.

(3-3) Temple beat a feisty (4-3) Delaware team on Saturday, led by a 29-point performance by the Owls' leading scorer, Khalif Battle. The Owls have been a study in contrasts thus far this season, with a lot of unexpected developments.

Positive surprises:

• To date, SG Khalif Battle has scored 7.0 more ppg this season than he did last season, improving his overall FG% from .349 to .538 and his FG3% from .315 to .474.
  .
• Backup guard Tai Strickland, who played sparingly last season (2 ppg, 1 rpg) has become a key contributor off Temple's bench. He is averaging 9 pts, 2.8 rbs, & 1 ast per game, and is shooting the ball well (FG%: .475; FG3%: .429).
  .
• Nick Jourdain, a backup PF, has doubled his rebounding average since last season, and has become the team's #1 rebounder. He also leads the team in blocks and steals per game, despite playing only 19.2 mpg, and has the best combined defensive ratings on the team.
  .
• Jahlil White, a back-up Wing who missed last season due to an injury, has given the team a much-appreciated lift at some key points in the team's first few games. He has hit 8 of his last 9 shots, and is tied for third on the team in rebounds per 40 minutes. He has emerged as one of the team's top defenders, and has played a more important role (#7 in total minutes) than many had expected, given that he is only 6 games into his D1 basketball career.
  .
• In addition, the team also got an unexpected early boost from Freshman backup Wing Zach Hicks who hit 50% of his 2 and 3 point shots and added 4.5 rpg, 1.5 asts, & 1 stl per game in his first two games. He has played fewer minutes since then, but has shown the potential to be an impact player.
  

Other twists & turns:

• The Owls' starting PG, Jeremiah Williams, got off to a slightly slower start shooting the ball than expected, scoring only 4.3 ppg in the first 4 games and shooting ice-cold from the FT line. However, he has averaged 16.5 ppg in his last two games. He has maintained his status as the team's top playmaker, and co-leads the Owls in steals per game.
  .
• Starting C Jake Forrester was hoped by many to emerge as a dominant player on the team this season, but has only played 13.5 mpg to date, though he is the #2 rebounder on the team on a per minute basis, and is the team's second-most accurate shooter from within the arc (FG2%: .529). Despite playing fewer minutes, his assists, steals, and blocks per game have all increased, and he has made 20% fewer PFs and 30% fewer turnovers per minute of playing time.
  .
• Overall, the team's PFs and Centers have played fewer minutes (~65 vs ~80 mpg) and scored significantly fewer points (~13 vs ~25 ppg) than the team's front court in 2020-21.
  .
• However, this year's team has blocked more shots (4.2 vs. 2.4) and averaged nearly two more rpg than the team did last year.
  .
• White (6'7" guard/wing) and Hicks (6'9" guard/wing) have alternated between playing the 3 (SF) and 4 (PF) positions. However, even when their points are factored in, the team's front court has scored fewer than 20 ppg.
  .
• Nevertheless, this year's team has out-scored the 2020-21 Owls, with 67.2 (vs. 65.8) ppg, led by guards Battle, Dunn, Strickland, and Williams, who have averaged 48.9 ppg (up from 44.7 ppg that were scored by the team's top four guards in 2020-21).
  

The season as a whole has also been a study in contrasts, with respect to points scored and scoring margins. To date, the Owls have won two games by an average of 20 points, lost two by a similar margin, and came within 6 points of beating (#24) USC. They've scored 71+ ppg in four games, but only 55 ppg in their other two games.

This year's team is in generally good health, with all 13 scholarship players available, while only 6 were able to play in more than 81.5% of the team's games last year. This has made it necessary to experiment with a myriad of player-combinations - - with nearly half of the players on this year's team having played few or no D1 minutes together until the season started. So the guys are still in the early stages of learning how to play together in various configurations.

.

(11-27-2021 12:02 AM)vabearcat Wrote:  Memphis, your basketball program is a joke. That was simply an embarrassing and pitiful performance. Undisciplined, garbage ball. Well at least you can look forward to being the king of a conference with such giants as Rice, North Texas, Tulane, FIU, UTSA and ECU.

(11-23-2021 10:37 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  At some point we need to give UC credit. BTW... Illinois is more likely to win the Big 10 than miss the tournament. I'd bet on them being a protected seed when March comes around. I know Coach P is down on them because it makes UC look good, but they have players.

Arkansas should be really good again too. The Bearcats may just be a damn good team.

