Can Temple three-peat as Atlantic Ten champions?
The A-10 Conference has preseason No. 21 Dayton as well as Xavier, which is currently ranked No. 36. But, anything can happen.
With seven guards on the roster, who will emerge as the two top-tier men?
Sophomore Juan Fernandez should get a majority of the time at point guard, but Luis Guzman will make a strong case to carry the rock as well as a senior and team captain. Fellow senior and team captain Ryan Brooks no doubt will be the shooting guard, though freshman Khalif Wyatt and sophomore Ramone Moore could contribute either off the bench or as a starter, respectively.
Why the challenging schedule?
A challenging schedule has been a staple of the men’s basketball team since the John Chaney days. Last year, the Owls upset No. 8 Tennessee. This season includes three games against Top 25 opponents with No. 1 Kansas, No. 5 Villanova and No. 20 Georgetown. They will also face mid-major powerhouse Siena in the home opener.
Can Lavoy Allen fill the scoring shoes that Dionte Christmas left?
The automatic answer would be no, but Allen averaged 11 points per game with 9 rebounds per game and perhaps somewhat surprisingly, shot 33 percent from beyond the arc.
Can this year’s recruiting class contribute?
Forward Rahlir Jefferson, guard Khalif Wyatt and forward Carmel Bouchman are the true freshmen entering the fold. Jefferson (Chester) and Wyatt (Norristown) are local products, and Jefferson won a state title with Chester last year. Bouchman, who is from Israel, is the man who has the best chance to break into some playing time if he can bulk up in the paint. He played in the Under-18 FIBA Championships for his native country.
Christian Audesirk
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