From CSTV.com - Memphis in the Meantime

Memphis in the Meantime
By David Scott - October 09, 2007

MEMPHIS - When the Boss informed us that we'd be getting the repeat assignment for Conference USA Media Day, we did what any red-blooded, red meat eating college hoops head would rightfully do: We booked a couple of extra days on Beale Street, doubled up on the Lipitor and prepared ourselves for five magnificent days and four luxurious nights on the outskirts of Graceland.

So here we find ourselves a full 36 hours before the start of C-USA Media Day having already scarfed down a half rack of Blues City Cafe ribs, imbibed a handful of adult beverages and enjoyed the musical meanderings of the oustanding "high energy rockabilly trio," The Dempseys.

Forget March Madness, we've got Memphis Madness in early October.

Oh, and basketball? We've got that as well.

MORE AFTER THE JUMP. . .


Depending on who you listen to or read (see below), John Calipari's Memphis Tigers are anywhere from the pre-season No. 1 to the pre-season No. 5. Freshman Derrick Rose could be the nation's top newcomer, senior Joey Dorsey might be the best big man outside of Roy Hibbert and Chris Douglas-Roberts may be the most-improved player in all the land. Yes, this team is loaded and ready to break through the Elite Eight barrier that has appeared in both of the previous two seasons.

But Calipari has bigger things to conquer at this particular time. Like Asia. Or at least China. On the verge of his team's Midnight Madness (which will be live-blogged here at Hang Time), Calipari is hosting 15 Chinese basketball coaches who arrived in town on Tuesday afternoon and were treated to a night of ribs and rockabilly at Blues City on Beale Street. The coaches - and a full documentary video crew that is recording the visit for distribution in China - and their guests, will be treated to all the touristy offerings Memphis has to offer and, for the next ten days, will get immersed in Memphis Tiger basketball. One of the Chinese coaches will remain with Calipari's staff for the entire season and the coach has established a long term relationship with the Chinese Basketball Association.

"It's an amazing opportunity for all of us," said Calipari, who had to leave the Chinese delegation on Tuesday to take part in a Jimmy V event in New York City, but will return to Memphis on Wednesday. "We're all learning from each other and it's amazing how well basketball translates."

Lest you think Calipari has gone mad and is neglecting his team, think again.

"It's all about my team come Friday night," he said. "This deal with China is going to be great for the university and for everyone involved. But I'm ready to start coaching my team."

. . . How hot is Memphis basketball? Well, in addition to almost 20 billboards all over town with images (and, in the case of Rose, flower inserts) of players and catchy sayings like, "It's Mr. Dorsey to you," the season's slate of games at the FedEx Forum is around 500 tickets from being a complete sell-out, according to Memphis officials. The Tigers, quite simply, have this town by the tail.

. . . We'll plan on having an update or two from campus during Wednesday and then we'll be with you all day on Thursday for Media Day and CSTV's Media Slam and then again on Friday night for Midnight Madness (without the tape delay!).

Interview With Dan Wolken of the Memphis Commercial Appeal

Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Stormingthefloor.com
STF Interview: Dan Wolken of the Memphis Commercial Appeal

Every other Wednesday, Storming the Floor will run a question and answer series with people who know much, much more about college basketball than we do. Look for insight and analysis from some of the top professionals in the world of college hoops.

Q&A With Dan Wolken, Memphis Commerical Appeal

STF: After back to back trips to the Elite Eight, many people are expecting this team to make the leap to Final Four this season. What can you tell us about the attitude of this team given the added pressure to advance?

DW: I don’t know if pressure is the right word, but there is a very different buzz around this team. In 2005-06, Memphis kind of came out of nowhere. A year ago, they were ranked anywhere between 12th and 16th in the preseason polls. To me, the question isn’t so much how they’ll handle the pressure but whether their personality is going to change.

For two straight years, Memphis has drawn a lot of inspiration from playing the “lack of respect” card, and rightly so. All these guys have heard is that they’re overrated, they didn’t deserve a No. 1 or No. 2 seed, their conference stinks, their schedule was weak and they’d flame out early in the NCAA Tournament. Now, all the sudden, everybody thinks they’re a juggernaut. Will they still play with that same chip on their shoulder? Time will tell. So far, I haven’t seen any signs of complacency. This group is pretty hungry to break through and make a Final Four.


STF: Compared to the last two seasons, what needs to improve with this team to advance to the Final Four?

DW: It’s hard to pinpoint one thing specifically. In last year’s Elite Eight, Memphis had the misfortune of running up against a team with the No. 1, No. 4 and No. 21 picks in the NBA Draft. Still, the Tigers had the lead deep into the second half and were kind of controlling the game until some foul issues caught up to them. But in general, you’d like to see Memphis shoot a little better from the 3-point line than last year, and they feel pretty good about guys like Doneal Mack, Willie Kemp, Jeff Robinson and Chris Douglas-Roberts being able to make jump shots. The other key will be the play of Shawn Taggart. Last year, Memphis didn’t have many answers in the post if Joey Dorsey got into foul trouble. Taggart is 6-11 and athletic, but he’s still unproven. His freshman year at Iowa State was a bust due to injuries and illness, so it’s hard to say exactly what to expect out of him. Memphis certainly needs one more big body to contribute, or else it’s very easy to see them being vulnerable inside against certain teams they might have to play in an Elite Eight or Final Four game.

STF: You are one of the few people that have been able to see Derrick Rose play with the Tigers.... Is he as good as advertised?

DW: This is a complicated question because Rose is a unique player. Here's what is obvious about Rose: He's a spectacular athlete. Memphis is perhaps the fastest, most athletic team in the country, and Rose is the fastest, most athletic guy out there. He looks like he's running at regular speed, and he's still twice as fast as everybody else. He's also spectacularly unselfish, sometimes to his detriment. You'll see him drive in, have a lane to the basket and make a sick no-look pass when he could have just dunked it. When it works, it looks genius. When it doesn't work, he gets yelled at. The biggest thing Rose will have to learn is how to always make the easier play, whatever that is. To steal a phrase from John Calipari, this isn't Showtime. You're trying to win. A lot of stuff Rose was able to do in high school won’t work in college, at least not right away. But he’ll figure it out.

I think for people that watch Memphis play, especially early in the season, it will be difficult to convince them that he's as good as advertised. The hype is so out of control, and usually that kind of hype is reserved for guys who can take over like an O.J. Mayo. Rose is a guy who just blends, and I'm not sure he really has the personality to take over, especially when you're playing with guys like Chris Douglas-Roberts, Antonio Anderson, Robert Dozier, Joey Dorsey, etc. Rose will also be under the microscope for his outside shooting, which, honestly, isn't very good at this point. Having said all that, by the end of the season, I think Rose will be recognized as the premiere point guard in the country.


STF: Out of all of the high profile non-conference games on the Tigers schedule, which are you most excited for?

DW: Wow, that's like asking me which flavor of Ben & Jerry's I want before I've even had dinner. Obviously, the possibility of Memphis and Tennessee both being ranked in the top-5 when they play in February would make for an epic event around here. On the other hand, I'm very excited to see Georgetown play here; I think that's a great inter-sectional series. I'm rooting hard for a Memphis-UConn matchup in the Coaches vs. Cancer championship game. Any time John Calipari goes up against a coach he doesn't get along with -- and Jim Calhoun falls squarely into that category -- you never know what kind of great copy might fall into your lap.


STF: Is it a positive or negative that Memphis plays in Conference USA, given the fact that it allows the Tigers the ability to play such a high profile and challenging out--of-conference schedule?

DW: If you were to give everybody at Memphis a dose of truth serum, they would tell you the program -- viewed in macro -- would be better off in a BCS Conference, whether it's the Big East, SEC, Big 12 or whatever. On the other hand, being in C-USA has helped Memphis in a profound way. Why have they gone to the Elite Eight two years in a row? Of course, they've had very good teams. But also, they were a No. 1 seed and a No. 2 seed. If you're in the Big East, SEC, Big 12, Pac 10, Big 10 or ACC, you better win that league if you want a No. 1 or No. 2 seed. If you finish third or fourth in one of those leagues, you're probably looking at a No. 4 seed or No. 5 seed, and if that's where you are, the odds of making a deep NCAA Tournament run are stacked against you from the start. John Calipari says it all the time, and it's true: Be careful what you wish for.

STF: Can any CUSA teams give Memphis a challenge?

DW: On a given night, sure. Southern Miss is the one team in the league that isn't scared of Memphis, and they've got enough good athletes to really make Memphis work hard on every possession. If Houston goes crazy one night and makes 20-of- 34 from the 3-point line or something like that, they can beat Memphis. UAB will be a tough road game. Doug Wojcik at Tulsa always comes up with some interesting stuff defensively to give Memphis a few problems. If Memphis were to lose to anybody outside of those four teams, however, it would be a monumental upset.

STF: Best and worst case scenario for this team?

DW: Best case, obviously, is winning a national title. I would defy you to find any credible basketball person who doesn’t think Memphis has a good enough roster to do it. That doesn’t guarantee a thing, of course, but there’s no ceiling on this team. The worst-case scenario is probably a second-round NCAA Tournament exit if they have bad luck with injuries or one of their key players like Dorsey has an off-the-court issue.

From Rival.com - Douglas-Roberts embraces expectations

Douglas-Roberts embraces expectations
By Bob McClellan, Rivals.com College Basketball Editor

You want high expectations? Talk to Memphis small forward Chris Douglas-Roberts.

"If we're not playing in the last game, it's a disappointing year," Douglas-Roberts told Rivals.com.

He doesn't mean the Conference USA championship game, either. He fully expects the Tigers to fill half of the bill in San Antonio on April 7, i.e., the NCAA final.

"I don't think it's any added pressure to say that," Douglas-Roberts said. "We've been to the Elite Eight the last two years and that was so close, but close is not good enough this year. Whatever expectations there are, ours are higher. … We have to be in that last game."

Publicly, Tigers coach John Calipari isn't as emphatic as Douglas-Roberts. But Calipari knows he has a special group.

