Spurned Arizona targets Xavier's Miller for coaching job

Spurned Arizona targets Xavier's Miller for coaching job
April 3, 2009
By Gary Parrish
CBSSports.com Senior Writer

DETROIT -- Arizona has initiated conversations with Sean Miller in an attempt to see whether the rising star at Xavier will entertain an offer that could be worth more than $13 million spread over six years, a source close to the Arizona program told CBSSports.com on Friday.

Multiple sources said it's unclear whether Arizona athletic director Jim Livengood has spoken directly with Miller, but the sources added that Miller has had preliminary discussions with a third-party representative working on behalf of Arizona, and that he's willing to consider a move to the Pac-10 more so than he's considered different opportunities in the past. In other words, Miller was never seriously interested in Virginia or Georgia, and he's not interested in replacing John Calipari at Memphis. But Arizona is the type of elite job that has his attention, though there are no guarantees Miller would automatically leave Xavier given that he clearly has the best job in the Atlantic 10.

Miller has been at Xavier five seasons.

He's made four NCAA tournaments, including one Elite Eight.

Arizona has already been publicly rejected by USC's Tim Floyd. Other candidates the school has informally pursued to various degrees are Mark Few (Gonzaga), Jamie Dixon (Pittsburgh), John Calipari (Memphis), Jeff Capel (Oklahoma), Bruce Pearl (Tennessee) and Tom Izzo (Michigan State).

Dan Wolken - Astounded by the fans’ crush on Reggie Theus

Astounded by the fans’ crush on Reggie Theus
Posted by Dan Wolken

The Memphis message boards and comments sections have been lit up with talk of Reggie Theus. I am somewhat baffled by this. Theus coached in college for two years at New Mexico State. His second year, he went 25-9 with an NCAA bid (it didn’t hurt that the conference tournament was on New Mexico State’s home floor that year). New Mexico State had three top-50 wins that year — against Nevada, and twice over Utah State, all at home. In his first year, Theus went 15-14. He didn’t stay long enough to prove whether he could recruit or not. He brought in some talented kids (albeit with big off-court problems) like Martin Iti and Herb Pope that other schools wouldn’t touch, but that wouldn’t give me a ton of confidence in his ability to recruit to Memphis.

This year alone, Scott Drew beat Providence, Arizona State, Washington State, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, Kansas, Texas, Georgetown and Virginia Tech. He signed a top-50 and two top-150 players for 2009, a top-50 and a top-100 player in 2008, a top-50 player in 2007 and three top-100 players in 2006.

Head-to-head, this is no comparison.

Chat with ESPN's Andy Katz - On Reggie Theus, DeMarcus Cousins, Bruce Pearl

Chat with ESPN's Andy Katz

Thursday, Apirl 2

Freddy (Los Angeles) [via mobile]: Is Reggie Theus a good fit for Memphis?

Andy Katz: I think he is but obviously Bruce Pearl isthe first choice. I do think Theus did remarkable things in a brief tenure at NMSU. But I don't know if he's going to get a shot. He can recruit. He is a solid coach and has the personality to work in Memphis.

john Louisville Kentucky [via mobile]: Do you think calapari will bring any of the top recruits with him? If so which ones?

Andy Katz: My prediction is that DeMarcus Cousins is the one that follows him. I'm not sure on the others.

memphistiger: Memphis, tn [via mobile]: I hear we just offered Bruce pearl 7 years 21 million. What do you think the chances of him coming to Memphis are? He is third man on campus behind kiffin and summit

Andy Katz: it will be a tough call. it's a lot of cash. Tennessee is higher profile and in a better league. But he can win more games at Memphis and be the No. 1 face of the program. It will be a tough call.

Tim (Athens): Reggie Theus- better actor or coach?

Andy Katz: Not even close.
Coach.

Chat with ESPN Radio's Doug Gottlieb - On DeMarcus Cousins, Sean Miller and Scott Drew

Chat with ESPN Radio's Doug Gottlieb

Friday, April 3

vay dallas tx: Doug.. how likely is it that Calipari's recruits follow him to kentucky?

