Official Basketball Box Score -- GAME TOTALS -- FINAL STATISTICS
Memphis vs East Carolina
01/20/07 6 p.m. at Greenville, N.C.
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VISITORS: Memphis 15-3,5-0
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
02 Dozier, Robert...... f 3-9 0-0 6-10 2 8 10 1 12 1 2 1 1 34
32 Dorsey, Joey........ f 3-6 0-0 1-5 8 7 15 1 7 1 3 2 0 30
01 Kemp, Willie........ g 0-3 0-3 0-0 1 0 1 1 0 1 2 0 0 12
12 Anderson, Antonio... g 0-6 0-3 3-6 6 5 11 2 3 3 4 0 4 36
20 Mack, Doneal........ g 3-8 2-6 7-9 0 0 0 3 15 0 0 1 1 16
00 Wade, Clyde......... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
05 Hunt, Jeremy........ 5-12 1-6 5-7 0 1 1 3 16 2 0 0 4 30
15 Allen, Andre........ 3-10 1-5 1-2 0 4 4 1 8 0 4 0 2 32
42 Cooper, Kareem...... 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 2 0 0 1 0 0 9
TEAM................ 4 1 5 1
Totals.............. 17-55 4-23 23-39 21 27 48 14 61 8 17 4 12 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 6-21 28.6% 2nd Half: 11-34 32.4% Game: 30.9% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 3-12 25.0% 2nd Half: 1-11 9.1% Game: 17.4% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 6-14 42.9% 2nd Half: 17-25 68.0% Game: 59.0% 9
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HOME TEAM: East Carolina 5-12,0-4
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
23 FIELDS, John........ f 5-6 0-0 4-9 2 2 4 3 14 0 3 1 2 31
32 BLAIR, Gabe......... f 1-4 0-0 2-4 1 3 4 5 4 1 3 1 1 22
03 FARMER, Cory........ g 1-6 1-3 0-0 0 5 5 1 3 4 2 0 1 31
05 CAPTAIN, Courtney... g 1-7 1-3 1-2 0 3 3 2 4 0 4 0 1 24
22 JENKINS, Darrell.... g 1-7 0-4 0-0 2 4 6 2 2 4 8 0 0 31
02 DILLARD, James...... 2-4 0-0 0-0 1 0 1 1 4 0 2 1 1 13
12 GAGNON, Taylor...... 2-2 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 1 4 1 0 0 0 4
15 INGRAM, Jeremy...... 0-1 0-1 0-0 0 1 1 2 0 1 1 0 0 10
25 RAMSEY, Justin...... 2-2 0-0 0-1 0 2 2 3 4 0 0 1 0 9
34 EVANS, Brandon...... 2-8 0-2 1-2 1 3 4 4 5 1 0 0 2 25
TEAM................ 2 1 3 1
Totals.............. 17-47 2-13 8-18 9 24 33 24 44 12 24 4 8 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 8-25 32.0% 2nd Half: 9-22 40.9% Game: 36.2% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 0-6 0.0% 2nd Half: 2-7 28.6% Game: 15.4% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 5-8 62.5% 2nd Half: 3-10 30.0% Game: 44.4% 4
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Officials: Steve Pyatt, Duke Edsall, Tim Gattis
Technical fouls: Memphis-None. East Carolina-None.
Attendance: 6064
Score by Periods 1st 2nd Total
Memphis....................... 21 40 - 61
East Carolina................. 21 23 - 44
Points in the paint-MEM 22,ECU 26. Points off turnovers-MEM 19,ECU 11.
2nd chance points-MEM 12,ECU 13. Fast break points-MEM 0,ECU 2.
Bench points-MEM 24,ECU 17. Score tied-5 times. Lead changed-6 times.
Last FG-MEM 2nd-01:19, ECU 2nd-00:19.
Largest lead-MEM by 21 2nd-01:19, ECU by 4 2nd-17:18.
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Memphis Cruises Past ECU, 61-44 (First Half Was UGLY!)
Memphis Cruises Past ECU, 61-44
Jeremy Hunt scores 16 points to lead the No. 17 Tigers over the Pirates.
Jan. 20, 2007
GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP) - The Memphis Tigers struggled to remain unbeaten in Conference USA.
The Tigers shot 31 percent from the field, including a 4-for-23 effort from 3-point range, but were able to still beat East Carolina 61-44 on Saturday.
Memphis (15-3, 5-0 Conference-USA) remained in first place win the win over the last-place Pirates (5-12, 0-4).
"(East Carolina's) defense sagged a lot and we were in a hurry," said Memphis coach John Calipari, whose team was without starting forward Chris Douglas-Roberts because of an ankle injury. "When a team sags, it's two or three drives, two or three passes, and then you play. You've got to move (the defense) a little bit -- pass, cut, drive. We didn't do it."
Memphis struggled to score in the first half, and it wasn't until midway through the second half that the Tigers were able to pull away.
Jeremy Hunt scored 16 points and Doneal Mack added 15 for the Tigers, who took 39 free throws. Robert Dozier had 12 points and 10 rebounds for Memphis.
John Fields scored 14 points to lead East Carolina.
The lead changed hands five times early in the second half, but a 7-0 Memphis run capped by Dozier's putback dunk gave the Tigers a 33-28 lead with 16:30 remaining.
Mack scored 10 consecutive Memphis points to stretch the Tigers lead to 45-32 with 12:27 left in the game.
The Pirates closed to within 48-38 on Darrell Jenkins' jumper with 8:19 remaining, but could get no closer. A 7-minute, 19-second field goal drought followed Jenkins' bucket and Memphis stretched its lead to as many as 21 points during that span.
"When we went in at halftime, we knew we didn't play like we wanted to play," said Hunt, who scored 13 of his points after intermission. "We just came out and tried to get on (the Pirates) early. We had the mind frame of play hard defense, rebound and get easy buckets."
In the first half, Memphis took a 20-16 lead at the 2:50 mark but East Carolina closed the half with a 5-1 run and tied it 21-all on John Fields' putback at the first-half buzzer.
The teams combined to turn the ball over 27 times in the first half -- 14 for the Pirates and 13 for Memphis. However, the Tigers cured their turnover problems after the break, with just three second-half giveaways, but East Carolina wilted under Memphis' full-court pressure and finished the game with 24 turnovers.
"We anticipated them applying more defensive pressure," East Carolina coach Ricky Stokes said. "That forced us to probably play a little faster than we wanted to. We did not handle the ball well."
Jeremy Hunt scores 16 points to lead the No. 17 Tigers over the Pirates.
Jan. 20, 2007
GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP) - The Memphis Tigers struggled to remain unbeaten in Conference USA.
The Tigers shot 31 percent from the field, including a 4-for-23 effort from 3-point range, but were able to still beat East Carolina 61-44 on Saturday.
Memphis (15-3, 5-0 Conference-USA) remained in first place win the win over the last-place Pirates (5-12, 0-4).
"(East Carolina's) defense sagged a lot and we were in a hurry," said Memphis coach John Calipari, whose team was without starting forward Chris Douglas-Roberts because of an ankle injury. "When a team sags, it's two or three drives, two or three passes, and then you play. You've got to move (the defense) a little bit -- pass, cut, drive. We didn't do it."
Memphis struggled to score in the first half, and it wasn't until midway through the second half that the Tigers were able to pull away.
Jeremy Hunt scored 16 points and Doneal Mack added 15 for the Tigers, who took 39 free throws. Robert Dozier had 12 points and 10 rebounds for Memphis.
John Fields scored 14 points to lead East Carolina.
The lead changed hands five times early in the second half, but a 7-0 Memphis run capped by Dozier's putback dunk gave the Tigers a 33-28 lead with 16:30 remaining.
Mack scored 10 consecutive Memphis points to stretch the Tigers lead to 45-32 with 12:27 left in the game.
The Pirates closed to within 48-38 on Darrell Jenkins' jumper with 8:19 remaining, but could get no closer. A 7-minute, 19-second field goal drought followed Jenkins' bucket and Memphis stretched its lead to as many as 21 points during that span.
"When we went in at halftime, we knew we didn't play like we wanted to play," said Hunt, who scored 13 of his points after intermission. "We just came out and tried to get on (the Pirates) early. We had the mind frame of play hard defense, rebound and get easy buckets."
In the first half, Memphis took a 20-16 lead at the 2:50 mark but East Carolina closed the half with a 5-1 run and tied it 21-all on John Fields' putback at the first-half buzzer.
The teams combined to turn the ball over 27 times in the first half -- 14 for the Pirates and 13 for Memphis. However, the Tigers cured their turnover problems after the break, with just three second-half giveaways, but East Carolina wilted under Memphis' full-court pressure and finished the game with 24 turnovers.
"We anticipated them applying more defensive pressure," East Carolina coach Ricky Stokes said. "That forced us to probably play a little faster than we wanted to. We did not handle the ball well."
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Former Tiger, 5th Year Duquesne Senior Thiero Sidelined With Blood Clots
More health woes for ex-Tiger Thiero
January 20, 2007
Former University of Memphis center Almamy Thiero, who now plays for Duquesne, was hospitalized Friday with blood clots in his lungs and will be sidelined indefinitely.
The 6-foot-9, 255-pound Thiero missed most of the 2003-04 season at Memphis because of the same problem. He also had two leg operations while at Memphis.
The native of Mali is averaging 2.4 points and 3.3 rebounds in 15 games for the Dukes.
January 20, 2007
Former University of Memphis center Almamy Thiero, who now plays for Duquesne, was hospitalized Friday with blood clots in his lungs and will be sidelined indefinitely.
The 6-foot-9, 255-pound Thiero missed most of the 2003-04 season at Memphis because of the same problem. He also had two leg operations while at Memphis.
The native of Mali is averaging 2.4 points and 3.3 rebounds in 15 games for the Dukes.
Memphis #9 in RPI, #10 in Pomeroy
Tigers are #17 on Pomeroy Offensive Efficiency and #15 in Defensive Efficiency, #10 Overall.
Look for a RPI drop today as Memphis plays East Carolina (2-11, 0-3)(#323 RPI, #287 Pomeroy)
Look for a RPI drop today as Memphis plays East Carolina (2-11, 0-3)(#323 RPI, #287 Pomeroy)
ECU Freshman Guard Brandon Evans Prepped at Liberty Tech (Jackson, TN)
ECU guard ready to tangle with former foe
By Tony Castleberry
The Daily Reflector, Greenville (NC)
Saturday, January 20, 2007
At some point in tonight's men's basketball game between Memphis and host East Carolina, Pirate guard Brandon Evans will probably find himself matched up against Tiger point guard Willie Kemp.
When and if that happens, it won't be the first time.
Evans and Kemp, both 6-foot-2 freshmen, know each other well. They waged numerous battles against each other on Tennessee high school courts when Evans was prepping at Liberty Tech in Jackson and Kemp at Bolivar High in Bolivar.
"I'm familiar with (Kemp)," said Evans, who will try to help ECU (5-11, 0-3 Conference USA) upset 17th-ranked Memphis when the teams tip off at 6 p.m. in Minges. "I played against him for two years straight."
While Kemp was busy winning awards last year, including being named Tennessee's 2006 Class AA Mr. Basketball and earning Jackson Sun All-West Tennessee Player of the Year honors, Evans was bringing a state championship back to Jackson. Evans earned his ring in '06 after Kemp won consecutive AA state titles with Bolivar in 2004-05.
Kemp chose Memphis and has started all 17 games this season for coach John Calipari's Tigers (14-3, 4-0 C-USA), but Evans took a more circuitous route to playing Division I hoops. He originally signed with Murray State during the early signing period of '05, but a connection with an East Carolina assistant coach and a simple change of heart brought him to Greenville.
Pirate assistant coach Chris Ferguson was an assistant at the University of Tennessee for eight years and the Volunteers showed some interest in Evans while Ferguson was in Knoxville. After Ferguson left UT to join head coach Ricky Stokes' staff at ECU, Ferguson and Evans kept in touch and Evans eventually decided a Pirate uniform fit him best.
"I've known coach Ferguson for a while," said Evans, who played his first two years of prep basketball at Fayetteville's Westover High. "I was getting looked at by Tennessee while he was there. I just kind of changed my mind."
Evans' playing time has fluctuated greatly all season, but he's become more of an asset for Stokes in recent games since ECU guard Sam Hinnant was benched with a left leg injury that will keep him out for at least three more weeks. Junior guard Jeremy Ingram's injured right knee is limiting his minutes as well so Evans is seizing his opportunity to play while he can.
In ECU's 65-56 loss to Tulane Wednesday night, Evans scored a career-high 10 points — all in the second half — and played a career-high 22 minutes. It's a trend he hopes continues.
"I'm enjoying it," said Evans, who is one of East Carolina's most athletic and fearless players. "As a freshman, I'm just playing my role. That's the way I look at it. It hurts me that our players are hurt, but I've got to step in and try to step up too.
