Memphis routs Wave again
by Nakia Hogan, Times-Picayune
Wednesday February 20, 2008, 9:59 PM
No. 1-ranked Memphis dominated from start to finish on its way to routing Tulane 97-71.
The victory was the 14th straight for the Tigers over Tulane, with the wins coming by an average margin of 22.2 points. The win was also the 45th straight regular season victory.
Tulane, losers of four straight games, continues to struggle mightily against teams that employ up-tempo styles.
"We just got beat by the best team in the country," Tulane coach Dave Dickerson said. "It's a difficult loss, but if you put things into context they are ranked No. 1 in the country, they haven't lost a game in our conference in almost a year and a half. And we have a long ways to go to catch up to that."
Memphis guard chris Douglas-Roberts scored a game-high 29 points, routinely beating the Green Wave along the baseline. Douglas-Roberts, C-USA preseason player of the year, had 20 of his points in the first half.
He had plenty of help, though, as 10 different Tigers scored. Freshman point guard Derrick Rose scored 17 points, grabbed five rebounds and dished five assists. And Robert Dozier and Doneal Mack added 14 apiece.
David Gomez led Tulane (15-10, 5-6) with 23 points. Kevin Sims added 14, Robinson Louisme 12 and Johnny Mayhane 11.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Chicago Sports Review - Peaking At The Right Time
Chicago Sports Review - Peaking At The Right Time
BY Eli Kaberon
The calendar says that February is the shortest month of the year, as it ends two or three days before each of the other 11 months. But in college basketball, February is a long and winding road beating up teams on their march to March. Conference play is in full swing, injuries and suspensions are common and the unexpected upset is always right around the corner.
February is also the month where the elite teams separate themselves from the rest of the pack and transform into serious title contenders before tournament time. In fact, the last six national champions were a combined 33-11 during February in the seasons they ended up cutting down the nets, and seven of those losses came from the Florida squads of the past two years. Big wins are even bigger because they can provide momentum while a tough loss hurts more than usual for the opposite reason. Coaches and players have to be on their A-game from opening tap to the final buzzer, because one bad game in the year's second month can leave a team on the bubble during the third.
So which schools in February 2008 are stepping up their games in preparation of the greatest sporting event of the year-March Madness? Here are ten teams that are peaking right now, hoping to cement their place in the field of 65 and get themselves ready for a hopeful six-game win streak to end the season (teams listed in alphabetical order).
BYU---Outside of UCLA and Kansas, the Cougars of Brigham Young University might be the best team west of the Mississippi River. While there might be some argument of that in cities like Palo Alto and Austin, BYU has a very strong case. The leaders of the Mountain West Conference are 20-5 with wins over Louisville and UNLV, including a current eight game win-streak. BYU has three players averaging 13 or more points, led by center Trent Plaisted, who puts up 16 points and almost nine rebounds a game. An eight seed in last year's tournament, BYU fell to Xavier by two points in the opening round. Expect the Cougars to be seeded higher and travel deeper into March in 2008.
Connecticut---It's hard to say a school that has won two National Titles since 1999 is playing under the radar, but that's exactly what the Huskies have done this year. UConn has won ten consecutive games, is a half game out of first place in the loaded Big East conference and is doing this while dealing with the suspensions to two of their best players. Yet nobody seems to be talking about them. Guards Jerome Dyson and Doug Wiggins both sat out multiple games for a violation of team rules, but the Huskies just continue to win. Point guard A.J. Price has played like an All-American in 2008, averaging 15 points, six assists and four rebounds a game while leading the team in minutes played. Hasheem Thabeet, the team's 7'3" center, has also become a force, posting over ten points, seven rebounds and four blocks per contest.
Kansas---No surprise here, considering the Rock Chalk Jayhawks have been to 36 NCAA tournaments, fourth most in the history of the game. Coach Bill Self's team is 24-2 and has as much talent as any other squad in the land. Led by big men Darrell Arthur and Darnell Jackson as well as guards Brandon Rush and Mario Chalmers, these Jayhawks have outstanding depth. Those four-as well as the four other KU players who average double-digit minutes a game-perfectly run Self's high-low offense, giving opponents so many different offensive looks that its almost impossible to prepare for. Kansas has a recent history of falling in March, but if any team can break that streak, it is this one.
Louisville---In the debut pre-season poll of the season, the Cardinals were ranked sixth in the country. Six weeks later and the 'Ville was nowhere to be found in the rankings. That's what happens when a team loses three games before mid-December and apparently loses their center, David Padgett, for the season after breaking his kneecap in mid-November (he has since returned). But somehow coach Rick Pitino got his team to turn it around. The Cards have now won nine of their last ten games, with the only defeat being a two-point loss at Connecticut. They are also sitting in first place in the Big East, since they have the same record as Georgetown but they beat the Hoyas on Feb. 9 (they meet again, in Washington D.C. on March 8). If a team can go from being great to poor back to being great all in one season, it is Louisville.
Memphis---Considering they are the only team in the land to not lose a game all season, it would be stating the obvious to mention that the Tigers are playing well at the moment. With the backcourt of junior shooting guard Chris Douglas-Roberts and freshman point Derrick Rose averaging over 30 points combined per game, it is almost impossible for opponents to contain Memphis' dribble-drive attack. And on defense, the Tigers play a ferocious man-to-man, giving their opponents almost no clear looks at the basket. The website kenpom.com, which computes various college basketball statistics, reports that Memphis has the number one defensive efficiency in the country with the score of 80.6. That means that UM gives up roughly 81 points for every 100 defensive possessions. (For comparison, the national average is 101.8 by Nichols State) Taking out the Tigers will be no easy task for any opponent come March.
Purdue---In 2007, when the Boilermakers had first-team All Big Ten forward Carl Landry, they still finished just a game over .500 in conference and advanced only to round two of the NCAA's. So this year, after Landry graduated, many guessed that Purdue would return to the Big Ten basement. But behind freshman guards E'Twaun Moore and Robbie Hummel, the Boilers have risen to the top of the conference, holding a half-game lead over Indiana and Wisconsin. Hummel has been especially spectacular lately, scoring 24 points and pulling down 11 boards in the teams Feb. 12 upset of Michigan State after dropping 21 points three days earlier in another win, this time at Wisconsin. Purdue has the looks of a squad who goes unnoticed until they suddenly appear in the Elite Eight.
South Alabama---The Jaguars of South Alabama are in a tight race with Western Kentucky for first place in the Sun Belt Conference, with both schools entering their February 21 contest at 21-5. South Alabama has a run and gun offense, putting up over 78 points a game, the best in the conference. They are led by guard Demetric Bennett, a player who comes up big when it matters most. In the Jaguars' biggest win of the season-a Dec. 15 upset of Mississippi State-Bennett dropped 39 points, going 14 of 17 from the field and five of seven from the free-throw line. In two other games against big-conference teams, three-point losses to both Ole Miss and Vanderbilt, the guard scored an average of 27 points. Even if they don't win the Sun Belt, South Alabama still might be able to make it to the big dance with an at-large bid.
Tennessee---Wait a second, what in the name of Peerless Price is going on here? I thought Tennessee was a football school. Well, it was until coach Bruce Pearl moved to Knoxville. He brought a full-court press defense and a run-and-gun offense that has been almost impossible for SEC competition to defend. This years Vols squad is ranked second in the country with a record of 23-2, including wins over Xavier, Gonzaga and Ohio State. Their offense is one of the nation's best, scoring close to 81 points a game, led by All-American shooting guard Chris Lofton. This Saturday they have a matchup with Memphis, which will put the top two teams in the country on the same court for the first time all season. If they win that, you could see Tennessee as the number one overall team heading into March.
Texas---Just like nobody would have ever guessed that the Giants would win the Super Bowl after the retirement of Tiki Barber, there weren't many folks out there who predicted that the Longhorns would do better after Kevin Durant left for the NBA. Yet UT is ranked in the top ten, has won more than 20 games and posts the best trio of victories in the country, with wins over Tennessee (ranked #2 in the land), Kansas (#4) and UCLA (#6). Point guard D.J. Augustin is one of the best floor leaders in the country, leading Texas in scoring and assists as well as being second in steals. The 'Horns may not have the star power they possessed a year ago, but they might just have a better all around team.
Xavier---Last season, the Musketeers were oh-so close to pulling the first shocking upset of the NCAA Tournament. They had number one seed Ohio State on the ropes in the second round, and only a 35-foot three-pointer by Buckeye Ron Lewis pushed the game into overtime, with OSU eventually pulling out a 78-71 win. This year, expect Xavier to be playing deeper into March. Currently ranked tenth in the country, the X-Men have defeated Indiana and Kansas State in the non-conference and are 10-1 in the Atlantic Ten Conference. With incredible balance-six Musketeers average ten or more points a game but none scores more than 12.2-it is very difficult to contain their offense. And with suburb quickness, there are very few teams that match up with them on D.
Eli Kaberon is a 2005 graduate of Evanston Township High School and currently is attending Columbia College in the loop, majoring in print journalism. A life-long fan of the Cubs, Bears and Bulls, Eli also works as a seat vendor at Wrigley Field and has sold hot dogs to everyone ranging from Bears tight end Greg Olsen to Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich. His blog, the Hot Dog Guy, can be seen at http://wrigleyvendor.blogspot.com.
BY Eli Kaberon
The calendar says that February is the shortest month of the year, as it ends two or three days before each of the other 11 months. But in college basketball, February is a long and winding road beating up teams on their march to March. Conference play is in full swing, injuries and suspensions are common and the unexpected upset is always right around the corner.
February is also the month where the elite teams separate themselves from the rest of the pack and transform into serious title contenders before tournament time. In fact, the last six national champions were a combined 33-11 during February in the seasons they ended up cutting down the nets, and seven of those losses came from the Florida squads of the past two years. Big wins are even bigger because they can provide momentum while a tough loss hurts more than usual for the opposite reason. Coaches and players have to be on their A-game from opening tap to the final buzzer, because one bad game in the year's second month can leave a team on the bubble during the third.
So which schools in February 2008 are stepping up their games in preparation of the greatest sporting event of the year-March Madness? Here are ten teams that are peaking right now, hoping to cement their place in the field of 65 and get themselves ready for a hopeful six-game win streak to end the season (teams listed in alphabetical order).
BYU---Outside of UCLA and Kansas, the Cougars of Brigham Young University might be the best team west of the Mississippi River. While there might be some argument of that in cities like Palo Alto and Austin, BYU has a very strong case. The leaders of the Mountain West Conference are 20-5 with wins over Louisville and UNLV, including a current eight game win-streak. BYU has three players averaging 13 or more points, led by center Trent Plaisted, who puts up 16 points and almost nine rebounds a game. An eight seed in last year's tournament, BYU fell to Xavier by two points in the opening round. Expect the Cougars to be seeded higher and travel deeper into March in 2008.
Connecticut---It's hard to say a school that has won two National Titles since 1999 is playing under the radar, but that's exactly what the Huskies have done this year. UConn has won ten consecutive games, is a half game out of first place in the loaded Big East conference and is doing this while dealing with the suspensions to two of their best players. Yet nobody seems to be talking about them. Guards Jerome Dyson and Doug Wiggins both sat out multiple games for a violation of team rules, but the Huskies just continue to win. Point guard A.J. Price has played like an All-American in 2008, averaging 15 points, six assists and four rebounds a game while leading the team in minutes played. Hasheem Thabeet, the team's 7'3" center, has also become a force, posting over ten points, seven rebounds and four blocks per contest.
Kansas---No surprise here, considering the Rock Chalk Jayhawks have been to 36 NCAA tournaments, fourth most in the history of the game. Coach Bill Self's team is 24-2 and has as much talent as any other squad in the land. Led by big men Darrell Arthur and Darnell Jackson as well as guards Brandon Rush and Mario Chalmers, these Jayhawks have outstanding depth. Those four-as well as the four other KU players who average double-digit minutes a game-perfectly run Self's high-low offense, giving opponents so many different offensive looks that its almost impossible to prepare for. Kansas has a recent history of falling in March, but if any team can break that streak, it is this one.
Louisville---In the debut pre-season poll of the season, the Cardinals were ranked sixth in the country. Six weeks later and the 'Ville was nowhere to be found in the rankings. That's what happens when a team loses three games before mid-December and apparently loses their center, David Padgett, for the season after breaking his kneecap in mid-November (he has since returned). But somehow coach Rick Pitino got his team to turn it around. The Cards have now won nine of their last ten games, with the only defeat being a two-point loss at Connecticut. They are also sitting in first place in the Big East, since they have the same record as Georgetown but they beat the Hoyas on Feb. 9 (they meet again, in Washington D.C. on March 8). If a team can go from being great to poor back to being great all in one season, it is Louisville.
