After a disastrous 2013-14 season which saw the Temple Owls finish with a 9-22 (4-14) record, the single worst season for the Owls’ under Fran Dunphry, the Owls are hoping for a rebound season and to get back to the NCAA tournament.
Last season, the absence of Kahliff Wyatt proved to be to much for a young owls squad that only featured five upperclassmen. All looked to be well for the Owls last season as they went into the new year with a 5-5 record. However, an eight game losing streak in January doomed the Owls for the remainder of the season.
Over the course of February and March, the Owls would only go onto win four games. The highlight of the Owls’ 2013-14 season was their upset of 23rd ranked SMU in mid February, after that, there’s not much to be excited about. The Owls’ would only win back-to-back games twice during the season. The first was a three game winning streak early in the season with wins over Georgia, UAB, and Saint Joseph’s.
Fran Dunphry will be hoping for a better result this year, however by losing two of their top players in Dalton Pepper (graduation) and Anthony Lee (transferred to Ohio State), the Owls’ will have an extremely hard time in the AAC even returning two of their top three scorers. Notable players returning to the squad this season are senior guard Will Cummings, junior guard Quenton DeCosey, sophomore guard Josh Brown, and sophomore Mark Williams.
With the departure of Pepper and Lee, the Owls’ have lost their top scoring threat and arguably their best defender. Averaging over 17 points lasts season for the Owls, Peppers’ departure will be felt by the team throughout the season as they have lost not just their top rebounder in Lee but their second best rebounder in Pepper.
Last season, the Owls’ struggled when it come to free throws and from beyond the arch. Their leader last year in both categories, was guess who, yes, Pepper (Jimmy McDonnell did have a .4295 from beyond the arch, but only in 14 attempts). Last season Pepper shot .871 from the line and .375 from beyond the arch. Take away his numbers along with the .655-percent from the line and .333 from the arch numbers of Anthony Lee, and it leaves the Owls’ with a .558-percent from the free-throw line and a .269 shooting percentage from beyond the arch. Not pretty numbers by any stretch.
The Owls’ will have to rely heavily on the skills of Will Cummings this season. The senior guard from Jacksonville,FL will have to replicate if not improve on his impressive season last year. Playing in 209 more minutes last year than in his sophomore season, Cummings was almost able to triple his sophomore year scoring. Cummings showed vast improvement last year over his sophomore season improving in every major offensive category (FG%, 3P%, FT%) as his shooting percentage when up 0.062 points (.386 to .448) while his three point percantage saw .025-percent increase and his free-throw percentage saw a .102 increase. Cummings was also able to bring down 23 more rebounds, which in rebounds per minute would nearly equate his sophomore season. His biggest jump however may be in assists, as Cummings averaged 4.6 per game, an increase of 2.7 from his sophomore season. Cummings, if all goes well could be in for a big year for the Owls’ this year that may have him end up on an AAC First or Second All-Conference Team.
Union, New Jersey native Quenton DeCosey will also be one of the Owls’ featured players this upcoming season after averaging 15.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg, and 2.4 apg. Last season, DeCosey saw 420% increase in playing time that bumped him from 7.0 minutes per game to 36.4 minutes. The 6’5 junior did not waste his valuable time his sophomore season as he put up double-digit points in all but four of the Owls’ 31 games, including a 16-game streak of 10 or more points to start the season. This season, DeCosey is expected to make an even bigger impact for Temple as he and Will Cummings will be the top targets in the Owls’ frontcourt. This season however, the junior will want to improve on his three point shooting after only shooting .308 from beyond the arch and .787 at the free throw line. Tabbed as an AAC’s preseason All-Conference second team guard along with Cummings, DeCosey will try to improve upon his game even more this upcoming season as he looks to become one of the Owls’ premier shooters.
Josh Brown, a sophomore should be a key player for the Owls’ this season after averaging 21 minutes per game his freshman season. While he only averaged 2.7 points per game last season, Brown earned a valuable year of experience, while it’s unknown if his .317 field goal percentage will increase this upcoming season, the Owls’ first few games should dictate Brown’s playing time for the remainder of the season. If Brown has been able to improve his shooting, Brown could very well have a potential breakout season for the Owls’.
