Owls

DAYTON, Ohio - Up next for Temple: Goliath. The ninth-seeded Owls will play top-seeded Indiana on Sunday for the right to advance to the Sweet 16. The Hoosiers thumped a game James Madison squad on Friday, 83-62. "They have no weaknesses," Temple coach Fran Dunphy said. "There is a reason they are a No. 1 seed. " Game time and TV was to be announced late Friday. Check Philly.com for updates. Temple's two games this year against top-tier teams resulted in a pair of losses, but by different means.

DAYTON, Ohio - Temple knows Indiana is a dominant team. The Owls have been hearing about the Hoosiers since the NCAA tournament seeds were released. "There's a reason why they are a first seed, because they're a terrific basketball program and team," Temple coach Fran Dunphy said of the East Regional's top team. "And I think coach [Tom] Crean has done a terrific job of putting them in that position. " But don't let the kind words fool you. The ninth-seeded Owls (24-9) expect to play the role of spoiler in Sunday's 2:45 p.m. East Regional third-round matchup here at University of Dayton Arena.

DAYTON, Ohio - Scootie Randall pounded his hands together and celebrated while exiting the court. Khalif Wyatt relished the thought of not having to answer for yet another first-round loss. Temple showed that it wasn't destined for another quick exit from the NCAA tournament. After nearly squandering an 18-point cushion, the ninth-seeded Owls held on for a 76-72 second-round East Regional victory over ninth-seeded North Carolina State on Friday at the University of Dayton Arena. Temple (24-9)

DAYTON, Ohio - There was no repeat performance. Temple, which on Friday recorded its second NCAA tournament win in six consecutive appearances, fell short of adding to that Sunday afternoon. Top-seeded Indiana overcame a 31-point performance by Temple quard Khalif Wyatt to defeat the ninth-seeded Owls, 58-52, here at the University of Dayton Arena. The loss denied Temple (24-10) its first Sweet 16 appearance since 2001 and eighth overall. Instead, Indiana (29-6) is the team that will face Syracuse on Thursday in the East Regional semifinal at the Verizon Center in Washington.

Scootie Randall must have a big game in order for ninth-seeded Temple to defeat top seed Indiana in Sunday's East Regional third-rounder at University Dayton Arena. When the swingman is on, the ninth-seeded Owls (24-9) are tough to beat. Let's face it: His backcourt mate Khalif Wyatt will get his points win or lose. But Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson and Jake O'Brien benefit when Randall scores. That's because teams have to account for Randall, leaving O'Brien open to make uncontested three-pointers or take advantage of mismatches.

Temple quarterback Clinton Granger has not received any promises, he said. Everything he wants, he said, he has to earn. And now the Washington High product nicknamed "Juice" is in position to earn the Owls' starting job. He entered Friday's first day of spring practice tied atop the quarterback depth chart with fellow senior Chris Coyer. Head coach Matt Rhule plans to have the Owls pass more this season, something that has raised the receivers' morale, Coyer said. Last season, Coyer threw for 946 yards, 8 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions.

With Temple to play Indiana Sunday in the NCAA tournament, Neil D. Theobald didn't pause Friday when asked where his loyalties lie. "There is no doubt on that one," the Temple president said from Dayton, Ohio, where he watched the Owls beat North Carolina State. "I'm all in for the Owls. " That's not surprising for a Temple president, except that this one used to be an Indiana Hoosier as recently as December. Theobald became Temple's president in January after working for 20 years in Indiana, most recently as the school's senior vice president and chief financial officer.

DAYTON, Ohio - What's different now compared with the 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2012 NCAA tournaments - which all ended in opening-round setbacks for Temple? "Other times we've been here, it seems like we might be happy just to be here," Owls senior guard Khalif Wyatt said. "I don't think that's the feeling this time around. I think guys are focused, and the main goal is to try to get a win, get some wins. " That was evident in the demeanor that Temple, seeded ninth in the East Regional, displayed at Thursday's news conference and in the locker room.

Dayton, Ohio - Scootie Randall pounded his hands together and celebrated while exiting the court. Khalif Wyatt relished the thought of not having to answer for yet another first-round loss.   Temple showed that it wasn't destined for another quick exit from the NCAA tournament Friday at the Dayton arena. After nearly squandering an 18-point cushion, the ninth-seeded Owls held on for a 76-72 second-round East Regional victory over ninth-seeded North Carolina State.   Temple (24-9)

DAYTON, Ohio - On Sunday, Fran Dunphy set the tone for his team's foray into the NCAA tournament. Moments after a roomful of fans and supporters roared approval at Temple's selection, Dunphy walked in and apologized. The coach was talking specifically about the team's quarterfinal loss to Massachusetts in the Atlantic Ten tournament. But the theme has carried all the way to Dayton, where the Owls prepared for Friday's game against North Carolina State. "I can't sit here today and tell you we have a fabulous NCAA record," Dunphy said.