Guest Contributor Ray Floriani: Temple at Fordham

by Ray Floriani

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - They showed the reason, or reasons, they are the front runner in the Atlantic Ten. Temple defeated Fordham 70-51 at the Izod Center in the A-10 opener for both teams

Outside the Izod
on a chilly night

The early seven point lead enjoyed by the Rams due to a fast start and some hot three point shooting, soon dissipated. Fordham cooled off from the field and Temple made a concerted effort on go inside. At the half the Owls enjoyed a significant 22-8 edge in points in the paint. Chris Gaston, the Rams main and arguably only inside threat, had a very ordinary 4 point half on 2 of 5 shooting. Halftime saw a 35-27 Temple advantage. The Owls used 37 possessions, Fordham 36. Temple enjoyed a clear cut 95-75 offensive efficiency edge at intermission.

The first four minutes of the second half saw Temple go on a 11-2 run, extending the lead to 46-29. The Owls attacked inside and out while Fordham's only basket was on a transition dunk by Chris Gaston.

The remainder of the second half was all Temple. The Owls were dominant and never seriously challenged the rest of the way.

The efficiency numbers:

		Off.
	Poss.	Eff.
Temple	71	99
Fordham	68	75

The Four Factors:

		FTA
	eFG%	FGA	OR%	TO%
Temple	49	16	46	25
Fordham	46	2	21	25

Temple's dominance on the inside game is reflected in the numbers. The Owls pounded the offensive glass, held a 38-18 points in the paint edge and as Fordham's free throw rate shows, did not allow the Rams to set up a post up game that could get them to the line.

Temple shot 52% (24 of 46) from two point range while Fordham was 35% (13 of 37).

Game action Temple vs. Fordham

Both teams were 25% on the TO rate. A fact not overlooked by Temple, a team that entered the contest with a sterling 18% TO rate.

Final Numbers.
Temple had four players in double figures. Reflecting their inside/outside offensive philosophy there were two interior and perimeter players among the four. Lavoy allen (12 points) and Micheal Eric (14 points 11 boards) did the job in the paint while Juan Fernandez and Ramone Moore had 15 apiece at the guard spot.

Branden Frazier, a freshman guard, paced Fordham with 16 points. Chris Gaston was defended very well and the Ram sophomore settled for 8 points, 5 rebounds on the night. Gaston shot 4 of 7 from the floor and struggled to get a decent look all night.

The 'Manley formula' efficiency leaders:

	Efficiency
Michael Eric, Temple	22
Branden Frazier, Fordham	18
Juan Fernandez, Temple	17
Ramone Moore, Temple	16

Temple is 10-3 (1-0 A-10) while the Rams are 6-7 (0-1).

Temple coach Fran Dunphy
has the Owls the class of the A-10

Temple University Post Game: The 2011 Big 5 Champions

The Books Say...
When #25 Templa faced #8 Villanova at the Pavilion on Villanova's Main Line campus the national media touted the match up as a "1 in 220" game -- the last time two nationally ranked Big 5 teams faced off in a City Series game. But for the 6,500 fans who braved the December cold to watch Villanova beat back four Temple second half rallies to preserve their 78-74 win, it was just another night in the Big 5. Desipite taking a commanding eight point lead, 76-68 inside the last minute, the Wildcats watched the Owls record six points in the last 18 seconds to close the final margin to four points. Senior Corey Stokes scored a game-high 24 points to bring Villanova the school's 23rd win in the last 25 Big 5 games, and help the Wildcats clinch their third Big 5 title in the last four seasons. Senior forward Lavoy Allen paced Temple with 22 points and nine rebounds.

The Nova/Philadelphia Blogoshere has two (relatively) early returns, the Nova Blog posted some and linked to Aaron Bracy over at Philahoops.com for post game quotes and an interview with Juan Fernandez (for the Wildcat fans who think they may have missed his name on the roster...Fernandez is the Owls' Argentine point guard who fouled out in the last minute). Both sites are worth a look if you have the time. The Athletic Department website posted the official boxscore and the AP wire story, "No. 8 Villanova Beat(s) Crosstown Rival...", led off with Corey's scoring spree. The breakdown by halves...

