Memphis Head Coach John Calipari
"Doneal Mack wasn't there for us, and I thought it might hurt us, but we shot the ball well. They were open threes, though. I think there are going to be games where people are going to have to make a choice. Let's hope they're not making them. I didn't think there were many contested threes. I think they were planning on us to drive. They were playing us back in. They were playing us back in the paint."
"I love what Willie (Kemp) did. I was all over Willie because he was trying to make hard plays again. The second half was easy. If he was open, he shot it. If he wasn't, he passed it. How he played was as well as he's played for us."
"I thought Antonio Anderson was outstanding and so was Chris Douglas-Roberts. Early on Chris was a little bit shaky, but I thought he got better as the game went on. We're a good team."
Rice Head Coach Willis Wilson
"A couple of times we just missed out on a couple of (defensive) assignments. When we went to the zone, we felt like there were a couple of guys we needed to get to, and we just didn't get to them. They knocked some shots down and took the wind out of our sails. We tried to make a run, and the truth of the matter is their pressure got to us a couple of times. We just put ourselves in situations that are hard to defend by turning the ball over out on the wing and the perimeter. It's hard to defend two-on-one, three-on-two and three-on-one situations."
"I think you have to (control the tempo) against this team, and it's not an easy thing to do. It's much more difficult to do than to say. I just thought that we didn't have the strength to sustain it when we needed to. It was just some defensive assignments that we blew that you can't blow against a good team."
"On the baskets that (Kareem) Cooper got inside, one we didn't do a good job of discouraging him from going inside and two we let him go to his 'go-to' move. You can't let a guy that big take his time and go to his 'go-to' move."
Monday, February 26, 2007
Memphis 99, Rice 63
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Willie Kemp scored 20 points to help No. 7 Memphis beat Rice 99-63 on Thursday night and clinch its second-straight Conference USA title.
The victory extended Memphis' winning streak to 16 straight, longest in the nation. Memphis also has won 28 straight at home.
Memphis, which started the game 0-for-7 from 3-point range, ended up shooting 47 percent from outside the arc. Kemp hit four of his six 3-pointers.
Jeremy Hunt finished with 16 points for Memphis, while Antonio Anderson and Chris Douglas-Roberts added 14 each. Robert Dozier scored 10 points.
Anderson was also in charge of the defensive assignment on Rice guard Morris Almond, the conference's leading scorer, and third-best in the nation.
He is averaging 27.2 points, but was held to just 15. Almond was 5-for-14 from the field and grabbed 10 rebounds. Cory Pflieger scored 10 for the Owls.
The Tigers carried a 52-34 lead at the half after Hunt came off the bench to pull them out of an offensive funk with 12 first-half points, all of his field goals coming from 3-point range. Anderson added 11 points, while Douglas-Roberts scored 10.
Memphis struggled early when Rice went to a zone. The Tigers misfired from outside the defense, missing their first seven 3-pointers.
That allowed Rice to put together a 14-2 run, erasing an early 9-0 Memphis lead.
With Almond on the bench with Rice holding a 19-16 lead. Memphis went on a run hitting eight 3-pointers and building the lead to 21.
Memphis continued to maintain the lead in the second half as Kemp was the one who started connecting from 3-point range, assuring Memphis of repeating as the outright C-USA regular season champions.
The back-to-back titles marked the first time in school history that Memphis has won consecutive outright crowns.
The victory extended Memphis' winning streak to 16 straight, longest in the nation. Memphis also has won 28 straight at home.
Memphis, which started the game 0-for-7 from 3-point range, ended up shooting 47 percent from outside the arc. Kemp hit four of his six 3-pointers.
Jeremy Hunt finished with 16 points for Memphis, while Antonio Anderson and Chris Douglas-Roberts added 14 each. Robert Dozier scored 10 points.
Anderson was also in charge of the defensive assignment on Rice guard Morris Almond, the conference's leading scorer, and third-best in the nation.
He is averaging 27.2 points, but was held to just 15. Almond was 5-for-14 from the field and grabbed 10 rebounds. Cory Pflieger scored 10 for the Owls.
The Tigers carried a 52-34 lead at the half after Hunt came off the bench to pull them out of an offensive funk with 12 first-half points, all of his field goals coming from 3-point range. Anderson added 11 points, while Douglas-Roberts scored 10.
Memphis struggled early when Rice went to a zone. The Tigers misfired from outside the defense, missing their first seven 3-pointers.
That allowed Rice to put together a 14-2 run, erasing an early 9-0 Memphis lead.
With Almond on the bench with Rice holding a 19-16 lead. Memphis went on a run hitting eight 3-pointers and building the lead to 21.
Memphis continued to maintain the lead in the second half as Kemp was the one who started connecting from 3-point range, assuring Memphis of repeating as the outright C-USA regular season champions.
The back-to-back titles marked the first time in school history that Memphis has won consecutive outright crowns.
Flawless Tigers Hosts Rice Owls
Flawless Tigers host Owls in Conference USA clash
Memphis, TN (Sports Network) - The Memphis Tigers have yet to lose a Conference USA game this season, and they will attempt to remain unbeaten as they host the Rice Owls this evening.
Back-to-back losses have dropped Rice to 13-12 overall and 7-5 in league play. The most recent setback occurred on Saturday by a 74-63 final against UCF. With losses in six of eight true road games this season, the Owls enter this evening's clash as obvious underdogs. Memphis has won 27 straight at home, the third-longest active streak in the nation.
The Tigers also own the nation's longest overall winning streak at 15 games, as they haven't lost since December 20th. On Saturday, they moved to 23-3 overall with a 78-77 overtime victory over Gonzaga in BracketBuster action.
Memphis has won all three of its previous meetings with Rice, including an 84-79 triumph in the only meeting last season.
Rice possesses one of the most gifted scorers in all of college basketball, as Morris Almond is third in the nation with his 27.2 ppg. Despite constant attention from defenders, Almond is shooting a solid 48.5 percent from the floor, including 45.1 percent from three-point range, and he is an 86.8 percent free throw shooter as well. Unfortunately, there is not another double-digit scorer in the lineup, as Almond does not always get enough support from a modest supporting cast. For only the second time in 25 games this season, Almond did not lead the team in scoring in the loss to UCF. The All-American guard finished with only 13 points on 3-of-13 shooting from the field, as Lorenzo Williams paced the Owls with 16 points. A 24-12 deficit in points from the foul line and a 37-22 rebounding disadvantage hurt Rice.
Memphis is scoring 79.8 ppg this season while limiting opponents to 62.4 ppg on 38.2 percent shooting from the field. Chris Douglas-Roberts is scoring 15.0 ppg to pace the Tigers, and Jeremy Hunt is second on the roster with 13.8 ppg. The third and final double-digit scorer is Robert Dozier, as he is contributing 10.7 ppg. Joey Dorsey is averaging a modest 8.5 ppg, but he is shooting 63 percent from the floor to go along with 9.9 rpg and 66 blocks. In the win over Gonzaga last time out, Memphis blew an eight-point halftime lead but did enough in overtime to come out on top. Dorsey racked up 15 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks, proof of his ability to make an impact inside. Five players in all reached double figures in scoring for the balanced Tigers.
Memphis, TN (Sports Network) - The Memphis Tigers have yet to lose a Conference USA game this season, and they will attempt to remain unbeaten as they host the Rice Owls this evening.
Back-to-back losses have dropped Rice to 13-12 overall and 7-5 in league play. The most recent setback occurred on Saturday by a 74-63 final against UCF. With losses in six of eight true road games this season, the Owls enter this evening's clash as obvious underdogs. Memphis has won 27 straight at home, the third-longest active streak in the nation.
The Tigers also own the nation's longest overall winning streak at 15 games, as they haven't lost since December 20th. On Saturday, they moved to 23-3 overall with a 78-77 overtime victory over Gonzaga in BracketBuster action.
Memphis has won all three of its previous meetings with Rice, including an 84-79 triumph in the only meeting last season.
Rice possesses one of the most gifted scorers in all of college basketball, as Morris Almond is third in the nation with his 27.2 ppg. Despite constant attention from defenders, Almond is shooting a solid 48.5 percent from the floor, including 45.1 percent from three-point range, and he is an 86.8 percent free throw shooter as well. Unfortunately, there is not another double-digit scorer in the lineup, as Almond does not always get enough support from a modest supporting cast. For only the second time in 25 games this season, Almond did not lead the team in scoring in the loss to UCF. The All-American guard finished with only 13 points on 3-of-13 shooting from the field, as Lorenzo Williams paced the Owls with 16 points. A 24-12 deficit in points from the foul line and a 37-22 rebounding disadvantage hurt Rice.
Memphis is scoring 79.8 ppg this season while limiting opponents to 62.4 ppg on 38.2 percent shooting from the field. Chris Douglas-Roberts is scoring 15.0 ppg to pace the Tigers, and Jeremy Hunt is second on the roster with 13.8 ppg. The third and final double-digit scorer is Robert Dozier, as he is contributing 10.7 ppg. Joey Dorsey is averaging a modest 8.5 ppg, but he is shooting 63 percent from the floor to go along with 9.9 rpg and 66 blocks. In the win over Gonzaga last time out, Memphis blew an eight-point halftime lead but did enough in overtime to come out on top. Dorsey racked up 15 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks, proof of his ability to make an impact inside. Five players in all reached double figures in scoring for the balanced Tigers.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Rice vs. Memphis Preview
Rice-Memphis Preview
By MIKE VOTTA
STATS Senior Writer
Memphis is once again rolling through Conference USA.
After a quick break from their conference schedule, the seventh-ranked Tigers look to wrap up their second straight outright league title and extend the longest winning streak in the country when they host Rice on Thursday.
Memphis (23-3, 12-0 C-USA) has won 15 straight games, dating to a 79-71 loss at then-No. 9 Arizona on Dec. 20. The only other Division I team with a perfect conference record is Winthrop of the Big South.
The Tigers wrapped up at least a share of the C-USA title when Houston lost to Southern Mississippi on Monday. They already have clinched a first-round bye in the conference tournament.
A victory on Thursday would give Memphis, which went 13-1 in C-USA last season, consecutive outright conference titles for the first time in school history. It would also match the Tigers' school record for conference wins.
However, Memphis was the only C-USA team in the top 75 of the RPI entering this week, hurting the Tigers' chances for a high seed in the NCAA tournament.
``It's not that I'm rooting for other people, but what happens is if those teams don't improve, it's hard on us too because now we've got to try to win every game,'' coach John Calipari said. ``You can't win every game. You're not winning every game. You're going to have a bad game, something's going to happen, someone else is going to go crazy.''
Memphis no doubt improved its stock with Saturday's 78-77 overtime win at Gonzaga.
``This felt like an NCAA game,'' said Tigers forward Joey Dorsey, who had 15 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks. ``I told them to let their guys drive to the basket and I would block their shot. So, they depended on me to block their shots.''
