Opposition Report: Temple Owls

THE OPPONENT

Temple enters this game coming off a home win vs. SMU and going 2-5 since playing UConn. Despite being the worst rebounding team in the conference, Temple outrebounded SMU 38-25, including 15 second-chance points on 12 offensive rebounds. Temple’s effort on the glass is even more surprising considering its best rebounder, Anthony Lee, was sidelined due to injury.

Offensively, Temple is sound with the basketball, posting the 12th-best turnover percentage in the country. They have four key players—PG Will Cummings, SG Quenton DeCosey, SG Dalton Pepper, and PF Anthony Lee—who use 79% of Temple’s shot attempts. By comparison, UConn’s four leading shot-takers use 66% of its attempts.

Point guard Will Cummings is Temple’s stabilizer, setting the tempo and keeping the team poised. Cummings is capable of creating offense for himself and his teammates (averaging 16 points and 4.5 assists per game). He scored 20 points in the first matchup, though UConn limited him to only 2 assists. Cummings is Temple’s best playmaker, but his weaknesses are also apparent. He prefers to take it all the way when driving, struggling to pull-up off the dribble. Additionally, he forces shots early in possessions. He’s capable from 3, but Cummings’ is most dangerous penetrating the lane to either finish or kick out to open shooters.

UConn flustered Cummings in the first matchup, preventing Temple from establishing rhythm and ball movement. The result was an abundance of isolation basketball, which played in UConn’s favor.

Alongside Cummings in the backcourt are Quenton DeCosey and Dalton Pepper. DeCosey is a 6-5 athlete with range on his jump shot. He has “game changing” ability when he’s in a rhythm—I saw him shoot 9-14 (22 points) with six 3-pointers vs. Rutgers. DeCosey can shoot with his feet set or off the dribble, so it’s best to play “team defense” against him. Get a hand up when DeCosey shoots.

Pepper is a physical guard with NBA range on his jump shot. Temple tries to run him off screens (see video below), to create space for Pepper. But he lacks quickness and struggles at the rim. In fact, he doesn’t even try to attack the rim—72% of his attempts this season are jump shots, while only 25% have been inside the paint. The best strategy is to close out on Pepper, even at the risk of an open driving lane. DeCosey and Pepper will make shots, but they will also force shots. In the first matchup, they shot 10-28 combined.

On the interior, Anthony Lee is a rangy 6-9 forward with bounce and athleticism. His success is predicated on tip-ins, activity and energy plays. However, he’s not skilled offensively—he competes for buckets around the hoop, but isn’t capable beyond 10 feet. Most importantly you must match his activity and energy, which UConn did in the first matchup. Lee averages nearly 10 rebounds per game, yet UConn held him to zero rebounds. This had a major impact on the game. Lee sat out the SMU game due to injury, and his status for Thursday is unclear.

Defensively, Lee can be exposed. He’s too skinny in the post, and too slow on his feet to guard stretch-forwards. In the first matchup, Shabazz Napier and DeAndre Daniels had tremendous success against Lee in the pick and roll: Napier finished with 27 points and 6 assists, while Daniels scored a career-high 31 points and 12 rebounds.

— Be aware of Cummings, DeCosey, Pepper and Lee

— Make Cummings put the ball on the floor (9-39 shooting off the dribble this season)

— If he plays, exploit Anthony Lee in the post (opponents shooting 55% in the paint against him; 3.5 fouls in 29.5 minutes)

— Zone up pick and roll (“bigs” don’t pose threat as screeners)

— Temple beats you with outside shooting and points in transition. Not much interior production

FIRST MATCHUP (90-66, UConn)

UConn’s Pick and Roll Success

— UConn generated 8 pick and roll baskets in the first matchup, its most of any in-conference game this season. Shabazz Napier and DeAndre Daniels had tremendous success running the pick and roll. They forced Temple to pick its poison—either concentrate on the screener and thus give Napier an uncontested jumper, or concentrate on Napier and thus give Daniels/Giffey an open pick and pop attempt. Temple lacks players capable of staying with the quickness of Napier, and the versatility of Daniels.

