Juan Fernández (basketball)
Encyclopedia
Juan Manuel "Lobito" Fernández (born July 22, 1990 in Rio Tercero, Argentina
) is an Argentine
college basketball
player with the Temple Owls men's basketball team
who is entering his senior season
. His father, Gustavo, was a point guard
for a number of professional basketball teams in Argentina. Pepe Sánchez
convinced Fernández to play basketball at his alma mater, Temple University
, and Fernández joined the team in December 2008. As a sophomore, he was named Atlantic 10 Tournament Most Valuable Player. After struggling through a prolonged shooting slump as a junior, he hit an off-balance 18-foot shot with .4 seconds to play to defeat Penn State
in the 2011 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
and was named to the All-Atlantic 10 Third Team. In addition to his college exploits, he led Argentina to a gold medal in the 2008 Under-18 World Championship.
to Gustavo Fernández and Nancy Fiandrino. His father was a point guard
for a number of professional basketball teams in Argentina. He earned the nickname "Lobito" (Spanish for "little wolf") after starring on a basketball team with a wolf mascot. Juan Fernández's little bother, also named Gustavo, fell out of a chair when he was a toddler and used a wheelchair for life. He is one of the top wheelchair tennis
players in the world under the age of 18. The family operates the Pinot Grigio restaurant in Río Tercero.
At the urging of his father, Juan Fernández began playing basketball when he was six years old. He described himself as a "fat little kid" who was more interested in being a soccer goalie
at first. When Fernández showed star potential on junior club teams, he was given the "Lobito" nickname, while his father became known as "Lobo".
As a teenager, Fernández was offered deals to play in the Spanish B and C league when he graduated from Dr. Alexis Carrel High School. At the same time, he was considering playing college basketball
in the United States. His mother went to Connecticut for six months to learn English, and she persuaded him that it would be a good place to be a student-athlete. Pepe Sánchez
, an Argentine basketball player who played college basketball at Temple University
, offered some advice in an e-mail:
Sánchez had recommended Fernández to the coach of his alma mater, Fran Dunphy
. Dunphy dispatched assistant Matt Langel
to recruit Fernández to Temple. On one recruiting trip, Langel drove for 10 hours on the backroads of Argentina searching for Fernández, who was practicing with the national team instead of home in Rio Tercero as Langel had thought. After his official visit to the Philadelphia campus in September 2008, Fernández signed his letter of intent
. He graduated high school in December, and enrolled at Temple.
, Fernández contributed eight points and four assists in his Temple debut, three days after arriving in the United States. He scored a season-high 19 points on February 15, 2009, to power Temple past Duquesne
78-73. The Owls reached the 2009 NCAA Tournament
after winning the Atlantic 10 tournament title. In 23 games, he averaged 5.5 points and 2.7 assists per game on the basketball court, and earned a 3.0 grade point average in the classroom.
in the Temple starting lineup, a change that felt strange for him as he was used to playing point guard
. He was still in frequent playmaking positions, and led the team in assist
s with 3.6 per game. He increased his scoring average to 12.6 points per game, second on the team, and led the Atlantic 10 in three-point percentage (45.3%). Fernández scored in double figures in 23 games. On December 13, he netted a career best 33 points to upset local rival and third-ranked Villanova
75-65; he shot 7-for-10 from beyond the arc. This earned him Philadelphia Big Five Player of the Week honors for the week of December 7-14. As a result of his performance against Villanova and his 21 points versus Seton Hall
, Fernández was named Atlantic 10 Player of the Week on December 20. In the Fordham
game on January 23, 2010, he took a blow to the head and was forced to leave in the second half. He missed the February 2 game against Richmond
with post-concussive symptoms.
Fernández became a fan favorite at Temple. Every time he made a three-pointer against Bowling Green
, the Temple student section chanted "Ole, ole, ole!" Seton Hall fans were not so kind, mocking him with "Messi, Messi." Little did they realize that Lionel Messi
was one of his favorite soccer players, and their comments only served as inspiration. On his return flights to Argentina, strangers frequently went up to Fernández to congratulate him on his recent performances.