Chris Douglas-Roberts, who leads the Tigers with 15.0 points per game, did not have a particularly good outing with 13 points as he shot 6-of-15 from the field and 1-for-4 at the free-throw line. However, the sophomore guard did hit the layup with 5.6 seconds left in overtime that gave Memphis the victory.
``We needed that win,'' Calipari said. ``We needed to find out who could make plays in these situations.''
The Tigers, who lead Conference USA with 79.8 points per game, forced the opposition into at least 18 turnovers for the fourth straight game.
``By far and away they were the most athletic team we have faced this year,'' Gonzaga coach Mark Few said.
Now, the Tigers return home, where they have won 27 straight - the third-longest streak in the nation. They have won each of their previous three meetings with Rice, including an 84-79 road victory on Feb. 4 last season.
The Owls (13-12, 7-5) have dropped their last two games, including Saturday's 74-63 home defeat to Central Florida. Morris Almond, who ranks among the nation's leading scorers with 27.2 points per game, was held to 13.
Almond has scored in double figures in all but one of 25 games this season and has posted more than 30 points eight times. He scored a season-high 44 points in a 74-69 loss to Vanderbilt on Jan. 2.
By MIKE VOTTA
STATS Senior Writer
Memphis is once again rolling through Conference USA.
After a quick break from their conference schedule, the seventh-ranked Tigers look to wrap up their second straight outright league title and extend the longest winning streak in the country when they host Rice on Thursday.
Memphis (23-3, 12-0 C-USA) has won 15 straight games, dating to a 79-71 loss at then-No. 9 Arizona on Dec. 20. The only other Division I team with a perfect conference record is Winthrop of the Big South.
The Tigers wrapped up at least a share of the C-USA title when Houston lost to Southern Mississippi on Monday. They already have clinched a first-round bye in the conference tournament.
A victory on Thursday would give Memphis, which went 13-1 in C-USA last season, consecutive outright conference titles for the first time in school history. It would also match the Tigers' school record for conference wins.
However, Memphis was the only C-USA team in the top 75 of the RPI entering this week, hurting the Tigers' chances for a high seed in the NCAA tournament.
``It's not that I'm rooting for other people, but what happens is if those teams don't improve, it's hard on us too because now we've got to try to win every game,'' coach John Calipari said. ``You can't win every game. You're not winning every game. You're going to have a bad game, something's going to happen, someone else is going to go crazy.''
Memphis no doubt improved its stock with Saturday's 78-77 overtime win at Gonzaga.
``This felt like an NCAA game,'' said Tigers forward Joey Dorsey, who had 15 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks. ``I told them to let their guys drive to the basket and I would block their shot. So, they depended on me to block their shots.''
Chris Douglas-Roberts, who leads the Tigers with 15.0 points per game, did not have a particularly good outing with 13 points as he shot 6-of-15 from the field and 1-for-4 at the free-throw line. However, the sophomore guard did hit the layup with 5.6 seconds left in overtime that gave Memphis the victory.
``We needed that win,'' Calipari said. ``We needed to find out who could make plays in these situations.''
The Tigers, who lead Conference USA with 79.8 points per game, forced the opposition into at least 18 turnovers for the fourth straight game.
``By far and away they were the most athletic team we have faced this year,'' Gonzaga coach Mark Few said.
Now, the Tigers return home, where they have won 27 straight - the third-longest streak in the nation. They have won each of their previous three meetings with Rice, including an 84-79 road victory on Feb. 4 last season.
The Owls (13-12, 7-5) have dropped their last two games, including Saturday's 74-63 home defeat to Central Florida. Morris Almond, who ranks among the nation's leading scorers with 27.2 points per game, was held to 13.
Almond has scored in double figures in all but one of 25 games this season and has posted more than 30 points eight times. He scored a season-high 44 points in a 74-69 loss to Vanderbilt on Jan. 2.
From Gary Parrish, CBSSportsline.com, "Best Game of the Weekend"
Comments from Gary Parrish, CBSSportsline.com
Best game of the weekend: It wasn't a great win over a great Gonzaga team. But it was a good win over a decent Gonzaga team, and that it came in a rowdy road environment and in dramatic fashion eliminated the theory Memphis doesn't know how to handle a pressure situation, the supposed cost of coasting through an inferior league.
When the Tigers needed a stop at the end of regulation, they got a turnover. When they needed big shots in overtime, they got two 3-pointers from Jeremy Hunt. And when they needed someone to make a winning play, they got a ridiculous runner from Chris Douglas-Roberts with 5.6 seconds remaining that served as the final points in Saturday's 78-77 OT victory.
"We needed that," said coach John Calipari. "We needed to find out who could make plays in these situations."
Now the Tigers know, although with the current state of Conference USA, it will probably be the NCAA Tournament before they need to know again.
Best game of the weekend: It wasn't a great win over a great Gonzaga team. But it was a good win over a decent Gonzaga team, and that it came in a rowdy road environment and in dramatic fashion eliminated the theory Memphis doesn't know how to handle a pressure situation, the supposed cost of coasting through an inferior league.
When the Tigers needed a stop at the end of regulation, they got a turnover. When they needed big shots in overtime, they got two 3-pointers from Jeremy Hunt. And when they needed someone to make a winning play, they got a ridiculous runner from Chris Douglas-Roberts with 5.6 seconds remaining that served as the final points in Saturday's 78-77 OT victory.
"We needed that," said coach John Calipari. "We needed to find out who could make plays in these situations."
Now the Tigers know, although with the current state of Conference USA, it will probably be the NCAA Tournament before they need to know again.
Doug Gottlieb, ESPN, on the Tigers Win at Gonzaga
Doug Gottlieb, ESPN
The most impressive win no one seems to be talking about is Memphis taking down Gonzaga in overtime at Spokane Arena Saturday night.
The Zags were marvelous in their effort and their late shot-making to force overtime after Memphis had essentially led the entire way. While their free throw shooting (18 of 32) kept Gonzaga close, Memphis showed visible improvement from Joey Dorsey (15 points, 12 rebounds), Robert Dozier (14 points) and Chris Douglas-Roberts (13 points and the eventual game winner). More important, this was exactly the type of game John Calipari needed to have for his team to be NCAA-ready due to the weak competition in C-USA this year.
Coach Cal sat frosh Willie Kemp and went with Andre Allen for the majority of the game. While Derrick Rose is on the way next year, Cal needs Kemp to perform much better down the stretch if this team wants to contend for a deep NCAA run -- a run for which they seem to have all the other pieces in place.
The most impressive win no one seems to be talking about is Memphis taking down Gonzaga in overtime at Spokane Arena Saturday night.
The Zags were marvelous in their effort and their late shot-making to force overtime after Memphis had essentially led the entire way. While their free throw shooting (18 of 32) kept Gonzaga close, Memphis showed visible improvement from Joey Dorsey (15 points, 12 rebounds), Robert Dozier (14 points) and Chris Douglas-Roberts (13 points and the eventual game winner). More important, this was exactly the type of game John Calipari needed to have for his team to be NCAA-ready due to the weak competition in C-USA this year.
Coach Cal sat frosh Willie Kemp and went with Andre Allen for the majority of the game. While Derrick Rose is on the way next year, Cal needs Kemp to perform much better down the stretch if this team wants to contend for a deep NCAA run -- a run for which they seem to have all the other pieces in place.
Interesting Comments From Bobby Knight on the One-and-Done Rule
Tech's Knight is No Fan of One-and-Done: Coach Says NBA's Ruling is 'Worst Thing' for College Game i
Feb 20, 05:29 AM
By Terrance Harris, Houston Chronicle
Feb. 20--While most college basketball coaches would jump at the chance for a one-year player like Texas freshman sensation Kevin Durant, Texas Tech coach Bob Knight said Monday he would not do so.
In fact, the coach said Monday that he thinks the NBA's mandate of at least a year of college for high school graduates is bad for the college game.
"I think it's the worst thing that's happened to college basketball since I've been coaching," Knight said Monday.
A year ago, the NBA made the decision that players have to attend college for at least one year after graduation from high school. That decision has exposed players such as Ohio State freshman center Greg Oden and Durant -- two players who would have been lottery picks last year and will likely be the first two players chosen in this year's draft if they decide to leave after one year -- to the college game for what seems to be just one year.
Knight's primary concern seems to be that the NBA's mandate allows student-athletes to get around being true students in college.
"Because now you can have a kid come to school for a year, play basketball and he doesn't even have to go to class," Knight said. "He certainly doesn't have to go to class the second semester. I'm not exactly positive about the first semester, but he would not have to attend a single class the second semester to play through the whole second semester of basketball.
"That I think has a tremendous effect on the integrity of college sports. I think what should happen is a kid can come out of high school and go to the NBA and if they chose to put him in the developmental league, fine. But if he goes to college there has to be an agreement that he is not eligible for the draft until after two years of college. That way the kid has to obtain eligibility and then he has to retain eligibility and at least for those two years he is a college student. Now the kid is simply like a hired player."
Knight said there would never be a scenario where he would knowingly recruit a player who intended to play college basketball for one year. Texas coach Rick Barnes also said he would not, citing the issues it would create for program's academic rating.
Barnes has said all season there has been no discussion about Durant being only a one-year player for the Longhorns.
Most observers believe the 6-9 Durant, who leads the Big 12 in both scoring and rebounding, will be gone once this season is over.
"No, I wouldn't do that," Knight said of recruiting a one-year player. "But I don't fault those that have because it's within the rules. But the rules are just ridiculous the way the thing is set up. But there can't be any fault to the people that have those kids because it's within the rules. It's just a tremendous disservice the way it's structured to the integrity of college sports."
terrance.harris@chron.com
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Copyright (c) 2007, Houston Chronicle
Feb 20, 05:29 AM
By Terrance Harris, Houston Chronicle
Feb. 20--While most college basketball coaches would jump at the chance for a one-year player like Texas freshman sensation Kevin Durant, Texas Tech coach Bob Knight said Monday he would not do so.
In fact, the coach said Monday that he thinks the NBA's mandate of at least a year of college for high school graduates is bad for the college game.
"I think it's the worst thing that's happened to college basketball since I've been coaching," Knight said Monday.
A year ago, the NBA made the decision that players have to attend college for at least one year after graduation from high school. That decision has exposed players such as Ohio State freshman center Greg Oden and Durant -- two players who would have been lottery picks last year and will likely be the first two players chosen in this year's draft if they decide to leave after one year -- to the college game for what seems to be just one year.
Knight's primary concern seems to be that the NBA's mandate allows student-athletes to get around being true students in college.
"Because now you can have a kid come to school for a year, play basketball and he doesn't even have to go to class," Knight said. "He certainly doesn't have to go to class the second semester. I'm not exactly positive about the first semester, but he would not have to attend a single class the second semester to play through the whole second semester of basketball.
