Tigers' Cooper struggled before finding a place to belong
December 17, 2006
When Terry Wilson first met Kareem Cooper he had the very same thought most people do.
"That's a big dude," he said, and then he went back to his business.
Wilson is a correctional officer in Capitol Heights, Md. Four summers ago, Cooper spent a week living with Wilson's neighbors, the Nolans, whose son, Jasmine, played with Cooper at Laurinburg Institute.
"He seemed like a nice enough guy," said Wilson, 45. "I didn't think anything of it."
Cooper went off to play at a basketball camp. Two weeks passed.
Then, at 2 a.m. one morning, Wilson's phone rang.
"It was Jasmine's grandmother," Wilson said. "She told me that someone was sitting out in front of her house and she was scared and would I go check it out."
Wilson dressed and strapped on his gun. He walked, slowly, to the front of the Nolan's house.
"When I got closer, I realized it was Kareem," Wilson said. "He was just sitting there with his duffel bag, waiting for light. I asked him what he was doing there. He said he didn't have anywhere else to go."
What's a thug?
Is a thug someone who robs a bank? Who beats up a pizza delivery guy? Is a thug someone who gets in trouble and is black rather than white?
The other day, this newspaper ran a letter to the editor about the Memphis basketball program. It used the word thug four times.
"It sure was fun watching the lowly University of Tennessee beat the (tar) out of the UofM thugs last night in college basketball," the letter said. " It really is hard to believe that the coaches and schools, much less the NBA, continue to allow thugs to play college basketball. John Calipari cannot even keep his thugs' mouths shut during a basketball game. My suggestion to the UofM is start making their students take the ACT exam to enter college. Maybe that would sort out the thugs from players like Dane Bradshaw."
Oh, Bradshaw, who plays for Tennessee, happens to be white.
"Yeah, I saw the letter, we all did," said Memphis guard Chris Douglas-Roberts. "People call us thugs because we all come from the neighborhood. But what's thug about us? We're a bunch of guys who are on the right track. The way I look at it, it doesn't matter where you grew up, it matters where you are now."
At this, Douglas-Roberts nodded toward Cooper, 22, on the other side of the locker room, surrounded by reporters and microphones. Cooper is a vast man, 6-11 and 290 pounds. But on this day, his first game back from indefinite suspension, the biggest thing about him was his smile.
"I'm sooooooo lucky," he said. "A lot of people have done things for me to be here again. I can't let anyone down. Now that I've gotten a second chance, I'm not going to do anything to screw it up."
It was great stuff, refreshing to hear, and only time will tell if it's true. Sean Banks had a second chance. You remember how that worked out. Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith had a second chance. He was last seen accepting the Heisman Trophy in New York.
So is Banks a thug? Is Smith? Or are they -- like Cooper -- kids who grew up in potentially crippling circumstances and had to decide if they were going to give in or grow up?
"Kareem doesn't use his life as an excuse," said Wilson. "He takes a long time to open up about it. But if you saw him sitting on the stoop that night ..."
Wilson ultimately invited Cooper to gather his things and come sleep at his house.
"It turns out," Wilson said, "everything he owned was in the duffel he had with him."
Wilson woke his wife, Andrea. The three sat in the den and talked a good long while. At the end of the conversation, Wilson said something to Cooper the kid had never heard before.
"You can stay as long as you like," he said. "As long as you do your best, you'll never be without a place to stay again."
Wilson cleared out an upstairs room for Cooper. He moved a TV in there, a dresser, a bed.
"He even gave me a key," said Cooper, as if it were the most valuable thing in the world.
A key symbolizes stability. A key symbolizes a home.
"I still don't know everything about how he grew up," said Wilson, "but I know it wasn't like you or me."
Cooper was born in Washington, D.C. He knows his father's name is Robert, but that's all he knows about him. His mother "had issues," said Cooper, and you should feel free to fill in the blanks.
So Cooper bounced from place to place, until he grew bigger than anyone else in the neighborhood, when various coaches said he could stay with them.
"They'd let him say stay as long as he could play for their teams," Wilson said. "When he got too old to play for one coach, another coach would say 'You can stay with me until you're too old.' That's how he grew up."
Cooper lived with Wilson a solid month before heading back to Laurinburg. As the two drove south to school, Wilson was startled -- "I actually was frightened," he said -- by a burst of wailing from the passenger seat.
"I thought something was really wrong," Wilson said. "Here was this 7-foot kid crying uncontrollably. I had to pull over, I had no idea what was happening. After a while, he told me that this was the first time in his life someone really loved him."
The two started talking every day by phone. Cooper started referring to Wilson as his father. Wilson started referring to Cooper as his son.
"I have five other children," Wilson said. "They all consider Kareem their brother. At work, people ask about my son, Kareem. Kareem calls my wife 'Ma.'"
One day, Wilson asked Cooper for his shoe size, because he wanted to send him some shoes as a gift.
"Uh, 18," Cooper said.
Not long after, Wilson went to visit Cooper at Laurinburg. The new shoes were still in the box.
"It turns out he didn't know his shoe size," Wilson said. "He had never been to a shoe store. He wore whatever coaches gave him. When I asked him his shoe size over the phone, he just guessed."
There would be small, revealing moments like this throughout the new few years. Cooper is huge, as big as two men. But many things, he simply doesn't know.
So he would hide behind a persona, slouching and aloof. Cooper refused to talk to reporters last year. He was arrested for possession of marijuana.
"The way he's always protected himself is to not care," Wilson said. "That way, when something doesn't work out, it's OK because he didn't care. It's a survival technique for him."
And, of course, it's utterly self-defeating. Because the surest way to make certain something doesn't work out is not to care about whether it does or not.
"It's a vicious cycle," said Wilson, "but I really believe the last few months have changed him."
Calipari suspended Cooper for an unspecified violation of team rules earlier in the season, but people close to the program say Cooper -- not Hashim Bailey -- was involved in the infamous water-bottle incident.
But it wasn't just that, it was the attitude, the arriving late to team meetings, the blowing off of classes.
"I deserved it," said Cooper. "If it wasn't for my teammates, I might never have made it back."
Douglas-Roberts and Antonio Anderson went to Calipari and said they thought the coach should reinstate Cooper. Calipari agreed.
In the two games since, Cooper has been a revelation, collecting nine points and seven rebounds in 15 minutes against Ole Miss, and 11 points and six rebounds in 18 minutes against Austin Peay.
And he's smiling as he does it, encouraging teammates and volunteering to do the post-game radio show.
"I don't want to people have the vibe that I'm some sort of mean guy," he said. "I know I've made mistakes. I also know that I'm on a thin piece of ice, and if I make one more mistake, it's guaranteed to break."
So, is Cooper a thug? Or a kid from the neighborhood who seems to be on the way to salvaging a future from his past?
Wilson, back in Capitol Heights, has a pretty good idea. After Cooper's first game back, he sent Calipari a text message.
"Thanks," it said. "You just saved that kid's life."
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Tigers Have Double Session of Camp Cal
Tigers have double session of Camp Cal
By Dan Wolken
December 17, 2006
Camp Cal was back in session Saturday.
After a day off following last Thursday's victory over Austin Peay, the University of Memphis began its semester break with two practices Saturday, the first beginning at 8 a.m.
The No. 19-ranked Tigers will have two more practices today before heading to Tucson on Monday to face No. 10 Arizona on Wednesday.
Though it's the first time the Tigers have had two-a-days since the preseason, spending long hours in the Finch Center has been an annual tradition during winter break under coach John Calipari, thus the Camp Cal moniker.
"We figured we'd have to do it with how we're playing," sophomore forward Robert Dozier said. "We're not satisfied with how we're playing right now so we just had to come in, wake up early this morning and get our brains right and get our legs going. And we took care of business."
Indeed, Calipari was pleased with the focus and effort he got Saturday from his players, who will face the best opponent they've seen all year in Arizona.
"The intensity, the level of what we have to do now is starting to go up," Calipari said. "I don't know what it means. Hopefully it means we'll be a little better prepared for a road game than we were last time. I think tomorrow we'll do the same, we'll go twice. We'll go defense (this) morning, and then we'll do some breakdown stuff and then scrimmage in the afternoon and evening."
Coach's corner
Against Arizona, Memphis' big men will likely have to play out on the perimeter more than they're used to, given how much 6-10 Ivan Radenovic and 6-7 Chase Budinger like to make things happen away from the basket.
"We've worked on it, we talked about it, saying 'hey you're going to have to go out there and guard,'" Calipari said.
Calipari believes junior forward Joey Dorsey, who could be matched up with Radenovic, is quick enough to guard him out on the floor -- if he can stay out of foul trouble.
"Joey can guard a perimeter guy, if he'll move his feet," Calipari said. "He gets to where he doesn't want to move them so he puts his hand on him and it's an automatic foul. If he moves his feet, he's quick enough, he's long enough, he's active enough."
Odds and ends
Freshmen Tre'Von Willis and Pierre Niles missed Saturday's practice due to illness. Willis was suffering from flu-like symptoms while Niles was having stomach difficulties possibly caused by a virus or food poisoning. ... Dorsey celebrated his 23rd birthday Saturday. ... Calipari said he wasn't sure how the suspension of the Memphis-Ole Miss football series beginning in 2010 might impact the schools' basketball series. Next year's game, in Oxford, is the last one in the current contract. Calipari has been vocal that his preference would be to not play Ole Miss.
-- Dan Wolken: 529-2365
By Dan Wolken
December 17, 2006
Camp Cal was back in session Saturday.
After a day off following last Thursday's victory over Austin Peay, the University of Memphis began its semester break with two practices Saturday, the first beginning at 8 a.m.
The No. 19-ranked Tigers will have two more practices today before heading to Tucson on Monday to face No. 10 Arizona on Wednesday.
Though it's the first time the Tigers have had two-a-days since the preseason, spending long hours in the Finch Center has been an annual tradition during winter break under coach John Calipari, thus the Camp Cal moniker.
"We figured we'd have to do it with how we're playing," sophomore forward Robert Dozier said. "We're not satisfied with how we're playing right now so we just had to come in, wake up early this morning and get our brains right and get our legs going. And we took care of business."
Indeed, Calipari was pleased with the focus and effort he got Saturday from his players, who will face the best opponent they've seen all year in Arizona.
"The intensity, the level of what we have to do now is starting to go up," Calipari said. "I don't know what it means. Hopefully it means we'll be a little better prepared for a road game than we were last time. I think tomorrow we'll do the same, we'll go twice. We'll go defense (this) morning, and then we'll do some breakdown stuff and then scrimmage in the afternoon and evening."
Coach's corner
Against Arizona, Memphis' big men will likely have to play out on the perimeter more than they're used to, given how much 6-10 Ivan Radenovic and 6-7 Chase Budinger like to make things happen away from the basket.
"We've worked on it, we talked about it, saying 'hey you're going to have to go out there and guard,'" Calipari said.
Calipari believes junior forward Joey Dorsey, who could be matched up with Radenovic, is quick enough to guard him out on the floor -- if he can stay out of foul trouble.
"Joey can guard a perimeter guy, if he'll move his feet," Calipari said. "He gets to where he doesn't want to move them so he puts his hand on him and it's an automatic foul. If he moves his feet, he's quick enough, he's long enough, he's active enough."
Odds and ends
Freshmen Tre'Von Willis and Pierre Niles missed Saturday's practice due to illness. Willis was suffering from flu-like symptoms while Niles was having stomach difficulties possibly caused by a virus or food poisoning. ... Dorsey celebrated his 23rd birthday Saturday. ... Calipari said he wasn't sure how the suspension of the Memphis-Ole Miss football series beginning in 2010 might impact the schools' basketball series. Next year's game, in Oxford, is the last one in the current contract. Calipari has been vocal that his preference would be to not play Ole Miss.
-- Dan Wolken: 529-2365
Let's Go Peay? No. 19 Memphis Wins 88-63
Let's Go Peay? No. 19 Memphis Wins 88-63
Associated Press 12.14.06, 11:18 PM ET
Chris Douglas-Roberts scored a career-high 28 points on 10-of-12 shooting to lead No. 19 Memphis to an 88-63 victory over Austin Peay on Thursday night.
Douglas-Roberts, a sophomore guard, also was 8-of-10 from the line and had five assists for Memphis (8-2). The Tigers shot 62 percent from the field.
Doneal Mack, Jeremy Hunt and Kareem Cooper added 11 points each, and Joey Dorsey finished with 11 rebounds. Cooper hit all five of his shots.
Derek Wright led Austin Peay (3-5) with 18 points, and Fernandez Lockett had 12.
Memphis scored the game's first 10 points and built a 22-2 lead.
Governors coach Dave Loos called three early timeouts to try to reverse the Tigers' momentum. It didn't help, and Austin Peay never threatened the rest of the way.
With its taller frontline clogging the middle and controlling the boards, Memphis outrebounded Austin Peay 43-21 and outscored the Governors in the paint 58-20. At times, the difference was so evident, Memphis coach John Calipari had to coax his team to continue playing with intensity.
Memphis caused turnovers off the press and controlled the middle with three early blocks. That led to the Governors missing eight of their first nine shots, while the Tigers scored 13 points off Austin Peay's first seven turnovers.
The Governors shot 27 percent for the first half, including 1-of-10 from 3-point range, while Memphis connected on 63 percent. The biggest problem for the Tigers was after building an early lead, they got sloppy handling the basketball, committing eight turnovers in the half.
The Tigers closed the half with the last six points to rebuild the lead to 47-25.
Douglas-Roberts led Memphis in the first half with 17 points, hitting seven of his eight first-half shots. Wright led the Governors with six points in the half.
Memphis maintained a double-digit lead throughout the second half, despite calling off the pressure defense and committing 10 turnovers in the first 9 minutes.
Associated Press 12.14.06, 11:18 PM ET
Chris Douglas-Roberts scored a career-high 28 points on 10-of-12 shooting to lead No. 19 Memphis to an 88-63 victory over Austin Peay on Thursday night.
Douglas-Roberts, a sophomore guard, also was 8-of-10 from the line and had five assists for Memphis (8-2). The Tigers shot 62 percent from the field.
Doneal Mack, Jeremy Hunt and Kareem Cooper added 11 points each, and Joey Dorsey finished with 11 rebounds. Cooper hit all five of his shots.
Derek Wright led Austin Peay (3-5) with 18 points, and Fernandez Lockett had 12.
Memphis scored the game's first 10 points and built a 22-2 lead.
Governors coach Dave Loos called three early timeouts to try to reverse the Tigers' momentum. It didn't help, and Austin Peay never threatened the rest of the way.
With its taller frontline clogging the middle and controlling the boards, Memphis outrebounded Austin Peay 43-21 and outscored the Governors in the paint 58-20. At times, the difference was so evident, Memphis coach John Calipari had to coax his team to continue playing with intensity.
Memphis caused turnovers off the press and controlled the middle with three early blocks. That led to the Governors missing eight of their first nine shots, while the Tigers scored 13 points off Austin Peay's first seven turnovers.
The Governors shot 27 percent for the first half, including 1-of-10 from 3-point range, while Memphis connected on 63 percent. The biggest problem for the Tigers was after building an early lead, they got sloppy handling the basketball, committing eight turnovers in the half.
The Tigers closed the half with the last six points to rebuild the lead to 47-25.
Douglas-Roberts led Memphis in the first half with 17 points, hitting seven of his eight first-half shots. Wright led the Governors with six points in the half.
Memphis maintained a double-digit lead throughout the second half, despite calling off the pressure defense and committing 10 turnovers in the first 9 minutes.
#19 Memphis Tigers 88, Austin Peay Governors 63
Tigers start fast before bad habits creep in against APSU
No. 19 Tigers 88, Austin Peay 63
By Dan Wolken
December 15, 2006
For the first seven minutes Thursday night, the University of Memphis was answering questions, turning corners and growing together right before coach John Calipari's eyes.
As for the final 33 minutes of No. 19-ranked Memphis' 88-63 victory over Austin Peay? Well, there might still be a few issues to work out before heading to Tucson for next Wednesday's showdown with No. 10 Arizona.
Granted, it was hard to learn much about the Tigers after they sprinted to a 22-2 lead against an overmatched Governors team. And despite Austin Peay playing even with Memphis for a long stretch in the middle of the game, Calipari said he was encouraged by how the Tigers looked in front of an announced crowd of 14,538 at FedExForum.
After a week of rough, physical practices intended to rekindle the aggression and passion Memphis had lost somewhere along the way, the Tigers responded by shooting 61.8 percent from the field, recording 24 assists on 34 baskets and holding Austin Peay to 19-of-54 from the field (35.2 percent).
"I saw some great signs," Calipari said. "The biggest thing is, real unselfish play. I love what we did versus the zone. Defensively, we were pretty good. Again, the way we ended the game, I'd like to strangle a couple guys. We're up 30 and I'm telling guys, I want you to play like it's the first two minutes of the game or don't play, let someone else in the game."