Doug Gottlieb: I think it's likely that DeMarcus Cousins follows him. At best a 50-50 shot that Xavier Henry follows him. Henry's brother went to Memphis early to play with Xav. I would guess, through the people I've talked to, that it didn't go over so well that Cal jumped to Kentucky and left CJ Henry behind. Plus, Xavier probably looks at Kentucky and thinks Jodie Meeks might stay, so I'd have to share the wealth of the shots.

matt, Tn [via mobile]: what do you think about sean miller of xavier as calipari's replacement at memphis

Doug Gottlieb: If I were Sean Miller, I would take the Arizona job ahead of the Memphis job. While Memphis could pay as much or more, I think Arizona is a better job. I know growing up in LA, it's always been Guard U. With all the talent in Phoenix, Vegas, Seattle, LA and Texas that have all been funneled to Tucson. It's a better, more glamorous gig. Better chance of being successful. You're not following Lute Olson. You're following interim coach. Memphis you have to live up to winning 30 games.

virgil memphis tn [via mobile]: will the memphis basketball program ever be a national contender again after losing coach cal

Doug Gottlieb: If they hire the right guy, yeah. It's going to have to be rebuilt and reinvented. I think Scott Drew would be a great hire at either Arizona or Memphis. He's a tremendous recruiter. His team's play a fun style. He's a rebuilder. He fits the profile. I think he deserves a look, especially for Memphis.

ESPN Truth & Rumors - Baylor Coach Atop Memphis' Wish List

ESPN Truth & Rumers

Baylor coach atop Memphis' wish list?
09:40 AM ET 04.04

On the day when University of Memphis officials clamped down on the leaks coming from their search for a new men's basketball coach, one name did emerge as a serious candidate. Memphis received permission Friday to talk with Baylor coach Scott Drew, according to a source close to the search. It is believed that a representative of Memphis' search then had an informal discussion with Drew on Friday about the job. Memphis spent Thursday making exploratory calls about Drew, who was not available to talk until after his team lost in the NIT championship game on Thursday night. It's unclear whether that means Drew has emerged as the leading candidate or Memphis is still talking with other coaches. But it does indicate that Memphis is serious about Drew, 39, who resurrected a Baylor program in shambles after the scandal-ridden Dave Bliss era.

Tennessee Denies Bruce Pearl Ever Offered Position at Memphis

Tennessee Denies Bruce Pearl Ever Offered Position at Memphis

WBIR-TV (Knoxville) contributor Chris Low of ESPN.com says there is a real interest in Bruce Pearl on the part of the University of Memphis Tigers.

Low believes Memphis is prepared to offer Pearl as much as $21 million over 7 years. WMC-TV reported earlier in the day that such an offer had been made; the University of Tennessee has since denied that claim.

Tiffany Carpenter, Public Relations Director for the UT Athletic Department, told 10 Sports that Pearl had not received any offer.

She also said Pearl was in Detroit Thursday, presenting an award to Louisville Coach Rick Pitino.

The Commercial Appeal reports the head of Memphis's coach search committee, Alan Graf, is in Detroit Thursday night. Graf is also the CFO and Executive Vice President of FedEx.

Low believes Memphis asking permission to speak to Pearl would be one of the last steps in the process.

Athletic Director Mike Hamilton told VolQuest.com yesterday he would not grant Memphis permission to speak to Pearl.

Low is reporting that it is believed Pearl would like to see improvements in the facilities at the University of Tennessee, and more money for his assistant coaches. As an example, two of Lane Kiffin's assistants make more individually than all of Pearl's assistants combined.

Again, the University of Tennessee is denying reports that Bruce Pearl has been offered a 7-year, $21-million deal to coach at Memphis.

The University of Memphis would have to ask UT's permission to talk to a coach under contract.

WMC in Memphis reported Thursday morning that University of Tennessee men's basketball coach Bruce Pearl was offered a 7-year, $21-million deal to coach there.

The University of Memphis recently lost its coach to the University of Kentucky. John Calipari signed a $4-million-a-year contract to coach the Wildcats.

Sources tell WMC that Pearl has been offered a deal and that he has expressed interest.

Stick with wbir.com and WBIR-TV for the latest developments.


WMC-TV, Kris Budden, Steve Phillips, Brent Hubbs (Volquest.com), Chris Low (ESPN.com)

Memphis White Station's (HS) Joe Jackson still has Tigers on his list

White Station's Joe Jackson still has Tigers on his list
By Jason Smith, Memphis Commercial Appeal
Thursday, April 2, 2009

White Station High junior guard Joe Jackson said Thursday he still plans to consider the University of Memphis as a potential college basketball destination if the Tigers make the right coaching hire.