"That I think has a tremendous effect on the integrity of college sports. I think what should happen is a kid can come out of high school and go to the NBA and if they chose to put him in the developmental league, fine. But if he goes to college there has to be an agreement that he is not eligible for the draft until after two years of college. That way the kid has to obtain eligibility and then he has to retain eligibility and at least for those two years he is a college student. Now the kid is simply like a hired player."
Knight said there would never be a scenario where he would knowingly recruit a player who intended to play college basketball for one year. Texas coach Rick Barnes also said he would not, citing the issues it would create for program's academic rating.
Barnes has said all season there has been no discussion about Durant being only a one-year player for the Longhorns.
Most observers believe the 6-9 Durant, who leads the Big 12 in both scoring and rebounding, will be gone once this season is over.
"No, I wouldn't do that," Knight said of recruiting a one-year player. "But I don't fault those that have because it's within the rules. But the rules are just ridiculous the way the thing is set up. But there can't be any fault to the people that have those kids because it's within the rules. It's just a tremendous disservice the way it's structured to the integrity of college sports."
terrance.harris@chron.com
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Copyright (c) 2007, Houston Chronicle
John Calipari Named Finalist For National Coach Of The Year Award
University of Memphis head coach John Calipari has been named one of 15 finalists for the 2007 Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year honor, the collegeinsider.com web site announced Tuesday.
The Jim Phelan Award is given annually to the nation’s top coach, as voted on by a 20-member panel. The winner will be presented with the award at the NCAA Final Four in Atlanta.
Prior to 2003, the award was known simply as the CollegeInsider.com National Coach of the Year. It was renamed to honor longtime Mount St. Mary’s head coach Jim Phelan, who retired following the 2002-03 season.
Calipari has guided the 2006-07 Tigers to a 23-3 overall record and a 12-0 mark in Conference USA. Memphis is ranked No. 7 in both the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today Top 25 polls. Under Calipari’s direction, the Tigers have the nation’s longest win streak at 15 straight and the country’s third-longest homecourt win streak at 27 straight.
With a win over Rice on Thursday, Memphis would clinch its second-straight outright Conference USA regular season title. The Tigers, who are one of only two teams in the nation to have an undefeated mark in conference play (Winthrop is 12-0 in the Big South), already have a share of the C-USA regular season crown.
Calipari is in his seventh season at Memphis and his 15th overall as a collegiate head coach. The Moon, Pa., native has a 171-62 mark in his time at Memphis, and his overall record in 364-133. Calipari is one of eight coaches in NCAA Division I basketball history to reach the 350-win milestone in his 15th season as a college head coach. He joined Roy Williams, Nolan Richardson, Denny Crum, Jim Boeheim, Tubby Smith, Rick Pitino and John Thompson in that elite group.
The other finalists for the 2007 Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year award are: Rhode Island’s Jim Baron, Washington State’s Tony Bennett, Florida’s Billy Donovan, Nevada’s Mark Fox, Texas A&M’s Billy Gillispie, Virginia Tech’s Seth Greenberg, UCLA’s Ben Howland, Butler’s Todd Lickliter, Southern Illinois’ Chris Lowery, Winthrop’s Gregg Marshall, Ohio State’s Thad Matta, Wisconsin’s Bo Ryan, Vanderbilt’s Kevin Stallings and Jacksonville’s Cliff Warren.
The Jim Phelan Award is given annually to the nation’s top coach, as voted on by a 20-member panel. The winner will be presented with the award at the NCAA Final Four in Atlanta.
Prior to 2003, the award was known simply as the CollegeInsider.com National Coach of the Year. It was renamed to honor longtime Mount St. Mary’s head coach Jim Phelan, who retired following the 2002-03 season.
Calipari has guided the 2006-07 Tigers to a 23-3 overall record and a 12-0 mark in Conference USA. Memphis is ranked No. 7 in both the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today Top 25 polls. Under Calipari’s direction, the Tigers have the nation’s longest win streak at 15 straight and the country’s third-longest homecourt win streak at 27 straight.
With a win over Rice on Thursday, Memphis would clinch its second-straight outright Conference USA regular season title. The Tigers, who are one of only two teams in the nation to have an undefeated mark in conference play (Winthrop is 12-0 in the Big South), already have a share of the C-USA regular season crown.
Calipari is in his seventh season at Memphis and his 15th overall as a collegiate head coach. The Moon, Pa., native has a 171-62 mark in his time at Memphis, and his overall record in 364-133. Calipari is one of eight coaches in NCAA Division I basketball history to reach the 350-win milestone in his 15th season as a college head coach. He joined Roy Williams, Nolan Richardson, Denny Crum, Jim Boeheim, Tubby Smith, Rick Pitino and John Thompson in that elite group.
The other finalists for the 2007 Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year award are: Rhode Island’s Jim Baron, Washington State’s Tony Bennett, Florida’s Billy Donovan, Nevada’s Mark Fox, Texas A&M’s Billy Gillispie, Virginia Tech’s Seth Greenberg, UCLA’s Ben Howland, Butler’s Todd Lickliter, Southern Illinois’ Chris Lowery, Winthrop’s Gregg Marshall, Ohio State’s Thad Matta, Wisconsin’s Bo Ryan, Vanderbilt’s Kevin Stallings and Jacksonville’s Cliff Warren.
Tiger Goals Don't Stop at C-USA
Tiger goals don't stop at C-USA
League title nearly won, so U of M keeps March in mind
By Dan Wolken
February 21, 2007
Without doing anything, the University of Memphis clinched at least a share of the Conference USA regular-season title Monday night when Houston lost to Southern Miss.
Rest assured, the No. 7-ranked Tigers did not spend Tuesday cutting down the nets at the Finch Center. And they probably won't expend any energy doing it at FedExForum on Thursday, when they can clinch the outright title with a victory against Rice.
"It's really nothing to celebrate," junior point guard Andre Allen said. "It's a good accomplishment, but that's not what we're here for. We want to win it all. We want to win in March. It's all about March for us."
Though it has been a formality for weeks and an afterthought in the wake of the Tigers' 78-77 victory at Gonzaga last Saturday, conference titles are typically celebrated in grand fashion. After all, Memphis' next victory will clinch only the sixth outright league title in modern school history.
But much like last year, when the Tigers won the league with a 13-1 record, the banner they're chasing supersedes the one they'll hang in the rafters for a C-USA championship.
"It's not why we play the season," coach John Calipari said. "At the end of the day, it's to try to win the national title. That's one of those small victories along the way, but that's not why we we're playing. We weren't playing for that reason last year. When we did it last year, there was no celebration.
"The good news is, it gives us a No. 1 seed (in the C-USA Tournament) if we can win one more game, which is a better seed than the two seed. That's about the extent of it."
Though a few teams around the country are running away with their respective league titles -- Florida in the SEC, Oral Roberts in the Mid-Continent, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in the Southland and Austin Peay in the Ohio Valley -- it's a little unusual to clinch with four games remaining.
But that's the position Memphis (23-3) has put itself in by going 12-0 to this point in C-USA while its league rivals beat up on one another. Houston, which plays at FedExForum on Sunday, emerged from last weekend as the only team with even a chance to catch Memphis.
But after Monday's loss, Houston fell to 8-4 in the league, joining Central Florida.
Everybody else already has at least five conference losses.
"I don't think we're going to do no celebrating," sophomore forward Robert Dozier said. "The tournament is what we're going to focus on. Yeah, we want to win the conference and get a good seed for the tournament, but the most important thing is to prepare for those last five, six games."
Though Memphis won't celebrate its next win, the Tigers might allow themselves some enjoyment if they can win their next four games and finish with a 16-0 league record.
No Memphis team has ever finished undefeated in a conference, and this season only Winthrop in the Big South is still unbeaten in its league.
The Tigers are also chasing a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, which they believe is a realistic carrot if they can extend their current 15-game winning streak to 22 by winning out in the regular season and sweeping the C-USA Tournament.
"There's pressure among the players, not for the seeding, but because we want to do something unique," Allen said. "We want to win on out. We want to be a team that went undefeated in the conference."
Etc.: Freshman guard Doneal Mack was excused from Tuesday's practice due to the death of his grandmother. Mack, who traveled home for the funeral, is expected to be back in Memphis in time for the Rice game. ... Calipari was named one of 15 finalists Tuesday for the Jim Phelan national coach of the year award.
-- Dan Wolken: 529-2365
League title nearly won, so U of M keeps March in mind
By Dan Wolken
February 21, 2007
Without doing anything, the University of Memphis clinched at least a share of the Conference USA regular-season title Monday night when Houston lost to Southern Miss.
Rest assured, the No. 7-ranked Tigers did not spend Tuesday cutting down the nets at the Finch Center. And they probably won't expend any energy doing it at FedExForum on Thursday, when they can clinch the outright title with a victory against Rice.
"It's really nothing to celebrate," junior point guard Andre Allen said. "It's a good accomplishment, but that's not what we're here for. We want to win it all. We want to win in March. It's all about March for us."
Though it has been a formality for weeks and an afterthought in the wake of the Tigers' 78-77 victory at Gonzaga last Saturday, conference titles are typically celebrated in grand fashion. After all, Memphis' next victory will clinch only the sixth outright league title in modern school history.
But much like last year, when the Tigers won the league with a 13-1 record, the banner they're chasing supersedes the one they'll hang in the rafters for a C-USA championship.
"It's not why we play the season," coach John Calipari said. "At the end of the day, it's to try to win the national title. That's one of those small victories along the way, but that's not why we we're playing. We weren't playing for that reason last year. When we did it last year, there was no celebration.
"The good news is, it gives us a No. 1 seed (in the C-USA Tournament) if we can win one more game, which is a better seed than the two seed. That's about the extent of it."
Though a few teams around the country are running away with their respective league titles -- Florida in the SEC, Oral Roberts in the Mid-Continent, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in the Southland and Austin Peay in the Ohio Valley -- it's a little unusual to clinch with four games remaining.
But that's the position Memphis (23-3) has put itself in by going 12-0 to this point in C-USA while its league rivals beat up on one another. Houston, which plays at FedExForum on Sunday, emerged from last weekend as the only team with even a chance to catch Memphis.
But after Monday's loss, Houston fell to 8-4 in the league, joining Central Florida.
Everybody else already has at least five conference losses.
"I don't think we're going to do no celebrating," sophomore forward Robert Dozier said. "The tournament is what we're going to focus on. Yeah, we want to win the conference and get a good seed for the tournament, but the most important thing is to prepare for those last five, six games."
Though Memphis won't celebrate its next win, the Tigers might allow themselves some enjoyment if they can win their next four games and finish with a 16-0 league record.
No Memphis team has ever finished undefeated in a conference, and this season only Winthrop in the Big South is still unbeaten in its league.
