Saturday preview: Undefeated Temple set to battle No. 2 Duke

What: Temple (6-0) vs. Duke (8-0)

When: 3:15 p.m. Saturday

Where: IZOD Center, East Rutherford, N.J.

TV/Radio: ESPN/1210-AM

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The IZOD Center will be one jubilant arena on Saturday afternoon when two undefeated teams take the national stage in what could be one of the most exciting games thus far of the 2012-13 season.

The Temple Owls (6-0) are off to their best start since the 1987-88 season and the Duke Blue Devils (8-0) come into Saturday’s contest equally as hot and are currently ranked second in the country.

The Blue Devils, led by legendary head coach Mike Krzyzewski, who is the all-time winningest coaches in the history of college basketball, have already defeated three top-five teams so far this year. And they are looking for revenge on Temple after the Owls stunned then-No. 3 Duke 78-73 last Jan. 4 at the Wells Fargo Center.

Temple is looking to defeat a top-10 team for the fifth consecutive season, all of which came in the city of brotherly love. Dating back to 2009, Temple upset No. 8 Tennessee, No. 3 Villanova, No. 9 Georgetown and No. 3 Duke.

Duke and Temple have met 28 times in their respective histories with Duke claiming 18 of those games. Home-court advantage aided the Owls in last season’s thriller, but this game will be played at a neutral site in East Rutherford. When meeting at a neutral site, Duke has beaten Temple in six of those seven matchups.

Temple is coming off an impressive 76-61 victory over the Villanova Wildcats on Wednesday night, their first win at the Pavilion since 1990. It was the Owls’ biggest test of the young season, but that pales in comparison to what the Owls face on Saturday afternoon.

“Now we have to get ready for a terrific basketball team and program on Saturday,” Owls coachFran Dunphy said after Wednesday’s victory over Villanova. “It will be a great opportunity for us, a great challenge but we know how good they are.”

Duke is arguably the best team in the country, and is off to an 8-0 start for the fourth time in the last six years.

Temple must get key contributions from virtually every player that is going to see minutes in order to stick with a lethal Duke team that is big, fast, strong and highly explosive.

Just was the case on Wednesday night, Saturday’s matchup will feature two of the game’s best and most well respected coaches in Dunphy and Krzyzewski. The two played together on a United States Army touring team in 1971.

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-Scouting Temple: Of all the games the Owls will play this season, you have to think that this is the game where Temple’s depth will be extremely beneficial. Senior guard Khalif Wyatt played a huge factor in last year’s win over the Blue Devils, scoring 22 points on 8-12 shooting.  … Senior forward Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson was also a huge player in last season’s meeting, scoring 17 points. Hollis-Jefferson is a big, strong body that matches up well with some of Duke’s post players. … At 6-6, senior swingman Scootie Randall gives the Owls great size around the perimeter. Randall is an above-average defender who can rebound very well. … Sophomore forward Anthony Lee has been one of the Owls’ best players so far this season, but that is when he is able to stay out of foul trouble.

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-Scouting Duke: Duke features one of the best overall players in in senior forward Mason Plumlee. Plumlee is averaging 19.6 points per game along with 11 rebounds. Plumlee is also very athletic for 6-10, 235 pounds. He can run the floor exceptionally well for his size, so the matchup between Plumlee and Lee will be one to keep your eyes on. … Senior guard Seth Curry has an arsenal of offensive capabilities. Just like his older brother, Stephen, Seth can shoot from anywhere on the floor and is averaging 15.1 ppg this season. Curry did not play in Duke’s blowout win over Delaware, as he has been battling a shin injury for most of the year. … At 6-11, 230 pounds, senior forward Ryan Kelly causes opponents fits. If left open, Kelly can knock down threes and has a sweet stroke from beyond the arc. Kelly’s post game is not too shabby either. He is considered a stretch four, much like Temple’s Jake O’Brien and is good in the post when his back is to the basket. Expect to see a lot of O’Brien because they match up very well. … Freshman guard Rasheed Sulaimon provides Duke with a youthful, energetic boost. Sulaimon was the top-ranked shooting guard in the 2012 class, according to scout.com. He is very flashy, and an aggressive scorer that can sink threes as well.

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-Sound off: Is anybody smelling an upset?