City of Basketball Love

Stephen Pianovich (@SPianovich)
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BROOKLYN -- Villanova easily advanced in Friday's opening round of the NCAA Tournament while Temple lost in heart-breaking fashion to Iowa at the overtime buzzer. Here are five things we learned about Villanova and Temple on Friday afternoon at the Barclays Center:

1. Quenton DeCosey gave Temple fans a performance to remember him by.

Friday turned out to be the final collegiate game for DeCosey, who was the Owls best and most consistent player this season. And the senior turned in one of the most memorable showings of his career.

DeCosey – Temple’s leading scorer during the regular season with 15.6 ppg -- scored a game-high 26 points in the 72-70 loss to Iowa and hit three gutsy free throws with 2.1 seconds left in regulation to force overtime.

“I was proud of a couple of different efforts -- Quenton DeCosey making three foul shots, that's a tough chore, and he stepped up and did that,” Owls coach Fran Dunphy said.

The 6-foot-5 Union, N.J. native got his 26 points on 10-of-22 shooting and hit all five free throws he took. DeCosey’s presence also made a noted difference. When he got his third foul early in the second half, he went to the bench and the Owls fell behind by 10 points. When he came back in, Temple outscored Iowa, 22-12, to force OT.

It ended in defeat, but it was a showing Temple fans will appreciate for a long while.

“Just not taking anything for granted,” DeCosey said after when asked what he would take away from his four years with the Owls. Always think about others. Don't think about yourself.”

2. Jalen Brunson wasn’t fazed by the NCAA Tournament or last Saturday.

Villanova’s touted freshman had one of his worst outings of his season last Saturday when the Wildcats fell in the Big East title game to Seton Hall.

Brunson was held scoreless, missed the only shot he took and played just nine minutes. He made certain not to repeat that performance against UNC-Asheville in his Big Dance debut.

The first-year guard nailed a 3-pointer on Villanova’s second possession of the game and stayed on the court a lot in the 86-56 win. Brunson finished with 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting and added three assists in 25 minutes.

“Me and coach always talk, we always have a great sense of communication,” Brunson said. “Everyone has confidence and he wants me to be aggressive. And I’m willing to do what the team needs.”

3. Speaking of point guards, Josh Brown also put on an impressive show.

Brown, a junior, definitely grew into his role as the Owls’ first-year point guard as the season went on. The player who faced Iowa was not the same one from November.

Brown had 16 points, five assists and two turnovers against the Hawkeyes, and hit a clutch basket with 51 seconds left in overtime to tie the game, 70-70. Brown grew into a player who averaged 8.1 points and 4.9 assists per game.

“He's a really good player. His numbers today were awesome,” Dunphy said of Brown. “He shot it well. He rebounded it well. 5-to-2 on the assist-to-turns, which is typical for him, just a wonderful performance.”

4. Daniel Ochefu is healthy and ready to go against a big Iowa front court.

Looking at a potential Iowa-Nova matchup on paper earlier in the week, it seemed the Hawkeyes would have a decided front court advantage with two players hovering at 6-9 or taller and Ochefu gimpy on an injured ankle.

But the Ochefu who showed up Friday against UNCA was not the same one from the Big East Tournament. The 6-10 senior posted a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds against the Bulldogs, and his play could be vital to the Wildcats advancing to their first Sweet 16 in seven years.

Ochefu will be battling in the paint Sunday against 7-1 Adam Woodbury, who tipped in the game-winner against Temple, and 6-9 Jared Uthoff, who notched a team-best 23 against the Owls.

5. We have to keep waiting for that Big 5 Tournament matchup.

Twice in the last three years, Villanova has had a shot to play a Big 5 foe in the second round. And twice, those potential opponents have both lost in overtime.

Two years ago, St. Joe’s fell to No. 7 seed Connecticut in overtime, and instead of a second round Holy War, the Huskies took out the Wildcats on their way to an NCAA title. On Friday, the Hawkeyes clipped Temple in the extra period. They’ll have their shot at Villanova on Sunday.