Archive: March, 2010
Rich Hofmann, Daily News Sports Columnist
Well, that was quick.
They worried in their hearts, the Temple people did, when Cornell popped up in the bracket. They knew the Big Red as a friend, yes -- Temple coach Fran Dunphy and Cornell coach Steve Donahue go back forever -- but they also knew Cornell as a team full of seniors who could hit three-pointers. They saw what the Big Red did at Kansas in a late, close loss. They knew what was in store for them.
But they didn’t predict such carnage. They couldn’t have imagined it. They didn’t anticipate getting beaten so thoroughly by the Cornell ballhandlers. The best defensive team in Philadelphia, including the Sixers, got absolutely shredded by Cornell, 78-65. The first-round game in Jacksonville would be the only game for the champion of the Atlantic 10. For Dunphy, again, it is one-and-done.
Trailing by eight at the half, Temple came out and scored on eight of its first nine possessions -- but the Owls couldn’t make any headway. A Cornell team that led the nation in three-point shooting, but which was quiet that way in the first half while unfurling its mid-range game, finally came with a rain of threes. Temple never really threatened. The Owls cut the deficit to six with about 15 minutes to go, and shot the ball pretty well themselves overall, but that was it. Cornell was uber-efficient.
Ryan Wittman had 20 for Cornell, and Louis Dale, a real assassin, had 21. The 7-footer, Jeff Foote, had 16. For Temple, Juan Fernandez had 14 points, and Lavoy Allen and Ryan Brooks each had 11.
The Big Red were winning by 37-29 at the half and the score was pretty indicative of what went on. That the Donahues were ready goes without saying. But it played out differently than a lot of people expected. Cornell, the best three-point shooting team in the nation, instead used its ball movement and its ballhandling quickness to get the ball inside and do all kinds of damage inside the arc. They shot 68 percent for the half and got scoring contributions from five different guys.
At the other end, Cornell changed defenses and played very aggressively on the perimeter -- and Temple’s ballhandling skills were challenged. On the Owls’ halftime stat sheet, a pair of 9’s stood out -- 9 turnovers and 9 fouls. Both were high, and concerning.
Three times this season, Temple had come from behind by double digits in the first half to win, all against good teams: Villanova, Siena and Seton Hall. Given that Cornell led by 11 at one point in the first half, this would have to be the fourth.
Didn’t happen.
Didn’t come close.
Madness, etc.
Rich Hofmann, Daily News Sports Columnist
I always thought Shawn Andrews was a welcome change of the usual football pace. A lot of people didn't agree. It doesn't really matter now, though -- now that the Eagles have released their former Pro Bowl right guard.
He was such a good player when his back was right, and his head was right. He was as good an athlete as they've ever had play the guard position. Andrews could have been a cornerstone for this team for a decade -- quirky, yes, but a cornerstone. But now he's gone.
Eagles coach Andy Reid said, "We appreciate the efforts and contributions of Shawn while he was here. We have, however, decided to move in another direction." The rough translation is that Reid didn't feel as if he could take another chance. There is no word on where Andrews is on his back rehabilation following surgery, no word on where his head is at. There is no word on why Reid would not have at least waited to see what Andrews looked like in minicamps in late April. Maybe he had it in his mind that if Andrews was not ready to participate in the off-season workouts that just commenced, that would be that. The short statement from the coach, as usual, leaves a lot unanswered.
Rich Hofmann, Daily News Sports Columnist
Allen Iverson's departure was an obvious topic of discussion today at Sixers practice, as was the harsh comments from coach Eddie Jordan after Monday's loss to Orlando.
Here are what several players had to say about Iverson:
Elton Brand: "I think it's better for the team to know that he won't be back, just so that guys will know their roles and won't be looking over their shoulders saying, hey, one of the most prolific scorers in the NBA's history is coming back and my minutes will be down. It's good for the young guys that are playing to know."