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"We've played our best basketball every year in March," said Calipari, whose Tigers have gone 33-4 and reached the Elite Eight in each of the past two seasons. "That's what it's all about. Let's make sure we're gearing everything toward March, toward being in the picture for the national title and competing for that.

"At the end of the day, there are six to eight teams, maybe less, that in their minds right now think that they can win the national title. There's a bunch, maybe another 20, maybe 30, that think they can reach the Final Four. But to win it all, there's five or six teams. I think we're one of those teams."

If Memphis is, in fact, in the last game, it will be in large part because of the player the Tigers call "CDR." Douglas-Roberts, a 6-foot-6 junior left-hander, led the Tigers in scoring (15.4 ppg) last season and finished fourth in C-USA in field-goal percentage (54.3 percent). Not bad for a guy who's not a big threat from 3-point range (only 19 of 58) nor in the low post.

Simply put, Douglas-Roberts is a scorer. He's crafty with the ball and has excellent body control, and his long arms allow him to shoot over most small forwards.

He isn't ready to rest on his laurels. He says Calipari told him he needed to add strength and range on his jump shot. Douglas-Roberts has responded by shooting daily, and he says he also has packed on 12 pounds of muscle since the end of last season.

"I'm in the gym every night shooting, mid-range to 3-pointers," Douglas-Roberts said. "My jumper has gotten better."

Calipari believes Douglas-Roberts is ready to take his game up a notch. "He's up over 200 pounds and I think is as confident as I've ever seen him," Calipari said.

So what will it take to push beyond the Elite Eight? The knock on Memphis is that C-USA holds it back. The lack of credible competition (the Tigers are a combined 29-1 in conference play the past two seasons, including 16-0 last season) doesn't prepare a team for March. But Calipari and Douglas-Roberts believe the league is much improved. Even if it's not, the coach has loaded the nonconference schedule with such teams as Georgetown, Arizona, Tennessee, USC and Gonzaga.

"When we get into conference play, the media starts getting on us about how we don't play anybody," Douglas-Roberts said. "We schedule the top teams in the country and that won't be an excuse come tournament time. We'll play anybody. They can't say we didn't play anybody. Plus that makes us that much better."

Give the people the bottom line, CDR.

"Coach told us you don't have to be the best team in the country every night, just the best team on the floor," Douglas-Roberts said. "As long as we're that, we can be in that last game."

Bob McClellan is the college basketball editor for Rivals.com. He can be reached at bmcclellan@rivals.com.

Chinese Coaches Arrive for Tiger Practice

Chinese coaches arrive for practice
Leaders will observe Tigers' tune-up today
By Dan Wolken
Wednesday, October 10, 2007

When Xia Song learned in July that John Calipari wanted to talk with him, his first thought, naturally, was: Why?

Song, a self-described independent consultant who works with the Chinese Basketball Association, had actually met Calipari nine years earlier at a Nike Camp in Italy, but they had not kept in touch.

Now, all of a sudden, Calipari was trying to reach him again. Small world, huh?

Though the world might not have seemed small Tuesday to Song and the 15 Chinese coaches who spent roughly 20 hours traveling to Memphis, the next two weeks could go a long way to bringing two basketball cultures together.

At least, that was the idea Calipari pitched to Song, who helped coordinate a coaches' exchange program that begins today when they will observe Memphis' final offseason workout before the official start of practice at Memphis Madness on Friday night.

"We're very happy and excited that we finally made it to Memphis," Duan Lian, head of the CBA, said through Song's interpretation. "It's a real hard and long trip, but finally when we see everybody here, we're happy. Hopefully we can have a very successful training program here and can really learn something.

"No doubt, this time in Memphis is going to be a very special memory and experience for all our Chinese coaches."

One of the most remarkable aspects of Memphis' five-year agreement with China is that Calipari was able to quickly build relationships to earn the backing of the Chinese government and basketball federation. Calipari's first contact from a basketball standpoint was longtime NBA coach Del Harris, who coached the 2004 Chinese Olympic team.

Harris, in turn, put Calipari in touch with Song, who Calipari described Tuesday as "my partner." Song, according to several published reports, wears numerous hats in Chinese basketball, including agent, national team translator and NBA broadcaster.

In this case, he worked as a conduit between Calipari and the key figures in the Chinese government. Song, who helped select the 15 coaches who are making the inaugural trip, said acquainting Chinese basketball with NCAA basketball was natural since they both are in the business of developing players age 18-22.

"Our coaches, especially the high school or middle school coaches, they don't have a chance to learn from the European countries or American basketball," Song said. "This is going to open the door for all those young coaches to learn.

"If they can learn from college basketball here, how John Calipari and other coaches teach kids from 18 to 22, that will benefit China basketball a lot. When these coaches go back to China, they will know how to use what they've learned from John Calipari to teach the Chinese kids."

Clearly, Song's involvement will also be crucial if Memphis is ever to get games broadcast live in China or, ultimately, is able to get a player from the country. Song said he considers both to be possibilities.

"If that's part of the exchange program, if the players and their club teams or their school is OK with it and the player wants to come and John Calipari feels this is the right player who can get some playing time on this team, that's going to happen and that's going to help china basketball a lot," Song said.

"We focus on 2008 Olympics now, but we still have 2012 Olympics to come. If we do have some players that can come here and play college ball and get developed, no doubt it will help China basketball a lot."

-- Dan Wolken: 529-2365

Rivals.com Top 64 - No. 2 Memphis

Top 64 Countdown: No. 2 Memphis
By Bob McClellan, Rivals.com College Basketball Editor

Head coach: John Calipari
Last season: 32-4, 16-0 in Conference USA
Postseason: Earned automatic bid to NCAA by winning Conference USA Tournament. Lost to Ohio State in Elite Eight, 92-76.

Outlook with postseason forecast

The Tigers are primed for a run at the national title. They have talent, size, quickness and depth at every position. The non-conference schedule is a doozy, but it's designed to push this team in a way that Conference USA has been unable to in the past two seasons (Memphis is 29-1 in C-USA during that time). The schedule includes USC, Georgetown, Arizona, Gonzaga and Tennessee, not to mention a possible date with Kentucky or Connecticut at the 2K College Hoops Classic final at Madison Square Garden. Those are the kinds of games that will get Calipari's team ready for a deep NCAA Tournament run. Anything less than a Final Four appearance would be a disappointment.

Probable Starting Five
G Derrick Rose (freshman; Rivals.com five-star prospect)
G Antonio Anderson (8.0 ppg, 4.1 rpg)
C Joey Dorsey (8.5 ppg, 9.4 rpg)
F Chris Douglas-Roberts (15.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg)
F Robert Dozier (9.6 ppg, 6.2 rpg)

Top Reserves
G Willie Kemp (6.4 ppg)
G Andre Allen (5.3 ppg)
F Shawn Taggart (Iowa State transfer)
G Doneal Mack (7.1 ppg)

Backcourt

The Tigers have an embarrassment of riches at guard. A group with both starters and both backups returning adds Rivals.com's No. 2 prospect in the country, point guard Derrick Rose. He'll start from Day One because he's that good and he makes everyone else that much better. He's 6 feet 4, lightning quick, strong with the ball and distributes well. Rose understands the benefits of getting everyone involved, and he can take over offensively if necessary. He's a winner, and he could be the missing ingredient to a national-title run.

Rose will start alongside Antonio Anderson, one of John Calipari's "glue" guys. Anderson is the leader in the locker room. He's the Tigers' best defender, and he's a big effort guy. He'll do all of the little things – set up teammates (team-leading 3.6 apg), dive for loose balls (led the team with 59 steals), rebound (4.1 per game). Anderson by far had the Tigers' best assist-to-turnover ratio (2.6-1). He's not a good shooter (39 percent, including 24.5 percent from 3-point range), but he'll benefit from Rose's presence.

The real outside threat is 6-5 sophomore Doneal Mack. He shot 40.5 percent from 3-point range (47-of-116) and averaged 7.1 ppg despite playing less than 15 mpg. The only significant loss from last year's roster is gunner Jeremy Hunt (his 386 shots were more than anybody on the team; his 233 3-point attempts were 100 more than any other Tiger). Mack, a smooth-shooting lefty, should pick up some of the slack in the 3-pointers department.

Willie Kemp, who started all but one game last season as a freshman, will move to the bench and could spell either Rose or Anderson. He could play more at shooting guard this season after starting at the point last season. He actually shot better from outside the arc (38.6 percent) than inside it (37.4).

Senior point guard Andre Allen, a good distributor (second on the team in assists) and solid defender, also provides quality depth.

Calipari has talked of utilizing a four-guard lineup on occasion to take advantage of the guards' ability to drive and create.

Frontcourt

It's hard to believe, but the frontcourt is loaded, too. All three starters return, and there's a quality newcomer as well.

Small forward Chris Douglas-Roberts was the leading scorer last season. Douglas-Roberts, a 6-6 left-hander, can create his own shot as well as any player at his position. His long arms allow him to shoot over people easily, and he can put the ball on the floor and get past people. He's not a big threat from 3-point range (only 19 of 58), but he's smart offensively. He rarely takes bad shots, and he can finish in the paint. Douglas-Roberts finished second on the team in field-goal percentage (54.3 percent, fourth in Conference USA).

Center Joey Dorsey is an intimidating presence. At 6 feet 9 and 260 pounds, he has amazing agility and leaping ability. He led Conference USA in rebounding and was second in blocks and field-goal percentage. He also was second on the Tigers and 10th in C-USA in steals. When he's dialed in and under control, the Tigers are almost unbeatable.

The other starter up front is 6-9 Robert Dozier, an unassuming guy who plays a big role for the Tigers. He was seventh in C-USA in rebounding and blocks. His 7-3 wingspan makes him especially dangerous on defense and, with Dorsey, on the offensive glass.

Shawn Taggart, a 6-10 transfer from Iowa State who averaged 5.6 ppg and 3.6 rpg in his freshman season in Ames, will push for playing time. Word out of Memphis is that he has played well in pickup games this summer.

Offense

Calipari is a proponent of a dribble-drive offense, and he clearly has enough guards to make it work. The goal is to break down defenders and get shots while going to the rim or draw extra defenders and kick out for open 3-pointers. With that in mind, the Tigers might utilize some three- and even four-guard lineups. The coaches figure they can get away with it because Rose, Anderson and Douglas-Roberts rebound well for their size.

