Scouting: Temple @ NIU

Posted December 29, 2009 10:00 pm

By Lindsey Willhite

Temple (10-2) at Northern Illinois (2-7)

When: 7 p.m. at the Convocation Center

Radio: WLBK 1360-AM

Skinny: When the Huskies set up this series with the Owls, it was a nice coup. But with Temple unexpectedly ranked No. 18 in the current Associated Press poll, NIU has an even bigger challenge than originally imagined. According to Ken Pomeroy's rate stats, Temple boasts the nation's No. 3 defense as Fran Dunphy's bunch surrenders just .822 points per possession. Penn State and Miami Ohio managed just 42 points against the Owls, while Bowling Green produced just 39 points Monday. NIU ranks among the nation's worst teams in effective field-goal percentage and turnover rate. On the plus side? Junior guard Jake Anderson leads the nation in rebounding (7.4 rpg) among players who are 6-foot-2 and shorter.

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