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2019-20 American Athletic Conference preview: After UConn, the league is wide open

By Russell Steinberg

ALBANY, NY - MARCH 29: Connecticut Huskies Guard Crystal Dangerfield (5) dribbles the ball past UCLA Bruins Guard Japreece Dean (24) defending during the first half of the game between the UCLA Bruins and the University of Connecticut Huskies on March 29, 2019, at the Times Union Center in Albany NY. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ALBANY, NY - MARCH 29: Connecticut Huskies Guard Crystal Dangerfield (5) dribbles the ball past UCLA Bruins Guard Japreece Dean (24) defending during the first half of the game between the UCLA Bruins and the University of Connecticut Huskies on March 29, 2019, at the Times Union Center in Albany NY. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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HARTFORD, CT – FEBRUARY 18: Temple Owls Forward Mia Davis (25) and UConn Huskies Forward Napheesa Collier (24) battle for the rebound during the game as the UConn Huskies host the Temple Owls on February 18, 2018 at the XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Williams Paul/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
HARTFORD, CT – FEBRUARY 18: Temple Owls Forward Mia Davis (25) and UConn Huskies Forward Napheesa Collier (24) battle for the rebound during the game as the UConn Huskies host the Temple Owls on February 18, 2018 at the XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Williams Paul/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Temple Owls
Predicted Finish: Fifth

Key returners (Last year’s stats):

F Mia Davis, 6’0, Jr.: 18.9 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 47% FG
G Marissa Mackins, 5’8, So.: 8.7 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 2.4 APG
F Shantay Taylor, 6’3, Sr.: 5.4 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 1.0 BPG, 57% FG
F Lena Niang, 6’2, GS: 5.0 PPG, 2.9 RPG
G Emani Mayo, 5’8, Jr.: 4.7 PPG, 3.4 RPG
F Alexa Williamson, 6’1, So.: 4.7 PPG, 3.8 RPG
C Shannen Atkinson, 6’4, Sr.: 10 GP, 2.9 PPG, 4.6 RPG

Biggest losses:

G Alliya Butts, 5’4: 15.2 PPG, 4.8 APG, 2.6 RPG
G Desiree Oliver, 5’7: 5.5 PPG, 3.4 RPG

Newcomers:

G Ashley Jones, 5’7, RS-So.
G Asonah Alexander, 5’10, Fr.
G Rayniah Walker, 5’10, Fr
F Destiny Samuel, 6’2, RS-Fr.

Head coach: Tonya Cardoza, 12th season

Tonya Cardoza spent 14 years as an assistant under Geno Auriemma and then immediately took Temple to three straight NCAA Tournaments as soon as she took over the job in 2008. The last eight seasons haven’t been quite as easy, however, as the Owls have reached the tournament just once since the American was formed. An 11-win 2019-20 season was the worst of Cardoza’s tenure and the Owls’ third-straight year missing the postseason.

Key non-conference games:

Nov. 28 vs. North Carolina (Cancun)
Nov. 29 vs. Creighton (Cancun)
Dec. 7 vs. South Carolina
Dec. 10 vs. Villanova

Outlook:

Any team that loses its star point guard, in this case Alliya Butts, is going to go through its struggles the next year. Temple is no exception but is still in position to absorb the blow. Marissa Mackins first looked up to Butts then played alongside her, and as a freshman, became a key to Temple’s backcourt success. She’ll have to do a lot more this year, whether it’s her responsibility to run the point or knock down shots — she can do both rather well. It’ll help that all-conference first-teamer Mia Davis is back as a walking double-double and the highest returning scorer in the league. Shantay Taylor and a healthy Shannen Atkinson should help shore up the front court. Atkinson, a former McDonald’s All-American nominee, has missed the better part of the last two seasons with injuries.

Best-case scenario:

Davis is going to have to will Temple to a lot of wins and Mackins is going to have to play consistently at a high level for the Owls to be successful. There’s not a lot of depth here unless the freshmen come in and surprise, though none were highly rated. Temple has enough talent to reach the 10-win mark in conference but probably shouldn’t expect much more than that.

Worst-case scenario:

Another sub-.500 season overall, complete with whiffs on all their high-major opportunities out-of-conference. The Owls could miss the postseason again as Cardoza’s seat starts to heat up.

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