Temple Basketball 2008-09, My Final Thoughts

Well, what a year of Temple Basketball.  While it ended with a disapointing loss in the first round of the NCAA tournament, in a game we could have won, it was an exciting season.  Actually, it was, in many ways, a very typical Temple season, full of exciting moments, and other that left you scratching your head.

The season started with two great wins in the Charlston classic and a disappointing loss Clemson in the finals, and I think that three game stretch may have typified the season.

But overall there were many positives.  Here are some of the good things I took away from the season:

  • Another 20 plus win season in which we made yet another NCAA Tournament.  I know a lot of people were very disappointed with our early exit, myself included, but seeing that the week before I was prepared for a NIT berth, I’d rather take an early exit.
  • Another great A-10 tournament run ending in a record 8th championship.
  • Sweeping St. Joe’s for the season, now winning five in a row against the Hawks.  Given our lack of success against them in the previous years, it’s nice to re-establish our dominance over them.
  • Dionte Christmas becoming the first player in A-10 history to lead the league in scoring for three consecutive season with a 19.5 ppg average.  Despite being in a slump late in the year, Dionte has proven himself as an individual who can play at the next level.  We’ll miss him on North Broad St.
  • The development of Sergio Olmos.  The way the year started for Sergio, you had to wonder (missing the Charlston Classic).  Then his amazing performance against Tennessee made many of us beleive he was finally reaching his potentional, only to be bench several games later.  But much of Temple’s late season success can be attibuted to Sergio steady offensive and defensive play down the stretch.  It amazed me when I was sitting in the Liacouras center how almost everytime he caught the ball, someone would make a remark like “Why you throwing him the ball?” only to have Sergio turn and score.   Did he make mistakes? Yes, but more often than not he’d be very, very productive.  Sergio will have a long professional career over seas.
  • The emergance of Craig Williams.  Craig has the potential to be big time for the Owls.  In addition to his outside shooting, he can rebound and showed signs of an inside game.   If he can further devolop the intermediate to short game, he could be a major force for the Owls.  I think injuries lead to his late season slide, but he can overcome that with a strong off-season work out program.
  • Juan Fernandez not breaking into the starting line up.  The big question at the end of 2008 was when will new-comer Juan Fernandez start.  The fact that he didn’t showed how much Semaj Inge contributed to this team, but it also gave Juan a chance to learn more about the college game.  And he did often deliver when put into the game.

Unfortunately, the season also had it’s share of disappointements.

  • LaVoy Allen.  I know what your thinking.  How could a guy who almost averaged a double-double (10.9, 9 rebounds a game) season be considered disappointing?  Well, I have very high expectations for LaVoy, as I think he could be one of the most dominate Forwards in the country.  There were times when he was completely unstoppable, and other like he didn’t even know where he was.  I also think the team didn’t do a good enough job getting him the ball where he could score.  With his ability and range he will have a big, big season next year, but only if he gets a little meaner!
  • The schedule.  Only having 11 home games sucked, especially give our home and away records (9-2 in the Center).  It was a fluke that the schedule got set up this way, and lets hope it doesn’t happen again.
  • Our play away from the Liacouras Center.  This team was truly Jekyl and Hyde when it came to playing home vs. playing away.  There is something that the coaching staff has to either change and do completely differently in the way they approach the games on the road, as the A-10 has become to balanced to automatically assume that you will win in anyone’s gym.

Well, these are my thoughs on the past year.  Overall, I think Coach Dunphy and his staff had another great season and, quite obviously, is way ahead of where many of us thought he would have the program.  Next year will be the big test though.  With all of his own players and a much better schedule, he must have another 20 win season and be back to the NCAA.  Anything short will be disappointing.

And now Owls fans, let’s look forward to kicking Villanova’s ass at the Linc on September 3rd!

March 28, 2009 · Filed Under Sports, Temple Sports

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