Busting Brackets
Fansided

AAC Basketball: Updated 2018-19 preseason rankings for the conference

By Lukas Harkins

ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 11: during the final game of the 2018 AAC Basketball Championship against at Amway Center on March 11, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 11: during the final game of the 2018 AAC Basketball Championship against at Amway Center on March 11, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – DECEMBER 13: Quinton Rose #13 of the Temple Owls dribbles. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – DECEMBER 13: Quinton Rose #13 of the Temple Owls dribbles. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

temple owls. 8. team. 2399. . . Previous:

Can Temple improve on last season’s performance? Even though the two top scorers for the team are returning in Quinton Rose (14.9 points) and Shizz Alston (13.3 points), the departed pieces this offseason will not be easy to replace. In particular, losing seniors Obi Enechionyia and Josh Brown will be difficult to recover from. Both of these players represented veterans who did far more than just fill up the basket offensively.

Still, there is reason to believe that the rising returning players Nate Pierre-Louis and J.P. Moorman could more than make up for the departures of Enechionyia and Brown. These players are both expected to take on larger roles during 2018-19 and they have plenty of potential to emerge as key starters and scorers.

Even if this occurs, though, the issue for Temple this year could be the lack of depth off the bench. In order for the Owls to move up the rankings and compete for an NCAA Tournament bid this season, the team will need to see Rose and Alston take more steps forward while also developing reserve players who can make spark plug impacts. If this occurs, then maybe the team can emerge as a surprise this year.