Defense

Because of the depth, look for the Tigers to pick up three-quarter court and pressure more than they have in recent seasons. Calipari is a proponent of man-to-man, and the Tigers' guards can get after people. They also have big-time erasers behind them.

Shoes to Fill

G Jeremy Hunt (14.1 ppg, 89 3-pointers).

Must Step Up

Joey Dorsey. Memphis has lost four games each of the past two seasons. In those eight games, Dorsey fouled out of four of them and had four fouls in the other four. The Tigers need his presence on the inside. He brings a level of intensity and intimidation that simply isn't there without him.

Impact Newcomer

Rose. The Chicago native is generating big-time buzz on Beale Street. If he's as good as advertised, no one will be singing the blues in Memphis in March.

Bob McClellan is a national basketball writer for Rivals.com. He can be reached at bmclellan@rivals.com.

Luke Winn's Top 15 Backcourts (Memphis #2)

Derrick Rose, Willie Kemp (pictured), Chris Douglas-Roberts, Antonio Anderson, Andre Allen, Doneal Mack

A talented crew, already five deep, added the country's top prep point guard, Derrick Rose. He'll pilot an offense that should once again shred Conference USA -- and this time get the Tigers into the Final Four. Never mind the apparent logjam at the point, either: Rose is going to start from Day One of what may be his only year under John Calipari.

Dan Wolken's Blog - CUSA Rankings

Here we go
Posted by Dan Wolken

For me, the first week of the college basketball season begins right now. Though Memphis Madness isn’t until Friday, my schedule is already booked up with Conference USA Media Day on Thursday, the Tigers’ weekly pre-preseason practice on Wednesday, the arrival of the Chinese coaching delegation on Tuesday and interviews Monday for some exciting preseason previews we’re working on. Hopefully you guys will enjoy our comprehensive coverage of the 2007-08 basketball season, both in The Commercial Appeal and on The Memphis Edge.

Sometime before C-USA Media Day, the league will release its preseason poll. Here’s how I think the poll will look:

1. Memphis
2. UAB
3. Houston
4. Southern Miss
5. Tulsa
6. Central Florida
7. UTEP
8. Tulane
9. Marshall
10. SMU
11. East Carolina
12. Rice

Here’s how my ballot looks, with explanation:


1. Memphis — No explanation needed.
2. Southern Miss — They have two ingredients I love: Athleticism and attitude. Larry Eustachy is a great coach who has recruited players with the right makeup. Southern Miss could be the nation’s biggest surprise.
3. Houston — Tom Penders has tremendnus guards, but against good teams, the Cougars get exploited inside. A lot is riding on the play of Seton Hall transfer Marcus Cousin.
4. UAB — Nationally, pundits are putting a lot of faith in the transfer trio of Robert Vaden, Walter Sharpe and Channing Toney. Until Sharpe and Toney prove they aren’t complete flakes — which is pretty much what they were at their previous stops — I can’t rank UAB any higher.
5. Tulsa — Doug Wojcik’s teams play good enough defense to be in every game. But Tulsa is still probably one or two recruiting classes away from having the offensive firepower to contend.
6. Marshall — This team lost a ton of close games last year. I love Mark Dorris and Markel Humphrey, and adding an experienced point guard like Gonzaga transfer Pierre-Marie Altidor-Cespedes should turn some of those L’s into W’s.
7. Tulane — Solid team last year, and I expect them to be solid again. Gomez and Sims are potential all-league players, and Dave Dickerson can obviously coach.
8. UCF – It wouldn’t surprise me if UCF finished higher, but I need to see some of the newcomers in action. Kirk Speraw lost a couple very key players to graduation off last year’s second-place team.
9. UTEP — The Miners are going to be really young. Stefon Jackson is one of the top guards around, but UTEP’s talent last year outside of him was less than mediocre.
10. SMU — Papa Dia is more than just a great name. He’ll be one of the league’s best freshmen. Still, Matt Doherty is a year away at least from making an impact in the league.
11. East Carolina — On paper, they will at least be better than Rice.
12. Rice — No Almond, no joy.

Posted Sunday, October 7th, 2007 at 11:54 pm

Mike DeCourcy - Chris Lofton Takes Early POY Lead (CDR #10)

Lofton takes early Player of the Year lead

By Mike DeCourcy, Sporting News
Posted October 8, 2007

Raise your hand if you knew last October that Kevin Durant would win every single trophy for player of the year at the close of the 2006-07 season.

Is that you, Ms. Pratt? Wanda Pratt?

You don't count. You're Kevin's mom.

The rest of us, not related to Kevin, knew he'd be a terrific college basketball player but had no idea he would storm through the winter averaging 25.8 points and 11.1 rebounds. We thought Greg Oden might be a P-O-Y candidate -- at least we did before he injured his wrist. But Durant's dominance was a stunner. We will not be caught off-guard this time.

Now we know what the talent difference between the best freshmen and the best veterans can mean on the court, that it is possible to overcome the difference in experience. So we're on high alert looking for the next Durant or Oden. We mixed them into the list of the top players at each position last week, mostly to a chorus of "those freshmen haven't done anything yet." Indeed, but once the season starts, many/most of them will do plenty.

And one or more will challenge the vets for the trophies that bear the names of Oscar Robertson, John Wooden, James Naismith and Adolph Rupp.

1. Chris Lofton, Tennessee. Lofton will average 20-plus points, will challenge the top of the NCAA career 3-point shooting charts and will be a significant factor in a successful Vols season. Until further notice, he's your clubhouse leader.

2. Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina. He's going to be a first-team All-American. He won't allow himself not to be. But will he be the kind of dominant guy who wins awards like this?

3. Kevin Love, UCLA. I rated him as a second-team All-American in the Sporting News College Basketball yearbook and as the No. 4 center in the position rankings at SportingNews.com. However, if he has the kind of year he is capable of having and the Bruins are as good as I think -- and if nobody else puts up Durant/Morrison/Redick numbers -- it's possible he could be your guy.

4. Roy Hibbert, Georgetown. Play every game like last year's Big East title game against Pitt, and all the trophies are yours, Roy.

5. Drew Neitzel, Michigan State. The media love him. From October to March, you'll see nearly as many pictures of him as Lindsay Lohan.

6. Eric Gordon, Indiana. He'll put up some sweet scoring numbers, but if IU wins he's going to split votes with teammate D.J. White.

7. Darrell Arthur, Kansas. If his teammates get him the ball, he'll get them to the Final Four. Finally.

8. Mike Beasley, Kansas State. His coach already has compared his likely impact what Durant achieved. Fair enough.

9. O.J. Mayo, Southern California. Try to ignore him. It's hard to do.

10. Chris Douglas-Roberts, Memphis. Is he too much of a team player to win individual honors? Not if his team is as good as projected.

Vitale's Five Reasons To Get Excited About College Hoops

Vitale's five reasons to get excited about college hoops

ESPN's Dick Vitale gives us five reasons to get excited about the start of college basketball practice, even if it is college football season:

1. The arrival of diaper dandies like O.J. Mayo (Southern Cal), Kevin Love (UCLA), Michael Beasley (Kansas State) and Co. I can't wait to see if they will shine.

2. Watch how the Florida Gators respond after winning back-to-back titles now that the starting five is gone.

3. Seeing how big-name coaches such as Tubby Smith (Minnesota), Bobby Huggins (West Virginia) and John Beilein (Michigan) fare in new environments.

4. Look at the response to the Billy Gillispie show in Lexington, Ky. Big Blue fans should be happy.

5. After two straight Elite Eight appearances, is this the year John Calipari cuts down the nets with Memphis?

Tigers Earning Positive Preseason Press

Tigers earning positive preseason press
By Dan Wolken
Sunday, October 7, 2007

Thousands of pages of college basketball preseason magazines have hit the newsstands in recent days, and nearly all of them agree on one basic point about the University of Memphis: Anything less than a trip to the 2008 Final Four will be considered a disappointment.

Of the five most well-known preseason publications, only one -- the CBS Sports.com magazine -- pegs the Tigers No. 1. But the others rank the Tigers alongside UCLA, North Carolina, Georgetown, Kansas and Tennessee as the elite of the elite in college basketball this season.

Preseason predictions rank the U of M basketball team as high as one or two. Do you think the Tigers can live up to the expectations?

Yes

No

"We did pick UCLA as No. 1, but in terms of talent coming back, it was pretty easy to put Memphis No. 2 because we see this as kind of the year they finally break through and make a Final Four," said Scott Smith, editor of the Street & Smith's/Sporting News magazine. "They're really not going to have a heck of a lot of trouble in Conference USA, and they'll be able to peak for big games, and we just think this is the year they're going to do it."

Over the past two years, Tiger players, and especially their fans, have complained at times about a lack of respect nationally. But now, coming off back-to-back Elite Eight appearances and with the entire starting five returning, the critics have become converts.

"There were five, six teams that we really considered for the Final Four, and Memphis was one of the no-doubt-about-it teams from the top," said Mitch Light, editor of the Athlon college basketball preview. "Memphis, North Carolina and UCLA were the three that there was just no way we weren't picking them. Memphis has one of the most complete rosters in the country. North Carolina may be a little deeper roster, but there are no weaknesses with Memphis."

The only factor working against Memphis as opposed to UCLA and North Carolina -- which Athlon predicted as its national championship game -- was experience at point guard, Light said. Though Derrick Rose is recognized in every preseason publication as one of the top freshmen in the country, Light said UCLA's veteran point guard Darren Collison -- who he rates as the top point guard in the country -- gives the Bruins a slight edge over Memphis.

Gary Parrish, who was responsible for the CBS Sports.com rankings, drew a different conclusion about Rose taking the reins in Memphis' backcourt.

"The reality is, they are coming off back-to-back Elite Eights, they are returning every starter, and they are bringing in what some people believe to be the best recruit, who could be the best point guard in the country," Parrish said. "So when you blend an unselfish personality like Derrick Rose, who is also immensely talented, with a group of veterans that have already done it, I don't know why anybody would think those aren't the ingredients of a No. 1 team."

