As a freshman last year, the only recognition Dionte Christmas got was talk of his potential. The freshman guard made appearances in all of the Owls' 32 games, averaging 3.5 points in only 11.3 minutes per appearance. But when Temple hosted Akron in the final game of the 2005-06 season, former Temple coach John Chaney gave Christmas a new type of recognition.
He started him for the first time.
Although the Owls would fall 73-80 to Akron, Christmas posted eight points in just 13 minutes - his second-highest scoring tally of the season.
The 6-foot-5 guard from Philadelphia may have snuck into the starting lineup in the final game of his freshman year. As a sophomore, Christmas leaves no doubt that he is a key member of the Temple team, now under the tutelage of Fran Dunphy. The lone start of his first year was a taste of things to come.
"I was playing about 12 minutes a game last year," Christmas said, "and now I'm playing 30, 35 minutes a game. So that is a big change."
For Christmas, more minutes on the court have only meant more time to shine.
Just last week the sophomore picked up his second Atlantic 10 Player of the Week nod, an honor that he shares this time with Fordham junior Marcus Stout. The second title payed homage to a career-high 31 points that Christmas posted during the Cherry and White's 85-77 loss to A-10 leader Rhode Island last Saturday.
And last weekend's performance was not altogether unusual. Christmas' offensive explosion against the Rams is characteristic of consistent scoring all season; he leads the A-10 with 20.1 points per game.
Though the guard has carried much of his team's offensive clout, he strives to help out on both offense and defense.
"I try to contribute other things. Coming up with key rebounds, key stops, and also when we need that key basket," Christmas said.
The threat of Christmas' scoring is no secret. Opponents have thrown all sorts of defensive tactics his way - to varying degrees of success - and the sophomore has had to deal with a negative side the recognition he knew he deserved.
"I've seen a lot of defense this year, so far," Christmas said. "I've seen everything."
"We need Dionte to play very, very well," Dunphy said. "He's been a marked man; he's handling it very well." Tonight's visit to Penn (10-6, 1-1) should prove no different.
When the Owls return to the Palestra, Christmas is sure to face a defense well aware of the A-10's leading scorer. In the third Big 5 matchup of the season for both the Owls and the Quakers, Christmas is expecting even greater tension that accompanies the hype and excitement of all Big 5 competitions.
"I love Big 5 games," Christmas said. "Inner-city games are always intense and exciting. I just want to come out, play my hardest, and win the game."
