Place an Ad Calendars Classified Forums Sports Weather

sptimes.com Text-only News sections Arts & Entertainment AP The Wire Business Citrus County Columnists Floridian Hernando County Hillsborough Letters Movies Neighborhood Times News Update North Pinellas North of Tampa Obituaries Opinion Pasco County South Pinellas Sports State Tampa Bay TV Times World & Nation  Find your local news section Weekly sections Brandon Times City Times Homes Outdoors Perspective Personal Tech Taste Travel Weekend Xpress Special Sections Arena football Buccaneers College football Devil Rays Lightning Police reports Schools Seniority Subscriber Services Subscribe Renew Help Advertise Place an ad In print Online Market Info Join Us Internships Scholarships Times Jobs Contact us

Greer put in a tough position

Temple coach John Chaney expects the most of his point guard, who cherishes the role.

By JOANNE KORTH

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 21, 2001

Lynn Greer is wise to the ways of the crusty old man who makes him wake up at 5 every morning for the privilege of being yelled at, cussed out and put down.

He falls for it anyway.

Greer is, at his core, a back-to-the-wall kid from Philadelphia who hates being told there is something he cannot do. It makes him mad. It makes him try harder.

It makes him succeed at the task the crusty old man suspected he could do all along. And it makes him the latest heir to one of the most demanding positions in college basketball: playing point guard for Temple coach John Chaney.

"It's very special playing point guard at Temple," said Greer, a 6-foot-1 junior. "There are only a select few Coach Chaney chooses to play point guard."

Temple, the No. 11 seed in the South Region, reached the Sweet 16 with upsets of No. 6 Texas and No. 3 Florida at the Louisiana Superdome last weekend. The Owls (23-12) face No. 7 Penn State (21-11) Friday at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

Greer will lead.

Chaney will work the reins.

"I do more negative motivation than most coaches because it works for me," said Chaney, renowned for 5 a.m. practices. "I'll tell Lynn, "This team is going to rip you up. They're going to double you, Lynn. They're going to tear your little body up.' I do that because the more I say, "You can't,' I want the kid to say, "Yes, I can.' "

Greer's predecessors are legendary, including Nick Brunson, Mark Macon, Aaron McKie, Eddie Jones and Pepe Sanchez, all former Atlantic 10 players of the year. Greer, a left-hander, is taking his place in line.

He was named the outstanding player of the Atlantic 10 tournament after averaging 22.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 7 assists, 1.7 steals and 3 turnovers in three games. His three free throws with 2.2 seconds left were the difference in a 77-76 semifinal win against George Washington.

In the NCAA Tournament, Greer has scored 39 and made 17-of-17 from the free-throw line. In five post-season games, he has made 39 of 40 free throws.

"We start our practice sessions off in special situations where we have to get the ball in his hands because he's a great foul shooter," Chaney said. "Lynn is used to that. He doesn't look to give it up."

Greer, who leads the Owls in scoring with 18.1 a game, leads the nation with 1,385 minutes played, foul trouble forcing him to sit 25 minutes -- all season. He played every minute of 27 games, including two overtime games.

He played 40 minutes against Florida, refusing to buckle under the Gators' full-court pressure.

"Greer is a tremendous player," UF forward Major Parker said. "He showed great composure down the stretch. He led his team well and kept his team under control. He didn't force anything."

He doesn't dare.

Temple tries to slow the pace of every game with its methodical half-court offense. Greer must know when to fastbreak, when to set up the offense, when to pass up shots and when to take them. And he must never lose confidence.

"Great point guards are guys who think about being in charge, being the ultimate team leader," said Chaney, in his 19th season at Temple. "It's someone who shoots well, knowing he will only get a few shots. I think I may be harder on point guards than other players."

Chaney was a point guard at Benjamin Franklin High in Philadelphia, Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona Beach and, briefly, with the Harlem Globetrotters before playing 11 seasons in the Eastern Professional League. He knows what he wants.

"There are times when I do things wrong on the court, and he may not say anything," Greer said. "But there are times when I'm out there and I think I'm doing good, and he may curse me out. So, yeah, he's extra hard on the point guard. But he's only trying to help me."

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright