Pre-game preview: Temple
Here’s a pre-game preview of No. 21 UConn’s game at Temple tonight in Philadelphia:
Location: Liacouras Center
Tip-off time: 9 p.m. (ESPN2)
Records: UConn 20-5, 8-4; Temple 7-17, 2-10
Last game: UConn beat Memphis, 86-81 (OT), Saturday; Temple upset No. 23 SMU, 71-64, Sunday
Probable starters:
UConn, 6-1 sr. guard Shabazz Napier (18.0 pts, 4.9 assists, 5.8 rebs), 6-0 jr. guard Ryan Boatright (12.4 pts, 3.6 assists), 6-6 grad. forward Lasan Kromah (7.4 pts, 3.1 rebs), 6-9 jr. forward DeAndre Daniels (13.2 pts, 5.6 rebs), 7-0 fr. center Amida Brimah (4.1 pts, 2.8 rebs, 2.6blks)
Temple, 6-2 jr. guard Will Cummings (16.2 pts), 6-5 so. guard Quenton DeCosey (14.8 pts, 3.5 rebs), 6-5 sr. guard Dalton Pepper (17.3 pts, 5.0 rebs), 6-9 jr. forward Anthony Lee (14 pts, 8.9 rebs), 6-10 sr. forward Devontae Watson (2.5 pts, 3.5 rebs)
Noteworthy:
-- UConn has won nine of last 11, Temple has lost 12 of last its 14.
-- Entering tonight’s action, the Huskies are tied for fourth in the American Athletic Conference with Memphis. The Owls are in ninth place.
-- The Huskies are 4-3 on the road.
-- Series: UConn leads 5-3, winning 90-66 on Jan. 21 in Hartford.
The Huskies dominated the last meeting despite playing without Boatright who was attending his cousin’s funeral. Daniels (31 points, 12 rebounds) and Napier (27 points) led the way.
UConn had a decisive 45-25 edge in rebounds and shot 53 percent.
-- The Huskies are 0-2 all-time at Temple, but they’re making first trip to the Liacouras Center.
-- The Owls are the only Division I team with four players averaging at least 14 points.
-- Injury update: Lee (knee) is considered day-to-day. UConn reserve Omar Calhoun (concussion) is expected to be ready to play tonight after sitting out the last two games.
-- Hot: Napier is 35-for-39 from free throw line in last seven games. Cold: Boatright is shooting 34.5 percent in last 10 games.
-- The Owls rank last in field goal percentage (43.1) and field goal percentage defense (46.7) in overall games.
-- UConn has forced an average of 17 turnovers in the last three games.
-- Napier is averaging 20.5 points in conference games, only trailing Cincinnati’s Sean Kilpatrick (21.3).
-- Temple is playing its third of five straight top 25 opponents.
-- Up next: UConn hosts SMU on Sunday in Storrs.
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