The Tigers are also chasing a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, which they believe is a realistic carrot if they can extend their current 15-game winning streak to 22 by winning out in the regular season and sweeping the C-USA Tournament.
"There's pressure among the players, not for the seeding, but because we want to do something unique," Allen said. "We want to win on out. We want to be a team that went undefeated in the conference."
Etc.: Freshman guard Doneal Mack was excused from Tuesday's practice due to the death of his grandmother. Mack, who traveled home for the funeral, is expected to be back in Memphis in time for the Rice game. ... Calipari was named one of 15 finalists Tuesday for the Jim Phelan national coach of the year award.
-- Dan Wolken: 529-2365
Tigers Inching Way Up The Polls
Tigers inching way up the polls
U of M up one spot; Rice next on slate
By Dan Wolken
February 20, 2007
The University of Memphis didn't quite make the top five Monday, as coach John Calipari predicted over the weekend. But the Tigers did inch closer, moving up from No. 8 to No. 7 in both the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today polls.
It's Memphis' highest ranking of the season, following Saturday's 78-77 overtime victory over Gonzaga at Spokane Arena. Memphis is 22-3 overall (ACTUALLY THEY ARE 23-3, BUT WHO IS COUNTING, ED.) and 12-0 in Conference USA heading into Thursday's nationally televised game against Rice at FedExForum.
With a win, Memphis will clinch at least a share of the C-USA regular-season title.
"Last year, (being highly ranked) was more of a surprise than anything. This year, we expected to be this good because we worked hard," sophomore guard Antonio Anderson said. "Now we know where we are and what we need to do to keep this thing going."
More important than the polls, Memphis solidified its claim for a high NCAA Tournament seed on Saturday. The Tigers are No. 9 in the RPI, according to Ken Pomeroy's calculations on kenpom.com.
Memphis has won 15 consecutive games, which is the nation's longest win streak. If the Tigers win their four remaining regular-season games and the C-USA Tournament to finish with a 30-3 record, they will remain in the top 10 of the RPI and the polls.
Though Calipari brought up the idea Memphis could get a second consecutive No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, the Tigers would need several teams in front of them to lose multiple times.
"I'm not sure, I don't know," sophomore guard Chris Douglas-Roberts said of the possibility of a No. 1 seed. "We lost to Georgia Tech, and they're not ranked, and Tennessee. I don't know, but we should be a high seed."
-- Dan Wolken: 529-2365
U of M up one spot; Rice next on slate
By Dan Wolken
February 20, 2007
The University of Memphis didn't quite make the top five Monday, as coach John Calipari predicted over the weekend. But the Tigers did inch closer, moving up from No. 8 to No. 7 in both the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today polls.
It's Memphis' highest ranking of the season, following Saturday's 78-77 overtime victory over Gonzaga at Spokane Arena. Memphis is 22-3 overall (ACTUALLY THEY ARE 23-3, BUT WHO IS COUNTING, ED.) and 12-0 in Conference USA heading into Thursday's nationally televised game against Rice at FedExForum.
With a win, Memphis will clinch at least a share of the C-USA regular-season title.
"Last year, (being highly ranked) was more of a surprise than anything. This year, we expected to be this good because we worked hard," sophomore guard Antonio Anderson said. "Now we know where we are and what we need to do to keep this thing going."
More important than the polls, Memphis solidified its claim for a high NCAA Tournament seed on Saturday. The Tigers are No. 9 in the RPI, according to Ken Pomeroy's calculations on kenpom.com.
Memphis has won 15 consecutive games, which is the nation's longest win streak. If the Tigers win their four remaining regular-season games and the C-USA Tournament to finish with a 30-3 record, they will remain in the top 10 of the RPI and the polls.
Though Calipari brought up the idea Memphis could get a second consecutive No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, the Tigers would need several teams in front of them to lose multiple times.
"I'm not sure, I don't know," sophomore guard Chris Douglas-Roberts said of the possibility of a No. 1 seed. "We lost to Georgia Tech, and they're not ranked, and Tennessee. I don't know, but we should be a high seed."
-- Dan Wolken: 529-2365
Memphis Rises to #7 in AP Top 25
Memphis rises to seventh in Top 25
February 19, 2007
The University of Memphis men's basketball team moved up one spot to No. 7 in the Associated Press men's basketball Top 25 released this afternoon.
The Tigers (23-3) got their toughest test of the season Saturday at Gonzaga, where they managed to pull out a 78-77 overtime win. The win was their 15th straight, which is the longest current streak in the nation.
The U of M moved ahead of Texas A&M (22-4), which fell from No. 6 to No. 8 after a loss to Texas Tech. Coach John Calipari's club also jumped Pittsburgh (23-4), which fell from seventh to 10th, but the Tigers were passed by Kansas (23-4), even though the Jayhawks' two wins last week were over Big 12 lightweights Colorado and Nebraska.
The Tigers return to action Thursday with a 6 p.m. Conference USA game against Rice at FedExForum. They'll wrap up their regular-season home schedule Sunday afternoon against Houston.
February 19, 2007
The University of Memphis men's basketball team moved up one spot to No. 7 in the Associated Press men's basketball Top 25 released this afternoon.
The Tigers (23-3) got their toughest test of the season Saturday at Gonzaga, where they managed to pull out a 78-77 overtime win. The win was their 15th straight, which is the longest current streak in the nation.
The U of M moved ahead of Texas A&M (22-4), which fell from No. 6 to No. 8 after a loss to Texas Tech. Coach John Calipari's club also jumped Pittsburgh (23-4), which fell from seventh to 10th, but the Tigers were passed by Kansas (23-4), even though the Jayhawks' two wins last week were over Big 12 lightweights Colorado and Nebraska.
The Tigers return to action Thursday with a 6 p.m. Conference USA game against Rice at FedExForum. They'll wrap up their regular-season home schedule Sunday afternoon against Houston.
Monday, February 19, 2007
The Memphis Schedule......What Went Wrong?
It is funny how everyone is jumping on the bandwagon..........Memphis hasn't played anyone and they lost to most of the good teams they faced. True? Well, yeah. It is hard to argue. But, let's analyze. What happened?
Yes, C-USA is poor, but believe it or not just not as poor as last year.
2007 C-USA is ranked #11 with a 81-64 non-conference record
Highest ranked team: Memphis (9)
Lowest ranked team: East Carolina (314)
Average: 150
Median: 152
2006 C-USA was ranked #13 with an 75-69 non-conference record
Highest ranked team: Memphis (4)
Lowest Ranked team: East Carolina (300)
Average: 169
Median: 210
So, where is the failure? The problem is pure perception, not necessarily reality.
In 2006, C-USA had four teams in the RPI Top 100
Memphis (4), UAB (32), Houston (53), UTEP (76)
In 2007..........only two, Memphis (9) and Houston (92)
But, C-USA has nine other teams in the 100's and only one lower than 199 - ECU @ 314
Last year, the disbursion was much greater. Beyond the four in the Top 100, only one was in the 100's - Central Florida @ 190. Six teams were in the 200's and lowly ECU bringing up the rear at #300.
Ok, so C-USA is actually better, but no one seems to realize it.
What about the non-conference schedule?
2007, Memphis' non-conference RPI is #19 with a SOS of #24
2006, Memphis' non-conference RPI was #2 with a SOS of #3
How did that happen?
In 2006, Memphis played and beat Wisconsin-Milwaukee (52), @Alabama (76), UCLA (9), @Cincinnati (40), @Providence (108), @Ole Miss (156), Louisiana Tech (68), Gonzaga (8), Purdue (174), Middle Tennessee (114), Winthrop (73) and Tennessee (6). They also played, but lost to Duke (1) and Texas (8).
In 2007, it all fell apart.
The Maui Classic was ok, beating Oklahoma (82) and Kentucky (8), but losing to Georgia Tech (47), but it went straight down hill from there.
Only two teams the Tigers beat are in the top 100 - Ole Miss (63) and Gonzaga (71). Losses came at Tennessee (15) and at Arizona (11).
Memphis tried to add a quality opponent in Manhattan, but the Jaspers suck this year with an RPI of 225, up from 87 in 2006.
The real problem is that C-USA went to a 16 game format in 2007 instead of playing 14 like they did in 2006. Memphis gave up two games against Top 100 type talent because they require seven "buy" games for economic reasons where they don't have to play a home and home series.
Memphis gave up Texas (2006-#8, 2007-#46), Purdue (2006-#174, 2007-#37) and Providence (2006-#108, 2007-#67) and only added Arizona (2006-#24, 2007-#11).
They also retained Tennessee (2006-#6, 2007-#15), Ole Miss (2006-#156, 2007-#63), Cincinnati (2006-#40, 2007-#163) and Gonzaga (2006-#8, 2007-#71).
While Tennessee and Arizona were strong RPI games and Ole Miss was vastly improved, Cincinnati and Gonzaga were much weaker.
In 2008, Memphis reportedly will play USC (60), Arizona (11), Tennessee (15), Ole Miss (63) and Gonzaga (71); but Memphis will require much help from C-USA to avoid this year's problem again.
Yes, C-USA is poor, but believe it or not just not as poor as last year.
2007 C-USA is ranked #11 with a 81-64 non-conference record
Highest ranked team: Memphis (9)
Lowest ranked team: East Carolina (314)
Average: 150
Median: 152
2006 C-USA was ranked #13 with an 75-69 non-conference record
Highest ranked team: Memphis (4)
Lowest Ranked team: East Carolina (300)
Average: 169
Median: 210
So, where is the failure? The problem is pure perception, not necessarily reality.
In 2006, C-USA had four teams in the RPI Top 100
Memphis (4), UAB (32), Houston (53), UTEP (76)
In 2007..........only two, Memphis (9) and Houston (92)
But, C-USA has nine other teams in the 100's and only one lower than 199 - ECU @ 314
Last year, the disbursion was much greater. Beyond the four in the Top 100, only one was in the 100's - Central Florida @ 190. Six teams were in the 200's and lowly ECU bringing up the rear at #300.
Ok, so C-USA is actually better, but no one seems to realize it.
What about the non-conference schedule?
2007, Memphis' non-conference RPI is #19 with a SOS of #24
2006, Memphis' non-conference RPI was #2 with a SOS of #3
How did that happen?
In 2006, Memphis played and beat Wisconsin-Milwaukee (52), @Alabama (76), UCLA (9), @Cincinnati (40), @Providence (108), @Ole Miss (156), Louisiana Tech (68), Gonzaga (8), Purdue (174), Middle Tennessee (114), Winthrop (73) and Tennessee (6). They also played, but lost to Duke (1) and Texas (8).
In 2007, it all fell apart.
The Maui Classic was ok, beating Oklahoma (82) and Kentucky (8), but losing to Georgia Tech (47), but it went straight down hill from there.
Only two teams the Tigers beat are in the top 100 - Ole Miss (63) and Gonzaga (71). Losses came at Tennessee (15) and at Arizona (11).
