Temple Players Earn Preseason Conference Honors
The American Athletic Conference named two Temple basketball stars to its preseason all-conference squads on Friday.
Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in Basketball
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Temple basketball players Turner and Craig have been selected for the American Athletic Conference preseason all-conference teams. Conference coaches also placed Temple fifth in the league’s annual preseason poll.
Why it matters
The selections recognize the individual impact of key players as Temple aims to improve upon its previous season record. The preseason poll rankings reflect the expectations of conference coaches for the upcoming 2026-27 season.
Turner led the conference with 16.4 points per game last season, while Craig averaged 7.9 rebounds over the same 32-game span. Temple enters the year following a 15-17 finish.
The players
Turner
He is a standout Temple basketball player who led the American Athletic Conference in scoring last season.
Craig
He is a Temple basketball player recently selected for the conference second team following a strong rebounding performance.
American Athletic Conference
This is a collegiate athletic conference based in Irving, Texas, that manages member university sports programs.
George Mason
This is a university located in Fairfax, Va., that competes in collegiate basketball.
The details
Turner earned a spot on the First Team, while Craig was named to the Second Team by conference coaches. The team is currently preparing for their season opener against George Mason in Fairfax, Va.
Timeline
The American Athletic Conference announced the honors on Friday.
Temple opens the 2026-27 season against George Mason on Nov. 2.
Season Trajectory
A fifth-place preseason projection signals higher expectations for the program compared to their seventh-place finish last year. This ranking impacts the team's path toward postseason contention within the competitive 13-team conference.
The preseason recognition highlights Turner as a primary scoring option and Craig as a key presence on the glass for upcoming matchups. These designations provide clear indicators of expected roster roles as the team approaches their November season opener.
The takeaway
Preseason polls offer a window into how conference coaches view the competitive balance among league teams. Fans can use these rankings to gauge early expectations for team success as the new season begins.
What happens next
Temple plays George Mason to open the season on Nov. 2.
Further reading
For more on local collegiate sports, check out our Basketball coverage.
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