GAME THREAD: MBB vs Temple

[mustangxc]

SMU (15-4, 6-1 American) vs Temple (11-6, 4-2 American)
Moody Coliseum – Dallas, Texas
January 29, 2022 – 2 p.m. CT
TV: ESPN+
SERIES VS. TEMPLE (9-7) (8-7+)

This game won't be easy despite Temple having bad metrics. We need to keep winning.

[Charleston Pony]

Sure hope there are more than 4k in Moody today and the students bring some energy. Would love to see our guys get out early and not look back. Overdue for a really hot shooting game.

[smubrooks]

Seems like a big game, why is it only on ESPN plus?

Also, hope there’s a good crowd showing, the players have been openly begging for it on social media. Does Jank do any student outreach like LB did?

Wish I was there!

[Charleston Pony]

The lack of a packed Moody is always going to be a big hurdle to overcome in recruiting, but we know what Moody can become with a team that can compete for conference championships and NCAA Tourney bids

[mustangxc]

The lack of a packed house is almost 100% thanks to the fact that we have one of the most incompetent ADs in the country.

[PonyPower]

So go to the game and bring friends. I'm bringing 2 today.
See you there.

[Sewanee Stang]

We'll be there and be loud. This is a fun team to watch.

[ponyboy]

How does Temple have “bad metrics”?

[shadowman]

Huge game from a standings point of view. Many of the "experts" believe that for SMU to get an at large bid they need to be the clear 2nd best team in the AAC. Temple is the last team with only 2 conference losses (SMU has 1 and Houston has none.) If SMU wins today, then we are, at worst, one game out of first with a 2 game cushion for second place. Every other conference team behind us would have at least 3 losses, while we would only have 1 loss.

Go Ponies!

[mustangxc]

How does Temple have “bad metrics”?

Outside the top 100 in every metric.

[PonyPride]

Coaches participating in Coaches vs. Cancer Suits & Sneakers — For more than 25 years, the Coaches vs. Cancer program has united coaches and fans nationwide to help the American Cancer Society defeat a common enemy: cancer. The Coaches vs. Cancer program has supported the American Cancer Society in its efforts to save lives from Cancer and the U.S. and worldwide. Coaches and staff across the nation wear sneakers with their suits during games to raise awareness, helping to save lives by raising funds and encouraging people to educate themselves about cancer prevention, screening and early detection. Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers will support childhood cancer research, services and awareness, as well as promote cancer prevention efforts targeting children.

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[PonyPride]

Owls come in with an overall record of 11-6 record, including a 4-2 mark in AAC games. Temple has won its last four, including three on the road — a stretch that includes victories at UCF, at home over ECU, at Tulsa and at USF.

[PonyPride]

SMU's Kendric Davis leads the AAC in scoring ... sort of.

Davis averages 20.58 points per game. Temple's Khalif Barnes averages 21.4 points per game, but has played in just seven games — the AAC requires a player to have played in 75 percent of his team's games to qualify for conference rankings.

[PonyPride]

STARTERS

Temple
G 1 Damian Dunn
G 2 Jahlil White
G 25 Jeremiah Williams
F 11 Nick Jourdain
F 14 Arashma Parks

SMU
G 3 Kendric Davis
G 5 Emmanuel Bandoumel
G 10 Zach Nutall
G 23 Michael Weathers (introduced as a forward?)
F 50 Marcus Weathers

[PonyPride]

Jourdain and Parks are 6-8 and 6-9, respectively.

SMU's tallest starter, Marcus Weathers, is listed at 6-5 ... and he kicks off the scoring with a layup over Parks, who is whistled for his first foul.

Weathers cans the FT
SMU 3-0