"I grew up being aggressive and I just want to attack the basket and be an aggressive player," he added. "I don't look at size or height or whatever. I just feel like I have enough heart to go in there just as well as (the big men) do."
While most of Evans' points this season have come after hard-charging drives into the paint, he showed his versatility the last couple of contests, knocking down the first three 3-pointers of his collegiate career, including a 2-of-2 effort from long range Wednesday. If Evans spends much time on the perimeter tonight, he'll likely find a familiar face — Kemp — charging out at him when he lets go of a 3-point attempt.
Even though Kemp has enjoyed much more success during his freshman season, Evans has no regrets about his decision to play at East Carolina, which has lost 10 of its last 11 games.
"I still see my future here," he said. "I think we're just a young team. We've got to come together and we're going to make things happen."
Tony Castleberry can be reached at (252) 329-9591 or at tcastleberry@coxnc.com
By Tony Castleberry
The Daily Reflector, Greenville (NC)
Saturday, January 20, 2007
At some point in tonight's men's basketball game between Memphis and host East Carolina, Pirate guard Brandon Evans will probably find himself matched up against Tiger point guard Willie Kemp.
When and if that happens, it won't be the first time.
Evans and Kemp, both 6-foot-2 freshmen, know each other well. They waged numerous battles against each other on Tennessee high school courts when Evans was prepping at Liberty Tech in Jackson and Kemp at Bolivar High in Bolivar.
"I'm familiar with (Kemp)," said Evans, who will try to help ECU (5-11, 0-3 Conference USA) upset 17th-ranked Memphis when the teams tip off at 6 p.m. in Minges. "I played against him for two years straight."
While Kemp was busy winning awards last year, including being named Tennessee's 2006 Class AA Mr. Basketball and earning Jackson Sun All-West Tennessee Player of the Year honors, Evans was bringing a state championship back to Jackson. Evans earned his ring in '06 after Kemp won consecutive AA state titles with Bolivar in 2004-05.
Kemp chose Memphis and has started all 17 games this season for coach John Calipari's Tigers (14-3, 4-0 C-USA), but Evans took a more circuitous route to playing Division I hoops. He originally signed with Murray State during the early signing period of '05, but a connection with an East Carolina assistant coach and a simple change of heart brought him to Greenville.
Pirate assistant coach Chris Ferguson was an assistant at the University of Tennessee for eight years and the Volunteers showed some interest in Evans while Ferguson was in Knoxville. After Ferguson left UT to join head coach Ricky Stokes' staff at ECU, Ferguson and Evans kept in touch and Evans eventually decided a Pirate uniform fit him best.
"I've known coach Ferguson for a while," said Evans, who played his first two years of prep basketball at Fayetteville's Westover High. "I was getting looked at by Tennessee while he was there. I just kind of changed my mind."
Evans' playing time has fluctuated greatly all season, but he's become more of an asset for Stokes in recent games since ECU guard Sam Hinnant was benched with a left leg injury that will keep him out for at least three more weeks. Junior guard Jeremy Ingram's injured right knee is limiting his minutes as well so Evans is seizing his opportunity to play while he can.
In ECU's 65-56 loss to Tulane Wednesday night, Evans scored a career-high 10 points — all in the second half — and played a career-high 22 minutes. It's a trend he hopes continues.
"I'm enjoying it," said Evans, who is one of East Carolina's most athletic and fearless players. "As a freshman, I'm just playing my role. That's the way I look at it. It hurts me that our players are hurt, but I've got to step in and try to step up too.
"I grew up being aggressive and I just want to attack the basket and be an aggressive player," he added. "I don't look at size or height or whatever. I just feel like I have enough heart to go in there just as well as (the big men) do."
While most of Evans' points this season have come after hard-charging drives into the paint, he showed his versatility the last couple of contests, knocking down the first three 3-pointers of his collegiate career, including a 2-of-2 effort from long range Wednesday. If Evans spends much time on the perimeter tonight, he'll likely find a familiar face — Kemp — charging out at him when he lets go of a 3-point attempt.
Even though Kemp has enjoyed much more success during his freshman season, Evans has no regrets about his decision to play at East Carolina, which has lost 10 of its last 11 games.
"I still see my future here," he said. "I think we're just a young team. We've got to come together and we're going to make things happen."
Tony Castleberry can be reached at (252) 329-9591 or at tcastleberry@coxnc.com
Lowly ECU Pirates Expected To Turn Up Heat for Tiger Visit
Lowly Pirates expected to turn up heat for Tiger visit
By Dan Wolken
January 20, 2007
GREENVILLE, N.C. -- The University of Memphis last year went to Cincinnati and Alabama, had to battle on Ole Miss' home floor, came from behind to win at Marshall and had to be almost perfect at the free-throw line to win at Rice.
But when the Tigers talk about the adverse circumstances they face every time they hit the road, they talk about ... East Carolina?
"Last year, their record was worse than it is this year," coach John Calipari said. "And we were lucky."
And so, as the No. 17-ranked Tigers return today to the very spot to face the same team, Memphis is preparing for another nail-chewing 40 minutes, ignoring the fact this is the biggest on-paper mismatch in any major conference this season.
East Carolina, with just two Division 1 wins, is ranked 323rd in the RPI. You have to go all the way to Idaho, at No. 272, to find a team from a top-10 conference in East Carolina's RPI neighborhood.
Still, that's not much different from last year when East Carolina finished with an RPI of 300 and still gave Memphis a tough time at Minges Coliseum. In front of a packed house of 7,553 fans, the Tigers could manage only a tie at halftime, shot 36.6 percent for the game and had to hold ECU to two field goals in the final eight minutes to escape with a 77-67 win.
The way the game played out was almost impossible to predict, especially given that Memphis had already proven itself as one of the nation's best teams by then with wins over the likes of Gonzaga and UCLA.
But as the Tigers have learned, any time they go on the road in Conference USA, they are far more likely to have survivals than blowouts. It was much the same last weekend when Memphis had to come from behind in the second half to snag a 75-62 win at Southern Miss.
And by now, it's a fairly easy phenomenon to predict. Even a struggling team like East Carolina will be energized for a visit from Memphis more than any team on the schedule.
"UTEP beats Southern Miss by 20 and (UTEP coach Tony Barbee) said he watched them on tape, and it wasn't the same team we played," Calipari said. "None of this stuff matters when we're playing. When we walk into a building, those teams play different."
Still, it appears East Carolina will have to play much different to have another shot at beating Memphis. The Pirates have lost 10-of-11 and were barely competitive in the second half Wednesday against Tulane in a 65-56 loss. If there's a ray of hope for East Carolina, it's that Memphis will be without leading scorer Chris Douglas-Roberts due to a sprained right ankle. Once again, the degree of difficulty on the road goes up.
"That's why we needed a game like Southern Miss, to get us ready for games like this," sophomore guard Antonio Anderson said. "It's probably the toughest game on their schedule. They're looking forward to this game, and they'll probably make some shots and have a good game, but we've just got to fight through it and try to get a win."
-- Dan Wolken: 529-2365
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No. 17 Tigers at East Carolina
When, where: Today, 5 p.m. CST, at Greenville, N.C.
TV, radio: CSTV (Ch. 222 on Comcast digital cable), WREC-AM (600)
By Dan Wolken
January 20, 2007
GREENVILLE, N.C. -- The University of Memphis last year went to Cincinnati and Alabama, had to battle on Ole Miss' home floor, came from behind to win at Marshall and had to be almost perfect at the free-throw line to win at Rice.
But when the Tigers talk about the adverse circumstances they face every time they hit the road, they talk about ... East Carolina?
"Last year, their record was worse than it is this year," coach John Calipari said. "And we were lucky."
And so, as the No. 17-ranked Tigers return today to the very spot to face the same team, Memphis is preparing for another nail-chewing 40 minutes, ignoring the fact this is the biggest on-paper mismatch in any major conference this season.
East Carolina, with just two Division 1 wins, is ranked 323rd in the RPI. You have to go all the way to Idaho, at No. 272, to find a team from a top-10 conference in East Carolina's RPI neighborhood.
Still, that's not much different from last year when East Carolina finished with an RPI of 300 and still gave Memphis a tough time at Minges Coliseum. In front of a packed house of 7,553 fans, the Tigers could manage only a tie at halftime, shot 36.6 percent for the game and had to hold ECU to two field goals in the final eight minutes to escape with a 77-67 win.
The way the game played out was almost impossible to predict, especially given that Memphis had already proven itself as one of the nation's best teams by then with wins over the likes of Gonzaga and UCLA.
But as the Tigers have learned, any time they go on the road in Conference USA, they are far more likely to have survivals than blowouts. It was much the same last weekend when Memphis had to come from behind in the second half to snag a 75-62 win at Southern Miss.
And by now, it's a fairly easy phenomenon to predict. Even a struggling team like East Carolina will be energized for a visit from Memphis more than any team on the schedule.
"UTEP beats Southern Miss by 20 and (UTEP coach Tony Barbee) said he watched them on tape, and it wasn't the same team we played," Calipari said. "None of this stuff matters when we're playing. When we walk into a building, those teams play different."
Still, it appears East Carolina will have to play much different to have another shot at beating Memphis. The Pirates have lost 10-of-11 and were barely competitive in the second half Wednesday against Tulane in a 65-56 loss. If there's a ray of hope for East Carolina, it's that Memphis will be without leading scorer Chris Douglas-Roberts due to a sprained right ankle. Once again, the degree of difficulty on the road goes up.
"That's why we needed a game like Southern Miss, to get us ready for games like this," sophomore guard Antonio Anderson said. "It's probably the toughest game on their schedule. They're looking forward to this game, and they'll probably make some shots and have a good game, but we've just got to fight through it and try to get a win."
-- Dan Wolken: 529-2365
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No. 17 Tigers at East Carolina
When, where: Today, 5 p.m. CST, at Greenville, N.C.
TV, radio: CSTV (Ch. 222 on Comcast digital cable), WREC-AM (600)
Tigers Near Top of Cal's Shot Chart
Tigers near top of Cal's shot chart
By Dan Wolken
January 19, 2007
When you've coached a team to the Final Four that shot 38.7 percent for a season, field-goal percentage isn't necessarily the statistic that becomes your professional bread-and-butter.
But even University of Memphis coach John Calipari has to pay attention to what his No. 17-ranked Tigers are doing this year. Through 17 games, Memphis is shooting 47.3 percent from the field.
To be sure, that number won't make any national waves, given that it ranks Memphis just 61st in field-goal percentage among Division 1 teams as of Thursday. But, if the Tigers keep it up, it could be somewhat historic.
In Calipari's 15 years as a college head coach, only once has his team finished a season 46 percent or better. And that team, his 1988-89 squad at UMass, won just 10 games.
By contrast, Calipari's best teams at UMass in 1994-95 and 1995-96 shot just 38.6 percent and 38.7 percent, respectively. In Calipari's first six years at Memphis, all his teams shot between 42 percent and 45.9 percent.
Last year, Memphis shot 45.1 percent and finished in the Elite Eight.
"I go recruit tough, hard-nosed players," Calipari said, explaining the shooting trends. "The two things I don't spend a whole lot of time on are 3-point shooting and shooting. I spend some time, but I want them to play. I want them to be unselfish, create good opportunities, to have the courage to want to take shots, make baskets and get offensive rebounds. My teams have had to be great offensive rebounding teams for us to have success."
Though none of that has changed, Memphis' shooting percentage is reflected in some of the recent results. The Tigers go into Saturday's Conference USA game at East Carolina on a six-game winning streak, all by double digits. Though several of Memphis' 14 victories have come against very suspect competition, the Tigers have won those games by an average of 22.6 points.
That's not bad, given that Sports Illustrated college basketball columnist Seth Davis wrote in the preseason that the Memphis practice he witnessed in October was "one of the worst collective shooting displays I've seen."
Though Davis apparently still isn't a believer -- he was one of just four voters in this week's Associated Press poll to omit Memphis from their Top 25 ballots -- it's hard to argue with the numbers.
Especially lately. Against UAB (49.2 percent), Southern Miss (46.3 percent), Houston (60 percent), and Cincinnati (59.3 percent), the Tigers have been dangerous inside and outside, getting baskets off drives and making open jumpers.
"We're making shots and making easy plays that turn into easy shots," senior guard Jeremy Hunt said. "I think everybody's trying to make easy plays, and if you do that, you get easy buckets."
Make easy plays. It's something Calipari says every day, and it's the essence of the offense Memphis has used the past two seasons.
But now, not only are the Tigers getting their fair share of easy looks inside, their decision-making has improved significantly in recent weeks, leading to good shots on nearly every possession.
That's a little different than the way Calipari talks about last year's Tigers, who took some bad shots but made them.