They dared UConn to shoot out of the pick and roll, and the Huskies took advantage. UConn should do the same Thursday if Temple fails to adjust. If they play the ball handler tighter, Napier and Boatright should be able to use their quickness and get penetrate.

Video: Pick and Roll vs. Temple (Napier)

Video: DeAndre Daniels 31 points vs. Temple

— Daniels stepped into his shot with confidence, and didn’t hesitate. He scored a career-high 31 points.

Video: Tip Ins / Activity

— Daniels was active around the basket and didn’t get pushed around.

Temple’s Zone Defense

Temple plays zone defense on 11% of its possessions. In the first matchup, Temple’s guards gambled at the top of the zone, lunging for steals. This created openings for Napier and Samuel to slice the zone for easy penetration.

STARTERS/RESERVES:

PG — Will Cummings (6-2)
SG — Quenton DeCosey (6-5)
SF — Dalton Pepper (6-5)
PF — Anthony Lee (6-9)
C — Devontae Watson (6-10)

Reserves
G — Mark Williams (6-8)
F — Jimmy McDonnell (6-10)
G — Josh Brown (6-3)

#2 Will Cummings (JR) — 16 PPG, 3 RPG, 4.5 APG
PG, 6-2, 175

Strengths
— Temple’s primary ball handler
— Finishes at basket
— Catch-and-Shoot
— Polished Floater

Vulnerable
— Doesn’t dribble much on perimeter shots (50% of spot up/isolation attempts are one-or-two dribbles)
— Poor shooting off the dribble
— Favors left hand (pounds ball)

Video: 7 assists vs. SMU

Video: 20 points vs. UConn

Strengths

Catch-and-Shoot

Spot Up/Isolation Points

Polished Floater – don’t let him into this pocket of the court

Vulnerable

Off the Dribble shooting

Clearly wants to go left in spot up situations — make him go right

Pick-and-Roll Struggles

Shooting — mostly good at 3′s, no mid-range

#25 Quenton DeCosey (SO) — 14.8 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 40% spot up
SG, 6-5, 180

Strengths
— Gifted scorer, confident jump shot
— Athletic and long to finish in transition

Vulnerable
— Struggles defending pick-and-roll
— 5-28 from “foul line area” on offense (18%) — force him into this pocket of the court

Strengths

Scoring

Vulnerable

Finishing

Misses

Pick-and-Roll Defense

#32 Dalton Pepper (SR) — 17 PPG, 5 RPG, 39% three-pointers
SG, 6-5, 220

Strengths
— NBA range on jumper (72% of attempts are jump shots)
— Strong guard capable of finishing in transition
— Can get hot; gifted shooter

Vulnerable
— Struggles to finish around the basket
— Isolation defense (slow feet, can be exposed on pick and roll)
— Limited skills other than shooting

Video: 24 points vs. SMU

Video: Off Screens

— As mentioned, Pepper struggles to create in isolation. Thus, Temple often runs actions to get Pepper an open look. Against SMU, they ran him off screens to create separation for a catch and shoot attempt.

Strengths

Shooting

Vulnerable

Poor Isolation Defense

Finishing Struggles

Limited Skills

#3 Anthony Lee (JR) — 14 PPG, 9 RPG, 3.5 Fouls
PF, 6-9, 230

*Lee’s availability has not yet been announced.

Strengths
— Crashing Boards (active and athletic for tip-ins)

Vulnerable
— No Range
— Limited Post Game
— Defending Shooters (Slow on feet; Napier and Daniels should expose Lee in pick-and-pop)

Strengths

Crashing Boards (tip-ins)

Vulnerable

Limited Post Game

Poor Shooting

Poor Defense

#23 Devontae Watson (SO) — 2.5 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 22.3% Defensive Rebounding Percentage
PF, 6-10, 210

— 12 MPG on season; 20 MPG over last three games
— Box him out (not a great athlete, but a tall presence who is active on the glass)
— Not skilled, can’t let him outwork you
— Limited offensive game (no range)

Video: Crashing Boards

THE OPPONENT

Temple enters this game coming off a home win vs. SMU and going 2-5 since playing UConn. Despite being the worst rebounding team in the conference, Temple outrebounded SMU 38-25, including 15 second-chance points on 12 offensive rebounds. Temple’s effort on the glass is even more surprising considering its best rebounder, Anthony Lee, was sidelined due to injury.