Memphis---Considering they are the only team in the land to not lose a game all season, it would be stating the obvious to mention that the Tigers are playing well at the moment. With the backcourt of junior shooting guard Chris Douglas-Roberts and freshman point Derrick Rose averaging over 30 points combined per game, it is almost impossible for opponents to contain Memphis' dribble-drive attack. And on defense, the Tigers play a ferocious man-to-man, giving their opponents almost no clear looks at the basket. The website kenpom.com, which computes various college basketball statistics, reports that Memphis has the number one defensive efficiency in the country with the score of 80.6. That means that UM gives up roughly 81 points for every 100 defensive possessions. (For comparison, the national average is 101.8 by Nichols State) Taking out the Tigers will be no easy task for any opponent come March.
Purdue---In 2007, when the Boilermakers had first-team All Big Ten forward Carl Landry, they still finished just a game over .500 in conference and advanced only to round two of the NCAA's. So this year, after Landry graduated, many guessed that Purdue would return to the Big Ten basement. But behind freshman guards E'Twaun Moore and Robbie Hummel, the Boilers have risen to the top of the conference, holding a half-game lead over Indiana and Wisconsin. Hummel has been especially spectacular lately, scoring 24 points and pulling down 11 boards in the teams Feb. 12 upset of Michigan State after dropping 21 points three days earlier in another win, this time at Wisconsin. Purdue has the looks of a squad who goes unnoticed until they suddenly appear in the Elite Eight.
South Alabama---The Jaguars of South Alabama are in a tight race with Western Kentucky for first place in the Sun Belt Conference, with both schools entering their February 21 contest at 21-5. South Alabama has a run and gun offense, putting up over 78 points a game, the best in the conference. They are led by guard Demetric Bennett, a player who comes up big when it matters most. In the Jaguars' biggest win of the season-a Dec. 15 upset of Mississippi State-Bennett dropped 39 points, going 14 of 17 from the field and five of seven from the free-throw line. In two other games against big-conference teams, three-point losses to both Ole Miss and Vanderbilt, the guard scored an average of 27 points. Even if they don't win the Sun Belt, South Alabama still might be able to make it to the big dance with an at-large bid.
Tennessee---Wait a second, what in the name of Peerless Price is going on here? I thought Tennessee was a football school. Well, it was until coach Bruce Pearl moved to Knoxville. He brought a full-court press defense and a run-and-gun offense that has been almost impossible for SEC competition to defend. This years Vols squad is ranked second in the country with a record of 23-2, including wins over Xavier, Gonzaga and Ohio State. Their offense is one of the nation's best, scoring close to 81 points a game, led by All-American shooting guard Chris Lofton. This Saturday they have a matchup with Memphis, which will put the top two teams in the country on the same court for the first time all season. If they win that, you could see Tennessee as the number one overall team heading into March.
Texas---Just like nobody would have ever guessed that the Giants would win the Super Bowl after the retirement of Tiki Barber, there weren't many folks out there who predicted that the Longhorns would do better after Kevin Durant left for the NBA. Yet UT is ranked in the top ten, has won more than 20 games and posts the best trio of victories in the country, with wins over Tennessee (ranked #2 in the land), Kansas (#4) and UCLA (#6). Point guard D.J. Augustin is one of the best floor leaders in the country, leading Texas in scoring and assists as well as being second in steals. The 'Horns may not have the star power they possessed a year ago, but they might just have a better all around team.
Xavier---Last season, the Musketeers were oh-so close to pulling the first shocking upset of the NCAA Tournament. They had number one seed Ohio State on the ropes in the second round, and only a 35-foot three-pointer by Buckeye Ron Lewis pushed the game into overtime, with OSU eventually pulling out a 78-71 win. This year, expect Xavier to be playing deeper into March. Currently ranked tenth in the country, the X-Men have defeated Indiana and Kansas State in the non-conference and are 10-1 in the Atlantic Ten Conference. With incredible balance-six Musketeers average ten or more points a game but none scores more than 12.2-it is very difficult to contain their offense. And with suburb quickness, there are very few teams that match up with them on D.
Eli Kaberon is a 2005 graduate of Evanston Township High School and currently is attending Columbia College in the loop, majoring in print journalism. A life-long fan of the Cubs, Bears and Bulls, Eli also works as a seat vendor at Wrigley Field and has sold hot dogs to everyone ranging from Bears tight end Greg Olsen to Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich. His blog, the Hot Dog Guy, can be seen at http://wrigleyvendor.blogspot.com.
The CA Editorial - Sweet home, Alabama wasn't
Sweet home, Alabama wasn't
Handling Success: The U of M basketball team's lofty ranking pretty much guarantees that players will be heckled, but they can't take the bait.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Life's tough at the top.
The University of Memphis men's basketball team found that out Saturday night during and after a wild game against the University of Alabama-Birmingham.
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The U of M Tigers, undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the country, were on the verge of losing before a crowd of 9,392 screaming fans at Birmingham's Bartow Arena.
The Tiger players showed remarkable poise by rallying from a seven-point deficit with less than 90 seconds left to win the game. Several of them were considerably less poised, however, in handling the ugliness that followed.
Many UAB fans, apparently thinking their team had won on a shot that referees said came after the final buzzer, stormed the court.
Some in the crowd threw cups, pompoms and at least one bottle of alcohol as the Tiger players tried to make their way down the tunnel to their locker room.
Memphis fans, take note: Those pin-headed Birmingham fans provided a great example of how not to act at a basketball game.
Their behavior was inexcusable, no matter how emotional the game was or how strongly they might have believed that their team had won.
But it was also inexcusable for some of the U of M players to try to confront those sore losers. One of the players, Pierre Niles, was photographed slapping or pushing the face of one particularly unruly fan.
The Tiger players simply have to act smarter in situations like that.
They worked hard to get the No. 1 ranking. But because they're ranked No. 1, they're likely to bring out the best in the teams they play -- and, unfortunately, the worst in some of the opposing fans.
With all of the attention the Tigers have been getting comes a greater responsibility.
The Tiger players are going to have to get used to hearing chants of "O-VER-rated!" when the score isn't in their favor.
They're going to have to get used to seeing hand-held signs with rude messages in the stands at visiting arenas.
And it's not inconceivable that they'll be in other situations like Saturday night, where it might seem tempting to lash out at some of the more obnoxious among their tormentors.
It's not worth it, as their coach John Calipari and some of the players wisely noted after the game.
"You've just got to keep your cool," player Chris Douglas-Roberts said. "We've got a bull's-eye on our backs and we've got to keep our composure."
Well put. The Tigers are in the middle of what could be their greatest season ever.
But that could quickly change if the players can't stay under control, on and off the court.
Tonight, the Tigers will be on the road again at Tulane University, which, like UAB, could make its season with a win over the mighty Tigers. That game will be followed by Saturday's big showdown at home against the No. 2-ranked University of Tennessee Volunteers.
The national spotlight focused on the Tiger basketball players has made them ambassadors for the city of Memphis. Let's hope they remember that.
Handling Success: The U of M basketball team's lofty ranking pretty much guarantees that players will be heckled, but they can't take the bait.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Life's tough at the top.
The University of Memphis men's basketball team found that out Saturday night during and after a wild game against the University of Alabama-Birmingham.
Comments
There is 1 response to this article. Click here to join the conversation »
STORY TOOLS
E-mail story
iPod friendly
Printer friendly
More Editorials
Wharton's plan for the parents
Move warily on jail plan
Killing out of meanness
Share and Enjoy [?]
The U of M Tigers, undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the country, were on the verge of losing before a crowd of 9,392 screaming fans at Birmingham's Bartow Arena.
The Tiger players showed remarkable poise by rallying from a seven-point deficit with less than 90 seconds left to win the game. Several of them were considerably less poised, however, in handling the ugliness that followed.
Many UAB fans, apparently thinking their team had won on a shot that referees said came after the final buzzer, stormed the court.
Some in the crowd threw cups, pompoms and at least one bottle of alcohol as the Tiger players tried to make their way down the tunnel to their locker room.
Memphis fans, take note: Those pin-headed Birmingham fans provided a great example of how not to act at a basketball game.
Their behavior was inexcusable, no matter how emotional the game was or how strongly they might have believed that their team had won.
But it was also inexcusable for some of the U of M players to try to confront those sore losers. One of the players, Pierre Niles, was photographed slapping or pushing the face of one particularly unruly fan.
The Tiger players simply have to act smarter in situations like that.
They worked hard to get the No. 1 ranking. But because they're ranked No. 1, they're likely to bring out the best in the teams they play -- and, unfortunately, the worst in some of the opposing fans.
With all of the attention the Tigers have been getting comes a greater responsibility.
The Tiger players are going to have to get used to hearing chants of "O-VER-rated!" when the score isn't in their favor.
They're going to have to get used to seeing hand-held signs with rude messages in the stands at visiting arenas.
And it's not inconceivable that they'll be in other situations like Saturday night, where it might seem tempting to lash out at some of the more obnoxious among their tormentors.
It's not worth it, as their coach John Calipari and some of the players wisely noted after the game.
"You've just got to keep your cool," player Chris Douglas-Roberts said. "We've got a bull's-eye on our backs and we've got to keep our composure."
Well put. The Tigers are in the middle of what could be their greatest season ever.
But that could quickly change if the players can't stay under control, on and off the court.
Tonight, the Tigers will be on the road again at Tulane University, which, like UAB, could make its season with a win over the mighty Tigers. That game will be followed by Saturday's big showdown at home against the No. 2-ranked University of Tennessee Volunteers.
The national spotlight focused on the Tiger basketball players has made them ambassadors for the city of Memphis. Let's hope they remember that.
Charges Dropped Against Memphis Players
Charges Dropped Against Memphis Players
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Prosecutors have dropped charges against two University of Memphis basketball players from a dispute outside a nightclub last year.
District Attorney General Bill Gibbons says Shawn Taggart and Jeff Robinson completed an eight-week anger management program and performed well in school, and prosecutors agreed to drop the charges of disorderly conduct and inciting a riot. They will have to pay court costs.
Taggart and Robinson were charged after a Sept. 2 scuffle at a Beale Street nightclub. After the incident, coach John Calipari temporarily set a curfew for players and banned them from nightclubs.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Prosecutors have dropped charges against two University of Memphis basketball players from a dispute outside a nightclub last year.
District Attorney General Bill Gibbons says Shawn Taggart and Jeff Robinson completed an eight-week anger management program and performed well in school, and prosecutors agreed to drop the charges of disorderly conduct and inciting a riot. They will have to pay court costs.
Taggart and Robinson were charged after a Sept. 2 scuffle at a Beale Street nightclub. After the incident, coach John Calipari temporarily set a curfew for players and banned them from nightclubs.
Sporting News - UT-Memphis game is hot ticket in Volunteer State
UT-Memphis game is hot ticket in Volunteer State
Posted: February 19, 2008
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Leading up to one of the most anticipated games of the college basketball season, Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl picked up the phone this week and called, of all people, Memphis coach John Calipari.
No heated debate. No recruits to fight over. Just a friendly exchange among coaches who aren't usually friendly.
"He was begging me for tickets," Calipari said during his teleconference Tuesday. "And I told him 'No."'
Calipari was joking, of course, but he never passes a chance to take a swipe at the Volunteers.
Saturday, Calipari's top-ranked Tigers will get another chance when No. 2 Tennessee visits the FedExForum for a nationally televised game that will have the eyes of the nation staring at the Volunteer State.
And everyone wants to come.
Calipari said Pearl was asking for Tennessee alumnus and Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, among others. Memphis athletic director R.C. Johnson granted the request, Calipari said, but he just wanted to make Pearl sweat.
"Tickets are going online like they're Super Bowl tickets, it's incredible," Calipari said.
As of Tuesday afternoon, one set of tickets in the front row near the visitors' bench was listed for $10,000 each on StubHub.com.
Not only does the game feature the nation's top two in the AP Poll, it also features the best in the RPI. Tennessee has the top spot in the RPI, and Memphis is a close second.
The game's timing has a lot to do with the soaring demand.
It's the highest ranking either team has ever earned, and ESPN's College Gameday will be broadcasting from the game.
"Some people still think it was an ESPN conspiracy," Calipari joked.
Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Posted: February 19, 2008
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Leading up to one of the most anticipated games of the college basketball season, Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl picked up the phone this week and called, of all people, Memphis coach John Calipari.
No heated debate. No recruits to fight over. Just a friendly exchange among coaches who aren't usually friendly.
"He was begging me for tickets," Calipari said during his teleconference Tuesday. "And I told him 'No."'
Calipari was joking, of course, but he never passes a chance to take a swipe at the Volunteers.
Saturday, Calipari's top-ranked Tigers will get another chance when No. 2 Tennessee visits the FedExForum for a nationally televised game that will have the eyes of the nation staring at the Volunteer State.
And everyone wants to come.
Calipari said Pearl was asking for Tennessee alumnus and Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, among others. Memphis athletic director R.C. Johnson granted the request, Calipari said, but he just wanted to make Pearl sweat.
"Tickets are going online like they're Super Bowl tickets, it's incredible," Calipari said.
As of Tuesday afternoon, one set of tickets in the front row near the visitors' bench was listed for $10,000 each on StubHub.com.
