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Tuesday, March 27
Two big reasons why Owls aren't out
By Seth Wickersham
ESPN The Magazine
ATLANTA -- Pity poor Big Lover and Philly Cheesesteak. Pity them, but not because they are two reasons why Temple has a shot to send defending champ Michigan State home on Sunday. And don't pity them because they play key roles in the tournament's most maddening zone defense.
No, pity them because they do the dirty work uglier than almost everyone around, and don't think their teammates won't let them hear about it nightly.
"Big Lover" is Kevin Lyde, while Ron Rollerson goes by "Philly Cheesesteak". Both play center for the 11th-seeded Owls. Put them together and you have three things:
A half a ton in weight.
Ferocious competition for seconds in the postgame meal.
A huge headache for Spartans centers Zach Randolph and Andre Hutson.
"I don't know who they've played against," says Temple guard David Hawkins, "but them two's some big boys he's gonna meet."
Big Lover and Philly Cheesesteak won't concede anything to Michigan State. In fact, they rarely concede anything -- lunch included.
Lyde -- as in wide -- is the starter. All the 6-foot-9, 260-pound junior did in the Owls' 84-72 upset of Penn State on Friday night was score 13 points, clean the glass for 13 rebounds, block four shots and help key a 17-2 run that put the game away. Rollerson is a ball of cholesterol at 6-10 and 300-plus, who throws his tremendous butt around at whomever he's guarding. The thought of the two of them rubbing against each other in practice provokes a fear of a grease fire.
On the court, it's hard to lose sight of them but easy to not notice. With the yo-yo handles and smooth touch of guard Lynn Greer, Alex Wesby and Quincy Wadley, the flash sometimes takes over. But with that flash comes a chance for the big uglies to emerge.
"Some teams look inside first, but Temple looks to the perimeter first," says Wake Forest coach Dave Odom, whose team beat the Owls earlier in the season. "But that gives their inside people opportunities to score. It can surprise you."
Could there be any more surprises out of John Chaney's team, which has the 69-year-old coach 40 minutes from his first Final Four? The Atlantic 10 champs have turned the 2001 NCAA Tournament upside down and shaken its change out with upsets of Texas, Florida and Penn State.
"Just cruising along," says Rollerson, munching on a postgame sandwich. "Everyone brings up that we're Cinderella, but I don't buy any of that."
No one is.
"Not everyone can be a No. 1 seed," says Hawkins. "Does that means you're not supposed to win at all?"
Not only is Temple upsetting teams, it's blowing them out. The combination of prowess outside and grit inside has turned the Owls into quick starters who have built halftime leads of 19, 20 and 18 points. They'll need a similar start against the Spartans, who didn't start so hot in a 77-62 win over Gonzaga.
With a lead, Lyde and Rollerson might even grow larger against Michigan State. Spartans coach Tim Izzo knows his team needs to get the ball down low early and keep long jumpers to a minimum.
"We're one of the worst 3-point shooting teams," he admits. "We need to get the ball inside."
Although Rollerson and Lyde get themselves in position for rebounds, they'll have to work harder against Randolph and the Spartans, who are out-rebounding tournament opponents by almost 20 boards a game. And they're facing a hot Hutson, who scored 19 points in the Spartans win over the Zags.
How do the Owls counter? With their wicked "machup zone". Temple's freakish defense will put Greer and Wadley on State's Charlie Bell and Jason Richardson. Although the Owls' pair lacks size, they're quick and well-conditioned -- both played 40 minutes against Penn State. Greer, who penetrated at will to score 21 points against Penn State, has played 40 minutes in 28 games this season.
"I guess I'll just have to rest up tonight," he says. "I'm used to playing a lot of minutes at this point."
But if Michigan State is going to look inside first, it'll have to do looking right at Lyde and Rollerson. Although Randolph is no twig at 6-9, 270, the freshman will be challenged every time by two vets. And the 6-8, 240-pound Hutson will be battling two defenders used to throwing their weight around.
"We're not afraid of Michigan State," Rollerson said. "They're national champs, but there's no reason we can't do well against them."
Seth Wickersham covers college basketball for ESPN The Magazine.
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Quincy Wadley would love to get John Chaney a Final Four appearance. (Courtesy: NCAA Prod.)