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Sunday, December 23, 2007

New York Times - College Basketball: Top of the Heap


College Basketball: Top of the Heap

By PETE THAMEL

The rankings will tell you that North Carolina is the No. 1 men’s basketball team in the country. (The R.P.I., for the record, will tell you that it is Vanderbilt.) But after No. 2 Memphis dismantled No. 4 Georgetown on Saturday, it is fairly obvious that the Tigers (10-0) will be the favorite to win the national title.

The Tigers won, 85-71, dictated the tempo in their favor and forced Georgetown to rush its meticulous offense. Chris Douglas-Roberts led the way with 24 points.

Now the question is whether Memphis will lose for the rest of the regular season. The Tigers play Arizona, Gonzaga and Tennessee — all at home — along with the typical feast of Conference USA cud. They will be a heavy favorite in all those games, but can they remain motivated and focused against all of the inferior competition?

Let us know what you think. Is Memphis the favorite from here on out? Will playing in Conference USA hurt the Tigers as the season wears on?

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