By Joey Papania
LSU Sports Information
(1/6/00)
It was no surprise. Head coach John Brady needed to compensate for some major losses entering the 2000-2001 season.
Jabari Smith finished his collegiate eligibility and entered the NBA draft. Stromile Swift left LSU early and was selected as the second overall pick in the 2000 NBA draft. And Brad Bridgewater, the Tigers’ projected starting center, suffered a season-ending knee injury prior to the start of the 2000-2001 season.
The losses accounted for almost 40 percent of last season’s points and rebounds, and the Tigers lost 134 out of the total 180 blocked shots from the 1999-2000 season. It was no surprise that LSU would have to look elsewhere to fill the void.
Enter Collis Temple, III. The sophomore guard has provided an unexpected lift and has become a consistent scoring threat in this season’s guard-oriented offense. But this new role was never a surprise for Temple.
“I came in expecting to have to be a scorer, to shoot the ball more, to shoot at a high percentage and to shoot well at the free throw line,” Temple said. “I’m really happy with the role that I am playing right now. It is similar to the role I played in high school. I was a scoring threat in high school.”
The 6’6″ guard has proven his scoring ability so far this season. He has seen action in all 10 of the Tigers’ games this year and has started in all but one. He has also scored in double figures in every game with the exception of the Dec. 20 match-up against Arizona, the Tigers’ only loss.
Temple’s current 15.7 points per game average ranks him second on the team and seventh in the SEC. More impressive has been his accuracy from the field. He is currently shooting 52 percent from the field and 38 percent from beyond the arc, both stats landing him in the SEC’s top 10 in each category.
His numbers have marked a dramatic turnaround from last year’s four points per game average. Temple has already made 13 more field goals (50) and scored 26 more points (157) this season than he did in 33 games last year.
“My role has changed a lot since last year, but I’m still approaching practice and games the same way I always have,” he said. “I think I have adapted to that role well, and I have really enjoyed stepping up to the plate and becoming a major contributor this year.”
One of his biggest contributions, especially in Brady’s system, has been his production from the free throw line. Temple has helped the Tigers make 166 free throws so far this season, eight more than LSU opponents have attempted, a philosophy Brady feels is critical to the success of any basketball team.
Earlier this season, Temple accumulated a streak of 19 straight made free throws. During that stretch, he went three straight games without missing a free throw (9-9 vs. Norfolk State, 2-2 vs. Houston, 5-5 vs. Texas Southern). He is currently leading the team with an 82.7 percent effort from the charity stripe.
Although the sophomore has taken tremendous strides from a year ago, he still feels his game needs improvement.
“I don’t think I am rebounding the ball as well as I should be, I need to get my rebounds up to about six or seven a game,” Temple admitted. “I have accepted the role as a rebounder, I’m going to go to the boards whenever I can and try to get as many rebounds as I can. In high school, rebounding as a guard was my strength.”
At 6’6″, Temple has a height advantage on almost every guard he will match-up against. In order to compete in the SEC, the Tigers will have to rely heavily on Temple to hit the boards. He is one of the tallest active members on this year’s team.
LSU will also have to rely on Temple’s leadership abilities. He is one of the most vocal members on this young Tiger team.
“I’ve always thought of myself as a leader,” Temple said. “Even when I was a red shirt freshman, I always approached practice as someone who gets the guys going.”
LSU tore through its early non-conference schedule to the tune of a 9-1 start entering conference play. LSU should expect to be the target of revenge in the almost every SEC match-up where the Tigers amassed a 12-4 record a year ago and captured the 2000 SEC regular season title.
LSU handed every team in the SEC Western Division at least one loss on their road to the Sweet 16 in 1999-2000. In the two games that LSU faced Alabama last year, the Tigers outscored the Crimson Tide 171-126, including a 33-point victory at Alabama.
But Temple does not think the fact that the Tigers will be targeted will deter the team or him from achieving this year’s goals.
“I think we are a team that has a legitimate shot at winning 18 to 20 games and making the NCAA Tournament this year,” said Temple. “Personally, I think I have a chance at being named All-SEC if I can continue to improve the level I am playing at. I think I also have a shot at making the SEC Academic Honor Roll this year and maybe even Academic All-American.
So far, so good for the young Baton Rouge product. The Tigers’ biggest test begins now with the start of the SEC season. If the Tigers hope to continue the early success of this season, it will be because of the hard work and dedication of players like Collis Temple, III.