Two publications, however, don't rank Memphis as the best team even in the state of Tennessee. Though Lindy's pegs the Tigers at No. 4, assistant editor Ben Cook said Tennessee's SEC affiliation gave the Vols a slight edge at No. 3.

"We think Memphis is just darn good," Cook said. "That's pretty much the only thing to say. They have a lot of veteran talent back, and the only question we had at all was can they replace (Jeremy) Hunt's shooting? But I feel quite confident they will.

"Once you get past No. 1 (UCLA), I think you can take the next three or four teams, put them in a hat and shake them up. Tennessee is loaded, and the fact that they played so well against Ohio State (in a Sweet 16 loss) tells me that this is a team that can play on the national stage. Nothing will scare them. I do like Memphis. I think probably the defining factor there is, I don't think Memphis will get tested nearly as much as Tennessee during league play, and that possibly could show up in the postseason."

The Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook assigned Memphis a No. 5 ranking, behind No. 3 Georgetown and No. 4 Tennessee.

Blue Ribbon editor Chris Dortch said he based that ranking not so much on conference but rather how Memphis and Tennessee matched up last December when the Vols handed the Tigers one of their four losses last season, 76-58 in Knoxville.

Dortch, however, also acknowledged that Memphis could be the best team in the country, "if Joey Dorsey plays like an all-American" and the Tigers can knock down 3-pointers with more consistency.

"I like Memphis' talent a lot, and I like the aggressive way they play," Dortch said. "But I just got to looking, and I was at the Tennessee game last year where Tennessee was able to defend the attack, attack part of their offense. An athletic team was able to prevent them from getting to the basket, so as a result, they had to shoot from the outside. If you go back and look at the box score of that game, they shot under 30 percent for the game.

"In my mind, I'm looking at a potential weakness for this team, and for the season they shot 32 percent from the (3-point line), and in this day and age, that's kind of low. I'm thinking I like them in the top five, but do I like them as one, two, knowing that if somebody shuts down the attack, part of their offense can they be handled?"

Reach Dan Wolken at 529-2365; read his blogs on Tiger basketball at thememphisedge.com.

Memphis Madness

What: The Tigers' annual season-opening celebration.

Where: FedExForum

When: Friday; doors open at 7 p.m. Festivities start around 8 p.m.

CBS Sports

1. Memphis

2. UCLA

3. Kansas

4. North Carolina

5. Louisville

6. Tennessee

7. Washington St.

8. Georgetown

Street & Smith's

1. UCLA

2. Memphis

3. North Carolina

4. Kansas

5. Georgetown

6. Louisville

7. Tennessee

8. Washington State

Athlon

Champion: UCLA

Runner-up: North Carolina

Final Four: Memphis, Georgetown

Elite Eight: Kansas, Louisville, Oregon, Tennessee

Lindy's

1. UCLA

2. North Carolina

3. Tennessee

4. Memphis

5. Louisville

6. Georgetown

7. Washington St.

8. Kansas

Blue Ribbon

1. North Carolina

2. UCLA

3. Georgetown

4. Tennessee

5. Memphis

6. Michigan State

7. Kansas

8. Louisville

Collegehoops.net - Fifty Impact Freshman

Collegehoops.net - Fifty Impact Freshman

Ever since Carmelo Anthony led Syracuse to a National Championship in 2003, every freshman has looked to "Carmelo-ize" a team or program. This season's crop of newcomers is loaded with players that are going to have step in immediately and have an impact. It is likely, however, that someone not on this list is going to have a huge effect on his new team. That's just how it is; you can't predict what freshmen are going to do. (Note: Players aren’t in a ranking format—it’s just a listing.)

Point Guard

Derrick Rose, Memphis: Immediately one of the best point guards in the nation, Rose has a chance to Mike Bibby the Tigers to the title.

O.J. Mayo, USC: Extremely talented player has been talked about for years—it’s now time for him to show the country why.

Jonny Flynn, Syracuse: Might be the player on this list most tied to his team’s success; he will step in and start right away.

Jerryd Bayless, Arizona: More of a natural wing than a true point, he has great athleticism and will be a big-time scorer.

Corey Fisher, Villanova: Terrific ball-handler will push All-America candidate Scottie Reynolds to the wing.

Chris Wright, Georgetown: Despite a broken right foot, Wright is the point guard of the future for the Hoyas.

Jai Lucas, Florida: Might start on the bench, but will see plenty of playing time due to his quickness.

Corey Chandler, Rutgers: Big-time scorer will become the go-to-guy immediately for the Scarlet Knights.

Malcolm Delaney, Virginia Tech: Natural combo guard has to replace Zabian Dowdell and Jamon Gordon for Hokies.

Maurice Miller, Georgia Tech: Javaris Crittenton’s replacement will fight with Matt Causey for starting spot.

Shooting Guard

Eric Gordon, Indiana: One of the nation’s top recruits, Gordon has a chance to be one of Big Ten’s top scorers.

Nick Calathes, Florida: Combo guard can also play the point; is a good shooter and can penetrate for points.

Austin Freeman, Georgetown: Very good offensive player will get ample playing time, giving Hoyas legit wing scorer.

Corey Stokes, Villanova: Terrific shooter, and will combine with Fisher and Reynolds in an outstanding backcourt.

Corperryale Harris, Michigan: Someone has to score the points for the Wolverines, and Harris is your best bet.

E’Twaun Moore, Purdue: Can play either guard spot, and likely will start right away; has Purdue faithful very excited.

Nolan Smith, Duke: Won’t start, but Smith provides the athleticism in the backcourt that Duke lacked a year ago.

Darquavis Tucker, DePaul: Scorer replaces Sammy Mejia in the starting lineup, and will be a fixture for the future.

Chris Allen, Michigan State: Very good scorer is arguably the top recruit from a loaded Spartans’ freshman class.

R.L. Horton, Southern Mississippi: Mississippi’s Mr. Basketball could become a legit sleeper for the Golden Eagles.

Small Forward

Kyle Singler, Duke: Terrific shooter has a chance to be the best freshman in the ACC; tough match-up for opponents.

Donte Greene, Syracuse: Versatile forward can score in a variety of ways, and will be a star for the Orange.

James Harden, Arizona State: One of ASU’s best recruits in years, Harden will start immediately on the wing.

Chandler Parsons, Florida: Active forward can play both inside and outside, and has a chance to start right away.

James Anderson, Oklahoma State: One of OSU’s best recruits in history, he will make an immediate impact.

Jamelle Horne, Arizona: Not as decorated as classmate Bayless, but will push for a starting job at both forward spots.

Austin Daye, Gonzaga: 6-10 wing was a shooting guard in high school, and is a match-up nightmare for opponents.

Durrell Summers, Michigan State: Likely won’t start due to five returning starters, but he’s a terrific dunker.

Chris Wright, Dayton: Isn't getting much national pub, but he is a terrific athlete and will make an immediate impact.

Scott Martin, Purdue: Versatile forward has a good chance of starting up front due to his scoring ability.

Power Forward

Michael Beasley, Kansas State: Freshman of the Year candidate can do everything and will carry the Wildcats.

Patrick Patterson, Kentucky: Best inside player for the Wildcats will start immediately down low for Billy G.

Anthony Randolph, LSU: More of a wing than a big man, Randolph will step into the starting lineup for depleted Tigers.

Blake Griffin, Oklahoma: Very athletic forward will team with Longar Longar to form a very good frontcourt duo.

Herb Pope, New Mexico State: One of the best recruits in NMSU’s history, Pope will make an immediate impact.

Gani Lawal, Georgia Tech: Very active player who is tough around the basket; will push for a starting spot.

Craig Brackins, Iowa State: He can score both inside and on the perimeter, and is likely to start right away.

Matthew Bryan-Amaning, Washington: Might be Spencer Hawes’ replacement for the Huskies; big shoes to fill.

Justin Burrell, St. John’s: With the losses of key players, Burrell will lead a youth movement for the Red Storm.

DeJuan Blair, Pittsburgh: Pitt needs a replacement for Aaron Gray, and he, although undersized, could be the answer.

Center

Kevin Love, UCLA: Immediately becomes one of the best centers in the country; could push Bruins over the top.

DeAndre Jordan, Texas A&M: He can run the floor well and is a terrific finisher around the basket; immediate starter.

Kosta Koufos, Ohio State: Greg Oden’s replacement down low, Koufos is a match-up nightmare due to his skills.

Cole Aldrich, Kansas: The Jayhawks’ only missing piece might be a dominant center; Aldrich could provide that.

Nayal Koshwal, DePaul: He can do a variety of things, and is very difficult to stop once he gets the ball down low.

J.J. Hickson, North Carolina State: Is stuck behind a deep frontline, but he will start if Sidney Lowe goes big.

Solomon Alabi/Julian Vaughn, Florida State: One of these two needs to make an immediate impact for ‘Noles.

Anthony McClain, Cincinnati: Terrific shot-blocker is part of an underrated and young Bearcats’ frontline.

A.J. Ogilvy, Vanderbilt: Overlooked on most recruiting lists, but he could be a future lottery pick for Commodores.

Eli Holman, Indiana: Has the size and skills to move D.J. White to power forward, helping Hoosiers down low.

