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Broad Street Beat

City 6 Rankings: Week 3

11/30/2015

We here at the BSB have been slacking a bit on our City 6 Rankings to start the season. For those of you who noticed, we applaud you. Those who didn't, kindly visit the site more frequently.

We're already into the third week of the college basketball season and we've got a bit of movement since our preseason City 6 Rankings were released. Without further adieu...

Temple Cruises Past Delaware in Home Opener

11/29/2015

A 1-3 start was hardly how Fran Dunphy and his Temple Owls envisioned the season starting. After picking up three road losses – all against ranked opponents – Temple finally returned to Broad Street for their home opener against Delaware on Sunday.

The Owls would take advantage of the opportunity to play on a familiar floor, easily defeating Delaware 69-50 to improve to 2-3 on the young season.

“We are the kind of team that can compete at just about every level,” Dunphy said following the win. “But also, we could get our comeuppance at any level as well. So I’m a little bit concerned about that.”

Temple Falls to #16 Utah in Puerto Rico Tip-Off

11/22/2015

No team ever wants to start their season 1-3. While losing in November leaves plenty of time for recovery, it also puts added pressure on the remainder of the season.

Temple finds itself in the unenviable position of beginning the season 1-3 following a 74-68 loss to #16 Utah in the consolation game of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off on Sunday, but there is a silver lining. Each of Temple’s losses has come against a ranked opponent.

Two of those losses were winnable games, however, and it is unlikely Temple is happy with moral victories.

Late Bucket Lifts Saint Joseph’s Past Old Dominion

11/22/2015

Less than 24 hours removed from their first loss of the season – a 74-63 defeat at the hands of Florida – the Saint Joseph’s Hawks were right back at it, taking on Old Dominion in the consolation game of the Hall of Fame Tip-Off at Mohegan Sun Arena.

The Hawks would get right back on track against Old Dominion, who also picked up their first loss of the season on Saturday, winning a back-and-forth affair 66-64 on a Shavar Newkirk jumper with just one second remaining.

Saint Joseph’s Cruises Past Buffalo Behind Miles’ Career Night

11/18/2015

Through three games this season DeAndre’ Bembry has found himself in an unfamiliar position from a season ago. The junior forward has not had to do it all for Saint Joseph’s so far this season.

In stark contrast to last season, the Hawks are winning without Bembry needing to take control on both ends of the court.

That is because the Hawks have received contributions from a bevy of players, spreading the wealth and taking some of the burden off of Bembry.

On Wednesday night, it would be senior Isaiah Miles’ turn to take control. The 6-foot-7 forward would go off against Buffalo, tying his career highs for points and rebounds with a 24-point, 14-rebound effort to help the Hawks easily move past Bulls, 89-67.

“There’s a well-rounded team around me this year, so I don’t have to do as much as I did last year as far as everything: defense, offense, making plays for other people. I feel like I have all of that around me. I’m not really worried about my stats,” Bembry said. “I feel better not doing everything and we’re winning.”

Saint Joseph’s Shows Depth in Win Over Niagara

11/15/2015

One year ago, Saint Joseph’s found itself with one option to win: get the ball to DeAndre’ Bembry. That wasn’t a bad option, as Bembry averaged 17.7 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game, but it resulted in more losses than wins for a one dimensional Hawks team.

What a difference a year makes.

Just two games into the season, the Hawks appear to have quite a bit of depth and as a result, the pressure no longer lies solely on Bembry’s shoulders.

After scoring 23 points in the season opener against Drexel, Bembry got off to a much slower start in Sunday’s contest with Niagara, going scoreless on just one shot in the first half. One year ago, that likely would’ve resulted in Saint Joseph’s finding itself trailing at the half, but on Sunday, the contributions of others allowed the Hawks to head to the locker room with a 34-28 lead.

Bembry would find his groove in the second half, as the Hawks opened up a 24 point lead on their way to 73-62 win over Niagara, but with four Hawks scoring in double-figures for the second straight game, it became evident Bembry no longer needs to do it all for Saint Joseph’s.

“We have a lot of playmakers. Checco is another playmaker. Shavar is doing a lot better. We have people who are making plays for others, so that’s really the best thing,” Bembry said.

Temple Outmatched by #1 North Carolina

11/13/2015

Coming off a 26-11 season in 2014-2015, the hopes are high on Broad Street that the Temple Owls will break a two year drought from the NCAA Tournament.

The Owls would waste little time in being matched up with a team that will likely be in the place they would like to be come this Spring - the NCAA Tournament - as they faced off Friday night with #1 North Carolina in the Veterans Classic at the U.S. Naval Academy.

Temple would battle back and forth with the Tar Heels throughout the first half, but would begin to fade as the game wore on and be overpowered by UNC in a 91-67 loss.

City 6 Preview: Villanova Wildcats

11/12/2015

Last Season: 33-3 (16-2 Big East)

After securing a 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament in the 2013-2014 season, expectations were high for last season's Wildcats. They did an excellent job of living up to those expectations, winning their first 13 games of the season and becoming one of the last teams in the nation to lose their first game. Along the way, the Wildcats defeated both VCU and Michigan en route to winning the Legends Classic.

City 6 Preview: Drexel Dragons

11/11/2015

Last Season: 11-19 (9-9 Colonial Athletic Association)

The start of last season was disappointing, to say the least, for Drexel fans. With known stars like Damion Lee and Tavon Allen, the team was expected to be at least competitive. Instead, they dug themselves too deep of a hole to come out of. Granted, they played four pretty tough teams to start the season (@ Colorado, vs Saint Joseph's, vs USC, vs Miami). The Dragons lost each of those first four games, but then won two straight against an underrated Cornell squad, and Southern Mississippi.

City 6 Preview: University of Pennsylvania Quakers

11/1/2015

Last Season: 9-19 (4-10 Ivy League)

The Quakers have certainly seen better days. A storied program that plays in the Cathedral of College Basketball, Penn went just 9-19 a season ago for its third straight season with nine wins or less.

Following a 20-13 season in 2011-2012 - Jerome Allen's second full season as head coach - the Quakers began a rapid demise, culminating in Allen's dismissal at the end of last season.

Under new Coach Steve Donahue, the Quakers will look to rebuild and begin to contend in the
Ivy League again in the coming seasons.