Jackson, ranked the No. 15 overall prospect in the class of 2010 by Rivals.com, had been seriously considering Memphis before Calipari's departure this week to Kentucky. However, Jackson said his attraction to the Tigers had more to do with the program than Calipari.

"I was going (to Memphis) for the city," said Jackson, who remains uncommitted. "It wasn't about the coach or whatever. But it was great because (Calipari) was a good coach too. He was in town. Good coach. Good program. You can't go wrong."

Jackson's top two choices for the Memphis job, Missouri's Mike Anderson and Tennessee's Bruce Pearl, each agreed to deals this week to remain with their respective programs.

Jackson, whom Rivals.com ranks the No. 3 junior point-guard prospect nationally, is also considering Tennessee, Arkansas, Marquette and Kansas. Jackson had been offered a scholarship by Kentucky when Billy Gillispie was head coach, and he said he expects to receive an offer from Calipari once he's settled in Lexington.

"I'm really confused right now," Jackson said. "I'm going to wait to see what coach is going to come in and coach the (Tigers)."

The 5-11, 150-pound Jackson averaged an area-best 26.2 points during the regular season and scored a combined 82 points in three state-tournament victories last month to lead White Station to a 31-7 record and the Class AAA state title.

Sporting News.com - Tyreke Evans to Declare, Surge Up Draft Board

Tyreke Evans to Declare, Surge Up Draft Board
Sporting News.com
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Posted By Bethlehem Shoals 12:00 PM

Blah blah blah, celebrity coach jumps to storied program and money flies everywhere. The real news out of Memphis is that, to the surprise of no one, freshman guard Tyreke Evans is going pro. Yes, that's what you go to Memphis to do, and Evans did head into this season as the top-ranked freshman in the land. But, in a manner typical of many big-name recruits, he let us down before lifting us up. Evans was unimpressive at SG; once installed at PG, the Tigers were unstoppable. That's some serious results right there.

Now, here's the NBA dimension: Everyone knew Evans was going pro. But as the Tournament winds down, shakes out, whatever, I'm inclined to think Evans might end up going way, way higher than expected. SN's Sean Deveney cautiously points to him as someone who helped his stock this March, and currently has him going ninth in his mock draft. But when I look at Evans's season, I see much the same position O.J. Mayo was in a year ago, but with an earlier start on convincing teams he's worth the past hype. I've got this new theory -- when drafting one-and-dones, it's at least worth considering where they were before actual experience intervened.

Okay, so maybe that's leading him down the "next Ben Gordon" path, which no team wants long-term. The jury's still out on whether Mayo can move past this, given his love for the perimeter and lack of bust-out athleticism. But let's not forget that Mayo's trying to turn from a college shooter to a pro scorer. Evans has the potential to be one of those Russell Westbrook-esque bundles of talent who could do some things at point guard -- the position at which he excelled in college, albeit in an unconventional Memphis system -- or just get thrown out there to play off of similarly versatile guys. A rosy vision for the future, perhaps. And yet outside of Griffin and possible entrant Ricky Rubio, who looks more NBA-ready than Evans did in that Missouri game?

Kansas City Star: KU Still In Running for Top Recruit (Xavier Henry)

By J. BRADY McCOLLOUGH
The Kansas City Star
KU still in running for top Recruit

Prep shooting guard Xavier Henry has spent Friday talking with his family about his college decision, and Kansas remains in serious contention for its No. 1 recruiting target in the class of 2009.

Henry, who originally signed to play for Memphis, has asked out of his letter of intent now that former Memphis coach John Calipari is the coach at Kentucky. Carl Henry, Xavier’s father, told Rivals.com that Xavier wants to play for the Jayhawks, who finished second to Memphis for Xavier’s services in November.

Carl Henry also told the site that his oldest son, current Memphis freshman C.J. Henry, would like to join Xavier at Kansas.

Still, the Henry’s situation is complicated by C.J. having already spent a year at Memphis as a walk on. Even though C.J. didn’t play — he used a medical hardship year — he would have to sit out another year if he transferred under NCAA rules. With Xavier considered to be a “one-and-done” prospect, the brothers may not play together even if C.J. was to join Xavier at Kansas. Carl Henry told the site that the family is making a formal appeal to the NCAA to allow C.J. to play next season given the unique circumstances of his being a walk-on and not having played a game for Memphis.

So, there appears to be a multitude of ways the Henry saga could end:

C.J. wins his appeal with the NCAA, and both Xavier and C.J. choose to play at Kansas.

