It's nice to have an automatic bid.

While St. Joseph's and Villanova were sweating out their NCAA tournament fortunes last night, Tyndale and his Temple teammates were basking in the moment at an overcrowded bar filled with overzealous Owls fans.

Temple was part of March Madness for the first time in seven years, and the only real suspense was which team the Owls would play and the seeding they would be awarded by the selection committee.

"Mardy [Collins] and I used to run away from the television our first couple of years here," Tyndale said. "And we had to wait for the NIT phone call."

Cut back to the Draught Horse's 10-foot television screen, which is starting to show the South Regional pairings. "Temple" pops on the screen and a yawn turns to a roar as Tyndale and the Owls learn their fate:

Who: Michigan State.

When: Thursday.

Where: Denver.

Seed: 12.

Even the last detail couldn't temper the excitement. Some had predicted that the Atlantic Ten champion Owls would be a No.10 seed, and when St. Joseph's was named an 11 seed, that seemed to be their slot.

Temple had beaten the Hawks in the A-10 final and once before. Apparently, St. Joe's slightly better RPI ranking - No. 44 to the Owls' No. 47 - played a factor.

"If you had said to me yesterday that before the St. Joe game, you're going to be a 12 seed [and] you're going to have to play Michigan State in Denver, would you take it?" Temple coach Fran Dunphy said. "I would be signing those papers right away."

For Dunphy, a No. 12 seed is on par with his previous nine trips to the NCAAs with Penn. Dunphy's Quakers were seeded as high as 11th four times and as low as 15th once.

The second-year Temple coach, who inherited a program from the legendary John Chaney, conceded a different Selection Sunday feeling this time around.

"Yeah, a little bit," said Dunphy, who entered the bar to an ovation. "Obviously, it's a new challenge for me."

Just six weeks ago, Dunphy might have been heckled walking into a bar near Temple. His Owls were 6-8, coming off a 12-18 first season with him, and, quite simply, appeared lost.

"We just weren't sure where he was going," said Sal Salamone, Class of 1989. "Coming from Penn, he was dealing with a different student-athlete. There was an uncertainty."

But the Owls went on a 15-4 run, won their final seven games, and reinstilled pride in the Temple faithful, who cheered endlessly before and during the broadcast.

"I think this part is just for the fans," senior guard Chris Clark said. "For us, it's time to go to work and get ready for Michigan State. We're not in it just to enter. We're trying to see how far we can go."

Michigan State will pose a tough test for the 21-12 Owls. The 25-8 Spartans reached the NCAAs for the 11th consecutive year - the most among Big Ten teams and fifth in the country.

In 13 seasons in East Lansing, coach Tom Izzo has led the Spartans to four Final Fours, winning the national championship in 2000. In 2001, Temple stood in the way of a return trip to the national semifinals, but Michigan State sent the Owls home with a 69-62 loss.

It was the last NCAA tournament game for the Owls, and proved to be the last one for Chaney, who never reached the Final Four despite five appearances in the Elite Eight.

Tyndale and Dionte Christmas - the starting guards recruited by Chaney - spoke to the retired coach after Saturday's emotional win over St. Joe's. Tyndale said Chaney had a prior commitment in New York and couldn't attend last night.

According to Dunphy, though, Chaney will be on hand tonight as coach Dawn Staley and the on-the-bubble Owls women await their fate.

"He's here in spirit," Tyndale said. "I love Coach Chaney a lot."

or jmclane@phillynews.com.