(12-13-2020 05:57 PM)The Grape King Wrote: (12-13-2020 05:29 PM)Foreverandever Wrote: (12-13-2020 05:24 PM)The Grape King Wrote: If you'd asked me a few weeks ago, I would've said I'd be shocked if Temple won more than 3 or 4 games in the conference. I like the talent coming in, but we're returning literally nothing besides a few very mediocre frontcourt players. But, after seeing the quality of some of these groups this year, and hearing from folks inside practice that this should be the best 3-point shooting Temple team in years, I wouldn't be surprised to finish outside the bottom 2 or 3. Having only one game under their belt before AAC play is gonna hurt though.
So many new faces this year, a second year of McKie's style with a backcourt of only his recruits, and I'm so excited to see this year's team despite the growing pains we're gonna push through the next two years at least.
If these transfer rules pass, pushing back the Big Five and having essentially the ability to reschedule because it's an hour round trip for the away team and still make a decent ooc from it will look like a genius move between the elgibility and injuries coming back. Temple intrigues me, it will be a completely different team this year, last year was very much still the previous staff's group.
Last year's team was incredibly talented, but the transfer to McKie taking over was not nearly as smooth as people anticipated it would be...
Amazing how quickly you can go from "hey this team looks like they can make serious noise" to "man I hope we can finish 9th". That's the nature of college hoops now though. If you're not a blue blood or a team with a super stable coaching staff, you gotta go into full rebuild mode once in a while.
With the addition of PG Barry, a 40%+ 3 point shooter from Dartmouth, and the unexpected waiver of both of their two other transfers,
(Battle & Tolbert), the team's prospects have brightened somewhat.
On the other hand, despite the additions, the team will only start the season with 11 active players, with two recovering from surgery. Further, due to Covid, they haven't been able to play or practice for two weeks, which will put them at a disadvantage in the early weeks.
With the 3 incoming transfers, Coach McKie will be able to start game with five players who have at least one year of D1 experience:
PG/1: Barry* (Grad Tr.). Backups: Dunn (RS Fr.), Williams (Fr.)
SG/2: Battle^ (So. Tr.). Backup: Williams (Fr.)
Wing/3: Perry* (Sr.). Backup: Ademokoya (Fr.; HS FG3%: .390)
PF/4: Moorman (Sr.). Likely Backups: Tolbert (Jr. Tr.), Perry (Sr.)
PF/5©: Forrester^ (Jr. Tr.). Backups: Tolbert (Jr.), Parks (RS So.), Jourdain (Fr.)
.
*40%+ 3 point shooters
^4 star recruits
Injured: Strickland (SO. Tr. Guard), White (Fr. Guard/Wing)
.....................................................................................................
Pluses:
1. Deep, experienced front court with proven scorers
2. Back court will feature two 40%+ three-point shooters, and a wing with a .390 FG3% coming off the bench.
Minuses:
1. Only 4 returning players, and only 7 available with D1 experience.
2. Missing top two players from their (sub-.500) 2019-20 team.
3. Two players not available due to preseason injuries requiring surgery.
4. Ability to limit opponent scoring is uncertain.
5. Ability to penetrate from perimeter to hoop is uncertain.
6. Ability to create open shots will depend on play-making ability (TBD).
Summary:
This is going to be a classic rebuilding year for the Owls, with all of the associated challenges.
The team may get off to a slow start, due to missed games/practices, and having so many new or unexperienced players.
However,
there are enough perimeter and interior scorers to make them an exciting team to watch on offense - -
if they can execute crisp passing & dish the ball to the open man.
Much will depend on how long it takes the team to gel as a unit.