Memphis tried to add a quality opponent in Manhattan, but the Jaspers suck this year with an RPI of 225, up from 87 in 2006.
The real problem is that C-USA went to a 16 game format in 2007 instead of playing 14 like they did in 2006. Memphis gave up two games against Top 100 type talent because they require seven "buy" games for economic reasons where they don't have to play a home and home series.
Memphis gave up Texas (2006-#8, 2007-#46), Purdue (2006-#174, 2007-#37) and Providence (2006-#108, 2007-#67) and only added Arizona (2006-#24, 2007-#11).
They also retained Tennessee (2006-#6, 2007-#15), Ole Miss (2006-#156, 2007-#63), Cincinnati (2006-#40, 2007-#163) and Gonzaga (2006-#8, 2007-#71).
While Tennessee and Arizona were strong RPI games and Ole Miss was vastly improved, Cincinnati and Gonzaga were much weaker.
In 2008, Memphis reportedly will play USC (60), Arizona (11), Tennessee (15), Ole Miss (63) and Gonzaga (71); but Memphis will require much help from C-USA to avoid this year's problem again.
Tigers #8 in Sagarin, #9 RPI, #10 Pomeroy
Sagarin
1) North Carolina
2) Florida
3) UCLA
4) Ohio State
5) Wisconsin
6) Texas A&M
7) Kansas
8) Memphis
9) Pittsburgh
10) Georgetown
RPI
1) UCLA
2) North Carolina
3) Ohio State
4) Pittsburgh
5) Wisconsin
6) Southern Illinois
7) Florida
8) Kentucky
9) Memphis
10) Duke
Pomeroy
1) North Carolina
2) Kansas
3) Texas A&M
4) Florida
5) Ohio State
6) UCLA
7) Wisconsin
8) Georgetown
9) Duke
10) Memphis
1) North Carolina
2) Florida
3) UCLA
4) Ohio State
5) Wisconsin
6) Texas A&M
7) Kansas
8) Memphis
9) Pittsburgh
10) Georgetown
RPI
1) UCLA
2) North Carolina
3) Ohio State
4) Pittsburgh
5) Wisconsin
6) Southern Illinois
7) Florida
8) Kentucky
9) Memphis
10) Duke
Pomeroy
1) North Carolina
2) Kansas
3) Texas A&M
4) Florida
5) Ohio State
6) UCLA
7) Wisconsin
8) Georgetown
9) Duke
10) Memphis
SI.com Says Memphis Failed to Make a Statement, Still an Unknown
Paper Tigers?
So Memphis escaped Spokane, Wash., with an overtime win over Gonzaga on Saturday, the Tigers' 15th straight. "It was probably the hardest place I've played since I've been at Memphis, but guys came up big," Tigers guard Antonio Anderson told the Memphis Commerical Appeal. "It just shows how tough we are as a team." Does it? The Zags, a team that may not make the NCAAs if they can't win the WCC tourney, were without second-leading scorer Josh Heytvelt and lost for the 10th time this season. "We needed that," Tigers coach John Calipari said. What Memphis needed to do was make a statement. It led by as many as 13 in the second half but got lackadaisical on defense and let Gonzaga back in the game. The Tigers are a No. 3 or No. 5 seed in most mock brackets, but what do we really know about them? They have an RPI of nine but their biggest win was a victory over a suddenly reeling Kentucky team in the Maui Invitational and they lost to Arizona, Georgia Tech and Tennessee. Maybe Memphis was just going through the motions after winning its last 10 C-USA games by an average of 20.4 points and didn't expect the fight that Gonzaga put up, but the Tigers failed to make a statement. Memphis may be 23-3 but there's still so much left unanswered and with a schedule that doesn't have a challenge left, we won't have our answers until the Big Dance.
So Memphis escaped Spokane, Wash., with an overtime win over Gonzaga on Saturday, the Tigers' 15th straight. "It was probably the hardest place I've played since I've been at Memphis, but guys came up big," Tigers guard Antonio Anderson told the Memphis Commerical Appeal. "It just shows how tough we are as a team." Does it? The Zags, a team that may not make the NCAAs if they can't win the WCC tourney, were without second-leading scorer Josh Heytvelt and lost for the 10th time this season. "We needed that," Tigers coach John Calipari said. What Memphis needed to do was make a statement. It led by as many as 13 in the second half but got lackadaisical on defense and let Gonzaga back in the game. The Tigers are a No. 3 or No. 5 seed in most mock brackets, but what do we really know about them? They have an RPI of nine but their biggest win was a victory over a suddenly reeling Kentucky team in the Maui Invitational and they lost to Arizona, Georgia Tech and Tennessee. Maybe Memphis was just going through the motions after winning its last 10 C-USA games by an average of 20.4 points and didn't expect the fight that Gonzaga put up, but the Tigers failed to make a statement. Memphis may be 23-3 but there's still so much left unanswered and with a schedule that doesn't have a challenge left, we won't have our answers until the Big Dance.
My Commentary on the Gonzaga Game
I have to admit that right after the game I was relieved to have walked out of Spokane with a win, but didn't feel to good about the last 10 minutes of regulation. Yesterday, I went back and watched the tape again and my attitude changed. Plus it allowed me to look at the game as whole not just focusing in on those "10 minutes".
So what did I see?
The first half was sloppy for both teams, but Memphis' defense was impressive. If Memphis had just been a bit more careful with the ball they could have enjoyed a 12 or 13 point lead at the break. Joey Dorsey was great. Robert Dozier was strong (unfortunately, Robert stopped playing at half time). Hunt and CDR had a few too many turnovers. While Hunt got burned a few times on the defensive side, I thought he was playing hard.
Coming out of the break was fantastic. Antonio Anderson probably played his best 7 to 8 minutes of the season (I didn't see the Tulsa game when he put up some nice numbers). Anderson had three very nice jumpers and I know he missed two later on in the half, but they were reasonable shots to take considering he had had the hot hand.
My disappoint came in the last ten minutes when no one acted like they wanted to step up and try to score. I do not think the Tigers recorded a single assist in the last 10 minutes. The game turned into a one on one match up and Gonzaga had plenty of time to react and shut down the lane forcing difficult shots. Where on earth was Robert Dozier? He had once nice play in the 2nd half when he flashed into the lane and hit a nice 15 footer from the free throw line. Other than that and I don't remember a single stand out thing he did on the offensive side.
I'm perplexed why Cal held Jeremy Hunt out so long in the 2nd half. Let's face it. The Tigers really only have two guys who can turn on the offense when needed - Hunt and CDR. Chris did a pretty good job all game, but when the defense knows he is the only guy it is easy to collapse on him forcing hard shots.
The last ten minutes showed Memphis' greatest weakness. When the defense isn't forcing turnovers (which by that point Gonzaga had finally figured out how to protect the ball) and no one is hitting from the outside (Anderson missed two long jumpers and CDR missed one from the corner) there is almost no offense.
The offense in the latter stages and in overtime came from Hunt's very gutsy 3 point shots, from a set play where Dorsey got the ball inside and made a nice shot over the defender and from CDR slashing to the basket.
Don't get me wrong. I am thrilled. Once again I promote Jeremy Hunt as a the MVP of this team. CDR is very close, but without those two 3 point baskets the Tigers lose by 6 ot 7 points in overtime.
I was pretty happy with the bench. Andre Allen was ok in spots. I still think he isn't particularly a smart player. For instance, why foul Raivio when he is driving to the basket? The guy is automatic from the line. I mean 96% is automatic. There is a much greater probability that he misses a field goal opportunity. Allen should know this and just try and force a difficult shot, but not foul him.
I believe Cal had stressed this with the team because Gonzaga was the 6th best free throw shooting team in the nation and Memphis made a point not to foul very much. Memphis committed 19 fouls in 45 minutes versus Gonzaga's 26 fouls.
Allen also just shoots too much. He was 1 for 6 from the floor. Ok, the 3 pointer he hit in the 1st half was nice, but he was wide open. That is when he should shoot. Don't you think that opposing coaches want him to drive the lane and throw up a prayer? Why not? He can't shoot anyway. He is 34.6% from the field for the year. Only Clyde Wade is worse on the team and he has only taken 3 shots. The defense should try and foul Allen. Defensively that is a great strategy. (He is 48.4% from the free throw line for the season).
Ok, as long as I'm on free throws. What is the deal with this team? Memphis has three major players shooting less than 50% from the line. That is crazy. (Dorsey 44.8%, Kemp 43.3%, and Allen)
Ok, enough of that. I was really happy with the defense. Gonzaga did shoot the ball pretty good - 48%, but the defense was solid; 8 blocks and 11 steals by the Tigers.
So, can Memphis win the next four and finish undefeated in conference play? UTEP is the big one. I'm not too worried about SMU on the road, but you never know. I am glad that the next two are at home, because I want the Tigers focused when they go on the road and I think two at home will allow them to absorb the Gonzaga win and not get to cocky.
So what did I see?
The first half was sloppy for both teams, but Memphis' defense was impressive. If Memphis had just been a bit more careful with the ball they could have enjoyed a 12 or 13 point lead at the break. Joey Dorsey was great. Robert Dozier was strong (unfortunately, Robert stopped playing at half time). Hunt and CDR had a few too many turnovers. While Hunt got burned a few times on the defensive side, I thought he was playing hard.
Coming out of the break was fantastic. Antonio Anderson probably played his best 7 to 8 minutes of the season (I didn't see the Tulsa game when he put up some nice numbers). Anderson had three very nice jumpers and I know he missed two later on in the half, but they were reasonable shots to take considering he had had the hot hand.
My disappoint came in the last ten minutes when no one acted like they wanted to step up and try to score. I do not think the Tigers recorded a single assist in the last 10 minutes. The game turned into a one on one match up and Gonzaga had plenty of time to react and shut down the lane forcing difficult shots. Where on earth was Robert Dozier? He had once nice play in the 2nd half when he flashed into the lane and hit a nice 15 footer from the free throw line. Other than that and I don't remember a single stand out thing he did on the offensive side.
I'm perplexed why Cal held Jeremy Hunt out so long in the 2nd half. Let's face it. The Tigers really only have two guys who can turn on the offense when needed - Hunt and CDR. Chris did a pretty good job all game, but when the defense knows he is the only guy it is easy to collapse on him forcing hard shots.
The last ten minutes showed Memphis' greatest weakness. When the defense isn't forcing turnovers (which by that point Gonzaga had finally figured out how to protect the ball) and no one is hitting from the outside (Anderson missed two long jumpers and CDR missed one from the corner) there is almost no offense.
The offense in the latter stages and in overtime came from Hunt's very gutsy 3 point shots, from a set play where Dorsey got the ball inside and made a nice shot over the defender and from CDR slashing to the basket.