Fernández helped Temple to a 29-5 season, capture a share of the Atlantic 10 conference regular season championship with a 14-2 record, and earn a third consecutive Atlantic 10 conference tournament
title and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament
. He was named Atlantic 10 Tournament Most Valuable Player after scoring 18 points in the final versus Richmond. In the NCAA Tournament, Temple was seeded fifth and matched up with 12 seed Cornell
in the first round. Fernández had 14 points, but his Owls were upset by the Big Red 78-65. Following the season, Fernandez was an All-Atlantic 10 Honorable Mention selection.
honoring the top point guard in college basketball. A shooting slump that lasted the majority of the season saw his field goal percentage
drop to 35.5%, his three point percentage drop to 33.3%, and his scoring average drop to 11.2 points per game. He still led the team in assists, with 3.9 per game. Fernández did miss four games in the middle of the season due to a bone bruise in his knee, but the shooting slump was more devastating and caused him to consult a sports psychologist. One of the worst games of his career was in an Atlantic 10 Tournament loss to Richmond
, in which he went 3-for-17 from the field and committed three turnovers. After the game Fran Dunphy convinced Fernández that he had to take less shots and get his teammates involved.
Fernández led Temple to a 26–8 record and a seven seed in the 2011 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
. In the Round of 64, he hit an off-balance 18-foot shot with .4 seconds to play to defeat Penn State
, 66–64, and finished with a season-high 23 points. In the timeout that preceded the shot, teammate Khalif Wyatt convinced coach Dunphy to draw up a play for Fernández, despite his struggles during the season. Fernández finished with 14 points against San Diego State
, but the Owls fell in double overtime. He was named to the All-Atlantic 10 Third Team and Academic Team at the conclusion of the regular season and was a Philadelphia Big Five Second Team honoree.
. In six U18 matches, he averaged 8.4 points, 3.0 assists, 1.4 steals and 17 minutes per game. In a victory over the United States squad in the World Championship game, he scored 16 points. In the 2009 U19 World Championship, he averaged 8.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game.
Río Tercero, Córdoba
Río Tercero is a city located on the Tercero River in the Tercero Arriba Department of Córdoba Province .-Notable residents:*Juan Fernandez, college basketball player with the Temple Owls...
) is an Argentine
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
player with the Temple Owls men's basketball team
Temple Owls men's basketball
The Temple Owls men's basketball team represents Temple University in the Atlantic 10 Conference at the Division I level. The program is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The head men's basketball coach is Fran Dunphy.-History:...
who is entering his senior season
2011–12 Temple Owls men's basketball team
The 2011–12 Temple Owls men's basketball team will represent Temple University in the 2011–12 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team will play their home games at the Liacouras Center, which has a capacity of 10,206. They are in their 30th season as a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference...
. His father, Gustavo, was a point guard
Point guard
Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that...
for a number of professional basketball teams in Argentina. Pepe Sánchez
Juan Ignacio Sánchez
Juan Ignacio Sánchez Brown, also known as Pepe Sánchez , is an Argentine professional basketball player. He is a point guard. He was part of Argentina's 2004 Olympic gold medal team. Pepe Sánchez was the first Argentine to play in the NBA...
convinced Fernández to play basketball at his alma mater, Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
, and Fernández joined the team in December 2008. As a sophomore, he was named Atlantic 10 Tournament Most Valuable Player. After struggling through a prolonged shooting slump as a junior, he hit an off-balance 18-foot shot with .4 seconds to play to defeat Penn State
2010–11 Penn State Nittany Lions men's basketball team
The 2010–11 Penn State Nittany Lions basketball team represented Pennsylvania State University. Head Coach Ed DeChellis was in his eighth season with the team...
in the 2011 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
2011 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The following sites were selected to host each round of the 2011 tournament:First Four*March 15 and 16**University of Dayton Arena, Dayton, OhioSecond and third rounds*March 17 and 19**Verizon Center, Washington, D.C....
and was named to the All-Atlantic 10 Third Team. In addition to his college exploits, he led Argentina to a gold medal in the 2008 Under-18 World Championship.
Early life
Fernández was born on July 22, 1990 in Rio Tercero, ArgentinaRío Tercero, Córdoba
Río Tercero is a city located on the Tercero River in the Tercero Arriba Department of Córdoba Province .-Notable residents:*Juan Fernandez, college basketball player with the Temple Owls...
to Gustavo Fernández and Nancy Fiandrino. His father was a point guard
Point guard
Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that...
for a number of professional basketball teams in Argentina. He earned the nickname "Lobito" (Spanish for "little wolf") after starring on a basketball team with a wolf mascot. Juan Fernández's little bother, also named Gustavo, fell out of a chair when he was a toddler and used a wheelchair for life. He is one of the top wheelchair tennis
Wheelchair Tennis
Wheelchair tennis is one of the forms of tennis adapted for those who have disabilities in their lower bodies. The size of courts, balls, and rackets are same, but there are two major differences from pedestrian tennis; they use specially designed wheelchairs and the ball may bounce up to two times...
players in the world under the age of 18. The family operates the Pinot Grigio restaurant in Río Tercero.
