Temple Owls men's basketball

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Temple Owls
Basketball current event.svg 2024–25 Temple Owls men's basketball team
Temple T logo.svg
UniversityTemple University
All-time record2,010–1,172 (.632)
Head coach Adam Fisher (2nd season)
Conference The American
Location Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Arena Liacouras Center (Capacity: 10,206)
NicknameOwls
ColorsCherry and white [1]
   
Uniforms
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Home
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Away
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Alternate
NCAA tournament third place
1956, 1958
Other NCAA tournament results
Final Four1956, 1958
Elite Eight1944, 1956, 1958, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1999, 2001
Sweet Sixteen1956, 1958, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1999, 2001
Appearances1944, 1956, 1958, 1964, 1967, 1970, 1972, 1979, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2019
Pre-tournament Premo-Porretta champions
1938
Pre-tournament Helms champions
1938
Conference tournament champions
1979, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990, 2000, 2001, 2008, 2009, 2010
Conference regular-season champions
1937, 1938, 1964, 1967, 1969, 1972, 1977, 1979, 1982, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2010, 2012, 2016
NIT champions
1938, 1969

The Temple Owls men's basketball team represents Temple University in the sport of basketball. The Owls compete in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I as a member of the American Athletic Conference (The American). They play their home games in the Liacouras Center on the university's main campus in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and are currently led by head coach Adam Fisher. Temple is the sixth-most winningest NCAA Division I men's college basketball program of all time, with 2,000 wins.

Contents

Temple won the inaugural National Invitation Tournament in 1938, and with it the national championship, in the season prior to the first NCAA tournament. They won the NIT again in 1969. Although Temple has competed in the NCAA tournament over thirty times, they are one of nine programs with that many appearances to have not won the tournament and one of four to have never reached the NCAA championship game. They recorded third-place NCAA finishes in 1956 and 1958.

On March 7, 2012, the Temple Owls announced that they would be rejoining the Big East Conference for all sports in 2013 after 31 years in the Atlantic 10 Conference, with the Owls football team membership beginning in the 2012 season. However, before Temple became an all-sports member of the Big East, the conference split along football lines. The league's non-FBS football schools formed a new Big East in 2013, while Temple and the remaining football members remained in the old conference, but renamed it the American Athletic Conference.

History

Souvenir program from the inaugural NIT showcasing the "National Championship Trophy" won by Temple in 1938. 1938 NIT program.jpg
Souvenir program from the inaugural NIT showcasing the "National Championship Trophy" won by Temple in 1938.

The Temple Owls became the first National Invitation Tournament (NIT) champions in 1938, one year before the inception of the NCAA Tournament. The NIT was broadly recognized as a national championship-caliber tournament for a number of years, beginning with the 1938 national championship won by Temple. [2] [3] Additionally, the Owls were retroactively recognized by the Premo-Porretta Power Poll and the Helms Athletic Foundation as the national champion for the 1937–38 season. [4] Temple again won the NIT championship in 1969.

During the 1950s, the Temple basketball team made two NCAA Final Four appearances in (1956, 1958) under head coach Harry Litwack. Litwack was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame after concluding a 21-year coaching career that included 373 wins.

Head Coach John Chaney, also a Hall of Famer, won a total of 741 career games (312 losses) and took Temple to the NCAA tournament 17 times in 24 seasons with the Owls. His teams won the Atlantic 10 regular season championship eight times, while winning the A-10 Tournament six times. His 1987–88 Owls team entered the NCAA tournament ranked No. 1 in the country, but lost in the Elite Eight to Duke. Chaney reached the Elite Eight on five occasions and was the consensus National Coach of the Year in 1988. On March 13, 2006, Chaney retired from coaching. [5]

On April 10, 2006, Penn head coach and La Salle alumnus Fran Dunphy was named the new head coach. Dunphy had coached the Quakers for 17 straight seasons prior to the move. After struggling his first year, the Owls won the A-10 Tournament for three consecutive years in 2008, 2009, and 2010. The Owls received bids to the NCAA Tournament for six straight years under Dunphy (2008–2013). However, the Owls only won a game in the Tournament twice during that time period. Since Temple joined the American Athletic Conference in 2013, the Owls have struggled, making the NCAA Tournament only in 2016 and 2019.