C.J. loses his appeal but still chooses to transfer and join Xavier at Kansas so that the family can be together for at least a year.

C.J. chooses to stay at Memphis, and Xavier comes to Kansas.

C.J. and Xavier both choose to stick with Memphis. Carl Henry told zagsblog.com on Friday that Memphis was still an option for both of his sons and that they would wait and see who Memphis hires as coach. Carl Henry said he had heard that former NBA head coaches Reggie Theus and Avery Johnson are candidates.

C.J. and Xavier follow Calipari to Kentucky. Xavier has said he would consider visiting Kentucky.

C.J. stays at Memphis, and Xavier goes to Kentucky.

No matter how it shakes down, Kansas looks to be in good shape to land either Xavier Henry or heralded prep shooting guard Lance Stephenson. Zagsblog.com said that Stephenson is still considering just KU, Maryland and St. John’s. Stephenson was expected to pick Kansas on Tuesday but delayed his decision for a second time.

Henry certainly makes the most sense for KU, given his family’s connection to the school. His parents, Carl and Barbara, both played basketball for the Jayhawks. And C.J. committed to KU his senior year of high school before signing a contract to play baseball with the Yankees. As part of the contract, the Yankees would pay for C.J.’s college education, which is why C.J. will be a walk-on wherever he ends up.

Memphis Tigers talk to Baylor coach Scott Drew

Source: Memphis Tigers talk to Baylor coach Scott Drew
By Dan Wolken, Memphis Commercial Appeal
Originally published 02:58 p.m., April 3, 2009

On the day when University of Memphis officials clamped down on the leaks coming from their search for a new men’s basketball coach, one name did emerge as a serious candidate.

Memphis received permission Friday to talk with Baylor coach Scott Drew, according to a source close to the search. It is believed that a representative of Memphis’ search then had an informal discussion with Drew on Friday about the job.

Memphis spent Thursday making exploratory calls about Drew, who was not available to talk until after his team lost in the NIT championship game on Thursday night.

It’s unclear whether that means Drew has emerged as the leading candidate or Memphis is still talking with other coaches. But it does indicate that Memphis is serious about Drew, 39, who resurrected a Baylor program in shambles after the scandal-ridden Dave Bliss era.

Drew has been successful in getting talented players to Waco, including three recruiting classes ranked in the top 20. He has done it following one of the biggest scandals in college basketball history, involving payments to players for tuition and the murder of Patrick Dennehy. The aftermath left Baylor’s program decimated, and few coaches wanted to take over the toxic situation left by Bliss.

Drew was hired after one year at Valparaiso, where his father Homer Drew has coached since 1988.

Drew took Baylor from 8-21 in his first year to 15-16 in his fourth year. In 2008, Baylor made the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 20 years. His team last season was ranked in the top 25 but did not play up to expectations until the end of the season when it got to the Big 12 tournament championship game and made the NIT finals. Baylor did beat five NCAA Tournament teams, including Texas and Kansas.

Baylor’s coaching staff has been recruiting in the Memphis area over the last 18 months, targeting top players in the junior class like Joe Jackson (White Station), Mardracus Wade (Mitchell) and Tarik Black (Ridgeway).

Drew’s name comes with some controversy. His recruiting tactics have irritated other coaches in the Big 12, to the point where Texas coach Rick Barnes lashed out at Drew during the league tournament last month.

“There’s a line that he knows that he can’t cross with me,” Barnes said of Drew, according to The New York Times. “He knows that. He definitely knows that.”

Drew’s practices have also come under scrutiny from a variety of media outlets, including hiring Dwon Clifton last year as director of player development. Clifton was the AAU coach for John Wall, the top-ranked point guard in the country, coming out of Raleigh, N.C. Before Calipari left, Memphis and Baylor were considered Wall’s top two schools.

Beyond Drew, it’s unclear how the week ended for Memphis’ search.

On Thursday, Memphis was rebuffed to varying degrees by USC's Tim Floyd and Tennessee's Bruce Pearl. Others who might still be in the mix include former New Mexico State and Sacramento Kings coach Reggie Theus, whose name has also been floated for the Arizona job.

Memphis has not made any serious overtures, according to sources, toward Ole Miss coach Andy Kennedy or UMass coach and former Memphis assistant Derek Kellogg. UTEP coach Tony Barbee, another former Calipari assistant, would be available to talk Saturday after his team’s season ended Friday night in the College Basketball Invitational.