Opponent:	Temple University
	1st	2nd	Game
Pace	31.4	38.6	70.0
	Offense				Defense
	1st	2nd	Game		1st	2nd	Game
Rating	124.2	101.0	111.4		127.3	90.7	107.1
eFG%	43.8	56.3	49.1		71.4	36.4	50.0
TORate	6.4	18.1	12.9		19.1	13.0	15.7
OR%	33.3	9.1	24.1		41.7	28.6	33.3
FTA/FGA	37.5	70.8	51.8		71.4	45.5	55.6
FTM/FGA	34.4	50.0	41.1		47.6	33.3	38.9
ARate	38.5	58.3	48.0		66.7	60.0	63.6
Blk%	12.5	8.3	10.7		0.0	12.1	7.4
Stl%	3.0	5.3	4.2		10.3	7.7	8.8
PPWS	1.03	1.22	1.12		1.42	0.87	1.10
2FG%	44.0	60.0	50.0		60.0	26.1	36.4
3FG%	28.6	33.3	31.3		54.5	40.0	47.6
FT%	91.7	70.6	79.3		66.7	73.3	70.0
%2FG	56.4	46.2	51.3		30.0	34.3	32.0
%3FG	15.4	23.1	19.2		45.0	34.3	40.0
%FT	28.2	30.8	29.5		25.0	31.4	28.0

The green highlighting is good news to the Villanova faithful, while the red highlighting denotes areas that will no doubt show up in the game films and post game notes Coach Wright will emphasize in practice. There appeared to be a pronounced drop off in efficiencies the second half.

The first half was played at Temple's pace, a somewhat leisurely 31 possessions that would stretch out to about 62 possessions for the game, just a tick lower than Temple's usual 66 possessions. Both teams abandoned their trademark defenses and posted surprisingly (for very different reasons) efficient offensive numbers. Temple's efficiency was powered by their shooting -- just about everything they threw up went in. And field goal accuracy, especially from beyond the arc, forgives many transgressions (like their 19% turnover rate and free throw conversion ratio -- compare the Owls' FTA/FGA to their FTM/FGA -- note the big drop off). Villanova shot poorly, yet managed to compensate by not turning the ball over (6.4% turnover rate) and by getting to the free throw line and converting efficiently when they got there. For the second half, the staff handed the ball to Sophomore guard Maalik Wayns, and the point guard-in-waiting did what he does best, pop the gear and punch the accelerator. The change in speed and emphasis on getting out in transition was helped (accidentally no doubt) by Temple's press. Effective in the first half at slowing the 'Cats down, Villanova found ways to pass over and dribble through it to get clean looks at their end of the floor. Temple's very hot shooting run also tailed off, a very helpful development for the Wildcats too.

Notes & Observations
1. Consistent with nail biters, the staff shortened the rotation considerably. Though the staff called numbers for nine players, only seven logged double digit minutes, with three players (Wayns, Stokes and Pena) getting PT >= 35 minutes.
2. Corey Fisher picked up two first half fouls and played only 12 minutes, dishing a dime and recording a steal. The senior guard also picked up two more fouls in the second half, and the staff, probably more concerned about the bulging rebounding dificiency, played him only 10 minutes, opting instead to go with a combination of taller, more rebound-oriented players such as Dominic Cheek and Maurice Sutton. The senior guard finished by scoring five points on 1-6 overall and 3-5 from the line, four rebounds, two dimes and one each of a turnover, steal and block, in 22 minutes of play.
3. Corey Stokes led all scorers with 24 points on 7-13 overall (a phenomenal 5-8 from beyond the arc) and 5-6 at the line. Two others, Maalik Wayns (21) and Mouphtaou Yarou (14) scored more than 10 points for the Wildcats.

Up Next -- The 'Cats will open the Big East season Sunday when they host Rutgers at the Pavilion. Rush the Court will be there with a live blog. Tip off is 1:00 pm.

Temple Post Game -- Living by the 3

What is it With Birds?
When the 'Cats took a 33-19 lead the game was beginning to have the feel of a blowout, the Owls were missing their 3s, and Wildcat defensive rebounding was working. Maybe they were not getting offensive rebounds, but when you are shooting 59.3% (eFG%) and hitting 50% of your 3s, who needs rebounds? The Owls did not fold, launched a 12-4 run to close out the last 4:29 of the 1st half and left the 'Cats with a 6 point lead, and a very false sense of security, going into the half.

I ran some flukey numbers from the ESPN boxscore (I should know better, those guys have burned me a few times already...), and believed the 1st half pace was about 35+. That would have been good news for the 'Cats, bad news for the Owls. Not to be however, as the official box score indicated the pace was 31.1 for both halves, a very rarely consistent pace. The official website also has the AP wirestory. The breakdown by halves...

