What: Temple vs. Syracuse
When: Noon Saturday
Where: Madison Square Garden
TV/Radio: ESPN2/1210-AM
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Temple’s Khalif Wyatt recently topped 1,000 career points. (Philahoops file)
Heading into Monday evening’s game vs. Alcorn State, senior guardKhalif Wyatt needed just 13 points to reach the 1,000-career point milestone.
With the way Wyatt’s previous three games had went, it was unsure exactly when the Norristown, Pa., native would get there, but it was apparent that it would be done very shortly.
In those three games leading up to Monday night’s contest, Wyatt shot a combined 10-42 from the floor – an ice cold 24-percent for you math junkies out there.
In Wednesday’s loss vs. Canisius, Wyatt got in a groove early, hitting three straight floaters in the midst of the first half and it looked like Temple was assured a ninth win, but Canisius made it rain from downtown and stormed back to defeat the Owls. Wyatt still managed to score 17 points on 6-16 shooting and it was another step forward in getting out of his recent shooting woes.
The senior will look to continue his improved shooting on Saturday when the Owls travel to Madison Square Garden for a noon showdown against Syracuse.
Wyatt’s ability to score the basketball has never been questioned, and to see the 6-4, 210-pound guard struggle so greatly like he has was very surprising to those who have seen Wyatt grow over the last four years.
Coming into Temple as a freshman in 2009, Wyatt was known as cold-blooded scoring threat during his days at Norristown High School. As a junior in high school, Wyatt averaged 18 points per game; leading his squad to a 33-2 record and an appearance in the state championship game, earning second-team all-state honors.
During his senior campaign, Wyatt dropped 20 points per contest and was the lead man in Norristown’s Class AAAA District title and earned second-team all-state honors again.
As a freshman on North Broad Street, Wyatt was virtually nowhere to be found, averaging just under two minutes of playing time per game and seemingly was found on the end of the bench all too often. Not surprising, however, for a Fran Dunphy-coached ball club.
During his sophomore year, Wyatt began to blossom and showed glimpses of becoming that go-to option that had attracted college coaches during the recruiting process. Wyatt became a solid contributor on a team that was seconds away from an NCAA Sweet 16 appearance, averaging 10.1 ppg in just 20.7 minutes of action and was named the Atlantic 10 sixth man of the year.
Last season, Wyatt, alongside fellow guards Juan Fernandez and Ramone Moore, led Temple to a regular season A-10 championship and finished fourth in the conference in points per game with 17.1 average. Wyatt was a second-team all-conference selection, which provided lofty expectations as his senior year inched closer and closer.
Wyatt was dubbed as the preseason player of the year by numerous outlets like Philahoops and was a preseason all-conference first team selection prior to Temple’s final year in the conference. And although Wyatt’s scoring numbers are down from a season ago, he has taken on the role of more of a facilitator and leads the team in assists per game with 4.2. His efforts to become a better well-rounded player could be beneficial down the road.
Recent struggles have plagued the senior guard, but as a shooter, all you can do is continue to toss shots up, and attack the slump head on.
Wyatt is still feared as a deadly shooter that thrives on the big stage and has garnered high praise from opposing coaches including Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski, who called Wyatt a “crafty” and “outstanding player.”
Wyatt seemingly returned to form in Monday night’s win over Alcorn State by cashing in with 20 points, making him the 49th player in Temple history to surpass 1,000 career points.
“It’s been a long process,” Wyatt said. “I just wanna thank all of my teammates that I had til I got here and all my coaches. And I’m grateful for all of them and the accomplishment means a lot to me. I just wanna thank everybody who helped me get there.”
By becoming a part of such a distinguished club, Wyatt can now be linked in conversation with some of the great Temple guards we have seen over the years like Mark Macon, Aaron McKie, Guy Rodgers and Eddie Jones.
“(Khalif) is a very good scorer and he didn’t get a chance to play very much as a freshman so that’s probably the reason why it has lasted until his senior, relatively early in his senior year of course, but he’s a terrific scorer and hes a really good basketball player,” Dunphysaid when asked about Wyatt’s milestone. “In terms of it happening (Monday) tonight I had certainly expected him to get it because he is such a terrific scorer.”
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-Scouting Temple: The Owls are coming off a bad loss at home to Canisius on Wednesday night, a team that Temple should of very well beaten. The way Temple had been playing was not pleasing by any means and it seemed as though the Cherry and White were due for another loss sometime in the near future. … It does not get nay easier for the Owls as they are set to face an undefeated Syracuse team on the national stage. The last time Temple took the court on a neutral site vs. an undefeated team came on December 8th vs. Duke at the IZOD Center, which resulted in a 90-67 loss. … Basically every player must step up for Temple to have a shot at knocking off Syracuse, but as the winter season has approached, senior Scootie Randall has gone with the flow and has been ice cold from the floor in recent weeks. Randall went 3-16 from the floor vs. Canisius and Randall has to find a way to score the basketball and put his teammates in good position on Saturday for Temple to have any type of chance. Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson and Anthony Lee must also bring their “A” games to compete with the Orange, who are always known to be a physical squad. Syracuse is known for playing a ton of zone defense, so the Owls must hit outside shots when open looks are available. If Temple shoots 4-27 from three range like they did vs. Canisius, the Owls could get blown out. … Forward Jake O’Brien was one of Temple’s only bright spots on Wednesday night and scored a season-high 14 points in the loss. O’Brien is known to shoot 3-pointers, so expect to see him receive steady minutes. … Sophomore point guard Will Cummings has been progressing nicely in the last few games, so keep an eye on how he fairs against elite competition.
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-Scouting Syracuse: At 10-0, Syracuse’s record speaks for itself. Year in and year out, Jim Boeheim’s team is considered one of the top programs in the country and this season is no different. … Besides taking down then No. 20 San Diego State, the Orange’s schedule has not been difficult, but Syracuse ranks in the top ten nationally in points per game (83.4), rebounds per game (44.5), and assists per game (18.6) and has an astounding scoring margin of 25.6. … Syracuse is a unique team in the sense that the Orange do not have a single player averaging more than 16 ppg. 6-8 senior forward James Southerland leads the Orange with 15.9 ppg. Temple has had problems all season long defending the post, so Southerland will surely get his touches. … Senior guard Brandon Triche is a very talented guard and is averaging 14.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. At 6-4, 210, Triche has great size. … Sophomore guard Michael Carter-Williams is one of Syracuse’s most talented player and comes into Saturday’s matchup averaging a double-double. Carter-Willaims is averaging 12.3 points and 10.7 assists per game and also has great size at 6-6. After averaging just over 10 minutes per game as a freshman, Carter-Williams is averaging 32 mpg this season and has a very bright future. … Keep an eye on Rakeem Christmas, who hails from Philadelphia. Christmas is crazy athletic for a 6-9, 242-pound forward and is averaging 7.6 and 5 rebounds per game.
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-Sound Off: Who is your standout star for Saturday’s game at MSG?
Does Temple have any shot vs the Orange?
Will YOU be in attendance on Saturday?
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