Though it would be hard to fault the Tigers (8-2) for much of what happened Thursday, they did commit 23 turnovers -- 15 in the second half -- which allowed Austin Peay to hang around for awhile.
In fact, for more than 22 minutes after Memphis' initial spurt, Austin Peay (3-5) out-scored the Tigers 39-36.
The Governors never made a serious comeback, trailing 58-41 with 10:38 remaining. And though it appeared they might make the final 10 minutes interesting, senior guard Jeremy Hunt buried a 3-pointer to give Memphis a 20-point lead again and hit another one roughly a minute later.
"They jumped out and the next thing you know, it was 20-2," Austin Peay head coach Dave Loos, a former Tigers player and assistant, said. "I was afraid to look after that. We played a little harder and tried to compete. We didn't play well, but we tried to compete."
Austin Peay had no competition for Chris Douglas-Roberts, Memphis' sophomore guard who scored a career-high 28 points on 10-of-12 from the field.
Douglas-Roberts seemingly got to the rim any time he wanted, which he later said was a focus of the Tigers' preparation this week. For the first time in awhile, Memphis ran its offense the way it was designed with crisp ball movement, aggressive drives to the rim and plenty of layups.
And Douglas-Roberts wasn't the only one who got easy looks. Sophomore center Kareem Cooper came off the bench and scored 11 points on 5-of-5 from the field, and freshman guard Doneal Mack attacked the basket for most of his 11 points.
"That's how we usually play anyway, but we strayed away from that in the previous games," Douglas-Roberts said. "I don't know why but we're back to it now. We're back to how we usually play."
The Tigers will hope they can bring to Arizona the same intensity with which they started Thursday's game, scoring the first 12 points, eight of which came from sophomore forward Robert Dozier.
Memphis led 16-2 just 4:31 into the game after Douglas-Roberts scored eight points in a span of 1:09.
The Tigers were then able to extend the lead to 47-25 by halftime with three buckets in a span of 1:03 by Cooper, Douglas-Roberts and Antonio Anderson, who converted a steal in the backcourt into a dunk with nine seconds left.
"The way we've been practicing, been competing, the competitive spirit of our practices kind of gave us a little edge in the beginning," Hunt said. "You can't expect a team to miss every shot. They're going to make some shots. They made a couple shots, and we were missing a couple. But we came out with the victory, that's all we care about."
-- Dan Wolken: 529-2365
No. 19 Tigers 88, Austin Peay 63
By Dan Wolken
December 15, 2006
For the first seven minutes Thursday night, the University of Memphis was answering questions, turning corners and growing together right before coach John Calipari's eyes.
As for the final 33 minutes of No. 19-ranked Memphis' 88-63 victory over Austin Peay? Well, there might still be a few issues to work out before heading to Tucson for next Wednesday's showdown with No. 10 Arizona.
Granted, it was hard to learn much about the Tigers after they sprinted to a 22-2 lead against an overmatched Governors team. And despite Austin Peay playing even with Memphis for a long stretch in the middle of the game, Calipari said he was encouraged by how the Tigers looked in front of an announced crowd of 14,538 at FedExForum.
After a week of rough, physical practices intended to rekindle the aggression and passion Memphis had lost somewhere along the way, the Tigers responded by shooting 61.8 percent from the field, recording 24 assists on 34 baskets and holding Austin Peay to 19-of-54 from the field (35.2 percent).
"I saw some great signs," Calipari said. "The biggest thing is, real unselfish play. I love what we did versus the zone. Defensively, we were pretty good. Again, the way we ended the game, I'd like to strangle a couple guys. We're up 30 and I'm telling guys, I want you to play like it's the first two minutes of the game or don't play, let someone else in the game."
Though it would be hard to fault the Tigers (8-2) for much of what happened Thursday, they did commit 23 turnovers -- 15 in the second half -- which allowed Austin Peay to hang around for awhile.
In fact, for more than 22 minutes after Memphis' initial spurt, Austin Peay (3-5) out-scored the Tigers 39-36.
The Governors never made a serious comeback, trailing 58-41 with 10:38 remaining. And though it appeared they might make the final 10 minutes interesting, senior guard Jeremy Hunt buried a 3-pointer to give Memphis a 20-point lead again and hit another one roughly a minute later.
"They jumped out and the next thing you know, it was 20-2," Austin Peay head coach Dave Loos, a former Tigers player and assistant, said. "I was afraid to look after that. We played a little harder and tried to compete. We didn't play well, but we tried to compete."
Austin Peay had no competition for Chris Douglas-Roberts, Memphis' sophomore guard who scored a career-high 28 points on 10-of-12 from the field.
Douglas-Roberts seemingly got to the rim any time he wanted, which he later said was a focus of the Tigers' preparation this week. For the first time in awhile, Memphis ran its offense the way it was designed with crisp ball movement, aggressive drives to the rim and plenty of layups.
And Douglas-Roberts wasn't the only one who got easy looks. Sophomore center Kareem Cooper came off the bench and scored 11 points on 5-of-5 from the field, and freshman guard Doneal Mack attacked the basket for most of his 11 points.
"That's how we usually play anyway, but we strayed away from that in the previous games," Douglas-Roberts said. "I don't know why but we're back to it now. We're back to how we usually play."
The Tigers will hope they can bring to Arizona the same intensity with which they started Thursday's game, scoring the first 12 points, eight of which came from sophomore forward Robert Dozier.
Memphis led 16-2 just 4:31 into the game after Douglas-Roberts scored eight points in a span of 1:09.
The Tigers were then able to extend the lead to 47-25 by halftime with three buckets in a span of 1:03 by Cooper, Douglas-Roberts and Antonio Anderson, who converted a steal in the backcourt into a dunk with nine seconds left.
"The way we've been practicing, been competing, the competitive spirit of our practices kind of gave us a little edge in the beginning," Hunt said. "You can't expect a team to miss every shot. They're going to make some shots. They made a couple shots, and we were missing a couple. But we came out with the victory, that's all we care about."
-- Dan Wolken: 529-2365
Tigers Host Governors at FedEx Forum
Tigers host Governors at FedExForum
Sportsnetwork.com
Memphis, TN (Sports Network) - The 19th-ranked Memphis Tigers welcome the Austin Peay Governors to town for a non-conference clash this evening from FedExForum.
Austin Peay is just 3-4 overall thus far, but the team has won three of its last four outings since dropping three straight decisions to open the campaign. On Saturday, the Govs improved to 2-1 in Ohio Valley Conference play with a hard-fought 59-57 triumph over Eastern Kentucky.
Memphis carries a 7-2 overall record into this contest, including a perfect 5-0 mark at home. On Saturday, the Tigers recorded an 82-70 decision over Ole Miss, enabling them to bounce back successfully from a lopsided loss to Tennessee in the previous outing.
Memphis owns a 13-4 advantage in the all-time series with Austin Peay, including a 71-66 decision over the Govs in the most recent meeting two seasons ago.
Austin Peay trailed Eastern Kentucky by five points at intermission on Saturday, but the Govs connected on 52.4 percent of their field goal attempts over the final 20 minutes to claim the victory. Landon Shipley led the way in the win with 18 points off the bench, and Derek Wright hit all four of his field goal attempts en route to 14 points. Drake Reed pitched in 10 points for Austin Peay, which is scoring 64.0 ppg while surrendering 70.9 ppg to the opposition. Reed is netting 14.9 ppg to pace the club, while Shipley adds 12.1 ppg to the mix. While this program has been a powerhouse in the OVC in years past, the 2006-07 roster is rather young and inexperienced, so expectations are a bit tempered.
Memphis is racking up 81.6 ppg while limiting its opponents to 68.1 ppg on 38.8 percent shooting from the floor. Chris Douglas-Roberts is an impressive sophomore who is posting a team-high 15.4 ppg on 51.5 percent shooting from the floor. Robert Dozier adds 12.2 ppg and 6.6 rpg to the mix, while Jeremy Hunt is contributing 12.1 ppg. The fourth and final double-digit scorer for the Tigers is Antonio Anderson, as he is posting 10.7 ppg despite his shooting troubles. In the win over Ole Miss on Saturday, Douglas-Roberts came through with 17 points. Hunt contributed 16 points for the Tigers, who got 14 points from Anderson. Memphis forced 21 turnovers and earned a 44-35 rebounding edge, two major factors in the win. The margin of victory could have been even greater for the squad if not for a 15-of-30 effort from the foul line.
Sportsnetwork.com
Memphis, TN (Sports Network) - The 19th-ranked Memphis Tigers welcome the Austin Peay Governors to town for a non-conference clash this evening from FedExForum.
Austin Peay is just 3-4 overall thus far, but the team has won three of its last four outings since dropping three straight decisions to open the campaign. On Saturday, the Govs improved to 2-1 in Ohio Valley Conference play with a hard-fought 59-57 triumph over Eastern Kentucky.
Memphis carries a 7-2 overall record into this contest, including a perfect 5-0 mark at home. On Saturday, the Tigers recorded an 82-70 decision over Ole Miss, enabling them to bounce back successfully from a lopsided loss to Tennessee in the previous outing.
Memphis owns a 13-4 advantage in the all-time series with Austin Peay, including a 71-66 decision over the Govs in the most recent meeting two seasons ago.
Austin Peay trailed Eastern Kentucky by five points at intermission on Saturday, but the Govs connected on 52.4 percent of their field goal attempts over the final 20 minutes to claim the victory. Landon Shipley led the way in the win with 18 points off the bench, and Derek Wright hit all four of his field goal attempts en route to 14 points. Drake Reed pitched in 10 points for Austin Peay, which is scoring 64.0 ppg while surrendering 70.9 ppg to the opposition. Reed is netting 14.9 ppg to pace the club, while Shipley adds 12.1 ppg to the mix. While this program has been a powerhouse in the OVC in years past, the 2006-07 roster is rather young and inexperienced, so expectations are a bit tempered.
Memphis is racking up 81.6 ppg while limiting its opponents to 68.1 ppg on 38.8 percent shooting from the floor. Chris Douglas-Roberts is an impressive sophomore who is posting a team-high 15.4 ppg on 51.5 percent shooting from the floor. Robert Dozier adds 12.2 ppg and 6.6 rpg to the mix, while Jeremy Hunt is contributing 12.1 ppg. The fourth and final double-digit scorer for the Tigers is Antonio Anderson, as he is posting 10.7 ppg despite his shooting troubles. In the win over Ole Miss on Saturday, Douglas-Roberts came through with 17 points. Hunt contributed 16 points for the Tigers, who got 14 points from Anderson. Memphis forced 21 turnovers and earned a 44-35 rebounding edge, two major factors in the win. The margin of victory could have been even greater for the squad if not for a 15-of-30 effort from the foul line.
Schedule Could Haunt Tigers
Schedule could haunt Tigers
By Dan Wolken
December 14, 2006
Whether it's the regional rivalry with Arkansas State or former University of Memphis assistant Dave Loos bringing his Austin Peay team into FedExForum tonight, there has been an intriguing storyline within each of the so-called "guarantee" games Memphis has played this season.
However, the lack of sizzle with the Tigers' home schedule has been a topic of local importance, especially this month.
Though Memphis will continue to play teams like Austin Peay and Jackson State from mid- or low-major conferences, coach John Calipari said this week he plans to have more "balance" in future schedules.
That means having games scheduled both at home and on the road with marquee programs, as opposed to this year's set-up, where Memphis has Tennessee, Gonzaga and Arizona on the road, yet won't host a top-25 team in FedExForum.
Which isn't only bad for fans, it's potentially disastrous for Memphis, which, given its 18-point loss to Tennessee on Dec. 6, is already fighting for its RPI life.
So instead of making a national statement tonight, the best the Tigers can do is beat Austin Peay and then hope the Governors go on to have a good season in the Ohio Valley Conference, possibly giving Memphis some strength of schedule points.
The current situation has prompted questions about why Memphis has to play so many guarantee games -- six of them this year -- given the current depleted state of Conference USA, which won't help the Tigers' NCAA Tournament seeding.
The biggest issue, according to assistant coach John Robic, who does the legwork on Memphis' scheduling, is that the Tigers must play 18 games per year at FedExForum to meet their budget.
The only way to accomplish that is to pay for teams like Austin Peay, Manhattan and Marshall to come to FedExForum for one-time appearances rather than the home-and-home contracts most teams from major conferences seek.
"It would be nice to have two more (marquee) teams, maybe one on the road and one at home, but you can't because you've got to have the home games," Calipari said. "There's a huge profit with us. One less home game is a couple hundred thousand."
"We can get games. People want to play us. It's just trying to get the balance of it."
Next year, assuming Conference USA continues with its 16-game league schedule, eight home games are locked in. The Tigers also have marquee home games against Gonzaga and Arizona, plus Tennessee coming to town for the continuation of that home-and-home series.
That leaves Memphis with seven home slots for next year, one of which will probably be an exhibition game and two more against mid-major competition in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic, in which the Tigers are angling to be a regional host.
Those remaining four slots will likely be filled with "buy" games, Robic said.
"We're looking for buy games against teams that we think are going to win 17, 18 games so that it helps our RPI," Robic said. "There's so many unknowns. It's a flip of the coin."
Next year, Memphis is locked into road games at Ole Miss and Cincinnati and will play Middle Tennessee at the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville as part of a 2-for-1 contract.
But the key to achieving "balance" in the schedule will be securing a marquee home-and-home series starting on the road, ensuring that opponent will play in Memphis in 2008-09.
Another idea is to play a nationally televised neutral site game in Chicago to showcase top point guard recruit Derrick Rose in his hometown against a top-25 caliber team.
"Last year's schedule was unbalanced in our favor with Cincinnati and Mississippi on the road," Calipari said. "And then we had all those games, Texas, Tennessee, Gonzaga at home. Now what's happened is, we've got Arizona this year on the road and then next year we've got them here. We're trying to either get one more really good road game or possibly a neutral game along with a tournament."
-- Dan Wolken: 529-2365
By Dan Wolken
December 14, 2006
Whether it's the regional rivalry with Arkansas State or former University of Memphis assistant Dave Loos bringing his Austin Peay team into FedExForum tonight, there has been an intriguing storyline within each of the so-called "guarantee" games Memphis has played this season.
However, the lack of sizzle with the Tigers' home schedule has been a topic of local importance, especially this month.
Though Memphis will continue to play teams like Austin Peay and Jackson State from mid- or low-major conferences, coach John Calipari said this week he plans to have more "balance" in future schedules.
That means having games scheduled both at home and on the road with marquee programs, as opposed to this year's set-up, where Memphis has Tennessee, Gonzaga and Arizona on the road, yet won't host a top-25 team in FedExForum.
Which isn't only bad for fans, it's potentially disastrous for Memphis, which, given its 18-point loss to Tennessee on Dec. 6, is already fighting for its RPI life.
So instead of making a national statement tonight, the best the Tigers can do is beat Austin Peay and then hope the Governors go on to have a good season in the Ohio Valley Conference, possibly giving Memphis some strength of schedule points.
The current situation has prompted questions about why Memphis has to play so many guarantee games -- six of them this year -- given the current depleted state of Conference USA, which won't help the Tigers' NCAA Tournament seeding.
The biggest issue, according to assistant coach John Robic, who does the legwork on Memphis' scheduling, is that the Tigers must play 18 games per year at FedExForum to meet their budget.
The only way to accomplish that is to pay for teams like Austin Peay, Manhattan and Marshall to come to FedExForum for one-time appearances rather than the home-and-home contracts most teams from major conferences seek.
"It would be nice to have two more (marquee) teams, maybe one on the road and one at home, but you can't because you've got to have the home games," Calipari said. "There's a huge profit with us. One less home game is a couple hundred thousand."
"We can get games. People want to play us. It's just trying to get the balance of it."
Next year, assuming Conference USA continues with its 16-game league schedule, eight home games are locked in. The Tigers also have marquee home games against Gonzaga and Arizona, plus Tennessee coming to town for the continuation of that home-and-home series.
That leaves Memphis with seven home slots for next year, one of which will probably be an exhibition game and two more against mid-major competition in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic, in which the Tigers are angling to be a regional host.
Those remaining four slots will likely be filled with "buy" games, Robic said.
"We're looking for buy games against teams that we think are going to win 17, 18 games so that it helps our RPI," Robic said. "There's so many unknowns. It's a flip of the coin."
Next year, Memphis is locked into road games at Ole Miss and Cincinnati and will play Middle Tennessee at the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville as part of a 2-for-1 contract.
But the key to achieving "balance" in the schedule will be securing a marquee home-and-home series starting on the road, ensuring that opponent will play in Memphis in 2008-09.
Another idea is to play a nationally televised neutral site game in Chicago to showcase top point guard recruit Derrick Rose in his hometown against a top-25 caliber team.
"Last year's schedule was unbalanced in our favor with Cincinnati and Mississippi on the road," Calipari said. "And then we had all those games, Texas, Tennessee, Gonzaga at home. Now what's happened is, we've got Arizona this year on the road and then next year we've got them here. We're trying to either get one more really good road game or possibly a neutral game along with a tournament."
