Temple-Louisiana Tech preview
NIT QUARTERFINAL
No. 3 Louisiana Tech (27-8) at No. 1 Temple (25-10)
When/Where: Wednesday, 9 p.m. Liacouras Center.
TV/Radio: ESPN2/WPHT-1210 AM.
Coaches: Louisiana Tech, Michael White (fourth season, 101-39); Temple, Fran Dunphy (26th season, 502-270; 9th season at Temple, 192-107).
All-time series: Temple leads 1-0.
Last meeting between the two: Temple won, 82-75 on Nov. 17 at the Liacouras Center.
Road to the NIT: Louisiana Tech beat Central Michigan, 89-79 and Texas A&M, 84-72.
Temple defeated Bucknell, 73-67 and George Washington, 90-77.
Probable starters
Louisiana Tech (27-8)
G Kenneth "Speedy" Smith, 6-3 Sr., 6.4 ppg., 7.5 apg. 1.9 spg.
G Alex Hamilton, 6-4 Jr., 15.0 ppg., 2.7 apg.
G Raheem Appleby, 6-4 Sr.,15.1 ppg., 2.7 rpg.
F Erik McCree, 6-8 So., 11.3 ppg., 5.7 rpg.
F Michale Keyser, 6-10, Sr., 8.6ppg., 6.5 rpg.
Key reserves
G Xavian Stapleton, 6-6 Fr. 6.7 ppg., 2.1 rpg.
G Jacobi Boykins, 6-6 Fr., 4.3 ppg., 1.0 rpg.
Temple (25-10)
G Will Cummings, 6-2 Sr., 14.9 ppg., 4.2 apg.,, 4.1 rpg.
G Jesse Morgan, 6-5 Sr., 11.9 ppg., 3.1 rpg.
G Quenton DeCosey, 6-5 Jr., 12.2 ppg., 4.4 rpg.
C Devontae Watson, 6-11 Jr., 2.6 ppg., 3.3 rpg.
F Jaylen Bond, 6-8 Jr., 7.7 ppg., 8.2 rpg.
Key reserves
F Obi Enechionyia, 6-9 Fr., 5.1 ppg., 3.5 rpg.
G Josh Brown, 6-2 So., 6.5 ppg., 3.1 rpg.
F Daniel Dingle, 6-7 So., 3.6 ppg., 2.6 rpg.
G Devin Coleman, 6-3 Jr., 3.8 ppg., 2.5 rpg.
About Louisiana Tech: Raheem Appleby, who had a game-high 26 points in this year's loss to Temple, shot just 1 for 10 in Monday's 82-74 win at Texas A&M…During Monday's win, Alex Hamilton had 25 points and Kenneth "Speedy" Smith added 16 points and eight assists…The Bulldogs won a third straight regular season Conference USA title but lost to UAB, 72-62 in overtime during the conference tournament semifinals…The Bulldogs are shooting 68.8 percent from the foul line…Point guard Speedy Smith was named Conference USA Player of the Year and Michael White was the league's Coach of the Year…Senior Raheem Appleby and junior Alex Hamilton were second-team all-conference choices…The Bulldogs have won six of their last seven games.
About Temple:
Will Cummings has scored 51 points in the two NIT wins…The Owls have won 13 of their last 16 games…In the regular season win over Louisiana Tech, Cummings and Quenton DeCosey each had 20 points and Josh Brown scored a career high 17 points. .. Temple has won 13 of its last 16 games. .. Cummings was named first-team all-American Athletic Conference and first-team all-Big Five, while Jaylen Bond was second team in both and Quenton DeCosey was second-team all-Big Five…Fran Dunphy was AAC Coach of the Year…Jesse Morgan had a season-high 20 points in Temple’s second round NIT win over George Washington...Cummings has 20 or more points in four of his last five games.