GAME NOTES: Snubbed by the NCAA Selection Committee, the Temple Owls will take part in the 2015 NIT as a one-seed and will open up tournament play on Wednesday evening, taking on the Bucknell Bison at the Liacouras Center.

The winner of this game will move into the second round and take on George Washington.

Fran Dunphy picked up career win No. 500 in the quarterfinals of the American Athletic Conference Tournament with Temple's 80-75 victory over Memphis. Unfortunately, the Owls fell the next day in the semifinals to eventual champion SMU (69-56). At 23-10 overall, including a marquee win over Kansas (a two-seed in the NCAA Tournament), most thought the Owls would get an at-large bid to the Big Dance. Instead, Temple is participating in its 18th NIT and first since 2006. The Owls are 20-15 all-time in this event, with tournament titles in 1938 and 1969.

Dave Paulsen's Bison are an eight-seed in this event and are coming off another highly successful season in the Patriot League. Bucknell comes in with a 19-14 overall mark, which includes a 13-5 conference record, good enough to earn the team the regular-season crown. However, the Bison were knocked off by Lafayette in the semifinals of the Patriot League Tournament, 80-74. This is Bucknell's second appearance in the NIT, after participating in the 2012 event.

These two teams were once conference foes in both the Middle Atlantic Conference and the East Coast Conference. Temple holds a 29-5 series advantage, although the last meeting came back in 1982.

A fairly efficient squad, Bucknell enters tournament play shooting a decent .442 from the floor, including a solid .388 from behind the arc. The result is a scoring average of 68.8 ppg. The problem the Bison have faced this season is a defensive effort that gives it all back. The team yields 68.9 ppg, allowing opponents to shoot .444 from the field.

Junior guard Chris Haas has had a great season. An All-Patriot League First- Team selection, Haas is averaging 16.0 ppg. He is shooting just under .400 from behind the arc and leads the team with 80 3-pointers. Freshman center Nana Foulland nets 10.1 ppg as the team's next best scoring option. The 6-9 youngster was named to the All-Patriot League Rookie Team. Offensive depth is not a strength for Bucknell, as freshman forward Zach Thomas ranks third on the team with just 7.7 ppg.

Efficiency at the offensive end is not something Temple is used to. The Owls have struggled with consistency at that end of the floor and the results aren't pretty. Temple enters this event shooting a poor .384 from the floor overall, leading to just 64.8 ppg. Strong defense has fueled the Owls' success this year, holding foes to just 60.6 ppg and under 40 percent shooting (.395), in addition to holding a +2.8 turnover margin.

Senior guard Will Cummings is the straw that stirs the drink for Temple. A playmaker in several areas, Cummings was named an All-AAC First-Team member. He leads Temple in scoring (14.2 ppg), assists (4.3 apg) and steals (63), while finding time to be an effective rebounder as well (4.1 rpg). Junior guards Quenton DeCosey (12.4 ppg) and Jesse Morgan (11.8 ppg) provide other scoring options. Junior forward Jaylen Bond isn't much of a scorer (7.9 ppg), but did lead the AAC in rebounding (8.0 rpg).

The Owls may not be an offensive juggernaut, but they have certainly played a much tougher schedule this season. Getting this game at home certainly tips the scales even more in Temple's favor.