I think this has already proven true. There is basically zero chance Illinois misses the tournament. Tonight would be a huge step for Illinois in winning the Big 10. They are 6-0 so far and have Purdue at home. I think Purdue is the best team in the Big 10...thought that when I said this as well, but the best team doesn't always win the conference and Illinois is a top 10-15 team.

(01-17-2022 12:26 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(11-23-2021 10:37 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  At some point we need to give UC credit. BTW... Illinois is more likely to win the Big 10 than miss the tournament. I'd bet on them being a protected seed when March comes around. I know Coach P is down on them because it makes UC look good, but they have players.

Arkansas should be really good again too. The Bearcats may just be a damn good team.

I think this has already proven true. There is basically zero chance Illinois misses the tournament. Tonight would be a huge step for Illinois in winning the Big 10. They are 6-0 so far and have Purdue at home. I think Purdue is the best team in the Big 10...thought that when I said this as well, but the best team doesn't always win the conference and Illinois is a top 10-15 team.

they haven't played a single heavy weight, iowa is the only noteable win so far and iowa this year is extremely small in the post (their advantage)

they are 6-0 like tulane and smu are #2 and #3 in the league right now

(01-17-2022 12:52 PM)pesik Wrote:  

(01-17-2022 12:26 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(11-23-2021 10:37 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  At some point we need to give UC credit. BTW... Illinois is more likely to win the Big 10 than miss the tournament. I'd bet on them being a protected seed when March comes around. I know Coach P is down on them because it makes UC look good, but they have players.

Arkansas should be really good again too. The Bearcats may just be a damn good team.

I think this has already proven true. There is basically zero chance Illinois misses the tournament. Tonight would be a huge step for Illinois in winning the Big 10. They are 6-0 so far and have Purdue at home. I think Purdue is the best team in the Big 10...thought that when I said this as well, but the best team doesn't always win the conference and Illinois is a top 10-15 team.

they haven't played a single heavy weight, iowa is the only noteable win so far and iowa this year is extremely small in the post (their advantage)

they are 6-0 like tulane and smu are #2 and #3 in the league right now

LMFAO... perfect. I love that you're going to die on this hill. You acted like they weren't even a tournament team... They are going to end up like 15-5 in the Big 10 with a protected seed and you're still going to be acting like you nailed this.

(01-17-2022 12:52 PM)pesik Wrote:  

(01-17-2022 12:26 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(11-23-2021 10:37 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  At some point we need to give UC credit. BTW... Illinois is more likely to win the Big 10 than miss the tournament. I'd bet on them being a protected seed when March comes around. I know Coach P is down on them because it makes UC look good, but they have players.

Arkansas should be really good again too. The Bearcats may just be a damn good team.

I think this has already proven true. There is basically zero chance Illinois misses the tournament. Tonight would be a huge step for Illinois in winning the Big 10. They are 6-0 so far and have Purdue at home. I think Purdue is the best team in the Big 10...thought that when I said this as well, but the best team doesn't always win the conference and Illinois is a top 10-15 team.

they haven't played a single heavy weight, iowa is the only noteable win so far and iowa this year is extremely small in the post (their advantage)

they are 6-0 like tulane and smu are #2 and #3 in the league right now

Lolol

If Illinois is overrated then Houston is way way over rated. They’ve played the easiest AAC schedule and won’t be tested until Feb too.

Add in Illinois has 7 top 100 wins, including 4 top 75 and 2 top 35 wins

Houston has 4 top 100 wins and 0 wins top 25 or top 35 kenpom wins


The mental gymnastics


By the way… Andy Katz has Illinois as number 4 In His power rankings


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

(01-17-2022 01:15 PM)justinhub2003 Wrote:  

(01-17-2022 12:52 PM)pesik Wrote:  

(01-17-2022 12:26 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(11-23-2021 10:37 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  At some point we need to give UC credit. BTW... Illinois is more likely to win the Big 10 than miss the tournament. I'd bet on them being a protected seed when March comes around. I know Coach P is down on them because it makes UC look good, but they have players.

Arkansas should be really good again too. The Bearcats may just be a damn good team.

I think this has already proven true. There is basically zero chance Illinois misses the tournament. Tonight would be a huge step for Illinois in winning the Big 10. They are 6-0 so far and have Purdue at home. I think Purdue is the best team in the Big 10...thought that when I said this as well, but the best team doesn't always win the conference and Illinois is a top 10-15 team.

they haven't played a single heavy weight, iowa is the only noteable win so far and iowa this year is extremely small in the post (their advantage)

they are 6-0 like tulane and smu are #2 and #3 in the league right now

Lolol

If Illinois is overrated to Houston is way way over rated. They’ve played the easiest AAC schedule and won’t be tested until Feb too.

