Keys to the Game: Rutgers vs. Temple (November 18, 2022)

 

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Rutgers (3-0) vs Temple (1-2)

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights are coming off three straight early season victories and five days of rest as they prepare to battle the Temple Owls (1-2) at the Mohegan Sun in Montville, CT (5 PM ET, ESPNU). They are about to face unpredictable Temple team as the Owls have a strange start to their season. The Owls dropped their season opener to Wagner but rebounded with a stunning victory over inner city rival and then-16th ranked Villanova last week. This past Tuesday, Temple hosted Vanderbilt and lost in overtime. In what has been deemed as one of Aaron McKie's best teams, Temple has two key players that can shoot and score quickly. Damian Dunn and Khalif Battle are leading the way for the Owls, and Rutgers is going to have to pay extra attention in shutting them down. Temple will be Rutgers' first true test of the season, and this is the first neutral site affair for the Scarlet Knights since November 2019 when they dropped a contest to St. Bonaventure.

In our season preview for Rutgers, we listed the Rutgers-Temple matchup as the first "key game" of the season for the Scarlet Knights. Rutgers will surely be tested tonight, and the Scarlet Knights might be without key players Caleb McConnell and Paul Mulcahy due to injuries. How will Rutgers will play without two of its best players? How do the Rutgers plan to guard Dunn and Battle? Can Cam Spencer and Derek Simpson step up and help deliver solid performances and lead the Scarlet Knights to victory?

KEYS TO THE GAME

• Defend the perimeter - Damian Dunn is a red hot 58% from beyond the arc, and if Rutgers is going to have success defensively they must shut down Dunn along the perimeter. Whoever is going to guard Dunn is going to have to force him into taking difficult, contested shots. Last year the Scarlet Knights were very successful in shutting down some of the Big Ten Conference's most prolific scorers but that task was usually given to Caleb McConnell. If Caleb McConnell is a no-go for tonight, one of the Rutgers' guards will have to step up. Other Temple players to defend along the perimeter include Khalif Battle and Zach Hicks.
• Get the ball down low to Cliff - Temple doesn't have the best interior defense and Rutgers should exploit the Owls by feeding the ball down low to Cliff Omoruyi, and let the big guy go to work on Jamille Reynolds. This is a game where Cliff has to takeover in the paint.
• Fast start, smartly build lead - Rutgers has to get off to a fast start and not fall behind early. Rutgers has to take smart high percentage shots and move possession quickly on the fast break. If Rutgers can do these things and build a lead, they must find ways to sustain their lead. 
• Pound the paint - Just like feeding the ball to Cliff, Rutgers has to pound the paint. Aundre Hyatt and Mawot Mag need to get involved and stay involved. Find ways to drive the lane to draw fouls early. Rutgers has proven that it can shoot at a high percentage from the charity stripe.
• Simpson and Spencer must step up - Simpson and Spencer are expected to be the floor generals and they have to make smart decisions. Find ways to score on the floor and distribute the ball among the team.