The last time the Owls, who are off to their best start since the 1993-94 team won 16 of its first 18, played a No. 1 on campus was Feb. 1, 1996, when they lost to Massachusetts at McGonigle Hall. By 24.
The Owls, the two-time defending Atlantic 10 champions who were picked to finish fifth this season, just completed the program's first unbeaten December in 22 years with a 70-60 win at Northern Illinois on Wednesday. This team and that one went 7-0 for the month. The 1987-88 squad, of course, started 14-0 and eventually made it to No. 1.
The Owls are 2-12 against No. 1s. On Dec. 22, 1995, they beat Kansas in overtime, 74-66, in the Jimmy V. Classic at the Meadowlands. Nine days earlier, they had beaten No. 2 'Nova, then somehow lost their other five games that month. And on Feb. 20, 2000, they won at Cincinnati, 77-69.
Their last five losses to a top-ranked team have all been to Duke.
The last time any Big 5 school beat a No. 1 was Feb. 13, 2006, Villanova over Connecticut (69-64) at the Center. The last time No. 1 played here was Dec. 4, 2007, when Penn fell to North Carolina at the Palestra (106-71).
Kansas, however, did lose as a No. 2 here on Jan. 22, 2005, to 'Nova at the complex (83-62).
Ranked 18th, the Owls are in the Top 20 for the first time since 2001. This will be the seventh time they've been ranked when facing a No. 1 (1-5).
Both teams defend. The Owls are giving up 54.2 points a game, Kansas 56.6. The Owls are among the national leaders in turnovers, averaging 10.5. Kansas holds opponents to 34.6 percent from the floor. Only visiting Radford, in a 99-64 loss on Dec. 9, managed to get above 40. Against 'Nova, Temple shot just over 54. KU is at 52 for the season.
The Jayhawks beat Temple in Lawrence a year ago, 71-59.
