Temple looks to end NCAA tournament losing streak

TUCSON, ARIZ. - It's something that Lavoy Allen is tired of talking about.

But the Temple power forward realizes that his team's record of 20-plus wins in four straight seasons does not mean much. Only one thing matters: the Owls' opening-game NCAA tournament losses in each of the last three seasons.

The subject has been brought up several times since the Owls (25-7) were awarded the No. 7 seed in the West Regional.

Allen admitted to being eager to end the conversation by beating 10th-seeded Penn State in Thursday's 2:10 p.m. matchup at the McKale Center.

"Yeah, it's definitely motivation," the 6-foot-9 senior said. "I mean, that's how people, you know, grade you nowadays: how you do in the postseason.

"Although we had a good year, it doesn't matter. We've got to put that behind us and focus on one game at a time in the tournament."

The Owls could be getting some additional help in that quest, just in time. Junior swingman Scootie Randall, who had been sidelined with a hairline fracture in his right foot, is expected to play a reserve role against Penn State.

"He was pain-free on Monday and Tuesday," Temple coach Fran Dunphy said. "So we're hopeful that he can give us some minutes [Thursday].

"I think then the question becomes: How soon will he help us, and then how long will he help us? That would be: to be determined."

The Owls are very familiar with and similar to Penn State (19-14).

The two teams met in a preseason scrimmage and in each of the last two regular seasons. Temple won those games, 65-59 and 45-42.

Both teams are known for their stingy defenses. Temple has held opponents to 62.2 points per game; Penn State has allowed 62.4 per game.

"We both make our money on man-to-man defense," Dunphy said. "I think we both do a good job of helping one another. And I think we pay attention to that detail.

"And we're probably not the fastest offensive teams as well in terms of shooting quickly. . . . That being said, this thing could be a high-scoring affair."

If so, Penn State's Talor Battle could have a career day.

The 6-foot senior guard is averaging 20.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.9 assists a game. The school's all-time leading scorer (2,190 points) is a two-time first-team all-Big Ten selection.

While Battle draws most of the accolades, Penn State's success is often determined by what point guard Tim Frazier does.

When he penetrates the lane, things open up for senior forwards Jeff Brooks (13.3 points per game) and D.J. Jackson (9.8).

"I think he's the one that gets them into their offense," Temple point guard Juan Fernandez said of Frazier, who averages 6.0 points and 5.0 assists. "He can also score. What I know about him, he is not the greatest shooter. But, you know, we've got to respect him. It's probably going to be my job to stop him."

But who on Penn State is going to stop Allen?

The Pennsbury High graduate averaged 16.3 points and 13.1 rebounds over the last seven games as Temple played without injured starters Randall and Micheal Eric (fractured right kneecap).

Penn State center Andrew Jones draws the assignment of defending Allen, but Brooks and Jackson are expected to help out.

If they are unable to contain Allen, Temple might be hard to beat.

Coaches

Fran Dunphy (Temple): Dunphy has bought excitement back to North Broad Street since taking over the program before the start of the 2006-07 season. Under his leadership, the Owls are making their fourth consecutive NCAA tournament appearance and have posted their fourth straight campaign of 20-plus wins.

Ed DeChellis (Penn State): DeChellis, the 2009 Big Ten coach of the year, is bringing visibility to a team that lives in the shadow of Penn State's football program. This season, he led the Nittany Lions to back-to-back wins over nationally ranked opponents for the second time in school history and the first time since 1954.

Temple will win if . . .

. . . the Owls have a balanced attack, keep forwards Lavoy Allen and Rahlir Jefferson out of foul trouble, and don't allow anyone other than Penn State guard Talor Battle to have a hot game.

Penn State will win if . . .

. . . the Nittany Lions control the boards, their unsung heroes step up, and they force Temple to take a lot of bad shots.

Shooting the three

Temple: The Owls are shooting 35.4 percent (195 of 551) from three-point land this season. Reserve guard Khalif Wyatt is the team's best long-range shooter at 42.5 percent, and shooting guard Ramone Moore is second at 39 percent. Temple heads into Thursday's game having made a three-pointer in 498 consecutive games.

Penn State: The Nittany Lions have made 33.6 percent (208 of 619) of their three-pointers. Senior forward Jeff Brooks leads the team at 40.3 percent. Battle is second on the team at 36.6, followed by D.J. Jackson at 34.9.

Guarding the three

Temple is holding opponents to 35.1 percent (173 of 493) from long-range.

Penn State is allowing teams to shoot 36.7 percent (230 of 626) on three-pointers.

Most important matchup

Andrew Jones will have to produce more than his average of 6.1 points per game if Penn State expects to pull off the upset. That might be tough for the West Philadelphia native to do considering he'll be matched up mostly against Allen. In addition to being a solid defender, the Temple senior power forward has averaged 16.3 points and 13.1 rebounds over the last seven games with the team missing starters Micheal Eric and Scootie Randall. It will be interesting to see if the 6-foot-10, 245-pound Jones can stop Allen's streak of seven consecutive double-doubles.

Glass cleaners

Temple: Allen is a force on the boards, grabbing a school record 1,125 rebounds for his career. This season, he leads the team with 8.4 per game. Undersize 6-6 forward Jefferson is second among the active Owls with an average of 5.1 rebounds per game.

Penn State: In addition to being the team's best three-point shooter, Brooks averages a team-high 6.5 rebounds per game. Jones is second on the team at 5.5 per game, followed by Jackson's 4.5.