Don't get me wrong. I am thrilled. Once again I promote Jeremy Hunt as a the MVP of this team. CDR is very close, but without those two 3 point baskets the Tigers lose by 6 ot 7 points in overtime.
I was pretty happy with the bench. Andre Allen was ok in spots. I still think he isn't particularly a smart player. For instance, why foul Raivio when he is driving to the basket? The guy is automatic from the line. I mean 96% is automatic. There is a much greater probability that he misses a field goal opportunity. Allen should know this and just try and force a difficult shot, but not foul him.
I believe Cal had stressed this with the team because Gonzaga was the 6th best free throw shooting team in the nation and Memphis made a point not to foul very much. Memphis committed 19 fouls in 45 minutes versus Gonzaga's 26 fouls.
Allen also just shoots too much. He was 1 for 6 from the floor. Ok, the 3 pointer he hit in the 1st half was nice, but he was wide open. That is when he should shoot. Don't you think that opposing coaches want him to drive the lane and throw up a prayer? Why not? He can't shoot anyway. He is 34.6% from the field for the year. Only Clyde Wade is worse on the team and he has only taken 3 shots. The defense should try and foul Allen. Defensively that is a great strategy. (He is 48.4% from the free throw line for the season).
Ok, as long as I'm on free throws. What is the deal with this team? Memphis has three major players shooting less than 50% from the line. That is crazy. (Dorsey 44.8%, Kemp 43.3%, and Allen)
Ok, enough of that. I was really happy with the defense. Gonzaga did shoot the ball pretty good - 48%, but the defense was solid; 8 blocks and 11 steals by the Tigers.
So, can Memphis win the next four and finish undefeated in conference play? UTEP is the big one. I'm not too worried about SMU on the road, but you never know. I am glad that the next two are at home, because I want the Tigers focused when they go on the road and I think two at home will allow them to absorb the Gonzaga win and not get to cocky.
Ha!, Take That Seth Davis......................
From SI.com's Seth Davis
No. 8 Memphis (22-3) at Gonzaga (18-9)
As I pointed out in my column in SI last week, Memphis is romping through Conference USA, winning all its games by an average of 16.1 points. This was supposed to be a rubber-hits-the-road game, but the Zags aren't at full strength because of the suspension of second-leading scorer Josh Heytvelt. Memphis is a very talented team that could improve its reputation and bolster its seed by winning in Spokane. But after seeing its 50-game home win streak broken by Santa Clara on Monday night, Gonzaga is now fighting for its NCAA tournament life. You all know how much I love to go with desperate teams playing at home. I also think the five extra days of practice will help Gonzaga compensate for having to play without Heytvelt.
Gonzaga 84, Memphis 80
No. 8 Memphis (22-3) at Gonzaga (18-9)
As I pointed out in my column in SI last week, Memphis is romping through Conference USA, winning all its games by an average of 16.1 points. This was supposed to be a rubber-hits-the-road game, but the Zags aren't at full strength because of the suspension of second-leading scorer Josh Heytvelt. Memphis is a very talented team that could improve its reputation and bolster its seed by winning in Spokane. But after seeing its 50-game home win streak broken by Santa Clara on Monday night, Gonzaga is now fighting for its NCAA tournament life. You all know how much I love to go with desperate teams playing at home. I also think the five extra days of practice will help Gonzaga compensate for having to play without Heytvelt.
Gonzaga 84, Memphis 80
Dreaming: A Top 5 Rank? A No. 1 Seed?
Dreaming: A top 5 rank? A No. 1 seed?
It's a longshot, but Tigers are in range
By Dan Wolken
February 19, 2007
The University of Memphis owns the nation's longest winning streak at 15 games. It has an RPI of 9, according to Ken Pomeroy's calculations. And with losses by Pittsburgh, Texas A&M and North Carolina last week, the No. 8-ranked Tigers will likely be only a breath away from the top-five in today's polls.
So you know what that means, don't you? Let the lobbying begin.
"I don't know if we're top-five but I think we're going to be (in the) top five," coach John Calipari said Saturday after Memphis' 78-77 overtime victory at Gonzaga. "Now that starts to put you in what range? No. 1 seed."
Though that notion seemed outlandish in December when Memphis came back from Arizona with an 8-3 record, could the Tigers possibly be in position for a second consecutive No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament?
Make no mistake, it's still a longshot. Memphis would have to win its four remaining regular-season games and the Conference USA Tournament, then get plenty of help from teams ranked higher.
But with the win at Spokane Arena, the Tigers went a long way to solidifying their status as at least a No. 3 seed, where ESPN's "Bracketologist" Joe Lunardi has had them for several weeks.
Should the Tigers creep up to a No. 1 or a No. 2, it would be a controversial choice in some circles, given their lack of competition so far in C-USA and their early season losses to Georgia Tech (in the Maui Invitational), at Tennessee and at Arizona. Memphis' best wins are over Kentucky and Gonzaga.
"It makes everybody mad, but what are you going to say?" Calipari said. "You start getting in that range (the top-five), and these guys, they deserve it. We've taken on all comers, and this was our third tough (road game). You go to Arizona early and Tennessee when they didn't know what they were early and here. These are hard games."
No matter where Memphis is ultimately seeded, the Tigers got an NCAA Tournament-style test Saturday, one that was sorely needed after a series of blowout wins in C-USA.
After traveling cross country, the Tigers went in front of a hostile crowd of 11,272 and made clutch plays in overtime to beat Gonzaga, which played with season-on-the-line intensity to erase a 13-point second-half deficit. Sophomore guard Chris Douglas-Roberts made a running layup despite getting fouled with five seconds left to lift Memphis to the victory.
"We knew they were going to play hard," sophomore Robert Dozier said. "They had just lost their last game, and we knew it was going to be a high intensity game. They played with us to the very end. Just a couple guys came in and knocked down shots in OT, and that made the difference."
Senior Jeremy Hunt, who shook off a poor shooting performance in regulation to make two huge 3-pointers in overtime, said pulling out a victory in that fashion will be a valuable experience to draw on down the road.
"We needed a team to fight like that, for it to come down to something like this," Hunt said. "You're not going to always win by a whole lot. There's going to be games like this, and you just want to be the one on the defensive end up by one. And that happened today and we came away with the victory.
"It was a big road win for us. They had a packed crowd, and we knew they were going to make runs, and we didn't stop fighting."
-- Dan Wolken: 529-2365
It's a longshot, but Tigers are in range
By Dan Wolken
February 19, 2007
The University of Memphis owns the nation's longest winning streak at 15 games. It has an RPI of 9, according to Ken Pomeroy's calculations. And with losses by Pittsburgh, Texas A&M and North Carolina last week, the No. 8-ranked Tigers will likely be only a breath away from the top-five in today's polls.
So you know what that means, don't you? Let the lobbying begin.
"I don't know if we're top-five but I think we're going to be (in the) top five," coach John Calipari said Saturday after Memphis' 78-77 overtime victory at Gonzaga. "Now that starts to put you in what range? No. 1 seed."
Though that notion seemed outlandish in December when Memphis came back from Arizona with an 8-3 record, could the Tigers possibly be in position for a second consecutive No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament?
Make no mistake, it's still a longshot. Memphis would have to win its four remaining regular-season games and the Conference USA Tournament, then get plenty of help from teams ranked higher.
But with the win at Spokane Arena, the Tigers went a long way to solidifying their status as at least a No. 3 seed, where ESPN's "Bracketologist" Joe Lunardi has had them for several weeks.
Should the Tigers creep up to a No. 1 or a No. 2, it would be a controversial choice in some circles, given their lack of competition so far in C-USA and their early season losses to Georgia Tech (in the Maui Invitational), at Tennessee and at Arizona. Memphis' best wins are over Kentucky and Gonzaga.
"It makes everybody mad, but what are you going to say?" Calipari said. "You start getting in that range (the top-five), and these guys, they deserve it. We've taken on all comers, and this was our third tough (road game). You go to Arizona early and Tennessee when they didn't know what they were early and here. These are hard games."
No matter where Memphis is ultimately seeded, the Tigers got an NCAA Tournament-style test Saturday, one that was sorely needed after a series of blowout wins in C-USA.
After traveling cross country, the Tigers went in front of a hostile crowd of 11,272 and made clutch plays in overtime to beat Gonzaga, which played with season-on-the-line intensity to erase a 13-point second-half deficit. Sophomore guard Chris Douglas-Roberts made a running layup despite getting fouled with five seconds left to lift Memphis to the victory.
"We knew they were going to play hard," sophomore Robert Dozier said. "They had just lost their last game, and we knew it was going to be a high intensity game. They played with us to the very end. Just a couple guys came in and knocked down shots in OT, and that made the difference."
Senior Jeremy Hunt, who shook off a poor shooting performance in regulation to make two huge 3-pointers in overtime, said pulling out a victory in that fashion will be a valuable experience to draw on down the road.
"We needed a team to fight like that, for it to come down to something like this," Hunt said. "You're not going to always win by a whole lot. There's going to be games like this, and you just want to be the one on the defensive end up by one. And that happened today and we came away with the victory.
"It was a big road win for us. They had a packed crowd, and we knew they were going to make runs, and we didn't stop fighting."
-- Dan Wolken: 529-2365
Commercial Appeal - #8 Tigers 78, Gonzaga 77 in OT
Douglas-Roberts scores winning bucket in OT
No. 8 Tigers 78, Gonzaga 77 (OT)
By Dan Wolken
February 18, 2007
SPOKANE, Wash. -- They flew four hours and played 40 minutes, and suddenly, the test they were waiting for, the challenge they had been asking for, was staring at the University of Memphis Tigers.
Their large second-half lead was gone. Their offense had sputtered through an agonizing 11 minutes. Their No. 8 national ranking, and their high NCAA Tournament seeding, was teetering on the edge of ridicule.
But in a thrilling overtime that could very well define Memphis' season, the Tigers got two 3-pointers from senior guard Jeremy Hunt and a game-winning jumper by sophomore Chris Douglas-Roberts with five seconds left for a 78-77 victory over Gonzaga.
And more than the victory, which pushed Memphis to 23-3 and perhaps into next week's top five, the Tigers made a remarkable discovery. After playing 25 games without even being pushed to the wire, the Tigers had to dig deeper than ever to overcome a Gonzaga team that played with tremendous grit in front of 11,272 fans at sold-out Spokane Arena.
"We needed that," Memphis coach John Calipari said. "I don't want to say we let them back in the game or whether they just fought back, it was one of the two. But whatever, we needed that. And we needed to find out who would make plays in these situations."
For a long while, this one had the potential to be as routine as many of Memphis' victories this season. The Tigers had gotten the better in a ragged first half, taking an eight-point lead that they expanded to 13 after back-to-back 3-pointers and a baseline jumper by sophomore guard Antonio Anderson, all within three minutes early in the second half.