Not only does the game feature the nation's top two in the AP Poll, it also features the best in the RPI. Tennessee has the top spot in the RPI, and Memphis is a close second.
The game's timing has a lot to do with the soaring demand.
It's the highest ranking either team has ever earned, and ESPN's College Gameday will be broadcasting from the game.
"Some people still think it was an ESPN conspiracy," Calipari joked.
Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Fox Sport's Jeff Goodman - Off-court problems tainting Memphis program
Off-court problems tainting Memphis program
by Jeff Goodman
Jeff Goodman is a senior college basketball writer for FOXSports.com. He can be reached at GoodmanonFOX@aol.com or check out his blog, Good 'N Plenty.
Updated: February 20, 2008, 12:33 PM
It's becoming a pattern down in Memphis.
Not the 25-game winning streak, the abysmal foul shooting or even the country's lone unblemished record. There's no statistic kept on it, but John Calipari's program has to be among the nation's leaders in legal issues.
Robert Dozier is the latest Tiger to run into trouble with the law. (Mitchell Layton / Getty Images)
Robert Dozier provided the latest blot on the program's reputation after he allegedly hit his ex-girlfriend twice after a late-night dispute earlier this month.
That pushed the count to six — meaning half of the current team has been in some sort of legal trouble since arriving on campus.
That's not even counting the post-game fracas the other night at UAB, during which Memphis reserve Pierre Niles slapped a rowdy, possibly deserving fan in the face.
Before the Dozier incident, Calipari's crew had been fairly quiet down on Beale Street. At least, relatively speaking. In fact, it had been a few months since the last Memphis player's brush with the law. That would be Shawn Taggert and Jeff Robinson's arrest outside the Plush Club on charges of inciting a riot back in September.
And while he wasn't charged in the incident, forward Joey Dorsey undoubtedly contributed to the mayhem with his decision to "make it rain" at the club (aka, tossing money in the air).
It was only a matter of time before someone from this group did something foolish.
Enter Dozier, the quiet kid from a small town in Georgia.
It looks like Dozier could be charged with assault as a result of allegations from his ex-girlfriend stemming from the Feb. 3 incident.
According to the police report, Dozier followed his ex-girlfriend out of, you guessed it, the Plush Club at 3:30 a.m. They left in separate vehicles, with Dozier apparently following her. He got out of the car at an intersection, the two argued and Dozier hit her in the face twice with an open hand.
Calipari put out a statement saying he "will deal with it in a fair and firm manner like I always have."
Firm?
Dozier was suspended for one game — a rout against SMU — before he returned and played 20 minutes against Central Florida this past weekend.
That's one more game than Taggert and Robinson were held out by Calipari following their incident. Each played in the season opener against UT-Martin.
This is the latest in a long line of issues that has plagued the Memphis program. I understand that Calipari has primarily recruited players who come from rough backgrounds, but this is getting ridiculous.
Reserve guard Andre Allen was arrested in 2005 for soliciting a prostitute.
In October 2006, two female students claimed that Joey Dorsey poured a water bottle over one of their heads and that Hashim Bailey threatened the other and threw a full water bottle at her. Bailey was suspended, but the action was overturned after a university appeal.
Dorsey's name has also appeared on a police report on two separate occasions for allegedly punching someone on Beale Street and then running like hell.
The past isn't much better.
Jeremy Hunt was arrested in 2005 and accused of beating up his girlfriend. He was later kicked off the team for his role in a bar fight. However, Calipari decided to reinstate Hunt prior to last season after Shawne Williams and Darius Washington Jr. left school early for the NBA.
Kareem Cooper, who transferred to UTEP, was arrested for marijuana possession.
Former player Clyde Wade was acquitted of federal fraud and conspiracy charges. Calipari recruited troubled yet talented forward Sean Banks, who was arrested for using a lighted cigarette to burn a gang insignia into the left leg of a 15-year-old girl prior to his arrival in Memphis. The burning was allegedly part of a gang initiation rite.
Nothing has changed — and nothing appears to be changing with Calipari and the program. While he scoffs at the public perception that his team is full of uncontrollable, wild kids, sources say that he secretly enjoys it.
Memphis is the frontrunner to land Tyreke Evans, the top uncommitted senior in the country. Evans was apparently the driver of a car in a shooting back in November in which his 16-year-old cousin allegedly shot and killed a 19-year-old man.
Evans isn't expected to be charged and has cooperated with the authorities
Let's be clear. John Calipari's program isn't the only one with off-court issues. Missouri has had more than its share this season. Pittsburgh guard Levance Fields was Tasered after being charged with aggravated assault, disarming a law enforcement officer, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness before the start of the season.
However, the Memphis Tigers have an opportunity. They have a legitimate chance to win a national title this season after back-to-back Elite Eights.
Poor shooting isn't the only thing that could get in the way.
Calipari said he'll handle the Dozier situation with a firm hand, but it's too late for that. These kids know by now what they can get away with — and it's been plenty.
Take the USC game earlier this season in Madison Square Garden, for example.
The Memphis players are standing outside the locker room waiting to take the court prior to the game. The USC team comes around the corner and the next thing you know, all of the Tigers start woofing at the top of their lungs in an effort to intimidate O.J. Mayo and the Trojans.
The Memphis coaching staff could only watch and smile.
These guys are different. I've known Antonio Anderson and some of the other players for years. Anderson, Chris Douglas-Roberts, Willie Kemp and Derrick Rose have all steered clear of trouble and done it the right way.
However, it's guilt by association.
Calipari implemented a curfew following the preseason incident involving Robinson and Taggert. He lifted it six weeks later.
In the aftermath of Dozier making news, Calipari won't change anything — despite the fact that the Tigers are the odds-on favorite to win the national title. I applaud him for his ability to give kids second chances, but there's such a thing as giving them too much rope. Some of them just make poor decisions.
"If they're not responsible enough to know what we're striving for, we're not winning it, anyway," Calipari said. "I don't want to feel like a big brother, like I'm watching over them."
Maybe not, but apparently somebody needs to.
San Fran Chronicle - Memphis has tragic flaw in chase for perfect season
Memphis has tragic flaw in chase for perfect season
Jake Curtis
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
We have not spoken to Quinn Buckner lately, but we're guessing he, Scott May and Bob Knight don't plan to sit around a television Saturday with a champagne bottle on ice ready to pop the cork if Tennessee beats Memphis.
An undefeated season, considered so unlikely these days in any major sport, seems possible again after the New England Patriots came close earlier this month. They lost the Super Bowl 17-14 to the Giants, allowing the members of the 1972 Dolphins to toast themselves with the bubbly again.
Now No. 1 Memphis (25-0) has a chance, with its home game Saturday against No. 2 Tennessee its biggest remaining test before the NCAA Tournament.
The 1976 Indiana team that featured Buckner, May, Kent Benson and Bobby Wilkerson - all of whom were among the top 11 picks in the NBA draft - is the last college basketball team to go through the season undefeated.
There were some asterisks in the meantime. The 1979 Indiana State team featuring Larry Bird and the 1991 UNLV team with Larry Johnson entered the NCAA Tournament unbeaten, which gives them a spot in the record books.
However, the Patriots can tell you winning all the games leading to the title game doesn't mean much if you lose the last one. What's your memory of the 1971 Penn team, or the 1976 Rutgers Scarlet Knights? They went unbeaten in the regular season only to lose in the NCAA Tournament, not to be heard from again.
Since 1939, 23 major college teams have been undefeated before the start of postseason play, 11 of them finished unbeaten, and seven of those wound up as unbeaten national champs.
We're guessing Memphis will become the 24th team to go unbeaten through the regular season, which includes the conference tournament, but will not be the eighth unbeaten national champion.
The Tigers might believe fate is on their side after they overcame a seven-point deficit in the final 1:42 to beat Alabama-Birmingham 79-78 on Saturday. Being at home, where they have won 47 straight, for the Tennessee game and the Conference USA tournament might carry them to the NCAA Tournament without a loss.
But a team that ranks dead last among the 341 Division I schools in free-throw shooting at 58.3 percent, as Memphis does, is bound to pay for that deficiency at some point in the postseason.
Some lousy free-throw shooting teams have won national championships (Georgetown 1984, 67.8 percent; Connecticut 2004, 62.3 percent; UCLA 1973, 63.0 percent). But not since City College of New York won the NCAA title shooting 57.7 percent from the line in 1950 has a team that shot worse than 60 percent won the whole thing.
Memphis' top four scorers are all shooting under 70 percent from the line, and that includes their three starting guards: Chris Douglas-Roberts (66.7 percent), Derrick Rose (68.8) and Antonio Anderson (58.3). The Tigers made two more field goals and five more three-point shots than UAB, but nearly lost the game at the foul line.
Stat of the week: Road teams have a winning record (32-31) in Pac-10 conference games, and the home teams, including three favorites, lost all five games Saturday and Sunday. Coaches are scrambling to explain it, usually claiming the strength of the conference is somehow responsible. In reality, it simply makes no sense.
Thought of the week: Which tarnished Indiana's basketball image more in the nation's eyes - the dismissal of Knight for repeat offenses the public saw but were not illegal by NCAA standards, or the probable dismissal of Kelvin Sampson for repeat offenses the public did not see but allegedly were illegal by NCAA standards?
Moment of the week: Officials called a technical foul on the San Diego crowd for repeatedly throwing debris on the court during the game against Gonzaga, then Steven Gray missed both technical free-throw tries.
Quote of the week: "I missed 10 shots." - Kansas State freshman Michael Beasley, reacting to getting 40 points (on 12-for-22 shooting) and 17 rebounds in 27 minutes against Missouri on Saturday.
Surprise of the week: Brigham Young, which lost to UNLV by 29 points on Jan. 15, beat UNLV by 26 points on Saturday.
E-mail Jake Curtis at jcurtis@sfchronicle.com.
This article appeared on page D - 3 of the San Francisco Chronicle
Jake Curtis
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
We have not spoken to Quinn Buckner lately, but we're guessing he, Scott May and Bob Knight don't plan to sit around a television Saturday with a champagne bottle on ice ready to pop the cork if Tennessee beats Memphis.
An undefeated season, considered so unlikely these days in any major sport, seems possible again after the New England Patriots came close earlier this month. They lost the Super Bowl 17-14 to the Giants, allowing the members of the 1972 Dolphins to toast themselves with the bubbly again.
Now No. 1 Memphis (25-0) has a chance, with its home game Saturday against No. 2 Tennessee its biggest remaining test before the NCAA Tournament.
The 1976 Indiana team that featured Buckner, May, Kent Benson and Bobby Wilkerson - all of whom were among the top 11 picks in the NBA draft - is the last college basketball team to go through the season undefeated.
There were some asterisks in the meantime. The 1979 Indiana State team featuring Larry Bird and the 1991 UNLV team with Larry Johnson entered the NCAA Tournament unbeaten, which gives them a spot in the record books.
However, the Patriots can tell you winning all the games leading to the title game doesn't mean much if you lose the last one. What's your memory of the 1971 Penn team, or the 1976 Rutgers Scarlet Knights? They went unbeaten in the regular season only to lose in the NCAA Tournament, not to be heard from again.
Since 1939, 23 major college teams have been undefeated before the start of postseason play, 11 of them finished unbeaten, and seven of those wound up as unbeaten national champs.
We're guessing Memphis will become the 24th team to go unbeaten through the regular season, which includes the conference tournament, but will not be the eighth unbeaten national champion.
The Tigers might believe fate is on their side after they overcame a seven-point deficit in the final 1:42 to beat Alabama-Birmingham 79-78 on Saturday. Being at home, where they have won 47 straight, for the Tennessee game and the Conference USA tournament might carry them to the NCAA Tournament without a loss.
But a team that ranks dead last among the 341 Division I schools in free-throw shooting at 58.3 percent, as Memphis does, is bound to pay for that deficiency at some point in the postseason.
Some lousy free-throw shooting teams have won national championships (Georgetown 1984, 67.8 percent; Connecticut 2004, 62.3 percent; UCLA 1973, 63.0 percent). But not since City College of New York won the NCAA title shooting 57.7 percent from the line in 1950 has a team that shot worse than 60 percent won the whole thing.
Memphis' top four scorers are all shooting under 70 percent from the line, and that includes their three starting guards: Chris Douglas-Roberts (66.7 percent), Derrick Rose (68.8) and Antonio Anderson (58.3). The Tigers made two more field goals and five more three-point shots than UAB, but nearly lost the game at the foul line.
Stat of the week: Road teams have a winning record (32-31) in Pac-10 conference games, and the home teams, including three favorites, lost all five games Saturday and Sunday. Coaches are scrambling to explain it, usually claiming the strength of the conference is somehow responsible. In reality, it simply makes no sense.
Thought of the week: Which tarnished Indiana's basketball image more in the nation's eyes - the dismissal of Knight for repeat offenses the public saw but were not illegal by NCAA standards, or the probable dismissal of Kelvin Sampson for repeat offenses the public did not see but allegedly were illegal by NCAA standards?