It’s also possible that an out-of-the-box name is still in play. FedEx vice president Alan Graf, who is working on behalf of the search committee, said Wednesday that Memphis has the capability to make a “wow hire.”

To the Memphis Tigers, John Calipari Leaving Is an Unrelenting Nightmare

The Bleacher Report

Over the course of the world, humankind has seen the rise and the fall of many great empires: the Romans, Greeks, Maya, Inca, Aztec, British, French, and more. On Wednesday, we witnessed the fall of another great empire: that of the Memphis Tigers.

Memphis head basketball coach John Calipari signed a contract to become the head coach at Kentucky. This signing ended a very successful run at Memphis that resulted in 11 NCAA tournament appearances, two Final Fours, and a second-place finish. He brought two mid-major programs out of the dust in Massachusetts and Memphis.

Calipari was the most successful mid-major coach when it came to recruiting. He was able to lure in players such as Dajuan Wagner, Shawne Williams, Derrick Rose, Joey Dorsey, Chris Douglas-Roberts, and Tyreke Evans. No other mid-major coach brought in as many great collegiate players.

Before he arrived at Memphis, the Tigers didn't receive national attention, finishing under .500 in the Conference USA. In his first two seasons, he brought home a third place finish championship in the National Invitational Tournament (NIT). He then boosted the Tigers into the NCAA tournament, a complete turnaround for the program.

He reached consecutive Elite Eights before he led the Tigers to their best season in ages. The National Championship was theirs for the taking, but his players' inability to hit crucial late-game free throws allowed the Kansas Jayhawks to take the game from out of the Tiger's paw.

With the appearance in the National Championship, Memphis had established themselves as a perennial power in college hoops. Calipari would be able to continue to get great recruiting classes and continuously be a Final Four threat.

With all of their success, could the Memphis Tigers' empire collapse with a changing of the coach?

Yes.

In college, the head coach plays such an important role. He or she recruits and teaches the kids how to play the game and improve fundamentals.

One of the reasons high school players sign with a certain team is because of the coach; he or she is the face of the program, and if he or she leaves, then the recruit won't be going to that school for the reason he wanted.

With John Calipari gone, it will be much more difficult for Memphis to compete on a national stage. They may be able to have success in the Conference USA, but reaching a Sweet Sixteen will be a difficult task.

Star freshman guard Tyreke Evans, the national Freshman of the Year, has declared for the NBA Draft. Evans said that Calipari's departure for Kentucky played a big role in his leaving.

Many other high school recruits will drop Memphis down on their list of schools. The new coach will have to work wonders to get the same class that Calipari would be receiving this upcoming season.

Memphis will no longer be one of the top teams every year. The Tigers will have to, basically, start all over. Not only will they lose their seniors, but the recruits that John Calipari would have easily snatched.

Meanwhile, the Kentucky Wildcats have a new coach and are looking at a bright future. All they have to do is look at what Calipari has done in his first few seasons at each school that he has coached at. Now he is coaching a team that already has great potential. The Cats bring back Jodie Meeks and Patrick Patterson for 2009-10.

But in Memphis, the search for a coach continues. Whoever receives the job will have huge shoes to fill.

John Calipari is one of the greatest coaches in the game, and his departure would be an unrelenting nightmare for any program.

Geoff Calkins: Scott Drew's peers shocked Memphis would consider Baylor

Geoff Calkins: Scott Drew's peers shocked Memphis would consider Baylor coach

By Geoff Calkins (Contact)

Memphis Commercial Appeal

Friday, April 3, 2009

So the conversation turned to the Memphis coaching search, and the Division I head coach asked who the Tigers search team might be going after next.

“It could be Scott Drew.”

The Division I head coach paused at this.
“Do they KNOW Scott Drew?” he asked.

Evidently, not.

Or they know something about the Baylor coach that nobody else seems to know.

A national television commentator (by phone): “WHAT?”

An assistant coach in the SEC (by text): “Wow.”

Scott Drew would be a “wow” hire in the world of college basketball, all right.
Just not in a good way.

And let me say, in the interest of complete disclosure, that I would not know Scott Drew if he walked into my living room and offered me a package deal.

Which he might do, by all accounts. But that’s not the point here. I don’t know Drew. I have never met the guy.

