Scheuer: Wyatt having some kind of season for Temple

There are times when he seems to be marching to a different drum beat but let’s be honest: Khalif Wyatt is having some kind of a season.

The 6-foot-4 senior from Norristown is averaging nearly 20 points a game, has a knack for making difficult shots, and has frequently just taken over a game in the waning moments to wrap up a Temple victory. In addition to his scoring, he also leads the Owls in assists, and shoots 82 percent from the foul line.

Wyatt also tops the A-10 in points, and right now would appear to be the favorite for the conference’s Player of the Year Award. Certainly no one in the league has been more valuable to his team .He’s been especially effective in nationally televised games, which probably might influence some All-America voters.

Temple’s Khalif Wyatt looks to get past Duquesne’s Marvin Binney on Thursday. (Aaron Bracy/Philahoops)

His resume is very impressive.

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-Nova future bright: Despite Villanova’s last two backbreaking losses, the play of freshman guard Ryan Arcidiacono bodes well for the future. Jay Wright deserves a lot of credit for sticking with the Neshaminy High product, who struggled for the first part of the season but has really improved both in his shooting and ball-handling. And there’s been a noticeable decrease in the turnover department.

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-More Nova: Speaking of Villanova guards, did you notice Kyle Lowry’s recent triple double? He had 10 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in a game against Milwaukee, plus 5 steals. Ironic that of all those outstanding Wildcats guards like Randy Foye, Allan Ray and Scottie Reynolds, Lowry has had the best pro career. And the richest.

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-Trivia Time: Which Division I player has the all-time record for the most made free throws? Answer at the end of the column.

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-Bouncing around: A major factor in La Salle’s very successful season has been the defense played by Sam Mills. The 6-2 junior is probably the best man-to-man
defender in the city. … Good to see Penn pick up a nice win over Harvard. The Quakers are also pleased with the much-improved play of freshman Tony Hicks. … One big reason for Temple’s five-game winning streak has been the scoring of Scootie Randall, who has been in double figures in each of the victories. … No surprise here if Drexel does well in the CAA playoffs. … Some guys have trouble making free throws, but not Nik Cochran. The Davidson guard has hit on 105 of 110 from the line. That’s 99.5 percent and leads the nation.

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-Answer to Trivia Time: North Carolina’s Tyler Hansbrough made 1,241 foul shots.

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-Jack Scheuer is a Big 5 Hall of Fame college basketball writer. His “Off the Boards” column appears on Tuesdays. His ‘Off The Boards’ columns are archived HERE.

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Jack Scheuer

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Jack Scheuer is in his 41st season covering Philadelphia college basketball. A member of the Big 5 Hall of Fame, Scheuer was born and raised in Philadelphia. He began his sportswriting career for the Evening Bulletin before a long stint covering the Phillies, Sixers and City 6 for the Associated Press. Scheuer’s “Off The Boards” column appears on Wednesdays during the season.