Collegehoops.net - Top National Trio of Players (Memphis #2 with Rose, CRD and Dorsey)

Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Group Rankings: Trios


In addition to a solid inside-outside combo, which many teams have, the thing that sets apart the elite from the also-rans is that third option. Opponents can set up a game plan to shut down the top two players, but it is nearly impossible to contain a solid troika. When teams that have three outstanding players are hitting on all cylinders, they usually don't lose. Here are the top trios heading into the season:

1. North Carolina: Tywon Lawson, Wayne Ellington, Tyler Hansbrough
2. Memphis: Derrick Rose, Chris Douglas-Roberts, Joey Dorsey
3. UCLA: Darren Collison, Josh Shipp, Kevin Love
4. Kansas: Mario Chalmers, Brandon Rush, Darrell Arthur
5. Tennessee: Chris Lofton, JaJuan Smith, Tyler Smith
6. Oregon: Bryce Taylor, Malik Hairston, Maarty Leunen
7. Marquette: Dominic James, Jerel McNeal, Wesley Matthews
8. North Carolina State: Gavin Grant, Brandon Costner, Ben McCauley
9. Georgetown: Jonathan Wallace, DaJuan Summers, Roy Hibbert
10. Stanford: Brook Lopez, Lawrence Hill, Robin Lopez

Five More to Watch:
Texas A&M: Josh Carter, Joseph Jones, DeAndre Jordan
Texas: D.J. Augustin, A.J. Abrams, Damion James
Mississippi State: Jamont Gordon, Barry Stewart, Charles Rhodes
Davidson: Jason Richards, Stephen Curry, Thomas Sander
Duke: Greg Paulus, Kyle Singler, DeMarcus Nelson
posted by Jeff

Mike DeCourcy's Top Small Forwards (CDR #2)

Budinger tops a strong small forward crop

By Mike DeCourcy, Sporting News
Posted October 3, 2007

What is remarkable about the current crop of small forwards is that so many of them look like small forwards.

They might become shooting guards in the pros, but we're so used to seeing 6-2 guards interloping at this position that it's nice to find some 6-7 or 6-8 guys who can make a jumpshot, dribble the ball and pass it to teammates.

Almost every one of these guys would be able to survive for stretches playing power forward. Some already have. Some probably will this year. That's not a promise, but it's a warning.

Today's position: small forward

1. Chase Budinger, Arizona. Even though it wasn't always easy for him to get the ball away from teammates, Budinger still averaged nearly 16 points a game. He's a terrific rebounder for a small forward because of his remarkable jumping ability, and he promises this year to return in even better condition to avoid wearing down late in games. The next step to greatness: getting his long-range shooting up from 36.8 percent.

2. Chris Douglas-Roberts, Memphis. He won't wind up with the biggest scoring numbers, because he won't take enough shots to make it happen. It's not his style. CDR still is an overgrown point guard, creating opportunities for his teammates and, occasionally, for himself. Like Budinger, he would be even better if his long-distance jumpers (32.8 percent) fell more regularly.

3. Brandon Rush, Kansas. I have to admit to growing a little weary of waiting for Rush to become the dominant player he should be. It's never been a question of opportunity. KU coach Bill Self always has left open the door for Rush to score. He averaged 13.8 points on 44.3 percent shooting last season. Part of the reason that scoring number was so low was a lack of conviction about driving the ball and getting himself fouled, but he has that kind of ability.

4. Courtney Lee, Western Kentucky. It's kind of harsh to say a player who averaged 17.3 points and shot 40 percent from 3-point range had a disappointing season. Sorry, but it's true. The good news is that if that's a down year, imagine what it'll be like when he steps it up this time.

5. David Lighty, Ohio State. He guards, makes shots, plays with energy and wants to win. For the Buckeyes, the best thing about Daequan Cook leaving for the NBA is the chance to feature Lighty more.

6. Josh Carter, Texas A&M. This could go one of two ways. Either Carter won't get as many good scoring opportunities because Acie Law is not around to generate them, or he'll get more because Law, at the heart of it, was as much a scorer as a point guard. Make no mistake about this, though: Carter is the best pure shooter in college hoops.

7. DaJuan Summers, Georgetown. He didn't shoot the ball all that great last year, and he didn't rebound at all, but something about this kid's size and talent suggests he's going to be a star. I'd rather bet on him than against him.

8. Malik Hairston, Oregon. Hairston's early season injury led the Ducks to find other ways to win, and he was just squeezing himself back into the picture following his return. Hairston rebounds, though, and makes big shots. If somebody can get Hairston quality opportunities, he'll deliver.

9. Lawrence Hill, Stanford. Honestly, given Stanford's (lack of) point guard play, it's amazing Hill was able to produce like he did.

10. Paul Harris, Syracuse. Last year's hope that he could become a point guard has turned into this year's plan to make him a small forward. It's where he belonged all the time, but Demetris Nichols was in the way last year.

Almost, not quite: Shan Foster, Vanderbilt; Matt Bouldin, Gonzaga; Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, UCLA; Wesley Matthews, Marquette; Bill Walker, Kansas State; Tommie Liddell, Saint Louis; C.J. Anderson, Xavier; Gavin Grant, N.C. State; DeMarcus Nelson, Duke.

Collegehoops.net's Best Backcourts (Memphis 5th)

Tuesday, October 02, 2007
Best Backcourts

The most integral part of a team is its backcourt. In order to be a threat to win the national championship, a good perimeter group is necessary. Without superior guard play, you can kiss a Final Four appearance goodbye. A team can have the best forwards in the country, but if they don't have a perimeter that can knock down shots and handle the ball, they are ripe for an upset in the early rounds. Who has the best backcourts in the country? Starters in italics

1. Kansas (Mario Chalmers, Brandon Rush, Russell Robinson, Sherron Collins): This might be the most talented group in the country, although much of it depends on Rush’s return from his ACL injury. He is expected to be back in November, but it remains to be seen how effective he will be once he returns. When healthy, Rush is a versatile offensive player, with the ability to take the ball to the basket as well as shoot a jumper with equal efficiency. Bill Self has also called Rush his best defender. Chalmers would likely dispute that last comment. He has led the Big 12 in steals the past two seasons, and is also a good scorer and passer. Robinson is a solid point guard who does not turn the ball over and, like Rush and Chalmers, is one of the best defensive guards in the country. Collins might be the most important player on the team. He is the most aggressive offensive player for Kansas, and is in the game in crunch time.

2. Washington State (Derrick Low, Kyle Weaver, Taylor Rochestie, Nikola Koprivica, Thomas Abercrombie): Even though it doesn’t look right, Washington State basketball is a national player and owns the nation’s best backcourt duo heading into the season. Both starters, Low and Weaver, are essentially interchangeable and will play both guard spots throughout the course of a game. Low has been compared by some to Steve Nash, and he is a high-energy player that always seems to be around the ball. He can create his own shot, and is also adept at finding his teammates. Weaver is one of the best all-around players in the country. He is not much of a shooter, but he does everything else very well. He is a terrific defender and is a tough match-up on the offensive end. Rochestie is a good shooter who is usually in the game down the stretch.

3. North Carolina (Tywon Lawson, Wayne Ellington, Bobby Frasor, Quentin Thomas): With one year under their respective belts, Lawson and Ellington are primed to develop into one of the best combos in the country. Lawson is an absolute blur with the ball, making him perfect for North Carolina’s up-tempo offense. He is terrific at finding teammates for easy baskets and improved greatly as the season went on. Ellington was inconsistent at times last season, but is one of the best pure shooters in the country. Now that he is no longer a freshman, expect his confidence and shot numbers to increase. He has the talent to become one of the best at his position. Frasor started two years ago and early last year before a foot injury forced him to the bench. He provides good depth at both guard spots.

4. Marquette (Dominic James, Jerel McNeal, Wesley Matthews, David Cubillan, Maurice Acker): The Golden Eagles have plenty of depth and talent to go around in their backcourt. James struggled last season with his shot, but will look to return to his freshman-season form, in which he became one of the best point guards in the country. He is fearless when driving to the basket, and is also solid at finding his teammates. McNeal is one of the best two-way players in the country. He can lock down opponents on the defensive end, and is also a good offensive player. However, he turns the ball over too often, and needs to improve that to reach his true potential. Matthews does everything well, but is not much of a shooter from long-range. He is a solid rebounder and passer. Cubillan is a terrific outside shooter, while Acker is very quick.

5. Memphis (Derrick Rose, Antonio Anderson, Chris Douglas-Roberts, Andre Allen, Willie Kemp, Doneal Mack): With arguably the deepest perimeter group in the country, the Tigers have plenty of options and line-up manipulations they could try out due to the talent and versatility of this sextet. Rose, a freshman, immediately becomes one of the best point guards in the country, and will make an instant impact. Douglas-Roberts has developed into one of the best offensive players around, and has reportedly improved his jumpshot in the offseason. Anderson can do a little of everything, while Allen and Kemp are quick point guards who will take a back seat to Rose in the line-up. Mack could take Jeremy Hunt’s place as the smooth-shooting sixth man.

6. UCLA (Darren Collison, Josh Shipp, Russell Westbrook, Michael Roll): Last year, the Bruins had the best backcourt duo in the country in Collison and departed All-American Arron Afflalo. Without Afflalo, though, Shipp will have to step into his shoes and provide terrific production at both ends of the floor. He is capable of it. Hampered by injuries throughout his career, Shipp could have a break-out campaign this season. Collison is the best point guard in the country heading into the season. He is a very good passer and shooter who is also a dynamite defender. Westbrook has shown flashes of his potential, while Roll is a very good shooter.

7. Texas (D.J. Augustin, A.J. Abrams, Justin Mason): It will be interesting to see how this group plays now that Kevin Durant is in the NBA and no longer taking the attention from defenses away from the guards. Augustin and Abrams are a smallish but productive duo, and will be the key to the Longhorns’ season. Augustin is one of the best point guards in the country, and will have to take on more of a scoring responsibility this season. He can shoot the ball well from long-range, and is extremely quick at getting into the lane. Abrams is a great three-point shooter, but needs to develop a more well-rounded offensive game. He has improved as a defender as well. Mason is a good all-around player who was unheralded last season. He is a very solid defender and three-point shooter who might come off the bench this season.

8. Tennessee (Ramar Smith, Chris Lofton, JaJuan Smith, Josh Tabb, Jordan Howell, J.P. Prince): If Tennessee is to live up to its lofty expectations, this group will be the catalyst. Lofton leads the way. One of the best guards in the country, Lofton is nearly unstoppable when his shot is falling. He has also improved his all-around offensive game, as well as his passing and defending. JaJuan Smith gets overshadowed by Lofton on the wing, but is also a very good scorer and defender who is usually matched up with bigger players. Ramar Smith struggled early last season, but improved dramatically as the season wore on. Tabb can shoot, while Howell performed admirably off the bench.