Offensively, Temple is sound with the basketball, posting the 12th-best turnover percentage in the country. They have four key players—PG Will Cummings, SG Quenton DeCosey, SG Dalton Pepper, and PF Anthony Lee—who use 79% of Temple’s shot attempts. By comparison, UConn’s four leading shot-takers use 66% of its attempts.

Point guard Will Cummings is Temple’s stabilizer, setting the tempo and keeping the team poised. Cummings is capable of creating offense for himself and his teammates (averaging 16 points and 4.5 assists per game). He scored 20 points in the first matchup, though UConn limited him to only 2 assists. Cummings is Temple’s best playmaker, but his weaknesses are also apparent. He prefers to take it all the way when driving, struggling to pull-up off the dribble. Additionally, he forces shots early in possessions. He’s capable from 3, but Cummings’ is most dangerous penetrating the lane to either finish or kick out to open shooters.

UConn flustered Cummings in the first matchup, preventing Temple from establishing rhythm and ball movement. The result was an abundance of isolation basketball, which played in UConn’s favor.

Alongside Cummings in the backcourt are Quenton DeCosey and Dalton Pepper. DeCosey is a 6-5 athlete with range on his jump shot. He has “game changing” ability when he’s in a rhythm—I saw him shoot 9-14 (22 points) with six 3-pointers vs. Rutgers. DeCosey can shoot with his feet set or off the dribble, so it’s best to play “team defense” against him. Get a hand up when DeCosey shoots.

Pepper is a physical guard with NBA range on his jump shot. Temple tries to run him off screens (see video below), to create space for Pepper. But he lacks quickness and struggles at the rim. In fact, he doesn’t even try to attack the rim—72% of his attempts this season are jump shots, while only 25% have been inside the paint. The best strategy is to close out on Pepper, even at the risk of an open driving lane. DeCosey and Pepper will make shots, but they will also force shots. In the first matchup, they shot 10-28 combined.

On the interior, Anthony Lee is a rangy 6-9 forward with bounce and athleticism. His success is predicated on tip-ins, activity and energy plays. However, he’s not skilled offensively—he competes for buckets around the hoop, but isn’t capable beyond 10 feet. Most importantly you must match his activity and energy, which UConn did in the first matchup. Lee averages nearly 10 rebounds per game, yet UConn held him to zero rebounds. This had a major impact on the game. Lee sat out the SMU game due to injury, and his status for Thursday is unclear.

Defensively, Lee can be exposed. He’s too skinny in the post, and too slow on his feet to guard stretch-forwards. In the first matchup, Shabazz Napier and DeAndre Daniels had tremendous success against Lee in the pick and roll: Napier finished with 27 points and 6 assists, while Daniels scored a career-high 31 points and 12 rebounds.

— Be aware of Cummings, DeCosey, Pepper and Lee

— Make Cummings put the ball on the floor (9-39 shooting off the dribble this season)

— If he plays, exploit Anthony Lee in the post (opponents shooting 55% in the paint against him; 3.5 fouls in 29.5 minutes)

— Zone up pick and roll (“bigs” don’t pose threat as screeners)

— Temple beats you with outside shooting and points in transition. Not much interior production

FIRST MATCHUP (90-66, UConn)

UConn’s Pick and Roll Success

— UConn generated 8 pick and roll baskets in the first matchup, its most of any in-conference game this season. Shabazz Napier and DeAndre Daniels had tremendous success running the pick and roll. They forced Temple to pick its poison—either concentrate on the screener and thus give Napier an uncontested jumper, or concentrate on Napier and thus give Daniels/Giffey an open pick and pop attempt. Temple lacks players capable of staying with the quickness of Napier, and the versatility of Daniels.