Moment of the week: Officials called a technical foul on the San Diego crowd for repeatedly throwing debris on the court during the game against Gonzaga, then Steven Gray missed both technical free-throw tries.
Quote of the week: "I missed 10 shots." - Kansas State freshman Michael Beasley, reacting to getting 40 points (on 12-for-22 shooting) and 17 rebounds in 27 minutes against Missouri on Saturday.
Surprise of the week: Brigham Young, which lost to UNLV by 29 points on Jan. 15, beat UNLV by 26 points on Saturday.
E-mail Jake Curtis at jcurtis@sfchronicle.com.
This article appeared on page D - 3 of the San Francisco Chronicle
The New York Sun - Those Lacking Depth Face Dog Days of February
The New York Sun - Those Lacking Depth Face Dog Days of February
By JONAH KERI
February 20, 2008
.... Memphis showed what a deep, well-rested team could do against the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Trailing by seven with less than two minutes left, the Tigers looked like they were destined to lose their first game of the season. That's when Antonio Anderson and Chris Douglas-Roberts, already on their way to monster games, dialed it up a notch. The pair scored the Tigers' final eight points, propelling Memphis to a one-point win. Anderson and Douglas-Roberts played 38 and 36 minutes, respectively, against the Blazers. But both players have averaged about 28 minutes a game this season, extremely low numbers for two top talents on a Final Four contender. Coach John Calipari's trust in his bench and the high number of viable weapons on the roster has allowed nine Tigers to average double-digit minutes a game.
By JONAH KERI
February 20, 2008
.... Memphis showed what a deep, well-rested team could do against the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Trailing by seven with less than two minutes left, the Tigers looked like they were destined to lose their first game of the season. That's when Antonio Anderson and Chris Douglas-Roberts, already on their way to monster games, dialed it up a notch. The pair scored the Tigers' final eight points, propelling Memphis to a one-point win. Anderson and Douglas-Roberts played 38 and 36 minutes, respectively, against the Blazers. But both players have averaged about 28 minutes a game this season, extremely low numbers for two top talents on a Final Four contender. Coach John Calipari's trust in his bench and the high number of viable weapons on the roster has allowed nine Tigers to average double-digit minutes a game.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
In retrospect, Tigers know they should avoid confrontations
In retrospect, Tigers know they should avoid confrontations
By Jim Masilak
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Chris Douglas-Roberts doesn't think it's ever OK for a player to lay hands on a fan in anger. Or vice versa. But the situation the University of Memphis basketball team faced last Saturday in Birmingham would have tested anyone's limits, the Tigers' junior guard said.
"Nobody wants to be spit on, have beer thrown on you or water. I felt that they just reacted," Douglas-Roberts said of teammates who exchanged taunts and gestures -- and, in the case of sophomore forward Pierre Niles, physical contact -- with UAB fans in the wake of the Tigers' dramatic 79-78 victory at Bartow Arena. "You've just got to keep your cool. We've got a bull's-eye on our backs and we've got to keep our composure."
Conference USA officials are investigating what happened in the chaotic moments after No. 1-ranked Memphis (25-0 overall, 11-0 in C-USA) overturned a late seven-point deficit against the Blazers to remain unbeaten. It remains to be seen what the league office will make of photos that showed Niles making contact with a heckler's face as the Tigers, amid a hail of abuse and debris, made their way off the floor.
"No," Douglas-Roberts said when asked it it was ever OK for a player to touch or strike a fan. "But I don't think that they can jump over the railing or make contact with us."
Faced with such aggression, Douglas-Roberts said it's unreasonable to expect that players would simply "turn the other cheek."
"No," he said, "we can't do that."
Junior forward Robert Dozier thinks the Tigers, who travel to Tulane on Wednesday and host No. 2 Tennessee on Saturday, showed remarkable restraint given the circumstances.
"We're all human," Dozier said. "There's a point where we can only hold back for so long. ... I thought we did a pretty good job getting out of there."
Junior guard Antonio Anderson said he was quickly herded into the tunnel and didn't see much of the extracurricular action behind him.
"They thought they were gonna win and the students were approaching the court. They were gonna storm the court," Anderson said. "When we won (and their last-second shot) didn't count, some those guys ran on the court talking trash. They were throwing beer, spitting -- there was a lot of emotion."
Memphis coach John Calipari called the postgame scene an "ugly" one. He said a glass whiskey bottle thrown from the crowd came within three feet of hitting him and that Memphis athletic director R.C. Johnson was pushed.
Calipari suggested that it was the actions of overexcited UAB fans, thinking the Blazers had won before Lawrence Kinnard's too-late game-winning shot was ruled out, that sparked the "melee."
"They went nuts," Calipari said.
At the same time, Calipari would have preferred a more disciplined response from his top-ranked team when some of those fans stormed the court.
"When they came out, there was body to body," Calipari said. "They were on the court pushing, shoving, spitting.
"As your team leaves, they must be mature enough to know a plastic cup is not gonna hurt you; popcorn is not gonna hurt you. Spit, water, beer -- you're taking a shower in about eight minutes. You run off the court and you go. It's a lesson for this team. This has never happened to our team before like this."
Memphis assistant media relations director Lamar Chance declined to make Niles available to the media Monday, citing C-USA's ongoing inquiry. Although Niles has played just once in the Tigers' past seven games, he figures to play an increased role Wednesday against Tulane in the absence of sophomore forward Shawn Taggart, who is out with a bruised right knee and broken nose.
Fallout from the Battle of Birmingham threatened to overshadow preparation for a week that will end with the state's first-ever top-two matchup. Tennessee (23-2) moved from No. 4 to No. 2 in both major polls after losses last week by No. 2 Duke and No. 3 Kansas.
The presence of several high-profile visitors to the Finch Center on Monday, including U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, suggested that this is is no ordinary week on the schedule. The Tigers, however, had little to say about their cross-state rivals with the Green Wave (15-9) first up on their agenda
"We're not worried about Tennessee," Anderson said.
"We're only looking at Tulane," Douglas-Roberts said.
-- Jim Masilak: 529-2311
Vols on Tigers' tail in the polls
Thanks to losses last week by Duke and Kansas, the Tennessee men's basketball team climbed to No. 2 Monday in the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today Top 25 polls. The University of Memphis remained a unanimous No. 1.
Details
It's the first No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup in either school's history and the first in college basketball since No. 2 Ohio State beat No. 1 Wisconsin last February. The No. 2 team has won five of the last six meetings with the top-ranked team since 1994.
It will be just the second time the city of Memphis has hosted a matchup of top-five teams. The first was just last Dec. 22, when then-No. 2 Memphis clobbered No. 5 Georgetown, 85-71.
The Vols are 2-10 all-time against No. 1 teams, beating Kentucky in 1966 and South Carolina in 1969. Tennessee didn't play another No. 1 team until last season, when it lost at No. 1 Florida in February and to No. 1 Ohio State in the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16.
By Jim Masilak
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Chris Douglas-Roberts doesn't think it's ever OK for a player to lay hands on a fan in anger. Or vice versa. But the situation the University of Memphis basketball team faced last Saturday in Birmingham would have tested anyone's limits, the Tigers' junior guard said.
"Nobody wants to be spit on, have beer thrown on you or water. I felt that they just reacted," Douglas-Roberts said of teammates who exchanged taunts and gestures -- and, in the case of sophomore forward Pierre Niles, physical contact -- with UAB fans in the wake of the Tigers' dramatic 79-78 victory at Bartow Arena. "You've just got to keep your cool. We've got a bull's-eye on our backs and we've got to keep our composure."
Conference USA officials are investigating what happened in the chaotic moments after No. 1-ranked Memphis (25-0 overall, 11-0 in C-USA) overturned a late seven-point deficit against the Blazers to remain unbeaten. It remains to be seen what the league office will make of photos that showed Niles making contact with a heckler's face as the Tigers, amid a hail of abuse and debris, made their way off the floor.
"No," Douglas-Roberts said when asked it it was ever OK for a player to touch or strike a fan. "But I don't think that they can jump over the railing or make contact with us."
Faced with such aggression, Douglas-Roberts said it's unreasonable to expect that players would simply "turn the other cheek."
"No," he said, "we can't do that."
Junior forward Robert Dozier thinks the Tigers, who travel to Tulane on Wednesday and host No. 2 Tennessee on Saturday, showed remarkable restraint given the circumstances.
"We're all human," Dozier said. "There's a point where we can only hold back for so long. ... I thought we did a pretty good job getting out of there."
Junior guard Antonio Anderson said he was quickly herded into the tunnel and didn't see much of the extracurricular action behind him.
"They thought they were gonna win and the students were approaching the court. They were gonna storm the court," Anderson said. "When we won (and their last-second shot) didn't count, some those guys ran on the court talking trash. They were throwing beer, spitting -- there was a lot of emotion."
Memphis coach John Calipari called the postgame scene an "ugly" one. He said a glass whiskey bottle thrown from the crowd came within three feet of hitting him and that Memphis athletic director R.C. Johnson was pushed.
Calipari suggested that it was the actions of overexcited UAB fans, thinking the Blazers had won before Lawrence Kinnard's too-late game-winning shot was ruled out, that sparked the "melee."
"They went nuts," Calipari said.
At the same time, Calipari would have preferred a more disciplined response from his top-ranked team when some of those fans stormed the court.
"When they came out, there was body to body," Calipari said. "They were on the court pushing, shoving, spitting.
"As your team leaves, they must be mature enough to know a plastic cup is not gonna hurt you; popcorn is not gonna hurt you. Spit, water, beer -- you're taking a shower in about eight minutes. You run off the court and you go. It's a lesson for this team. This has never happened to our team before like this."
Memphis assistant media relations director Lamar Chance declined to make Niles available to the media Monday, citing C-USA's ongoing inquiry. Although Niles has played just once in the Tigers' past seven games, he figures to play an increased role Wednesday against Tulane in the absence of sophomore forward Shawn Taggart, who is out with a bruised right knee and broken nose.
Fallout from the Battle of Birmingham threatened to overshadow preparation for a week that will end with the state's first-ever top-two matchup. Tennessee (23-2) moved from No. 4 to No. 2 in both major polls after losses last week by No. 2 Duke and No. 3 Kansas.
The presence of several high-profile visitors to the Finch Center on Monday, including U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, suggested that this is is no ordinary week on the schedule. The Tigers, however, had little to say about their cross-state rivals with the Green Wave (15-9) first up on their agenda
"We're not worried about Tennessee," Anderson said.
"We're only looking at Tulane," Douglas-Roberts said.
-- Jim Masilak: 529-2311
Vols on Tigers' tail in the polls
Thanks to losses last week by Duke and Kansas, the Tennessee men's basketball team climbed to No. 2 Monday in the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today Top 25 polls. The University of Memphis remained a unanimous No. 1.
Details
It's the first No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup in either school's history and the first in college basketball since No. 2 Ohio State beat No. 1 Wisconsin last February. The No. 2 team has won five of the last six meetings with the top-ranked team since 1994.
It will be just the second time the city of Memphis has hosted a matchup of top-five teams. The first was just last Dec. 22, when then-No. 2 Memphis clobbered No. 5 Georgetown, 85-71.
The Vols are 2-10 all-time against No. 1 teams, beating Kentucky in 1966 and South Carolina in 1969. Tennessee didn't play another No. 1 team until last season, when it lost at No. 1 Florida in February and to No. 1 Ohio State in the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16.
Geogg Caulkins - Message to Tigers and Vols: Just win on Wednesday, baby
Message to Tigers and Vols: Just win on Wednesday, baby
By Geoff Calkins
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
It was our own Dan Wolken who pushed Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl over the edge.
Wolken -- who covers Memphis basketball for this newspaper -- logged on to Monday's SEC teleconference. He asked if it would be hard for Pearl and John Calipari to keep their teams from looking ahead to Saturday's game between Memphis and Tennessee.
It was the third question about Memphis on the SEC teleconference. Pearl was not amused.
"I'm on an SEC conference call, and we have three or four Memphis questions," Pearl said. "The Auburn Tigers, this week, are the most important game on our schedule because it's an SEC game."
And if you believe that, I've got a bright orange bridge I'd like to sell you.
Or a copy of Pearl and Calipari's new book collaboration, "Best Friends."
Tennessee's most important game this week is against Memphis. Memphis' most important game this week is against Tennessee.
The game is silly big. It's stupid big. And Monday, it got bigger still.
That's when the Associated Press and the ESPN/USA Today polls were released.
The AP poll:
1. Memphis.
2. Tennessee.
The ESPN/USA Today poll:
1. Memphis.
2. Tennessee.
So, uh, coach Pearl, care to comment on the potential challenges posed by Quan Prowell?
He plays for Auburn. And I think I speak for everyone when I say: Who gives a flip?
Just don't lose to Auburn Wednesday night, Tennessee. Don't screw this thing up.
And don't you lose to Tulane Wednesday night, Memphis. Not after so many things had to go right to arrive at this moment in time.