If the Memphis Tigers hire him — and word is that they just might — it could turn out to be the best thing for this city since pulled pork.

But that’s not what people who know Drew seem to think. I made a lot of calls on this. And Drew was invariably described as:

1) A phony.
2) A man who has never met a recruiting rule he couldn’t bend.
3) A lousy bench coach.
4) And, really, what more do you need?

It’s not just me, saying worrisome things about Drew, either. It’s everyone. Jeff Goodman, the national college basketball writer for FOX Sports, said on my radio show that hiring Drew would be a mistake. Texas coach Rick Barnes has publicly criticized Drew’s recruiting tactics.

George Lapides — a newspaperman without a newspaper — took the extraordinary step on his radio show of warning Memphis not to hire Drew.

Lapides said he thought about saying the same thing when Memphis was on the verge of hiring Tic Price. When the Price era played out as it did, Lapides vowed never to keep quiet again.
Undaunted, the Memphis search team has pressed on. Because, well, nobody can quite figure that one out.

Drew has done a reasonable job of rebuilding a Baylor program devastated by scandal and tragedy. But it’s not like he’s ever won an NCAA Tournament game.

Drew has a reputation as a creative recruiter. That must be part of it. But wouldn’t it be nice to have a head coach who didn’t spend all his time chasing national recruits with offers of jobs on the staff?

Drew hired John Wall’s AAU coach to help bring the star guard to Baylor. Problem is, he forgot to get a guarantee that Wall would actually come. John Calipari might have been shady, but at least he was great at it. Drew just took a Baylor team loaded with talent — and picked to finish third in the Big 12 — and guided it to a loss in the NIT.

The Memphis search team appears not to care about any of this. And maybe they’re the smartest guys in the room.

But do you really believe that? Honestly?

It’s dangerous to judge a person on reputation, of course. It’s just as dangerous — and maybe more so — to hire a person of suspect reputation without thoroughly checking things out.
If I were on the search committee, I’d take one last trip, just to be sure. Fly to Detroit, the site of the Final Four. Wander through the hotels. Ask people in the business what they think of their candidate.

They’ll shoot straight. They may roll their eyes a bit, too.

The Tigers are interested in hiring Scott Drew?

Wow.

Thoughts on the Memphis Program

As my life and job have been very busy over the past year, I didn't have time to support this blog as I did over the two previous seasons. It was tough not supplying the stories and facts and opinions about Memphis basketball that I so enjoy reading, writing and opining.

It is with sadness that I watched the events of the past week unfold and the John Calipari era come to a close. Change is never easy and the success of the Memphis program has been intoxicating. I hope that at least some of the recruiting class is left entact as we need some opportunity to retain some status in basketball circles.

I have no doubt that the University of Memphis basketball program will survive and again thrive. This program has seen glory days in the 50's, 70's, 80's, 90's and the 2000's. It has seen glory under several different head coaches - Bob Vanetta, Gene Bartow, Dana Kirk, Larry Finch and, of course, John Calipari.

So, in some ways, I believe it is my obligation as a true fan to once again start writing when I can to make sure the information is getting out about the Tigers.

The Gonzaga Game

In an article in the Spokesman-Review, Jim Meehan describes the Gonzaga-Portland game,

http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/sportslink/2009/feb/05/gu-takes-two-game-lead-wcc/

in which Gonzago shut down the Portland perimeter players with a perimeter-conscious zone in the second half.

Gonzaga coach Mark Few commented:

"We switched our zone up a little bit, got our feet under us, got some stops and got our break going...., It was one of our zones that does a way better job on the perimeter, and we made some adjustments that allowed us to cheat out on their shooters....."

Let us hope that the Tigers can pick that zone apart tomorrow.

Attacking The Zone

So Syracuse played zone defense the whole game.

I remember writing to a friend in March of 2007

(If Coach Cal wants to play the dribble drive motion) "he has to teach his team how to attack the zone, and they have to accomplish it so successfully that their opponents will want to go back to man to man. And it's real easy to attack a zone. I got a DVD for my son recently, about play in the Post. They had a chapter about how to attack the zone. Simple stuff. You position your men depending upon what kind of zone you see. You attack the seams with precise passing. You move the ball and not your feet. You don't dribble into the zone. Your offensive players make their move before or after the zone moves, not with it. In the post, you screen and seal your defender, before the ball rotates to your side."

