. 19 before closing its non-conference schedule at Princeton on Dec. 22. The Owls hold a 12-8 advantage against the Tigers after winning both meetings last season, earning a 79-75 neutral-site victory in Kissimmee, Florida, and a 65-61 win at the Liacouras Center.
The American Conference schedule, game times, promotions and broadcast information will be announced at a later date.
Season tickets for the 2026-27 season are on sale now. Fans can also purchase the White Plan, which includes the Villanova game and a choice of two other non-conference games at the Liacouras Center.
2026-27 Temple Men's Basketball Non-Conference Schedule
|
Date |
Opponent |
Location |
|
|
Nov. 2 (Mon.) |
CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE |
Liacouras Center |
|
|
Nov. 8 (Sun.) |
vs. Richmond |
The Palestra |
|
|
Nov. 11 (Wed.) |
CHARLESTON |
Liacouras Center |
|
|
Nov. 15 (Sun.) |
at La Salle |
Philadelphia, Pa. |
|
|
Nov. 20 (Fri.) |
vs. Middle Tennessee (Paradise Jam) |
St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands |
|
|
Nov. 21/22 (Sat./Sun.) |
vs. TBD (Paradise Jam) |
St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands |
|
|
Nov. 23 (Mon.) |
vs. TBD (Paradise Jam) |
St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands |
|
|
Dec. 1 (Tue.) |
VILLANOVA |
Liacouras Center |
|
|
Dec. 5 (Sat.) |
vs. Big 5 Classic |
Xfinity Mobile Arena |
|
|
Dec. 9 (Wed.) |
CHEYNEY |
Liacouras Center |
|
|
Dec. 12 (Sat.) |
vs. St. Bonaventure |
The Palestra |
|
|
Dec. 16 (Wed.) |
DARTMOUTH |
Liacouras Center |
|
|
Dec. 19 (Sat.) |
WRIGHT STATE |
Liacouras Center |
|
|
Dec. 22 (Tue.) |
at Princeton |
Princeton, N.J. |
|