Calipari had to take a program that was in shambles and lift it to No. 1 in the land; Pearl had to take a program that was in shambles and lift it to No. 2.
Really, what are the odds? Memphis and Tennessee, in that order, atop the college basketball universe.
No North Carolinas in between them, no UCLAs or Kentuckys or Ohio States.
At this point last week, Kansas and Duke both ranked ahead of Tennessee in the polls. Somehow, both Kansas and Duke lost.
"ESPN's behind it, it's a conspiracy," Calipari said.
Nope. Calipari and Pearl are behind it. And two teams doing astonishing things.
The latest astonishing thing came Saturday at UAB, where the Tigers rallied from seven points down with 1:30 left.
"We won with what we thought we'd win with," Calipari said, "free-throw shooting."
Calipari laughed. Because what else was there to do? At some point, this stuff becomes impossible to explain.
How did Memphis escape UAB? I don't know. How did the Tigers win 44 straight regular-season games? How did the state of Tennessee become the epicenter of college basketball? How did a coach who can't keep his shirt on turn Knoxville into a basketball town? How did a fast-talking Yankee lift a Conference USA program to a place above any and all BCS conference schools?
"I'll leave that to y'all," said Memphis forward Chris Douglas-Roberts. "I'm focused on Tulane."
Of course he is. Just as Pearl is focused on Auburn. They're a player and a coach. What else do you expect?
Memphis and Tennessee created Saturday's epic match-up by winning single game after single game after single game.
"What Memphis has done to build this streak is to take it one game at a time," Pearl said. "Obviously, we're going to do the same thing."
So for Tennessee, it's Auburn. For Memphis, it's Tulane. No peeking. No looking ahead at history.
"We're only looking at Tulane," said Douglas-Roberts.
Uh-huh. Sure you are. Remind us again, who plays for Tulane, Chris?
He laughed.
"I don't know," he said.
To reach Geoff Calkins, call him at 529-2364 or e-mail calkins@commercialappeal.com
No. 1 Memphis vs. No. 2 Tennessee
When, where: 8 p.m. Saturday at FedExForum
TV: ESPN
Tickets: Sold out
Monday, February 18, 2008
The UAB Game, The Fans, The Slap, #1 vs #2 and More .................
Ok, I just couldn't stand it anymore. I have read articles locally and a few nationally, but have many more to still read tonight about the Tigers game at UAB.
I'm really somewhat annoyed at what I have heard on the radio and read from the media. I am fine with the opinion that the UAB fans were wrong to react the way they did and that the Tiger players were too reactive; however, I have a lot of problems with this talk that Joey Dorsey's intention was to enter the stands and crack some heads. I'm sorry, I guess I didn't realize that mind reading really is possible. Perhaps, the coaches, players and police officers holding Joey were just pushing him toward the locker room so nothing could happen. Perhaps, they all realize Joey is a hot head and they were looking to avoid a situation.
If the media want to pick on someone, choose Pierre Niles who can NOT under any circumstances lay a hand on a fan. If the fan hit him first then perhaps some reaction is warranted, but no matter what that jerk says about Pierre's mother, weight, girlfriend, weight, grandmother, weight, etc. Pierre can not touch him.
A really good case could be made for kicking Niles off the team.
Hey, UAB officials, have you ever considered hiring sufficient security? How many UAB fans were arrested for throwing items at the team? Yes, I know you can't kick the fans out of the game that is already over, but you can not permit them to attend another game this season. You can punish students in other ways.
Ok, enough on that.
So, my opinion of the game. I was scared to death. I really had a bad feeling about that game for several days prior. Memphis vs UAB is the biggest rivalry in C-USA for Memphis even though it is less of a rivalry than Tennessee, Ole Miss, Cincinnati or Louisville. I think it is safe to say this year's game just jacked up the rivalry up a notch.
UAB looked pretty good. I know they are only an RPI mid 70's, but they played much better than that on their home court. Indiana-transfer Robert Vaden is impressive and several of those shots were really hard to make - kind of like Chris Lofton going off against Memphis in Knoxville last year. I wasn't surprised that Kenard played so well. He is from Memphis, after all, and that is always a recipe for a great performance. You know, when the guy wants to show the Memphis coaches that they should have given him a scholarship.
At first I was thinking Memphis might get blown out. UAB was shooting 60%-65% from the field. It was obvious that UAB was packing in the zone and Memphis can certainly have those games where 3's just don't go down, but CDR, Anderson and Mack were on. Speaking of Antonio Anderson, where did that come from? It was the game we have all been waiting for since the Cincinnati game his freshman year.
The bigs all missed the bus to the the arena. I was surprised that both Dorsey and Dozier were no shows. Typically, at least one of the two will come to play offensively. The game did expose another part of Joey Dorsey's weaknesses (free throws being the obvious) - low post moves. Joey is great on lobs, great on the glass, great for junk baskets, but he has no game developing a shot.
CDR was an, excuse me, THE All-American. What a performance. Anderson's play probably won the game because everyone expects CDR to perform. Anderson was the surprise, but nine points down the strech from the two of them on three possessions was special.
That game will we remembered in Tiger history for years to come.
So, here we are, the Vols coming to the FedEx Forum for #1 versus #2. ESPN Game Day set up outside along Beale Street. Wow, I can't wait. Oh no, I can't go. I'm stuck attending a dinner my wife committed me to months ago. Yeah, I know what your thinking, but a divorce will be really costly, and with my luck, she'll end up with my Tiger season tickets in the settlement.
I'll be posting more on the Vols later this week. At the moment, I am trying to be a classy guy and not bust on the Vols, but if the Vol fans start with the Tiger High stuff, I'll be forced to break out the red neck, coon dog pictures.
But, aren't we getting ahead of ourselves? Tulane on Wednesday night. This will not be an easy game and Memphis could easily be looking forward to Saturday. Let's face it. Memphis really isn't playing all that great right now. They have had less than stellar performances over the past two weeks - remember UTEP. Houston in Memphis was no cake walk. I was there.
So, here is my predictions. Memphis wins at Tulane by 12 and Memphis wins by 6 over Tennessee.
Birmingham News - You ain't seen nothing yet from UAB's basketball team
You ain't seen nothing yet from UAB's basketball team
Sports columnist Kevin Scarbinsky
Monday, February 18, 2008
When the UAB basketball team wins the Conference USA regular-season title next year - not if, but when - some people are going to eat their words. I'll take mine with a side of cheese biscuits from Jim'n' Nick's.
Why slither out on a limb and predict a championship so far in advance? Why contradict something I wrote last week about playing for second place as long as John Calipari stays at Memphis?
In Saturday night's one-point loss to the No. 1 Tigers, for 40 minutes against the best team in the nation, the Blazers were that good. Someday we'll all remember that night, not for the ending, but as a beginning.
UAB may have lost 79-78, but 73 of UAB's points were scored by players expected to return next season. If junior Robert Vaden can score 27 points against the best defensive team in the league despite a pulled groin, imagine what he might do fully healthy.
Chris Douglas-Roberts led Memphis with 32 points, including the game-winning 3-point play with 6.5 seconds left. He's just a junior, too, but if he plays in the FedEx Forum next season, it'll be for or against the NBA's Grizzlies.
Memphis has been so good for so long, it's easy to overlook that the Tigers are better than ever under Calipari. They're 25-0 this season, and they've now won 44 straight regular-season games.
That's the longest streak in major college basketball in three decades, and before you question whether the rest of Conference USA qualifies as major college basketball, go watch Wednesday's Houston at UAB game.
In the last week, each of them led Memphis at halftime.
In the next three weeks, both of them have a chance to play themselves onto the NCAA Tournament bubble.
The last major college team to win at least 44 regular-season games in a row was Indiana with 57 straight from 1975 into 1977. That streak included the last undefeated national championship season in 1976.
Memphis is headed in that direction.
As good as Memphis is, it was exactly, barely one play better than UAB. Only a champion could've come into that juiced atmosphere in that packed house and survived on a night when the promises of Mike Davis were backed up by the best UAB performance since the 2006 team became the last C-USA team to beat Memphis.
Memphis may have won the game, but UAB controlled the game for longer stretches. The Blazers led by as many as 11 points in the first half. The biggest lead the Tigers ran up was six points, twice, midway through the second half. Each time, UAB scored on its next possession.
UAB led by seven points with 2½ minutes left, with 2 minutes to play, with 1½ minutes remaining, but couldn't deliver the knockout, and you don't beat the champs by decision.
Davis tends to exaggerate when he talks about his basketball players and his basketball teams, and his exuberance can be irrational at times.
Not this time.
His 2008 team ain't bad, but he's been saying his 2009 UAB team is going to be really good.
It's not hyperbole.
Some of the rest of us just needed to see this year's team measure up to Memphis to see the light. Kevin Scarbinsky's column appears Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Write him at kscarbinsky@bhamnews.com
Sports columnist Kevin Scarbinsky
Monday, February 18, 2008
When the UAB basketball team wins the Conference USA regular-season title next year - not if, but when - some people are going to eat their words. I'll take mine with a side of cheese biscuits from Jim'n' Nick's.
Why slither out on a limb and predict a championship so far in advance? Why contradict something I wrote last week about playing for second place as long as John Calipari stays at Memphis?
In Saturday night's one-point loss to the No. 1 Tigers, for 40 minutes against the best team in the nation, the Blazers were that good. Someday we'll all remember that night, not for the ending, but as a beginning.
UAB may have lost 79-78, but 73 of UAB's points were scored by players expected to return next season. If junior Robert Vaden can score 27 points against the best defensive team in the league despite a pulled groin, imagine what he might do fully healthy.
Chris Douglas-Roberts led Memphis with 32 points, including the game-winning 3-point play with 6.5 seconds left. He's just a junior, too, but if he plays in the FedEx Forum next season, it'll be for or against the NBA's Grizzlies.
Memphis has been so good for so long, it's easy to overlook that the Tigers are better than ever under Calipari. They're 25-0 this season, and they've now won 44 straight regular-season games.
That's the longest streak in major college basketball in three decades, and before you question whether the rest of Conference USA qualifies as major college basketball, go watch Wednesday's Houston at UAB game.
In the last week, each of them led Memphis at halftime.
In the next three weeks, both of them have a chance to play themselves onto the NCAA Tournament bubble.
The last major college team to win at least 44 regular-season games in a row was Indiana with 57 straight from 1975 into 1977. That streak included the last undefeated national championship season in 1976.
Memphis is headed in that direction.
As good as Memphis is, it was exactly, barely one play better than UAB. Only a champion could've come into that juiced atmosphere in that packed house and survived on a night when the promises of Mike Davis were backed up by the best UAB performance since the 2006 team became the last C-USA team to beat Memphis.
Memphis may have won the game, but UAB controlled the game for longer stretches. The Blazers led by as many as 11 points in the first half. The biggest lead the Tigers ran up was six points, twice, midway through the second half. Each time, UAB scored on its next possession.
UAB led by seven points with 2½ minutes left, with 2 minutes to play, with 1½ minutes remaining, but couldn't deliver the knockout, and you don't beat the champs by decision.
Davis tends to exaggerate when he talks about his basketball players and his basketball teams, and his exuberance can be irrational at times.
Not this time.
His 2008 team ain't bad, but he's been saying his 2009 UAB team is going to be really good.
It's not hyperbole.
Some of the rest of us just needed to see this year's team measure up to Memphis to see the light. Kevin Scarbinsky's column appears Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Write him at kscarbinsky@bhamnews.com
CBS Sports Gary Parrish - Monday Look Back: Please do not provoke the Tigers
Monday Look Back: Please do not provoke the Tigers
Feb. 18, 2008
By Gary Parrish
CBSSports.com Senior Writer
When are you people gonna learn?
Stop stepping to Memphis basketball players!
There are many things you can get away with in life, but talking crazy to Memphis basketball players isn't one of them. Most folks will walk away, I know. But not these guys.
If you want to step up, fine. But you must understand they're gonna step up too, and it doesn't matter if you're a bouncer inside a club, a woman outside a club or a UAB student in the stands.
Yep, that's the newest allegation surrounding the Tigers.
It appears seldom-used wide body Pierre Niles smacked somebody dressed as Larry the Cable Guy right in the face on his way to the locker room Saturday night. Mark Weber of The Commercial Appeal caught Niles in the act, and perhaps now everybody will understand and live by the three rules of sport.
1. Don't date O.J. Simpson.
2. Don't trust Brian McNamee.
3. Don't mess with a Tiger.
(You saw what happened to Siegfried and Roy)
Anyway, here's the Monday Look Back.
Best game of the weekend: Before Niles popped a UAB fan in the face, Chris Douglas-Roberts popped all UAB fans in the gut (figuratively, not literally, it must be noted). The All-America candidate converted a three-point play with 6.5 seconds remaining to cap a 9-1 run that helped Memphis overcome a seven-point deficit in the final 83 seconds and record a 79-78 victory at UAB that was impressive on many levels. The team that can't make 3-pointers (Memphis ranks 220th nationally) made two in that crucial stretch, and the team that can't make free throws (341st) made one for the win.