"We're shooting (47.3) percent because we're either getting layups or we're getting absolutely wide-open 3s," Calipari said. "I don't remember us (taking bad shots). Every once in a while, (Hunt) will take a bad shot, but it's an aggressive shot. It's not a leaping leaner fade-away. Every once in awhile Robert (Dozier) will take a weak shot, but it's not a bad shot. It's a 3-footer."
Sophomore guard Antonio Anderson, who just recently emerged from a shooting slump, said the high percentage can be attributed to the Tigers' attacking philosophy.
"We go hard to the basket in practice," Anderson said. "When we get in the game it makes it a little bit easier because we're used to getting bumped."
-- Dan Wolken: 529-2365
By Dan Wolken
January 19, 2007
When you've coached a team to the Final Four that shot 38.7 percent for a season, field-goal percentage isn't necessarily the statistic that becomes your professional bread-and-butter.
But even University of Memphis coach John Calipari has to pay attention to what his No. 17-ranked Tigers are doing this year. Through 17 games, Memphis is shooting 47.3 percent from the field.
To be sure, that number won't make any national waves, given that it ranks Memphis just 61st in field-goal percentage among Division 1 teams as of Thursday. But, if the Tigers keep it up, it could be somewhat historic.
In Calipari's 15 years as a college head coach, only once has his team finished a season 46 percent or better. And that team, his 1988-89 squad at UMass, won just 10 games.
By contrast, Calipari's best teams at UMass in 1994-95 and 1995-96 shot just 38.6 percent and 38.7 percent, respectively. In Calipari's first six years at Memphis, all his teams shot between 42 percent and 45.9 percent.
Last year, Memphis shot 45.1 percent and finished in the Elite Eight.
"I go recruit tough, hard-nosed players," Calipari said, explaining the shooting trends. "The two things I don't spend a whole lot of time on are 3-point shooting and shooting. I spend some time, but I want them to play. I want them to be unselfish, create good opportunities, to have the courage to want to take shots, make baskets and get offensive rebounds. My teams have had to be great offensive rebounding teams for us to have success."
Though none of that has changed, Memphis' shooting percentage is reflected in some of the recent results. The Tigers go into Saturday's Conference USA game at East Carolina on a six-game winning streak, all by double digits. Though several of Memphis' 14 victories have come against very suspect competition, the Tigers have won those games by an average of 22.6 points.
That's not bad, given that Sports Illustrated college basketball columnist Seth Davis wrote in the preseason that the Memphis practice he witnessed in October was "one of the worst collective shooting displays I've seen."
Though Davis apparently still isn't a believer -- he was one of just four voters in this week's Associated Press poll to omit Memphis from their Top 25 ballots -- it's hard to argue with the numbers.
Especially lately. Against UAB (49.2 percent), Southern Miss (46.3 percent), Houston (60 percent), and Cincinnati (59.3 percent), the Tigers have been dangerous inside and outside, getting baskets off drives and making open jumpers.
"We're making shots and making easy plays that turn into easy shots," senior guard Jeremy Hunt said. "I think everybody's trying to make easy plays, and if you do that, you get easy buckets."
Make easy plays. It's something Calipari says every day, and it's the essence of the offense Memphis has used the past two seasons.
But now, not only are the Tigers getting their fair share of easy looks inside, their decision-making has improved significantly in recent weeks, leading to good shots on nearly every possession.
That's a little different than the way Calipari talks about last year's Tigers, who took some bad shots but made them.
"We're shooting (47.3) percent because we're either getting layups or we're getting absolutely wide-open 3s," Calipari said. "I don't remember us (taking bad shots). Every once in a while, (Hunt) will take a bad shot, but it's an aggressive shot. It's not a leaping leaner fade-away. Every once in awhile Robert (Dozier) will take a weak shot, but it's not a bad shot. It's a 3-footer."
Sophomore guard Antonio Anderson, who just recently emerged from a shooting slump, said the high percentage can be attributed to the Tigers' attacking philosophy.
"We go hard to the basket in practice," Anderson said. "When we get in the game it makes it a little bit easier because we're used to getting bumped."
-- Dan Wolken: 529-2365
Friday, January 19, 2007
CDR Out for Two Weeks
Tigers' top scorer out
MRI shows guard Douglas-Roberts suffers from mild high ankle sprain
By Dan Wolken
January 19, 2007
University of Memphis sophomore guard Chris Douglas-Roberts won't play Saturday at East Carolina and could miss up to two weeks due to a high right ankle sprain.
The diagnosis of a mild high ankle sprain -- which typically is more debilitating than a normal ankle sprain -- was made Thursday after team physicians got the results of an MRI.
If Douglas-Roberts misses the full two weeks, that could encompass Memphis' next four games. But both Douglas-Roberts and coach John Calipari said it's possible he could be back next Wednesday against Tulsa.
"I don't want to rush it back," Douglas-Roberts said. "But it will be hard for me to watch."
Douglas-Roberts, who leads the No. 17-ranked Tigers in scoring at 14.8 points per game, suffered the injury in the first half of Memphis' 79-69 victory at Houston last Thursday when he landed off-balance on his right foot following a transition layup.
Douglas-Roberts returned later in that game and played two nights later at Southern Miss, where he scored 23 points. Despite feeling significant pain, Douglas-Roberts tried to play Tuesday against UAB but took himself out after the first whistle just 1:28 in.
"It could have been worse if I finished that UAB game," Douglas-Roberts said. "It could have been a tear."
Calipari said doctors will re-evaluate Douglas-Roberts on Monday and determine his status for the Tulsa game.
Though Memphis didn't miss Douglas-Roberts against UAB in a 79-54 victory, Calipari said it was "dangerous" to play a long stretch without him. Though Calipari said he wasn't sure how he would adjust the starting lineup, the most likely scenario is inserting junior Andre Allen or sophomore Doneal Mack.
Senior guard Jeremy Hunt, who averages 13.5 points, would also be a candidate, but Calipari said he likes getting instant offense from Hunt off the bench.
"The greatest thing about what we're doing is, do we start Andre and Willie (Kemp) together?" Calipari said. "Is Jeremy playing so well, he should be starting anyway? Or do we stick with what we're doing and just plug in Doneal, who played real well (against UAB)? Or do we go to the big lineup?
"Let's call in phone numbers and leave your votes. I don't know what we're going to do."
MRI shows guard Douglas-Roberts suffers from mild high ankle sprain
By Dan Wolken
January 19, 2007
University of Memphis sophomore guard Chris Douglas-Roberts won't play Saturday at East Carolina and could miss up to two weeks due to a high right ankle sprain.
The diagnosis of a mild high ankle sprain -- which typically is more debilitating than a normal ankle sprain -- was made Thursday after team physicians got the results of an MRI.
If Douglas-Roberts misses the full two weeks, that could encompass Memphis' next four games. But both Douglas-Roberts and coach John Calipari said it's possible he could be back next Wednesday against Tulsa.
"I don't want to rush it back," Douglas-Roberts said. "But it will be hard for me to watch."
Douglas-Roberts, who leads the No. 17-ranked Tigers in scoring at 14.8 points per game, suffered the injury in the first half of Memphis' 79-69 victory at Houston last Thursday when he landed off-balance on his right foot following a transition layup.
Douglas-Roberts returned later in that game and played two nights later at Southern Miss, where he scored 23 points. Despite feeling significant pain, Douglas-Roberts tried to play Tuesday against UAB but took himself out after the first whistle just 1:28 in.
"It could have been worse if I finished that UAB game," Douglas-Roberts said. "It could have been a tear."
Calipari said doctors will re-evaluate Douglas-Roberts on Monday and determine his status for the Tulsa game.
Though Memphis didn't miss Douglas-Roberts against UAB in a 79-54 victory, Calipari said it was "dangerous" to play a long stretch without him. Though Calipari said he wasn't sure how he would adjust the starting lineup, the most likely scenario is inserting junior Andre Allen or sophomore Doneal Mack.
Senior guard Jeremy Hunt, who averages 13.5 points, would also be a candidate, but Calipari said he likes getting instant offense from Hunt off the bench.
"The greatest thing about what we're doing is, do we start Andre and Willie (Kemp) together?" Calipari said. "Is Jeremy playing so well, he should be starting anyway? Or do we stick with what we're doing and just plug in Doneal, who played real well (against UAB)? Or do we go to the big lineup?
"Let's call in phone numbers and leave your votes. I don't know what we're going to do."
Injury Could Force Rare Lineup Shuffle
Injury could force rare lineup shuffle
Douglas-Roberts ailing so starting five may be altered
By Jim Masilak
January 18, 2007
Even when perfectly healthy, Chris Douglas-Roberts walks with a bit of a limp.
After re-aggravating a right ankle sprain in the University of Memphis' 79-54 victory over UAB on Tuesday -- making him questionable for Saturday's trip to East Carolina -- Douglas-Roberts has an even more pronounced hitch in his giddy-up.
Should the sophomore guard be unable to play against the Pirates, it would force the Tigers coach John Calipari to do something he hasn't done all season:
Change his starting lineup.
In the early days of Calipari's tenure at Memphis, constant change was one of the few constants.
Injuries, suspensions and a lack of personnel, among other factors, forced Calipari not to tweak his first five but to overhaul it on a regular basis.
Calipari gave starting nods to at least nine different players in each of his first six seasons with the Tigers. A whopping 12 players started at least once in 2002-03, while 11 did so in 2001-02.
It was hardly an ideal platform upon which to build a cohesive unit, as fifth-year senior guard Jeremy Hunt recalls.
"In the past, we were playing seven guys at the most. We didn't have anybody else to back them up, and even then things were changing all the time," Hunt said before practice Wednesday at the Finch Center. "It's good to know now that you've got a full team of guys who are playing every night, and who give us a chance to win."
In guards Antonio Anderson, Douglas-Roberts and Willie Kemp, and forwards Robert Dozier and Joey Dorsey, the No. 17-ranked Tigers (14-3, 4-0 in Conference USA) boast one of the most stable starting units in the country.
Of the 16 teams ranked ahead of the Tigers in this week's Associated Press Top 25 poll, only four -- No. 2 Wisconsin, No. 6 Pittsburgh, No. 8 Texas A&M and No. 11 Arizona -- have put out the same starting five in every game this season.
"If you're performing well, Cal's gonna stick with you," Dorsey said. "If you're not performing well but you're playing hard, Cal's gonna stick with you.
"But if you're not playing hard or buying into what he says, you're not gonna play."
Part of the Tigers' newfound continuity is a product of avoiding injuries, which they had done successfully until Douglas-Roberts tweaked his ankle in a recent win over Houston.
Douglas-Roberts, who lasted just 90 seconds against UAB, underwent an MRI on Wednesday that did not reveal any structural or ligament damage to his right ankle.
The injury was also confirmed as a sprain rather than a potentially more serious high ankle sprain.
The Tigers' leading scorer will continue to receive treatment and will be reevaluated before the team departs Friday for Greenville, N.C.
As much as Calipari values the Tigers' newfound continuity, the quality of their depth provides plenty of options should the need to spell a player like Douglas-Roberts arise.
"If you're talking I've started the same five the whole time, it's nice," Calipari said. "But what's even more important, I could start Andre (Allen) in front of Willie, or Jeremy in front of either of those guys. Or Doneal Mack.
"I could go with Kareem (Cooper) instead of Joey (Dorsey). It keeps them all honest."
Calipari's success in getting this group of players to embrace their roles is embodied by Hunt, the team's sixth man and second-leading scorer.
"Even if he was to bring it up to me about starting, I'd say, 'No, I'm cool,'" Hunt said. "Coming off the bench, I've gotten so used to it now. Everybody's getting the same amount of playing time anyway so it doesn't really matter who starts."
With Hunt the only scholarship player certain not to be back next season, Calipari envisions the Tigers' stability extending into the 2007-08 season and beyond.
And it was that sort of continuity, he added, that helped mold his 1996 Final Four team at Massachusetts.
Hunt said the Tigers are enjoying the benefits of an equitable lineup during their impressive six-game winning streak.
"Everybody knows their roles and everybody's pretty much doing it right now," he said. "That's what we needed here.
"You see the results. We're playing well as a team and we're blowing people out."
-- Jim Masilak: 529-2311
--------------------
Next for No. 17 Tigers
Opponent: East Carolina
When, where: Saturday, 5 p.m. CST, at Greenville, N.C.
TV: CSTV
See Tigers' future on ESPN tonight
University of Memphis signee Derrick Rose and his Chicago Simeon teammates will take on perennial prep power Oak Hill Academy tonight at 8 p.m. in a game televised by ESPN.
Rose already played in one high-profile game this week, a 53-51 Simeon loss to Manhattan Rice last Sunday at Madison Square Garden.
Douglas-Roberts ailing so starting five may be altered
By Jim Masilak
January 18, 2007
Even when perfectly healthy, Chris Douglas-Roberts walks with a bit of a limp.