-- Dan Wolken: 529-2365
Covers.com on the Memphis Tigers
Memphis Bleak: Books Tagging Tigers as Tough Cover
By Jason Logan, Covers.com
Wed, Dec 13, 2006
There are some very big shoes outside the Memphis Tigers’ locker room and head coach John Calipari is still waiting to see who is going to fill them.
After losing stars Rodney Carney, Shawne Williams and Darius Washington to the pros, the Tigers are trying to plug major holes in their roster and find go-to options in the offense.
Despite putting up more than 80 points per contest, Memphis has a 2-6 record against the spread. While it has been able to muster enough effort to get wins, starting the year 7-2 straight up, this production has fallen short of oddsmakers’ expectations.
Books continue to set the Tigers as big favorites against weaker opponents, posting spreads as large as 27 points this season. Although they rank No. 19 in the country, some sharp bettors believe their odds are skewed because of past success and the early expectations put on their inexperienced players.
"There`s no doubt that oddsmakers have the ability to jack up spreads for teams like Memphis," says Pat Miller of Covers Experts. "The public is going to bite the majority of the time, regardless of the fact that the Tigers are just 2-6 ATS on the season. It`s simply a case of a team`s reputation preceding them."
The young Tigers have shot 43.9 percent from the floor and under 30 percent from beyond the arc. The biggest problem, according to point guard Andre Allen, is that no one wants the ball and the offense isn’t getting the same movement it did last season.
"When they hustle to get to the right spot, we get them the ball,” Allen told the Memphis Commercial Appeal. “But when they`re just jogging down the court, we`re under pressure the whole time. Then we`re forced to do some things we don`t want to do."
Allen and fellow point guard Willie Kemp have become fed up with the weak effort on offense and voiced their opinions to Coach Calipari. Both Allen and Kemp have been forced to create on the offensive end, leading to their dismal shooting numbers which Calipari has acknowledged.
"The way we`re playing has nothing to do with the point guards," Calipari told reporters. "Go down the list and no one is playing to the level they need to play."
The closest thing Memphis has to a first option is sophomore guard Chris Douglas-Roberts, who leads the team with 15.4 points per game. Forward Robert Dozier and senior guard Jeremy Hunt have shown flashes of brilliance, but have remained inconsistent early in the season.
"They have the potential to be as good as last year’s edition over time, but it looks like the betting markets were expecting too much too soon,” says professional handicapper David Malinsky. “New faces do not gel that quickly, especially without the right kind of veterans to help them to mature.”
Calipari has used some time off between games to change his players` mindset on the offensive attack. Heading into last weekend’s game against Ole Miss, he increased the level of intensity at practice by keeping his drills quick and competitive. This change of pace was enough to get an 82-70 win over the Rebels, but once again was not enough to cover the chalk set by bookmakers.
Tigers backers are looking for more of an effort when Memphis hosts Austin Peay on Thursday night. Books have not yet set a line for this game, but the hometown Tigers will likely see another 20-plus-point spread.
"I`d stay far away from that matchup on Thursday,” says Miller. “You just don`t know what type of effort you`re going to get from the Tigers. The potential is certainly there for a breakout performance but this isn`t the time to be laying any significant digits with so many unknowns in play.”
By Jason Logan, Covers.com
Wed, Dec 13, 2006
There are some very big shoes outside the Memphis Tigers’ locker room and head coach John Calipari is still waiting to see who is going to fill them.
After losing stars Rodney Carney, Shawne Williams and Darius Washington to the pros, the Tigers are trying to plug major holes in their roster and find go-to options in the offense.
Despite putting up more than 80 points per contest, Memphis has a 2-6 record against the spread. While it has been able to muster enough effort to get wins, starting the year 7-2 straight up, this production has fallen short of oddsmakers’ expectations.
Books continue to set the Tigers as big favorites against weaker opponents, posting spreads as large as 27 points this season. Although they rank No. 19 in the country, some sharp bettors believe their odds are skewed because of past success and the early expectations put on their inexperienced players.
"There`s no doubt that oddsmakers have the ability to jack up spreads for teams like Memphis," says Pat Miller of Covers Experts. "The public is going to bite the majority of the time, regardless of the fact that the Tigers are just 2-6 ATS on the season. It`s simply a case of a team`s reputation preceding them."
The young Tigers have shot 43.9 percent from the floor and under 30 percent from beyond the arc. The biggest problem, according to point guard Andre Allen, is that no one wants the ball and the offense isn’t getting the same movement it did last season.
"When they hustle to get to the right spot, we get them the ball,” Allen told the Memphis Commercial Appeal. “But when they`re just jogging down the court, we`re under pressure the whole time. Then we`re forced to do some things we don`t want to do."
Allen and fellow point guard Willie Kemp have become fed up with the weak effort on offense and voiced their opinions to Coach Calipari. Both Allen and Kemp have been forced to create on the offensive end, leading to their dismal shooting numbers which Calipari has acknowledged.
"The way we`re playing has nothing to do with the point guards," Calipari told reporters. "Go down the list and no one is playing to the level they need to play."
The closest thing Memphis has to a first option is sophomore guard Chris Douglas-Roberts, who leads the team with 15.4 points per game. Forward Robert Dozier and senior guard Jeremy Hunt have shown flashes of brilliance, but have remained inconsistent early in the season.
"They have the potential to be as good as last year’s edition over time, but it looks like the betting markets were expecting too much too soon,” says professional handicapper David Malinsky. “New faces do not gel that quickly, especially without the right kind of veterans to help them to mature.”
Calipari has used some time off between games to change his players` mindset on the offensive attack. Heading into last weekend’s game against Ole Miss, he increased the level of intensity at practice by keeping his drills quick and competitive. This change of pace was enough to get an 82-70 win over the Rebels, but once again was not enough to cover the chalk set by bookmakers.
Tigers backers are looking for more of an effort when Memphis hosts Austin Peay on Thursday night. Books have not yet set a line for this game, but the hometown Tigers will likely see another 20-plus-point spread.
"I`d stay far away from that matchup on Thursday,” says Miller. “You just don`t know what type of effort you`re going to get from the Tigers. The potential is certainly there for a breakout performance but this isn`t the time to be laying any significant digits with so many unknowns in play.”
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Shawne Williams Finally Plays in First NBA Game Monday
He is alive! There has been a Shawne Williams sighting. After not playing all season, rookie Shawne Williams, the Indiana Pacers first round draft pick from Memphis, FINALLY got in his first NBA game Monday night. In the Pacers 106-91 loss to Chicago, Williams scored 13 points on 6 of 9 shooting from the floor.
Helping his cause to get on the court was the fact the Pacers were without starters Al Harrington and Marquis Daniels, both of whom had a stomach ailment, and Stephen Jackson, who was suspended for one game after an altercation with coach Rick Carlisle.
Williams was inactive for the Pacers first 21 games.
Posted in The NBA by Marlon Morgan
It Isn't Just Me......See Memphis Sport Magazine's Randy Malone's Comments on Andre Allen
Monday, December 11, 2006
Memphis Weekend Review
Randy Malone, Co-Editorial Director
Memphis Sport Magazine
Nobody else seems to want to address it, so I will...what is the fascination that Memphis Tiger basketball fans have with Andre Allen and Kareem Cooper? After watching the Tigers win over Ole Miss this past Saturday, I can honestly say that I just don't get it. Why does everybody seem to think that Allen and Cooper are all that? Allen is out of control 90% of the time he's on the floor. He's perfected the "drive" part of the drive and dish offense, but once he gets into the lane it's like he freaks out. Allen is shooting 33% from the field and only 19% from behind the 3-point line. If that's not bad enough, he's hitting a ridiculous 38% from the free throw line. And, he needs to shave that stupid beard.
As far as Cooper is concerned, his game just doesn't make sense to me. Here's a 6' 11", 290 pound mountain of a man who's playing like Pee Wee Herman. Twice in a row - on the same possession - during the Ole Miss game, Cooper got the ball down low...down low as in two feet from the goal...and instead of rising up and throwing down a thunder dunk, he tried to do some sissy little layup. Twice! On the same possession! Wouldn't have been so bad had he made one of them, but both times his attempts were swatted against the backboard by Ole Miss' Jeremy Parnell. Coop, you're 6' - freakin' - 11" tall...dunk the damn ball! You're playing like Woody Harrellson. Grow a pair and play like a man!
Memphis Weekend Review
Randy Malone, Co-Editorial Director
Memphis Sport Magazine
Nobody else seems to want to address it, so I will...what is the fascination that Memphis Tiger basketball fans have with Andre Allen and Kareem Cooper? After watching the Tigers win over Ole Miss this past Saturday, I can honestly say that I just don't get it. Why does everybody seem to think that Allen and Cooper are all that? Allen is out of control 90% of the time he's on the floor. He's perfected the "drive" part of the drive and dish offense, but once he gets into the lane it's like he freaks out. Allen is shooting 33% from the field and only 19% from behind the 3-point line. If that's not bad enough, he's hitting a ridiculous 38% from the free throw line. And, he needs to shave that stupid beard.
As far as Cooper is concerned, his game just doesn't make sense to me. Here's a 6' 11", 290 pound mountain of a man who's playing like Pee Wee Herman. Twice in a row - on the same possession - during the Ole Miss game, Cooper got the ball down low...down low as in two feet from the goal...and instead of rising up and throwing down a thunder dunk, he tried to do some sissy little layup. Twice! On the same possession! Wouldn't have been so bad had he made one of them, but both times his attempts were swatted against the backboard by Ole Miss' Jeremy Parnell. Coop, you're 6' - freakin' - 11" tall...dunk the damn ball! You're playing like Woody Harrellson. Grow a pair and play like a man!
Austin Peay Tip Moved to 8 pm CST / Tigers Drop in Polls to #19
Austin Peay tip bumped to 8 p.m.
By Dan Wolken
December 12, 2006
Thursday's game against Austin Peay will tip off at 8 p.m. rather than 7 p.m., as advertised on all of the University of Memphis' preseason ticket literature.
The game was rescheduled for an hour later at FedExForum to accommodate the final exam schedules of both schools. Memphis and Austin Peay players have finals scheduled for Thursday, and Austin Peay will not be departing Clarksville until mid-afternoon.
Poll work
Memphis dropped to No. 19 in both the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today polls on Monday after going 2-1 last week.
The Tigers beat Marshall and Ole Miss, but couldn't overcome a 76-58 loss at Tennessee on Wednesday, which was televised on ESPN2.
Memphis was No. 16 last week in the AP poll and No. 17 in the ESPN/USA Today poll.
Though the RPI ratings are still volatile this early in the season, Memphis checked in at No. 35 on Monday, according to Ken Pomeroy's calculations.
Remarkably, two Conference USA teams are ahead of Memphis -- SMU at No. 9 on the strength of a 6-1 record and UAB at No. 25.
Making progress
When freshman guard Doneal Mack drove the baseline with 5:39 left in Saturday's 82-70 victory over Ole Miss and launched into his 41-inch vertical leap for a highlight-reel dunk, it seemed to come out of nowhere.
"I was walking around (on campus)," Mack said, and everybody was like, 'Hey I didn't know you could do that. We heard you could jump, but didn't know you could do that.'"
Little by little, Mack is showing Memphis fans his full range of athletic skills, which are frequently showcased in practices but have yet to reveal themselves in games.
To this point, Mack has mostly been a 3-point gunner, though he's only shooting 25 percent from long range. Mack has the green light to step in and take pull-up jumpers from mid-range, but he said he's trying to keep it simple because he still has a lot to think about every time he's on the court.
"I'm trying to figure out where I catch it at, where I can do the pull-up," Mack said. "I haven't figured it out yet. My first instinct is still to shoot the 3 or drive to the hole. I guess because I'm a freshman, it's definitely taking time, but gradually I'm learning."
By Dan Wolken
December 12, 2006
Thursday's game against Austin Peay will tip off at 8 p.m. rather than 7 p.m., as advertised on all of the University of Memphis' preseason ticket literature.
The game was rescheduled for an hour later at FedExForum to accommodate the final exam schedules of both schools. Memphis and Austin Peay players have finals scheduled for Thursday, and Austin Peay will not be departing Clarksville until mid-afternoon.
Poll work
Memphis dropped to No. 19 in both the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today polls on Monday after going 2-1 last week.
The Tigers beat Marshall and Ole Miss, but couldn't overcome a 76-58 loss at Tennessee on Wednesday, which was televised on ESPN2.
Memphis was No. 16 last week in the AP poll and No. 17 in the ESPN/USA Today poll.
Though the RPI ratings are still volatile this early in the season, Memphis checked in at No. 35 on Monday, according to Ken Pomeroy's calculations.
Remarkably, two Conference USA teams are ahead of Memphis -- SMU at No. 9 on the strength of a 6-1 record and UAB at No. 25.
Making progress
When freshman guard Doneal Mack drove the baseline with 5:39 left in Saturday's 82-70 victory over Ole Miss and launched into his 41-inch vertical leap for a highlight-reel dunk, it seemed to come out of nowhere.
"I was walking around (on campus)," Mack said, and everybody was like, 'Hey I didn't know you could do that. We heard you could jump, but didn't know you could do that.'"
Little by little, Mack is showing Memphis fans his full range of athletic skills, which are frequently showcased in practices but have yet to reveal themselves in games.
To this point, Mack has mostly been a 3-point gunner, though he's only shooting 25 percent from long range. Mack has the green light to step in and take pull-up jumpers from mid-range, but he said he's trying to keep it simple because he still has a lot to think about every time he's on the court.
"I'm trying to figure out where I catch it at, where I can do the pull-up," Mack said. "I haven't figured it out yet. My first instinct is still to shoot the 3 or drive to the hole. I guess because I'm a freshman, it's definitely taking time, but gradually I'm learning."
Article on Pierre Niles
One Tiger's weighty position
By Dan Wolken
December 12, 2006
Pierre Niles has always been bigger, stronger and more skilled than almost everyone he's encountered on a basketball court, and so it was natural for the 6-8 freshman to believe it would be the same way upon his arrival at the University of Memphis.
But the first month of Niles' season has been marked mostly by frustration.
Frustration with minor knee surgery that thwarted his early progress. Frustration with the 15 extra pounds he figured would be long gone by now. Frustration with the amount of time he's spending on the bench, and frustration with playing center rather than power forward.
"It's real hard," Niles, the former Ridgeway High star, said Monday. "I thought I was going to come in and be the man, but it's not that easy. College is real different from high school. Now I see it. Better players, stronger players. It's a whole different level."
For the first time this season, Niles didn't get off the bench Saturday during Memphis' 82-70 victory over Ole Miss, which improved the Tigers' record to 7-2.
Three days before that, Niles played just six minutes in a 76-58 loss at Tennessee, which had been his season low.
"I'm real frustrated," Niles said. "It's something everybody goes through, and I think I'm going through mine right now. It's just a lot of stuff. It's just something I'm going through right now, and I've got to get over it."
The lack of playing time is yet another challenge in a series of them Niles has faced since the summer, when he weighed in at 300 pounds and was challenged by coach John Calipari to get down to 275 by the beginning of the season.
Niles was on track to do that until arthroscopic surgery to remove cartilage from his right knee on Oct. 16 sidelined him for almost three weeks.
Then, when he came back, the thought was that playing center would be easier for Niles because it's a less complex position than power forward in Memphis' offense. In reality, Niles isn't well-suited to play center, and it showed early in the season, especially on the defensive end.
Now, with sophomore center Kareem Cooper back from a preseason suspension, the Tigers hope to move Niles to power forward as a backup to Robert Dozier, where his offensive skills should translate better. Memphis hasn't had a No. 2 power forward this season.
"We've got to figure out where we play him, how we play him," Calipari said. "We brought him here as a (power forward), but you can't play the 'four' at 290 pounds. Obviously at the 'five,' he's not as effective. He can't get balls, he can't play big enough.
"We're going to try to get his weight down and get him back to playing some 'four.' It's a little harder position, you have to know a little bit more, but maybe if he gets that weight down he can get back to doing what we know he can do."
Niles, who is averaging 2.8 points and 3.6 rebounds, said he's determined to do just that.
"I've got to fight through it, try to find a way to get out of it," Niles said. "I've got to lose my weight. I'm not trying to focus on anything else right now, I'm just trying to lose the weight. If I lose the weight, I think I'll be good.
"I've got to step my stuff up. I've got to get back to my normal position and play the four instead of center. I'm out of my position. When I get back to my position, I think I'll be the old me again."
-- Dan Wolken: 529-2365
--------------------
Next for No. 19 Tigers
Opponent: Austin Peay
When, where: Thursday, 8 p.m., at FedExForum
Tickets: Call 678-2331; go to gotigersgo.com
By Dan Wolken
December 12, 2006
Pierre Niles has always been bigger, stronger and more skilled than almost everyone he's encountered on a basketball court, and so it was natural for the 6-8 freshman to believe it would be the same way upon his arrival at the University of Memphis.