9. Davidson (Jason Richards, Stephen Curry): Led by one of the most underrated guard duos in the country, the Wildcats are poised to return to the NCAA Tournament—but last longer than one game this time. Curry did his best to make that happen last season, scoring 30 in Davidson’s opener against Maryland, and will look to continue that type of performance this season. He is a terrific shooter and played his best in the postseason. Playing in the shadow of the more well-known Curry, Richards ranked second in the country last season in assists, and is also a very good scorer and passer. Furthermore, he is adept on the defensive end. Look for these two to make a name on the national scene early and often this season.

10. Oregon (Tajuan Porter, Bryce Taylor, Malik Hairston, Kammyron Taylor): Depending on how Porter handles the point guard spot, this group could be too low right now. He was a very good shooter last season, but will need to replace Aaron Brooks at the lead guard position. Taylor became a better scorer and all-around player as the year went on, and should improve this season. Hairston will move back to his more natural position on the wing, and could become a star. K. Taylor will provide depth and point guard play if Porter does not step up.

Honorable Mention

Duke (Greg Paulus, Jon Scheyer, DeMarcus Nelson, Gerald Henderson, Nolan Smith, Martynas Pocius): If the Blue Devils are going to overcome their lack of consistent post play, this deep and talented perimeter group is going to be the reason. Paulus was a very solid performer down the stretch, while Nelson showed the ability to do a little of everything last year. Scheyer is a very good shooter, and Henderson is a strong wing capable of muscling up inside the arc. Smith will see time at both guard spots.

Butler (A.J. Graves, Mike Green): Everyone’s early-season darling last season, the Bulldogs will hope to repeat their Sweet Sixteen run on the backs of these two. Graves is a very good shooter and all-around player who makes this team go. He is the best free-throw shooter in the country, and is also solid at getting steals and assists. Green provides production in every category, and is tough to stop when driving to the basket. He can also shoot, and is one of the best rebounders in the conference.

Kentucky (Ramel Bradley, Joe Crawford, Jodie Meeks, Derrick Jasper, Alex Legion): Billy Gillespie gets the luxury of having five very good perimeter players at his disposal in his firs year on the job. The only question is how many well start. Bradley and Crawford have been much-maligned throughout their careers in Lexington, but both are solid guards who provide senior leadership on the court. Meeks is a very good all-around player who is an explosive athlete and efficient scorer. Starting PG Jasper had offseason knee injury, but should be able to return. Legion is another good scorer on the wing.

Georgetown (Jonathan Wallace, Jessie Sapp, Chris Wright, Austin Freeman): The starters don’t jump out at you with stats, but Wallace and Sapp do a little of everything and are key cogs in the Hoyas’ attack. Wallace can shoot the ball well, while Sapp produces in every category and can play multiple positions. Freeman is a highly-touted wing who can shoot the ball very well and should make an immediate impact. Wright will see plenty of time at the point, but a broken right foot will keep him out for now.

Villanova (Scottie Reynolds, Corey Fisher, Corey Stokes, Malcolm Grant, Reggie Redding): Is Jay Wright ready to return to his four-guard days? Probably not, but this group is capable of that. Reynolds was one of the best guards in the country late in the season, and should improve his efficiency this year. Fisher and Stokes were both highly-regarded recruits who could start immediately. Grant is another newcomer, while Redding showed the ability to defend well last season.

Others to Watch

Saint Louis: Tommie Liddell and Kevin Lisch will make Rick Majerus’ first season with the Billikens easier.
Pittsburgh: If Levance Fields returns, Pitt will be tough. Mike Cook can score, and Ronald Ramon is always solid.
Providence: Sharaud Curry and Weyinmi Efejuku return, but Manhattan transfer Jeff Xavier will push them.
Seton Hall: Eugene Harvey and Brian Laing lead a deep group that is hoping to make a move in the Big East.
Syracuse: Jonny Flynn might be the most important freshman in the country, while Eric Devendorf is talented.
Michigan State: Drew Neitzel is an All-American, with Travis Walton being his sidekick. The freshmen provide depth.
Indiana: Eric Gordon will start immediately, while Armon Bassett hopes to improve off a solid first year.
Baylor: Deep but underrated group. Aaron Bruce and Curtis Jerrells lead a very talented quintet of guards.
Southern Mississippi: Jeremy Wise was a terrific freshman last season; lots of depth returns for Golden Eagles.
Bradley: Daniel Ruffin and Jeremy Crouch hope to lead the Braves to the Big Dance in a depleted MVC.
Wyoming: Brandon Ewing and Brad Jones combined to average 38 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists last season.
Gonzaga: Jeremy Pargo, Matt Bouldin, and Micah Downs form a very talented trio for Mark Few and the Zags.

Xavier: Drew Lavender and Stanley Burrell have ample experience, and will lead the Musketeers to the Dance.

posted by Jeff at 2:19 PM

Garry Parrish CBS Sports - Rankings of Point Gaurds and Combo Guards

Points and Combos: Smelling like a Rose
Oct. 1, 2007
By Gary Parrish
CBSSports.com Senior Writer

I love debates.

But I hate silly arguments.

And that's why I'm doing the CBSSports.com annual position rankings differently this year. It's impossible to place most players into one of five spots and not end up going back-and-forth with readers hour after hour. For instance, if I would have made Tyler Hansbrough the top center in the nation, I would have received 40 e-mails telling me he's really a power forward, to which I'd reply with a comment explaining how though he is listed as a power forward and projected as an NBA power forward, Hansbrough actually plays like a center in college, and do you see how this is a pain in the you-know-what?

Want to try to put Jamont Gordon in one position?

Me neither.

So what I have done is divided the best of the best into three categories:

1. Points and combos.

2. Shooters and wings.

3. Bigs.

With any luck, this will help prevent most of the endless arguments, like whether Hansbrough is a power forward or a center and whether Gordon is a point guard or a shooting guard (or something else entirely). But I'm confident we'll still fight over many things, like whether Jaycee Carroll belongs on list No. 1 or No. 2 (I say No. 2 because he's really just a small(ish) shooting guard) and whether Michael Beasley belongs on list No. 2 or No. 3 (I say No. 3 because most of his damage will come around the rim).

So here's the plan:

I'll unveil the Points and combos Monday, then you'll debate them through Tuesday.

I'll unveil the Shooters and wings Wednesday, then you'll debate them through Thursday.

I'll unveil the Bigs on Friday, then you'll debate them through the weekend.

And once all the e-mails are in I'll put together a special Position Rankings Mailbag next week in which I'll strategically select the dumbest notes -- you know, the ones about how I overrate freshmen (you remember Mike Conley, Kevin Durant and Greg Oden, don't you?) and snub mid-majors (the mid-majors, for the most part, have good teams but not great individual players) -- and goof on readers in a way that makes them look idiotic while making myself look hilarious and brilliant.

Parrish's Rankings
Position Date
Points and Combos Oct. 1
Shooters and Wings Oct. 3
Bigs Oct. 5
Boy, this is going to be a blast!

So without further ado, I present the top Points and combos in the country.

Naturally, a freshman tops the list.

It's only proper.

1. Derrick Rose (Memphis): There are reasons NBADraft.net has Rose projected as the top overall pick next June, and those reasons all revolve around words like size, speed, athleticism, court vision and unselfishness. Chris Douglas-Roberts will score more points and Joey Dorsey will have more dunks, but if Memphis matches its preseason hype and advances to the Final Four for the first time since 1985, it'll be because of Rose and his Jason Kidd-like ability to create for others.

2. Ty Lawson (North Carolina): Last season I ranked Lawson as the sixth-best point guard in the nation before he had ever played a game at North Carolina, and Tar Heels coach Roy Williams told the Chicago Tribune such praise was "dumb as dirt." Obviously with this ranking, I stand by what I wrote, and then some.

3. Drew Neitzel (Michigan State): Neitzel had to do and be everything for the Spartans last season, but with a pair of shooting guard prospects enrolled, he can be less of a take-every-shot guy and more of a true point, though he'll still score in bunches for the Spartans.

4. Darren Collison (UCLA): Collison is lightening quick with long arms and he's just as good defensively as he is with the ball. In other words, he might be the perfect point guard for Ben Howland, even better suited for UCLA than Jordan Farmar before him.

5. D.J. Augustin (Texas): With Kevin Durant in the NBA, Augustin will be asked to score more than the 14.4 points per game he averaged last season. The good news for Texas is that he's completely capable.

6. Sean Singletary (Virginia): In terms of a true scoring lead guard, Singletary is probably the best of the bunch. He averaged 19.0 points per game last season, and that number will likely increase this season now that J.R. Reynolds is no longer around.

7. O.J. Mayo (Southern California): Regardless of your opinion on Mayo and the circus that was his high school career, there is no denying he is immensely talented. Truth is, Mayo could prove to be the best of this group if he manages to stay out of his own way, avoid trouble and play within a system.

8. Derrick Low (Washington State): Ask any coach in America -- particularly those on the West Coast -- to name a player who is clearly better than he appears at first glance, and the name you'll get more often than any other is Low. He doesn't look like much walking into the gym, but I've yet to find a basketball person who doesn't wish he was on their team.

9. Scottie Reynolds (Villanova): He was awful in international play this summer competing against grown men. But now it's back to matching up with college guys, and Reynolds has shown he's pretty good at doing that.

10. Jamont Gordon (Mississippi State): Gordon is big, strong and one of the toughest matchups in the nation. He's a threat to lead MSU in points, assists or rebounds every night, and in some games he'll do all three.


The Next 15
Name, school Ht. Cl. '06-07 ppg '06-07 apg Comment

11. Dominic James, Marquette 5-11 Jr. 14.9 4.9 His return to school made Marquette a challenger for the Big East crown.

12. Patrick Beverley, Arkansas 6-1 So. 13.9 3.1 He's an All-American candidate, one of five returning starters for the Hogs.

13. Tyrese Rice, Boston College 6-1 Jr. 17.6 5.4 Without Jared Dudley, he'll take on even more of the scoring load.

14. Jerryd Bayless, Arizona 6-3 Fr. NA NA Finally, the Mustafa Shakur era is complete.

15. Edgar Sosa, Louisville 6-1 So. 11.4 2.6 He scored 31 points in Louisville's second NCAA Tournament game last season.

16. Sherron Collins, Kansas 5-11 So. 9.3 2.9 He is one of three very good small guards in Bill Self's backcourt.

17. Jeremy Pargo, Gonzaga 6-2 Jr. 12.1 4.6 He should score 15-plus points per game this season and lead the Zags back to the NCAA Tournament.