It really would have been a perfect night all around if the Tigers would have just taken their victory to the locker room without incident, but unfortunately some -- and that's some, not all -- of them aren't the types to pass up the opportunity to have a good old fashioned altercation, provoked or unprovoked.
Memphis Flyer - FROM MY SEAT: Game of the Century?
FROM MY SEAT: Game of the Century?
Memphis Flyer
BY FRANK MURTAUGH | FEBRUARY 18, 2008
Frank Murtaugh This Saturday night at FedExForum, Memphis will host the closest thing to a Final Four the city has ever seen. The top two college basketball teams in the country will share a floor for 40 minutes, and with more than a state's bragging rights on the line. Memphis vs. Tennessee. The Game of the Year, and perhaps more.
In trying to name the greatest regular-season game in the history of Memphis Tiger basketball, we're almost forced to wear blinders. Why even look beyond the fabled series -- sadly, now former series -- between the U of M and the University of Louisville? Particularly during the 1980s -- when Louisville won a pair of national titles, Memphis reached the '85 Final Four, and the teams traded Metro Conference championships like a flu bug -- Tigers-Cardinals is among the preeminent rivalries in the history of college basketball. From the 1980-81 season through 1988-89, the teams played 18 times, each winning nine. Considering the stage of the season when it was played (the Tigers' regular-season finale) and the ranking of each squad (Tigers were 17th, Cardinals 3rd in the country), the March 6, 1983, game that Louisville won, 64-62 in overtime, might qualify as the "greatest ever."
But a new era's upon us. A necessary ingredient for a great rivalry is really sort of ugly: hatred. (A large part of the Memphis-Louisville rivalry died for me the day Milt Wagner -- who played in that 1983 game in a red uniform -- graduated from the U of M.) And Memphis sports fans who hate the University of Tennessee grow in number with every whipping at the hands of the Big Orange on the gridiron. (Wasn't that 1996 upset -- now five UT victories ago -- supposed to change things?) And this burst of animosity has been relatively independent of the cross-state recruiting rivalry now sizzling between Tiger basketball coach John Calipari and his orange-blazer-wearing counterpart, Bruce Pearl.
All of which makes this Saturday's contest between the top-ranked Tigers and the Vols -- until this season, UT had never been ranked among the nation's top three -- the biggest game between state rivals Tennessee has ever seen, one of the three or four biggest games in the entire country this season, and -- depending on the result -- the biggest regular-season game in Memphis Tiger history.
[Full disclosure: I'm the son of two Tennessee alumni and the husband of a Memphis alum. I won't lose Saturday night . . . but I surely won't win, either.]
What would a victory mean for these teams, these schools, these regions of Tennessee hoopdom? For the Vols, it would be the biggest win in years over a school not named Kentucky. (That win over Florida a year ago was a mighty upset, but the Gators are Johnny-Come-Latelies relative to the basketball history celebrated by Memphis.) It would be a shot across the bow by Pearl for any recruits in Calipari's clutches who might not have considered Knoxville anything more than women's basketball country. And it would keep a Tiger program under heel in a series somehow led by the Volunteers, 11-7. (Note that the two schools only played one game -- in 1969 -- before the 1988-89 season.)
And for the home team? The hosts of an ESPN Gameday crew that finds itself spotlighting the pride of Conference USA for an entire nation? The win would be a final, pre-NCAA tournament validation for all that John Calipari has preached since his arrival eight years ago. League be damned, Memphis is a program that will compete for NATIONAL championships. Any other program -- regardless of conference might -- with the stones to visit FedExForum will be welcomed with an old-fashioned, Southern-flavored, close-fisted sock in the mouth. (That's a metaphor, people. No excuses for the postgame behavior last weekend in Birmingham.)
If you go back to December 23, 2006, when Memphis began a 25-game winning streak by beating Middle Tennessee at FedExForum, the Tigers' are 50-1 through Saturday's win at UAB. That, basketball fans, is a pinch-me, rub-your-eyes, you-gotta-be-kidding-me record for any college team, be they members of C-USA, the ACC, or the YMCA. The U of M has not, of course, played the Tennessee Vols over the course of those 51 games. And a team's ultimate legacy, it's ultimate image is determined on the brightest of stages, in front of the most eyes and cameras, with the most at stake. (Just ask the New England Patriots.) Next Saturday's bout -- in downtown Memphis -- between the two best college basketball teams in the country will not determine a championship. But it will be a moment on this city's sports timeline never to be forgotten.
Memphis Flyer
BY FRANK MURTAUGH | FEBRUARY 18, 2008
Frank Murtaugh This Saturday night at FedExForum, Memphis will host the closest thing to a Final Four the city has ever seen. The top two college basketball teams in the country will share a floor for 40 minutes, and with more than a state's bragging rights on the line. Memphis vs. Tennessee. The Game of the Year, and perhaps more.
In trying to name the greatest regular-season game in the history of Memphis Tiger basketball, we're almost forced to wear blinders. Why even look beyond the fabled series -- sadly, now former series -- between the U of M and the University of Louisville? Particularly during the 1980s -- when Louisville won a pair of national titles, Memphis reached the '85 Final Four, and the teams traded Metro Conference championships like a flu bug -- Tigers-Cardinals is among the preeminent rivalries in the history of college basketball. From the 1980-81 season through 1988-89, the teams played 18 times, each winning nine. Considering the stage of the season when it was played (the Tigers' regular-season finale) and the ranking of each squad (Tigers were 17th, Cardinals 3rd in the country), the March 6, 1983, game that Louisville won, 64-62 in overtime, might qualify as the "greatest ever."
But a new era's upon us. A necessary ingredient for a great rivalry is really sort of ugly: hatred. (A large part of the Memphis-Louisville rivalry died for me the day Milt Wagner -- who played in that 1983 game in a red uniform -- graduated from the U of M.) And Memphis sports fans who hate the University of Tennessee grow in number with every whipping at the hands of the Big Orange on the gridiron. (Wasn't that 1996 upset -- now five UT victories ago -- supposed to change things?) And this burst of animosity has been relatively independent of the cross-state recruiting rivalry now sizzling between Tiger basketball coach John Calipari and his orange-blazer-wearing counterpart, Bruce Pearl.
All of which makes this Saturday's contest between the top-ranked Tigers and the Vols -- until this season, UT had never been ranked among the nation's top three -- the biggest game between state rivals Tennessee has ever seen, one of the three or four biggest games in the entire country this season, and -- depending on the result -- the biggest regular-season game in Memphis Tiger history.
[Full disclosure: I'm the son of two Tennessee alumni and the husband of a Memphis alum. I won't lose Saturday night . . . but I surely won't win, either.]
What would a victory mean for these teams, these schools, these regions of Tennessee hoopdom? For the Vols, it would be the biggest win in years over a school not named Kentucky. (That win over Florida a year ago was a mighty upset, but the Gators are Johnny-Come-Latelies relative to the basketball history celebrated by Memphis.) It would be a shot across the bow by Pearl for any recruits in Calipari's clutches who might not have considered Knoxville anything more than women's basketball country. And it would keep a Tiger program under heel in a series somehow led by the Volunteers, 11-7. (Note that the two schools only played one game -- in 1969 -- before the 1988-89 season.)
And for the home team? The hosts of an ESPN Gameday crew that finds itself spotlighting the pride of Conference USA for an entire nation? The win would be a final, pre-NCAA tournament validation for all that John Calipari has preached since his arrival eight years ago. League be damned, Memphis is a program that will compete for NATIONAL championships. Any other program -- regardless of conference might -- with the stones to visit FedExForum will be welcomed with an old-fashioned, Southern-flavored, close-fisted sock in the mouth. (That's a metaphor, people. No excuses for the postgame behavior last weekend in Birmingham.)
If you go back to December 23, 2006, when Memphis began a 25-game winning streak by beating Middle Tennessee at FedExForum, the Tigers' are 50-1 through Saturday's win at UAB. That, basketball fans, is a pinch-me, rub-your-eyes, you-gotta-be-kidding-me record for any college team, be they members of C-USA, the ACC, or the YMCA. The U of M has not, of course, played the Tennessee Vols over the course of those 51 games. And a team's ultimate legacy, it's ultimate image is determined on the brightest of stages, in front of the most eyes and cameras, with the most at stake. (Just ask the New England Patriots.) Next Saturday's bout -- in downtown Memphis -- between the two best college basketball teams in the country will not determine a championship. But it will be a moment on this city's sports timeline never to be forgotten.
Poll puts extra oomph into Tigers-Vols showdown Saturday
Poll puts extra oomph into Tigers-Vols showdown Saturday
ESPN.com
Updated: February 18, 2008, 7:57 PM ET
It's not a stretch to make that argument when No. 1 is 25-0 Memphis and the week's new No. 2 is 23-2 Tennessee -- and the fact the two square off Saturday (9 p.m. ET, ESPN) on the Tigers' FedExForum home court.
Memphis and Tennessee, their campuses separated by 383 miles, will be the first 1-vs.-2 matchup in the coaches' poll since last Feb. 25, when No. 1 Ohio State beat No. 2 Wisconsin 49-48 in Columbus.
The two also are 1-2 in The Associated Press Top 25, also released Monday.
The Tigers, the only undefeated team in Division I men's college basketball and No. 1 for a fifth straight week, again received all 31 first-place votes in the poll despite Saturday's scare at UAB, a 79-78 down-to-the-wire victory thanks to Chris Douglas-Roberts' three-point play with 6.5 seconds left.
The Vols, who have the Southeastern Conference's best mark at 10-1, beat Arkansas and Georgia last week to make the jump from No. 4 in the poll.
In the run-up to Saturday's showdown, both have games on Wednesday; Memphis visits 15-9 Tulane while Tennessee plays host to Auburn, loser of five of its last six.
North Carolina (24-2) made the step up from fifth to third this week, while No. 4 Duke (22-2) and No. 5 Kansas (24-2) fell back two spots after losses to Wake Forest and Texas, respectively.
UCLA (22-3) held put at No. 6, while the Longhorns (21-4) made a four-spot jump to seventh, Butler (24-2) shifted from 10th to eighth, Stanford (21-4) fell from seventh to ninth and Wisconsin (21-4) re-emerged in the first 10 at No. 10.
Stanford trails UCLA by a half-game for the Pac-10 lead.
The second 10 looked like: Big East co-leader Georgetown (20-4), Xavier (21-4), Connecticut (20-5 and winner of nine in a row), Indiana (21-4), Big Ten leader Purdue (21-5, 12-1), Vanderbilt (22-4), Michigan State (20-5), Drake (23-2), Washington State (20-5) and Saint Mary's (22-3). The Hoyas (eighth last week) and Michigan State (ninth) fell out of the top 10.
Notre Dame (19-5), Texas A&M (20-5), poll newcomer Louisville (20-6), Marquette (18-6) and Kansas State (18-6) round out the Top 25. Pittsburgh, 24th last week, fell from the rankings.
ESPN.com
Updated: February 18, 2008, 7:57 PM ET
It's not a stretch to make that argument when No. 1 is 25-0 Memphis and the week's new No. 2 is 23-2 Tennessee -- and the fact the two square off Saturday (9 p.m. ET, ESPN) on the Tigers' FedExForum home court.
Memphis and Tennessee, their campuses separated by 383 miles, will be the first 1-vs.-2 matchup in the coaches' poll since last Feb. 25, when No. 1 Ohio State beat No. 2 Wisconsin 49-48 in Columbus.
The two also are 1-2 in The Associated Press Top 25, also released Monday.
The Tigers, the only undefeated team in Division I men's college basketball and No. 1 for a fifth straight week, again received all 31 first-place votes in the poll despite Saturday's scare at UAB, a 79-78 down-to-the-wire victory thanks to Chris Douglas-Roberts' three-point play with 6.5 seconds left.
The Vols, who have the Southeastern Conference's best mark at 10-1, beat Arkansas and Georgia last week to make the jump from No. 4 in the poll.
In the run-up to Saturday's showdown, both have games on Wednesday; Memphis visits 15-9 Tulane while Tennessee plays host to Auburn, loser of five of its last six.
North Carolina (24-2) made the step up from fifth to third this week, while No. 4 Duke (22-2) and No. 5 Kansas (24-2) fell back two spots after losses to Wake Forest and Texas, respectively.
UCLA (22-3) held put at No. 6, while the Longhorns (21-4) made a four-spot jump to seventh, Butler (24-2) shifted from 10th to eighth, Stanford (21-4) fell from seventh to ninth and Wisconsin (21-4) re-emerged in the first 10 at No. 10.
Stanford trails UCLA by a half-game for the Pac-10 lead.
The second 10 looked like: Big East co-leader Georgetown (20-4), Xavier (21-4), Connecticut (20-5 and winner of nine in a row), Indiana (21-4), Big Ten leader Purdue (21-5, 12-1), Vanderbilt (22-4), Michigan State (20-5), Drake (23-2), Washington State (20-5) and Saint Mary's (22-3). The Hoyas (eighth last week) and Michigan State (ninth) fell out of the top 10.