But the first month of Niles' season has been marked mostly by frustration.
Frustration with minor knee surgery that thwarted his early progress. Frustration with the 15 extra pounds he figured would be long gone by now. Frustration with the amount of time he's spending on the bench, and frustration with playing center rather than power forward.
"It's real hard," Niles, the former Ridgeway High star, said Monday. "I thought I was going to come in and be the man, but it's not that easy. College is real different from high school. Now I see it. Better players, stronger players. It's a whole different level."
For the first time this season, Niles didn't get off the bench Saturday during Memphis' 82-70 victory over Ole Miss, which improved the Tigers' record to 7-2.
Three days before that, Niles played just six minutes in a 76-58 loss at Tennessee, which had been his season low.
"I'm real frustrated," Niles said. "It's something everybody goes through, and I think I'm going through mine right now. It's just a lot of stuff. It's just something I'm going through right now, and I've got to get over it."
The lack of playing time is yet another challenge in a series of them Niles has faced since the summer, when he weighed in at 300 pounds and was challenged by coach John Calipari to get down to 275 by the beginning of the season.
Niles was on track to do that until arthroscopic surgery to remove cartilage from his right knee on Oct. 16 sidelined him for almost three weeks.
Then, when he came back, the thought was that playing center would be easier for Niles because it's a less complex position than power forward in Memphis' offense. In reality, Niles isn't well-suited to play center, and it showed early in the season, especially on the defensive end.
Now, with sophomore center Kareem Cooper back from a preseason suspension, the Tigers hope to move Niles to power forward as a backup to Robert Dozier, where his offensive skills should translate better. Memphis hasn't had a No. 2 power forward this season.
"We've got to figure out where we play him, how we play him," Calipari said. "We brought him here as a (power forward), but you can't play the 'four' at 290 pounds. Obviously at the 'five,' he's not as effective. He can't get balls, he can't play big enough.
"We're going to try to get his weight down and get him back to playing some 'four.' It's a little harder position, you have to know a little bit more, but maybe if he gets that weight down he can get back to doing what we know he can do."
Niles, who is averaging 2.8 points and 3.6 rebounds, said he's determined to do just that.
"I've got to fight through it, try to find a way to get out of it," Niles said. "I've got to lose my weight. I'm not trying to focus on anything else right now, I'm just trying to lose the weight. If I lose the weight, I think I'll be good.
"I've got to step my stuff up. I've got to get back to my normal position and play the four instead of center. I'm out of my position. When I get back to my position, I think I'll be the old me again."
-- Dan Wolken: 529-2365
--------------------
Next for No. 19 Tigers
Opponent: Austin Peay
When, where: Thursday, 8 p.m., at FedExForum
Tickets: Call 678-2331; go to gotigersgo.com
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Columnist Geoff Calkins on the Tigers
Tigers look good - as they must every game
Geoff Calkins
December 10, 2006
The Tigers won by a dozen! Joey Dorsey only had three fouls! Kareem Cooper was back from purgatory and looked darn good!
So, you think they can go out and beat Arizona in 10 days? Or Gonzaga in February at Spokane?
If not, they may have a problem.
But, hey, hope you enjoyed the game!
The Memphis Tigers defeated Ole Miss at FedExForum Saturday, 82-70, to run their record to 7-2.
"We're where we want to be," John Calipari said. "If you said to me, prior to this season, 'You'd be 7-2,' I'd have done backflips."
Hmmmmm.
You really believe that? Especially with that hip?
And with that preposterous system/conference/schedule that gives the Tigers so few chances to prove they deserve a high seed in the NCAA Tournament?
This is life outside the BCS. This is another reason the people who run the athletic program should be fired if they don't have a strategy for getting Memphis out of Conference USA.
Kansas has two losses and it's no big deal. The Jayhawks have a whole conference season to prove they deserve a high seed. Florida has two losses and nobody frets. The Gators can get it all back by winning the SEC.
Memphis has two losses and it's close to a calamity. Because there's only so much you can prove when you're playing 16 games against Southern Miss, Tulane, Marshall, Rice, Central Florida, East Carolina and, oh, the sad thing is we really could go on.
George Washington went 26-2 in the Atlantic 10 last year. On Selection Sunday, the Colonials were awarded with a No. 8 seed.
Gonzaga -- the best team from a crummy conference over the last decade -- was a No. 10 seed in 1999, a No. 9 seed in 2000, a No. 12 seed in 2001, a No. 6 seed in 2002 and a No. 9 seed in 2003.
So it's not easy to transcend conference schlock.
"You have to be perfect," said Calipari, whose Tigers were close to that last year.
This year, by contrast, Memphis has beaten Kentucky but lost to Georgia Tech and Tennessee. Tiger fans have spent the last few days going nutso over the Tennessee loss.
But if the Tigers played in, say, the old Conference USA, they could get it back by beating Cincinnati, Louisville and Marquette.
Instead, they're left with games at Arizona on Dec. 20 and at Gonzaga on Feb. 17.
"To say we must beat Arizona or Gonzaga on the road, well, that's a hard statement," Calipari said.
OK, but they must beat Arizona or Gonzaga on the road.
In the meantime, there are games like Saturday's, which was a nice little bounce-back after Tennessee. Memphis didn't play the kind of game it will take to beat a high-level opponent -- Antonio Anderson, Chris Douglas-Roberts and Andre Allen combined to go 4-of-13 from the line -- but there were some positive signs.
The biggest was Cooper, in every sense of the word. The one thing that didn't change while he was away: The kid is large.
And he has wonderful, soft hands, hands that could make him millions down the road if he'd lose weight and do all the right things.
His first shot, he hit a falling-down, off-glass baby hook.
"Simple and effective," said Douglas-Roberts.
"That's a big dude," said Calipari.
Cooper finished with nine points and seven rebounds in 15 minutes.
He talked to the press for the first time in ages after the game.
"I'm grateful to get another chance," he said.
See, positive signs.
And at another school, a BCS school, that would be enough for the day. The season would unfold the way the season would unfold. No need to rush anything.
Unfortunately, that's not the situation at Memphis. Like, for instance, Cooper needs to lose some weight.
"I'm going to get in shape," he said.
Great. That's fabulous news.
Could you do it in the next two weeks?
Contact Geoff Calkins at 529-2364 or send an e-mail.
Fan Comments on Tiger Program Following Tennessee Loss (Man People Are Emotional!!!!!)
Sounding off on Tiger basketball
To whom it my concern: This fan has left the building.
Eight games into the 2006-2007 basketball season have left this fan with a broken heart. I know we are going to lose games, but we do not need to lose them so badly (UCLA last year, Georgia Tech and UT games this year). I expressed my concerns and also discussed what I believe to be the way to beat Memphis with the guys around the water cooler. Someone must have passed this information to Bruce Pearl because he did a good job for UT. The problem is we had no way to get this information to coach Cal.
I feel being alumni parents with two children attending the University of Memphis, season ticket holders of football tickets and a huge fan of the basketball program I have the right to send this S.O.S.
The current program has the talent, fans and a big-time coach. Is expecting results in March as well as good basketball every game during the season too much to ask? After reading Seth Davis' "Letter from Memphis" and digesting the contents and his assessment of the train wreck that "will happen," his predictions were right on target. The style of play, the number of 3-point shots attempted in each game and the lack of fundamentals are leading to our demise.
I know I don't need to be echoing all the dos and don'ts, but my Memphis basketball spirit has been amputated! Please offer me some type of prosthetic for what is left of the season. My TV will be turned off and my seat will be the empty one near the top.
Ed Leet
Germantown, Tennessee
After reading the letter from Gary Busby (Dec. 8), I realized why so many people dislike UT both in the SEC and outside of it. If he represents the average UT fan, they are classless when they win, classless when they lose. He called the Tiger players thugs over and over but must have a short memory in that two UT players got technicals. Or just how many UT athletes have been involved in (off-the-field incidents). As the old saying goes, be careful about throwing stones if you live in a glass house.
Donna Zaino
Olive Branch, Mississippi
First off, both Tennessee and Memphis have excellent basketball programs; secondly I don't think that coach Cal has disrespected Tennessee's program in any way.
He never said he didn't want to play Tennessee because they are not a national program, he simply said that he would prefer to play a more national schedule which means outside of the state of Tennessee. Tennessee is a SEC school, so they have the luxury of playing a tough conference schedule as well as a challenging non-conference schedule. Memphis, on the other hand, plays in Conference USA, and with the exception of Houston and UAB, the conference is pretty weak. This is the reason why coach Cal needs to continue scheduling more non-conference games against other national programs, "outside of the state of Tennessee" so that his Tigers can face teams from other big conferences besides the SEC. It helps Memphis draw a higher seed in the NCAA tournament when they can play and be competitive against teams like Duke, UCLA, Texas, Gonzaga, Arizona, and Georgia Tech.
William Terrell
Bartlett, Tennessee
It sounds like poor little "Tiger High" has gotten under the skin of the "Big Orange Nation." I find it particularly humorous just for the mere fact Tennessee has every advantage possible in all levels of athletics; facilities, scholarship fund donations, the SEC, etc. For a particular respondent to label the athletes at the UofM "thugs" is hysterical by the numbers of off-the-field issues Tennessee has dealt with all the way back from Tony Robinson to the present. I commend Bruce Pearl on a great PR job of fueling this rivalry. I am and have been for many years a contributor to Tiger athletics. Tennessee and Memphis should play in every sport. It is good for the entire state and its fans. In defense of Calipari, he is a great PR man himself. He realizes the position of Tennessee. They are a national school. They are in the SEC. They are on national television in football, basketball and women's basketball weekly. John does not have that advantage. He works tirelessly to grow a program that doesn't have all of the "advantages". Let's face it, Memphis needs the recognition and appreciate the fact that Tennessee fans will help us in our recruiting efforts nationally through their banterings. I am married to a UT grad and support the Vols in athletics except when they play the Tigers. This is a rarity among the Tiger faithful.
Jeff Wright
The Woodlands, Texas
It's a shame that a great performance by a great athlete gets turned into garbage talk by Tennessee fans and Memphis "miserables."
The story of the game Wednesday night was Chris Lofton and his clinic on shooting. Simply put, he was amazing.
And I am a Tiger fan. Yes, I'm disappointed in losing the game. Yes, I'm disappointed in our poor shooting. But we lost the game because of Chris Lofton. It has nothing to do with us being "thugs" or Memphis showing some kind of disrespect.
Chris Lofton had a great performance. He is a special player. Don't let that be overshadowed by petty name calling and hypocritical insults.
Stephen Twombly
Memphis
I'm tired of hearing Cal and his players say that playing the Vols is "just another game." Tiger players and fans from all generations know that playing the Vols is something that should happen every year, and defeating them should be a priority. Cal needs to show some respect to the Vols, and respect for the history of the rivalry. By de-emphasizing the game, Cal's attitude rubs off on the players.
Frank Bridger
Memphis
Tennessee wins one game against Memphis and acts like they are national champions. Ever hear of the phrase, "even a blind hog finds an acorn every once in awhile?" If Memphis played Tennessee 10 more times this season, we would beat them all 10 times.
Clark Plunk
Lakeland, Tennessee
I am a proud graduate of the UofM (MSU when I was there) and it's always refreshing to see just how important a victory over the Tigers means to the "big" schools such as UT. If their basketball program is so much better than Memphis', why such the beating on the chest after Wednesday's win? It's because our program is more storied than UT's. Just like their football program is hall of fame material and ours isn't.
Robert Jackson
Citrus Heights, Calif.
Saturday, December 09, 2006
And Finally, My Commentary on the Tennessee Game Melt Down
Well, I finally forced myself to watch the entire game film of the Tennessee game. It was not pretty, but it wasn't as bad as I really expected. Let's face it, Chris Lofton was out-of-this-world. I mean he hit three or four shots that Michael Jordan would have been proud of.
Where on earth was Robert Dozier? Did he even make the trip. With the exception of the alley-oop dunk following yet another Chris Lofton 3 pointer, I don't remember much about him. Oh yeah, there was the sequence in the first half when I think Dozier missed the dunk, the follow up rebound lay-up, and the rebound 3 footer from the lane. Then amazingly you check the box score and Dozier scored 13 points. That was the quietest 13 points in the history of basketball.
I was wrong early last week when I said I thought Willie Kemp would be fine. He looked like a freshman out of control and frankly a bit freaked out by the whole experience. 1 of 11 from the floor? Andre Allen did a fairly decent job at the point, but it didn't translate into assists. Of course, who can get assists when your team misses 55 shots from the floor.
Ok, let's give credit where it is due - Chris Lofton, wow what a performance. Duke Crews. I thought Crews really outplayed the entire Memphis front line. Joey Dorsey may have gotten 13 rebounds in 15 minutes, but Crews' 10 boards seemed more timely and obviously helped his team. How about Crews' intensity? Do the Tigers have anyone with that type of personality?
Tennessee was 17 of 20 in free throws. That is how you keep a lead once you establish it.
Ok, now access the blame..............
The Tigers were awlful from 2 feet all the way out to 25 feet. Jeremy Hunt, Antonio Anderson and Willie Kemp combined for, get this, 2 of 19 from 3 point range. The three of them were 5 of 35 from the floor. Oh my gosh!
On three different occasions the Tigers seemed poised to make a move cutting the lead to 12 in the second half. CDR was really the only Tiger who seemed like he woke up for the game, but each time a foul came or Dane Bradshaw hit a crazy jumper and the lead mushroomed back to 17.
Hats off to Tennessee............
Did everyone hear the Tennessee crowd shouting "Over-rated, Over-rated", perhaps they are correct.
I know one thing, next year's Tennessee game will be a tough ticket to come by.
Darius Washington, Jr. Interview
Darius Washington Interview
December 9th, 2006International, Interviews, Memphis
By Jeff Fox, Collegehoops.net
After going undrafted in this past June’s NBA draft and being released by the Dallas Mavericks in training camp, Memphis Tigers’ Darius Washington finds himself in Greece. His team, PAOK Marfin Thessaloniki, is currently tied for 5th place with a 5-4 record. The Greek league is packed with former NBA/NCAA point guards besides Darius – Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, Keydren Clark, Tony Delk and Scoonie Penn all call the league home. PAOK also competes in the ULEB Cup (4-2 record, 2nd place in group), which consists of teams from all over Europe. Washington is putting up averages of 10.7ppg, 2.7rpg, 2.3apg & 2.3spg in three Greek league games including 21 points, 5 assists and 3 steals in his team’s last victory. In three ULEB Cup games he is putting up 13.0ppg, 2.3apg & 2.3spg.
CHN: How did you end up in Greece?
Darius: My agent had some overseas connections.
CHN: Originally you signed to play in the NBDL, correct?
D: Yea, I got drafted to the Austin Toros.
CHN: What made you jump to Greece - mostly the money?
D: Part of it, but I really wanted to get a jump on playing against other pros.
CHN: How have you found the competition in the short time you've been overseas?
D: Very competitive. I played against ex-NBA players and some well respected Euro players.
CHN: Do you find the European style of play different from the NBA?
D: Absolutely - very physical and more team oriented - only the strong survive.
CHN: Was it a big adjustment for you your first few games?
D: Yes, because of the crowd being aggressive and the players being older and trying to communicate with my coach is sometimes hard because of the language and me being a point guard and a leader the language is tough.
CHN: Is all the coaching/teaching done in Greek?
D: There is some in English and we have a translator.
CHN: It seems, at least from looking at box scores, that you have gotten used to the style of play in the recent games.
D: Thanks, just trying to learn the game as a whole and being able to run a team is really important for my development.
CHN: So I take it you have the typical import contract - 6 figure contract, free rent and car?
D: Something like that with a few incentives.
CHN: Such as?? Care to reveal?!?
D: Performance incentives, playoff bonuses, all star appearances, etc...
CHN: Do you have an "out" clause if another team in Europe or the NBA wants to sign you?
D: I don't know all the details but I think it is set up that way.
CHN: Is it only a one-year deal with PAOK?
D: Yes.
CHN: When they released you did Dallas (Mavericks) tell you what you needed to work on to make it to the NBA?
D: Yes, I spoke with the coaching staff and talked about some things. I know I need to be able to run a team and just be able to play and to gain more court time on the professional level.
CHN: In hindsight, do you feel that playing at the University of Memphis was the right choice for you in regards to the development of your game and preparing for the NBA?
D: For the two years I was there I felt that my game had matured enough for the next level.
CHN: So no regrets that you kept your name in the draft then?
D: Absolutely not. I’ve always been taught that once you make a decision stick with it.
CHN: Heading into the draft there didn't seem to be any guarantee that you were going to be picked - were you advised that a team was going to pick you?
D: Nobody really knows that they are going to be picked. It is in someone else’s hands so you go with what you think is best.
CHN: Do you think that the main thing you need to work on to make it to the League is more "pure" point guard skills (running an offense, etc.)?
D: Yes, and I'm gaining it here.
