Temple Basketball: Sophomores key to Fran Dunphy’s final season

Expectations in Fran’s final season

Fran Dunphy has had his share of struggles over the last half-decade plus; the Owls have only won 5 games in either the conference or NCAA tournament since winning the A-10 in 2010, high-level Philadelphia talent has snubbed him and his coaching staff time and time again, and embarrassing losses and postseason exclusions have marred the last chunk of his time as Temple’s head coach. And while he’ll be remembered for pulling Temple out of the dark era that was the end of Coach Chaney’s tenure, the Temple community is ecstatic to see him move on and for the program take a new direction.

Whether he goes out silently with another .500 season or brings Temple back to the tournament (and perhaps exorcises his tournament demons and wins a few games) rests on a few factors, and the sophomores taking the collective next step in their development might be the biggest one.

If Nate Pierre-Louis can attract enough attention to open up the game for Quinton Rose and Shizz Alston and continue to be a defensive difference maker, and if J.P Moorman can stay out of foul trouble and be a major presence down low for the Owls, Temple will have a starting lineup capable of competing consistently with high major competition.

That, combined with the level of overall team depth dependent on the continued development of Perry and Hamilton, makes Temple’s sophomores the pivot upon which Fran’s swan song will succeed or fail.