After re-aggravating a right ankle sprain in the University of Memphis' 79-54 victory over UAB on Tuesday -- making him questionable for Saturday's trip to East Carolina -- Douglas-Roberts has an even more pronounced hitch in his giddy-up.
Should the sophomore guard be unable to play against the Pirates, it would force the Tigers coach John Calipari to do something he hasn't done all season:
Change his starting lineup.
In the early days of Calipari's tenure at Memphis, constant change was one of the few constants.
Injuries, suspensions and a lack of personnel, among other factors, forced Calipari not to tweak his first five but to overhaul it on a regular basis.
Calipari gave starting nods to at least nine different players in each of his first six seasons with the Tigers. A whopping 12 players started at least once in 2002-03, while 11 did so in 2001-02.
It was hardly an ideal platform upon which to build a cohesive unit, as fifth-year senior guard Jeremy Hunt recalls.
"In the past, we were playing seven guys at the most. We didn't have anybody else to back them up, and even then things were changing all the time," Hunt said before practice Wednesday at the Finch Center. "It's good to know now that you've got a full team of guys who are playing every night, and who give us a chance to win."
In guards Antonio Anderson, Douglas-Roberts and Willie Kemp, and forwards Robert Dozier and Joey Dorsey, the No. 17-ranked Tigers (14-3, 4-0 in Conference USA) boast one of the most stable starting units in the country.
Of the 16 teams ranked ahead of the Tigers in this week's Associated Press Top 25 poll, only four -- No. 2 Wisconsin, No. 6 Pittsburgh, No. 8 Texas A&M and No. 11 Arizona -- have put out the same starting five in every game this season.
"If you're performing well, Cal's gonna stick with you," Dorsey said. "If you're not performing well but you're playing hard, Cal's gonna stick with you.
"But if you're not playing hard or buying into what he says, you're not gonna play."
Part of the Tigers' newfound continuity is a product of avoiding injuries, which they had done successfully until Douglas-Roberts tweaked his ankle in a recent win over Houston.
Douglas-Roberts, who lasted just 90 seconds against UAB, underwent an MRI on Wednesday that did not reveal any structural or ligament damage to his right ankle.
The injury was also confirmed as a sprain rather than a potentially more serious high ankle sprain.
The Tigers' leading scorer will continue to receive treatment and will be reevaluated before the team departs Friday for Greenville, N.C.
As much as Calipari values the Tigers' newfound continuity, the quality of their depth provides plenty of options should the need to spell a player like Douglas-Roberts arise.
"If you're talking I've started the same five the whole time, it's nice," Calipari said. "But what's even more important, I could start Andre (Allen) in front of Willie, or Jeremy in front of either of those guys. Or Doneal Mack.
"I could go with Kareem (Cooper) instead of Joey (Dorsey). It keeps them all honest."
Calipari's success in getting this group of players to embrace their roles is embodied by Hunt, the team's sixth man and second-leading scorer.
"Even if he was to bring it up to me about starting, I'd say, 'No, I'm cool,'" Hunt said. "Coming off the bench, I've gotten so used to it now. Everybody's getting the same amount of playing time anyway so it doesn't really matter who starts."
With Hunt the only scholarship player certain not to be back next season, Calipari envisions the Tigers' stability extending into the 2007-08 season and beyond.
And it was that sort of continuity, he added, that helped mold his 1996 Final Four team at Massachusetts.
Hunt said the Tigers are enjoying the benefits of an equitable lineup during their impressive six-game winning streak.
"Everybody knows their roles and everybody's pretty much doing it right now," he said. "That's what we needed here.
"You see the results. We're playing well as a team and we're blowing people out."
-- Jim Masilak: 529-2311
--------------------
Next for No. 17 Tigers
Opponent: East Carolina
When, where: Saturday, 5 p.m. CST, at Greenville, N.C.
TV: CSTV
See Tigers' future on ESPN tonight
University of Memphis signee Derrick Rose and his Chicago Simeon teammates will take on perennial prep power Oak Hill Academy tonight at 8 p.m. in a game televised by ESPN.
Rose already played in one high-profile game this week, a 53-51 Simeon loss to Manhattan Rice last Sunday at Madison Square Garden.
No Commentary on UAB Game - Wasn't Available on Basic Cable
Unfortunately, Comcast has moved CSTV from basic cable to digital cable. As a result, I was not able to see the UAB game on Tuesday night, but I did listen on the radio and read about the game.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
AP Story on Memphis v. UAB Game
No. 17 Memphis 79, UAB 54
1/16/2007, 11:23 p.m. CT
The Associated Press
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — About the time UAB should have been building confidence against No. 17 Memphis, the Blazers lost their poise.
The Tigers erased an early first-half deficit with a 15-0 run and coasted to their sixth straight victory, 79-54 over UAB on Tuesday night.
"We just played intimidated," UAB coach Mike Davis said. "We got off to a good start. Most teams do. ... But (Memphis) did a great job of staying with what they do, and they kept doing it, and that was too much for us to overcome."
Robert Dozier had 15 points and eight rebounds to lead the Tigers (14-3, 4-0 Conference USA), while Jeremy Hunt added 14 points and Willie Kemp had 12 going 4-of-7 from 3-point range.
Joey Dorsey had 12 rebounds for Memphis, which finished with a 42-22 advantage on the boards, while Antonio Anderson had a career-high nine assists.
"I like getting my teammates the ball. That's what I like to do more than making shots," said Anderson, who has taken on some of the point guard duties and is averaging 5.7 assists over the last six games. "I'd rather have more assists than points any day."
Wen Mukubu led UAB (10-8, 2-2) with 18 points, including a four-point play midway through the second half. Lawrence Kinnard scored 13 points, while leading scorer Paul Delaney finished with 12, 5.6 under his season average.
Memphis played most of the game without leading scorer Chris Douglas-Roberts, who tried to play but went to the locker room early. He is still bothered by a sprained ankle suffered against Houston two games ago.
The Blazers have lost eight straight on the road against the Tigers, including a 57-46 decision in last season's C-USA tournament championship game.
The early stages saw the Blazers sprinting to the offensive end, a change in strategy from most teams that try and slow the pace against the Tigers. UAB switched from a zone defense to man-to-man through much of the first half, and Memphis adapted slowly.
"It was ugly the first 5 minutes," Memphis coach John Calipari said. "After that, it wasn't ugly. I thought we played really well.
"... I'm happy for Robert Dozier. I'm like: 'Robert, that's what you should be. Now, let's try to get better.'"
The Blazers led 17-14 and were shooting well from the field. That's when Memphis went on its run as UAB went scoreless for 6 minutes.
"Once they tied it up 17-17, we just stopped executing our game plan," Davis said. "... We were trying to take some charges, but we didn't take one charge in the first half. We got out of the way and turned our bodies."
Kemp's 3-pointer capped the run that gave Memphis a 29-17 lead. The Tigers would extend it to 18 points before taking a 42-26 halftime lead. They would eventually lead by as many as 27.
Memphis shot 53 percent from the field in the first half, including 5-of-12 from 3-point range. UAB, which was shooting 62 percent before Memphis' run, ended up hitting 44 percent after making only four of its final 14 shots before halftime.
Memphis finished shooting 49 percent for the game, while UAB was at 44 percent. The Blazers were just 6-of-17 at the free throw line.
"We have to make some free throws," Davis said. "We shot 35 percent from the free throw line, and that tells you the whole story. It's time for some guys to make some free throws. We've got guys that act like they've never been there before."
1/16/2007, 11:23 p.m. CT
The Associated Press
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — About the time UAB should have been building confidence against No. 17 Memphis, the Blazers lost their poise.
The Tigers erased an early first-half deficit with a 15-0 run and coasted to their sixth straight victory, 79-54 over UAB on Tuesday night.
"We just played intimidated," UAB coach Mike Davis said. "We got off to a good start. Most teams do. ... But (Memphis) did a great job of staying with what they do, and they kept doing it, and that was too much for us to overcome."
Robert Dozier had 15 points and eight rebounds to lead the Tigers (14-3, 4-0 Conference USA), while Jeremy Hunt added 14 points and Willie Kemp had 12 going 4-of-7 from 3-point range.
Joey Dorsey had 12 rebounds for Memphis, which finished with a 42-22 advantage on the boards, while Antonio Anderson had a career-high nine assists.
"I like getting my teammates the ball. That's what I like to do more than making shots," said Anderson, who has taken on some of the point guard duties and is averaging 5.7 assists over the last six games. "I'd rather have more assists than points any day."
Wen Mukubu led UAB (10-8, 2-2) with 18 points, including a four-point play midway through the second half. Lawrence Kinnard scored 13 points, while leading scorer Paul Delaney finished with 12, 5.6 under his season average.
Memphis played most of the game without leading scorer Chris Douglas-Roberts, who tried to play but went to the locker room early. He is still bothered by a sprained ankle suffered against Houston two games ago.
The Blazers have lost eight straight on the road against the Tigers, including a 57-46 decision in last season's C-USA tournament championship game.
The early stages saw the Blazers sprinting to the offensive end, a change in strategy from most teams that try and slow the pace against the Tigers. UAB switched from a zone defense to man-to-man through much of the first half, and Memphis adapted slowly.
"It was ugly the first 5 minutes," Memphis coach John Calipari said. "After that, it wasn't ugly. I thought we played really well.
"... I'm happy for Robert Dozier. I'm like: 'Robert, that's what you should be. Now, let's try to get better.'"
The Blazers led 17-14 and were shooting well from the field. That's when Memphis went on its run as UAB went scoreless for 6 minutes.
"Once they tied it up 17-17, we just stopped executing our game plan," Davis said. "... We were trying to take some charges, but we didn't take one charge in the first half. We got out of the way and turned our bodies."
Kemp's 3-pointer capped the run that gave Memphis a 29-17 lead. The Tigers would extend it to 18 points before taking a 42-26 halftime lead. They would eventually lead by as many as 27.
Memphis shot 53 percent from the field in the first half, including 5-of-12 from 3-point range. UAB, which was shooting 62 percent before Memphis' run, ended up hitting 44 percent after making only four of its final 14 shots before halftime.
Memphis finished shooting 49 percent for the game, while UAB was at 44 percent. The Blazers were just 6-of-17 at the free throw line.
"We have to make some free throws," Davis said. "We shot 35 percent from the free throw line, and that tells you the whole story. It's time for some guys to make some free throws. We've got guys that act like they've never been there before."
Antonio Anderson Picks Up Tiger Offense
Anderson picks up Tiger offense
He's become team's third point guard
By Jim Masilak
January 17, 2007
Antonio Anderson isn't a point guard in the classic sense.
The University of Memphis' 6-6 sophomore is taller than most at his position, rarely brings the ball up the court or calls plays and doesn't make many flashy passes.
But as Willie Kemp and Andre Allen struggle to run the Tigers' drive-and-kick offense to coach John Calipari's specifications, it has increasingly been left to Anderson to pick up the slack.
And the assists.
"He's the third point guard. That's exactly what he is," sophomore guard Chris Douglas-Roberts said of Anderson, who dished out a career-high nine assists for the No. 17-ranked Tigers in Tuesday night's 79-54 thrashing of UAB at FedExForum. "He gets everybody involved."
In his last six games, Anderson has totaled 34 assists -- two more than Allen and Kemp combined.
What's more, Anderson has turned the ball over just six times during that stretch, giving him a nearly 3-to-1 assists-to-turnover ratio for the season for the Tigers (14-3, 4-0 in Conference USA).
"When he gets the ball, he likes to drive," sophomore forward Kareem Cooper said. "When he tries to drive and the defense collapses on him, he dishes to the open man. That's what coach Cal wants us to do on every offensive possession."
At the moment, no one is doing it to greater effect than Anderson.
While Anderson entered Tuesday's game against the Blazers (10-8, 2-2) averaging a somewhat disappointing 8.8 points per game, scoring is becoming less of a concern as shooters like Jeremy Hunt (14 points) and Doneal Mack (seven points) emerge.
Rather than force a shot that isn't there, Anderson prefers to find an open teammate.
"If a guy's open and I've got the ball in my hand, I'd rather pump fake and get somebody else a shot," he said. "I like to give my teammates confidence, especially the young guys, so that when we get in tough games they'll be ready to go."
Calipari says the Tigers aren't making a concerted effort to run the offense through Anderson in the halfcourt.
"We went through Robert Dozier more than him today," the coach said.
Dozier, who led the Tigers with 15 points, is a scorer. Anderson is more likely to be a conduit.
"Antonio's one of those players who, if he doesn't score, he's gonna give you five assists," Mack said. "He's kind of like our leader out there. He's like the X-factor."
After helping the Tigers hand UAB its most lopsided defeat of the season, Anderson said his emergence as the team's unofficial point guard came about almost by accident.
"I didn't envision (taking on this role). It just happened. ... As long as they're making baskets, I'll keep doing that all day," he said. "A lot of it has to do with (taking pressure off Allen and/or Kemp).