CHN: Your league in Greece is jam packed with former NBA/NCAA point guards.
D: Yea but I haven't played against all of them yet.
CHN: Who is the toughest guy you've been matched up against so far in Greece?
D: Fellow Memphis alumni Antonio Burkes from the Serbia team.
CHN: In ULEB Cup action, right?
D: Yep. Did you see the tape from that game?
CHN: No.
D: The fans rioted. It was on ESPN and other stations in the U.S.
D: Yea it was crazy. 7000 fans rushed the court.
ESPN Link of Fight - http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2688668
D: We played and won ending their 7 game winning streak.
CHN: I want to know who is the toughest guys you've gone up against at each level?
CHN: We'll start with high school.
D: Amare Stoudemire/Sebastian Telfair.
CHN: I figured Telfair would be mentioned!!
CHN: The book about him, The Jump, made you two out to be big time rivals. Is that true?
D: Only on the court.
CHN: How did you feel about that book?
D: I'm fine with it because it is his story. How can you judge someone’s story.
CHN: Right - but if I remember correctly it wasn't very flattering to you or your dad.
D: Again it is his book and he wrote what he felt was his truth so the world will just have to wait on my book to hear my truth.
CHN: Who was your toughest matchup in the NCAA?
D: UAB was my toughest. That whole team had those speedsters that wore me out.
CHN: What’s been your career highlight so far?
D: Coming to a team like PAOK that was struggling before I got here and being able to help them win games and advance in the Greek league and the ULEB Cup.
For more info on Darius, check out his website www.dwash.net.
December 9th, 2006International, Interviews, Memphis
By Jeff Fox, Collegehoops.net
After going undrafted in this past June’s NBA draft and being released by the Dallas Mavericks in training camp, Memphis Tigers’ Darius Washington finds himself in Greece. His team, PAOK Marfin Thessaloniki, is currently tied for 5th place with a 5-4 record. The Greek league is packed with former NBA/NCAA point guards besides Darius – Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, Keydren Clark, Tony Delk and Scoonie Penn all call the league home. PAOK also competes in the ULEB Cup (4-2 record, 2nd place in group), which consists of teams from all over Europe. Washington is putting up averages of 10.7ppg, 2.7rpg, 2.3apg & 2.3spg in three Greek league games including 21 points, 5 assists and 3 steals in his team’s last victory. In three ULEB Cup games he is putting up 13.0ppg, 2.3apg & 2.3spg.
CHN: How did you end up in Greece?
Darius: My agent had some overseas connections.
CHN: Originally you signed to play in the NBDL, correct?
D: Yea, I got drafted to the Austin Toros.
CHN: What made you jump to Greece - mostly the money?
D: Part of it, but I really wanted to get a jump on playing against other pros.
CHN: How have you found the competition in the short time you've been overseas?
D: Very competitive. I played against ex-NBA players and some well respected Euro players.
CHN: Do you find the European style of play different from the NBA?
D: Absolutely - very physical and more team oriented - only the strong survive.
CHN: Was it a big adjustment for you your first few games?
D: Yes, because of the crowd being aggressive and the players being older and trying to communicate with my coach is sometimes hard because of the language and me being a point guard and a leader the language is tough.
CHN: Is all the coaching/teaching done in Greek?
D: There is some in English and we have a translator.
CHN: It seems, at least from looking at box scores, that you have gotten used to the style of play in the recent games.
D: Thanks, just trying to learn the game as a whole and being able to run a team is really important for my development.
CHN: So I take it you have the typical import contract - 6 figure contract, free rent and car?
D: Something like that with a few incentives.
CHN: Such as?? Care to reveal?!?
D: Performance incentives, playoff bonuses, all star appearances, etc...
CHN: Do you have an "out" clause if another team in Europe or the NBA wants to sign you?
D: I don't know all the details but I think it is set up that way.
CHN: Is it only a one-year deal with PAOK?
D: Yes.
CHN: When they released you did Dallas (Mavericks) tell you what you needed to work on to make it to the NBA?
D: Yes, I spoke with the coaching staff and talked about some things. I know I need to be able to run a team and just be able to play and to gain more court time on the professional level.
CHN: In hindsight, do you feel that playing at the University of Memphis was the right choice for you in regards to the development of your game and preparing for the NBA?
D: For the two years I was there I felt that my game had matured enough for the next level.
CHN: So no regrets that you kept your name in the draft then?
D: Absolutely not. I’ve always been taught that once you make a decision stick with it.
CHN: Heading into the draft there didn't seem to be any guarantee that you were going to be picked - were you advised that a team was going to pick you?
D: Nobody really knows that they are going to be picked. It is in someone else’s hands so you go with what you think is best.
CHN: Do you think that the main thing you need to work on to make it to the League is more "pure" point guard skills (running an offense, etc.)?
D: Yes, and I'm gaining it here.
CHN: Your league in Greece is jam packed with former NBA/NCAA point guards.
D: Yea but I haven't played against all of them yet.
CHN: Who is the toughest guy you've been matched up against so far in Greece?
D: Fellow Memphis alumni Antonio Burkes from the Serbia team.
CHN: In ULEB Cup action, right?
D: Yep. Did you see the tape from that game?
CHN: No.
D: The fans rioted. It was on ESPN and other stations in the U.S.
D: Yea it was crazy. 7000 fans rushed the court.
ESPN Link of Fight - http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2688668
D: We played and won ending their 7 game winning streak.
CHN: I want to know who is the toughest guys you've gone up against at each level?
CHN: We'll start with high school.
D: Amare Stoudemire/Sebastian Telfair.
CHN: I figured Telfair would be mentioned!!
CHN: The book about him, The Jump, made you two out to be big time rivals. Is that true?
D: Only on the court.
CHN: How did you feel about that book?
D: I'm fine with it because it is his story. How can you judge someone’s story.
CHN: Right - but if I remember correctly it wasn't very flattering to you or your dad.
D: Again it is his book and he wrote what he felt was his truth so the world will just have to wait on my book to hear my truth.
CHN: Who was your toughest matchup in the NCAA?
D: UAB was my toughest. That whole team had those speedsters that wore me out.
CHN: What’s been your career highlight so far?
D: Coming to a team like PAOK that was struggling before I got here and being able to help them win games and advance in the Greek league and the ULEB Cup.
For more info on Darius, check out his website www.dwash.net.
My Commentary on the Ole Miss Game
Ok, if you've been waiting on my comments on the Tennessee game, your going to have to wait a bit longer. I still haven't watched the tape and frankly from the part that I did see live, I don't have much desire to endure the pain again.
But, I do try to be an objective fan, so I will watch it and I'll comment. Thank God the Ole Miss game came so soon so I could start a new chapter on the season.
So, I thought the Tigers did bounce back with good energy. I'm sure the sting of what happened in Knoxville was (and still is) painful. Ole Miss isn't going to be a great help to the RPI though if Andy Kennedy continues his magic and Dwayne Curtis comes back strong, the Rebs could be .500 in the SEC West and their RPI will improve.
Cal obviously got sick and tired of Joey Dorsey's lack of consistency, personal foul tendancies and his MOUTH. All three were costly in Knoxville on Wednesday. Hence we saw Kareem Cooper for the first time this season. While Cooper's offensive was a bit questionable, I was pretty happy with 9 points and 7 boards. If anything it gave the defense another body to have to respond to which allows Dorsey or Dozier to sneak in for better position.
Anderson and Hunt had really solid games. Hunt seemed to hit big shots when the Tigers needed them.
As I have heard from fans over the past few days say, this team is not even close to last year's team. Noone seems to be the guy who is willing to put this team on their back and carry them through the tough moments in a game. Hunt is the closest. CDR is consistent, but I don't see the fire in him. Someone needs to be the guy who gets in your face and pumps you up. That isn't Cal's style and it doesn't seem to be his team's style either. Cal gets in your head not your face.
Ok, more later...................
But, I do try to be an objective fan, so I will watch it and I'll comment. Thank God the Ole Miss game came so soon so I could start a new chapter on the season.
So, I thought the Tigers did bounce back with good energy. I'm sure the sting of what happened in Knoxville was (and still is) painful. Ole Miss isn't going to be a great help to the RPI though if Andy Kennedy continues his magic and Dwayne Curtis comes back strong, the Rebs could be .500 in the SEC West and their RPI will improve.
Cal obviously got sick and tired of Joey Dorsey's lack of consistency, personal foul tendancies and his MOUTH. All three were costly in Knoxville on Wednesday. Hence we saw Kareem Cooper for the first time this season. While Cooper's offensive was a bit questionable, I was pretty happy with 9 points and 7 boards. If anything it gave the defense another body to have to respond to which allows Dorsey or Dozier to sneak in for better position.
Anderson and Hunt had really solid games. Hunt seemed to hit big shots when the Tigers needed them.
As I have heard from fans over the past few days say, this team is not even close to last year's team. Noone seems to be the guy who is willing to put this team on their back and carry them through the tough moments in a game. Hunt is the closest. CDR is consistent, but I don't see the fire in him. Someone needs to be the guy who gets in your face and pumps you up. That isn't Cal's style and it doesn't seem to be his team's style either. Cal gets in your head not your face.
Ok, more later...................
Box Score, Memphis 82, Ole Miss 70
MISSISSIPPI REBELS
Player Pos Min FG-A FT-A 3P-A Off Reb Ast St To Blk PF Pts
Jermey Parnell F 18 4-5 0-3 0-0 3 7 0 0 1 0 4 8
Kenny Williams F 24 2-5 5-6 0-0 1 6 1 4 2 2 3 9
Todd Abernethy G 37 7-11 0-0 2-4 0 4 5 0 4 0 2 16
Clarence Sanders G 32 7-14 2-2 2-5 1 4 5 2 2 0 3 18
Bam Doyne G 27 1-12 5-6 0-2 2 3 1 1 3 0 4 7
Brian Smith 4 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Eniel Polynice 29 4-6 0-2 2-4 0 2 1 1 5 1 1 10
Trey Hampton 12 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 2 0 3 0
Dwayne Curtis 17 1-6 0-0 0-0 4 6 1 0 1 0 3 2
Team Totals: 26-60 12-19 6-15 11 32 14 8 20 3 23 70
.433 .632 .400 Team Reb: 3 Team TO: 1
MEMPHIS TIGERS
Player Pos Min FG-A FT-A 3P-A Off Reb Ast St To Blk PF Pts
Robert Dozier F 18 2-6 4-4 0-1 2 3 1 3 1 1 5 8
Joey Dorsey F 26 3-3 0-2 0-0 3 10 1 1 0 1 3 6
Willie Kemp G 21 1-5 1-2 0-1 0 3 2 0 1 0 0 3
Antonio Anderson G 32 6-13 1-2 1-5 3 4 3 1 2 0 2 14
Chris Douglas-Roberts G 33 7-12 3-7 0-2 1 6 1 0 2 2 2 17
Jeremy Hunt 24 5-10 3-5 3-5 1 4 1 3 2 0 1 16
Andre Allen 18 2-3 0-4 0-1 2 2 3 1 4 0 4 4
Doneal Mack 13 2-7 0-0 1-5 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 5
Kareem Cooper 15 3-7 3-4 0-0 5 7 1 1 3 2 2 9
Team Totals: 31-66 15-30 5-20 17 40 13 11 15 6 20 82
.470 .500 .250 Team Reb: 4 Team TO: 0
Player Pos Min FG-A FT-A 3P-A Off Reb Ast St To Blk PF Pts
Jermey Parnell F 18 4-5 0-3 0-0 3 7 0 0 1 0 4 8
Kenny Williams F 24 2-5 5-6 0-0 1 6 1 4 2 2 3 9
Todd Abernethy G 37 7-11 0-0 2-4 0 4 5 0 4 0 2 16
Clarence Sanders G 32 7-14 2-2 2-5 1 4 5 2 2 0 3 18
Bam Doyne G 27 1-12 5-6 0-2 2 3 1 1 3 0 4 7
Brian Smith 4 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Eniel Polynice 29 4-6 0-2 2-4 0 2 1 1 5 1 1 10
Trey Hampton 12 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 2 0 3 0
Dwayne Curtis 17 1-6 0-0 0-0 4 6 1 0 1 0 3 2
Team Totals: 26-60 12-19 6-15 11 32 14 8 20 3 23 70
.433 .632 .400 Team Reb: 3 Team TO: 1
MEMPHIS TIGERS
Player Pos Min FG-A FT-A 3P-A Off Reb Ast St To Blk PF Pts
Robert Dozier F 18 2-6 4-4 0-1 2 3 1 3 1 1 5 8
Joey Dorsey F 26 3-3 0-2 0-0 3 10 1 1 0 1 3 6
Willie Kemp G 21 1-5 1-2 0-1 0 3 2 0 1 0 0 3
Antonio Anderson G 32 6-13 1-2 1-5 3 4 3 1 2 0 2 14
Chris Douglas-Roberts G 33 7-12 3-7 0-2 1 6 1 0 2 2 2 17
Jeremy Hunt 24 5-10 3-5 3-5 1 4 1 3 2 0 1 16
Andre Allen 18 2-3 0-4 0-1 2 2 3 1 4 0 4 4
Doneal Mack 13 2-7 0-0 1-5 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 5
Kareem Cooper 15 3-7 3-4 0-0 5 7 1 1 3 2 2 9
Team Totals: 31-66 15-30 5-20 17 40 13 11 15 6 20 82
.470 .500 .250 Team Reb: 4 Team TO: 0
Memphis 82, Ole Miss 70
No. 16 Tigers Roll Over Rebels
Chris Douglas-Roberts scores 17 points for Memphis.
Dec. 9, 2006
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Chris Douglas-Roberts scored 17 points and Jeremy Hunt added 16 to lead No. 16 Memphis to an 82-70 victory over Mississippi on Saturday.
The Tigers, coming off a poor shooting performance in a 76-58 loss at Tennessee on Wednesday, regrouped to shoot 47 percent. Memphis shot 28.6 percent against the Volunteers.
Antonio Anderson had 14 points for Memphis (7-2), while Joey Dorsey grabbed 10 rebounds.
Clarence Sanders had 18 points and Todd Abernathy added 16 for Ole Miss (7-2). Rebels leading scorer Bam Doyne, who entered the game averaging 17.6 points, was limited to seven on 1-for-12 shooting.
Rebels center Dwayne Curtis, who was the team's leading scorer last season, made his debut after sitting out since early in the preseason with a broken bone in his left foot. He played sparingly and had two points and six rebounds.
The Tigers broke away from a 32-29 halftime lead by attacking the offensive boards and consistently driving to the basket. Douglas-Roberts scored 10 points in the opening 10 minutes of the second half as Memphis went up 60-43. A 3-pointer by Hunt and a follow slam by Dorsey put the Tigers up 65-45.
Memphis built a 21-8 lead in the first half, getting key contributions from 6-foot-11 center Kareem Cooper, who was playing in his first game of the season. Cooper had missed the first month as a result of violating team rules.
But the Tigers were unable to capitalize on the run. Ole Miss gradually cut into the lead and used a 13-4 run late in the opening half to get within 30-27.
Ole Miss shot 47.8 percent in the first half to offset being outrebounded 20-15 and outscored 16-8 in the paint.
The Rebels' other loss was 77-59 to No. 19 Connecticut.
Chris Douglas-Roberts scores 17 points for Memphis.
Dec. 9, 2006
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Chris Douglas-Roberts scored 17 points and Jeremy Hunt added 16 to lead No. 16 Memphis to an 82-70 victory over Mississippi on Saturday.
The Tigers, coming off a poor shooting performance in a 76-58 loss at Tennessee on Wednesday, regrouped to shoot 47 percent. Memphis shot 28.6 percent against the Volunteers.
Antonio Anderson had 14 points for Memphis (7-2), while Joey Dorsey grabbed 10 rebounds.
Clarence Sanders had 18 points and Todd Abernathy added 16 for Ole Miss (7-2). Rebels leading scorer Bam Doyne, who entered the game averaging 17.6 points, was limited to seven on 1-for-12 shooting.
Rebels center Dwayne Curtis, who was the team's leading scorer last season, made his debut after sitting out since early in the preseason with a broken bone in his left foot. He played sparingly and had two points and six rebounds.
The Tigers broke away from a 32-29 halftime lead by attacking the offensive boards and consistently driving to the basket. Douglas-Roberts scored 10 points in the opening 10 minutes of the second half as Memphis went up 60-43. A 3-pointer by Hunt and a follow slam by Dorsey put the Tigers up 65-45.
Memphis built a 21-8 lead in the first half, getting key contributions from 6-foot-11 center Kareem Cooper, who was playing in his first game of the season. Cooper had missed the first month as a result of violating team rules.
But the Tigers were unable to capitalize on the run. Ole Miss gradually cut into the lead and used a 13-4 run late in the opening half to get within 30-27.
Ole Miss shot 47.8 percent in the first half to offset being outrebounded 20-15 and outscored 16-8 in the paint.
The Rebels' other loss was 77-59 to No. 19 Connecticut.