After the 2018 season it was announced that former Owls standout and then-assistant coach Aaron McKie would take over for Dunphy in 2019.

Players Mark Macon, Juan Ignacio Sanchez, Eddie Jones, Lavoy Allen, Aaron McKie, Tim Perry and Mardy Collins are just a few who have gone on to play in the NBA.

Rivalries

As a member of the Big 5, the five large colleges in Philadelphia, the Owls have long-standing rivalries with Villanova, Penn, Saint Joseph's, and La Salle. The Owls are tied with Villanova for the most Big 5 titles to date, with 27. However, while tied in overall titles, Villanova has more outright titles not shared by any other tying team. The Owls have not won an outright Big 5 title since the 2000–01 season. The Owls won their most recent Big 5 title in 2022–23, going 3–1 in Big 5 play and splitting the title with Villanova. During Big 5 games, the Temple student section unfurls long banners about the opposing team, which has been a Big 5 trademark for Temple.

Other rivals include UMass, UConn, and Cincinnati. Temple was in the American Athletic Conference with UConn and Cincinnati until their departures in 2020 and 2023, respectively. When Temple was in the A-10, head coach John Chaney had a personal rivalry with UMass head coach John Calipari.

Awards and honors

Retired numbers

Temple Owls retired numbers
No.PlayerPos.TenureNo. ret.Ref.
5 Guy Rodgers PG 1955–1958 [6]
6 Hal Lear PG 1953–19562012 [7]
12 Mark Macon SG, PG 1987–1991 [8]
20 Bill Mlkvy SF 1949–1952 [9]

National Awards

All Americans

National Coach of the Year

Conference awards

Atlantic 10 Conference (1982–2013)

  • Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year [11]

American Athletic Conference (2013–Present)

  • American Athletic Conference Most Improved Player
    • Nate Pierre-Louis – 2019 [12]
  • American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year

Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

Owls in pro basketball

NBA drafted players

YearRoundOverallPlayerTeam
2011250 Lavoy Allen Philadelphia 76ers
2006129 Mardy Collins New York Knicks
2000248 Mark Karcher Philadelphia 76ers
1997237 Marc Jackson Golden State Warriors
1994110 Eddie Jones Los Angeles Lakers
117 Aaron McKie Portland Trail Blazers
199118 Mark Macon Denver Nuggets
118 Duane Causwell Sacramento Kings
198817 Tim Perry Phoenix Suns
1987227 Nate Blackwell San Antonio Spurs
1985478 Granger Hall Phoenix Suns
6124Charles Rayne Phoenix Suns
1984115 Terence Stansbury Dallas Mavericks
8167Jim McLoughlin Los Angeles Clippers
19819202Ron Wister Philadelphia 76ers
1979481Ricky Reed Los Angeles Lakers
19789181Tim Claxton Philadelphia 76ers
1974587Joe Newman Detroit Pistons
1972230 Ollie Johnson Portland Trail Blazers
1969223 John Baum Chicago Bulls
340 Eddie Mast New York Knicks
570Joe Cromer Philadelphia 76ers
19689118 Clarence Brookins Philadelphia 76ers
15187 John Baum Los Angeles Lakers
1966440Jim Williams Chicago Bulls
1960215 Bill Kennedy Philadelphia Warriors
1958 Guy Rodgers Philadelphia Warriors
752Jay Norman Philadelphia Warriors
968Tink Van Patton Philadelphia Warriors
195617 Hal Lear Philadelphia Warriors
19557Al Didriksen Philadelphia Warriors
8Harry Silcox Philadelphia Warriors
1952 Bill Mlkvy Philadelphia Warriors
19505 Ike Borsavage Philadelphia Warriors

[15]

Postseason

NCAA tournament results

The Owls have appeared in the NCAA tournament 33 times. Their combined record is 33–33.