At the urging of his father, Juan Fernández began playing basketball when he was six years old. He described himself as a "fat little kid" who was more interested in being a soccer goalie
Goaltender
In ice hockey, the goaltender is the player who defends his team's goal net by stopping shots of the puck from entering his team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring...
at first. When Fernández showed star potential on junior club teams, he was given the "Lobito" nickname, while his father became known as "Lobo".
As a teenager, Fernández was offered deals to play in the Spanish B and C league when he graduated from Dr. Alexis Carrel High School. At the same time, he was considering playing college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
in the United States. His mother went to Connecticut for six months to learn English, and she persuaded him that it would be a good place to be a student-athlete. Pepe Sánchez
Juan Ignacio Sánchez
Juan Ignacio Sánchez Brown, also known as Pepe Sánchez , is an Argentine professional basketball player. He is a point guard. He was part of Argentina's 2004 Olympic gold medal team. Pepe Sánchez was the first Argentine to play in the NBA...
, an Argentine basketball player who played college basketball at Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
, offered some advice in an e-mail:
Sánchez had recommended Fernández to the coach of his alma mater, Fran Dunphy
Fran Dunphy
Fran Dunphy is an American college basketball coach. He is currently the head men's basketball coach at Temple University. He succeeded John Chaney in 2006.- Coaching career :...
. Dunphy dispatched assistant Matt Langel
Matt Langel
Matt Langel is the incoming head coach for the Colgate Raiders men's basketball team. He previously served as an assistant for the Temple Owls men's basketball team for five seasons under Fran Dunphy.-College career:...
to recruit Fernández to Temple. On one recruiting trip, Langel drove for 10 hours on the backroads of Argentina searching for Fernández, who was practicing with the national team instead of home in Rio Tercero as Langel had thought. After his official visit to the Philadelphia campus in September 2008, Fernández signed his letter of intent
National Letter of Intent
The National Letter of Intent is a document used to indicate a student athlete's commitment to participating NCAA colleges and universities in the United States. The NCAA Eligibility Center manages the daily operations of the NLI program while the Collegiate Commissioners Association provides...
. He graduated high school in December, and enrolled at Temple.
Freshman
At Temple, Fernández drew immediate comparisons to Sánchez; he was dubbed "Pepe Sánchez with a jump shot." He chose Sánchez's jersey, number 4, but Fernández said this was to honor his father. Unfamiliar with the practice of lifting weights, Fernández wore gloves to his first session, drawing the laughs of his teammates. Against Kent StateKent State Golden Flashes men's basketball
The Kent State Golden Flashes men's basketball team represents Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. The Golden Flashes compete in the Mid-American Conference East Division and last played in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament in 2008...
, Fernández contributed eight points and four assists in his Temple debut, three days after arriving in the United States. He scored a season-high 19 points on February 15, 2009, to power Temple past Duquesne
Duquesne Dukes men's basketball
The Duquesne Dukes represent Duquesne University in college basketball. The team, which started in 1914, has only ever played in NCAA Division I and has had five appearances in the NCAA Tournament...
78-73. The Owls reached the 2009 NCAA Tournament
2009 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The first and second round games were played at the following sites:First and Second Rounds: Thursday and Saturday, March 19 and 21, 2009-Qualifying teams:-Brackets:Results to date * – Denotes overtime periodAll times in U.S. EDT....
after winning the Atlantic 10 tournament title. In 23 games, he averaged 5.5 points and 2.7 assists per game on the basketball court, and earned a 3.0 grade point average in the classroom.
Sophomore
In his sophomore year, Fernández was moved to shooting guardShooting guard
The shooting guard , also known as the two or off guard, is one of five traditional positions on a basketball team. Players of the position are often shorter, leaner, and quicker than forwards. A shooting guard's main objective is to score points for his team...
in the Temple starting lineup, a change that felt strange for him as he was used to playing point guard
Point guard
Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that...
