Scootie Randall says he is ready to play for Temple

Scootie Randall has spoken.

The Temple swingman revealed his competitive nature Tuesday in his first interview since suffering a hairline fracture in his right foot on Feb. 17.

"Whenever my team needs me back, I will be back," said Randall, who has missed the 24th-ranked Owls' final five games of the regular season.

"It's doesn't matter if it's Friday or whenever it may be," the 6-foot-6 junior added. "I think I feel comfortable enough to come and give them something."

On Friday, Temple (24-6) will face La Salle in an Atlantic Ten Tournament quarterfinal at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

Randall may be optimistic, but his status has not changed from day-to-day.

The Communications Tech graduate had X-rays of his foot on Monday. Once he receives the results, Randall said the decision to play will be up to him, Temple coach Fran Dunphy, and team trainer John Poulos.

Even if he is available, his effectiveness would be a major concern. Randall, named the conference's most improved player on Monday, has not practiced since the injury.

Randall said he has been taking up to 2,000 shots a day and running on a treadmill and elliptical machines.

"I would love for him to be healthy now," Dunphy said of his team's in-your-face defender and third-leading scorer at 11.6 points per game. "But he's not. He's not healthy enough to play. . . . He would have been off for close to a month. How effective is he going to be? Could I use him? Yeah. We could use him.

"It's just one of those things. He's hurt right now. Right now today, he can't play. Can he play Friday? Maybe. But how much is he going to help us . . . more than Aaron Brown, Khalif Wyatt, and T.J. DiLeo? That's just the way that it is. That's the way life happens to you."

Dunphy wants to see Randall practice before he plays in a game. Ideally, the Owls want him play in the A-10 tourney before he plays in the NCAA tournament.

Even though he is eager to see game action, Randall welcomes his role as the team's vocal leader from the bench.

"Being on the sidelines and watching the game, I think I can direct these guys," he said. "And I think I have been doing a good job of being their supporter and leader from the sidelines. I think benefiting from that is a positive.

"It's a very important role for me."