YearSeedRoundOpponentResult
1944 Elite Eight
Regional 3rd Place Game
Ohio State
Catholic
L 47–57
W 55–35
1956 First Round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight
Final Four
National 3rd Place Game
Holy Cross
Connecticut
Canisius
Iowa
SMU
W 74–72
W 65–59
W 60–58
L 76–83
W 90–81
1958 Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight
Final Four
National 3rd Place Game
Maryland
Dartmouth
Kentucky
Kansas State
W 71–67
W 69–50
L 60–61
W 67–57
1964 First RoundConnecticutL 48–53
1967 First RoundSt. John'sL 53–57
1970 First RoundSouth CarolinaL 51–53
1972 First RoundWest VirginiaL 71–77
1979 No. 7First RoundNo. 10 St. John'sL 70–75
1984 No. 8First Round
Second Round
No. 9 St. John's
No. 1 North Carolina
W 65–63
L 66–77
1985 No. 8First Round
Second Round
No. 9 Virginia Tech
No. 1 Georgetown
W 60–57
L 46–63
1986 No. 9First Round
Second Round
No. 8 Jacksonville
No. 1 Kansas
W 61–50 OT
L 43–65
1987 No. 2First Round
Second Round
No. 15 Southern
No. 10 LSU
W 75–56
L 62–72
1988 No. 1First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight
No. 16 Lehigh
No. 8 Georgetown
No. 13 Richmond
No. 2 Duke
W 87–73
W 74–53
W 69–47
L 53–63
1990 No. 11First RoundNo. 6 St. John'sL 65–81
1991 No. 10First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight
No. 7 Purdue
No. 15 Richmond
No. 3 Oklahoma State
No. 1 North Carolina
W 80–63
W 77–64
W 72–63 OT
L 72–75
1992 No. 11First RoundNo. 6 MichiganL 66–73
1993 No. 7First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight
No. 10 Missouri
No. 15 Santa Clara
No. 3 Vanderbilt
No. 1 Michigan
W 75–61
W 68–57
W 67–59
L 72–77
1994 No. 4First Round
Second Round
No. 13 Drexel
No. 5 Indiana
W 61–39
L 58–67
1995 No. 7First RoundNo. 10 CincinnatiL 71–77
1996 No. 7First Round
Second Round
No. 10 Oklahoma
No. 2 Cincinnati
W 61–43
L 65–78
1997 No. 9First Round
Second Round
No. 8 Ole Miss
No. 1 Minnesota
W 62–40
L 57–76
1998 No. 7First RoundNo. 10 West VirginiaL 52–82
1999 No. 6First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight
No. 11 Kent State
No. 3 Cincinnati
No. 10 Purdue
No. 1 Duke
W 61–54
W 64–54
W 77–55
L 64–85
2000 No. 2First Round
Second Round
No. 15 Lafayette
No. 10 Seton Hall
W 73–47
L 65–67 OT
2001 No. 11First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight
No. 6 Texas
No. 3 Florida
No. 7 Penn State
No. 1 Michigan State
W 79–65
W 75–54
W 84–72
L 62–69
2008 No. 12First RoundNo. 5 Michigan StateL 61–72
2009 No. 11First RoundNo. 6 Arizona StateL 57–66
2010 No. 5First RoundNo. 12 CornellL 65–78
2011 No. 7First Round
Second Round
No. 10 Penn State
No. 2 San Diego State
W 66–64
L 64–71 2OT
2012 No. 5First RoundNo. 12 South FloridaL 44–58
2013 No. 9First Round
Second Round
No. 8 NC State
No. 1 Indiana
W 76–72
L 52–58
2016 No. 10First RoundNo. 7 IowaL 70–72 OT
2019 No. 11First FourNo. 11 BelmontL 70–81

NIT results

The Owls have appeared in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) 19 times. Their combined record is 23–17. They are two time NIT champions (1938, 1969).