. He was still in frequent playmaking positions, and led the team in assist
Assist (basketball)
In basketball, an assist is attributed to a player who passes the ball to a teammate in a way that leads to a score by field goal, meaning that he or she was "assisting" in the basket. There is some judgment involved in deciding whether a passer should be credited with an assist...
s with 3.6 per game. He increased his scoring average to 12.6 points per game, second on the team, and led the Atlantic 10 in three-point percentage (45.3%). Fernández scored in double figures in 23 games. On December 13, he netted a career best 33 points to upset local rival and third-ranked Villanova
2009–10 Villanova Wildcats men's basketball team
The 2009-10 Villanova Wildcats men's basketball team represented Villanova University in the 2009–10 college basketball season. Villanova was led by head coach Jay Wright. The Wildcats participated in the Big East Conference and played their home games at The Pavilion with some select home games...
75-65; he shot 7-for-10 from beyond the arc. This earned him Philadelphia Big Five Player of the Week honors for the week of December 7-14. As a result of his performance against Villanova and his 21 points versus Seton Hall
Seton Hall Pirates men's basketball
The Seton Hall Pirates men's basketball program is the NCAA Division I intercollegiate men's basketball program of Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey...
, Fernández was named Atlantic 10 Player of the Week on December 20. In the Fordham
Fordham Rams
The 22 Fordham University varsity sports teams are known as the Fordham Rams. Their colors are maroon and white. The Fordham Rams are members of NCAA Division I and compete in the Atlantic 10 Conference for all sports except football. In football, the Rams play in the Patriot League of NCAA...
game on January 23, 2010, he took a blow to the head and was forced to leave in the second half. He missed the February 2 game against Richmond
2009–10 Richmond Spiders men's basketball team
The 2009–10 Richmond Spiders men's basketball team represented the University of Richmond in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college basketball during the 2009–10 season...
with post-concussive symptoms.
Fernández became a fan favorite at Temple. Every time he made a three-pointer against Bowling Green
Bowling Green Falcons men's basketball
The Bowling Green Falcons men's basketball team is the basketball team that represent Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. The school's team currently competes in the Mid-American Conference. The team last played in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament in 1968...
, the Temple student section chanted "Ole, ole, ole!" Seton Hall fans were not so kind, mocking him with "Messi, Messi." Little did they realize that Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi
Lionel Andrés "Leo" Messi is an Argentine footballer who plays for FC Barcelona and captains the Argentina national team, mainly as a striker. Messi received several Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year nominations by the age of 21, and won in 2009 and 2010...
was one of his favorite soccer players, and their comments only served as inspiration. On his return flights to Argentina, strangers frequently went up to Fernández to congratulate him on his recent performances.
Fernández helped Temple to a 29-5 season, capture a share of the Atlantic 10 conference regular season championship with a 14-2 record, and earn a third consecutive Atlantic 10 conference tournament
2010 Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Tournament
The 2010 Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Tournament was played initially at campus sites for the first round on March 9th, 2010 and subsequently at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey from March 12th through March 14th, 2010...
title and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament
2010 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The first and second round games were played at the following sites:*March 18 / 20*March 25 / 27*March 26 / 28Each regional winner advanced to the Final Four, held on April 3 and 5 in Indianapolis, Indiana at Lucas Oil Stadium, hosted by the Horizon League and Butler University, as per the NCAA's...
. He was named Atlantic 10 Tournament Most Valuable Player after scoring 18 points in the final versus Richmond. In the NCAA Tournament, Temple was seeded fifth and matched up with 12 seed Cornell
2009–10 Cornell Big Red men's basketball team
The 2009–10 Cornell Big Red men's basketball team represented Cornell University in the 2009–10 college basketball season. This was coach Steve Donahue's tenth season at Cornell. The Big Red compete in the Ivy League and played their home games at Newman Arena...
in the first round. Fernández had 14 points, but his Owls were upset by the Big Red 78-65. Following the season, Fernandez was an All-Atlantic 10 Honorable Mention selection.