Or you pop the three point shots. But then you have to make them. If Coach Cal insists on attacking the zone by taking three point shots, then he needs to be playing his best three point shooters. That would be Robert Sallie and Preston Laird.

Memphis vs. UALR Comment by Brett Speer

By Brett Speer

Sitting amongst my fellow basketball starved students, minutes before tip off, I stop and look around to take it all in. In the midst of a season that has so far not gone the way Coach Calipari had hoped, I still notice the "hope" that every tiger fan has before a game. After tip off fear started to set in as Pierre Henderson-Niles turned over the ball to allow UALR's, Matt Mouzy, to hit a three pointer. This was followed up by a Robert Dozier turn over, in which he was able to steal back only to pass the ball to Antonio Anderson who turned it over and allow UALR to make an easy lay up. The first two minutes of the game saw the Tigers losing 5-0 and the inadequacy that every Memphis fan has deep down started to seep out of that place we keep hidden away. Before all hope could be lost Tyreke Evans took the ball down court, put up a quick three pointer that caused tiger nation's fears to be subdued. It was a back and forth struggle for the first twelve minutes of the game, with a score of 18-19, Shawn Taggart snatched the offensive rebound and was fouled while attempting a lay up. Taggart made both free-throws to give the Tigers a 20-19 lead, which the Tigers would not relinquish for the rest of the game. The game was a hard nosed clash that required every point to be truly earned. The Tigers made 26-40 free throws, mainly by the superb shooting of Evans(7-11) and Dozier(9-12). The Tigers field goal percentage was abysmal (shooting 15-45) and making 3-20 three pointers. The final score was Tigers 59, UALR 51.

The game was a defensive battle with ups and downs on both teams. Pierre saw more minutes than he has seen all season with 27 minutes, and this was also only the 2nd time he has played over twenty minutes this season. Although, his statistics were not mind blowing, his physical presence was felt by UALR. Early on in the game Pierre looked a little lost in the paint but by the 2nd half he had found his way. Throughout the game Antonio Anderson struggled to find consistency but his leadership flourished. The enigma known as Willie Kemp, continued his season of performing poorly. Hopefully this game will be the wake-up call the Tigers need to turn around their season, just as the loss to Arizona a couple of seasons ago was the wake-up call that lead to an Elite eight appearance.

By Brett Speer

A Preview

On CBS today, just before the Memphis game, we are treated to a great matchup between Gonzaga and Connecticut.

With Stanley Robinson back, Connecticut may well have all the pieces to contend for number one. I surely think the Connecticut front line could give Tyler Hansborough a tough time in the paint.

Commenting on the their recent rout of Stony Brook, ESPN says:

"The Huskies have won 134 of their last 135 home games played before January against opponents from outside the Big East."

I know that is supposed to say great things about Connecticut, but doesn't it really mean that the Huskies normally puff up their won lost record before Big East play, by playing only the little guys in their neighborhood?

I'm not saying Gonzaga is going to win. Pargo could be the difference maker. But the game might give us some ideas about how to handle Hytvelt and Daye.

Post Xavier, Pre-Georgetown

It is amazing to me to see the reaction from so many Memphis fans even two weeks after the heartbreaking loss to Xavier. It has been like the Tigers really disappointed people with that loss. Certainly any loss is tough, but Xavier is pretty good and currently 10th in the country in the AP(6th in the RPI, 25th in Pomeroy). In a way that is part of the problem. Memphis just doesn't have a hard enough schedule this year, so losing ANY top 25 game is disappointment and potentially problematic.

If you think about two years ago, Memphis was in the exact same boat. One they lost a few games early - especially the Georgia Tech loss in Hawaii - and they lost several of their tougher games against highly rated teams (at Tennessee comes to mind).

Memphis does have a way to redeem themselves - win at Georgetown (19th AP, 23rd RPI, 3rd Pomeroy). Any win over that kind of program on the road will be huge and Memphis has three games of significance this year (@ G-Town, @ Tennessee and @ Gonzaga)

Of course, what is most disappointing about the Xavier game was HOW the Tigers lost - they didn't look very good offensively and the free throws at the end of the game were disasterous. Let's all hope that the last two weeks have been an opportunity to learn from their mistakes. We have heard how Tyreke Evans has spent hours working on his outside jump shot (if he has any hope of moving to the NBA in the next year, he better keep up the 500 jumpers a day routine). The Tigers have gotten some good news in Matt Simpkins being ok'd by the NCAA clearinghouse (wow, what speed). Hopefully, they have figured out that your offense can't ONLY rely on steals and fastbreaks. Hey on occasions you even have to set up a half court play.

