Temple plans longer NCAA stay

"Now we know what it's like to win a game [in the NCAA Tournament]. For the seniors, it's our last chance. We want to take advantage of that. It's always there. When you get a taste of something that feels good, you want more.

"That's how we feel right now. I can't even imagine what it would mean to be in the Sweet 16 or Elite Eight. That's what we want."

- Juan Fernandez, preseason

FIVE MONTHS later, nothing's changed.

You think it's easy to make it to the second week of the Madness, even for some of the usual suspects?

How many times did Hall of Famer John Chaney win two NCAA games at Temple, in his 17 appearances? If you said five you would be correct, even though, looking back, it seems like it happened more often than that. Of course, it helped that every time his Owls got to the third round they then made it to the fourth. And that's what folks obviously tend to remember most.

Yet, the reality is that in his first four trips the Owls lost in the second game, the first three as an 8- or 9-seed. And three times, twice as a 2 and another as a 4, Chaney's teams also were eliminated in Round 2. That happens too, particularly when it's one-and-done. Things can get very fragile, regardless of the number the NCAA puts next to your name.

Four of John's Final Eight runs came (in order) as a 10, 7, 6 and 11. Think about that. It kind of puts those four Sweet 16s in 5 years that Villanova produced from 2005-09, which included a Final Eight and a Final Four, into perspective. The Wildcats were able to get it done as a 5, 1, 12 and 3. It might be awhile before we see another similar stretch around here, just because.

Now the Owls (24-7) - who earlier this week found out they'll be Big East-bound starting in 2013 - are a 5, as they were 2 years ago, after losing to Massachusetts as the top seed in Friday afternoon's quarterfinals of the final Atlantic 10 Tournament in Atlantic City. It was only their second loss since Jan. 14, but second in four games. And two of their last three wins were in overtime, by one and two. This was the first time since 2007 that they didn't win at least once in the A-10 tourney. None of that matters anymore. It's all about whatever remains ahead. And it begins Friday, against either Pac-12 runner-up California (24-9) or South Florida (20-13), which just ended Villanova's season, in a Midwest Regional matchup in Nashville, Tenn.

Those teams will meet tomorrow in Dayton for the right to play some more. Somebody will get either fourth-seeded Michigan (24-9) or 13 Ohio (27-7), the MAC champion, on Sunday.

We probably should mention that the top seed in the region is North Carolina (29-5).

"We get a chance to watch, just to get to know [them]," said Fernandez. "We've done that before. Coming after a loss, we can't wait to get out there and start playing. It's going to be a long week preparing, we've got to use it well and be ready. It really doesn't matter [who we play]. We've got a chance to work on us. We'll focus on that, and who we play later."

As Fran Dunphy will no doubt continue to remind them, it's hard to try to win a third game unless you get past the immediate obstacle.

"I hope they get a chance to play a lot more basketball," he cautioned. "But let's figure out how to win the game on Friday before we try to do something else . . .

"Our defense wasn't where we needed it to be [against UMass]. So today at practice we worked mainly on defensive intensity and pride, to be honest."

And few coaches do intense and proud any better.

Last March, the Owls, in their fourth consecutive four-letter appearance, advanced past the first line on the bracket sheet for the first time since 2001. Despite being down two starters, they beat Penn State at the buzzer as a 7 seed before losing in overtime to second-seeded San Diego State.

They've had to overcome injuries this season as well. They were supposed to start four seniors, but swingman Scootie Randall never made it all the way back from offseason knee surgery and eventually decided to redshirt. Then big man Micheal Eric hurt the same knee that sidelined him at the end in 2011, causing him to miss 13 games. He returned on Jan. 21, and has steadily made more of a difference.

Still, it mostly revolves around a three-pronged backcourt that can be as potent as any. Ramone Moore and Khalif Wyatt were the second- and third-leading scorers in the A-10. Fernandez hit the winning shot against Penn State last year. They're all a year older.

This group has accomplished a whole bunch. This could be the fitting, lasting, topper.

"I've thought about it all season," Eric insisted. "It's our last everything. It would mean a lot, not just to us but the institution and our family.

"All we have to do is play together as a team and I think we'll be tough to beat. I think we can do something special, because we're a good group of guys."

One that even without Randall has put itself in a position to do some damage. The season would hardly go down as a failure if they didn't. Nonetheless . . .

"We got tired of hearing people saying, 'One and Dunphy,' things like that," said Moore. "It was a great relief to get that out of the way. I think there's a lot of pressure on us. We didn't do well in the A-10 Tournament. We want to go out and play pretty well. We got over the hump, but we want to take it further. Not too many guys were satisfied with winning one and going home."

It's not supposed to be easy. These Owls don't seem preoccupied by that.

"We've shown before that whenever we're feeling good, we're able to manage the game," Fernandez said. "That's when we've been pretty successful. We want to let the game be on our hands.

"It always has to be one at a time. But, hopefully, we can make a run. I think everybody deserves it. But we've got to work hard, and it starts now."