Notre Dame (19-5), Texas A&M (20-5), poll newcomer Louisville (20-6), Marquette (18-6) and Kansas State (18-6) round out the Top 25. Pittsburgh, 24th last week, fell from the rankings.
Conference USA investigating aftermath of Memphis-UAB game
Conference USA investigating aftermath of Memphis-UAB game
MEMPHIS (AP) — Conference USA officials are investigating what happened after top-ranked Memphis' 79-78 victory over UAB where the Tigers were showered with debris after avoiding an upset.
Cups, water bottles and pompoms were thrown by fans in the UAB student section as the Tigers were being escorted off the court toward their dressing room Saturday night. The Commercial Appeal newspaper published a photo Sunday showing a fan being slapped and identified the player slapping him as Pierre Niles.
"We are currently in the process of gathering all the information about the actions occurring at the conclusion of Saturday night's Memphis-UAB game," the league said in a statement. "We have been in contact with administrators at both UAB and Memphis."
"Sportsmanship and the well-being of our student-athletes, staff and fans are among our highest priorities."
The league did not have a timetable on any decision or possible punishment.
The Southeastern Conference fined Vanderbilt $25,000 in February 2007 when students rushed the court after upsetting then-No. 1 Florida in the school's second violation of the league's sportsmanship policy.
Spokesman for Memphis and UAB did not immediately return telephone messages left by The Associated Press on Sunday afternoon. Memphis coach John Calipari said after the game he expected such a sold-out environment to be heated.
"Students do that. What, do you expect the students to be happy? They were into it, and all I told our guys was just get off the floor. You don't deal with it. You think they're going to kiss you on the lips? You just beat them in a tough, hard game," Calipari said.
Memphis (25-0) remained perfect by outscoring UAB 9-1 in the final 1:23. Robert Vaden missed an off-balance three-pointer, and Lawrence Kinnard's shot in the paint went in. A few of the Tigers walked toward the other end and appeared to be talking back to fans who crowded the end of the court.
Birmingham police officers held onto several Tigers as they walked off the court and toward their dressing room.
Officials were busy reviewing the replay, which showed the shot left his hands after the final second had ticked off the clock.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.
MEMPHIS (AP) — Conference USA officials are investigating what happened after top-ranked Memphis' 79-78 victory over UAB where the Tigers were showered with debris after avoiding an upset.
Cups, water bottles and pompoms were thrown by fans in the UAB student section as the Tigers were being escorted off the court toward their dressing room Saturday night. The Commercial Appeal newspaper published a photo Sunday showing a fan being slapped and identified the player slapping him as Pierre Niles.
"We are currently in the process of gathering all the information about the actions occurring at the conclusion of Saturday night's Memphis-UAB game," the league said in a statement. "We have been in contact with administrators at both UAB and Memphis."
"Sportsmanship and the well-being of our student-athletes, staff and fans are among our highest priorities."
The league did not have a timetable on any decision or possible punishment.
The Southeastern Conference fined Vanderbilt $25,000 in February 2007 when students rushed the court after upsetting then-No. 1 Florida in the school's second violation of the league's sportsmanship policy.
Spokesman for Memphis and UAB did not immediately return telephone messages left by The Associated Press on Sunday afternoon. Memphis coach John Calipari said after the game he expected such a sold-out environment to be heated.
"Students do that. What, do you expect the students to be happy? They were into it, and all I told our guys was just get off the floor. You don't deal with it. You think they're going to kiss you on the lips? You just beat them in a tough, hard game," Calipari said.
Memphis (25-0) remained perfect by outscoring UAB 9-1 in the final 1:23. Robert Vaden missed an off-balance three-pointer, and Lawrence Kinnard's shot in the paint went in. A few of the Tigers walked toward the other end and appeared to be talking back to fans who crowded the end of the court.
Birmingham police officers held onto several Tigers as they walked off the court and toward their dressing room.
Officials were busy reviewing the replay, which showed the shot left his hands after the final second had ticked off the clock.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.
SI.com's Luke Winn - The Weekend That Was: Four Parting Thoughts
The Weekend That Was: Four Parting Thoughts
Memphis is still unbeaten -- but only after Robert Vaden's last-second shot missed the mark for UAB.
1. If ESPN were to begin hyping up Tennessee-Memphis six days early, as if it were college hoops' Super Bowl, I wouldn't have any problem with it. Given what's on the line, the battle for Volunteer State supremacy feels about 10 times more important than the Nos. 2-vs.-3 Duke-Carolina game on Feb. 6. And yet I can't escape the feeling that if the Tigers were going to actually lose during the regular season, it would've happened in an out-of-the-spotlight, on-the-road situation like Saturday night's game in Birmingham.
Memphis-UAB was only televised regionally by CSS, and therefore most of the country only caught the Tigers' amazing comeback (and the ugly postgame melee, with classless Blazers fans throwing debris, and Joey Dorsey being restrained from attacking them) via highlight reels. Down 77-70 with 1:23 to go, the Tigers went on an 9-1 run -- with six of the points coming from All-America lock Chris Douglas-Roberts -- to close the game and save their undefeated season. Whereas Memphis has been prone to cold streaks from the field and the free-throw line in less-hyped Conference USA games, it has looked unbeatable in its marquee matchups at FedEx Forum. Just ask Georgetown, Arizona and Gonzaga how difficult it is to pull off an upset in that building.
(Update: Thanks to this photo posted on the Memphis Commercial Appeal's Web site Sunday, there's evidence of a player identified as Tigers forward Pierre Niles slapping a fan in the UAB student section. So it appears -- beyond what was presented in the highlights -- that there was a lack of class on both sides. Conference USA said on Sunday night that it was investigating the matter.)
Memphis is still unbeaten -- but only after Robert Vaden's last-second shot missed the mark for UAB.
1. If ESPN were to begin hyping up Tennessee-Memphis six days early, as if it were college hoops' Super Bowl, I wouldn't have any problem with it. Given what's on the line, the battle for Volunteer State supremacy feels about 10 times more important than the Nos. 2-vs.-3 Duke-Carolina game on Feb. 6. And yet I can't escape the feeling that if the Tigers were going to actually lose during the regular season, it would've happened in an out-of-the-spotlight, on-the-road situation like Saturday night's game in Birmingham.
Memphis-UAB was only televised regionally by CSS, and therefore most of the country only caught the Tigers' amazing comeback (and the ugly postgame melee, with classless Blazers fans throwing debris, and Joey Dorsey being restrained from attacking them) via highlight reels. Down 77-70 with 1:23 to go, the Tigers went on an 9-1 run -- with six of the points coming from All-America lock Chris Douglas-Roberts -- to close the game and save their undefeated season. Whereas Memphis has been prone to cold streaks from the field and the free-throw line in less-hyped Conference USA games, it has looked unbeatable in its marquee matchups at FedEx Forum. Just ask Georgetown, Arizona and Gonzaga how difficult it is to pull off an upset in that building.
(Update: Thanks to this photo posted on the Memphis Commercial Appeal's Web site Sunday, there's evidence of a player identified as Tigers forward Pierre Niles slapping a fan in the UAB student section. So it appears -- beyond what was presented in the highlights -- that there was a lack of class on both sides. Conference USA said on Sunday night that it was investigating the matter.)
Tigers replay: U of M vs. UAB
Tigers replay: U of M vs. UAB
Sunday, February 17, 2008
AS THE GAME TURNED
Before Memphis' remarkable comeback, the Tigers seemingly missed their best opportunities when both Antonio Anderson and Derrick Rose came up 0-for-2 from the free-throw line with 3:34 and 3:11 remaining, respectively. Those misses left Memphis down 77-70 after Raleigh-Egypt alumnus Lawrence Kinnard made two on the other end. Then, after sophomore Doneal Mack missed a 3-pointer for Memphis, UAB probably should have taken some time off the clock. Instead, Kinnard quickly missed a contested layup. Then, with 1:27 left, UAB star Robert Vaden was called for traveling. Still, it appeared the Tigers' undefeated season was over until Anderson and Chris Douglas-Roberts made consecutive 3-pointers, the latter with 38 seconds to go.
Perhaps this idea of bringing senior Joey Dorsey off the bench isn't so hot after all. Without the 6-9 forward in the game, Memphis got exposed in the paint early on as sophomore Jeremy Mayfield scored over sophomore Shawn Taggart on consecutive possessions to give UAB an 8-7 lead. And the rotation didn't even have the intended effect, which is primarily to keep Dorsey out of foul trouble early. Dorsey came into the game with 14:39 to go in the first half and committed his first foul just 43 seconds later. Then, with 7:53 remaining in the half, Dorsey committed his second foul, bumping into Frank Holmes, allowing a score anyway. He went to the bench with no rebounds and played poorly for all 22 minutes he was in the game, scoring one point with two rebounds.
RIM GEMS
The Tigers did not get many easy looks in transition Saturday, but they took a 51-49 lead early in the second half on one of them. After Anderson missed a 3-pointer, UAB got the ball out of bounds under Memphis' basket. The Tigers set up their press, which Blazers guard Ed Berrios tried to dribble through. Instead, Berrios lost the ball off his leg and into the hands of Rose. He quickly got the ball to Dozier, who completed a tic-tac-toe breakout to Douglas-Roberts flying in from the left side for a two-hand slam. UAB coach Mike Davis immediately called timeout after the basket.
HIDE YOUR EYES
Either the Tigers' scouting report was faulty or they simply did not defend Vaden with much intelligence. Three times in the first half, Memphis made fundamental defensive mistakes, leaving Vaden wide open for 3-pointers that he dropped in to help UAB lead 43-41. With 11:14 left in the first half, Anderson bit on a shot fake, allowing Vaden a clear look from the top of the key. Then, with 5:06 left in the half, Anderson lunged at a pass intended for Vaden. The gamble didn't pay off, as Anderson failed to get his hand on the ball, leaving Vaden open again. And with just a couple of seconds left in the half, Taggart again fell for the fake and the outcome was predictable as Vaden splashed in his 14th point.
SCORER'S TABLE
For both teams, the bulk of the scoring was done by a couple of star players. Anderson and Douglas-Roberts scored 59 points for Memphis, while the rest of the team had just 20. For UAB, Vaden and Kinnard scored 46 as a duo. Though Channing Toney chipped in 10 points for the Blazers, the other seven players combined for 22points.
LOCKER ROOM CHATTER
"It was the best environment we've played in, and you expected it to be heated. Students do that. What, do you expect the students to be happy? They were into it, and all I told our guys was just get off the floor. You don't deal with it. You think they're going to kiss you on the lips? You just beat them in a tough, hard game." -- Memphis coach John Calipari, on the shower of debris thrown by the UAB student section after the final horn.
ODDS AND ENDS
Memphis trailed at halftime for the second game in a row. Before its 37-35 deficit against Houston on Wednesday, the Tigers led at halftime in 16 straight games, dating to the Dec. 4 game against Southern California when they trailed 29-24.
Taggart appeared to hurt his right knee with 9:02 left, the same knee he had surgery on last season to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament. But he came back and played down the stretch. At some point, however, Taggart also broke his nose, according to Calipari. Calipari said he did not know whether Taggart broke his nose during the game or in the fracas after the final buzzer. Taggart declined to be interviewed after the game.
UAB broke out its gold uniforms for the first time in Davis' two seasons as head coach.
The Tigers didn't break any backboards this year in their trip to Bartow Arena. Last season's nationally televised game was delayed by nearly half an hour when former Memphis center Kareem Cooper dunked a ball during warm-ups, which caused a problem with the basket that could not be repaired in time. UAB officials had to use their backup basket. Memphis was not assessed a technical foul but should have been for dunking a ball during warm-ups, which is not allowed because of that very issue.
Alan Graf, chief financial officer for FedEx, was among the boosters sitting behind the Tigers' bench Saturday.
LOOKING AHEAD
Tigers at Tulane, 7 p.m. Wednesday
-- Dan Wolken
Sunday, February 17, 2008
AS THE GAME TURNED
Before Memphis' remarkable comeback, the Tigers seemingly missed their best opportunities when both Antonio Anderson and Derrick Rose came up 0-for-2 from the free-throw line with 3:34 and 3:11 remaining, respectively. Those misses left Memphis down 77-70 after Raleigh-Egypt alumnus Lawrence Kinnard made two on the other end. Then, after sophomore Doneal Mack missed a 3-pointer for Memphis, UAB probably should have taken some time off the clock. Instead, Kinnard quickly missed a contested layup. Then, with 1:27 left, UAB star Robert Vaden was called for traveling. Still, it appeared the Tigers' undefeated season was over until Anderson and Chris Douglas-Roberts made consecutive 3-pointers, the latter with 38 seconds to go.