"They know they've got a second person out there to help run the offense."
Calipari likes the flexibility Anderson brings to an offense that puts a premium on ball movement.
"If you have Andre, Willie and Antonio, you have three point guards on the court," Calipari said.
-- Jim Masilak: 529-2311
He's become team's third point guard
By Jim Masilak
January 17, 2007
Antonio Anderson isn't a point guard in the classic sense.
The University of Memphis' 6-6 sophomore is taller than most at his position, rarely brings the ball up the court or calls plays and doesn't make many flashy passes.
But as Willie Kemp and Andre Allen struggle to run the Tigers' drive-and-kick offense to coach John Calipari's specifications, it has increasingly been left to Anderson to pick up the slack.
And the assists.
"He's the third point guard. That's exactly what he is," sophomore guard Chris Douglas-Roberts said of Anderson, who dished out a career-high nine assists for the No. 17-ranked Tigers in Tuesday night's 79-54 thrashing of UAB at FedExForum. "He gets everybody involved."
In his last six games, Anderson has totaled 34 assists -- two more than Allen and Kemp combined.
What's more, Anderson has turned the ball over just six times during that stretch, giving him a nearly 3-to-1 assists-to-turnover ratio for the season for the Tigers (14-3, 4-0 in Conference USA).
"When he gets the ball, he likes to drive," sophomore forward Kareem Cooper said. "When he tries to drive and the defense collapses on him, he dishes to the open man. That's what coach Cal wants us to do on every offensive possession."
At the moment, no one is doing it to greater effect than Anderson.
While Anderson entered Tuesday's game against the Blazers (10-8, 2-2) averaging a somewhat disappointing 8.8 points per game, scoring is becoming less of a concern as shooters like Jeremy Hunt (14 points) and Doneal Mack (seven points) emerge.
Rather than force a shot that isn't there, Anderson prefers to find an open teammate.
"If a guy's open and I've got the ball in my hand, I'd rather pump fake and get somebody else a shot," he said. "I like to give my teammates confidence, especially the young guys, so that when we get in tough games they'll be ready to go."
Calipari says the Tigers aren't making a concerted effort to run the offense through Anderson in the halfcourt.
"We went through Robert Dozier more than him today," the coach said.
Dozier, who led the Tigers with 15 points, is a scorer. Anderson is more likely to be a conduit.
"Antonio's one of those players who, if he doesn't score, he's gonna give you five assists," Mack said. "He's kind of like our leader out there. He's like the X-factor."
After helping the Tigers hand UAB its most lopsided defeat of the season, Anderson said his emergence as the team's unofficial point guard came about almost by accident.
"I didn't envision (taking on this role). It just happened. ... As long as they're making baskets, I'll keep doing that all day," he said. "A lot of it has to do with (taking pressure off Allen and/or Kemp).
"They know they've got a second person out there to help run the offense."
Calipari likes the flexibility Anderson brings to an offense that puts a premium on ball movement.
"If you have Andre, Willie and Antonio, you have three point guards on the court," Calipari said.
-- Jim Masilak: 529-2311
Tigers Replay
Tigers replay
January 17, 2007
AS THE GAME TURNED
UAB came out with more energy than Memphis and led 13-7 after the first 5:45. With the Tigers badly in need of a basket, senior guard Jeremy Hunt willed his way between defenders on the next possession with the intention of drawing a foul. He successfully did that, but he also got a friendly roll on his off-balance runner. The 3-point play sparked Memphis, which forged a 17-17 tie on a Doneal Mack 3-pointer, then scored the next 12 points to take control of the game.
AS THE ROTATION TURNED
Chris Douglas-Roberts wasn't the only one with an early exit from Tuesday's game. Freshman point guard Willie Kemp missed two shots on Memphis' first possession, then left his feet and committed a turnover two minutes into the game, prompting coach John Calipari to insert backup Andre Allen quickly.
RIM GEMS
Joey Dorsey has already starred on ESPN's top plays of the day once this season, for a windmill dunk against Lamar. By that standard, he should be making a second appearance this morning. Because his jam in the final seconds of the first half Tuesday was even more spectacular. After Mack missed a 3-pointer, UAB had trouble corralling the rebound. Dorsey picked it up off the floor with about six seconds left, took a dribble, and reached back as far as he could before powering the ball through the hoop, giving Memphis a 42-26 lead.
HIDE YOUR EYES
Though it probably wouldn't have made much difference, UAB left a lot of points at the free-throw line. The Blazers made just 6 of 17, and if you take out Lawrence Kinnard's 3-for-4 effort, the rest of the team went just 3 of 13. Freshman Jeremy Mayfield went 0-for-4.
SCORER'S TABLE
Memphis' scoring depth -- and UAB's lack of it -- was a key factor in the game. The Blazers had zero bench points at halftime and finished with just four, three of them coming on one shot by Taurus Dortch. Memphis, by contrast, got 38 points from its reserves, including eight from sophomore center Kareem Cooper and seven each from Allen and Mack.
ODDS AND ENDS
University of Memphis athletic director R.C. Johnson said Tuesday that Memphis would have competition from six cities to host the 2008 Conference USA Tournament. Johnson said groups from Houston, Tulsa, El Paso, Birmingham, Orlando and Dallas had all submitted bids by Tuesday's deadline and that the league's athletic directors would meet at the end of this month to discuss future conference tournament sites. This March, Memphis will host the tournament for a third straight year.
Former Tiger Rodney Carney, a rookie with the Philadelphia 76ers, got a rare opportunity to watch this year's team Tuesday. The 76ers arrived in Memphis early Tuesday evening, and Carney arrived at FedExForum before tip-off. He got a 30-second standing ovation during a media timeout in the first half when he was shown on the scoreboard screen.
Tiger fans can get an early preview of top recruit Derrick Rose at 7 p.m. Thursday, when his Chicago Simeon team will play Oak Hill Academy on ESPN. Rose, who signed in November, is the top-rated high school point guard in the country and arguably the most highly-regarded recruit Calipari has ever signed.
LOOKING AHEAD
Tigers at East Carolina, Saturday, 5 p.m. CST
-- Dan Wolken
January 17, 2007
AS THE GAME TURNED
UAB came out with more energy than Memphis and led 13-7 after the first 5:45. With the Tigers badly in need of a basket, senior guard Jeremy Hunt willed his way between defenders on the next possession with the intention of drawing a foul. He successfully did that, but he also got a friendly roll on his off-balance runner. The 3-point play sparked Memphis, which forged a 17-17 tie on a Doneal Mack 3-pointer, then scored the next 12 points to take control of the game.
AS THE ROTATION TURNED
Chris Douglas-Roberts wasn't the only one with an early exit from Tuesday's game. Freshman point guard Willie Kemp missed two shots on Memphis' first possession, then left his feet and committed a turnover two minutes into the game, prompting coach John Calipari to insert backup Andre Allen quickly.
RIM GEMS
Joey Dorsey has already starred on ESPN's top plays of the day once this season, for a windmill dunk against Lamar. By that standard, he should be making a second appearance this morning. Because his jam in the final seconds of the first half Tuesday was even more spectacular. After Mack missed a 3-pointer, UAB had trouble corralling the rebound. Dorsey picked it up off the floor with about six seconds left, took a dribble, and reached back as far as he could before powering the ball through the hoop, giving Memphis a 42-26 lead.
HIDE YOUR EYES
Though it probably wouldn't have made much difference, UAB left a lot of points at the free-throw line. The Blazers made just 6 of 17, and if you take out Lawrence Kinnard's 3-for-4 effort, the rest of the team went just 3 of 13. Freshman Jeremy Mayfield went 0-for-4.
SCORER'S TABLE
Memphis' scoring depth -- and UAB's lack of it -- was a key factor in the game. The Blazers had zero bench points at halftime and finished with just four, three of them coming on one shot by Taurus Dortch. Memphis, by contrast, got 38 points from its reserves, including eight from sophomore center Kareem Cooper and seven each from Allen and Mack.
ODDS AND ENDS
University of Memphis athletic director R.C. Johnson said Tuesday that Memphis would have competition from six cities to host the 2008 Conference USA Tournament. Johnson said groups from Houston, Tulsa, El Paso, Birmingham, Orlando and Dallas had all submitted bids by Tuesday's deadline and that the league's athletic directors would meet at the end of this month to discuss future conference tournament sites. This March, Memphis will host the tournament for a third straight year.
Former Tiger Rodney Carney, a rookie with the Philadelphia 76ers, got a rare opportunity to watch this year's team Tuesday. The 76ers arrived in Memphis early Tuesday evening, and Carney arrived at FedExForum before tip-off. He got a 30-second standing ovation during a media timeout in the first half when he was shown on the scoreboard screen.
Tiger fans can get an early preview of top recruit Derrick Rose at 7 p.m. Thursday, when his Chicago Simeon team will play Oak Hill Academy on ESPN. Rose, who signed in November, is the top-rated high school point guard in the country and arguably the most highly-regarded recruit Calipari has ever signed.
LOOKING AHEAD
Tigers at East Carolina, Saturday, 5 p.m. CST
-- Dan Wolken
Precise Tigers Have Easy Time Against Blazers
Precise Tigers have easy time against Blazers
(17) Tigers 79, UAB 54
By Dan Wolken
January 17, 2007
Before Conference USA play began, University of Memphis coach John Calipari guaranteed his team would not rip through this league without a bruise or two; that undoubtedly, there would be nights when everything fell apart.
But every time the No. 17-ranked Tigers take the court against C-USA competition, that notion becomes harder and harder to fathom.
Because regardless of what their opponents have thrown at them one-quarter of the way through the conference schedule, Memphis appears only to be getting stronger, playing sharper and gaining confidence.
Just consider what Memphis did Tuesday to UAB, purportedly one of the league's better clubs. Memphis didn't just beat the Blazers, 79-54, the Tigers ripped them mercilessly in front of 14,736 witnesses at FedExForum.
And they did it without their leading scorer, sophomore guard Chris Douglas-Roberts, who played just 1 minute, 32 seconds before a flare-up of the right ankle injury he suffered last Thursday at Houston.
Though Douglas-Roberts' status in the near-term is uncertain, this much is clear: These Tigers, now 14-3 overall and 4-0 in C-USA, are far more advanced than the Tigers of a month ago.
"We're getting better," Calipari said. "And the reason we're getting better is individual players are improving as we improve as a team. That's like, a lethal double. That's a punch with a full force."
And Tuesday, it hit the Blazers square in the jaw.
After a slow start that left Memphis trailing 13-7 nearly six minutes in, the Tigers dominated, holding UAB scoreless for the next six minutes and taking control with a 15-0 run.
Then, it was only a matter of how much the Tigers would win by. Their lead was 16 at halftime and 27 with 10 minutes to go. UAB shot 43.8 percent but gave up 16 offensive rebounds, went 6-of-17 from the free-throw line and never could contain the penetration of Robert Dozier (15 points) and Antonio Anderson (eight points, nine assists).
"We did not execute a play at all," UAB coach Mike Davis said. "Maybe one or two throughout the game, but I don't understand how we work on stuff at full speed and just come out with a deer-in-the-headlights kind of look.
"Once Memphis tied it up 17-17, it was their basketball at that point on."
Of course, it didn't help UAB's cause that Memphis ran its offense with precision and intensity, committing just three turnovers in the first half, shooting 52.9 percent from the field and scoring in every way possible to seize a 42-26 lead.
Anderson drove to the basket relentlessly, scoring difficult layups that he made look easy. Freshman Willie Kemp stood on the wing and swished open jumpers, finishing with 12 points on 4-of-7 from 3-point range. And junior Joey Dorsey had three dunks and 12 rebounds, keying Memphis' 42-22 edge on the boards.
Even freshman Doneal Mack played aggressively, scoring seven points with three assists and playing 20 minutes in the stead of Douglas-Roberts.
"I didn't even notice Chris was out (at first)," Anderson said. "I came to the bench, and I was like, 'Where's Chris?' It was tough at first, but we had to fight through it. We all knew we could do it without him, and he believes in us."
Though it didn't matter Tuesday, Memphis would obviously prefer if Douglas-Roberts returns soon. But Douglas-Roberts said he would have an MRI on his right ankle today and wouldn't play until the pain subsides.
"It just kept getting worse, ever since the Houston game," Douglas-Roberts said. "I kept playing on it, kept practicing on it. I didn't give it any relief. I barely warmed up.
"I'm going to just wait until it gets 100 percent before I come back."
-- Dan Wolken: 529-2365
(17) Tigers 79, UAB 54
By Dan Wolken
January 17, 2007
Before Conference USA play began, University of Memphis coach John Calipari guaranteed his team would not rip through this league without a bruise or two; that undoubtedly, there would be nights when everything fell apart.
But every time the No. 17-ranked Tigers take the court against C-USA competition, that notion becomes harder and harder to fathom.
