A win would change Owls' perceptions

A victory Wednesday night would be a perception changer for Temple.

Right now, one perception is that the Owls follow up big wins with bigger losses. Another perception is that Temple can't win in Charlotte.

The Owls head into Wednesday's Atlantic Ten Conference game at Charlotte after Saturday's huge nonconference victory over Maryland at the Palestra.

Temple (13-5, 2-2 A-10) followed up its previous statement-game victories (over Duke and St. Louis) with unexpected losses (to Dayton and Richmond).

Trying to avoid another let-down game isn't Temple's lone motivater. The Owls are 0-4 in Charlotte.

Temple should win this game against a 49ers squad (10-8, 2-3) that lost three of their last four games. But didn't we assume the Owls would do the same against Dayton and Richmond?

The one thing we do know is Temple redshirt freshman forward Anthony Lee will have his hands full against Charlotte junior center Chris Braswell, one of the A-10's top post players.

The 6-foot-8 Braswell averages a team-leading 14.5 points and 7.5 rebounds. He scored a career-high 31 points in an 85-75 loss to Massachusetts on Jan 11.

Luckily for Lee, Micheal Eric will provide some minutes off the bench in this his second game back from a broken right kneecap.

"Well, obviously, Anthony is going to have to deal with it," Temple coach Fran Dunphy said of facing Braswell. "But he has been dealing with it for the last number of games. And he's been trying to fight like crazy. I'm proud of his efforts."

In addition to containing Braswell, the Owls must limit forward Javarris Barnett (11.4 points) and swingman DeMario Mayfield (10 points).

It Temple is unable to contain those players, it probably will remain winless in the Queen City..

PROBABLE STARTERS

TEMPLE (13-5, 2-2 A-10)
32 Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson F  6-6 Jr. 9.6 ppg. 6.3 rpg.
3 Anthony Lee F 6-9 Fr. 5.9 ppg. 6.8 rpg.
4 Juan Fernandez G 6-4 Sr. 11.6 ppg. 4.1 apg.
1 Khalif Wyatt G 6-4 Jr. 16.6 ppg. 1.9 spg.
10 Ramon Moore G 6-4 Sr. 17.2 ppg. 3.1 apg.

CHARLOTTE (10-8, 2-3)
00 Javarris Barnett F 6-7 Sr. 11.4 ppg. 6.6 rpg.
11 DeMario Mayfield G/F 6-5 Soph 10 ppg. 6.1 rpg
35 Chris Braswell C 6-8 Jr. 14.5 ppg. 7.5 rpg.
1   Derrio Green G 6-5 Sr. 7.7 ppg. 1.1 spg
15 Pieria Henry G 6-3 Fr. 7.6 ppg. 3.2 apg.

Coaches

TEMPLE

Fran Dunphy (433-225 career record)

CHARLOTTE

Alan Major (20-28)

SERIES

Temple leads, 6-5. The Owls are 0-4 in Charlotte