Temple prepping for whichever team will be the 12th seed

No definite opponent? No problem for Temple.

Things are as normal as they can be for the Owls (24-7), who drew a No. 5 seed in the Midwest Regional of the NCAA tournament field that was announced Sunday night.

While most tourney teams are preparing for their opponents, Temple will not know until Wednesday night who its second-round opponent will be in Friday's 9:50 p.m. game at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.

Will it be California? Or will it be South Florida? Those teams will meet Wednesday in a first-round game in Dayton. The winner emerges as a 12th seed and Temple's first challenge.

The Owls don't think they are at a disadvantage.

"With the Atlantic Ten tournament . . . that kind of helped us prepare for two teams," said Temple guard Ramone Moore. Temple had a first-round bye and had to await the winner of the Duquesne vs. Massachusetts game.

"So I think that won't be too hard."

The Owls will watch film of both California and South Florida during their early-week film studies.

Then on Wednesday night, after they arrive in Nashville, the Owls will watch the first-round game as a group.

"It will be easier for the coaches to decide [Temple's game plan]," Moore said. "But they've done a great job throughout trying to prepare us."

In California (24-9), the Owls would face a team that defeated them, 57-50, in the Old Spice Classic in Orlando, Fla., last season.

The Golden Bears are led by senior point guard Jorge Gutierrez, the Pac-12 Conference player of the year and defensive player of the year.

Known for getting under opponents' skin, Gutierrez averages 13.1 points and four assists.

Sophomore Allen Crabbe, a 6-foot-6 sophomore guard, is the team's leading scorer (15.3 points) and second-best three-point shooter.

South Florida (20-13) is making its first NCAA tournament appearance since 1992.

The Bulls are regarded as the Big East Conference's best defensive team. Their grinding style of play often takes teams out of their rhythm, and makes the game something of a test for fans as well.

The last time South Florida scored 60 points or more was on Feb. 15 in a 65-41 victory over Villanova. Since then, they scored three games in the 40s and four in the 50s.

The last time the Bulls yielded more than 60 points was on Feb. 4 against Georgetown in a 75-45 loss.

They have held opponents to 57 points or less in the 10 games since.

"I'm a little more familiar this year with South Florida," Temple coach Fran Dunphy said. "But last year, we played Cal and many of the same guys are there. [Cal's] Mike Montgomery is a terrific coach. So we have a sense.

"And South Florida, I really enjoy watching them play."

Notable. Ramone Moore and Juan Fernandez will compete in both the Reese's College All-Star Game and the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament.

The all-star game will be held during the Final Four festivities at the Louisiana Superdome on March 31. The game will feature 20 of the top Division I senior college basketball players.

The Portsmouth invite is a pre-draft camp for NBA hopefuls that are seniors. It will run April 11-14 in Portsmouth, Va.