Following Temple basketball’s 2,000th win, revisit the program’s rich history
The Temple men’s basketball team won its 2,000th game in program history on Wednesday, Dec. 18, against Davidson by a score of 62-61 at the Liacouras Center. They are now just one of six programs to reach this milestone.
The Temple University men’s basketball team earned its historic 2,000th victory in dramatic fashion last night, defeating Davidson by a score of 62-61 at the Liacouras Center. The Owls are now only the sixth school to reach 2,000 wins in the history of NCAA Division I men’s college basketball.
“[I mean] 2,000 wins, it’s incredible,” Owls Coach Adam Fisher said. “This is a program win. To be the sixth school to ever do it, that’s why you want to come to Temple.”
A winning attitude has been the program’s lifeblood at the core of the program for more than 100 years. Since its first season in 1894, Temple has since made 33 appearances in the NCAA tournament, reaching the Elite Eight on eight occasions and appearing in the Final Four twice. The Owls won the first-ever National Invitation Tournament (NIT) in 1938 and again in 1969.
From one Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame basketball Coach Harry Litwack to another in John Chaney, the coaches of the Owls men’s basketball program have played a key role in helping Temple become one of the winningest schools in NCAA history. In reaching 2,000 wins, there have been countless memorable moments, many of which are still treasured by Temple’s former standout players.
“The Temple men’s basketball program has always been one of the premier Division I programs and reaching the 2,000-win milestone is the latest example of that,” said Arthur Johnson, vice president and the Debbie and Stanley Lefkowitz '65 Director of Athletics. “I’m so proud of our student-athletes and coaches, but I am also proud of our former Owls who paved the way for this historic achievement. This is a university accomplishment, through the efforts of countless student-athletes, coaches, administrators, staff and alumni who have proudly represented the cherry and white throughout the years, and I am eager to see the program continue to climb the win ladder, both this season and in future years to come.”
In recognition of Temple’s 2000th win, here are just some of the stories and memorable moments that continue to be cherished by former players and coaches.
Granger Hall is a three-time All-American and was inducted into Big 5 Hall of Fame in 1991.
Granger Hall is a three-time All-American and was inducted into Big 5 Hall of Fame in 1991.
Temple’s first win and first dance in the NIT title game
Temple’s first basketball victory came against the Purple Crescent Athletic Club in 1894, and marked the start of the Owls building a reputation as one of the top schools in men’s college basketball history.
In 1938, Temple won the first-ever national championship in the sport after they defeated Colorado 60-36 in the NIT, the forerunner of the NCAA tournament that started a year later. The cherry and white were led by Head Coach James Usilton, who collected 205 wins at Temple. Across Usilton’s coaching tenure, he produced notable players like Mike Bloom, Reds Rosan, Ed Boyle, Don Shields and Harry Litwack.
In the 1940s, Head Coach Josh Cody led the program to their 500th win in a victory against rival La Salle 47-43. Nelson Bobb, Ed Lerner, Angelo Musi and Jerry Rullo were among the 1940s players later inducted into the Temple’s Basketball Hall of Fame.
‘The Owl Without a Vowel’
Bill Mlkvy, known as the ‘Owl Without a Vowel,’ was Temple’s first official All-American in the 1950s. Mlkvy, who recently passed away on Dec. 12, will always be remembered for scoring a school record of 73 points in a single college basketball game, outscoring Wilkes College 73-69 while scoring 54 points straight, which remains an NCAA record. His No. 20 was retired by the school, and his banner hangs from the rafters of the Liacouras Center.
“Temple was like the Statue of Liberty. The mission of Temple was to educate people who didn’t have accessibility and the means to go to other schools,” Mlkvy said in an alum spotlight interview with Temple in 2014. “My ambitions and goals were to be the best basketball player in the United States and make All-American, which I did, and to be a dentist, which I accomplished.”
The Litwack Era
Known as The Chief, Litwack would puff his trademark cigars while leading the Owls to six NCAA appearances, including the Final Four twice (1956 and 1958). He also led Temple to win its second NIT championship in 1969. He produced All-American players, including Hal Lear, Guy Rodgers, Bruce Drysdale, Bill “Pickles” Kennedy and John Baum, along with stars Jim Williams, Clarence Brookins and Ollie Johnson.
