Temple coach John Chaney doesn't go the easy route, and even if he were tempted to try it, he'd have to ask someone else for directions.

This is a guy who grew up dining on apple cores and lima beans. "No meat," he says. "I didn't have a choice."

	Temple's David Hawkins, a scorer by trade, has been forced to run the point this season.

This is a guy who was the best schoolboy ballplayer Philadelphia had to offer in 1951, but didn't get recruited because he was black; who scored 2,000 points at Bethune-Cookman, but didn't go to the NBA for the same reason; who had to spend a decade at someplace called Cheyney State before a Division I school would give him a chance to coach.

It was never easy for Chaney, and he figures he turned out OK. Now he wants to see how his players handle adversity.

"With our schedule," he says, "we're going to get thrown in the laundry. And we're going to get wet."

The Owls are getting soaked on their current road trip, an unprecedented span of six consecutive games away from the Liacouras Center that has seen them lose the first three to drop their record to 0-4. They are playing six straight games away from home not because they had to do it (although getting good teams to come to Temple isn't easy), but because Chaney wanted to do it.

Some people wonder what on earth Chaney was thinking when he made the schedule, but those are probably the same people who wonder why a team like Illinois would play Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Coppin State and Oakland?

You can't have it both ways, people, and Chaney doesn't try. He'll play anyone, anywhere, and if it ends up costing his team a spot in the NCAA Tournament -- like it did last season when the Owls were 3-8 after another tough early schedule -- well, maybe his team doesn't deserve to go.

With 11 non-conference dates to work with this season, Chaney didn't schedule a single easy victory. Not one. The closest thing is a game against Penn State, which went 7-21 last season. But Penn State is in the Big Ten, and Penn State is an in-state rival. If that's the easiest game on the Owls' non-conference schedule ... wow.

Later this week the Temple road show visits city rival Penn, which means the Owls won't be playing in front of the home folks but at least they'll be able to sleep in their own beds. That isn't the case now, with Temple currently barnstorming through the Carolinas to play Wake Forest, South Carolina and Charlotte. After losses to the Deacons and Gamecocks, the Owls' Southern tour ended Wednesday night with a 91-80 loss to the 49ers.

"We'll come back with all kinds of bruises," Chaney said.

Already Chaney has had to make major adjustments. Freshman Maurice Collins isn't working out at the point, so junior David Hawkins -- a small forward by trade -- has had to man the point. After having the most team-first point guard possible in Pepe Sanchez, Chaney's last two point guards have been Lynn Greer and now Hawkins, both of the score-first variety.

In his first game at the point, Hawkins had 20 points but eight turnovers in a season-opening, 59-53 loss (at home!) to Rutgers. The next time out, Hawkins put up 20 points, seven rebounds, six assists and four steals in an 83-76 loss to Wake Forest. He had nine points and two assists in the 66-47 loss to South Carolina.

With minimal production from freshman centerKeith Butler, who didn't score in either of the first two games, Chaney often has gone with a lineup of five wing players. The tallest -- but skinniest -- of them, 6-foot-8 freshman Antywane Robinson, has been in the middle of the Owls' matchup zone, where things like Wake Forest's 51-36 rebounding edge have occurred. That never would have happened a year ago when Kevin Lyde and Ron Rollerson, almost 14 feet and 600 pounds of center, were on roster.

Meanwhile, last year's Atlantic 10 Sixth Man of the Year, 6-4 junior Brian Polk, is sitting out until next semester to concentrate on academics. Which means more freshmen, more adjustments, more lumps.

Chaney has never started a majority of freshmen before. He's never played six straight road games, either. He's doing both now -- living out of a suitcase and starting three freshmen.

"That's a problem," he says. "I hope they grow up."

With this schedule? The Owls have no choice.

Games of the Week

Kentucky at North Carolina, Saturday The resurgent Tar Heels try to rebound from their Tuesday loss to Illinois and avenge their loss last season at Rupp Arena, where Tayshaun Prince hit five straight three-pointers to take all the fun out of things early. Rhode Island at Providence, Saturday There's not enough room in this state for both of us, pardner. Seriously. You ever looked at Rhode Island on the U.S. map? That's a really small state. Boston College at Massachusetts, Saturday See Rhode Island at Providence. Notre Dame at Maryland (BB&T Classic, Washington D.C.) Sunday Thanks to each team's basketball tradition, this game was going to be a good story. With the added twist that former Maryland starter Danny Miller now plays key minutes for the Irish, it's a great one.

Young 'Nova follows Buchanan's lead
Michigan State coach Tom Izzo has put his players through drills in football pads. This is a man who appreciates tough guys, and knows one when he sees one.

He saw one last week in Villanova's Gary Buchanan.

Twelve days after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery, Buchanan scored 29 points to lead the Wildcats past Michigan State in the semifinals of the Great Alaska Shootout.

"I love tough guys," Izzo said after that game, paying homage to Buchanan.

Villanova needs not only Buchanan's toughness, but also his scoring and his guile. He is the only senior guard on a roster that leans heavily on freshman backcourt players Allan Ray, Randy Foye and Curtis Sumpter. Last season, Buchanan averaged 17.8 points per game and continued to build his reputation as one of the best foul shooters (91.1 percent) in NCAA history.

Without Buchanan, Villanova shot just 30.1 percent in its season-opening, 73-61 loss to Marquette. The Wildcats were 3-for-26 on 3-pointers in a game that screamed for Buchanan's touch and poise along the perimeter.

Buchanan returned for the Great Alaska Shootout, scoring 13 points in 19 minutes in his first game, an 87-71 victory against Loyola Marymount. Big men Jason Fraser and Ricky Wright were the stars of that victory, combining for 53 points and 23 rebounds, but Buchanan was the inspiration.

"He means everything to this team," Wright said.

Buchanan proved it the next night against then-No. 9 Michigan State, shooting the Wildcats to their first Top 10 victory in almost three years. Along with Wright, Buchanan made the All-Alaska team, though the pair of seniors couldn't will the Wildcats to the tournament title. Villanova showed its youth in a title-game loss to the College of Charleston, suffering a 20-8 turnover deficit and hitting just 11 of 20 free throws in a 71-69 loss.

Getting to the title game was a feat for such a young team. Add Buchanan's toughness to all that youthful talent, and Villanova could make more noise in tournaments down the road.

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