Memphis Seeks Redemption in Today's Tilt with Ole Miss
Memphis seeks redemption in today''s tilt with Ole Miss
LAST UPDATE: 12/9/2006 11:40:47 AM
Fresh off a rather lopsided loss to an intra-state rival, the 16th-ranked Memphis Tigers will attempt to get back on track by knocking off the Ole Miss Rebels in a non-league clash.
,Ole Miss has been idle since November 30th when it posted an 85-77 decision over New Orleans. That win was the third in a row for the Rebels, who suffered their only loss to national powerhouse UConn on the road. They have yet to post a quality win, but that would certainly change if they can find a way to knock off Memphis.
The Tigers got off to a bad start against Tennessee on Wednesday and couldn''t recover in what turned out to be a 76-58 loss to the Vols on the road. That defeat snapped a four-game winning streak for the Tigers, and the 58 points that they scored marked a season low by a wide margin. On a positive note, they do carry a perfect 4-0 home record into this afternoon''s tilt.
Memphis holds a 26-11 advantage in the all-time series with Ole Miss, including a 72-49 romp over the Rebels in last season''s meeting.
Bam Doyne has emerged as a big-time scorer for Ole Miss, as he is posting 17.9 ppg to go along with 7.6 rpg. Clarence Sanders adds 15.0 ppg to the lineup, and Todd Abernethy provides some balance with his 10.4 ppg. Even more impressive than his scoring ability is the fact that Abernethy has racked up 31 assists against only seven turnovers. In the win for the Rebels over New Orleans last week, a 65.2 percent shooting effort from the floor and a 15- of-19 showing from the foul line over the final 20 minutes proved to be the difference. Doyne and Jeremy Parnell tallied 16 points apiece in the triumph, while Kenny Williams and Eniel Polynice contributed 15 points each. Abernethy and Sanders combined to hit only two shots from the floor, and it is surprising that Ole Miss was able to overcome their ineffectiveness.
Memphis shot 9-of-40 from the floor in the first half against Tennessee and trailed by 21 points at intermission. The Tigers finished the game 5-of-28 from three-point range and 9-of-18 from the foul line in what was a poor offensive showing in all regards. Chris Douglas-Roberts was one of the lone bright spots for Memphis, as the talented guard finished with 19 points. Robert Dozier pitched in 13 points and nine rebounds, and Joey Dorsey pulled down 13 boards before fouling out. Douglas-Roberts is averaging 15.3 ppg on 50.6 percent shooting from he floor, and Dozier adds 12.8 ppg to the lineup on 55.6 percent efficiency to go along with 7.0 rpg. Jeremy Hunt (11.6 ppg) and Antonio Anderson (10.3 ppg) round out the double-digit scorers for Memphis, which is netting 81.5 ppg while limiting opponents to 67.9 ppg on 38.2 percent shooting from the field.
LAST UPDATE: 12/9/2006 11:40:47 AM
Fresh off a rather lopsided loss to an intra-state rival, the 16th-ranked Memphis Tigers will attempt to get back on track by knocking off the Ole Miss Rebels in a non-league clash.
,Ole Miss has been idle since November 30th when it posted an 85-77 decision over New Orleans. That win was the third in a row for the Rebels, who suffered their only loss to national powerhouse UConn on the road. They have yet to post a quality win, but that would certainly change if they can find a way to knock off Memphis.
The Tigers got off to a bad start against Tennessee on Wednesday and couldn''t recover in what turned out to be a 76-58 loss to the Vols on the road. That defeat snapped a four-game winning streak for the Tigers, and the 58 points that they scored marked a season low by a wide margin. On a positive note, they do carry a perfect 4-0 home record into this afternoon''s tilt.
Memphis holds a 26-11 advantage in the all-time series with Ole Miss, including a 72-49 romp over the Rebels in last season''s meeting.
Bam Doyne has emerged as a big-time scorer for Ole Miss, as he is posting 17.9 ppg to go along with 7.6 rpg. Clarence Sanders adds 15.0 ppg to the lineup, and Todd Abernethy provides some balance with his 10.4 ppg. Even more impressive than his scoring ability is the fact that Abernethy has racked up 31 assists against only seven turnovers. In the win for the Rebels over New Orleans last week, a 65.2 percent shooting effort from the floor and a 15- of-19 showing from the foul line over the final 20 minutes proved to be the difference. Doyne and Jeremy Parnell tallied 16 points apiece in the triumph, while Kenny Williams and Eniel Polynice contributed 15 points each. Abernethy and Sanders combined to hit only two shots from the floor, and it is surprising that Ole Miss was able to overcome their ineffectiveness.
Memphis shot 9-of-40 from the floor in the first half against Tennessee and trailed by 21 points at intermission. The Tigers finished the game 5-of-28 from three-point range and 9-of-18 from the foul line in what was a poor offensive showing in all regards. Chris Douglas-Roberts was one of the lone bright spots for Memphis, as the talented guard finished with 19 points. Robert Dozier pitched in 13 points and nine rebounds, and Joey Dorsey pulled down 13 boards before fouling out. Douglas-Roberts is averaging 15.3 ppg on 50.6 percent shooting from he floor, and Dozier adds 12.8 ppg to the lineup on 55.6 percent efficiency to go along with 7.0 rpg. Jeremy Hunt (11.6 ppg) and Antonio Anderson (10.3 ppg) round out the double-digit scorers for Memphis, which is netting 81.5 ppg while limiting opponents to 67.9 ppg on 38.2 percent shooting from the field.
Ole Miss Measures Progress vs Tigers
Ole Miss measures progress vs. Tigers
By Scott Cacciola
December 9, 2006
OXFORD, Miss. -- Ole Miss coach Andy Kennedy wore a uniform, not a suit, the first time he matched up against the University of Memphis. It turned out to be the last game of his college career. He scored nine points and grabbed three rebounds for UAB, which fell to Memphis, 82-76, in the first round of the 1991 NIT.
His familiarity with the Tigers has only grown over the years. As an assistant coach at UAB, he went 5-5 against the UofM. As an assistant at Cincinnati, he went 3-1. He lost his only meeting with the Tigers, 91-81, as Cincinnati's interim head coach last season.
So when Ole Miss (7-1) plays No. 16 Memphis (6-2) at FedExForum today, Kennedy expects the game to be a benchmark for his young program. He knows about the Tigers' tradition. He understands the visibility the program has gained under coach John Calipari. He realizes what this afternoon could mean for the rest of the Rebels' season.
"I think it gives us a taste about what the months of January and February are going to be like when night in and night out in the SEC you're playing quality opponents," Kennedy said. "We're looking forward to the challenge."
The Rebels visited St. Jude Children's Research Hospital on Friday afternoon to meet with young patients, sign autographs and pose for pictures. Kennedy has stressed the value of public service with his players. In its press release, the school emphasized that "at least one patient has expressed to being a longtime, loyal Ole Miss basketball fan."
That, at least, is a start. Kennedy would like to generate even more interest in the Memphis community. First and foremost, he wants to mine Shelby County for recruits. For that reason and others, he said, he thinks playing the Tigers is good for his program.
"We've got a huge Ole Miss contingent in Memphis, we're going to recruit the area, it makes a lot of sense for us," he said before praising Calipari. "I think it's a national program that Cal has at a very high level, so I think it's good for us as a gauge for where we are and where we aspire to be."
Ole Miss athletic director Pete Boone said only one game remains in the contract between the two schools, a meeting in Oxford next season, though Boone said he planned to speak with Memphis athletic director R.C. Johnson about renewing the series. Ole Miss and Memphis have a separate contract for football, Boone said.
Several Ole Miss players said they get more excited about Memphis than their other non-conference opponents, and they said they would like the series to continue. Only two players on the roster, senior guards Todd Abernethy and Bam Boyne, remain from the Rebels' surprising 65-53 victory over Memphis at FedExForum two years ago.
"I remember the feeling," Abernethy said. "I remember how much fun it was."
For most coaches who favor an up-tempo style, a game against Memphis might produce some angst-filled deliberation: To run, or not to run? Kennedy made clear this week that he wants his players to do what they do best, regardless of the opponent. And for the Rebels, that means trying to take advantage of fast-break opportunities, even against Memphis, whose speed has long been one of the program's hallmarks.
Asked if he was concerned about getting involved in a fast-paced matchup with the Tigers, Kennedy said: "Oh, that's what we want. We're going to go out and play our game."
Kennedy said he would make adjustments based on personnel and "what seems to be working," but in a larger sense -- and this has been true of Kennedy throughout the early portion of the season -- he wants to focus more on the development of his young team than analyze his opponents' strengths. His players seem to appreciate that.
"Hey, get the subs ready," Abernethy said, "because we're going to need everybody."
In a development:
Kennedy announced Friday that Justin Cerasoli is no longer a member of the Rebel basketball team.
"Justin has left the team for personal reasons," Kennedy said in a statement.
A sophomore guard, Cerasoli saw action in seven games for the Rebels this season. The Chicago native averaged 3.4 points and 1.1 rebounds in 13.1 minutes per game. Cerasoli signed with Ole Miss in July 2005 and sat out last year after transferring from Seton Hall.
-- Scott Cacciola: 529-2773
By Scott Cacciola
December 9, 2006
OXFORD, Miss. -- Ole Miss coach Andy Kennedy wore a uniform, not a suit, the first time he matched up against the University of Memphis. It turned out to be the last game of his college career. He scored nine points and grabbed three rebounds for UAB, which fell to Memphis, 82-76, in the first round of the 1991 NIT.
His familiarity with the Tigers has only grown over the years. As an assistant coach at UAB, he went 5-5 against the UofM. As an assistant at Cincinnati, he went 3-1. He lost his only meeting with the Tigers, 91-81, as Cincinnati's interim head coach last season.
So when Ole Miss (7-1) plays No. 16 Memphis (6-2) at FedExForum today, Kennedy expects the game to be a benchmark for his young program. He knows about the Tigers' tradition. He understands the visibility the program has gained under coach John Calipari. He realizes what this afternoon could mean for the rest of the Rebels' season.
"I think it gives us a taste about what the months of January and February are going to be like when night in and night out in the SEC you're playing quality opponents," Kennedy said. "We're looking forward to the challenge."
The Rebels visited St. Jude Children's Research Hospital on Friday afternoon to meet with young patients, sign autographs and pose for pictures. Kennedy has stressed the value of public service with his players. In its press release, the school emphasized that "at least one patient has expressed to being a longtime, loyal Ole Miss basketball fan."
That, at least, is a start. Kennedy would like to generate even more interest in the Memphis community. First and foremost, he wants to mine Shelby County for recruits. For that reason and others, he said, he thinks playing the Tigers is good for his program.
"We've got a huge Ole Miss contingent in Memphis, we're going to recruit the area, it makes a lot of sense for us," he said before praising Calipari. "I think it's a national program that Cal has at a very high level, so I think it's good for us as a gauge for where we are and where we aspire to be."
Ole Miss athletic director Pete Boone said only one game remains in the contract between the two schools, a meeting in Oxford next season, though Boone said he planned to speak with Memphis athletic director R.C. Johnson about renewing the series. Ole Miss and Memphis have a separate contract for football, Boone said.
Several Ole Miss players said they get more excited about Memphis than their other non-conference opponents, and they said they would like the series to continue. Only two players on the roster, senior guards Todd Abernethy and Bam Boyne, remain from the Rebels' surprising 65-53 victory over Memphis at FedExForum two years ago.
"I remember the feeling," Abernethy said. "I remember how much fun it was."
For most coaches who favor an up-tempo style, a game against Memphis might produce some angst-filled deliberation: To run, or not to run? Kennedy made clear this week that he wants his players to do what they do best, regardless of the opponent. And for the Rebels, that means trying to take advantage of fast-break opportunities, even against Memphis, whose speed has long been one of the program's hallmarks.
Asked if he was concerned about getting involved in a fast-paced matchup with the Tigers, Kennedy said: "Oh, that's what we want. We're going to go out and play our game."
Kennedy said he would make adjustments based on personnel and "what seems to be working," but in a larger sense -- and this has been true of Kennedy throughout the early portion of the season -- he wants to focus more on the development of his young team than analyze his opponents' strengths. His players seem to appreciate that.
"Hey, get the subs ready," Abernethy said, "because we're going to need everybody."
In a development:
Kennedy announced Friday that Justin Cerasoli is no longer a member of the Rebel basketball team.
"Justin has left the team for personal reasons," Kennedy said in a statement.
A sophomore guard, Cerasoli saw action in seven games for the Rebels this season. The Chicago native averaged 3.4 points and 1.1 rebounds in 13.1 minutes per game. Cerasoli signed with Ole Miss in July 2005 and sat out last year after transferring from Seton Hall.
-- Scott Cacciola: 529-2773
Calipari Prescribes Tougher Practice for Lethargic Tigers
Calipari prescribes tougher practice for lethargic Tigers
By Dan Wolken
December 9, 2006
When the University of Memphis's schedule turned, nearly two weeks ago, into a mad dash of games and travel with little time for a breather, coach John Calipari's natural inclination was to back off.
He acknowledged Friday he probably should have pushed harder.
Because when Calipari watched the Tigers lose this week to Tennessee, he didn't see their fight. Didn't see their energy. Didn't see all the traits they spent the preseason building.
So when Memphis resumed practice Friday to prepare for today's noon tipoff at FedExForum against Ole Miss -- the Tigers' fifth game in 11 days -- the message was clear: Get back to competing.
And compete is exactly what the Tigers did in a session far longer and far more intense than the normal pregame practice.
"I probably made a mistake in that we went too cerebral and not enough competitive," Calipari said.
"So we go to Tennessee, and they play with a spirit that we (normally) play with, and we didn't play the same way. ... To just kind of want it more than we did comes back to me and says, 'Where was that competitive spirit we usually have?'
"We had so many games, our practices were hour walk-throughs. So we got used to walking through. Then we went up there and walked through."
One thread that unites nearly every college basketball coach is the importance of practice, since it usually doesn't take much for a team of 18- to 22-year-olds to slip.
Ever since Nov. 20, when the Tigers opened the EA Sports Maui Invitational against Oklahoma, the schedule hasn't allowed a solid string of practices.
In the past week, for instance, Memphis played Manhattan last Saturday, had a walk-through Sunday to prepare for Marshall, played again Monday and then had another walk-through Tuesday before flying to Knoxville.
It might have caught up with them against the Vols.
"We didn't challenge ourselves since Hawaii," Calipari said.
"We couldn't. It's been a game, a day, a game, a day ... we haven't competed like we had earlier in practice, and we have to get back to it."
Of course, what made things complex Friday is that Memphis, against the Vols, looked like a team that needed a rest.
And the fact that the Tigers made just 28.6 percent of their shots -- including several they normally make -- lends credence to the idea they were fatigued.
"It probably did play a factor in the game, but at the same time we still could have came out and played better than what we did," senior guard Jeremy Hunt said.
"We got beat to balls once again, and they made shots, a lot of shots. Some of our shots were wide open, and we missed it by a lot."
But now, can the Tigers push through for one more effort today against Ole Miss before a mini-break of five days?
"We can," Hunt said. "We had a day's rest (on Thursday), and hopefully everybody got their legs back."
Sophomore center Kareem Cooper will likely make his season debut today.
Cooper was suspended in the preseason for violating team rules but returned to practice after the Maui Invitational.
The 6-11 Cooper sat on the Tigers' bench in their past three home games but was not in uniform.
Calipari said the impetus for playing Cooper today is that he had "taken care of business" academically.
"He's not in any kind of shape to go in that game and do anything, but I'm in all likelihood going to play him," Calipari said.
Junior forward Joey Dorsey will start, Calipari said, despite his statements following the Tennessee game that he might bring Dorsey off the bench because of his tendency to get in foul trouble.
-- Dan Wolken: 529-2365
By Dan Wolken
December 9, 2006
When the University of Memphis's schedule turned, nearly two weeks ago, into a mad dash of games and travel with little time for a breather, coach John Calipari's natural inclination was to back off.
He acknowledged Friday he probably should have pushed harder.
Because when Calipari watched the Tigers lose this week to Tennessee, he didn't see their fight. Didn't see their energy. Didn't see all the traits they spent the preseason building.
So when Memphis resumed practice Friday to prepare for today's noon tipoff at FedExForum against Ole Miss -- the Tigers' fifth game in 11 days -- the message was clear: Get back to competing.
And compete is exactly what the Tigers did in a session far longer and far more intense than the normal pregame practice.
"I probably made a mistake in that we went too cerebral and not enough competitive," Calipari said.
"So we go to Tennessee, and they play with a spirit that we (normally) play with, and we didn't play the same way. ... To just kind of want it more than we did comes back to me and says, 'Where was that competitive spirit we usually have?'
"We had so many games, our practices were hour walk-throughs. So we got used to walking through. Then we went up there and walked through."
One thread that unites nearly every college basketball coach is the importance of practice, since it usually doesn't take much for a team of 18- to 22-year-olds to slip.