But with its hopes of landing an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament potentially on the line, Gonzaga (18-10) chipped away at the lead, even with sophomore forward Josh Heytvelt out because of a suspension and senior forward Sean Mallon injured for most of the second half. As Memphis missed free throws (9-of-16 in the second half) and made just two field goals in the final 11 minutes, Gonzaga gathered momentum.
A 3-pointer by David Pendergraft got Gonzaga to 69-67 with 1:57 to go, and a jumper by Jeremy Pargo tied the score with 1:02 left. After a bad Memphis possession ending with a missed runner by Anderson, Gonzaga had the ball with 24 seconds left and a chance to win.
But in the Tigers' finest defensive sequence of the season, they didn't even allow Gonzaga to get a shot off, as Pargo dribbled out the clock without getting inside the 3-point arc.
"If you're going to have the ball in your hands like that, you've got to get a shot up on the rim," Gonzaga coach Mark Few said. "Or kick it to somebody else so they can get a shot up. You can't do what we did there."
As overtime neared, two sub-plots were playing out on the Memphis bench with two players who struggled for much of the afternoon. One involved Hunt, who didn't play down the stretch of regulation after going 0-for-4 from the field and committing three turnovers. The other involved Douglas-Roberts, who despite his 13 points had trouble finishing for much the game.
Despite missing the mark in regulation, Hunt didn't hesitate in overtime, swishing a transition, off-balance 3-pointer with 2:59 left to put Memphis ahead by two. Then, after Gonzaga had taken the lead back at 75-73 on two free throws by Derek Raivio (21 points), Hunt answered with another lead-grabbing 3-pointer from the opposite wing with 1:13 left.
"I was making some mental errors, wasn't really playing my game," Hunt said. "I wasn't stepping up and making easy plays. They told me, just keep my head up. There's going to be a big play. In overtime, my teammates found me, and the second shot, I just wanted to make a big play for my team so we could win."
After Joey Dorsey (15 points, 12 rebounds), missed two free throws with 47 seconds left, Abdullahi Kuso made two with 17 seconds left that put Gonzaga back on top by a point.
Calipari called for a clear-out on the right side to let Douglas-Roberts operate. After his first attempt was swatted out of bounds with nine seconds left, Douglas-Roberts used his second chance to bank in a running 9-footer from the baseline. Then, the Tigers survived Pargo's 25-foot attempt at a game-winner.
"It's a big step," Anderson said. "Coming way out here, the environment was crazy. It was probably the hardest place I've played since I've been at Memphis, but guys came up big. It just shows how tough we are as a team."
-- Dan Wolken: 529-2365
No. 8 Tigers 78, Gonzaga 77 (OT)
By Dan Wolken
February 18, 2007
SPOKANE, Wash. -- They flew four hours and played 40 minutes, and suddenly, the test they were waiting for, the challenge they had been asking for, was staring at the University of Memphis Tigers.
Their large second-half lead was gone. Their offense had sputtered through an agonizing 11 minutes. Their No. 8 national ranking, and their high NCAA Tournament seeding, was teetering on the edge of ridicule.
But in a thrilling overtime that could very well define Memphis' season, the Tigers got two 3-pointers from senior guard Jeremy Hunt and a game-winning jumper by sophomore Chris Douglas-Roberts with five seconds left for a 78-77 victory over Gonzaga.
And more than the victory, which pushed Memphis to 23-3 and perhaps into next week's top five, the Tigers made a remarkable discovery. After playing 25 games without even being pushed to the wire, the Tigers had to dig deeper than ever to overcome a Gonzaga team that played with tremendous grit in front of 11,272 fans at sold-out Spokane Arena.
"We needed that," Memphis coach John Calipari said. "I don't want to say we let them back in the game or whether they just fought back, it was one of the two. But whatever, we needed that. And we needed to find out who would make plays in these situations."
For a long while, this one had the potential to be as routine as many of Memphis' victories this season. The Tigers had gotten the better in a ragged first half, taking an eight-point lead that they expanded to 13 after back-to-back 3-pointers and a baseline jumper by sophomore guard Antonio Anderson, all within three minutes early in the second half.
But with its hopes of landing an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament potentially on the line, Gonzaga (18-10) chipped away at the lead, even with sophomore forward Josh Heytvelt out because of a suspension and senior forward Sean Mallon injured for most of the second half. As Memphis missed free throws (9-of-16 in the second half) and made just two field goals in the final 11 minutes, Gonzaga gathered momentum.
A 3-pointer by David Pendergraft got Gonzaga to 69-67 with 1:57 to go, and a jumper by Jeremy Pargo tied the score with 1:02 left. After a bad Memphis possession ending with a missed runner by Anderson, Gonzaga had the ball with 24 seconds left and a chance to win.
But in the Tigers' finest defensive sequence of the season, they didn't even allow Gonzaga to get a shot off, as Pargo dribbled out the clock without getting inside the 3-point arc.
"If you're going to have the ball in your hands like that, you've got to get a shot up on the rim," Gonzaga coach Mark Few said. "Or kick it to somebody else so they can get a shot up. You can't do what we did there."
As overtime neared, two sub-plots were playing out on the Memphis bench with two players who struggled for much of the afternoon. One involved Hunt, who didn't play down the stretch of regulation after going 0-for-4 from the field and committing three turnovers. The other involved Douglas-Roberts, who despite his 13 points had trouble finishing for much the game.
Despite missing the mark in regulation, Hunt didn't hesitate in overtime, swishing a transition, off-balance 3-pointer with 2:59 left to put Memphis ahead by two. Then, after Gonzaga had taken the lead back at 75-73 on two free throws by Derek Raivio (21 points), Hunt answered with another lead-grabbing 3-pointer from the opposite wing with 1:13 left.
"I was making some mental errors, wasn't really playing my game," Hunt said. "I wasn't stepping up and making easy plays. They told me, just keep my head up. There's going to be a big play. In overtime, my teammates found me, and the second shot, I just wanted to make a big play for my team so we could win."
After Joey Dorsey (15 points, 12 rebounds), missed two free throws with 47 seconds left, Abdullahi Kuso made two with 17 seconds left that put Gonzaga back on top by a point.
Calipari called for a clear-out on the right side to let Douglas-Roberts operate. After his first attempt was swatted out of bounds with nine seconds left, Douglas-Roberts used his second chance to bank in a running 9-footer from the baseline. Then, the Tigers survived Pargo's 25-foot attempt at a game-winner.
"It's a big step," Anderson said. "Coming way out here, the environment was crazy. It was probably the hardest place I've played since I've been at Memphis, but guys came up big. It just shows how tough we are as a team."
-- Dan Wolken: 529-2365
AP Story on Tiger's Victory at Gonzaga
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) -Nonconference didn't mean unimportant to Memphis coach John Calipari. For the Tigers, winning at Gonzaga was huge.
Chris Douglas-Roberts provided the game-winning play, slashing across the key to hit a one-handed layup with 5.6 seconds remaining in overtime as No. 8 Memphis edged Gonzaga 78-77 on Saturday for its 15th straight victory.
''We needed that win. We needed to find out who could make plays in these situations,'' Calipari said.
Calipari's one regret was that the Tigers eased up a bit defensively in the second half, allowing Gonzaga to climb back into the game in the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena, about a half mile from the Kennel on the Zag's campus.
''Maybe I was wrong. Maybe I was holding onto the seat saying 'let's get out of here if we can,''' Calipari said. ''I thought our best opportunity was to play them without fouling; don't take as many chances, guard them in the half-court.''
The Tigers (23-3) led 76-75 on Jeremy Hunt 's 3, but Hunt fouled Abdullahi Kuso with 17.6 seconds left and Kuso sank both to put Gonzaga up 77-76.
Gonzaga's Jeremy Pargo hit a jumper with a minute remaining in regulation to tie it at 69-69 after the Bulldogs trailed most of the way. Pargo's desperation shot missed from 25 feet as the overtime clock expired.
Joey Dorsey led the Tigers with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Robert Dozier had 14 and Hunt and Antonio Anderson each had 12 for Memphis.
''This felt like an NCAA game,'' Dorsey said after collecting five blocks and assuring his teammates he would provide the defense.
''I told them to let their guys drive to the basket and I would block their shot,'' he said. ''So, they depended on me to block their shots.''
Gonzaga's Derek Raivio led all scorers with 21 points. Pargo had 17 and David Pendergraft had 11 for Gonzaga (18-10).
The Bulldogs lost their second straight game without second-leading scorer and top rebounder Josh Heytvelt , who was indefinitely suspended after his arrest on drug possession charges with redshirt freshman Theo Davis on Feb. 9.
Heytvelt, a 6-foot-11 sophomore center, had averaged 15.5 points and 7.7 rebounds per game.
Memphis forced 18 turnovers with its pressing defense, resulting in 15 points off turnovers, and Douglas-Roberts finished with 13 points.
Anderson scored eight of the Tigers' first 10 points after the half, as Memphis took a 49-40 lead. The Bulldogs relied on 3s to claw back down the stretch to trail 69-67 with 1:46 remaining.
Gonzaga stayed with the Tigers for most of the first half, trailing by 30-29 after Pargo scored with 3:02 remaining. Douglas-Roberts responded with a jumper to go up 32-29 as the Tigers went on a 9-2 scoring run.
Gonzaga coach Mark Few was awed by the fleet Tigers.
''By far and away they were the most athletic team we have faced this year,'' he said.
Gonzaga turned the ball over 15 times in the first half, but tightened in the second, losing only three.
''We shored that up. We did a good job of taking care of the ball in the second half,'' Few said. ''We did a few different things. We mostly just got a tougher mind-set.''
Conference USA-leading Memphis hit 43 percent from the field, while Gonzaga connected on 48 percent. But the Tigers hit 17-of-27 free throws, while the Bulldogs, with four players in foul trouble, made 7-of-10.
Gonzaga, which has lost 10 games for the first time since the 1997-98 season, has lost two in a row. It fell out of first place in the West Coast Conference with a home loss Monday to Santa Clara to fall to 8-3 in conference.
It was the first back-to-back loss by Gonzaga in Spokane since Santa Clara and Saint Mary's defeated the Bulldogs in January 1995.
Chris Douglas-Roberts provided the game-winning play, slashing across the key to hit a one-handed layup with 5.6 seconds remaining in overtime as No. 8 Memphis edged Gonzaga 78-77 on Saturday for its 15th straight victory.
''We needed that win. We needed to find out who could make plays in these situations,'' Calipari said.
Calipari's one regret was that the Tigers eased up a bit defensively in the second half, allowing Gonzaga to climb back into the game in the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena, about a half mile from the Kennel on the Zag's campus.
''Maybe I was wrong. Maybe I was holding onto the seat saying 'let's get out of here if we can,''' Calipari said. ''I thought our best opportunity was to play them without fouling; don't take as many chances, guard them in the half-court.''