Because regardless of what their opponents have thrown at them one-quarter of the way through the conference schedule, Memphis appears only to be getting stronger, playing sharper and gaining confidence.
Just consider what Memphis did Tuesday to UAB, purportedly one of the league's better clubs. Memphis didn't just beat the Blazers, 79-54, the Tigers ripped them mercilessly in front of 14,736 witnesses at FedExForum.
And they did it without their leading scorer, sophomore guard Chris Douglas-Roberts, who played just 1 minute, 32 seconds before a flare-up of the right ankle injury he suffered last Thursday at Houston.
Though Douglas-Roberts' status in the near-term is uncertain, this much is clear: These Tigers, now 14-3 overall and 4-0 in C-USA, are far more advanced than the Tigers of a month ago.
"We're getting better," Calipari said. "And the reason we're getting better is individual players are improving as we improve as a team. That's like, a lethal double. That's a punch with a full force."
And Tuesday, it hit the Blazers square in the jaw.
After a slow start that left Memphis trailing 13-7 nearly six minutes in, the Tigers dominated, holding UAB scoreless for the next six minutes and taking control with a 15-0 run.
Then, it was only a matter of how much the Tigers would win by. Their lead was 16 at halftime and 27 with 10 minutes to go. UAB shot 43.8 percent but gave up 16 offensive rebounds, went 6-of-17 from the free-throw line and never could contain the penetration of Robert Dozier (15 points) and Antonio Anderson (eight points, nine assists).
"We did not execute a play at all," UAB coach Mike Davis said. "Maybe one or two throughout the game, but I don't understand how we work on stuff at full speed and just come out with a deer-in-the-headlights kind of look.
"Once Memphis tied it up 17-17, it was their basketball at that point on."
Of course, it didn't help UAB's cause that Memphis ran its offense with precision and intensity, committing just three turnovers in the first half, shooting 52.9 percent from the field and scoring in every way possible to seize a 42-26 lead.
Anderson drove to the basket relentlessly, scoring difficult layups that he made look easy. Freshman Willie Kemp stood on the wing and swished open jumpers, finishing with 12 points on 4-of-7 from 3-point range. And junior Joey Dorsey had three dunks and 12 rebounds, keying Memphis' 42-22 edge on the boards.
Even freshman Doneal Mack played aggressively, scoring seven points with three assists and playing 20 minutes in the stead of Douglas-Roberts.
"I didn't even notice Chris was out (at first)," Anderson said. "I came to the bench, and I was like, 'Where's Chris?' It was tough at first, but we had to fight through it. We all knew we could do it without him, and he believes in us."
Though it didn't matter Tuesday, Memphis would obviously prefer if Douglas-Roberts returns soon. But Douglas-Roberts said he would have an MRI on his right ankle today and wouldn't play until the pain subsides.
"It just kept getting worse, ever since the Houston game," Douglas-Roberts said. "I kept playing on it, kept practicing on it. I didn't give it any relief. I barely warmed up.
"I'm going to just wait until it gets 100 percent before I come back."
-- Dan Wolken: 529-2365
Post Game Quotes
Memphis Head Coach John Calipari
"It was ugly the first five minutes of the game. After that, it wasn't ugly. I thought we played really well. (In the beginning), I was really disappointed. It wasn't just CDR (Chris Douglas-Roberts) being hurt. We just played like `I'm a cool dude.' We can't play that way and win. We just said, `Then you're not playing. We'll just play somebody else.'"
"We had some guys come in and play well. What about Doneal Mack today? Forget about his shots. Did you see him jump and get that rebound in traffic? He has not done that all year. I told Chris Douglas-Roberts, `You better worry about your position right now if that kid plays like that.' Jeremy Hunt did what he does. Andre Allen did what he does. Willie Kemp came back in and made some shots. I think Kareem (Cooper) did some half decent stuff. He still doesn't play at the level of the game yet. That's why they're scrimmaging and going after each other, so that we can get them to do that."
"I'm happy for Robert Dozier. I'm like, `Robert, that's what you should be. Now let's try to get better.' He's playing well. Antonio Anderson's the same thing. Antonio at Southern Miss making those two threes, especially the second one. That was big. Now, I think he did some good things today, making shots for his team. The reason we're shooting at a high percentage is because we're making the extra passes. The ball is getting all over the place, and they're so wide open it's almost like they think I can't miss this. There's nobody near me. That's because we're throwing the extra passes. This team (UAB) played a slower game, and we still scored 79."
UAB Head Coach Mike Davis
"We started out playing good basketball for the first five minutes and then played passive offensively and defensively. We had a game plan to be in the gaps and stop penetration and take charges off them driving the ball to the basket. We knew we had to get back defensively, and in transition, we had guys jogging down the court. We did not take a charge the whole game."
"We did not execute a play at all. Maybe (we ran) one or two (plays) throughout the game, but I don't understand how we work on stuff at full speed and just came out with a `deer-in-the-headlights' kind of look. Once Memphis tied it up 17-17, it was their basketball game at that point on."
"Our guys were intimidated tonight. We did not block out and take charges and did not get into position to take charges. We knew, from a shooting standpoint, they had guys that were not great shooters, but we guarded real close and let them drive on us, and that was us not concentrating on the game plan. There was no reason for those guys to drive us."
"We have to make some free throws. We shot 35 percent from the free throw line, and that tells you the whole story. It's time for some guys to make some free throws. We got guys that acted like they have never been there before."
"It was ugly the first five minutes of the game. After that, it wasn't ugly. I thought we played really well. (In the beginning), I was really disappointed. It wasn't just CDR (Chris Douglas-Roberts) being hurt. We just played like `I'm a cool dude.' We can't play that way and win. We just said, `Then you're not playing. We'll just play somebody else.'"
"We had some guys come in and play well. What about Doneal Mack today? Forget about his shots. Did you see him jump and get that rebound in traffic? He has not done that all year. I told Chris Douglas-Roberts, `You better worry about your position right now if that kid plays like that.' Jeremy Hunt did what he does. Andre Allen did what he does. Willie Kemp came back in and made some shots. I think Kareem (Cooper) did some half decent stuff. He still doesn't play at the level of the game yet. That's why they're scrimmaging and going after each other, so that we can get them to do that."
"I'm happy for Robert Dozier. I'm like, `Robert, that's what you should be. Now let's try to get better.' He's playing well. Antonio Anderson's the same thing. Antonio at Southern Miss making those two threes, especially the second one. That was big. Now, I think he did some good things today, making shots for his team. The reason we're shooting at a high percentage is because we're making the extra passes. The ball is getting all over the place, and they're so wide open it's almost like they think I can't miss this. There's nobody near me. That's because we're throwing the extra passes. This team (UAB) played a slower game, and we still scored 79."
UAB Head Coach Mike Davis
"We started out playing good basketball for the first five minutes and then played passive offensively and defensively. We had a game plan to be in the gaps and stop penetration and take charges off them driving the ball to the basket. We knew we had to get back defensively, and in transition, we had guys jogging down the court. We did not take a charge the whole game."
"We did not execute a play at all. Maybe (we ran) one or two (plays) throughout the game, but I don't understand how we work on stuff at full speed and just came out with a `deer-in-the-headlights' kind of look. Once Memphis tied it up 17-17, it was their basketball game at that point on."
"Our guys were intimidated tonight. We did not block out and take charges and did not get into position to take charges. We knew, from a shooting standpoint, they had guys that were not great shooters, but we guarded real close and let them drive on us, and that was us not concentrating on the game plan. There was no reason for those guys to drive us."
"We have to make some free throws. We shot 35 percent from the free throw line, and that tells you the whole story. It's time for some guys to make some free throws. We got guys that acted like they have never been there before."
Official Box Score - Memphis 79, UAB 54
Official Basketball Box Score -- GAME TOTALS -- FINAL STATISTICS
UAB vs Memphis
01/16/07 8:00 pm at Memphis, Tenn. (FedExForum)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VISITORS: UAB 10-8 (2-2)
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
15 HOLMES, Frank....... f 2-5 0-0 0-2 0 4 4 2 4 0 0 1 0 20
21 KINNARD, Lawrence... f 5-10 0-3 3-4 2 3 5 1 13 1 3 2 2 37
01 GIBBS, Maurice...... g 1-2 1-2 0-0 1 2 3 3 3 0 1 0 0 19
04 DELANEY III, Paul... g 5-8 1-4 1-2 1 3 4 3 12 5 4 0 2 39
24 MUKUBU, Wen......... g 7-14 3-6 1-3 1 4 5 2 18 2 1 0 3 34
22 DAVIS JR, Mike...... 0-5 0-4 1-2 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 19
23 DORTCH, Taurus...... 1-2 1-2 0-0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 11
31 MAYFIELD, Jeremy.... 0-2 0-0 0-4 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 16
35 CRAWFORD, Howard.... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 5
TEAM................ 1
Totals.............. 21-48 6-21 6-17 5 17 22 16 54 8 9 3 7 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 12-27 44.4% 2nd Half: 9-21 42.9% Game: 43.8% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 2-11 18.2% 2nd Half: 4-10 40.0% Game: 28.6% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 0-2 0.0% 2nd Half: 6-15 40.0% Game: 35.3% 6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOME TEAM: Memphis 14-3 (4-0)
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
02 Dozier, Robert...... f 5-10 0-1 5-7 4 4 8 2 15 1 1 0 0 26
32 Dorsey, Joey........ f 3-5 0-0 0-0 3 9 12 1 6 0 1 2 2 26
01 Kemp, Willie........ g 4-9 4-7 0-0 1 4 5 1 12 0 1 0 0 27
12 Anderson, Antonio... g 4-6 0-1 0-0 2 0 2 3 8 9 1 0 1 29
14 DOUGLAS-ROBERTS, C.. g 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2
00 Wade, Clyde......... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2
03 Willis, Tre'Von..... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 3
04 Niles, Pierre....... 1-3 0-0 0-0 2 0 2 0 2 0 1 0 0 3
05 Hunt, Jeremy........ 5-9 3-7 1-1 0 0 0 4 14 2 1 0 1 29
15 Allen, Andre........ 3-7 1-2 0-2 1 2 3 4 7 0 0 0 0 19
20 Mack, Doneal........ 3-8 1-5 0-0 0 2 2 0 7 3 0 0 1 20
42 Cooper, Kareem...... 2-4 0-1 4-4 2 2 4 2 8 0 1 0 0 14
TEAM................ 1 2 3
Totals.............. 30-61 9-24 10-14 16 26 42 17 79 15 10 2 5 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 18-34 52.9% 2nd Half: 12-27 44.4% Game: 49.2% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 5-12 41.7% 2nd Half: 4-12 33.3% Game: 37.5% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 1-3 33.3% 2nd Half: 9-11 81.8% Game: 71.4% 2,1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Officials: Steve Welmer, John Higgins, Steve Olson
Technical fouls: UAB-TEAM. Memphis-None.
Attendance: 14736
Score by Periods 1st 2nd Total
UAB........................... 26 28 - 54
Memphis....................... 42 37 - 79
Points in the paint-UAB 26,MEM 38. Points off turnovers-UAB 14,MEM 15.
2nd chance points-UAB 4,MEM 19. Fast break points-UAB 8,MEM 7.
Bench points-UAB 4,MEM 38. Score tied-4 times. Lead changed-1 time.
Last FG-UAB 2nd-02:13, MEM 2nd-00:36.
Largest lead-UAB by 6 1st-14:11, MEM by 27 2nd-11:27.
