2008–09 Temple Owls men's basketball team

American college basketball season March 2026 August 2023 Basketball 2008–09 Temple Owls Temple T logo.svg Atlantic 10 Conference A-10 22–12 11–5 Fran Dunphy Dave Duke Matt Langel Shawn Trice Liacouras Center A-10 Tournament Champions NCAA tournament first round The 2008–09 Temple Owls men's basketball team represented Temple University in the 2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. They were led by head coach Fran Dunphy and played their home games at the Liacouras Center. The Owls are members of the Atlantic 10 Conference. They finished the season 22–12 and 11–5 in A-10 play. They won the 2009 Atlantic 10 men's basketball tournament for the second consecutive year to receive the conference's automatic bid to the 2009 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. Dionte Christmas led Temple in three statistics: points per game (19.5), three-pointers completed (107), and total steals (51); he finished second in two more: rebounds per game (5.5) and assists (28).https://insider.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/insider/news/story?id=4536484&action=login&appRedirect=http%253a%252f%252finsider.espn.go.com%252fncb%252finsider%252fnews%252fstory%253fid%253d4536484 Team Preview: Temple 22 October 2009 Blue Ribbon Yearbook ESPN December 21, 2009 In addition, he was an honorable mention All-American and scored 2,000 points over his college basketball career. Also graduating were two other starters: 7–0 center Sergio Olmos, who was selected as an All-A10 Tournament player, and point guard Semaj Inge.http://www.owlsports.com/documents/2009/12/8/Pages_24-26,_Preview.pdf 2009–10 Temple Men's Basketball Media Guide: Preview Temple Owls Temple University December 22, 2009 Preseason On October 28, 2008, the Owls were picked by other Atlantic 10 coaches to finish second, behind Xavier, and received 12 first place votes. Dionte Christmas was chosen to the Preseason First Team after leading the league in scoring the past two seasons. Lavoy Allen was named to the Preseason Defensive Team.http://www.atlantic10.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/102808aaa.html Xavier The Choice To Seize 2008–09 A-10 Men's Basketball Title October 28, 2008 Atlantic 10 Conference December 15, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20110728093930/http://www.atlantic10.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/102808aaa.html July 28, 2011 dead mdy-all Roster #NameHeightWeight (lbs.)PositionClassHometownHigh school2Ryan Brooks6 4200 lb kgGJr.Narberth, PennsylvaniaU.S.Lower Merion HS4Juan Fernandez6 4180 lb kgGFr.Río Tercero, CórdobaArgentinaDr. Alexis Carrel HS10Luis Guzman6 3200 lb kgGJr.New York City, New YorkU.S.Paramus Catholic HS11T. J. DiLeo6 2195 lb kgGFr.Cinnaminson, New JerseyU.S.Cinnaminson HS15Semaj Inge6 4190 lb kgGSr.Camden, New JerseyU.S.Woodrow Wilson HS21Rafael DeLeon6 5200 lb kgFJr.District Heights, MarylandU.S.Bishop McNamara HS22Dionte Christmas6 5205 lb kgGSr.Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaU.S.Lutheran Christian Academy23Ramone Moore6 4180 lb kgGFr.Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaU.S.South Philadelphia HS24Lavoy Allen6 9225 lb kgFSo.Morrisville, PennsylvaniaU.S.Pennsbury HS30Craig Williams6 9240 lb kgFSo.Christiansted, U.S. Virgin IslandsU.S.St. Croix Central HS33Scootie Randall6 6205 lb kgFFr.Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaU.S.Communications Tech HS41Sergio Olmos7 0220 lb kgCSr.ValenciaSpainVincente Blasco Ibanez HS50Micheal Eric6 11240 lb kgF/CFr.LagosNigeriaChurch Farm School Schedule Temple Owls 2009 #FFFFFF #FF0000 Temple Owls November yes #FF0000 #FFFFFF |- align="center" bgcolor="#D8FFEB" | 1 | November 14 | East Tennessee State | W 79–65 | Dionte Christmas – 26 | Lavoy Allen – 15 | Christmas/Semaj Inge – 6 | Carolina First Arena, Charleston, SC (527) | 1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#D8FFEB" | 2 | November 15 | College of Charleston | W 70–65January 2025 medicmedic | Christmas – 26 | Allen – 12 | Luis Guzman – 5 | Carolina First Arena, Charleston, SC (2,532) | 2–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFE6E6" | 3 | November 16 | Clemson | L 76–72January 2025 medicmedic | Ryan Brooks – 19 | Guzman – 7 | Guzman – 7 | Carolina First Arena, Charleston, SC (3,026) | 2–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#D8FFEB" | 4 | November 21 | Lafayette | W 71–55January 2025 medicmedic | Christmas – 29 | Christmas – 12 | Christmas/Guzman – 3 | Allan P. Kirby Arena, Easton, PA (3,297) | 3–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFE6E6" | 5 | November 29 | Buffalo | L 83–73January 2025 medicmedic | Christmas – 25 | Christmas – 6 | Guzman – 7 | Alumni Arena, Buffalo, NY (2,035) | 3–2 |- Temple Owls December #FF0000 #FFFFFF |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFE6E6" | 6 | December 3 | Miami (OH) | L 68–52January 2025 medicmedic | Sergio Olmos – 12 | Brooks – 6 | Inge – 5 | Liacouras Center, Philadelphia, PA (5,029) | 3–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#D8FFEB" | 7 | December 6 | Penn State | W 65–59January 2025 medicmedic | Inge – 19 | Allen – 10 | Inge – 6 | Bryce Jordan Center, State College, PA (9,833) | 4–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#D8FFEB" | 8 | December 13 | #8 Tennessee | W 88–72 | Christmas – 35 | Brooks – 10 | Inge – 4 | Liacouras Center, Philadelphia, PA (8,068) | 5–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFE6E6" | 9 | December 20 | Kansas | L 71–59 | Christmas – 21 | Allen – 7 | Allen – 5 | Phog Allen Fieldhouse, Lawrence, KS (16,300) | 5–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFE6E6" | 10 | December 22 | Long Beach State | L 76–71January 2025 medicmedic | Christmas – 19 | Allen – 11 | Allen – 5 | Walter Pyramid, Long Beach, CA (2,042) | 5–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFE6E6" | 11 | December 29 | #13 Villanova | L 62–45 | Christmas – 13 | Christmas/Olmos – 5 | Christmas – 4 | The Pavilion, Villanova, PA (6,500) | 5–6 |- Temple Owls January #FF0000 #FFFFFF |- align="center" bgcolor="#D8FFEB" | 12 | January 5 | Kent State | W 73–58 | Christmas – 26 | Allen – 10 | Brooks/Juan Fernandez – 4 | Liacouras Center, Philadelphia, PA (3,508) | 6–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#D8FFEB" | 13 | January 7 | Eastern Michigan | W 67–45January 2025 medicmedic | Christmas – 17 | Allen – 5 | Allen/Christmas – 3 | Convocation Center, Ypsilanti, MI (493) | 7–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#D8FFEB" | 14 | January 11 | La Salle | W 75–68January 2025 medicmedic | Christmas – 30 | Allen/Inge – 6 | Inge – 6 | Tom Gola Arena, Philadelphia, PA (3,510) | 8–6(1–0) |- align="center" bgcolor="#D8FFEB" | 15 | January 14 | Pennsylvania | W 78–53January 2025 medicmedic | Christmas – 25 | Christmas – 9 | Inge/Fernandez – 5 | The Palestra, Philadelphia, PA (4,261) | 9–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFE6E6" | 16 | January 17 | UMass | L 79–75 | Christmas – 26 | Christmas – 9 | Allen – 5 | William D. Mullins Center, Amherst, MA (7,182) | 9–7(1–1) |- align="center" bgcolor="#D8FFEB" | 17 | January 22 | Saint Louis | W 65–40 | Allen – 16 | Allen/Christmas – 7 | Christmas – 5 | Liacouras Center, Philadelphia, PA (4,856) | 10–7(2–1) |- align="center" bgcolor="#D8FFEB" | 18 | January 24 | Charlotte | W 80–53 | Inge – 19 | Allen – 10 | Fernandez – 4 | Liacouras Center, Philadelphia, PA (5,747) | 11–7(3–1) |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFE6E6" | 19 | January 28 | Rhode Island | L 67–59 | Christmas – 27 | Micheal Eric – 7 | Guzman – 3 | Thomas M. Ryan Center, Kingston, RI (5,028) | 11–8(3–2) |- align="center" bgcolor="#D8FFEB" | 20 | January 31 | Richmond | W 74–65 | Inge – 19 | Christmas – 13 | Christmas – 3 | Liacouras Center, Philadelphia, PA (6,087) | 12–8(4–2) |- Temple Owls February #FF0000 #FFFFFF |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFE6E6" | 21 | February 5 | #9 Xavier | L 83–74 | Olmos – 18 | Allen – 14 | Christmas – 8 | Cintas Center, Cincinnati, OH (10,250) | 12–9(4–3) |- align="center" bgcolor="#D8FFEB" | 22 | February 8 | Rhode Island | W 68–62 | Allen – 23 | Allen – 13 | Inge – 7 | Liacouras Center, Philadelphia, PA (5,654) | 13–9(5–3) |- align="center" bgcolor="#D8FFEB" | 23 | February 12 | Saint Joseph's | W 61–59 | Christmas – 19 | Christmas – 11 | Christmas/Inge – 4 | The Palestra, Philadelphia, PA (8,722) | 14–9(6–3) |- align="center" bgcolor="#D8FFEB" | 24 | February 15 | Duquesne | W 78–73 | Fernandez – 19 | Craig Williams – 6 | Christmas – 4 | A.J. Palumbo Center, Pittsburgh, PA (4,029) | 15–9(7–3) |- align="center" bgcolor="#D8FFEB" | 25 | February 18 | Fordham | W 72–45January 2025 medicmedic | Allen – 19 | Allen – 11 | Fernandez – 4 | Liacouras Center, Philadelphia, PA (3,837) | 16–9(8–3) |- align="center" bgcolor="#D8FFEB" | 26 | February 22 | St. Bonaventure | W 70–56 | Allen – 