Litwack’s 379 wins at Temple would later earn him the honor of being the first Owls coach inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
The Litwack years coincide with the start of the Big 5 games where many of Philadelphia's long-standing rivalries were contested at the historic Palestra, often featuring doubleheaders with fierce competition and heart-stopping thrills. Temple has won 28 Big 5 titles—second only to Villanova’s 29.
John Baum in three seasons with the Owls scored 1,544 points and grabbed 1,042 rebounds. He was the school’s all-time leading rebounder for 42 years and played professionally in the NBA and ABA.
John Baum in three seasons with the Owls scored 1,544 points and grabbed 1,042 rebounds. He was the school’s all-time leading rebounder for 42 years and played professionally in the NBA and ABA.
Temple reaches NCAA Final Four twice
In 1956, Temple advanced to their first Final Four, defeating Connecticut behind Lear’s 40 points and Fred Cohen’s 34 rebounds, an NCAA tournament record. After a loss to Iowa, the Owls bounced back in the third-place game to defeat SMU 91-80. Lear scored 48 points and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Tournament. Temple retired Lear’s No. 6 jersey in 2013.
In 1958, the Owls returned to the Final Four and were led by Rodgers, Kennedy, Jay Norman, Tink Van Patton, and Mel Brodsky. Rodgers led the Owls to another win in the national third-place game. He had his No. 5 jersey retired by Temple.
Cinderella run to the 1969 NIT championship
In 1969, it appeared that Temple’s 18-8 record would not be good enough to qualify for the NIT, but luckily, they were the last team in. They fought uphill battles to defeat Florida, St. Peter’s and Tennessee to gain a spot to face nationally ranked Boston College and their retiring coach, NBA legend Bob Cousy, in the NIT championship game at Madison Square Garden.
The Owls, who trailed at halftime, went on a 25-9 run in the second half to defeat Boston College 89-76, winning the program’s second NIT championship.
Temple’s captain Baum led the Owls with 30 points and 10 rebounds in one of the program’s greatest upsets, ending BC’s 19-game winning streak. Temple’s Joe Cromer added 19 points and Eddie Mast tallied 10 points and 22 rebounds. During the Owls celebration, an uproar broke out when BC’s Terry Driscoll was announced as the Most Valuable Player.
“The guys were disappointed that I didn’t get MVP, but it's special to be a part of history,” said Baum. “It was a sellout crowd, at the Mecca of Basketball, so we felt the pressure early. We came back roaring in the second half in a game no one expected us to win.”
Litwack said afterward that the win against Boston College was “the happiest day of my coaching career.”
The Casey era
Don Casey took over as the Owls head coach after Litwack retired in 1973. Casey guided the Owls to 151 wins, making three NIT appearances and one NCAA tournament appearance. He produced star players: Terence Stansbury, Granger Hall, Tim Claxton, Marty Stahurski and Rick Reed. During Casey’s tenure, the Owls achieved their 1,000th win in program history with a 55-43 victory against Drexel.
Chaney’s practice starts at 5:30 a.m.
As the architect of the match-up zone that stymied opposing offenses, John Chaney was hired as Owls’ head coach in 1982. He became known for life lessons, tough nonconference scheduling and his infamous 5:30 a.m. practices. He also had an infamous interaction with John Calipari at a press conference. It was just one example of Chaney’s reputation as a blunt, unapologetic, tough coach who demanded excellence on and off the court.
Chaney won 516 games at Temple, reaching the Elite Eight five times. His first recruit Nate Blackwell recalled his most memorable Temple moments: His first year when he faced a North Carolina team led by Michael Jordan in the NCAA Tournament and his senior year, where he led the Owls to a 32-4 record in 1987.
Nate Blackwell is the fourth-highest scorer in Temple’s history with 1,708 points.
Nate Blackwell is the fourth-highest scorer in Temple’s history with 1,708 points.
“Some people just don’t know that Temple has been in the top six in all-time wins in college basketball for years, so the fact we are on the list fills my heart with pride,” said Blackwell.
“The physical part of Chaney’s practices was not as crazy as you would think. We were only out there a couple of hours and if you know Coach, he talked for half it,” Blackwell laughed. “He instilled his philosophy in us. The No. 1 thing he demanded was no turnovers.”
