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Temple tries to stay in zone

Compiled from Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 25, 2001

ATLANTA -- The peach basket. John Wooden. The Temple zone defense.

With every victory, the Owls elevate their vaunted matchup zone toward mythical proportions. But coach John Chaney doesn't want anyone getting too carried away.

Questions about the zone dominated Chaney's news conference Saturday to preview Temple's South Region final against Michigan State.

Chaney said his team's success has always been based around its offense, which has shot 45 percent in the tournament and committed only 21 turnovers. "Shooting well disguises things," he said.

Defense, on the other hand, has always been a work in progress.

"I've been playing defense here for four years now, and Coach still gets on me about making mistakes," guard Lynn Greer said. "I don't think anyone on this team has mastered defense 100 percent."

In essence, it's a 1-3-1 formation with guard Quincy Wadley challenging the ball-handler as he crosses midcourt. The forwards and center work the middle, and Greer, a 6-1 guard, roves the baseline.

"It's a tough thing to prepare for in one day," Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said. "There are a lot of zones played around the country, but not a lot played with the intensity and confidence that Temple plays. And there aren't many teams that play zone 99 percent of the time, either."

NOT THERE YET: Even though Michigan State is on the verge of making the Final Four for the third straight season, Izzo isn't ready to call the team a dynasty.

"To have a shot at going to three straight Final Fours, in this day and age, is incredible," he said. "But when you look at a Duke, UCLA, and you talk dynasties, I think that word can be used a little too fast. Duke went there seven out of nine times. What I'm shooting for is those kind of figures."

FATHER TIME: Wadley, a senior, talks of the team wanting to give something back to Chaney, who is 69 and is a victory away from the Final Four for the fifth time in his 19 years at Temple: "He's getting a little up in age. I don't know how much longer he's going to be here. Time's getting short. It'd be great, something spectacular, to do something for a man who's done so much. And not just a Final Four. A national championship."

TIP-INS: Temple's Greer has made all 27 of his free throw attempts in the tournament. Including the Atlantic 10 tourney, he is 49-of-50 at the line. ... Izzo is the winningest active coach in the tournament with a 15-2 record (.882).

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