18. Stephen Curry, Davidson 6-0 So. 21.5 2.8 How so many ACC schools missed on him is still hard to figure out.

19. Eric Maynor, VCU 6-2 Jr. 13.9 6.4 He'll always be remembered for nailing that game-winner against Duke.

20. Mario Chalmers, Kansas 6-1 Jr. 12.2 3.3 I know he plays shooting guard, but he's considered a combo, I think.

21. A.J. Graves, Butler 6-1 Sr. 16.9 2.4 He's more of a shooter than a point, but for these purposes he's a combo.

22. Eric Devendorf, Syracuse 6-4 Jr. 14.8 4.1 In a perfect world, he'll always be off the ball, though that depends on the development of Jonny Flynn.

23. Devan Downey, South Carolina 5-9 So. NA NA This transfer from Cincinnati will have a huge impact on the SEC.

24. Tajuan Porter, Oregon 5-6 So. 14.6 2.0 It's clear he can shoot, but can he play the point in place of Aaron Brooks?

25. Ramar Smith, Tennessee 6-2 So. 10.7 3.1 He could help the Vols to their first Final Four.

Dan Wolken on Gary Parish's Position Rankings

Ranking Rose
Posted by Dan Wolken

Our friend Gary Parrish (CBS Sports) is releasing his annual college basketball position rankings this week, and in Monday’s installment, he pegged Tigers freshman Derrick Rose as the No. 1 point/combo guard in the nation. This did not surprise me. Gary loves his freshmen unconditionally. My natural instinct is to be more cautious projecting somebody who has never played a college game.

It’s a debate we’ve gone back-and-forth on a little bit in the past, and I accept his logic as completely sound. Just look at last year. By the end of the NCAA Tournament, is there anybody in the country who wouldn’t have taken Ohio State’s Mike Conley as their point guard? But my logic is sound too. If we were playing Elite Eight games tomorrow, who would you pick as your point guard? Derrick Rose or Michigan State senior Drew Neitzel? I don’t think it’s that tough of a call. I’d take Neitzel in a heartbeat. Of course, we’re not playing Elite Eight games tomorrow, and I commend Gary for basing his rankings on end-of-year projections rather than what we know right now.

But no matter how you evaluate Rose, Parrish’s ranking is a heavy heap of expectation. Is it fair, given that Rose still doesn’t know much of the Tigers’ offense and doesn’t make very many shots? Hard to say. But let’s be clear: Rose is a special, special athlete. I talked a lot about it in my story Sunday . As fast and athletic as Memphis is top to bottom, Rose is just faster and more athletic than everybody else. He can make plays no one else can make. And because of that, most people I talk to assume that Rose will be Memphis’ best player this season. He might be. But when my ballot comes for Conference USA player of the year, Rose won’t get my vote. Not because he’s a freshman, but because until proven otherwise, Chris Douglas-Roberts is the guy who makes the Tigers what they are.

Posted Tuesday, October 2nd, 2007 at 2:18 pm

Collegehoops.net Preseason All-American Team

Collegehoops.net Preseason All-American Team

Preseason All-America first team are guards Sean Singletary of Virginia, Chris Lofton of Tennessee, forwards Chase Budinger of Arizona and Tyler Hansbrough of North Carolina, and center Roy Hibbert of Georgetown. Second-team selections are guards Darren Collison (UCLA) and Drew Neitzel (Michigan State), forwards Brandon Rush (Kansas) and D.J. White (Indiana), and center Brook Lopez (Stanford). The third team is comprised of guards D.J. Augustin (Texas), Chris Douglas-Roberts (Memphis) and Jamont Gordon (Mississippi State), and forwards Brandon Costner (NC State) and Michael Beasley (Kansas State).

My Sympathies to the Family of Memphis Lineman Taylor Bradford and the entire University of Memphis Football Team

It is very sad when such a young person dies for no reason. I once had to bury a fraternity brother who died of natural causes at age 20. It was very painful to lose a friend who should have lived a long life. To think that someone took a life makes it so much worse. May God heal the wounds of the heart.

Shawne Williams Finally Makes it to Court, Sentenced to Community Service

Shawne Williams Finally Makes it to Court, Sentenced to Community Service

October 1, 2007 4:27 PM

Jon Murray of the Indianapolis Star reports that Shawne Williams' multi-faceted legal saga that began with a September 11 traffic stop has apparently, mercifully, drawn to a close:

Indiana Pacers forward Shawne Williams must do 40 hours of community service as a penalty for driving without ever having received a license, a Marion Superior Court judge said this afternoon.

Williams, 21, pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor and received a fully suspended 60-day jail sentence. He must pay a $400 fine and $160 in court costs.
The hearing had been rescheduled after he failed to show Friday in Judge Linda E. Brown's courtroom, prompting team president Larry Bird to say he would escort Williams today if needed to avoid an arrest warrant. Bird was not at the hearing.

Williams told the judge he had no excuse. Outside court, David Wyser, the Marion County prosecutor's chief trial deputy, said he had been told Williams overslept Friday.

During today's hearing, Williams showed the judge a new driver's license.

Rose Blooms In Early Workouts

Rose blooms in early workouts
Calipari sees promise in freshman's natural abilities
By Dan Wolken
Sunday, September 30, 2007

Less than two weeks before the University of Memphis begins practice for one of the most-anticipated seasons in school history, freshman point guard Derrick Rose knows, by coach John Calipari's estimate, "probably two percent" of the Tigers' offense.


And Rose, by his own admission, is still a few weeks away from connecting the dots on even the most basic principles of Memphis' style of play.

But through the first four hours Calipari has been allowed to work with Rose in September, this much is clear: Rose's talent transcends X's and O's, his quickness and athleticism giving him the ability to make plays nobody else on the Tigers' roster can make.

"God blessed me with the speed and IQ to get past people," Rose said. "But it's hard. It's real hard right now."

Hard, of course, is a relative term. During Wednesday's two-hour session -- the NCAA allows one off-season workout per week -- Rose routinely beat junior Antonio Anderson off the dribble. That's the same Anderson, by the way, who was last seen locking up first-round NBA Draft pick Acie Law IV in a Sweet 16 game against Texas A&M.

And when Calipari sees that, he can't help but be a little more forgiving when Rose makes the wrong pass or gives up the ball in a two-on-one drill when he should have elevated for a lay-up.

"He's going against one of the best perimeter defenders in college basketball, who shows great respect for him, gets away from him, backs off, tries whatever he can to stay in front of him," Calipari said. "He's a little bit out of bounds, a little bit in a hurry. I want him to be fast but patient. But he'll learn."

And Rose is so ready to learn, in fact, that he is spending three, four, sometimes five hours a day in the Finch Center, shooting jumper after jumper by himself, trying to refine the only obviously weak part of his game.

"I'm a gym rat," he said. "It's normal."

No matter how much time Rose spends in the gym, it will probably take weeks or perhaps months of practice before he makes the adjustments that will truly integrate him into Memphis' offense.

The first thing Rose must do is get in the mindset of attacking the basket at every opportunity with the intent to score lay-ups and not attempt to make more difficult plays to simply keep his teammates involved.

"Scoring, that's what coach is going to be on me about, to shoot lay-ups and attack the rim every time I get the ball," he said. "I'm going to have to get used to attacking."

Second, Rose must learn to throw lob passes to his post players to finish transition opportunities instead of throwing bounce passes or bullet feeds, which are more difficult to handle on the move.

"My center (in high school) was 6-4, the same height as me," Rose said. "He had good hands, and he was catching all my passes. I've got to get used to it, and I will in another two or three weeks. I have to change the way I play."

Still Rose, to this point, looks every bit as good as advertised -- even if he's still not quite there yet.

"For now, he's got to do it through watching tape," Calipari said. "We've only had four hours of practice. But what happens is, when you feel 'it,' you're unleashed. When you don't feel it, you're tentative because you don't know when to go. As soon as he feels 'I can go' ... "

Calipari never finished the sentence, but he didn't have to. The season hasn't even started, but already, his imagination is running wild.

From ncaahoopstoday .blogspot.com - Scouting the Jordan Classic

Sunday, September 30, 2007
Preparing for 2007-2008: Scouting the Jordan Classic

This was a fun game to watch. The defense did not get in the way of the offense, but it wasn't just that, it was good offense too! It was a highly entertaining game, and it was a close game too.

There was some naming confusion, there were two players named Chris Wright, and two of them with the last name Lucas. No relation.

The yellow/gold team had a dream-team perimeter with Derrick Rose, Eric Gordon and Corey Fisher. Wow! Rose once again had a solid game as a point guard but he was also able to be effective playing off the ball. Gordon showed off defense which Kelvin Sampson will put to good use at Oklahoma Indiana and he used his strength on offense as well. Being a co-point guard with Rose, Fisher did play mostly under control.

The Georgetown guard duo had a good game, both Chris Wright and Austin Freeman played to their strengths. Jimmy Dykes went crazy here saying that Chris Wright will be the best point guard of this class. He said it, he is on record, not me! Freeman, who looks like he is in his 30s is going to be a solid Big East guard, he is basketball savvy, skilled and mature and has a good size. If Jeff Green had stayed...

Given the offensive nature of the game, and how well they played, most of the players had their good moments. Jeff Robinson (going to Memphis) had a scoring spree inside and out, and that is what's going to get him playing time for the Tigers. Because Calipari has six guards/wings but only 120 minutes. And that's not counting Jeff Robinson. So he has to earn/grab the PT by making outside shots and doing what the existing Tigers cannot do. That means that he will likely play some four in order to accomodate PT for all the guards/wings. Robinson is way too good to redshirt.

Kyle Singler showed his versatility and talent, unlike the Roundball classic. Despite him committing to Duke, Singler is going to be a very solid player with a good chance of making good money in the NBA. Providing he ejects quickly and does not get drained by Coach Dracula K.