The Owls are No. 1 in the country
In 1988, the Owls had their winningest season with a 32-2 record, finishing as the top-ranked team in the country for the first time in the school’s history. The Owls’ roster featured a collection of stars, including Mark Macon, Howard Evans, Mike Vreeswyk, Tim Perry, Ramón Rivas and Duane Causwell.
“What made our team so special is that we were a family,” said Macon, who exploded onto the college basketball scene by averaging 20.6 points per game in his first year. “Chaney’s mentality was he didn’t care who we came up against. We would play anybody in the country.”
Macon most remembers when Temple defeated Villanova 98-86 before a sold-out building at McGonigle Hall. He led the team with 31 points despite having the flu that caused him to lose 25 pounds. Evans dished out 20 assists and scored 17 points. That year, the Owls beat other top schools like North Carolina, UCLA, West Virginia and Georgetown before losing to Duke in the 1988 Elite Eight.
In 1991, Temple returned to the Elite Eight with Macon and a new cast of Owl legends: Mik Kilgore, Donald Hodge, Mark Strickland and Vic Carstarphen, the current mayor of Camden, New Jersey.
Macon’s No. 12 jersey became the second number retired by Temple in 1999. He is the program’s all-time leading scorer with 2,609 points.
“It’s an honor as a person who came from a small town in Saginaw, Michigan, that Temple gave me an opportunity to make big strides in the big city of Philadelphia,” said Macon. “It was a commitment to success.”
More Owls of the early 90s
The Owls of the early 90s also featured Eddie Jones, Aaron McKie and Rick Brunson, all of whom made a run to the Elite Eight in 1993. Derrick Battie started as a true first-year player on the team. His son Dillon is currently playing his first year at Temple.
The Owls’ 1993 team defeated Missouri, Santa Clara and Vanderbilt before losing in the Elite Eight to a star-studded Michigan team of future NBA legends Chris Webber, Jalen Rose and Juwan Howard along with Jimmy King and Ray Jackson, known as the Fab Five.
Forward Marc Jackson was another Temple star of the 90s. He grew up in North Philadelphia, so it was a homecoming for him after transferring from VCU to Temple in 1995.
Jackson’s favorite Owls’ memory was defeating No. 2 Villanova 62-56 and nine days later, beating No.1 Kansas 74-66 in overtime at the inaugural Jimmy V Classic.
“It was a valiant war against Kansas. We played the top three ranked teams in one month that year and beat Duke later in the season,” he said. “I tell everybody to this day Villanova may get the better of us some years but I'm undefeated against them.
“My childhood friends and future NBA players Alvin Williams and Jason Lawson played on that Nova team, so I remember beating them very well,” Jackson laughed.
The Pepe Plunge to Temple’s 1,500th win
The Owls of 1997–2001 were led by Rasheed Brokenborough, Lynn Greer, Pepe Sanchez, Mark Karcher, Lamont Barnes, Quincy Wadley, David Hawkins, Alex Wesby and Kevin Lyde.
The name Pepe Sanchez still carries weight with Owls fans. He helped rally the Owls from a late 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter to upset No. 5 Michigan State 60-59 at the Liacouras Center. Sanchez surged into the paint and drew a foul on Mateen Cleaves with 0.5 seconds left in regulation. The Argentine made the first throw before plunging backward to the floor in disbelief after he made the second free throw to seal the win. The victory was even more significant as it marked Temple’s 1,500th win.
Temple upsets No. 1 Cincinnati in 2000
Greer, who currently serves as the chief of staff for Coach Fisher, also played a key role in many of the program’s marquee wins. Greer went 5-for-5 from 3-point range in the first half when the Owls upset No. 1 Cincinnati 77-69 on the road in 2000. Sanchez, who was not expected to play due to a high ankle sprain, controlled the game at point guard and Karcher led the team with 28 points. The win marked Chaney’s 400th victory at Temple.
“The 2,000 wins make me think of a family atmosphere,” said Greer, who scored 2,099 points at Temple. “Playing with so many good players, obviously a Hall of Fame coach, but the assistant coaches like Blackwell and Dan Leibovitz and managers like Brian Kulp were also a big part of those wins.”
Greer said his favorite wins at Temple were both in 2002. The first was when he tallied 36 points and 9 assists to help the Owls overcome a 16-point halftime deficit to defeat St. Joe’s 87-84 in a thrilling double-overtime Big 5 game at the Palestra. The other was one of the best individual performances in Owls’ history; he scored 47 points in a 70-67 double-overtime win on the road against Wisconsin.
Greer also recalled when his team, as an 11th seed, made an unexpected run to the NCAA Elite Eight with victories against Texas, Florida and Penn State in 2001. That same year, Chaney became the second Owls coach inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
“Chaney’s zone was so tricky that we would be able to tell within the first five minutes if a team wasn’t prepared,” said Greer, whose son Lynn III now plays for Temple. “We ran through Texas and Florida by large margins and then beat a local Penn State team in the Sweet 16 before Michigan St. ended our run.”
Before the end of Chaney’s tenure, Temple upset No. 6 George Washington (GW) 68-53 in the Atlantic 10 (A-10) tournament. The Owls’ roster was led by Mardy Collins, Mark Tyndale, Antywane Robinson, Dustin Salisbury and Wayne Marshall. They snapped GW’s nation-longest win streak at 18 games. Collins is remembered as one of the program’s best scorers, finishing his career with 1,991 points.
The Dunphy era
Fran Dunphy was filled with mixed emotions when he took over the Temple reins as head coach after Chaney retired in 2006.
“I was scared to death. The task was daunting, but he [Chaney] made me feel so comfortable in succeeding that he took away a lot of my fears and apprehension,” said Dunphy. “He would call me often after games and I was scared to death if we had too many turnovers.”
Dunphy led the Owls to 270 wins, three straight A-10 tournament championships and the NCAA Tournament eight times. His Owl teams triumphed against nationally ranked teams 18 times, including Duke, Kansas, Villanova, Syracuse, Connecticut, Florida State, West Virginia, Tennessee, Xavier, Georgetown and Southern Methodist.
“Different years we had just some amazing victories,” Dunphy added. “They were of critical importance to our program and made us all feel good that we could compete at the highest level.”
Dionte Christmas, one of Chaney’s last recruits, became one of Temple’s most prolific scorers under Dunphy, amassing 2,034 points in his career. Christmas notably scored 35 points in a Temple upset past No. 8 Tennessee 88-72 in 2008.
“It was amazing being recruited by a legend like John Chaney,” Christmas said in an interview with Temple Athletics in 2024. “I decided to stay under Dunphy. He was a leader and helped push us over the top that [first] season.”
In Dunphy’s winningest season, he led the Owls to a 29-5 record in the 2009–2010 season. They beat No. 3 Villanova 75-65 in front of 8,500 fans, many of whom stormed the Liacouras Center court to celebrate the upset. Temple’s Juan Fernandez drained seven 3-pointers, scoring 33 points, and Ryan Brooks added 20 points.
“Those guys played with great confidence, a great feel for the game and understanding the moment,” said Dunphy. “It was great to be associated with that group and all of the other teams I coached, they all had their own special nature to them.”
Lavoy Allen, Ramone Moore, Khalif Wyatt, Quenton DeCosey, Micheal Eric, Scootie Randall, Will Cummings, Quinton Rose and Shizz Alston were the other key starters who led to many Temple wins under Dunphy. Allen compiled 1,147 rebounds in four seasons, becoming the program’s all-time leading rebounder. Wyatt, who was known for his scoring prowess, now serves as the director of player development on Coach Fisher’s staff. Wyatt added that his favorite moment was when he scored 31 points in a victory against North Carolina State 76-72 in the 2013 NCAA Tournament.
“Temple is a special place because of the opportunities it has given to many others. It’s a special winning tradition,” Wyatt said. “From the moment, I’ve been here to now, it’s changed my life and my family’s life.”
Coach McKie secures the No. 1 upset of 2023
In a homecoming for McKie, he replaced Dunphy as coach in 2019. McKie’s Owls shocked the college basketball world when they beat top-ranked Houston 56-55 in 2023. His Owls were a 19.5-point underdog on the road facing a Houston team who had lost just once.
In an uphill battle the Owls held on until the final buzzer. McKie was doused with water by his players in a locker room celebration following his first win over a top 10 opponent.
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