Ever since Nov. 20, when the Tigers opened the EA Sports Maui Invitational against Oklahoma, the schedule hasn't allowed a solid string of practices.
In the past week, for instance, Memphis played Manhattan last Saturday, had a walk-through Sunday to prepare for Marshall, played again Monday and then had another walk-through Tuesday before flying to Knoxville.
It might have caught up with them against the Vols.
"We didn't challenge ourselves since Hawaii," Calipari said.
"We couldn't. It's been a game, a day, a game, a day ... we haven't competed like we had earlier in practice, and we have to get back to it."
Of course, what made things complex Friday is that Memphis, against the Vols, looked like a team that needed a rest.
And the fact that the Tigers made just 28.6 percent of their shots -- including several they normally make -- lends credence to the idea they were fatigued.
"It probably did play a factor in the game, but at the same time we still could have came out and played better than what we did," senior guard Jeremy Hunt said.
"We got beat to balls once again, and they made shots, a lot of shots. Some of our shots were wide open, and we missed it by a lot."
But now, can the Tigers push through for one more effort today against Ole Miss before a mini-break of five days?
"We can," Hunt said. "We had a day's rest (on Thursday), and hopefully everybody got their legs back."
Sophomore center Kareem Cooper will likely make his season debut today.
Cooper was suspended in the preseason for violating team rules but returned to practice after the Maui Invitational.
The 6-11 Cooper sat on the Tigers' bench in their past three home games but was not in uniform.
Calipari said the impetus for playing Cooper today is that he had "taken care of business" academically.
"He's not in any kind of shape to go in that game and do anything, but I'm in all likelihood going to play him," Calipari said.
Junior forward Joey Dorsey will start, Calipari said, despite his statements following the Tennessee game that he might bring Dorsey off the bench because of his tendency to get in foul trouble.
-- Dan Wolken: 529-2365
Tiger Fans Response to Vols' Filth
Sounding off on Tigers vs. Vols
December 9, 2006
I'm happy that UT fans got to gloat over their team's victory over the Tigers, but is there really a reason to call the UofM players thugs? Was the name-calling letter writer watching the same game I was? Which "thug" was running his mouth during the game? Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't two UT players get technicals for taunting? It seems the letter writer is more interested in epithets than reality, much like his hero, Dane Bradshaw.
Jeff Parker
Hernando, MS
To the Knoxville wannabees: If Memphis is so bad and has so many thugs, then why be here? And if Knoxville is so great, then go there. Otherwise just be quiet. ...
And what is funny is that someone said we (UofM) run our mouths on the floor, but what is even funnier if you watched the whole game UT had a player or two T'ed up for talking trash on the floor. So what does that make UT, the raging hillbillies???
Ralph Gabb
Germantown, TN
As much whining as Knoxville fans have been doing this week, I'd think they had lost the game. Since this winning thing is new to them, they're not sure how to enjoy it. Instead they're too worried about coach Cal.
As for thugs (Gary Busby's letter), UT knows all about this with former (Major Wingate, Ron Slay) and current (Duke Crews, JaJuan Smith) players that could be gang leaders. Don't forget those squeaky clean boys had two technical fouls the other night. Dane Bradshaw is probably the dirtiest player I've seen since Bill Laimbeer, so spare us any consideration of him as a model citizen. And I'm not even bringing up all of the arrests on the Vol football team.
Like it or not, Memphis is a national program and Knoxville is not. The game last year was one of the few Tiger games not on national TV. The only reason it was carried this year by ESPN is because of coach Cal. UT's roster has half their guys from in-state, and everyone else is from a border state. Their touted conference schedule is obviously all regional. They play one non-conference game out of state. The only exception was the preseason tournament, where they went to New York and went 0-2. They don't travel west of the Mississippi River. This is the description of a regional program. Coach Pearl has recognized coach Cal as a star he can latch on to in order to increase his own notoriety, so he's trash talking to generate controversy, and his simple-minded fans are believing it.
Knoxville won a game, enjoy it. But don't think their overall program is at Memphis' level. Why else would their coach make such a big deal over it?
Robert Peterson
Conway, SC
I read a Tennessee fan's comments regarding John Calipari and "our" Memphis Tigers. They were blatant lies that were subtly laced with racism. One person wrote, "They even allow them to continue to play after pitching fits, running their mouths on the basketball court or being arrested for all sorts of crimes."
First of all, the only person that pitches fits is Calipari and he's gotten better about that this season. Second of all, Joey (Dorsey) never opened his mouth to the Tennessee player, he looked at him too hard and his reputation got him a tech. Third of all, yes, some players have gotten arrested (last year with Kareem Cooper, 2 years ago with Jeremy Hunt), but those players were punished. Every major athletic team in the country has players that have made mistakes. You can not label an entire team as "thug" because of a couple arrests in the past two years.
I bet if you look at Tennessee's squad, you'll find a few misdemeanors and maybe even a felony or two. I know if you look at Tennessee's football team you'll find a squad laden with miscreants.
As for the Tennessee basketball players ... two were arrested for marijuana and crack (yes, CRACK) cocaine.
So next time you're thinking about calling the Tigers "thug" you might as well think up a more blatantly racist term ... because the Tiger ball players are no more "thug" than any other team's ball players. People who call them "thug" are just as racist as the announcers who exclaim (as if they were a broken record) that Memphis is full of "long, athletic players." Last time I checked, most people who play basketball are long and athletic.
Matt Cohen
Memphis
Joey Dorsey......A Foul Situation
A foul situation
Calipari says if Dorsey can't stay on court, Tigers forward may become sixth man
By Dan Wolken
December 8, 2006
There were no illusions at the beginning of this season that University of Memphis forward Joey Dorsey would suddenly, as a junior, reverse all the enigmatic tendencies that in his first two years often betrayed his copious physical talents.
But in the wake of Wednesday night's 76-58 loss to the University of Tennessee, the frustration with Dorsey reached a new level. Though Dorsey had an almost unbelievable 13 rebounds in his 15 minutes, the more important statistic was his five fouls.
Though Dorsey's play by no means was the only reason No. 16-ranked Memphis fell to 6-2 at the hands of its state rival, the fact that Dorsey picked up two quick fouls in the first 2:09 was crucial because it forced the Tigers to operate short-handed the rest of the night.
After the game, coach John Calipari expressed disappointment in Dorsey's performance and talked about possibly making changes for Saturday's game at FedExForum against Ole Miss.
The Tigers were given Thursday off and will reassemble today for their first practice following the Tennessee debacle.
"Either we've got to learn to play without him or make him a backup, a sixth, seventh, eighth man," Calipari said.
It has become a familiar scenario to Calipari. Foul trouble has been Dorsey's nemesis his whole career, and especially this season.
But never before has Memphis needed Dorsey so much. The reality of this roster is that it's thin on the front line, especially with freshman Pierre Niles still struggling to catch up following knee surgery that forced him to miss nearly three weeks in the preseason.
One of the most telling statistics against UT was that Niles played just six minutes despite Dorsey's foul trouble.
Going into the season, the plan was for 6-11 sophomore Kareem Cooper, who played 11.1 minutes per game last season, to be a viable backup at center. But Cooper hasn't been available due to a suspension in the preseason for violating team rules.
Though Calipari brought Cooper back to practice on Nov. 25, he has not allowed Cooper to play. Asked Wednesday night whether Cooper was close to playing, Calipari said:
"We'll have to get back and see. (Dorsey's situation) is not why Kareem will come back."
Not having another viable big man has troubled Memphis before. Against Georgia Tech in the EA Sports Maui Invitational, Memphis led by 16 points at halftime. But when Dorsey and forward Robert Dozier both got in foul trouble, Memphis went to a small lineup that couldn't pull in rebounds, and the game ultimately spiraled out of control.
And what really irked Calipari about Dorsey's foul trouble Wednesday is that the second one was completely avoidable.
After Dorsey drew a foul going after an offensive rebound, he and UT guard JaJuan Smith stared each other down, immediately drawing technical foul calls on both of them. In other words, a very positive play quickly turned into a devastating one.
"It's not about being a man," Calipari said. "It's about being smart. (Dorsey) didn't say anything. He looked at the guy, but the point is, don't even do that. He didn't say anything, didn't swear. If he looks at you, walk away. You've got to be a man and walk away.
"And so it's just, every time -- Georgia Tech and this game, he goes down, what happens? So now, what do we do? If he can't change, I've got to do something. It's disappointing."
UT freshman forward Duke Crews, who was matched up against Dorsey on several occasions, said the Vols were intent on disrupting him.
"My intent was to go in there and do my best to shut him down, take him out of his game," Crews said. "I didn't do anything out of the ordinary. Anything he did, I did. I just played his game and I played it better, and he got kind of upset."
Etc.: Golden Child Ministries, run by former Tiger Detric Golden, is starting its "Assist-a-Kid" campaign during the Christmas season. Anyone interested in participating should call (901) 644-2646.
-- Dan Wolken: 529-2365
Vol Fans Sounds Off on Calipari and the Tigers (Must See Pictures)
Vols fans sound off on Calipari and the Tigers
December 8, 2006
It sure was fun watching the lowly University of Tennessee beat the (tar) out of the UofM thugs last night in college basketball. I was hoping for an 80-point margin for UT.
It is really hard to believe that the coaches and schools, much less the NCAA, continue to allow thugs to play college basketball. They even allow them to continue to play after pitching fits, running their mouths on the basketball court or being arrested for all sorts of crimes.
John Calipari cannot even keep his thugs' mouths shut during a basketball game. My suggestion to the UofM is start making their student athletes take the ACT exam to enter college. Maybe that would sort out the thugs from the players like Dane Bradshaw.
Gary Busby
Bartlett, TN
University of Memphis coach John Calipari doesn't respect the University of Tennessee, specifically it's basketball program. That's too bad. Fans in both cities turn out in droves for the games between the two schools. The games get national TV attention. But, Calipari would just as soon not play the Vols?
It's not as if Tennessee is no match. The Big Orange lead the series 11-7, including a dominating win Wednesday.
Calipari says Memphis is a "national program," insinuating the Vols are somehow not in the same league. Let's see, Memphis plays a Conference USA schedule that includes such Monsters of March as Marshall, Tulsa, Southern Miss, Rice and East Carolina. Yes, Memphis plays a few ranked opponents, but compare the competition. Tennessee (in addition to playing North Carolina, Oklahoma State and Texas) faces a powerhouse SEC schedule that includes national champ Florida, Kentucky, Alabama and LSU.
Coach Cal says Memphis recruits nationally and all he needs in Tennessee is Memphis. Coach Bruce Pearl knows about national recruiting. Tennessee's class from last year consists of Duke Crews (Virginia), Ramar Smith (Michigan), Wayne Chism (Tennessee), Marques Johnson (Indiana) and Josh Tabb (Illinois). Most all these players had their choice of top-ranked schools.
All this makes me wonder about the real reason Coach Calipari would rather not play Tennessee. Tennessee-Memphis is a good rivalry. Let's keep it going.
Chad Tindell
Knoxville, TN
Hey Coach Cal, now we all understand why you don't want to play Bruce Pearl and the Vols. We understand they are not a "national program" like Memphis. We also understand your games need to be televised for recruiting purposes. Although we hope no prospects watched Wednesday.
We also understand the real reason -- they kicked your butt, and you know Bruce will invade Memphis to recruit the top prospects you can't keep in state.
Ken Lomax
Covington, TN
ESPN Helped UT Beat Tigers
ESPN helped UT beat Tigers
By Randy Moore
Posted Dec 8, 2006
Tennessee's basketball team seems to play its best with a chip on its shoulder. Likewise, head man Bruce Pearl seems to coach his best with a chip on his shoulder. Both got their chips courtesy of a national TV network this week.
In the days leading up Wednesday night's game between the unranked Vols and No. 16 Memphis, most of the national media attention was focused on John Calipari's talented Tigers. Whenever the Big Orange was mentioned, its 101-87 loss to North Carolina was invariably brought up.
That provided enough chips for Pearl's shoulder and all of his players, helping spur the Vols to a 76-58 defeat of the Tigers.
“One of the things that was a rallying point for us (was the way) ESPN talked about how we got blown out by North Carolina,” Pearl noted. “Whether we did or didn't ... we outplayed 'em the second half.”
That's a fact. Down 21 at the break, Tennessee outscored the Tar Heels 52-45 after intermission, turning a potential beat-down into a relatively respectable setback.
Pearl also was irked by the amount of air time ESPN's talking heads spent praising Memphis while promoting the ESPN2 telecast of the Tigers' game at Tennessee.
“All of the hype for this game was about Memphis,” Pearl grumbled. “If you watched the Jimmy V Classic, not one time did they say one thing about Chris Lofton. Or Dane Bradshaw. Or OUR freshmen.”
Tennessee led Memphis by 21 points at the half – the same margin UNC held on the Vols two weeks earlier. Tennessee's ultimate victory margin was 18 – four more than the Tar Heels' was against UT. Still, Pearl expects Tennessee to continue getting the short end of the stick in terms of national recognition.
"People have short memories," the Vol coach said, adding: “The only way that changes is we have to continue to win basketball games.”
By Randy Moore
Posted Dec 8, 2006
Tennessee's basketball team seems to play its best with a chip on its shoulder. Likewise, head man Bruce Pearl seems to coach his best with a chip on his shoulder. Both got their chips courtesy of a national TV network this week.
In the days leading up Wednesday night's game between the unranked Vols and No. 16 Memphis, most of the national media attention was focused on John Calipari's talented Tigers. Whenever the Big Orange was mentioned, its 101-87 loss to North Carolina was invariably brought up.
That provided enough chips for Pearl's shoulder and all of his players, helping spur the Vols to a 76-58 defeat of the Tigers.
“One of the things that was a rallying point for us (was the way) ESPN talked about how we got blown out by North Carolina,” Pearl noted. “Whether we did or didn't ... we outplayed 'em the second half.”
That's a fact. Down 21 at the break, Tennessee outscored the Tar Heels 52-45 after intermission, turning a potential beat-down into a relatively respectable setback.
Pearl also was irked by the amount of air time ESPN's talking heads spent praising Memphis while promoting the ESPN2 telecast of the Tigers' game at Tennessee.
“All of the hype for this game was about Memphis,” Pearl grumbled. “If you watched the Jimmy V Classic, not one time did they say one thing about Chris Lofton. Or Dane Bradshaw. Or OUR freshmen.”
Tennessee led Memphis by 21 points at the half – the same margin UNC held on the Vols two weeks earlier. Tennessee's ultimate victory margin was 18 – four more than the Tar Heels' was against UT. Still, Pearl expects Tennessee to continue getting the short end of the stick in terms of national recognition.
"People have short memories," the Vol coach said, adding: “The only way that changes is we have to continue to win basketball games.”
Vols Earn Tigers' Respect
Vols earn Tigers' respect
By Jimmy Hyams
Posted Dec 7, 2006
Maybe Memphis will respect Tennessee’s basketball program after Wednesday night. Maybe an 18-point defeat will convince John Calipari the Vols aren’t just a regional team. Maybe, just maybe, Calipari won’t look at a loss to Tennessee like it’s a takedown by little brother.
Tennessee’s resounding 76-58 victory over the 16th-ranked Tigers was almost as alarming as last season’s major upset at Texas.
That win a year ago gave the team confidence in Bruce Pearl’s system.
The win Wednesday night convinced the young team it was capable of playing with the big boys.
Pearl called the victory a great team effort. You can spell team C-h-r-i-s L-o-f-t-o-n. Lofton was a virtual one-man wrecking crew. He scored a career-high 34 points, hitting 12 of 18 field goals and six of 11 from 3-point range.
He had 21 of UT’s 43 first-half points. At one juncture in the second half, he had 29 points on 11 of 15 shooting while his teammates had 26 on eight of 31 shooting.
``Chris was phenomenal,’’ said power forward Dane Bradshaw.
He was also clutch. After the Vols built a 23-point lead during the first half, UT went over eight minutes with just two points as Memphis cut the margin to 12. But Lofton hit a 3-pointer for 50-35 lead, then nailed a fade away trey for a 17-point lead a minute later. He delivered the dagger with another three for a 70-54 lead with 3:30 left.
``Chris was making NBA plays,’’ said Pearl.
And it didn’t matter what Memphis did. The Tigers tried different defenders and different defenses on Lofton, but he just kept firing – and hitting. He was in a zone after drilling his first five shots, and he scored taking the ball to the hoop, a new ploy in his repertoire.
Before the final horn sounded, UT fans were chanting ``over-rated’’ at Memphis.
But that might have taken away credit from a gutsy performance by Tennessee. The outsized Vols won the battle on the boards, 50-48. They also held the Tigers to 28 percent shooting (22 of 77), although Memphis missed quite a few attempts from point-blank range.
While the team defense was outstanding, so was the foul shooting. The Vols made 17 of 20, after hitting just 61.5 percent entering the game. Pearl chided himself for his team’s woes at the free-throw line.