Patrick Patterson had yet another signature PP game, making his presence felt on defense, and on the boards and using his anticipation/sense of the game to be effective.

The Florida wings, Chandler Parsons and Nick not-a-point-guard Calathes showed promise but they also have a lot of work to do. They will become part of the foundation for Billy Donovan's next big team. And he will be there to see them through since he can't go back to the NBA in the next few years after his Orlando Tragic ejection.

Kosta "I'm not Oden" Koufos showed some promise as well, some of the offense is there, but he needs more work as well.

The two Big East versatile forwards had good games as well, Durell Summers and Donta Greene. They should both be contributors right away on both sides of the floor.

There were three power-players that did well: Gary Johnson, who unfortunately for him and Texas-Austin he won't play this season showed why he could have had a PJ Tucker-like impact on the team. A strong power-player. But if all goes well, he may return to action in 2008-2009. Blake Griffin had a ballerina on steroids pirouette (sp?) moment in the paint and that was very effective in scoring and clearing out the paint! Chris Wright had a couple of spectacular dunks and he is going to be showcasing them on a nightly basis with Jon Stewart's Dayton Flyers. It looks like Ohio schools are on a major uptick, with Matta's Ohio State, Xavier, and now Dayton getting a top 50 recruit to stay home.

The two Lucas guards had an okay game, but perhaps I didn't pay too much attention to them. Bayless showed what his potential range could be, an effective scoring lead guard, or someone who hasn't met a shot he didn't like. Arizona is where he (and we) will find out.

Last but not least, the starting point guard Jeffrey Jordan. On a totally unrelated note, he is Michael Jordan's son. Which is why he was selected for the game and why he got the starting job. And that's why Rose and Fisher were put on the same team, to make room for Jeffrey to get the starting nod. Conspiracy theory or not? You decide. The ESPN guys of course were singing Jeffrey's praises. When was the last time an invited walk-on made an all-star game? Answer that!

Perhaps a bit prophetic, one fan had signs inviting "Pat and Jai come to UK". That fans wish partially came true as Pat(rick) Patterson and Jai Lucas both committed later on to Billy Gillispie and Kentucky. (Thanks for the correction!)

Posted by ncaahoops at 7:44 AM

New York Times - Memphis and Calipari Go To Hoop In China

Memphis and Calipari Go to Hoop in China

By PETE THAMEL
Published: September 20, 2007

In a move that may someday help expand the exposure of college basketball in China, the University of Memphis signed an agreement with the Chinese Basketball Association.

Skip to next paragraph Memphis Coach John Calipari traveled to Beijing with university and city officials for the announcement of the deal, which will include Calipari’s running a series of coaching clinics and camps throughout China in the next five years.

Also, 15 men’s and women’s coaches chosen by the Chinese Basketball Association will go to Memphis for 10 days in October to learn from Calipari and his coaching staff. They will evaluate how Memphis, which could be ranked No. 1 entering this season, runs its program. One of the Chinese coaches will stay with the Tigers for the season.

Calipari said his efforts would plant a recruiting seed in China, a country with a population of 1.3 billion and a love for basketball. But he said he was unsure of the logistics of recruiting in China in terms of N.C.A.A. eligibility rules.

“I’ll be honest: In the worst-case scenario, this never includes a player,” Calipari said. “It’s still good for our campus and our city. It’s an advantage to our university as well as our athletic program. There’s no downside.”

Calipari first hatched the idea of an agreement with China after a conversation with William Wesley, a man well known in basketball circles who has strong ties with LeBron James and other N.B.A. stars. Wesley told Calipari how much the Chinese embraced James during a trip there and that a large percentage of James’s jersey and gear sales came from China.

“William Wesley told me that I wouldn’t believe how big this thing was,” Calipari said. “He told me that LeBron was like a rock star over there.”

After that, Calipari said he read a column in The New York Times in May by William C. Rhoden that talked about an agreement the N.B.A. signed to help establish a foothold in China. Calipari said that after reading the article, he wanted to become the first United States coach to hire a Chinese assistant coach.

Calipari then spoke with Fred Smith, the founder of Memphis-based FedEx who has worked extensively in China. He also called Del Harris, the Dallas Mavericks assistant who coached the Chinese national team at the 2004 Olympics. At the time, the Chinese basketball delegation happened to be going to Dallas.

“I hopped on the next plane,” Calipari said.

The agreement could benefit the university beyond basketball. The provost, Ralph Faudree, who is traveling with Calipari to China, is discussing with Chinese officials the requirements for admission to Memphis. Faudree is hoping to double the number of students from China.

Calipari seems to be thinking bigger as well. He said he would love to have Memphis basketball highlights shown on China’s national television shows and was intrigued when told that the Yankees began a relationship with the Chinese Baseball Association in January. He wants to teach his up-tempo system to Chinese coaches and hopes it can spread throughout the country.

Calipari also said that the N.C.A.A. has virtually no presence in China and he hoped that the N.C.A.A. men’s tournament, which is televised in 149 other counties, could be televised there someday.

“It is fascinating to watch Coach Calipari as he grows the relationship with China and Chinese basketball,” the N.C.A.A. president, Myles Brand, said in a statement. “It speaks to the global appeal of intercollegiate basketball.”

Calipari acknowledged that reaching his goals would take time, but he is clearly excited to take the first step.

“The only way to approach this stuff is how it will help coaching and how it will help the game of basketball,” he said.

“We want to be good-will ambassadors as opposed to greedy Americans. We’re basically putting together an exchange program.”

Tigers Prep For Visit From China Staff, 15 Coaches Will Be Observing U of M Practice Next Month

Tigers prep for visit from China staff
15 coaches will be observing U of M practice next month
By Dan Wolken
Thursday, September 27, 2007

John Calipari returned from China with a few new words in his vocabulary (Did you even know that was possible?) and a new appreciation for ancient eating utensils.

"Ni hao (hello), xiexie (thank you), and chopsticks," Calipari said. "Am I good with the chopsticks now or what?"

Of course, if the University of Memphis' new partnership with the Chinese Basketball Association goes as well as Calipari hopes, his cross-cultural knowledge will only expand over the next few years.

On Wednesday, Calipari and provost Dr. Ralph Faudree recounted their recent trip to China, where last week they announced a five-year agreement that could represent a breakthrough in basketball relations between the two countries.

Though the centerpiece, for now, is a coaches' exchange program -- which will begin next month when 15 Chinese coaches observe 10 days worth of Memphis practices -- the long-term ramifications could reach much further.

Not only does Calipari envision Chinese players possibly attending U.S. colleges one day, thus exposing a country of 1.3 billion people to NCAA basketball, but he believes the UofM could become a cultural base for undergraduate college students from Asia.

"We've had partnerships with various Chinese institutions for over 20 years," Faudree said. "We do feel like this is a great opportunity for us to have visibility in China, for us to bring some students and some coaches to this city, which has a tremendous basketball tradition."

Calipari revealed Wednesday that the seed money to begin the program came from FedEx, which has a large Chinese operation. When he first thought about pursuing a relationship with Chinese basketball, Calipari said his first phone call was to FedEx president and CEO Fred Smith to gauge its feasibility.

"And he said, 'It's brilliant, run for it because it's exploding over there, and the opportunity is there if you take advantage of it,'" Calipari said. "He said, 'Whatever support you need from me, just call me and I'll support this.'"

In the process, Calipari said he discovered an eagerness on the part of the Chinese Basketball Association to develop coaching techniques, which have not evolved much over the years.

Of the 15 coaches who will come to watch Memphis practice, one per year will stay with the team and serve as an intern, observing everything about how the Tigers run their program.

A byproduct, of course, is that Memphis would clearly have the inside track should the Chinese government ever desire to send one or more of their top young players to an American college. Though Calipari wasn't sure how far away that possibility might be, he said there seemed to be an openness to new ways to develop Chinese players.

"If there's 40 or 50 players they send to the U.S., we won't be the only ones, and if that happens, those games will get on Chinese TV," Calipari said. "Now those players will be well-known in China, so if they go back to the CBA, they just built their value, plus they got a college degree. But that's not where their mindset is right now because that's not how they've operated, but that's where we're trying to go to. We'd be the first case of bringing them over."

In the meantime, Calipari said he's working to gather anybody of Chinese descent living in Memphis to help put together a welcome reception for the visiting coaches at Memphis Madness on Oct. 12 at FedExForum.

"For our school," Calipari said, "one of the things we were excited about, if we build this Asian base on our campus, you're talking about our students being able to interact and create friendships that later on could be their hallmark to get them to where they're trying to go."

Reach Dan Wolken at 529-2365; read his blogs on Tiger basketball at thememphisedge.com.

Charitable Tigers

Charitable Tigers
Posted by Dan Wolken

The Memphis basketball team spent Saturday morning at the Colonial Park United Methodist Church, helping the Angel Food Ministries put together bags of food, as it does on the last Saturday of every month.

In a nutshell, the program (which is nationwide) puts together a month’s worth of frozen and non-perishable food items in a bag that costs just $30. Though anybody can buy the bags, it’s obviously targeted for those with severe restrictions on their income. It takes a lot of labor to make up the bags — from unloading the large boxes of food off a truck to setting up “stations” for each of the 20 items to actually putting one of each item in a bag and then cleaning up the mess afterwards. The players participated in each step of that process and appeared to have a good time doing it. One of the Tigers’ student managers, Paul Sutton, participates in the program every week and initiated the team’s involvement.

“What I’m hoping is, by these players being here, it brings light to a great program,” coach John Calipari said. “For our guys individually, I hope they get the idea. It’s hard for a 19, 20 year old to think about giving and others because he’s still trying to figure out who he is. It’s hard for them. I just hope it touches them a little bit and our program can bring light to great things like this.”

(Side note: Initially, Calipari didn’t want any publicity to come out of this venture. In fact, I didn’t hear about it until early Saturday morning and showed up kind of unannounced. This isn’t unusual. In fact, when Memphis hands out toys to underprivileged kids at Christmas, Calipari doesn’t allow the media to come along.)

Posted Saturday, September 29th, 2007 at 4:28 pm