YearRoundOpponentResult
1938 Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Final
Bradley
Oklahoma A&M
Colorado
W 53–40
W 56–55
W 60–36
1957 Quarterfinals
Semifinals
3rd Place Game
Dayton
Bradley
St. Bonaventure
W 77–66
L 66–77
W 67–50
1960 First RoundDaytonL 51–72
1961 First Round
Quarterfinals
Army
Dayton
W 79–65
L 62–60
1962 First Round
Quarterfinals
Providence
Loyola–Chicago
W 80–78
L 64–75
1966 First Round
Quarterfinals
Virginia Tech
BYU
W 88–73
L 78–90
1968 First RoundKansasL 76–82
1969 First Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Final
Florida
Saint Peter's
Tennessee
Boston College
W 82–66
W 94–78
W 63–58
W 89–76
1978 First RoundTexasL 58–72
1981 First Round
Second Round
Clemson
West Virginia
W 90–82
L 76–77
1982 First RoundGeorgiaL 60–73
1989 First RoundRichmondL 56–70
2002 First Round
Second Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
3rd Place Game
Fresno State
Louisville
Villanova
Memphis
Syracuse
W 81–75
W 65–62
W 63–57
L 77–79
W 65–64
2003 Opening Round
First Round
Second Round
Quarterfinals
Drexel
Boston College
Rhode Island
Minnesota
W 68–59
W 75–62
W 61–53
L 58–63
2004 First RoundRutgersL 71–76
2005 First RoundVirginia TechL 50–60
2006 Opening RoundAkronL 73–80
2015 First Round
Second Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Bucknell
George Washington
Louisiana Tech
Miami (FL)
W 73–67
W 90–77
W 77–59
L 57–60
2018 First RoundPenn StateL 57–63

References

  1. "Temple University Logo Usage Guide" (PDF). April 29, 2021. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
  2. Avery, Leslie (March 17, 1938). Written at New York. "Temple Captures National Mythical Court Title by Conquering Colorado". The Democrat and Leader. Davenport, Iowa. United Press. p. 28. The tournament sweep gave the eastern conference champions clean claim to the mythical national title.
  3. Wilson, Dave (March 29, 1938). "Temple's National Champions Honored Again at Banquet — City Fetes Temple, National Champion". The Philadelphia Inquirer . p. 19. Representatives of this city's official family, leaders in education and prominent men in athletics paid tribute to Temple University's national championship basketball team at the dinner given by Mayor S. Davis Wilson in the ballroom of the Bellevue-Stratford last night. [...] Following his speech Mayor Wilson presented Jimmy Usilton, Temple coach, with a wrist watch and also gave each member of the Owl team a gold ring-tokens of gratitude for the fame and honor which the Templars brought to this city.
  4. ESPN, ed. (2009). ESPN College Basketball Encyclopedia: The Complete History of the Men's Game. New York, NY: ESPN Books. p. 546. ISBN   978-0-345-51392-2.
  5. "Temple coach Chaney retires". ESPN.com. 2006-03-13. Archived from the original on 2017-07-20. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  6. Naismith Hall of Fame Welcomes Guy Rodgers at owlsports.com, 8 Aug 2014
  7. Temple To Retire Men's Basketball Great Hal Lear's Jersey at owlsports.com, 12 Apr 2012
  8. Mark of greatness! Looking back at Temple's 1991 at Inquirer.com, 14 Feb 2016
  9. This Future Dentist Once Dropped 54 Straight. Then He Was Lost to Time by JOHN WALTERSMAR at SI.com – Mar 3, 2020
  10. 1 2 "(PDF)" (PDF). Temple University Athletics.
  11. "List of Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year Winners".
  12. "Defensive Player, Sixth Man, Most Improved and Sportsmanship Award Announced". theamerican.org. 12 March 2019.
  13. "Temple's Fran Dunphy named AAC Coach of the Year". NBC Sports Philadelphia. 10 March 2016.
  14. 1 2 3 "Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductees". NBA.com.
  15. "Draft Finder". Basketball-Reference.com.