``You would think a Jewish guy could coach something that’s free,’’ Pearl quipped.
Pearl said one reason for the foul line struggles is the loss of 90 percent free throw shooter C.J. Watson. Another is that freshmen big men Wayne Chism and Duke Crews are getting fouled two or three times more per game than Major Wingate and Andre Patterson, and Chism and Crews aren’t good foul shooters.
``What we’re doing is not acceptable,’’ Pearl said. ``But I try not to make too big a deal about it so it doesn’t get in their head.’’
Bradshaw, the Memphis native who had 21 points and 10 rebounds in a loss at Memphis last year, had 11 points and nine rebounds in 34 minutes.
``I’ll have to recruit five or six guys to replace Dane,’’ Pearl said. ``He’s my All-American.’’
Point guard Ramar Smith had seven points, seven rebounds and hit six of seven free throws. Smith and Jordan Howell, who also played the point, combined fort just two turnovers.
Duke Crews, who surrendered his starting spot to Chism so Chism could start against his high school teammate Willie Kemp, had 10 hard-fought rebounds.
``Duke was a man out there,’’ Pearl said. ``He was a man.’’
Josh Tabb didn’t score, but he scored points with his coach. He played outstanding defense and got into the passing lanes to disrupt Memphis offense.
``I think they were frustrated at times,’’ Bradshaw said.
Tennessee’s victory should give the Vols a huge boost going into a stretch that includes games against Western Kentucky, Oklahoma State and Texas.
``Dane said he likes the chemistry of this team,’’ Pearl said. ``And Dane has a pretty good feel for things like that.’’
Bradshaw certainly felt good after beating his hometown school.
CHISM HAS EARNED MORE TIME
Pearl said Chism and Crews might continue to play more minutes together, but one thing is certain: Chism has earned more playing time.
``Here’s the deal,’’ Pearl said. ``Wayne Chism needs to play more than he’s playing because he’s playing well. That’s the deal. And I told the team that he’ll get it at the four (power forward) or five (center).
``Then, it’s up to Duke Crews and Ryan Childress to determine how much more he’ll play. If Duke starts playing better – and I think he is – Wayne could play the four. And they could play together. Or if Ryan keeps playing well, Ryan and Dane will take the four spot and I won’t be able to play Wayne more minutes. But Wayne Chism deserves to play more than he’s playing right now.
``Does Duke deserve more than 20 minutes or Ryan Childress less than 10 or 15? That’s the question.’’
Chism was averaging 17.9 minutes before the Memphis game. He was scoring 9.3 points per game and grabbing a team-high 6.6 rebounds.
PEARL PLAYS LACK-OF-RESPECT CARD
When Pearl said Memphis has less respect for Tennessee than any program in the country, he was directing his remark at Calipari, because Calipari doesn’t want to play the game.
``He feels like he’s got everything to lose and nothing to gain because they’re supposed to beat us,’’ Pearl said. ``While that may be true of a top-10 program, we’re closing the gap. I’d go as far as to say we helped them get a one seed (in the NCAA tournament last year) because we were a two seed and it might have been their best win. They had the best non-conference crowd of the year for us. We might have the best non-conference crowd of year for them.’’
Pearl said playing Memphis is good for a lot of reasons.
``I don’t need the game to recruit Memphis,’’ Pearl said. ``I don’t need it. But I think it’s good for lots of reasons. It helps our attendance. It helps our RPI. It brings national television to Thompson-Boling Arena. The last thing might be recruiting.
``Which game is easier for Coach Pearl to win, Murray State or Memphis? Coach Pearl is paid to win games. This is a tough game for me, too. I think the game should be played for lots of right reasons and the fact they don’t want to play us just speaks to the fact they don’t respect us.’’
By Jimmy Hyams
Posted Dec 7, 2006
Maybe Memphis will respect Tennessee’s basketball program after Wednesday night. Maybe an 18-point defeat will convince John Calipari the Vols aren’t just a regional team. Maybe, just maybe, Calipari won’t look at a loss to Tennessee like it’s a takedown by little brother.
Tennessee’s resounding 76-58 victory over the 16th-ranked Tigers was almost as alarming as last season’s major upset at Texas.
That win a year ago gave the team confidence in Bruce Pearl’s system.
The win Wednesday night convinced the young team it was capable of playing with the big boys.
Pearl called the victory a great team effort. You can spell team C-h-r-i-s L-o-f-t-o-n. Lofton was a virtual one-man wrecking crew. He scored a career-high 34 points, hitting 12 of 18 field goals and six of 11 from 3-point range.
He had 21 of UT’s 43 first-half points. At one juncture in the second half, he had 29 points on 11 of 15 shooting while his teammates had 26 on eight of 31 shooting.
``Chris was phenomenal,’’ said power forward Dane Bradshaw.
He was also clutch. After the Vols built a 23-point lead during the first half, UT went over eight minutes with just two points as Memphis cut the margin to 12. But Lofton hit a 3-pointer for 50-35 lead, then nailed a fade away trey for a 17-point lead a minute later. He delivered the dagger with another three for a 70-54 lead with 3:30 left.
``Chris was making NBA plays,’’ said Pearl.
And it didn’t matter what Memphis did. The Tigers tried different defenders and different defenses on Lofton, but he just kept firing – and hitting. He was in a zone after drilling his first five shots, and he scored taking the ball to the hoop, a new ploy in his repertoire.
Before the final horn sounded, UT fans were chanting ``over-rated’’ at Memphis.
But that might have taken away credit from a gutsy performance by Tennessee. The outsized Vols won the battle on the boards, 50-48. They also held the Tigers to 28 percent shooting (22 of 77), although Memphis missed quite a few attempts from point-blank range.
While the team defense was outstanding, so was the foul shooting. The Vols made 17 of 20, after hitting just 61.5 percent entering the game. Pearl chided himself for his team’s woes at the free-throw line.
``You would think a Jewish guy could coach something that’s free,’’ Pearl quipped.
Pearl said one reason for the foul line struggles is the loss of 90 percent free throw shooter C.J. Watson. Another is that freshmen big men Wayne Chism and Duke Crews are getting fouled two or three times more per game than Major Wingate and Andre Patterson, and Chism and Crews aren’t good foul shooters.
``What we’re doing is not acceptable,’’ Pearl said. ``But I try not to make too big a deal about it so it doesn’t get in their head.’’
Bradshaw, the Memphis native who had 21 points and 10 rebounds in a loss at Memphis last year, had 11 points and nine rebounds in 34 minutes.
``I’ll have to recruit five or six guys to replace Dane,’’ Pearl said. ``He’s my All-American.’’
Point guard Ramar Smith had seven points, seven rebounds and hit six of seven free throws. Smith and Jordan Howell, who also played the point, combined fort just two turnovers.
Duke Crews, who surrendered his starting spot to Chism so Chism could start against his high school teammate Willie Kemp, had 10 hard-fought rebounds.
``Duke was a man out there,’’ Pearl said. ``He was a man.’’
Josh Tabb didn’t score, but he scored points with his coach. He played outstanding defense and got into the passing lanes to disrupt Memphis offense.
``I think they were frustrated at times,’’ Bradshaw said.
Tennessee’s victory should give the Vols a huge boost going into a stretch that includes games against Western Kentucky, Oklahoma State and Texas.
``Dane said he likes the chemistry of this team,’’ Pearl said. ``And Dane has a pretty good feel for things like that.’’
Bradshaw certainly felt good after beating his hometown school.
CHISM HAS EARNED MORE TIME
Pearl said Chism and Crews might continue to play more minutes together, but one thing is certain: Chism has earned more playing time.
``Here’s the deal,’’ Pearl said. ``Wayne Chism needs to play more than he’s playing because he’s playing well. That’s the deal. And I told the team that he’ll get it at the four (power forward) or five (center).
``Then, it’s up to Duke Crews and Ryan Childress to determine how much more he’ll play. If Duke starts playing better – and I think he is – Wayne could play the four. And they could play together. Or if Ryan keeps playing well, Ryan and Dane will take the four spot and I won’t be able to play Wayne more minutes. But Wayne Chism deserves to play more than he’s playing right now.
``Does Duke deserve more than 20 minutes or Ryan Childress less than 10 or 15? That’s the question.’’
Chism was averaging 17.9 minutes before the Memphis game. He was scoring 9.3 points per game and grabbing a team-high 6.6 rebounds.
PEARL PLAYS LACK-OF-RESPECT CARD
When Pearl said Memphis has less respect for Tennessee than any program in the country, he was directing his remark at Calipari, because Calipari doesn’t want to play the game.
``He feels like he’s got everything to lose and nothing to gain because they’re supposed to beat us,’’ Pearl said. ``While that may be true of a top-10 program, we’re closing the gap. I’d go as far as to say we helped them get a one seed (in the NCAA tournament last year) because we were a two seed and it might have been their best win. They had the best non-conference crowd of the year for us. We might have the best non-conference crowd of year for them.’’
Pearl said playing Memphis is good for a lot of reasons.
``I don’t need the game to recruit Memphis,’’ Pearl said. ``I don’t need it. But I think it’s good for lots of reasons. It helps our attendance. It helps our RPI. It brings national television to Thompson-Boling Arena. The last thing might be recruiting.
``Which game is easier for Coach Pearl to win, Murray State or Memphis? Coach Pearl is paid to win games. This is a tough game for me, too. I think the game should be played for lots of right reasons and the fact they don’t want to play us just speaks to the fact they don’t respect us.’’
Official Box Score Memphis vs Tennessee
Official Basketball Box Score -- GAME TOTALS -- FINAL STATISTICS
Memphis vs Tennessee
12/06/06 9:00 p.m. at Thompson-Boling Arena (Knoxville, Tenn.)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VISITORS: Memphis 6-2
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
02 Dozier, Robert...... f 6-14 0-1 1-2 5 4 9 2 13 1 4 1 0 32
32 Dorsey, Joey........ f 0-3 0-0 2-6 7 6 13 5 2 0 3 1 1 15
01 Kemp, Willie........ g 1-11 1-7 0-1 1 3 4 4 3 3 0 0 1 27
12 Anderson, Antonio... g 2-13 1-6 2-2 1 7 8 1 7 3 2 0 2 36
14 DOUGLAS-ROBERTS, C.. g 8-17 2-5 1-1 2 3 5 3 19 2 1 0 0 36
04 Niles, Pierre....... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 6
05 Hunt, Jeremy........ 2-11 0-6 1-2 0 1 1 1 5 4 1 0 0 16
15 Allen, Andre........ 2-6 0-1 2-4 2 0 2 2 6 1 0 0 2 25
20 Mack, Doneal........ 1-2 1-2 0-0 2 0 2 0 3 0 0 0 0 7
TEAM................ 2 2 4
Totals.............. 22-77 5-28 9-18 22 26 48 19 58 14 11 2 6 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 9-40 22.5% 2nd Half: 13-37 35.1% Game: 28.6% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 2-14 14.3% 2nd Half: 3-14 21.4% Game: 17.9% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 2-6 33.3% 2nd Half: 7-12 58.3% Game: 50.0% 4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOME TEAM: Tennessee 7-2
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
04 Chism,Wayne......... f 1-6 1-3 0-0 2 3 5 2 3 1 2 1 0 19
23 Bradshaw,Dane....... f 5-14 0-4 1-2 3 6 9 2 11 1 2 1 1 34
02 Smith,JaJuan........ g 2-5 1-2 2-2 0 2 2 3 7 0 2 0 1 17
05 Lofton,Chris........ g 12-18 6-11 4-4 1 4 5 1 34 1 4 0 1 34
15 Howell,Jordan....... g 1-1 1-1 2-2 0 2 2 2 5 2 0 0 0 18
12 Smith,Ramar......... 1-7 0-1 5-6 0 7 7 0 7 1 2 0 1 23
13 Passley,Tony........ 0-0 0-0 0-0 1 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 4
25 Tabb,Josh........... 0-4 0-4 0-0 1 5 6 1 0 2 0 0 2 24
32 Crews,Duke.......... 3-6 0-0 3-4 3 7 10 3 9 1 1 3 0 21
34 Childress,Ryan...... 0-1 0-0 0-0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 6
TEAM................ 1
Totals.............. 25-62 9-26 17-20 12 38 50 15 76 9 14 6 6 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 16-32 50.0% 2nd Half: 9-30 30.0% Game: 40.3% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 6-14 42.9% 2nd Half: 3-12 25.0% Game: 34.6% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 5-6 83.3% 2nd Half: 12-14 85.7% Game: 85.0% 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Officials: J.B. Caldwell, Tom Eades, Mike Thibodeaux
Technical fouls: Memphis-DORSEY, Joey. Tennessee-Smith,JaJuan; Crews,Duke.
Attendance: 19714
Score by Periods 1st 2nd Total
Memphis....................... 22 36 - 58
Tennessee..................... 43 33 - 76
Points in the paint-MEM 8,UT 4. Points off turnovers-MEM 17,UT 8.
2nd chance points-MEM 9,UT 12. Fast break points-MEM 0,UT 0.
Bench points-MEM 14,UT 16. Score tied-1 time. Lead changed-3 times.
Last FG-MEM 2nd-00:27, UT 2nd-01:27.
Largest lead-MEM by 5 1st-18:32, UT by 23 1st-00:45.
Memphis vs Tennessee
12/06/06 9:00 p.m. at Thompson-Boling Arena (Knoxville, Tenn.)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VISITORS: Memphis 6-2
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
02 Dozier, Robert...... f 6-14 0-1 1-2 5 4 9 2 13 1 4 1 0 32
32 Dorsey, Joey........ f 0-3 0-0 2-6 7 6 13 5 2 0 3 1 1 15
01 Kemp, Willie........ g 1-11 1-7 0-1 1 3 4 4 3 3 0 0 1 27
12 Anderson, Antonio... g 2-13 1-6 2-2 1 7 8 1 7 3 2 0 2 36
14 DOUGLAS-ROBERTS, C.. g 8-17 2-5 1-1 2 3 5 3 19 2 1 0 0 36
04 Niles, Pierre....... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 6
05 Hunt, Jeremy........ 2-11 0-6 1-2 0 1 1 1 5 4 1 0 0 16
15 Allen, Andre........ 2-6 0-1 2-4 2 0 2 2 6 1 0 0 2 25
20 Mack, Doneal........ 1-2 1-2 0-0 2 0 2 0 3 0 0 0 0 7
TEAM................ 2 2 4
Totals.............. 22-77 5-28 9-18 22 26 48 19 58 14 11 2 6 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 9-40 22.5% 2nd Half: 13-37 35.1% Game: 28.6% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 2-14 14.3% 2nd Half: 3-14 21.4% Game: 17.9% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 2-6 33.3% 2nd Half: 7-12 58.3% Game: 50.0% 4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOME TEAM: Tennessee 7-2
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
04 Chism,Wayne......... f 1-6 1-3 0-0 2 3 5 2 3 1 2 1 0 19
23 Bradshaw,Dane....... f 5-14 0-4 1-2 3 6 9 2 11 1 2 1 1 34
02 Smith,JaJuan........ g 2-5 1-2 2-2 0 2 2 3 7 0 2 0 1 17
05 Lofton,Chris........ g 12-18 6-11 4-4 1 4 5 1 34 1 4 0 1 34
15 Howell,Jordan....... g 1-1 1-1 2-2 0 2 2 2 5 2 0 0 0 18
12 Smith,Ramar......... 1-7 0-1 5-6 0 7 7 0 7 1 2 0 1 23
13 Passley,Tony........ 0-0 0-0 0-0 1 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 4
25 Tabb,Josh........... 0-4 0-4 0-0 1 5 6 1 0 2 0 0 2 24
32 Crews,Duke.......... 3-6 0-0 3-4 3 7 10 3 9 1 1 3 0 21
34 Childress,Ryan...... 0-1 0-0 0-0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 6
TEAM................ 1
Totals.............. 25-62 9-26 17-20 12 38 50 15 76 9 14 6 6 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 16-32 50.0% 2nd Half: 9-30 30.0% Game: 40.3% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 6-14 42.9% 2nd Half: 3-12 25.0% Game: 34.6% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 5-6 83.3% 2nd Half: 12-14 85.7% Game: 85.0% 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Officials: J.B. Caldwell, Tom Eades, Mike Thibodeaux
Technical fouls: Memphis-DORSEY, Joey. Tennessee-Smith,JaJuan; Crews,Duke.
Attendance: 19714
Score by Periods 1st 2nd Total
Memphis....................... 22 36 - 58
Tennessee..................... 43 33 - 76
Points in the paint-MEM 8,UT 4. Points off turnovers-MEM 17,UT 8.
2nd chance points-MEM 9,UT 12. Fast break points-MEM 0,UT 0.
Bench points-MEM 14,UT 16. Score tied-1 time. Lead changed-3 times.
Last FG-MEM 2nd-00:27, UT 2nd-01:27.
Largest lead-MEM by 5 1st-18:32, UT by 23 1st-00:45.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)