Kevin Ollie a big booster of Temple's Aaron McKie

If there is anyone who should have an idea of what Aaron McKie could mean to Temple as an assistant coach, it is Kevin Ollie.

The coach of the defending NCAA champion Connecticut Huskies, Ollie played with McKie in the 76ers backcourt. When McKie retired and coached the Sixers guards from 2007 to 2013, before being let go, he became very close to Ollie.

"I know he's going to be big-time," said Ollie, who retired from the NBA in 2010 and was named UConn's coach in 2012. "He helped me tremendously. He has a presence that lets players know that he's been there and done that. They are going to respect what he brings to the table."

Ollie said that McKie stressed defensive principles as a player and coach, something Temple will need after opponents shot 47.4 percent from the floor and averaged 78.1 points per game last season. The Owls (9-22) missed the NCAA tournament for the first time in six seasons.

"When I played with him and later for him, he was like a big brother," Ollie said. "You know, you always pay attention to your big brother. That was when we were playing together. And some of the things he taught when he was coaching, I've applied them to what we do at UConn."

McKie, who played at Gratz High School and later starred at Temple, was drafted 17th by the Portland Trail Blazers in 1994. During his 13-year NBA career, McKie was regarded as a workmanlike defender and competent shooter. He had his best season in 2000-01, when, as Ollie's teammate, he was named the NBA's top sixth man, and the Sixers reached the NBA Finals for the first time since 1983.

Ollie said that having a former NBA player on the coaching staff goes a long way with recruits.

"I think it's big," Ollie said. "Most of the recruits we look at, they want to be NBA basketball players. If they see you've done that, it gives you a little more credibility. But, at the end of the day, you have to build relationships. Aaron is very good at that."

That isn't lost on McKie, but, in the end, he believes that his biggest asset to the Temple program is the ability to teach players how to become better college players.

"The way basketball is, I really don't think that matters," McKie said about his playing career. "These kids don't really know basketball history like that. For them, it's 'What can you do for me?' I don't want to tell them a bunch of lies.

"I'll tell their parents, 'If your child is willing to listen and work to become a better basketball player, I can help you there,' " McKie added. "But everything after that, they'll determine."