You might have expected John Chaney to be all smiles on Sunday afternoon.

After all, it's been quite a year for the legendary Temple head coach, who'll turn 70 in two weeks. His team is coming off an NCAA regional final appearance. He's coming off his induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Temple has struggled this season, thanks in no small part to its customarily wicked early-season schedule -- but the Owls (4-8) snapped their six-game losing streak with a relatively comfortable 86-75 victory at Fordham in the Atlantic-10 opener for both teams.

There's reason for Chaney to be cautiously optimistic. Senior point guard Lynn Greer has offered consistent, steady leadership (and 23 points per game). Sophomore shooting guard David Hawkins has returned from academic suspension to make a big impact. Freshman guard Nile Murry had a breakout performance against the Rams, pouring in 33 points from the perimeter. And, you may recall that the Owls overcame a seven-game losing streak last season to win the A-10 tournament and three games in the Big Dance.

So how did Chaney open his postgame remarks?

"This is the worst team I've ever coached in my life."

His disgust stemmed from the team's 21 turnovers, an anomaly for a Chaney-coached squad.

But other subjects were not spared Chaney's wrath. He was not impressed with the plastic sandwiches provided in the media room (I must concur). He chastised today's entire generation of players for being selfish and lacking a sense of urgency.

At one point, he even stooped to reciting the most self-pitying poem I have ever heard:

"The world is against me, he said with a sigh. Somebody stops every damn scheme that I try. The world has me down and is keeping me there. Oh, I don't get a chance, cause this world's unfair."

He then mildly threatened to quit before the end of the season, "if they continue to piss me off." But, with Chaney's penchant for exaggeration, take him with a grain of salt.

So what did Chaney have in store for his players upon their return to Philadelphia?

Practice. At midnight. And two-a-days for the rest of the winter recess.

"I'm gonna make 'em hate practice so goddamn much that they'll play better the next game."

And he walked off. With a smile.

E-mail Kieran Darcy at kieran.d.darcy@espn.com.