Opponent	Temple
	1st	2nd	Game
Pace	31.1	31.1	62.2
	Offense				Defense
	1st	2nd	Game		1st	2nd	Game
Rating	119.1	90.1	104.6		99.8	141.5	120.7
eFG%	59.3	41.4	50.0		52.2	78.0	65.6
TORate	12.9	16.1	14.5		25.8	12.9	19.3
OR%	18.8	22.2	20.6		30.8	25.0	28.0
FTA/FGA	25.9	13.8	19.6		34.8	36.0	35.4
FTM/FGA	18.5	13.8	16.1		30.4	20.0	25.0
ARate	61.5	36.4	50.0		90.0	68.8	76.9
Blk%	3.7	3.4	3.6		8.7	8.0	8.3
Stl%	0.0	3.1	1.6		19.5	6.6	13.1
PPWS	1.22	0.91	1.06		1.16	1.50	1.34
2FG%	46.7	52.9	50.0		50.0	64.3	57.7
3FG%	50.0	16.7	33.3		36.4	63.6	50.0
FT%	71.4	100.0	81.8		87.5	55.6	70.6
%2FG	37.8	64.3	49.2		38.7	40.9	40.0
%3FG	48.6	21.4	36.9		38.7	47.7	44.0
%FT	13.5	14.3	13.8		22.6	11.4	16.0

Half-time Adjustments
The first half, offensive rebounding excepted, followed a well established trend for early this season -- relatively high eFG% (52.2%) partially negated by turnovers (TORate -- 25.8%, the Owls lost 1 in 4 possessions). Defensive steals (Stl% -- 19.5) suggest the source of the turnovers, steals, most likely came from the press...the Owls were not handling it well. When your team is shooting 59.3 (eFG%) from the field, it is hard to get nervous about lack of offensive rebounding. The 2nd half changed everything. The Owls took care of turnovers (note the half-over-half decline), even at the expense of a few offensive rebounds (30.8 down to 25.0). Their shooting exploded however, as suggested by their conversion rates (highlighted in red), which translated into a very high (for a team) eFG% of 78.0%. Lack of defense, especially shot defense, combined with a distinct lack of offense from Villanova, combined to produce a very anemic second half for the Wildcats.

Temple guard Juan Fernandez scored a career high 33 points (in 34 minutes of play), 17 of them in the 1st half alone. He went 11-15, 7-9 from beyond the arc and 4-4 from the free throw line. Off guard Ryan Brooks scored 20 points, 3 short of his high this season (versus Delaware in the Owls' first game). Levoy Allen scored 10 points on 5-10 (0-1, 5-9) shooting, and grabbed 17 rebounds, 1 short of his career high (recorded last season against St. Bonaventure).

Notes & Observations
1. Scottie Reynolds was not only the high scorer for Villanova, he tied with Taylor King for the team high (2-5-7) 7 rebounds.
2. Reynolds and Corey Fisher again functioned as the offensive nucleus of the team. Reynolds took 32.7% of the shots when he was on the floor (87.5% of the minutes), while Fisher took 30.3% of the shots as well (82.5% of the minutes). Reynolds was shot a relatively effective 65.6% (eFG%) while converting at a 1.36 (PPWS) rate. Fisher shot a less effective 50.5% (eFG%), converting at a disappointing 0.97 (PPWS). The Option #3 role was filled by Antonio Pena in this game. Tone scored 16 points, taking 18.3% of the shots when he was on the floor, hitting at a 50.0% (eFG%) rate, and converting at a 1.25 clip (6-6 from the line). Taylor King, a pleasant surprise over the past 3 games, paced the 1st half with 6 points on 2-5 (2-3, 0-2) shooting. King hit an effective 60.0% (eFG%) rate, converting at a 1.20 (PPWS) rate. Temple shut him down in the 2nd half -- King had zero FGAs in 17 minutes of 2nd half play. He did grab 3 rebounds to go with his 4 1st half rebounds.
3. Villanova closes their 2010 Big 5 record at 3-1. With most of the games still to be played between the other teams, this season's City Series champion will most likely not be official until Temple plays La Salle on February 28. For Villanova however, the 2001-2010 decade closes with the 'Cats posting a 32-8 (0.800), the best decade-long run for a Big 5 team. The Villanova-Temple rivalry remains the most competitive in the City Series. In Big 5 play the Wildcats the slightest, 26-25, of leads.

Ref Notes
The crew contained three familiar faces -- Jim Burr, Joe Lindsay and Michael Stephens. For Burr and Lindsay, who have routinely run 3 - 5 games per season over the past 3+ seasons, this was their inaugural game for 2010. Michael Stephens worked in the crews that refereed the Penn and Maryland games. The Nova Nation may favor the let 'em play type zebras, but this crew was a bit too laid back. The Wildcats have averaged about 26 free throw attempts in road games this season, typically only 4 - 6 attempts are attributable to end-of-game possession fouls; the 'Cats had only 11 attempts versus Temple. The table above shows Villanova scored only 13.8% of their points at the line versus Temple, free throws made typically acount for 20% - 36% of Villanova's points. 13.8% is by far the lowest percentage for the season (so far).