Add in Illinois has 7 top 100 wins, including 4 top 75 and 2 top 35 wins

Houston has 4 top 100 wins and 0 wins top 25 or top 35 kenpom wins


The mental gymnastics


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I mean Pesik would acknowledge Houston is overrated at this point, but yea it's really silly to pretend Illinois isn't a top 15 team.

(01-17-2022 01:10 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(01-17-2022 12:52 PM)pesik Wrote:  

(01-17-2022 12:26 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(11-23-2021 10:37 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  At some point we need to give UC credit. BTW... Illinois is more likely to win the Big 10 than miss the tournament. I'd bet on them being a protected seed when March comes around. I know Coach P is down on them because it makes UC look good, but they have players.

Arkansas should be really good again too. The Bearcats may just be a damn good team.

I think this has already proven true. There is basically zero chance Illinois misses the tournament. Tonight would be a huge step for Illinois in winning the Big 10. They are 6-0 so far and have Purdue at home. I think Purdue is the best team in the Big 10...thought that when I said this as well, but the best team doesn't always win the conference and Illinois is a top 10-15 team.

they haven't played a single heavy weight, iowa is the only noteable win so far and iowa this year is extremely small in the post (their advantage)

they are 6-0 like tulane and smu are #2 and #3 in the league right now

LMFAO... perfect. I love that you're going to die on this hill. You acted like they weren't even a tournament team... They are going to end up like 15-5 in the Big 10 with a protected seed and you're still going to be acting like you nailed this.

what hill?? you are aware that I said they make the tourney in my 1st post.. i just said it would be a lower seed, bubbl-ish level

you called me a liar--- you are the liar, i never said Illinois was bad, i said you were overhyping how good they were..... youve proven to be the liar between us

(01-17-2022 01:15 PM)justinhub2003 Wrote:  Lolol

If Illinois is overrated then Houston is way way over rated. They’ve played the easiest AAC schedule and won’t be tested until Feb too.

Add in Illinois has 7 top 100 wins, including 4 top 75 and 2 top 35 wins

Houston has 4 top 100 wins and 0 wins top 25 or top 35 kenpom wins


The mental gymnastics


By the way… Andy Katz has Illinois as number 4 In His power rankings

1) i openly say houston is overrated with its current healthy players... literally go to the gamethread with tulsa, i said we are going to be a top 10 team, but eye test with who is active this likely isnt even a top 35 team

2) cbs has Houston #3 in its power rankings..what does power rankings have to do with anything??

you just had mental gymnastics to make up a fictional mental gymnastics for me

(11-22-2021 08:11 PM)pesik Wrote:  

(11-22-2021 08:04 PM)stxrunner Wrote:  

(11-22-2021 07:30 PM)vcoog Wrote:  

(11-22-2021 07:25 PM)pesik Wrote:  cincy is 20 mins away for a season-changing win if they can hold on

Why does the AP love Illinois? They were a one seed that lost early last year and start this year number 11 and already dropped a game to Marquette

Say what you will, this UC team beating Illinois with Kofi playing would be an impressive win. Even if Illinois was overrated as a Top 10 team, they are at worst fringe top 25 with Kofi, so UC beating them on a neutral court would be really big for us.

at worst?? fringe top 25?

at best a fringe top25! at worst they play in the big 10, The losses can easily pile on..

You said their best case scenario was a fringe top 25 team and that it could be a lot worse than that. Come on man.

BTW Illinois v. Purdue has been a great game so far. Two excellent teams really battling.

(01-17-2022 01:35 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(11-22-2021 08:11 PM)pesik Wrote:  

(11-22-2021 08:04 PM)stxrunner Wrote:  

(11-22-2021 07:30 PM)vcoog Wrote:  

(11-22-2021 07:25 PM)pesik Wrote:  cincy is 20 mins away for a season-changing win if they can hold on

Why does the AP love Illinois? They were a one seed that lost early last year and start this year number 11 and already dropped a game to Marquette

Say what you will, this UC team beating Illinois with Kofi playing would be an impressive win. Even if Illinois was overrated as a Top 10 team, they are at worst fringe top 25 with Kofi, so UC beating them on a neutral court would be really big for us.

at worst?? fringe top 25?

at best a fringe top25! at worst they play in the big 10, The losses can easily pile on..

