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The Temple Owls (3-3) have struggled out of the gate this season due to playing some very challenging opponents. They started the season against then-No. 1 ranked North Carolina and absorbed a disheartening 91-67 loss. The Owls then beat Minnesota, who is a tough out even if in a down season, by a score of 75-70. Next up, Temple participated in the Puerto Rico Tip-off, showing it was able to stick it out with quality, top-ranked teams. Temple took two more losses to ranked teams, No. 22 Butler and No. 16 Utah, by a combined total of 11 points.
Senior guard Quenton DeCosey has proven to be their top scoring threat, averaging 15.5 points per game. He put up 24 against the Bulldogs in the near victory. Senior forward Jaylen Bond is their best threat in the interior, averaging 11.2 points and 7 rebounds per game. Bond put up an impressive double-double against Butler as well.
Some of Temple's best traits contrast with those of a young Wisconsin team this season.
Strengths
Experience
The primary advantage that Temple can claim is that their team is full of experienced players. Three of Temple's top scorers are senior starters: DeCosey, Bond and 6-2 guard Devin Coleman. These three players have also played the most minutes this season for Temple and are the team's most reliable and consistent scorers. Junior guard Josh Brown has also been a quality player for the Owls, averaging 1.2 blocks per game and also has shown a tendency to be able to swipe balls. Temple's entire starting lineup has had a lot of experience at the collegiate level and can say that they have faced quality competition, as well.
Discipline
With experience often times comes discipline. Temple does not turn the ball over often, and only averages 8 turnovers per game It is third in the nation at taking care of the ball, turning it over on only 12.5 percent of its possessions. DeCosey has been the primary culprit, accounting for 16 of Temple's 50 turnovers in their first six games, which is not surprising as he is the team's highest usage player by far. With Wisconsin's relative lack of aggression defensively, it is safe to say that Temple probably will not make many passing errors or other turnovers in this basketball game.
Prediction
Wisconsin 65, Temple 59