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Great upset win @ USC!

The win was particularly impressive, considering that Temple's bench scored 31 (44.3%) of the team's 70 points in 60 (30%) minutes of play, and that Temple won the game despite only getting 7 pts from NPL.

Perry (12 pts) and JPL (15) points accounted for ~80+% of the bench scoring, scoring more than the 22 pts that Temple's top 2 starters (Rose 12 & JH 10) scored.

This game proved that, while only two Owls have averaged double figure scoring to date, the team is capable of well-balanced scoring in its most competitive games.

Most importantly, the Owls held USC to only 60 points on their home floor, a remarkable achievement for a team that gave up over 50% of FG attempts, overall, last season.

Also remarkable was the fact that Temple out-rebounded USC, 42-38, after coming off a season when the team had been out-rebounded by ~5 rpg, and more like 7 rpg in conference play.

The starting backcourt's productivity was somewhat subpar from a statistical standpoint (overall FG%: 0.395), although they compensated for that with 19 rbs, 9 assists, 5 steals, and by playing solid defense.

Hamilton had a great (A level) game statistically, with 10 pts and 9 rbs in 23 minutes of play (.83 positive statistics per minute of play).

Moorman had one of the least productive games in his career, hitting only 1 of 5 FGA, and adding only 5 rbs and 2 assists in 25 minutes.

While the traditional way to review what individual players did to contributed to Temple’s win i’m going to ale a different approach.

The Temple game showed that Temple could win games with their defense against a very good team. While in most games Temple had won prior games by averaging 12 steals per game, in the USC game they made only 8 steals, but still had 5 less turnovers than USC, while in prior games Temple had a seven turnover differential.The reason the turnover was differential was because Temple only committed only 8 turnovers for the game, which was lower than Temple had been committing in prior games.

Alani Moore, Perry, Moorman, Hamilton, Scott and Josh, all had no turnovers. That’s huge and shows the importance of players not doing something bad on the court plays such a big role in the outcome of a game.

Alani also had 5-rebounds (3rd most) 3 assists, 2 steals. Alani did everything a team wants it’s starting PG to do who played 27 minutes.

Nate contributed with his 10 rebounds. Hamilton’s 10 points, and 7 rebounding including 3 offensive rebounds also contributed to Temple’s win.

Temple turning the ball over but 8 times was do largely to HC Mckie’s decision to have Temple shoot way more three’s than Temple shot in prior games. In prior games Temple shot but 23 three’s per game. But knowing that USC was to big to score effectively inside, Temple shot 30 three’s. He hoped that Temple would shoot a higher equivalent shooting percentage than Temple would shoot on two’sand Temple did. A by product of Temple shooting so many three’s also resulted in Temple only turning the ball 8 times as Temple players were going to the hoop less in this game.

The reason the turnover differential is so significant is that it allowed more scoring opportunities for Temple that reveals itself with Temple taking 10 more fga’s attempts and a few less trips to the foul line than USC. Such resulted in Temple scoring 9 more points than USC did in the game, as

Temple made 10 three’s compared to USC’s 6 made three’s, which overcame USC scoring 3 more points than Temple did at the foul-line. Alani, Josh, Perry and Rose, each making 2-three’s helped immensely.

Temple has been averaging only 71 points per game because Temple has not been shooting two’s poorly, and did so in the USC game as well. The bench scored well because JPL and Perry had a good game, and Hamilton who started played well. There’s really not much difference between Temple’s first and second team as Temple’ssecond unit often beats it’s first team in scrimmages.

What i’m looking for is Temple’s distribution of shots to become more balanced so if a starter is off he doesn't Keep jacking the ball up like last season. In this game, NPL missed eight shots and made but three that is not good. He missed two’s and three’s.If Perry took some of his shots Temple would have likely scored more points.

Rose improved his scoring efficiency by shooting more three’s which he shot well (2-6) and by shooting 5 two’s that he shot well (3-5) by taking fewer 2’s in the USC game..This was the first game he did that and has terrific results. Hope he keeps shooting more three’s going forward, and shoots them well.

JPL scored 15 points in only 16 minutes of playing time. and shot 5-11 from the field, including 2-5 on three’s. But one of his three’s hit the back rim, traveled at least 10-feet straight up and cane straight down thru the hoop. Up to the USC game he’s shot both 2’s and 3’s poorly, and except for his lucky three ball, did so as well in the USC game.did so this game as well. Still made but 2 of 5 jumpers. Don’t expect him to have a game like that again very often, but fear he will try to emulate what he did in USC game.

Do think Temple’s scoring and assists will increase if Scott is given a bigger role in Temple’s offense. Hope it happens before Temple loses a game.

Temple won the USC game in five minutes played in the second half when Temple went from one point down to nine points up. Temple outscored USC souring that run 16-6 points. Scott both directly and indirectly contributed to seven of Temple’s 16 points. Mckie pulled Scott after he just made a jump shot and had assists with 7:48 remaining in the game.