You said their best case scenario was a fringe top 25 team and that it could be a lot worse than that. Come on man.

not what i said....

a UC fan said their "worst" case scenerio is a fringe top 25 team... i said its more likely that could be their best case scenerio.... i wasnt saying it was their best case, but that is a more scenerio than stating it was their "worst case"

we even went in detail, that no current guards on Illinois are playing well enough to draw attention from kofi... he noted trent Frasier has that potential... i talked about how alonso plummber was who i thought had the potential, that he was extremely good at Utah but surprising how bad he'd been at Illinois (at the time shooting like 25% from 3 and coming off the bench).. he actually drastically stepped up.. recently took over the starting job and his 3pt sooting went up to 40%...dong 16pts a game

(01-17-2022 01:45 PM)pesik Wrote:  not what i said....

a UC fan said their "worst" case scenerio is a fringe top 25 team... i said its more likely that could be their best case scenerio.... i wasnt saying it was their best case...

LMFAO... This is your direct quote:

(01-17-2022 01:45 PM)pesik Wrote:  at best a fringe top25! at worst they play in the big 10, The losses can easily pile on..

(01-17-2022 01:50 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(01-17-2022 01:45 PM)pesik Wrote:  not what i said....

a UC fan said their "worst" case scenerio is a fringe top 25 team... i said its more likely that could be their best case scenerio.... i wasnt saying it was their best case...

LMFAO... This is your direct quote:

(01-17-2022 01:45 PM)pesik Wrote:  at best a fringe top25! at worst they play in the big 10, The losses can easily pile on..

you are such a manipulative person.. add the full context!!!! like i wrote
i said at best in response to a post that said at worst top 25..i was making a witty response to someone overhyping illinois.. the full context for anyone with common sense it clearly states im retorting that saying at worst top 25 is a strong take ..but you removed that context!!!!!

(11-22-2021 08:11 PM)pesik Wrote:  

(11-22-2021 08:04 PM)stxrunner Wrote:  they are at worst fringe top 25 with Kofi,

at worst?? fringe top 25?

at best a fringe top25! at worst they play in the big 10, The losses can easily pile on..

and if you want to be literal "at best a fringe top25! " is still a tourney team!!!!!!

last I checked fringe top 25 teams are good teams, who make the tourney ...

liar!!!! i wasn't ever stating Illinois was a bad team that wont make the tourney ..in any post

(01-17-2022 02:03 PM)pesik Wrote:  and if you want to be literal "at best a fringe top25! " is still a tourney team!!!!!!

last I checked fringe top 25 teams are good teams, who make the tourney ...

liar!!!! i wasn't ever stating Illinois was a bad team that wont make the tourney ..in any post

Again that was your best case scenario. You definitely implied they could miss the tournament, which is why I said they were more likely to win the Big 10 than miss the tournament. You called them a bubble team. Bubble teams could miss or make...they are on the edge. My point was that was a bad take then. I never said you guaranteed they wouldn't make it or anything, but you definitely implied that was a real possibility. Don't shrink from that now.

(01-17-2022 02:14 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(01-17-2022 02:03 PM)pesik Wrote:  and if you want to be literal "at best a fringe top25! " is still a tourney team!!!!!!

last I checked fringe top 25 teams are good teams, who make the tourney ...

liar!!!! i wasn't ever stating Illinois was a bad team that wont make the tourney ..in any post

Again that was your best case scenario. You definitely implied they could miss the tournament, which is why I said they were more likely to win the Big 10 than miss the tournament. You called them a bubble team. Bubble teams could miss or make...they are on the edge. My point was that was a bad take then. I never said you guaranteed they wouldn't make it or anything, but you definitely implied that was a real possibility. Don't shrink from that now.

that wasnt my best case scenerio.. i was clearly making a witty retort to the uc fan overhyping...

that wasnt a bad take...we literally talked about it.... we talked about how some guard for illinois had to step up ....

i literally said if alonso plummer stepped up, who at the time was doin 6pts per and shooting 20%from 3, that is where i could see them reaching their potential. that he was good at utah, it was odd that his stats were so bad.. but if he steps up i could see them being a lot better... he is doing 16pts per and shooting 40%

and even if you want to take my post literally and not the obvious witty response.. i noted that the full big 10 seasons could get them some losses, that take hasn't even had a chance to come to fruition for it to be a bad take

stating 2-2 Illinois is at worst a top 25 team is still the bad take, if you look at it at the time of the post

(01-17-2022 01:26 PM)pesik Wrote:  

(01-17-2022 01:15 PM)justinhub2003 Wrote:  Lolol

If Illinois is overrated then Houston is way way over rated. They’ve played the easiest AAC schedule and won’t be tested until Feb too.

