THINKS THE EAGLES STOLE ONE
MIAMI - Mr. Clutch will need to be Mr. Defense if Temple hopes to get past Arizona State today.
Of course, a few of those big-moment shots that Ryan Brooks is known for wouldn't hurt the Owls' cause, either. But the guard's primary responsibility against the Sun Devils in the NCAA South Regional opener will be guarding the seemingly indefensible James Harden.
The Pac-10's player of the year, Harden averages 20.8 points a game and can score anywhere, anytime and on any shot. Brooks, the Owls' best perimeter defender, will initially cover Harden, but guards Dionte Christmas and Semaj Inge will take turns giving their teammate a breather.
"It's not going to solely rest on one guy's shoulders," Brooks said. "And you can't completely stop him."
Brooks is second on the team in minutes (34.1 per game) behind only Christmas, third on the team in scoring (10.7 points per game) and first in three-point field-goal percentage (41.7).
In the Atlantic Ten championship, the 6-foot-3 guard drained a key late-game three-pointer. After the championship, Temple's Fran Dunphy called Brooks the most clutch player he has ever coached.
"I have a knack for having the ball in certain situations and getting big baskets," the junior said. "I've never been able to describe it."
It dates to his days at Lower Merion High when he and Garrett Williamson (now of St. Joseph's) guided the Aces to two PIAA Class AAAA finals, winning the title in their senior year.
Lost in translation. During yesterday's news conference, center Sergio Olmos was asked a question by a Spanish-speaking reporter.
The Spaniard answered a question about the difference between the Owls' NCAA appearances this year and last. After Olmos was finished, Christmas, also on the dais, was asked to translate.
"Ask Semaj," said Christmas, seated next to Inge.
"Si," Inge said.
Extras. President Obama's NCAA bracket has Temple advancing past Arizona State, but losing to Syracuse in the second round. The Sun Devils weren't that concerned with Obama's bracket. "He's an East Coast guy [with] the East Coast bias," forward Jeff Pendergraph said of Obama, a former Illinois senator who grew up in Hawaii. "So that's all right." The president picked North Carolina to beat Louisville for the national championship. . . . Temple is staying at the same hotel as the American team in the World Baseball Classic. The Phillies' Jimmy Rollins and the Yankees' Derek Jeter greeted the Owls at the hotel. . . . Arizona State coach Herb Sendek said that guard Jamelle McMillan, who has missed the last four games with a groin injury, could play some minutes.
Contact staff writer Jeff McLane at 215-854-4745 or jmclane@phillynews.com.
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