March 4, 2002

By ROB MAADDI
AP Sports Writer

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A month ago, John Chaney was headed toward his worst season at Temple. Now, he has a chance for his 13th straight trip to the NCAA tournament.

After losing 12 of their first 18 games, the Owls have won nine of 10, including Sunday's thrilling 87-84 double-overtime victory over crosstown rival Saint Joseph's.

The Owls (15-13) enter this week's Atlantic 10 tournament with the top seed in the East Division. If they win it again this season, they'll earn an automatic berth in the NCAA tournament. If not, Chaney doesn't think his team will get an at-large bid.

"There's no way I could believe they would come around," Chaney said Monday. "There were no signs, no indications at all. They've just begun to play like I expected them to play in the middle of December or the first part of January. But it could be too little, too late, as I see it."

Temple was almost in a similar situation last season, heading into the Atlantic 10 tournament with an 18-12 record and a four-game winning streak. The Owls beat Massachusetts in the tournament championship, advanced to the NCAA's as a No. 11 seed and reached the South regional final before losing to Michigan State.

Along the way, they overcame a seven-game losing streak - the worst in Chaney's 20 years at the school - and the dismissal of two players who weren't happy with their roles - sophomore guard Ron Blackshear and freshman forward Carlton Aaron.

With the return of three starters - Lynn Greer, Kevin Lyde and Alex Wesby - Temple entered this season at No. 16. Chaney said the Owls should've been 50th, and then they played like it, losing eight of their first 11.

But Chaney, who was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame last summer, turned the team around and it's peaking at just the right time.

"They are playing with a lot of rhythm, getting a feel for each other, knowing where each other is on the floor," said Chaney, who avoided his first losing year since going 14-15 his first season, in 1982-83. "But I'm still apprehensive."

Temple opens the A-10 tournament on Thursday against the winner of Wednesday's game between La Salle and Fordham. Greer made sure the Owls arrive on a high note by making two crucial shots against Saint Joe's on Sunday.

Playing his final Big Five game, Greer hit an off-balance 3-pointer with three seconds left in regulation to force overtime. Then he nailed a 15-footer with 1.2 seconds remaining in the second overtime to snap a tie secure the victory.

"I don't want to sit back and watch it happen, knowing I could've done something about it," Greer said. "I'd rather take it into my own hands."

Now, Temple's tournament hopes are in its hands. If the Owls win three more games, they won't have to worry about the NCAA selection committee giving them an at-large bid. If not, they could be relegated to the NIT for the first time since 1989.