Perhaps this idea of bringing senior Joey Dorsey off the bench isn't so hot after all. Without the 6-9 forward in the game, Memphis got exposed in the paint early on as sophomore Jeremy Mayfield scored over sophomore Shawn Taggart on consecutive possessions to give UAB an 8-7 lead. And the rotation didn't even have the intended effect, which is primarily to keep Dorsey out of foul trouble early. Dorsey came into the game with 14:39 to go in the first half and committed his first foul just 43 seconds later. Then, with 7:53 remaining in the half, Dorsey committed his second foul, bumping into Frank Holmes, allowing a score anyway. He went to the bench with no rebounds and played poorly for all 22 minutes he was in the game, scoring one point with two rebounds.
RIM GEMS
The Tigers did not get many easy looks in transition Saturday, but they took a 51-49 lead early in the second half on one of them. After Anderson missed a 3-pointer, UAB got the ball out of bounds under Memphis' basket. The Tigers set up their press, which Blazers guard Ed Berrios tried to dribble through. Instead, Berrios lost the ball off his leg and into the hands of Rose. He quickly got the ball to Dozier, who completed a tic-tac-toe breakout to Douglas-Roberts flying in from the left side for a two-hand slam. UAB coach Mike Davis immediately called timeout after the basket.
HIDE YOUR EYES
Either the Tigers' scouting report was faulty or they simply did not defend Vaden with much intelligence. Three times in the first half, Memphis made fundamental defensive mistakes, leaving Vaden wide open for 3-pointers that he dropped in to help UAB lead 43-41. With 11:14 left in the first half, Anderson bit on a shot fake, allowing Vaden a clear look from the top of the key. Then, with 5:06 left in the half, Anderson lunged at a pass intended for Vaden. The gamble didn't pay off, as Anderson failed to get his hand on the ball, leaving Vaden open again. And with just a couple of seconds left in the half, Taggart again fell for the fake and the outcome was predictable as Vaden splashed in his 14th point.
SCORER'S TABLE
For both teams, the bulk of the scoring was done by a couple of star players. Anderson and Douglas-Roberts scored 59 points for Memphis, while the rest of the team had just 20. For UAB, Vaden and Kinnard scored 46 as a duo. Though Channing Toney chipped in 10 points for the Blazers, the other seven players combined for 22points.
LOCKER ROOM CHATTER
"It was the best environment we've played in, and you expected it to be heated. Students do that. What, do you expect the students to be happy? They were into it, and all I told our guys was just get off the floor. You don't deal with it. You think they're going to kiss you on the lips? You just beat them in a tough, hard game." -- Memphis coach John Calipari, on the shower of debris thrown by the UAB student section after the final horn.
ODDS AND ENDS
Memphis trailed at halftime for the second game in a row. Before its 37-35 deficit against Houston on Wednesday, the Tigers led at halftime in 16 straight games, dating to the Dec. 4 game against Southern California when they trailed 29-24.
Taggart appeared to hurt his right knee with 9:02 left, the same knee he had surgery on last season to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament. But he came back and played down the stretch. At some point, however, Taggart also broke his nose, according to Calipari. Calipari said he did not know whether Taggart broke his nose during the game or in the fracas after the final buzzer. Taggart declined to be interviewed after the game.
UAB broke out its gold uniforms for the first time in Davis' two seasons as head coach.
The Tigers didn't break any backboards this year in their trip to Bartow Arena. Last season's nationally televised game was delayed by nearly half an hour when former Memphis center Kareem Cooper dunked a ball during warm-ups, which caused a problem with the basket that could not be repaired in time. UAB officials had to use their backup basket. Memphis was not assessed a technical foul but should have been for dunking a ball during warm-ups, which is not allowed because of that very issue.
Alan Graf, chief financial officer for FedEx, was among the boosters sitting behind the Tigers' bench Saturday.
LOOKING AHEAD
Tigers at Tulane, 7 p.m. Wednesday
-- Dan Wolken
No. 1 Memphis gets CPR from CDR, Tigers erase 7-point deficit in final 1:22 vs. UAB
No. 1 Memphis gets CPR from CDR
Tigers erase 7-point deficit in final 1:22 vs. UAB
Posted: Saturday February 16, 2008
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) -- Chris Douglas-Roberts converted a three-point play with 6.5 seconds left, giving No. 1 Memphis a 79-78 win over UAB Saturday night and keeping the Tigers perfect.
The Blazers' Robert Vaden then missed badly on an off-balance 3-point attempt and Lawrence Kinnard grabbed the long rebound. He heaved up a shot in the paint that went in, and officials promptly headed to the scorer's table to watch replays.
They ruled that Kinnard didn't get the shot off in time.
Several Memphis players had angry exchanges with UAB fans who stormed the court celebrating what they thought was a win. Then the Tigers (25-0, 11-0 Conference USA) were quickly herded to their locker room with their 44-game regular-season and 34-game league winning streaks barely intact.
UAB (17-8, 7-3) is the last CUSA team to beat Memphis, 715 days earlier.
Douglas-Roberts had 32 points and seven rebounds. Antonio Anderson added 27 points and four 3-pointers for the Tigers. They combined to make 22 shots, the rest of the team just six.
The tune was the same at the end.
The Tigers missed nine consecutive shots before Anderson's 3-pointer from the corner cut the deficit 77-73 with 1:22 left. After a UAB miss, Douglas-Roberts drilled a 3 with 38 seconds remaining to trim the deficit to one point.
With 15 seconds left, Robert Vaden then made one of two free throws setting up the final sequences. Douglas-Roberts spun and hit a shot over Vaden, who fouled him.
Vaden scored 27 points and made four 3s for the Blazers after missing the previous game with a groin injury. Memphis native Kinnard added 19 points and 11 boards.
The Tigers tied Texas' 1913-17 teams for the eighth-best regular-season winning streak at 44 games.
Memphis trailed by two points at the half for the second straight game, but this time didn't respond to the challenge.
Vaden's 3-pointer over two defenders at the buzzer gave the Blazers a 43-41 halftime lead. The Tigers had fallen behind 27-16 with only Douglas-Roberts hitting his shots. He made five of his seven attempts over the opening 12 minutes while the rest of the team was a combined 1-of-9.
Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Preview: No. 1 Tigers vs. UAB
Preview: No. 1 Tigers vs. UAB
Saturday, February 16, 2008
7 p.m. Bartow Arena, Birmingham, Ala.
CSS, WREC-AM (600)
Records: Memphis 24-0 (10-0), UAB 17-7 (7-2)
Series: Memphis leads, 24-10
Matchup to watch
Antonio Anderson vs. Robert Vaden
The Tigers will most likely sic their junior defensive stopper on UAB's Vaden, a dangerous 3-point shooter who can also bang down low. Vaden is hitting at better than 40 percent from beyond the arc, but is also comfortable posting up. Anderson, who relishes such challenges, will receive one of his toughest physical challenges of the year from the Indiana transfer and focal point of the Blazers' offense.
Memphis, which just completed a four-game homestand, plays its first road game in 17 days when it travels to UAB to open a two-game Conference USA road swing. The Tigers will go to Tulane on Wednesday before returning home to face Tennessee next Saturday. ... Memphis has not lost on an opponent's floor since a Dec. 21, 2006 setback at Arizona, a span of 424 days and 15 games. ... With two more victories, coach John Calipari will reach the 400-win mark for his career. He has led the Tigers to 10 or more conference wins in seven of his eight seasons ... Memphis swept UAB in the regular season a year ago, winning 70-56 in Birmingham and 79-54 at FedExForum. The Tigers, however, have dropped two of their previous three games at Bartow Arena. ... Memphis moved up a spot to No. 3 in the RPI following Wednesday's victory over Houston. ... The Tigers' 68-59 win over the Cougars was just their fourth single-digit victory of the season. They have won 24 games by an average margin of 20.2 points. ... Senior forward Joey Dorsey averages 12.8 rebounds per game in six meetings with the Blazers. That's well above his overall career average of 8.2. Dorsey needs 17 rebounds to equal Forest Arnold for second all-time among Memphis players. Arnold grabbed 1,109 from 1953-56. ... The two free throws Houston attempted against Memphis on Wednesday were the fewest allowed by the Tigers all season. The previous low was six against Tulsa.
Introducing the Blazers
UAB has won five of its last six games, its lone loss during that span coming in a 93-85 double-overtime setback Feb. 5 at Southern Miss. ... The Blazers are No. 79 in the RPI, their best wins coming against Cincinnati (No. 76) and Kentucky (No. 84). ... The Blazers suffered a blow in December when sophomore forward Walter Sharpe was ruled academically ineligible for the second semester. The Mississippi State transfer was averaging 14.8 points and a team-high 6.8 rebounds per game. ... Junior forward Lawrence Kinnard has been more effective coming off the bench for the Blazers than in a starting role. The former Raleigh-Egypt player is averaging 14.9 points and shooting 48.3 percent from the field in a reserve role. As a starter, those numbers dip to 8.1 ppg and 35 percent. ... Junior guard Channing Toney, who came to UAB from Georgia, is scoring 12.1 ppg after sitting out the first semester due to NCAA transfer rules. ... UAB will be hosting a No. 1-ranked team for just the second time in school history. Top-ranked Cincinnati won 93-80 at Bartow Arena on Feb. 5, 2000. The Blazers are 1-1 overall against top-ranked opponents. They knocked off No. 1 Kentucky during the second round of the 2004 NCAA Tournament, 76-75. ... Junior guard Ed Berrios scored a career-best 15 points, hitting five 3-pointers, in Wednesday's win at Rice. ... UAB is 15-4 since a 2-3 start that included losses to Florida State, Georgia Southern and Rhode Island at the Glenn Wilkes Classic in Daytona Beach, Fla.
-- Jim Masilak
Saturday, February 16, 2008
7 p.m. Bartow Arena, Birmingham, Ala.
CSS, WREC-AM (600)
Records: Memphis 24-0 (10-0), UAB 17-7 (7-2)
Series: Memphis leads, 24-10
Matchup to watch
Antonio Anderson vs. Robert Vaden
The Tigers will most likely sic their junior defensive stopper on UAB's Vaden, a dangerous 3-point shooter who can also bang down low. Vaden is hitting at better than 40 percent from beyond the arc, but is also comfortable posting up. Anderson, who relishes such challenges, will receive one of his toughest physical challenges of the year from the Indiana transfer and focal point of the Blazers' offense.
Memphis, which just completed a four-game homestand, plays its first road game in 17 days when it travels to UAB to open a two-game Conference USA road swing. The Tigers will go to Tulane on Wednesday before returning home to face Tennessee next Saturday. ... Memphis has not lost on an opponent's floor since a Dec. 21, 2006 setback at Arizona, a span of 424 days and 15 games. ... With two more victories, coach John Calipari will reach the 400-win mark for his career. He has led the Tigers to 10 or more conference wins in seven of his eight seasons ... Memphis swept UAB in the regular season a year ago, winning 70-56 in Birmingham and 79-54 at FedExForum. The Tigers, however, have dropped two of their previous three games at Bartow Arena. ... Memphis moved up a spot to No. 3 in the RPI following Wednesday's victory over Houston. ... The Tigers' 68-59 win over the Cougars was just their fourth single-digit victory of the season. They have won 24 games by an average margin of 20.2 points. ... Senior forward Joey Dorsey averages 12.8 rebounds per game in six meetings with the Blazers. That's well above his overall career average of 8.2. Dorsey needs 17 rebounds to equal Forest Arnold for second all-time among Memphis players. Arnold grabbed 1,109 from 1953-56. ... The two free throws Houston attempted against Memphis on Wednesday were the fewest allowed by the Tigers all season. The previous low was six against Tulsa.
Introducing the Blazers
UAB has won five of its last six games, its lone loss during that span coming in a 93-85 double-overtime setback Feb. 5 at Southern Miss. ... The Blazers are No. 79 in the RPI, their best wins coming against Cincinnati (No. 76) and Kentucky (No. 84). ... The Blazers suffered a blow in December when sophomore forward Walter Sharpe was ruled academically ineligible for the second semester. The Mississippi State transfer was averaging 14.8 points and a team-high 6.8 rebounds per game. ... Junior forward Lawrence Kinnard has been more effective coming off the bench for the Blazers than in a starting role. The former Raleigh-Egypt player is averaging 14.9 points and shooting 48.3 percent from the field in a reserve role. As a starter, those numbers dip to 8.1 ppg and 35 percent. ... Junior guard Channing Toney, who came to UAB from Georgia, is scoring 12.1 ppg after sitting out the first semester due to NCAA transfer rules. ... UAB will be hosting a No. 1-ranked team for just the second time in school history. Top-ranked Cincinnati won 93-80 at Bartow Arena on Feb. 5, 2000. The Blazers are 1-1 overall against top-ranked opponents. They knocked off No. 1 Kentucky during the second round of the 2004 NCAA Tournament, 76-75. ... Junior guard Ed Berrios scored a career-best 15 points, hitting five 3-pointers, in Wednesday's win at Rice. ... UAB is 15-4 since a 2-3 start that included losses to Florida State, Georgia Southern and Rhode Island at the Glenn Wilkes Classic in Daytona Beach, Fla.
-- Jim Masilak
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