#22 Temple Predictions: 2010/2011 NCAA Future Lines
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MySportsbook.com Odds to win NCAA title – 100/1
NCAA Basketball – Temple Preview
Key players added – Aaron Brown, Anthony Lee, Jimmy McDonnell
Key players lost – Ryan Brooks
Last season Temple won the Atlantic 10 conference and headed into the Big Dance with high hopes, but the 5th seeded Owls lost to Cornell in the opening round. Even though Temple lost their leading scorer in Ryan Brooks (14.3 ppg) they return most of their core players and the Owls will, once again, be a tough team that has a great defense.
PG Juan Fernandez (12.6 ppg last season) is the leading returning scorer and he is a solid point that has a knack for getting players the ball where they can score. He is also a defensive ace and at 6’4” he can be a nightmare for opposing guards.
The player that has the most expectations this season is F Lavoy Allen (11.5 ppg 10.7 rpg last season). He is 6’9” and 225 pounds and is one of the better rebounders in the nation. He will be counted on to score more down low and man the glass this season. He was picked on the pre-season Atlantic 10 first team as well as one of 50 players on the preseason Wooden Award watch list. When asked about Allen and his low key demeanor Temple head coach Fran Dunphy stated, “Everybody wants Lavoy to be a more dynamic guy, off the court, on the court. They want him to act like he’s Tyler Hansbrough, that kind of unbelievable intensity in playing. That’s not him. Yet, what he’s going to give you is pretty much a double-double each and every night out.” 
After Allen and Fernandez there are not really any players that will strike fear in opposing defenses, but a few that are solid on D and are great at playing their role. 6’11” F/C Michael Eric (5.9 ppg 3.1 rpg last season) will have to step up his play and help Allen on the inside. If he can score he will take a lot pressure off Allen, who most teams will key on.
The players of Rahlir Jefferson, Ramone Moore, Scootie Randall, Criag Williams and TJ DiLeo will get more time on the court this season and if they can put up some numbers Temple will be legit. Moore averaged 7.6 ppg last season, but he needs to improve his long range shooting. Randall shot over 41% from deep last season and can really spread the D if he shoots like that again with the extended minutes he gets this season.
Temple had a decent recruiting class with 3 good freshmen, but no blue-chippers. However, one freshman that should get some PT right away is Aaron Brown. He is perfect for the Owls, as he plays their type of style since he is a well-rounded player that is a great defender. The F tandem of Anthony Lee and Jimmy McDonnell are 6’9” and 6’10” respectively and give head coach Dunphy a couple more big bodies in the paint.
Temple only plays 2 teams before conference play begins that are ranked in the top 25 in #21 Georgetown and #6 Villanova. However, their pre Atlantic 10 schedule is not easy, as they also play the good teams of Seton Hall, California, and Maryland. They may really have a chance to improve their Big Dance seed if they win their 4th to last game of the year playing at Duke, who is the pre-season #1 team.
Surprising stat: Temple has made it to the Big Dance for 3 straight seasons, but each time they failed to get past the first round.
Surprising stat #2: While Temple is one of the best defensive teams in the Atlantic 10 conference they only had one player last season that averaged over 1 block per game and no players that averaged over 1 steal per game.
Strengths: Defense, toughness, teamwork
Weaknesses: lack of big time scorer, 3-point shooting, and shot-blocking
Big Dance? Oh yeah, and they will also win the Atlantic 10 again
Tennessee Win total prediction for 2010-11
Temple won 29 games last season and I see them winning around that total again this season.
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