Welcome to town, Temple. And to the crossroads. It's where Xavier sits each February, anxious about its postseason plans. But the Owls, who visit Cintas Center today for a nationally televised game, are unfamiliar with this uncertainty.

TEMPLE at XAVIER

• When: Noon today.   • Where: Cintas Center (10,250). • Records: XU 17-4 (8-2 A-10), Temple 14-10 (8-2). • TV: ESPN. • Radio: WLW-AM (700). TEMPLE Player-Ht-Yr-Avg David Hawkins -6-4-Fr.-11.0 Kevin Lyde -6-9-Jr.-12.7 Ron Rollerson -6-10-Jr.-3.7 Quincy Wadley -6-4-Sr.-14.1 Lynn Greer -6-1-Jr.-16.3 Coach: John Chaney (421-176, 19th season; 646-235 overall)   XAVIER   Player-Ht-Yr-Avg   Lloyd Price -6-5-Jr.-9.4   Kevin Frey-6-8-Jr.-11.6   David West-6-8-So.-18.1   Romain Sato-6-4-Fr.-11.1   Maurice McAfee-6-0-Sr.-9.6   Coach: Skip Prosser (144-61, seventh season; 161-74 overall)   BY THE NUMBERS   • 18: Games this season in which Greer has played every minute.   • 24.1: Percent shooting by XU in its 59-40 loss last year at Temple.

        Temple has made 11 consecutive NCAA Tournaments, 16 of the past 17. At 14-10 (8-2 Atlantic 10), it begins today a three-game tour of the A-10's best: at XU (8-2 A-10), at St.Joseph's (8-1) and at Massachusetts (8-2).

        “We know this stretch is pretty much going to determine our postseason (destination),” Temple junior guard Lynn Greer told reporters Thursday after a 91-58 beating of George Washington. “Temple always goes to the (NCAA) Tournament. We're never out of it.”

        Temple's problem is facing a team with both a ranking and resolve. The 24th-ranked Musketeers (17-4) are intent on rebounding from a heartbreaking loss Wednesday at St. Joe's.

        “We can't afford to lose, not if we're going where we want to go,” XU junior Kevin Frey said of XU's NCAA hopes.

        A loss would make this the first time in five seasons XU has multiple home losses; XU has won 57 of its last 60 home games. It would be just the second time XU suffered back-to-back losses since February 1996.

        And it would drop XU to fourth place in a league likely to gain only two or three NCAA bids.

        “It's too critical — at home, on national (TV),” XU sophomore David West said. “We need this one.”

        XU, 32nd in the RPI, is in a three-way tie for second in the A-10 with Temple (46 RPI) and UMass (74). Don't rule out the Owls. Two seasons ago, they started 6-6 but ended up in the Elite Eight.

        “I'd be very surprised if we could make (NCAAs),” Temple coach John Chaney said. “We've stumbled in games we could have won.”

        A seven-game losing streak, Temple's longest in 25 seasons, wasn't the worst of it.

        Chaney suspended freshman Carlton Aaron for mouthing off Dec.2 to assistant coach Dan Leibovitz; he's not expected back. Sophomore Ron Blackshear left the team Dec.18. Walk-on Damian Richburg was removed from the roster Jan.23.

        Temple dresses nine players and generally plays six. It was further hamstrung when senior guard Quincy Wadley (14.1 ppg) missed four games in December with a sprained left shoulder.

        But the Owls gradually have grown into Chaney's trademark matchup zone defense. They lead the league in scoring defense (62.2 ppg) for the seventh season in the past eight, and they're the A-10 leader in defensive field-goal shooting (40 percent) for the sixth consecutive season.

        “The game is played at their pace,” XU coach Skip Prosser said. “We've tried to speed them up, and you just can't.”

        While leading the country in minutes (39.5 average), Greer leads the A-10 in steals (2.3 avg.), assist-to-turnover ratio (2.8 to 1) and free throw percentage (85 percent).

        Temple leads the A-10 in turnover margin (plus-4.3), assist-to-turnover ratio (1.3 to 1) and made 3-pointers (7.6 avg.) Six-foot-9, 260-pound junior Kevin Lyde ranks third nationally in offensive rebounds (94 total).

        The Owls have won their past three games by an average of 30 points, shooting 49 percent from the field and 43 percent from 3-point range.

        “I think they're going to make a strong late-season run,” GW coach Tom Penders said in postgame interviews Thursday. “They've been a little snakebitten. But they're a good road team.”
       

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