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The coach Adam Fisher era is off to a 3-0 start for the Temple Owls as the program looks to build even more momentum on Saturday when they host the Columbia Lions.
Columbia Lions vs. Temple Owls (-11.5, 148)
What’s worked well for Temple to begin the season is executing the fundamentals and little things as the team entered Friday 23rd in the nation in fewest turnovers per offensive play and tied for 17th in free throw shooting percentage at 82.2%.
While Columbia on the other end has a 2-2 record overall, both wins came against teams outside of the Division I ranks with the crux of their issues against Division I competition coming on the glass.
Columbia entered Friday 312th in the country in rebound rate in games involving Division I opponents and 314th in offensive rebound rate, getting a rebound on just 19.4% of their missed shots.
The lack of second chances are a big reason Columbia entered Friday ranked 301st in the nation in points scored on a per possession basis after ranking 352nd in this category a season ago.
Additionally, the interior play allows opposing offenses to be efficient inside the arc as Columbia as of Friday was 287th in America in opponent 2-point shooting percentage after ranking 311th in this category a season ago.
With Columbia’s numbers artificially inflated from beating up on two non-Division I teams and Temple doing the little things to win games, Columbia’s eight game road losing steal, with all eight losses coming by at least nine points and seven by at least 10 points, will continue.
The Play: Temple -11.5