Add in Illinois has 7 top 100 wins, including 4 top 75 and 2 top 35 wins

Houston has 4 top 100 wins and 0 wins top 25 or top 35 kenpom wins


The mental gymnastics


By the way… Andy Katz has Illinois as number 4 In His power rankings

1) i openly say houston is overrated with its current healthy players... literally go to the gamethread with tulsa, i said we are going to be a top 10 team, but eye test with who is active this likely isnt even a top 35 team

2) cbs has Houston #3 in its power rankings..what does power rankings have to do with anything??

you just had mental gymnastics to make up a fictional mental gymnastics for me

No I also posted straight up facts about Illinois Resume which is pretty damn good.

(01-17-2022 02:27 PM)pesik Wrote:  

(01-17-2022 02:14 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(01-17-2022 02:03 PM)pesik Wrote:  and if you want to be literal "at best a fringe top25! " is still a tourney team!!!!!!

last I checked fringe top 25 teams are good teams, who make the tourney ...

liar!!!! i wasn't ever stating Illinois was a bad team that wont make the tourney ..in any post

Again that was your best case scenario. You definitely implied they could miss the tournament, which is why I said they were more likely to win the Big 10 than miss the tournament. You called them a bubble team. Bubble teams could miss or make...they are on the edge. My point was that was a bad take then. I never said you guaranteed they wouldn't make it or anything, but you definitely implied that was a real possibility. Don't shrink from that now.

that wasnt my best case scenerio.. i was clearly making a witty retort to the uc fan overhyping...

that wasnt a bad take...we literally talked about it.... we talked about how some guard for illinois had to step up ....

i literally said if alonso plummer stepped up, who at the time was doin 6pts per and shooting 20%from 3 stepped up that is where i could see them reaching their potential. that he was good at utah, it was odd that his stats were so bad.. but if he steps up i could see them being a lot better... he is doing 16pts per and shooting 40%

and even if you want to take my post literally and not the obvious witty response.. i noted that the full big 10 seasons could get them some losses, that take hasn't even had a chance to come to fruition for it to be a bad take

stating 2-2 Illinois is at worst a top 25 team is still the bad take, if you look at it at the time of the post

That UC win vs Illinois is by far better than any win Houston has on its resume. Houstons 2 best wins are exactly what you claimed Illinois would be for UC...

Oregon is #50 and 11-6.. needs do serious work to make the Tourney
Ok St is #47 and 9-7... They have 2 elite wins BUT Thats it.. Nothing else. They have a long way to go before they make the tourney.

Illinois is nothing like those 2 teams which are true Bubble teams. Illinois is #11 in KP, 13-3, Undefeated in the league, with a road win over top 20 Iowa and win over #32 Michigan. Zero bad loss. Lost its 2 games by a total of 5 points outside of the UC Ass kicking.

Kenpom has Illinois predicted on a game by game basis to lose just one more game in conference.


just say.... I was wrong about Illinois. that a 20 beating of Illinois is a great win for UC..

(01-17-2022 02:29 PM)justinhub2003 Wrote:  

(01-17-2022 01:26 PM)pesik Wrote:  

(01-17-2022 01:15 PM)justinhub2003 Wrote:  Lolol

If Illinois is overrated then Houston is way way over rated. They’ve played the easiest AAC schedule and won’t be tested until Feb too.

Add in Illinois has 7 top 100 wins, including 4 top 75 and 2 top 35 wins

Houston has 4 top 100 wins and 0 wins top 25 or top 35 kenpom wins


The mental gymnastics


By the way… Andy Katz has Illinois as number 4 In His power rankings

1) i openly say houston is overrated with its current healthy players... literally go to the gamethread with tulsa, i said we are going to be a top 10 team, but eye test with who is active this likely isnt even a top 35 team

2) cbs has Houston #3 in its power rankings..what does power rankings have to do with anything??

you just had mental gymnastics to make up a fictional mental gymnastics for me

No I also posted straight up facts about Illinois Resume which is pretty damn good.

They’ve also played the last month+ without their starting point guard. His first game back since that tournament was today.