20 | Allen – 18 | Allen – 4 | Liacouras Center, Philadelphia, PA (7,092) | 17–9(9–3) |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFE6E6" | 27 | February 26 | La Salle | L 70–63 | Christmas – 19 | Allen – 12 | Fernandez – 6 | Liacouras Center, Philadelphia, PA (6,031) | 17–10(9–4) |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFE6E6" | 28 | February 28 | Dayton | L 70–65January 2025 medicmedic | Christmas/Brooks – 20 | Allen – 11 | Guzman – 4 | University of Dayton Arena, Dayton, OH (13,435) | 17–11(9–5) |- Temple Owls March #FF0000 #FFFFFF |- align="center" bgcolor="#D8FFEB" | 29 | March 5 | Saint Joseph's | W 68–59January 2025 medicmedic | Christmas – 23 | Williams – 9 | Fernandez – 5 | Liacouras Center, Philadelphia, PA (9,349) | 18–11(10–5) |- align="center" bgcolor="#D8FFEB" | 30 | March 7 | George Washington | W 63–53 | Allen – 17 | Allen – 16 | Inge – 5 | Charles E. Smith Center, Washington, DC (2,828) | 19–11(11–5) |- align="center" bgcolor="#D8FFEB" | 31 | March 12 | Saint Joseph's | W 79–65January 2025 medicmedic | Brooks – 19 | Allen – 13 | Inge/Christmas – 4 | Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, NJ (4,837) | 20–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="#D8FFEB" | 32 | March 13 | #19 Xavier | W 55–53 | Christmas – 20 | Allen – 11 | Christmas – 3 | Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, NJ | 21–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="#D8FFEB" | 33 | March 14 | Duquesne | W 69–64 | Christmas – 29 | Allen – 14 | Inge – 8 | Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, NJ (6,823) | 22–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFE6E6" | 34 | March 20 | Arizona State | L 66–57January 2025 medicmedic | Christmas – 29 | Allen – 10 | Allen/Inge – 4 | AmericanAirlines Arena, Miami, FL (10,163) | 22–12 |- Temple Owls http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/team/schedule/_/id/218/year/2009/temple-owls Season Preconference season Dionte Christmas scored 35 points to lead Temple past #8 Tennessee on December 13 88–72. This was Temple's first win over a top ten team since the 2006 Atlantic 10 men's basketball tournament, when the Owls upset #6 George Washington; John Chaney was coaching Temple at the time. The Owls started the game with an 8–0 lead and never faltered, with Tennessee only tying the score at 15 and never leading. Christmas started the second half with a three-pointer and scored three consecutive threes on a 17–6 run. For the game, he was 7-for-14 from the perimeter and 12-for-22 from the field. Sergio Olmos's 19 points were a career high, and Ryan Brooks registered a double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds.https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=283480218 https://web.archive.org/web/20200805232816/https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=283480218 dead August 5, 2020 Christmas' season-high 35 points lead Temple past No. 8 Tennessee December 13, 2008 Associated Press ESPN ESPN Internet Ventures December 18, 2010 Postseason Temple was given a four seed in the 2009 Atlantic 10 men's basketball tournament; they received a bye and faced Saint Joseph's in the quarterfinals.http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/sports/college/ud/2009/03/11/ddn031109spa10tourneysked.html?cxntlid=inform_sr 2009 Atlantic 10 men's basketball tournament March 11, 2009 Dayton Daily News Cox Ohio Publishing December 23, 2010 In the 2009 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, Temple was seeded eleventh in the South Regional, where they faced the sixth-seeded Arizona State Sun Devils in the first round. On March 20, 2009, behind a then career-high 22 points by Sun Devil Derek Glasser, Arizona State eliminated Temple 66–57. The Owls never had a lead, but cut the deficit to 52–49, the closest the game ever got. Temple's offense went without a field goal in the final 5:02. However, their defense held Arizona State star James Harden to nine points, less than half his season average, and 1-of-8 shooting. Dionte Christmas played all 40 minutes, shot 5-for-11 from behind the arc and scored 29 points in his final collegiate game.https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=294000039 Harden struggles, but Arizona State still puts away Temple March 20, 2009 Associated Press ESPN ESPN Internet Ventures December 22, 2010July 2024 medicmedic References Temple Temple Category:Temple Owls men's basketball seasons Temple Temple