UAB vs Memphis
01/16/07 8:00 pm at Memphis, Tenn. (FedExForum)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VISITORS: UAB 10-8 (2-2)
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
15 HOLMES, Frank....... f 2-5 0-0 0-2 0 4 4 2 4 0 0 1 0 20
21 KINNARD, Lawrence... f 5-10 0-3 3-4 2 3 5 1 13 1 3 2 2 37
01 GIBBS, Maurice...... g 1-2 1-2 0-0 1 2 3 3 3 0 1 0 0 19
04 DELANEY III, Paul... g 5-8 1-4 1-2 1 3 4 3 12 5 4 0 2 39
24 MUKUBU, Wen......... g 7-14 3-6 1-3 1 4 5 2 18 2 1 0 3 34
22 DAVIS JR, Mike...... 0-5 0-4 1-2 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 19
23 DORTCH, Taurus...... 1-2 1-2 0-0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 11
31 MAYFIELD, Jeremy.... 0-2 0-0 0-4 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 16
35 CRAWFORD, Howard.... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 5
TEAM................ 1
Totals.............. 21-48 6-21 6-17 5 17 22 16 54 8 9 3 7 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 12-27 44.4% 2nd Half: 9-21 42.9% Game: 43.8% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 2-11 18.2% 2nd Half: 4-10 40.0% Game: 28.6% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 0-2 0.0% 2nd Half: 6-15 40.0% Game: 35.3% 6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOME TEAM: Memphis 14-3 (4-0)
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
02 Dozier, Robert...... f 5-10 0-1 5-7 4 4 8 2 15 1 1 0 0 26
32 Dorsey, Joey........ f 3-5 0-0 0-0 3 9 12 1 6 0 1 2 2 26
01 Kemp, Willie........ g 4-9 4-7 0-0 1 4 5 1 12 0 1 0 0 27
12 Anderson, Antonio... g 4-6 0-1 0-0 2 0 2 3 8 9 1 0 1 29
14 DOUGLAS-ROBERTS, C.. g 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2
00 Wade, Clyde......... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2
03 Willis, Tre'Von..... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 3
04 Niles, Pierre....... 1-3 0-0 0-0 2 0 2 0 2 0 1 0 0 3
05 Hunt, Jeremy........ 5-9 3-7 1-1 0 0 0 4 14 2 1 0 1 29
15 Allen, Andre........ 3-7 1-2 0-2 1 2 3 4 7 0 0 0 0 19
20 Mack, Doneal........ 3-8 1-5 0-0 0 2 2 0 7 3 0 0 1 20
42 Cooper, Kareem...... 2-4 0-1 4-4 2 2 4 2 8 0 1 0 0 14
TEAM................ 1 2 3
Totals.............. 30-61 9-24 10-14 16 26 42 17 79 15 10 2 5 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 18-34 52.9% 2nd Half: 12-27 44.4% Game: 49.2% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 5-12 41.7% 2nd Half: 4-12 33.3% Game: 37.5% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 1-3 33.3% 2nd Half: 9-11 81.8% Game: 71.4% 2,1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Officials: Steve Welmer, John Higgins, Steve Olson
Technical fouls: UAB-TEAM. Memphis-None.
Attendance: 14736
Score by Periods 1st 2nd Total
UAB........................... 26 28 - 54
Memphis....................... 42 37 - 79
Points in the paint-UAB 26,MEM 38. Points off turnovers-UAB 14,MEM 15.
2nd chance points-UAB 4,MEM 19. Fast break points-UAB 8,MEM 7.
Bench points-UAB 4,MEM 38. Score tied-4 times. Lead changed-1 time.
Last FG-UAB 2nd-02:13, MEM 2nd-00:36.
Largest lead-UAB by 6 1st-14:11, MEM by 27 2nd-11:27.
#17 Tigers 79, UAB Blazers 54
No. 17 Tigers Roll To 79-54 Victory Over UAB
Dozier records 15 points and eight boards in Memphis' sixth-straight win.
Jan. 16, 2007
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - About the time UAB should have been building confidence against No. 17 Memphis, the Blazers lost their poise.
The Tigers erased an early first-half deficit with a 15-0 run and coasted to their sixth straight victory, 79-54 over UAB on Tuesday night.
"We just played intimidated," UAB coach Mike Davis said. "We got off to a good start. Most teams do. ... But (Memphis) did a great job of staying with what they do, and they kept doing it, and that was too much for us to overcome."
Robert Dozier had 15 points and eight rebounds to lead the Tigers (14-3, 4-0 Conference USA), while Jeremy Hunt added 14 points and Willie Kemp had 12 going 4-of-7 from 3-point range.
Joey Dorsey had 12 rebounds for Memphis, which finished with a 42-22 advantage on the boards, while Antonio Anderson had a career-high nine assists.
"I like getting my teammates the ball. That's what I like to do more than making shots," said Anderson, who has taken on some of the point guard duties and is averaging 5.7 assists over the last six games. "I'd rather have more assists than points any day."
Wen Mukubu led UAB (10-8, 2-2) with 18 points, including a four-point play midway through the second half. Lawrence Kinnard scored 13 points, while leading scorer Paul Delaney finished with 12, 5.6 under his season average.
Memphis played most of the game without leading scorer Chris Douglas-Roberts, who tried to play but went to the locker room early. He is still bothered by a sprained ankle suffered against Houston two games ago.
The Blazers have lost eight straight on the road against the Tigers, including a 57-46 decision in last season's C-USA tournament championship game.
The early stages saw the Blazers sprinting to the offensive end, a change in strategy from most teams that try and slow the pace against the Tigers. UAB switched from a zone defense to man-to-man through much of the first half, and Memphis adapted slowly.
"It was ugly the first 5 minutes," Memphis coach John Calipari said. "After that, it wasn't ugly. I thought we played really well.
"... I'm happy for Robert Dozier. I'm like: 'Robert, that's what you should be. Now, let's try to get better."'
The Blazers led 17-14 and were shooting well from the field. That's when Memphis went on its run as UAB went scoreless for 6 minutes.
"Once they tied it up 17-17, we just stopped executing our game plan," Davis said. "... We were trying to take some charges, but we didn't take one charge in the first half. We got out of the way and turned our bodies."
Kemp's 3-pointer capped the run that gave Memphis a 29-17 lead. The Tigers would extend it to 18 points before taking a 42-26 halftime lead. They would eventually lead by as many as 27.
Memphis shot 53 percent from the field in the first half, including 5-of-12 from 3-point range. UAB, which was shooting 62 percent before Memphis' run, ended up hitting 44 percent after making only four of its final 14 shots before halftime.
Memphis finished shooting 49 percent for the game, while UAB was at 44 percent. The Blazers were just 6-of-17 at the free throw line.
"We have to make some free throws," Davis said. "We shot 35 percent from the free throw line, and that tells you the whole story. It's time for some guys to make some free throws. We've got guys that act like they've never been there before."
Dozier records 15 points and eight boards in Memphis' sixth-straight win.
Jan. 16, 2007
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - About the time UAB should have been building confidence against No. 17 Memphis, the Blazers lost their poise.
The Tigers erased an early first-half deficit with a 15-0 run and coasted to their sixth straight victory, 79-54 over UAB on Tuesday night.
"We just played intimidated," UAB coach Mike Davis said. "We got off to a good start. Most teams do. ... But (Memphis) did a great job of staying with what they do, and they kept doing it, and that was too much for us to overcome."
Robert Dozier had 15 points and eight rebounds to lead the Tigers (14-3, 4-0 Conference USA), while Jeremy Hunt added 14 points and Willie Kemp had 12 going 4-of-7 from 3-point range.
Joey Dorsey had 12 rebounds for Memphis, which finished with a 42-22 advantage on the boards, while Antonio Anderson had a career-high nine assists.
"I like getting my teammates the ball. That's what I like to do more than making shots," said Anderson, who has taken on some of the point guard duties and is averaging 5.7 assists over the last six games. "I'd rather have more assists than points any day."
Wen Mukubu led UAB (10-8, 2-2) with 18 points, including a four-point play midway through the second half. Lawrence Kinnard scored 13 points, while leading scorer Paul Delaney finished with 12, 5.6 under his season average.
Memphis played most of the game without leading scorer Chris Douglas-Roberts, who tried to play but went to the locker room early. He is still bothered by a sprained ankle suffered against Houston two games ago.
The Blazers have lost eight straight on the road against the Tigers, including a 57-46 decision in last season's C-USA tournament championship game.
The early stages saw the Blazers sprinting to the offensive end, a change in strategy from most teams that try and slow the pace against the Tigers. UAB switched from a zone defense to man-to-man through much of the first half, and Memphis adapted slowly.
"It was ugly the first 5 minutes," Memphis coach John Calipari said. "After that, it wasn't ugly. I thought we played really well.
"... I'm happy for Robert Dozier. I'm like: 'Robert, that's what you should be. Now, let's try to get better."'
The Blazers led 17-14 and were shooting well from the field. That's when Memphis went on its run as UAB went scoreless for 6 minutes.
"Once they tied it up 17-17, we just stopped executing our game plan," Davis said. "... We were trying to take some charges, but we didn't take one charge in the first half. We got out of the way and turned our bodies."
Kemp's 3-pointer capped the run that gave Memphis a 29-17 lead. The Tigers would extend it to 18 points before taking a 42-26 halftime lead. They would eventually lead by as many as 27.
Memphis shot 53 percent from the field in the first half, including 5-of-12 from 3-point range. UAB, which was shooting 62 percent before Memphis' run, ended up hitting 44 percent after making only four of its final 14 shots before halftime.
Memphis finished shooting 49 percent for the game, while UAB was at 44 percent. The Blazers were just 6-of-17 at the free throw line.
"We have to make some free throws," Davis said. "We shot 35 percent from the free throw line, and that tells you the whole story. It's time for some guys to make some free throws. We've got guys that act like they've never been there before."
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Tigers' Defense Is Altering Games
Tigers' defense is altering games
By Dan Wolken
January 16, 2007
Just 1 minute, 51 seconds into last Thursday's game at Houston, Cougars guard Robert McKiver drove past University of Memphis sophomore Robert Dozier for what appeared to be a good scoring opportunity.
Forward Joey Dorsey slid from one side of the lane to the other, swatting McKiver's layup well before it got halfway to the rim. Just a few minutes later, Marcus Malone tried the same thing. This time, Dorsey didn't just block it, he literally redirected it all the way to the scorer's table, sending a clear message that is now resonating all around Conference USA.
When Dorsey is on the floor for the No. 17-ranked Tigers, penetrate the paint at your own peril.
Of all the reasons behind a series of stellar performances by Memphis heading into tonight's game against UAB at FedExForum, none has been more worthy of attention than the Tigers' shot blocking, which has made them even more formidable defensively over the past two weeks.
Though Dorsey was in many ways the star of Memphis' 79-69 win at Houston with three blocks and 10 rebounds, he was even better at Southern Miss, recording six blocks along with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
"Right now, Joey is performing his role on this team better than anyone else is performing their role," coach John Calipari said. "Is he our best player? I don't know, but I do know, he's got a role on this team: Rebound, block shots, dunk balls, have a presence physically, be imposing. He's doing his job better than anybody else."
And Dorsey isn't the only one shining defensively. Dozier, a 6-9 forward, had three blocks at Houston and altered several shots with his 7-3 wingspan.
The cumulative effect was obvious. With Dozier and Dorsey both playing well at the same time, Houston and Southern Miss were far less eager to challenge Memphis' defense and finished with just 18 and 14 points in the paint, respectively.
"With those two guys blocking shots -- it's not even if they block it, even if they come out and swing at them -- (the opponent) is coming to the hole intimidated," senior guard Jeremy Hunt said. "It's great to have two players like that out there trying to block everything without fouling."
Though Memphis is widely regarded as one of the best man-to-man defensive teams in the country, holding opponents to 38.1 percent field-goal shooting, the Tigers are starting to feel confident that they now can count on two shot blockers to erase defensive mistakes.
Dorsey, now ninth on Memphis' all-time list with 150 career blocks, has been in foul trouble only once over the past eight games, amplifying his impact because he's playing more minutes.
"It changes us a lot," sophomore guard Antonio Anderson said. "We put a lot of pressure on the guards, and there's times when you're going to get beat. When you get beat, you've got those two guys blocking the ball back there, and it helps us out a lot.
"There's times when Joey and Rob tell us, 'Man, let them guys go to the hole. We've got y'all.' We don't do it, but if they get by us, it's an automatic block."
UAB coach Mike Davis said it was crucial to not allow what his players saw on tape from Southern Miss and Houston to make them less aggressive or impact their offensive approach.
"The guys they have inside, Dorsey and Dozier and those guys, they're very good basketball players," Davis said. "Right now, Coach Cal has those guys playing with a high level of energy and you have to just play your game. If they block it, they block it but you can't worry about it. ... If we're timid in any area, we're going to be in trouble."
-- Dan Wolken: 529-2365
--------------------
No. 17 Tigers vs. UAB
When, where: Today, 8 p.m., at FedExForum
TV, radio: CSTV (Ch. 222 on Comcast digital cable), WREC-AM (600)
Tickets: Call 678-2331, go to gotigersgo.com
Podcast: Dan Wolken discusses the game at TheMemphisEdge.com
By Dan Wolken
January 16, 2007
Just 1 minute, 51 seconds into last Thursday's game at Houston, Cougars guard Robert McKiver drove past University of Memphis sophomore Robert Dozier for what appeared to be a good scoring opportunity.
Forward Joey Dorsey slid from one side of the lane to the other, swatting McKiver's layup well before it got halfway to the rim. Just a few minutes later, Marcus Malone tried the same thing. This time, Dorsey didn't just block it, he literally redirected it all the way to the scorer's table, sending a clear message that is now resonating all around Conference USA.
When Dorsey is on the floor for the No. 17-ranked Tigers, penetrate the paint at your own peril.
Of all the reasons behind a series of stellar performances by Memphis heading into tonight's game against UAB at FedExForum, none has been more worthy of attention than the Tigers' shot blocking, which has made them even more formidable defensively over the past two weeks.