The Tigers (23-3) led 76-75 on Jeremy Hunt 's 3, but Hunt fouled Abdullahi Kuso with 17.6 seconds left and Kuso sank both to put Gonzaga up 77-76.
Gonzaga's Jeremy Pargo hit a jumper with a minute remaining in regulation to tie it at 69-69 after the Bulldogs trailed most of the way. Pargo's desperation shot missed from 25 feet as the overtime clock expired.
Joey Dorsey led the Tigers with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Robert Dozier had 14 and Hunt and Antonio Anderson each had 12 for Memphis.
''This felt like an NCAA game,'' Dorsey said after collecting five blocks and assuring his teammates he would provide the defense.
''I told them to let their guys drive to the basket and I would block their shot,'' he said. ''So, they depended on me to block their shots.''
Gonzaga's Derek Raivio led all scorers with 21 points. Pargo had 17 and David Pendergraft had 11 for Gonzaga (18-10).
The Bulldogs lost their second straight game without second-leading scorer and top rebounder Josh Heytvelt , who was indefinitely suspended after his arrest on drug possession charges with redshirt freshman Theo Davis on Feb. 9.
Heytvelt, a 6-foot-11 sophomore center, had averaged 15.5 points and 7.7 rebounds per game.
Memphis forced 18 turnovers with its pressing defense, resulting in 15 points off turnovers, and Douglas-Roberts finished with 13 points.
Anderson scored eight of the Tigers' first 10 points after the half, as Memphis took a 49-40 lead. The Bulldogs relied on 3s to claw back down the stretch to trail 69-67 with 1:46 remaining.
Gonzaga stayed with the Tigers for most of the first half, trailing by 30-29 after Pargo scored with 3:02 remaining. Douglas-Roberts responded with a jumper to go up 32-29 as the Tigers went on a 9-2 scoring run.
Gonzaga coach Mark Few was awed by the fleet Tigers.
''By far and away they were the most athletic team we have faced this year,'' he said.
Gonzaga turned the ball over 15 times in the first half, but tightened in the second, losing only three.
''We shored that up. We did a good job of taking care of the ball in the second half,'' Few said. ''We did a few different things. We mostly just got a tougher mind-set.''
Conference USA-leading Memphis hit 43 percent from the field, while Gonzaga connected on 48 percent. But the Tigers hit 17-of-27 free throws, while the Bulldogs, with four players in foul trouble, made 7-of-10.
Gonzaga, which has lost 10 games for the first time since the 1997-98 season, has lost two in a row. It fell out of first place in the West Coast Conference with a home loss Monday to Santa Clara to fall to 8-3 in conference.
It was the first back-to-back loss by Gonzaga in Spokane since Santa Clara and Saint Mary's defeated the Bulldogs in January 1995.
Official Box Score - Memphis 78, Gonzaga 77
Official Basketball Box Score -- GAME TOTALS -- FINAL STATISTICS
MEMPHIS TIGERS vs GONZAGA BULLDOGS
02/17/07 3 p.m. at SPOKANE ARENA - SPOKANE, WA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VISITORS: MEMPHIS TIGERS 23-3
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 4-8 1-2 5-9 2 3 5 3 14 2 3 2 0 32
32 Dorsey, Joey........ f 6-9 0-1 3-6 5 7 12 2 15 0 1 5 2 40
01 Kemp, Willie........ g 0-3 0-2 0-0 1 0 1 1 0 3 1 0 0 18
12 Anderson, Antonio... g 5-11 2-5 0-0 0 2 2 1 12 2 1 0 2 36
14 DOUGLAS-ROBERTS, C.. g 6-15 0-3 1-4 0 2 2 3 13 2 3 0 2 37
03 Willis, Tre'Von..... 0-0 0-0 1-2 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 1
05 Hunt, Jeremy........ 2-6 2-5 6-6 1 1 2 4 12 0 3 1 2 19
15 Allen, Andre........ 1-6 1-3 2-4 1 3 4 4 5 3 1 0 2 30
20 Mack, Doneal........ 2-3 2-2 0-0 0 0 0 1 6 1 0 0 1 7
42 Cooper, Kareem...... 0-0 0-0 0-1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 5
TEAM................ 3 4 7 1
Totals.............. 26-61 8-23 18-32 14 23 37 19 78 14 15 8 11 225
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 14-28 50.0% 2nd Half: 9-25 36.0% OT: 3-8 37.5% Game: 42.6% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 3-10 30.0% 2nd Half: 3-9 33.3% OT: 2-4 50.0% Game: 34.8% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 8-11 72.7% 2nd Half: 9-16 56.3% OT: 1-5 20.0% Game: 56.3% 6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOME TEAM: GONZAGA BULLDOGS 18-10
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
31 KUSO, Abdullahi..... f 3-3 0-0 3-6 5 3 8 5 9 0 3 1 1 31
32 MALLON, Sean........ f 1-3 0-1 2-3 1 3 4 2 4 0 1 0 0 19
02 PARGO, Jeremy....... g 6-16 2-3 3-4 0 9 9 3 17 5 3 0 1 45
05 RAIVIO, Derek....... g 8-16 1-1 4-4 0 1 1 3 21 4 1 0 0 45
15 BOULDIN, Matt....... g 3-8 0-2 2-2 0 0 0 5 8 3 4 0 0 27
04 ALTIDOR-CESPEDES, P. 0-1 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 3
22 DOWNS, Micah........ 3-6 1-2 0-0 1 4 5 4 7 0 1 1 0 25
25 PENDERGRAFT, David.. 4-5 2-2 1-2 0 4 4 4 11 1 2 0 0 29
33 BURGESS, David...... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
TEAM................ 2 4 6 2
Totals.............. 28-58 6-12 15-21 9 28 37 26 77 13 18 2 2 225
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 13-24 54.2% 2nd Half: 13-27 48.1% OT: 2-7 28.6% Game: 48.3% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 2-6 33.3% 2nd Half: 4-5 80.0% OT: 0-1 0.0% Game: 50.0% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 3-6 50.0% 2nd Half: 8-11 72.7% OT: 4-4 100 % Game: 71.4% 4,1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Officials: Tom O'Neill, Dan Chrisman, David Maracich
Technical fouls: MEMPHIS TIGERS-None. GONZAGA BULLDOGS-None.
Attendance: 11272
Score by Periods 1st 2nd OT Total
MEMPHIS TIGERS................ 39 30 9 - 78
GONZAGA BULLDOGS.............. 31 38 8 - 77
Points in the paint-MEM 35,GON 28. Points off turnovers-MEM 19,GON 15.
2nd chance points-MEM 7,GON 8. Fast break points-MEM 13,GON 6.
Bench points-MEM 24,GON 18. Score tied-5 times. Lead changed-10 times.
Last FG-MEM OT-00:05, GON OT-02:27.
Largest lead-MEM by 13 2nd-14:06, GON by 3 1st-17:50.
MEMPHIS TIGERS vs GONZAGA BULLDOGS
02/17/07 3 p.m. at SPOKANE ARENA - SPOKANE, WA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VISITORS: MEMPHIS TIGERS 23-3
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 4-8 1-2 5-9 2 3 5 3 14 2 3 2 0 32
32 Dorsey, Joey........ f 6-9 0-1 3-6 5 7 12 2 15 0 1 5 2 40
01 Kemp, Willie........ g 0-3 0-2 0-0 1 0 1 1 0 3 1 0 0 18
12 Anderson, Antonio... g 5-11 2-5 0-0 0 2 2 1 12 2 1 0 2 36
14 DOUGLAS-ROBERTS, C.. g 6-15 0-3 1-4 0 2 2 3 13 2 3 0 2 37
03 Willis, Tre'Von..... 0-0 0-0 1-2 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 1
05 Hunt, Jeremy........ 2-6 2-5 6-6 1 1 2 4 12 0 3 1 2 19
15 Allen, Andre........ 1-6 1-3 2-4 1 3 4 4 5 3 1 0 2 30
20 Mack, Doneal........ 2-3 2-2 0-0 0 0 0 1 6 1 0 0 1 7
42 Cooper, Kareem...... 0-0 0-0 0-1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 5
TEAM................ 3 4 7 1
Totals.............. 26-61 8-23 18-32 14 23 37 19 78 14 15 8 11 225
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 14-28 50.0% 2nd Half: 9-25 36.0% OT: 3-8 37.5% Game: 42.6% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 3-10 30.0% 2nd Half: 3-9 33.3% OT: 2-4 50.0% Game: 34.8% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 8-11 72.7% 2nd Half: 9-16 56.3% OT: 1-5 20.0% Game: 56.3% 6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOME TEAM: GONZAGA BULLDOGS 18-10
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
31 KUSO, Abdullahi..... f 3-3 0-0 3-6 5 3 8 5 9 0 3 1 1 31
32 MALLON, Sean........ f 1-3 0-1 2-3 1 3 4 2 4 0 1 0 0 19
02 PARGO, Jeremy....... g 6-16 2-3 3-4 0 9 9 3 17 5 3 0 1 45
05 RAIVIO, Derek....... g 8-16 1-1 4-4 0 1 1 3 21 4 1 0 0 45
15 BOULDIN, Matt....... g 3-8 0-2 2-2 0 0 0 5 8 3 4 0 0 27
04 ALTIDOR-CESPEDES, P. 0-1 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 3
22 DOWNS, Micah........ 3-6 1-2 0-0 1 4 5 4 7 0 1 1 0 25
25 PENDERGRAFT, David.. 4-5 2-2 1-2 0 4 4 4 11 1 2 0 0 29
33 BURGESS, David...... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
TEAM................ 2 4 6 2
Totals.............. 28-58 6-12 15-21 9 28 37 26 77 13 18 2 2 225
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 13-24 54.2% 2nd Half: 13-27 48.1% OT: 2-7 28.6% Game: 48.3% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 2-6 33.3% 2nd Half: 4-5 80.0% OT: 0-1 0.0% Game: 50.0% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 3-6 50.0% 2nd Half: 8-11 72.7% OT: 4-4 100 % Game: 71.4% 4,1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Officials: Tom O'Neill, Dan Chrisman, David Maracich
Technical fouls: MEMPHIS TIGERS-None. GONZAGA BULLDOGS-None.
Attendance: 11272
Score by Periods 1st 2nd OT Total
MEMPHIS TIGERS................ 39 30 9 - 78
GONZAGA BULLDOGS.............. 31 38 8 - 77
Points in the paint-MEM 35,GON 28. Points off turnovers-MEM 19,GON 15.
2nd chance points-MEM 7,GON 8. Fast break points-MEM 13,GON 6.
Bench points-MEM 24,GON 18. Score tied-5 times. Lead changed-10 times.
Last FG-MEM OT-00:05, GON OT-02:27.
Largest lead-MEM by 13 2nd-14:06, GON by 3 1st-17:50.
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