He replaced Scott with Nate, who had a bad offensive game, and USC went on to score 15-points in the remainder of the game.

Very interesting analysis.

Had not previously considered the strategy of limiting turnovers by taking more perimeter shots, when the opponent has a strong interior defense.

Of course, this only works when a team hits a fair % of perimeter shots, which Temple was able to do with patience & play-making to create high percentage shots.

Rose has changed his game a lot since freshman season, when he scored a lot of points on spectacular athletic drives to the hoop. He made the adjustment in conference play, particularly after his stress fracture last season.

Game 4 was Rose's best game of the season, and hopefully is a sign of things to come. He reported not feeling well after game 1, and perhaps he's feeling physically healthier now.

Definitely agree about the benefits of balanced scoring, and think that if Rose continues to struggle from 2 pt area, he should focus more on play-making to interior players, as he did in game 4. Also helps that he's only playing 30 mpg.

Josh's playing has come as a complete surprise, especially him leading the team in scoring in game 4. But I had thought he was a good defender - and he does lead the team in steals per minute played, but you made an interesting point about USC going on a run when Scott was replaced by JPL in the lineup, second half.

I can definitely see Scott getting 16 mpg despite his poor productivity in pts, rebounds, etc., because the other two back up guards have flaws in their games. From what I'm starting to gather, perhaps Scott has the basketball IQ to be in the right place at the right time more often than Alani and JPL are.

Regarding Hamilton, I'm surprised that Coach McKie has already found a way to persuade him to accept the role that the team needs him to play, near the basket, and as an interior defender and rebounder. That's especially important without the availability of Damion Moore. If it continues, Temple's prospects may be better than I might have expected.

Needless to say, though, we need Damion to get back into action and in full health as soon as possible.

I know he has a back injury, and that it was bad enough to keep him out of two games. Do you know if he suited up, or if he was present at the USC game, or have you heard anything about how serious the injury was? Back injuries can take a long time to recover from. If it takes him out of action too long, he might qualify for a medical redshirt and another year of eligibility.

Good points. What do you think of Temple’s RPI ranking of no. L3 in the nation? I was shocked to see that.

A few months ago for a $100 bet, you would win $60,000 if Temple won the national championship. Know someone who placed $100 on Temple.

Do think that Temple committing six less turnovers than opponents per game is the most important team stat in bb to winning games.

Will try to find out if D.Moore will be traveling to Orlando with the team, and the likelihood of his playing against Maryland.

(11-26-2019 06:30 AM)Miggy Wrote:  Good points. What do you think of Temple’s RPI ranking of no. L3 in the nation? I was shocked to see that.

A few months ago for a $100 bet, you would win $60,000 if Temple won the national championship. Know someone who placed $100 on Temple.

Do think that Temple committing six less turnovers than opponents per game is the most important team stat in bb to winning games.

Will try to find out if D.Moore will be traveling to Orlando with the team, and the likelihood of his playing against Maryland.

The RPI, which heavily emphasizes winning record, opponent records, and SOS, is a good indicator for Temple. On the other hand, Temple had already been ranked #36 based on going 3-0 against mediocre teams, and early season RPI isn't a very reliable predictor of subsequent success. Perhaps most helpful is Temple's .5887 SOS, to date, if Temple's first 4 opponents play well enough going forward.

I'm more surprised by the fact that our first-time, first-year HC has been able to improve rebounding and interior defense sufficiently to win the first 4 games, particularly the win @ USC. Also very surprised that Temple's SOS ranking is in the AAC's top tier, given that we only played one top 100 team.

I was feeling pretty crushed by the news of Damion Moore's back injury, and by the fact he only played 12 mpg in two games. I still would be highly concerned, except for the news that Jake Forrester is about to enter the rotation. I'm writing a separate post about that.

Since Temple’s half -court Temple employed an attacking pressure defense a few times in the second half of Temple’s first two games when the McKie saw that Temple’s half-court sets were simply not working. Temple made many baskets that led to many easy baskets. They saw how successful it was and expanded it to the firs half in the La Salle game. It succeeded as Temple held La Salle to 22 points.

Rebounding has been a team effort, led by NPL. All of Temple players have helped Temple to hold their own on the boards, unlike last season.

Temple’s backcourt which likes to drive the hoop was going to be shut down by USC’s big frontline. So Mckie wisely decided to have Temple shoot more three’s, and coupled that with Temple still playing a pressure defense to create opponents turnovers, and added a fast break to beat USC’s bigs downcourt.

Temple’s rebounding surge has been led by Nate who is averaging 10.8 rebounds per game, completed to his 5.8 rebounds last season. He’s been largely responsible for Temple’s improved rebounding.

From what I’ve seen Forester is not ready to contribute. But I last saw him play a few months ago. Will see if McKie believes he’s ready to play.