Another sophomore, Mark Williams will have to improve upon his shooting like Brown this season like Brown. After shooting .316-percent lasts season in 30 games, Williams averaged 4.2 points per game, he should see a two or so point increase this season and should have a better presence inside the paint where he was known for his scoring through high school. With a full offseason in college under his belt, Williams should be a bigger presence in the low post with his 6’8, 240 lb pound frame.
A bright spot for the Owls’ this season will be freshman Obio Enechionyia. The 4-star power forward committed to the Owls’ over Indiana, Maryland , and Xavier. The 6’8 power forward will add extra size to the Owls’ frontcourt this season. Enechionyia should definitely help on the defense for Temple as well as bringing down more rebounds, Dunphry will use the 6’8 freshman to his strengths and should be an effective player for the Owls’ throughout the season.
The rest of the squad for the Owls’ consists of role players that will compliment Cummings and DeCosey. Junior Daniel Dingle should see increased playing this year after taking advantage of his 20.3 minutes average last season when he averaged 6.7 points per game, the third highest of any returning Owl. The most interesting player to watch for will be Devontae Watson who has only averaged a mere two points per game over his first two seasons. Last season, Watson saw playing time in all 31 games for the Owls’ but failed to make a consistent impact only reaching double-digits in points once.Forward Jimmy McDonnell will be an outside shooter presence as well as a rebound presence when in for the Owls’ this season after shooting .406% last season for Temple from beyond the arch. Averaging 12 minutes per game last season, McDonnell only averaged 1.8 points per game. The senior however saw his total playing time go from 7 to 289 minutes his junior season. Don’t underestimate the potential playing time the 6’10 forward could see with his size and shooting abilities. Senior Nick Pendergast has only totaled 32 minutes over the first three years of his career, with that being said it’s unlikely to see Pendergast see significant playing time this season.
Transfers Devin Coleman and Jesse Morgan could be wildcards for the Owls’ this season after transferring last winter to Temple. Coleman averaged 5.4 points per game last season for Clemson after coming off a missed 2012-13 season due to a torn Achilles Tendon. Morgan, transferred to Temple after being expelled from UMass. At UMass, Morgan averaged 11.6 points per game over his two years with the Minutemen including 13.4 his sophomore season (2012-13) before being expelled from UMass.
Roster:
#0 – Obio Enechionyia (Forward)
#1 – Josh Brown (Guard)
#2 – Will Cummings (Guard)
#3 – Jesse Morgan (Guard)
#4 – Daniel Dingle (Guard)
#10 – Mark Williams (Forward)
#13 – Nick Pendergast (Forward)
#15 – Jaylen Bond (Forward)
#15 – Devin Coleman (Guard)
#23 – Devontae Watson (Forward/Center)
#25 – Quenton DeCosey (Guard)
#41 – Jimmy McDonnell (Forward)
Schedule:
*conference games in bold
*Big 5 games italicized
- Nov. 14th – vs American
- Nov. 17th – vs Louisiana-Tech
- Nov. 21st – vs Duke
- Nov. 25th– vs UPenn
- Nov. 30th – vs Liu Brooklyn
- Dec. 3rd – @ St. Joseph’s
- Dec. 6th – vs La Salle
- Dec. 10th – vs Towson
- Dec. 14th – @ Villanova
- Dec. 18th – @ Delaware
- Dec. 22nd – vs Kansas
- Dec. 28th – Vs Delaware State
- Dec. 31st – @ UConn
- Jan. 4th – vs UCF
- Jan. 7th – @ Tulane
- Jan. 10th – vs Tulsa
- Jan. 14th – vs SMU
- Jan. 16th – @ Cincinnati
- Jan., 22nd – vs USF
- Jan. 28th – @ UCF
- Jan. 31st – @Tulane
- Feb. 4th – @USF
- Feb. 7th – @ Memphis
- Feb. 10th – vs Cincinnati
- Feb. 14th – vs ECU
- Feb. 19th – @ SMU
- Feb. 22nd – @Tulsa
- Feb. 26th – vs Houston
- Mar. 5th – @ ECU
- Mar. 7th – vs UConn
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