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New players bring optimism back to Temple

From their various and unique vantage points, they watched. The veteran point guard, charged with guiding Temple through a frustrating 2012-13 season that saw the Owls (9-22) lose the most games since they began playing basketball there in 1894, saw it up close.

From their various and unique vantage points, they watched.

The veteran point guard, charged with guiding Temple through a frustrating 2012-13 season that saw the Owls (9-22) lose the most games since they began playing basketball there in 1894, saw it up close.

The Texas transfer, who chose Texas over the Owls before changing his mind and transferring, saw it as he sat, champing at the bit for his chance to make things right.

The blue chipper - a consensus top-100 prospect in the Class of 2013 who chose Temple over other high-profile programs - watched from afar.

They all were looking for one thing - leadership - and all three were looking for it from coach Fran Dunphy.

"When times are tough you look for a leader," said senior guard Will Cummings, who averaged 16.8 points and 4.6 assists per game last season. "It was shocking to me because of how well he handled it. He kept motivating us. I feel like I'm the leader of the team, and the leader has to feed off of the leader."

Last season marked the end of a run of NCAA appearances in which the Owls were one of eight teams to reach the tournament in six consecutive seasons. During that stretch they went 146-57. But last season, after forward Dana Dingle tore the meniscus in his right knee during a practice at the end of December, the Owls had about six or seven players they could use regularly.

"It was hard," Dunphy admitted. "I think any time that happens, where you have that nice run of success and then you struggle. There were things that just kept us from getting over the hump. But we've got a fresh slate. We got through it, and everyone is looking forward."

Transfer Jaylen Bond, a 6-foot-8, 240-pound forward, is one of three local players - guards Jesse Morgan and Devin Coleman are the others - the Owls will rely on this season to give them a rotation Dunphy said earlier this week could be 10-deep.

Of the three, only Bond is eligible to play the entire season, which begins Friday with a home game against American. Coleman (Clemson) becomes eligible on Dec. 18, and Morgan (Massachusetts), permitted to play just one semester by the NCAA, will play the second semester.

Dunphy believes that Bond, a junior who averaged 2.8 points and 3.2 rebounds as a sophomore at Texas, can be a special player for the Owls. He was the Class AAAA Pennsylvania high school player of the year in his last season at Plymouth Whitemarsh.

Dunphy expects Bond to be the team's most versatile defender, and he expects that Bond will be able to help replace much of the scoring and rebounding that was lost with the departures of Dalton Pepper (17.5 points per game, 5.1 rebounds) and Ohio State transfer Anthony Lee (13.6 ppg., 8.6 rpg.).

"We've had a number of conversations about what he can accomplish here and what we need him to do," Dunphy said. "We need him to be what he's capable of, and that means being dynamic at both ends, but especially on defense."

In talking about Bond, Dunphy often brings up 2014 NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard, suggesting that he needs Bond to be able to defend anyone.

"He has confidence in his players," Bond said. "You want to play for him, for Temple. You want to erase what happened last season."

Dunphy, headed into his ninth season at Temple, talked glowingly about 6-8 forward Obi Enechionyia, believed by some to be the best prospect Dunphy has recruited at Temple. Enechionyia is the only freshman on the roster.

"He can be very good for us this year," Dunphy said. "He can step out and shoot the three-pointer, which a lot of people aren't aware of. I like what he's shown, and he's getting better each day."

Enechionyia paid close attention to the Owls after committing to Temple. He liked the steadiness he saw from Dunphy, liked the addition of former NBA player Aaron McKie to the coaching staff, and believes that the new faces will make a difference.

"A lot has changed," Enechionyia said. "The transfers, bringing in Coach McKie. We're excited about playing."

Temple at a Glance

Last season: 9-22; 4-14 American Athletic, tied for eighth.

Coach: Fran Dunphy (ninth season, 264-167; 737-477 in 25 seasons overall).

Roster

No.   Name   Pos.   Ht.   Wt.   Year   

0    Obi Enechionyia    F   6-8   220   Fr.

1    Josh Brown    G   6-3   185   So.

2    Will Cummings    G   6-2   185   Sr.

3    Jesse Morgan    G   6-5   190   Sr.

4    Daniel Dingle    G/F   6-7   235   R-So.

10    Mark Williams    F   6-8   240   So.

13    Nick Pendergast    F   6-5   195   Sr.

15    Jaylen Bond    F   6-8   240   Jr.

23    Devontae Watson    F/C   6-11   215   Jr.

25    Quenton DeCosey    G   6-5   205   Jr.

34    Devin Coleman    G   6-2   205   Jr.

41    Jimmy McDonnell    F   6-10   220   Gr.

Schedule

November

14 American. . . 7:30

17 Louisiana Tech. . . 7

21 Duke%. . . 9

22 Stanford or UNLV%. . . TBD

25 Penn. . . 7

30 LIU Brooklyn. . . 4

December

3 at St. Joseph's. . . 6:30

6 La Salle#. . . noon

10 Towson. . . 8

14 at Villanova. . . 2

18 at Delaware. . . 7

22 Kansas@. . . 7

28 Delaware State. . . 5

31 at Connecticut. . . 1

January

4 Central Florida. . . noon

7 at Tulane. . . 7

10 Tulsa. . . 3

14 Southern Methodist. . . 7

17 at Cincinnati. . . 7:30

22 South Florida. . . 6:30

28 at Central Florida. . . 7

31 Tulane. . . noon

February

4 at South Florida. . . 6:30

7 at Memphis. . . 1

10 Cincinnati. . . 7:30

14 East Carolina. . . 2

19 at S. Methodist. . . 7

22 at Tulsa. . . 6

26 Houston. . . 7

March

5 at East Carolina. . . 7

7 Connecticut. . . TBD

12-15 American Athletic tournament, Hartford, Conn.

Home games in bold

% – Coaches vs. Cancer Classic, Brooklyn, N.Y.

# – at the Palestra

@ – at Wells Fargo Center

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