Learning About Temple

from ESPN's Beth Mowins
ESPN.COM

Temple bounced back from an inconsistent regular season to capture its third consecutive Atlantic 10 Tournament championship and reach the NCAA Tournament. It's the first threepeat at the A-10 tourney since Penn State pulled off the feat 20 years ago.

If the Owls are at their best in the NCAA Tournament, we'll see the same team that looked impressive in a home overtime win over Georgia and a road win at Rutgers. But remember this is the same team capable of an inexplicable loss to Stony Brook and a narrow win over Maryland-Eastern Shore early in the season.

Temple appeared to be back on track in the A-10 Tournament, though, avenging two regular-season losses to George Washington in the final.

Senior forward Candice Dupree is an all-American candidate who averages a team-high 17.6 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. Coach Dawn Staley says Dupree's skill set is close to those of a young Tim Duncan or Lisa Leslie. Dupree can score on the block or step away for a mid-range jumper. She is also the two-time A-10 defensive player of the year with tremendous shot-blocking abilities.

Forward Kamesha Hairston was a member of the all-conference first team this season and joined Dupree on the all-defensive team as well. Hairston has led Temple in steals the last two seasons.

The Owls defend well. They rate in the top 20 in the NCAA in both scoring defense (54 points per game) and field goal percentage defense (.360). The offense is deliberate and Temple could run into trouble if Dupree isn't scoring. The style of play is similar to Rutgers, a team Temple beat in January 48-47.

Khadija Bowens, a senior from Philly who ranks third in scoring at 9.7 points per game, has overcome a lot of adversity to play for Temple. Bowens couldn't cut it academically and had to leave school a few years ago. But she went to junior college and worked her way back into good academic standing and back into Temple, and repays her coach for her loyalty by wearing Staley's No. 5 jersey.