Preview: Cincinnati and Temple Each try for Fourth-Straight Victory

The Owls can take over third place in the AAC from Cincinnati with a win.

Author:
Russ Heltman
Jan 24, 2022 4:53 PM EST

CINCINNATI — Jeremiah Davenport and the Cincinnati Bearcats (14-5, 4-2) are morphing into the ideal Wes Miller team, and they have a chance to test that identity on Tuesday in a road battle against Temple (10-6, 3-2).

The Owls have lost a program-record nine consecutive games against the Bearcats and are eager to get a game in after a 13-day break due to COVID scheduling issues. Cincinnati ranks 70th in KenPom, while Temple sits at No. 125. ESPN's matchup predictor has the Bearcats winning 51.7% of the time.

The Owls had a star in the making when Khalif Battle (21.4 points) burst onto the scene in the early portion of the season, but the sophomore was lost for the year after seven games due to a foot injury. Shockingly enough Battle was one of the team's veteran players.

According to KenPom, Temple is the second-least experienced team in the country (0.47, 357th) and holds an average experience of 1.4 years. All that being said, head coach Aaron McKie has done a nice job getting the young crew to play together and weather the injury.

His team can take over third place in the conference with a win, and they'll rely on tight defense and a strong guard presence.

The Owls are led by third-year player Damian Dunn and guard Jeremiah Williams in Battle’s absence. Dunn is a spark-plug guard pacing the Owls in scoring (15.2 ppg/8th in AAC), free throw percentage (70-82, .854/3rd in AAC), and steals (19) while ranking second in assists (34).

He can knife through weak spots on defense and knows his strong spots inside the arc. Temple is a strong defensive team (66.4 points allowed in conference/2nd in AAC) and defends the three-point line well (29.2% allowed/2nd in AAC), but they are just as bad shooting it (26.9% in conference/last in AAC).

Dunn relies more on dribble jumpers near the foul line and contact to earn trips there as well. The 6-foot-5, 165-pound guard averages 7.2 FT attempts in conference play and shoots it a high-clip as mentioned above.

Disciplined man defense on the wings is crucial for Cincinnati in their road test. Temple cuts well and uses its versatile, smaller roster to methodically work the clock, ranking 303rd in adjusted tempo (65.2 possessions).

It worked to their identity over the past few games. Temple ranks first in the conference in two-point percentage (53.5%). Iron-Man guard Jeremiah Williams is a big reason this offense has stayed above water since Battles injury.

The owls offensive maestro is second on the team in scoring (9.2 ppg). Williams leads the Owls in assists (4.9 per game, 5th in AAC), A/TO ratio (2.05/5th in AAC), steals (19), and minutes (32.4/8th in AAC). That number has jumped to 37.4 in conference play as the Owls have needed all hands on deck in close contests.

At 6-foot-5, 185-pounds, Williams is a menace once he gets close to the basket, whether it's dishing to an open teammate or shooting near the hoop (64.3% on two-pointers in AAC play). Keeping him around the arc with tight ball pressure is crucial; his playmaking range drops greatly on the outside, and he's shooting just 12.5% from deep.

One other budding weapon to keep an eye for Temple is true freshman Jahlil White. The 6-foot-7, 180-pound forward is is averaging 10 points and 8.8 rebounds in his five starts. White leads the team in rebounding during conference play (6.8 rebounds) and ranks fourth in steals (one per game).

White is the second-best player for the Owls in AAC play at getting to the line. He averages four attempts per game, second to Dunn's 7.2 tries. Overall, the Owls are willing to work the clock if it means a high-percentage shot close to the hoop or free throws.

Temple ranks 26th nationally in FT/FGA ratio (0.264) and are 19th in free throw attempt rate (0.378).

If Cincinnati can continue its elite on-ball defense, limit fouls, and force Temple to take plenty of outside shots they should earn their fourth-straight win. Temple thrives from the charity stripe, and Tuesday is about limiting the handouts.

Cincinnati's bout with the Owls tips at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday. The game is airing on ESPNU.

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