Though Dorsey was in many ways the star of Memphis' 79-69 win at Houston with three blocks and 10 rebounds, he was even better at Southern Miss, recording six blocks along with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
"Right now, Joey is performing his role on this team better than anyone else is performing their role," coach John Calipari said. "Is he our best player? I don't know, but I do know, he's got a role on this team: Rebound, block shots, dunk balls, have a presence physically, be imposing. He's doing his job better than anybody else."
And Dorsey isn't the only one shining defensively. Dozier, a 6-9 forward, had three blocks at Houston and altered several shots with his 7-3 wingspan.
The cumulative effect was obvious. With Dozier and Dorsey both playing well at the same time, Houston and Southern Miss were far less eager to challenge Memphis' defense and finished with just 18 and 14 points in the paint, respectively.
"With those two guys blocking shots -- it's not even if they block it, even if they come out and swing at them -- (the opponent) is coming to the hole intimidated," senior guard Jeremy Hunt said. "It's great to have two players like that out there trying to block everything without fouling."
Though Memphis is widely regarded as one of the best man-to-man defensive teams in the country, holding opponents to 38.1 percent field-goal shooting, the Tigers are starting to feel confident that they now can count on two shot blockers to erase defensive mistakes.
Dorsey, now ninth on Memphis' all-time list with 150 career blocks, has been in foul trouble only once over the past eight games, amplifying his impact because he's playing more minutes.
"It changes us a lot," sophomore guard Antonio Anderson said. "We put a lot of pressure on the guards, and there's times when you're going to get beat. When you get beat, you've got those two guys blocking the ball back there, and it helps us out a lot.
"There's times when Joey and Rob tell us, 'Man, let them guys go to the hole. We've got y'all.' We don't do it, but if they get by us, it's an automatic block."
UAB coach Mike Davis said it was crucial to not allow what his players saw on tape from Southern Miss and Houston to make them less aggressive or impact their offensive approach.
"The guys they have inside, Dorsey and Dozier and those guys, they're very good basketball players," Davis said. "Right now, Coach Cal has those guys playing with a high level of energy and you have to just play your game. If they block it, they block it but you can't worry about it. ... If we're timid in any area, we're going to be in trouble."
-- Dan Wolken: 529-2365
--------------------
No. 17 Tigers vs. UAB
When, where: Today, 8 p.m., at FedExForum
TV, radio: CSTV (Ch. 222 on Comcast digital cable), WREC-AM (600)
Tickets: Call 678-2331, go to gotigersgo.com
Podcast: Dan Wolken discusses the game at TheMemphisEdge.com
Derrick Rose Selected for April 7th Nike Hoops Summit Game
Future Tiger Rose selected for Summit
By Jim Masilak
January 16, 2007
Chicago Simeon point guard Derrick Rose has been hyped as perhaps the most talented recruit in University of Memphis basketball history.
On April 7, Tiger fans will have their first opportunity to see him in the flesh.
Regarded by many as one of the top five players nationally in the class of 2007, Rose is one of 10 high school players selected to play for the United States Junior National Select Team in the Nike Hoop Summit at FedExForum.
"It will almost be a home game for me to get to play in front of the Memphis crowd," said the 6-4, 194-pound Rose, who is averaging 16 points and 11 assists this season. "I want to show Memphis fans that I'm an unselfish point guard, and I want to show them why they should come watch next year."
Rose is one of several top prospects scheduled to play for Team USA against a still-to-be-announced under-19 World team.
Huntington (W.Va.) guard O.J. Mayo, the No. 1 senior in the country according to Scout.com, and Notre Dame (Mass.) Prep forward Michael Beasley, the top-rated player as judged by Rivals.com, both are set to take part.
So are a number of other consensus top-40 players, including Phoenix St. Mary's guard Jerryd Bayless, Lake Oswego (Ore.) forward Kevin Love and Baltimore Towson Catholic forward Donte' Greene.
"Last year we thought we had a very talented team, and we did," said Don Showalter, the chair of USA Basketball's Men's Junior Development Committee, which selected the squad. "But this year I think it is probably another level of talent."
Six of the 10 players chosen, including Rose, played for the under-18 U.S. team that won a gold medal at last year's FIBA Americas championship.
The team will be coached by Yakima (Wash.) Eisenhower head coach Pat Fitterer.
While Rose's FedExForum debut is still three months away, those eager to catch a glimpse of the Tigers' point guard of the future are in luck.
Simeon is scheduled to play Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill Academy, the No. 1 team in USA Today's Super 25 rankings, on Thursday at 8 p.m. on ESPN.
Simeon was rated No. 14 by USA Today before losing Sunday to Manhattan (N.Y.) Rice at Madison Square Garden. Rose scored 22 points in the 53-51 defeat.
"It'll be a real honor to play in the Nike Hoop Summit," Rose said. "I know how many guys didn't get invited to play."
The Hoop Summit, set for a 3 p.m. start on Fox Sports Net South, will be preceded at 12:30 p.m. by the Memphis All-Star Classic for top local seniors.
The U.S. team holds a 7-2 series lead over the World team in the Hoop Summit, which moved to Memphis in 2005. A total of 63 alumni have been drafted by the NBA since the game's 1995 inception. (The event went on hiatus from 2001-03.)
-- Jim Masilak: 529-2311
--------------------
2007 Nike Hoop Summit
What: The USA Men's Junior National Select team taking on a team of elite players 19-and-under from around the world
When, where: April 7, 3 p.m., at FedExForum
Tickets: Available at FedExForum and Ticketmaster locations, by calling 525-1515 or at ticketmaster.com
By Jim Masilak
January 16, 2007
Chicago Simeon point guard Derrick Rose has been hyped as perhaps the most talented recruit in University of Memphis basketball history.
On April 7, Tiger fans will have their first opportunity to see him in the flesh.
Regarded by many as one of the top five players nationally in the class of 2007, Rose is one of 10 high school players selected to play for the United States Junior National Select Team in the Nike Hoop Summit at FedExForum.
"It will almost be a home game for me to get to play in front of the Memphis crowd," said the 6-4, 194-pound Rose, who is averaging 16 points and 11 assists this season. "I want to show Memphis fans that I'm an unselfish point guard, and I want to show them why they should come watch next year."
Rose is one of several top prospects scheduled to play for Team USA against a still-to-be-announced under-19 World team.
Huntington (W.Va.) guard O.J. Mayo, the No. 1 senior in the country according to Scout.com, and Notre Dame (Mass.) Prep forward Michael Beasley, the top-rated player as judged by Rivals.com, both are set to take part.
So are a number of other consensus top-40 players, including Phoenix St. Mary's guard Jerryd Bayless, Lake Oswego (Ore.) forward Kevin Love and Baltimore Towson Catholic forward Donte' Greene.
"Last year we thought we had a very talented team, and we did," said Don Showalter, the chair of USA Basketball's Men's Junior Development Committee, which selected the squad. "But this year I think it is probably another level of talent."
Six of the 10 players chosen, including Rose, played for the under-18 U.S. team that won a gold medal at last year's FIBA Americas championship.
The team will be coached by Yakima (Wash.) Eisenhower head coach Pat Fitterer.
While Rose's FedExForum debut is still three months away, those eager to catch a glimpse of the Tigers' point guard of the future are in luck.
Simeon is scheduled to play Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill Academy, the No. 1 team in USA Today's Super 25 rankings, on Thursday at 8 p.m. on ESPN.
Simeon was rated No. 14 by USA Today before losing Sunday to Manhattan (N.Y.) Rice at Madison Square Garden. Rose scored 22 points in the 53-51 defeat.
"It'll be a real honor to play in the Nike Hoop Summit," Rose said. "I know how many guys didn't get invited to play."
The Hoop Summit, set for a 3 p.m. start on Fox Sports Net South, will be preceded at 12:30 p.m. by the Memphis All-Star Classic for top local seniors.
The U.S. team holds a 7-2 series lead over the World team in the Hoop Summit, which moved to Memphis in 2005. A total of 63 alumni have been drafted by the NBA since the game's 1995 inception. (The event went on hiatus from 2001-03.)
-- Jim Masilak: 529-2311
--------------------
2007 Nike Hoop Summit
What: The USA Men's Junior National Select team taking on a team of elite players 19-and-under from around the world
When, where: April 7, 3 p.m., at FedExForum
Tickets: Available at FedExForum and Ticketmaster locations, by calling 525-1515 or at ticketmaster.com
From the Memphis Edge - Sou Miss Recap
January 14, 2007, 04:29 PM
Memphis 75, Southern Miss 62
Just returned from Hattiesburg. Here are a few thoughts:
1. This was my first time in Hattiesburg, and it's not nearly as bad people say. Sure, it's a small college town, but I didn't mind spending the weekend there. I found a couple good hang-outs, and the weather was great, about 70 degrees and sunny.
2. As for Reed Green Coliseum, well, it needs some upgrades. I'll be interested to compare it to some of the upcoming road venues Memphis will visit. My basis of comparison is the Mountain West Conference, which I covered the last couple years before moving to Memphis. In terms of seating, press facilities, locker rooms, fan amenities, parking, concessions and aesthetics, TCU's Daniel-Meyer Coliseum is by far the worst facility in that league with Wyoming's Arena-Auditorium probably the second-worst. Both of those facilities, however, are far better than Reed Green. Apparently, there was some renovation being done -- at least, that's what they told me when I asked where the press room was. We'll see how that comes out next year.
As far as the game, I thought going in that it was a dangerous game for the Tigers, and it proved to be every bit the test I expected.
Of all the things you could talk about in the aftermath -- free-throw shooting, Joey Dorsey's dominance, Andre Allen playing 16 minutes in the second half -- the most striking thing to me had to do with style of play.
Obviously, Memphis wants a free-flowing, up-tempo game. When the Tigers can dictate tempo, teams with less talent will have a very hard time beating them. I think that was obvious at Houston, which of course wants to play at a fast pace as well. But Houston is so suspect defensively, it seemed that Memphis was able to more or less get great shots every possession.
Southern Miss was a very, very different game. As John Calipari admitted, the Tigers tried everything to speed up the tempo and get Southern Miss to play faster. But nothing worked, and most of the credit should go to Southern Miss for sticking to its style and dragging Memphis into a physical battle.
Still, the Tigers won anyway, on the road, playing a style that doesn't necessarily suit them best, against an opponent that had a great gamplan and executed it. And given the contrast from what they encountered 48 hours earlier, I think that's a credit to a young Memphis team that is starting to look very good for the first time all year.
As an aside, Saturday was my first look at Southern Miss, and I thought Larry Eustachy's club looked good. They are very, very disciplined and tough defensively, and they were athletic enough to disrupt Memphis' offense. Their early-season record isn't a fluke, and they could very well finish in the top third of the league.
Posted in by Dan Wolken
Memphis 75, Southern Miss 62
Just returned from Hattiesburg. Here are a few thoughts:
1. This was my first time in Hattiesburg, and it's not nearly as bad people say. Sure, it's a small college town, but I didn't mind spending the weekend there. I found a couple good hang-outs, and the weather was great, about 70 degrees and sunny.
2. As for Reed Green Coliseum, well, it needs some upgrades. I'll be interested to compare it to some of the upcoming road venues Memphis will visit. My basis of comparison is the Mountain West Conference, which I covered the last couple years before moving to Memphis. In terms of seating, press facilities, locker rooms, fan amenities, parking, concessions and aesthetics, TCU's Daniel-Meyer Coliseum is by far the worst facility in that league with Wyoming's Arena-Auditorium probably the second-worst. Both of those facilities, however, are far better than Reed Green. Apparently, there was some renovation being done -- at least, that's what they told me when I asked where the press room was. We'll see how that comes out next year.
As far as the game, I thought going in that it was a dangerous game for the Tigers, and it proved to be every bit the test I expected.
Of all the things you could talk about in the aftermath -- free-throw shooting, Joey Dorsey's dominance, Andre Allen playing 16 minutes in the second half -- the most striking thing to me had to do with style of play.
Obviously, Memphis wants a free-flowing, up-tempo game. When the Tigers can dictate tempo, teams with less talent will have a very hard time beating them. I think that was obvious at Houston, which of course wants to play at a fast pace as well. But Houston is so suspect defensively, it seemed that Memphis was able to more or less get great shots every possession.
Southern Miss was a very, very different game. As John Calipari admitted, the Tigers tried everything to speed up the tempo and get Southern Miss to play faster. But nothing worked, and most of the credit should go to Southern Miss for sticking to its style and dragging Memphis into a physical battle.
Still, the Tigers won anyway, on the road, playing a style that doesn't necessarily suit them best, against an opponent that had a great gamplan and executed it. And given the contrast from what they encountered 48 hours earlier, I think that's a credit to a young Memphis team that is starting to look very good for the first time all year.
As an aside, Saturday was my first look at Southern Miss, and I thought Larry Eustachy's club looked good. They are very, very disciplined and tough defensively, and they were athletic enough to disrupt Memphis' offense. Their early-season record isn't a fluke, and they could very well finish in the top third of the league.
Posted in by Dan Wolken
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