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Temple opens men’s and women’s basketball practice with a joint event

The Owls and a spirited group of fans celebrated the opening of basketball practice for the men's and women's teams.

Men's basketball coach Aaron McKie fires up the fans during Temple's version of Midnight Madness at the Liacouras Center on Thursday night.
Men's basketball coach Aaron McKie fires up the fans during Temple's version of Midnight Madness at the Liacouras Center on Thursday night.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer

Music was blaring from all corners of the Liacouras Center as Jiselle Thomas and Emmanuel Okpomo dribbled around a singular chair at center court surrounded by their respective teammates.

Thomas, representing the Temple women’s basketball team, and Okpomo, standing in for the men’s side, competed in a game of basketball musical chairs. It was all a part of the Cherry and White Night tip-off event.

“It’s all good energy and a good fan base,” said men’s coach Aaron McKie. “Only thing I cross my fingers and toes with is that the guys don’t go out there and get silly and somebody gets hurt.”

Guard Khalif Battle revealed he may have, in good fun, tried to cheat by pulling the chair away from Thomas but his efforts were to no avail. He said that event was his favorite of the night.

Thursday night’s basketball Midnight Madness-esque event was emceed Lee Farrell, the Owls’ in-game host.

Following performances from the Temple cheer and dance teams, each player and coach from the men’s and women’s teams were introduced. They danced out of the tunnel greeting teammates at half court and tossing T-shirts into the crowd.

Both McKie and women’s coach Tonya Cardoza addressed the crowd, urging fans to show support at their respective opening nights next week.

The women’s home opener is Tuesday at 7 p.m. against St. Francis. The men’s is at Wednesday at 7 p.m. against Maryland-Eastern Shore.

“We were doing it for the fans,” Battle said. “Just getting them out here, showing the team and having fun with it. I think it was a good event.”

Although there was no scrimmage or a dunk contest, both teams were animated cheering each other on for each game and engaging the crowd.

The three-point contest energized both teams and the fans.

Emani Mayo made it to the championship round for the women’s team facing off against Colin Daly from the men’s. Daly edged out Quincy Ademokoya for a spot in the championship after playing ‘rock’ to beat Ademokoya’s ‘scissors’ in a friendly game of rock, paper, scissors.

Daly caught fire on the final two racks, earning him the win.

Before the festivities wrapped up, coaches from both teams attempted half-court shots.

Cardoza took a shot put approach but couldn’t find the bottom of the net.

McKie, on the other hand, opted out of putting himself in the bright lights in fear of becoming a “Twitter meme.” So director of player development Jason Ivey subbed in his place. Ivey’s shot, which landed about as close as one can get without sinking it, nearly sent the crowd into a frenzy.

During last season’s Temple games at the Liacouras Center, you could hear a pin drop, with no fans due to COVID-19 restrictions. At Thursday night’s Cherry and White Night, with fans back in the stands for the first time since March 2020, the liveliness brought out a certain sense of familiarity.