They dared UConn to shoot out of the pick and roll, and the Huskies took advantage. UConn should do the same Thursday if Temple fails to adjust. If they play the ball handler tighter, Napier and Boatright should be able to use their quickness and get penetrate.

Video: Pick and Roll vs. Temple (Napier)

Video: DeAndre Daniels 31 points vs. Temple

— Daniels stepped into his shot with confidence, and didn’t hesitate. He scored a career-high 31 points.

Video: Tip Ins / Activity

— Daniels was active around the basket and didn’t get pushed around.

Temple’s Zone Defense

Temple plays zone defense on 11% of its possessions. In the first matchup, Temple’s guards gambled at the top of the zone, lunging for steals. This created openings for Napier and Samuel to slice the zone for easy penetration.

STARTERS/RESERVES:

PG — Will Cummings (6-2)
SG — Quenton DeCosey (6-5)
SF — Dalton Pepper (6-5)
PF — Anthony Lee (6-9)
C — Devontae Watson (6-10)

Reserves
G — Mark Williams (6-8)
F — Jimmy McDonnell (6-10)
G — Josh Brown (6-3)

—

STARTERS

#2 Will Cummings (JR) — 16 PPG, 3 RPG, 4.5 APG
PG, 6-2, 175

Strengths
— Temple’s primary ball handler
— Finishes at basket
— Catch-and-Shoot
— Polished Floater

Vulnerable
— Doesn’t dribble much on perimeter shots (50% of spot up/isolation attempts are one-or-two dribbles)
— Poor shooting off the dribble
— Favors left hand (pounds ball)

Video: 7 assists vs. SMU

Video: 20 points vs. UConn

Strengths

Catch-and-Shoot

Spot Up/Isolation Points

Polished Floater – don’t let him into this pocket of the court

Vulnerable

Off the Dribble shooting

Clearly wants to go left in spot up situations — make him go right

Pick-and-Roll Struggles

Shooting — mostly good at 3′s, no mid-range

#25 Quenton DeCosey (SO) — 14.8 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 40% spot up
SG, 6-5, 180

Strengths
— Gifted scorer, confident jump shot
— Athletic and long to finish in transition

Vulnerable
— Struggles defending pick-and-roll
— 5-28 from “foul line area” on offense (18%) — force him into this pocket of the court

Strengths

Scoring

Vulnerable

Finishing

Misses

Pick-and-Roll Defense

#32 Dalton Pepper (SR) — 17 PPG, 5 RPG, 39% three-pointers
SG, 6-5, 220

Strengths
— NBA range on jumper (72% of attempts are jump shots)
— Strong guard capable of finishing in transition
— Can get hot; gifted shooter

Vulnerable
— Struggles to finish around the basket
— Isolation defense (slow feet, can be exposed on pick and roll)
— Limited skills other than shooting

Video: 24 points vs. SMU

Video: Off Screens

— As mentioned, Pepper struggles to create in isolation. Thus, Temple often runs actions to get Pepper an open look. Against SMU, they ran him off screens to create separation for a catch and shoot attempt.

Strengths

Shooting

Vulnerable

Poor Isolation Defense

Finishing Struggles

Limited Skills

#3 Anthony Lee (JR) — 14 PPG, 9 RPG, 3.5 Fouls
PF, 6-9, 230

*Lee’s availability has not yet been announced.

Strengths
— Crashing Boards (active and athletic for tip-ins)

Vulnerable
— No Range
— Limited Post Game
— Defending Shooters (Slow on feet; Napier and Daniels should expose Lee in pick-and-pop)

Strengths

Crashing Boards (tip-ins)

Vulnerable

Limited Post Game

Poor Shooting

Poor Defense

#23 Devontae Watson (SO) — 2.5 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 22.3% Defensive Rebounding Percentage
PF, 6-10, 210

— 12 MPG on season; 20 MPG over last three games
— Box him out (not a great athlete, but a tall presence who is active on the glass)
— Not skilled, can’t let him outwork you
— Limited offensive game (no range)

Video: Crashing Boards