Go Tigers !!

A Modest Proposal

I woke up this morning thinking about the special teams in football, and the role of the reliver in baseball.

Particularly the closer, the pitcher who comes in, in the last inning, when you have the lead, and simply shuts down the opposing team.

We have a sixth man in basketball. How about a twelth man?

How about bringing in Preston Laird, for the last two minutes of every game. Even the close games.

Have him get off the bench with just about ten minutes to go in the game, and warm up on a hoop in some remote part of the gym, with a coach watching.

Calipari could call the coach with about four minutes left in the game, on the phone, and the coach could fill him in, on whether Preston's shot is falling, and if it is, he'd be the closer.

You know, hitting a couple of threes, and every one of his foul shots.

Lessons From the Vols and Zags

It't not often that you get a chance, early in the season, to see two of your toughest scheduled opponents go head to head, but on Sunday November 30th, we got a chance to preview Tennessee (scheduled for January 24th) and Gonzaga (scheduled for February 7th)

The game was a battle....

Hopefully, by January and February, Wesley Witherspoon will be able to run the point, and Tyreke Evans will be able to hit the floater. We are going to need their offensive firepower.

What was most interesting about this November matchup was the depth both teams showed.

The commentators quoted Coach Pearl several times during the game: Your five may be better than our five, but are your ten better than our ten? Turns out, Gonzaga's nine were better than Bruce's ten.

Believe me, both of these teams are long and deep.

Gonzaga starts 6-10 Austin Daye, 6-11 Josh Heytvelt, 6-2 Jeremy Pargo, 6-5 Matt Bouldin, and 6-8 Micah Downs, and brings in 7-0 Robert Sacre, 6-0 Demetri Goodson, 6-4 Steven Gray, and 6-4 Ira Brown, but four of the starters (Heytvelt, Pargo, Bouldin and Downs) all played 30 minutes or more.

Tennessee starts 6-7 Tyler Smith, 6-6 Cameron Tatum, 6-9 Wayne Chism, 6-8 Renaldo Woolridge, and 6-2 Bobby Maze, and brings in 6-7 Immanuel Negedu, 6-4 Josh Tabb, 6-7 JP Prince, 6-7 Scotty Hopson and 6-10 Brian Williams. Only Tyler Smith played more than 30 minutes.

Normally, Tennesse's depth and athletecism can wear you down. Sound familiar? It's been a Memphis trademark of late.

And when Tennessee and Memphis tangle this year, we can expect a very physical game. Lots of pressing. Everything will be contested. Even the coaches, Calipari and Pearl, would duke it out, if they could.

The commentators called it "toughness." I don't know.

At one point in the Gonzaga-Tennessee game, JP Prince reached in for a ball Micah Downs was holding high at the sideline at midcourt, and got his mouth instead. Micah was so surprised he turned away, looking for the foul (which never came.)

It's scrappiness, that's what it is, and Memphis should be able to hold it's own, if forty percent of our threes pointers fall, if the team can shoot free throws at seventy five percent, and if Wesley Witherspoon becomes a point guard.

What concerned me was how Gonzaga managed to interrupt the Tennessee offense. It was in the first half with about 4:30 to go, that Gonzaga dropped their man to man, and moved into the zone, with Heytvelt, Downs and Daye on the back line. The score was Tennessee 28, Gonzaga 26. From that point to the end of the half, Gonzaga went on a 9 to 3 run.

Gonzaga opened the second half in the same zone defense.

Woolridge made a quick three to bring Tennessee up to 34-35, but then, over the next twelve minutes Gonzago wore Tennessee down, and lead by ten, at the Tennessee timeout with 8:26 to go. With two minutes to go, Gonzaga led by thirteen, and although Tennesse went on a brief 8-1 run, Gonzaga made their free throws down the stretch to close it out.

In my mind it was the Gonzaga switch to the disruptive zone defense that took the Vols out of their halfcourt offense.

In February I'd like to see the Tigers attack that Gonzaga zone by going down low to Taggart and Dozier. Lets see if we can get Daye and Heytvelt in foul trouble early.

Tonight it will ge Marist. How will Chuck Martin play the defense. Will he try to deploy the zone against the Tigers?

And will the Tigers respond by aggessively attacking the zone, or by lofting numerous threes?