Temple’s Dionte christmas (22) dribbles past a Tennessee defender in the Owls’ 88-72 victory over the then-No. 8 Volunteers last Saturday in Philadelphia. Christmas, who averages 21 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, will lead Temple against Kansas University today in Allen Fieldhouse.

Temple University’s best basketball player has a favorite holiday.

“Christmas, most definitely,” said Owls’ All-America candidate Dionte Christmas, mighty proud of his last name — and not at all burned out — in fielding questions about his festive moniker.

“A lot of people come up to me and say, ‘Unique name. I’ve never heard that before.’ People want to know the background, the history of it,” Christmas said.

“To be honest, I don’t know. My grandfather knew. I never asked. He passed away when I was young.”

The Atlantic 10 Conference’s two-time scoring leader brings a 21.0 scoring, 6.6 rebound average into a 1:30 p.m. game today against Kansas University in Allen Fieldhouse.

He’s aware local newspaper headline writers — and TV and radio commentators — are busy devising ways to play off his name in coverage of the game today.

“All the time,” Christmas said, asked about creative uses of his surname. ‘”Christmas comes early.’ ‘Five months of Christmas.’ ‘Christmas brings presents to Temple.’ I don’t mind. I’ve had it my whole life.”

Well known locally since his days at Philadelphia Lutheran Christian Academy, the 6-foot-5, 205-pound senior guard exploded on the national scene Saturday.

He scored 35 points in the Owls’ 88-72 victory over then-No. 8-ranked Tennessee in a game televised on ESPN.

“The Tennessee game was a great opportunity to show everybody I can be mentioned in the same breath as (Stephen) Curry, (Blake) Griffin and those guys,” Christmas said. “It’s another great opportunity coming to Kansas this week.”

Christmas’ scoring outburst against Tennessee came exactly one week after he hit for just two points off 1-of-7 shooting in Temple’s 65-59 win at Penn State.

“To be honest, it wasn’t (frustrating),” Christmas said of his off night offensively against the Nittany Lions. “I was in foul trouble the first half. My teammates did a great job. I don’t feel the need to score 25 or 30 a night. I was just happy I scored two at the end when we needed it.”

He credited Penn State for doing a nice job defensively on him. Tennessee did as well — for one half. Christmas scored five points the first 20 minutes, 30 the second half in the big victory over the Vols.

“I know I’m the marked man going in every game. It’s nothing unusual,” said Christmas, who hit seven threes versus UT. “When they pay attention to me, it opens up everyone else. I tell my teammates, ‘The pressure is on me. Go play. I’ll take all the pressure.”’

Christmas, who has made 46.8 percent of his field goals (58 of 124) and 40.3 percent of his three-pointers (29 of 72), certainly has KU’s attention heading into this game.

“He went nuts the second half against Tennessee. They were trying to guard him. It’s not like they were uncontested looks,” KU coach Bill Self said. “He scores in every way imaginable, in transition, jumping over people. He has great range and a quick release. He’ll fit right into the category of some of the best ones we’ve gone against.

“He gives anybody a potential matchup problem because he can make guarded shots. We have to have some guys take their assignment as a real personal challenge. That should be not a total focus, but a big part of it,” Self added.

KU freshman Marcus Morris, who hails from Philly, knows what Christmas can do.

“Dionte is a good shooter, a great player. He has a chance to be a great NBA prospect,” Morris said. “When he’s doing good, the whole team is doing good. He’s a big part of the team.”

Christmas, of course, does want to play in the NBA.

His performance last Saturday came with 21 pro scouts in attendance.

“I hope I can continue playing ball until my time is up,” said Christmas, who coming out of high school seriously considered Virginia, Marquette and Syracuse, but wanted to play in his hometown so his family members could watch him up close and personal.

“My family has been traveling to watch me since I was little,” Christmas said. “Every game we play at home I have 10, 15 family members there watching me. I’d like to go on to the NBA, but really I’m not thinking about that now. We have too many games left in what could be a great year for our team.”

He’s especially looking forward to today’s game.

“I know all about Kansas,” he said. “I’ve watched them a lot the last few years. I know the history of basketball. Wilt Chamberlain (Philly native) played at Kansas. Not all players in Philadelphia know that. People who know the history of basketball know that.”

He’s aware KU is not exactly the same team that won the national title a year ago.

“Even though they lost (Brandon) Rush, (Darrell) Arthur, (Russell) Robinson, they still have a great team,” he said. “They are well coached. You’ve got a leader in Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich, who is a potential lottery pick. They’ve got (Brady) Morningstar, a lot of great players. I know the (Morris) twins well. I played against them a lot last summer. They have a chance to play in the NBA some day. It’s still a great Kansas team.

“We’re playing in a historic gym. We’ve got to play with poise. It definitely won’t be a walkover especially after the loss they took last week (to UMass). We’ll both be highly energetic. We have to come out with the same poise and focus they have.”