Junior
With the graduation of Luis Guzmán, Fernández switched back to his natural position at point guard in his junior campaign. Fernandez was a preseason All-Atlantic 10 Second Team selection. He was on the watchlist for the Bob Cousy AwardBob Cousy Award
The Bob Cousy Award presented by The Hartford is an annual basketball award given by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame to the top men's collegiate point guard. It is named after six-time National Basketball Association champion Bob Cousy, who played point guard for the Boston Celtics...
honoring the top point guard in college basketball. A shooting slump that lasted the majority of the season saw his field goal percentage
Field goal (basketball)
In basketball, the term field goal refers to a basket scored on any shot or tap other than a free throw, worth two or three points depending on the distance of the attempt from the basket. "Field Goal" is the official terminology used by the National Basketball Association in their rule book,...
drop to 35.5%, his three point percentage drop to 33.3%, and his scoring average drop to 11.2 points per game. He still led the team in assists, with 3.9 per game. Fernández did miss four games in the middle of the season due to a bone bruise in his knee, but the shooting slump was more devastating and caused him to consult a sports psychologist. One of the worst games of his career was in an Atlantic 10 Tournament loss to Richmond
2010–11 Richmond Spiders men's basketball team
The 2010–11 Richmond Spiders men's basketball team represented the University of Richmond in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college basketball during the 2010–11 season...
, in which he went 3-for-17 from the field and committed three turnovers. After the game Fran Dunphy convinced Fernández that he had to take less shots and get his teammates involved.
Fernández led Temple to a 26–8 record and a seven seed in the 2011 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
2011 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The following sites were selected to host each round of the 2011 tournament:First Four*March 15 and 16**University of Dayton Arena, Dayton, OhioSecond and third rounds*March 17 and 19**Verizon Center, Washington, D.C....
. In the Round of 64, he hit an off-balance 18-foot shot with .4 seconds to play to defeat Penn State
2010–11 Penn State Nittany Lions men's basketball team
The 2010–11 Penn State Nittany Lions basketball team represented Pennsylvania State University. Head Coach Ed DeChellis was in his eighth season with the team...
, 66–64, and finished with a season-high 23 points. In the timeout that preceded the shot, teammate Khalif Wyatt convinced coach Dunphy to draw up a play for Fernández, despite his struggles during the season. Fernández finished with 14 points against San Diego State
2010–11 San Diego State Aztecs men's basketball team
The 2010–11 San Diego State men's basketball team represented San Diego State University in the 2010–11 college basketball season. It was their 12th season in the Mountain West Conference. This was head coach Steve Fisher's twelfth season at San Diego State...
, but the Owls fell in double overtime. He was named to the All-Atlantic 10 Third Team and Academic Team at the conclusion of the regular season and was a Philadelphia Big Five Second Team honoree.
International career
Fernández was a participant in the 2008 Under-18 World Championship representing ArgentinaArgentina national basketball team
The Argentina national basketball team represents Argentina in basketball international competitions, and is controlled by the Argentine Basketball Federation....
. In six U18 matches, he averaged 8.4 points, 3.0 assists, 1.4 steals and 17 minutes per game. In a victory over the United States squad in the World Championship game, he scored 16 points. In the 2009 U19 World Championship, he averaged 8.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game.
NCAA
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| 2008–09 2008–09 Temple Owls men's basketball team The 2008–09 Temple Owls men's basketball team represented Temple University in the 2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. They were led by head coach Fran Dunphy and played their home games at the Liacouras Center. The Owls are members of the Atlantic 10 Conference. They finished the... |
Temple Owls Temple Owls men's basketball The Temple Owls men's basketball team represents Temple University in the Atlantic 10 Conference at the Division I level. The program is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The head men's basketball coach is Fran Dunphy.-History:... |
23 | 0 | 19.6 | .364 | .353 | .682 | 1.9 | 2.7 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 5.5 |
| 2009–10 2009–10 Temple Owls men's basketball team The 2009–10 Temple Owls men's basketball team represented Temple University in the 2009–10 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. They were led by head coach Fran Dunphy and played their home games at the Liacouras Center. The Owls are members of the Atlantic 10 Conference... |
Temple Owls | 34 | 30 | 31.6 | .427 | .453 | .847 | 2.4 | 3.6 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 12.6 |
| 2010–11 2010–11 Temple Owls men's basketball team The 2010–11 Temple Owls men's basketball team represented Temple University in the 2010–11 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team played their home games at the Liacouras Center, which has a capacity of 10,206. The Owls were in their 29th season as a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference... |
Temple Owls | 30 | 29 | 31.8 | .355 | .333 | .806 | 2.9 | 3.9 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 11.2 |