HOUSTON -- Barely 90 seconds had gone by in what was a dynamic game between Memphis and Texas that featured numerous high tops above the rim when much of Reliant Stadium, jammed with Longhorns fans, nevertheless collectively lost its breath.
Future NBA All-Star Derrick Rose, who apparently has a severe phobia of needles and even stronger allergic reaction to sucking at basketball, was accidentally smacked in the face during a Connor Atchley dunk. Rose, already sporting a bandage over his right eye from a previous cut, was momentarily stunned. He walked off the court, slowly rubbing his face and blinking rapidly. Suddenly, there was panic in the air.
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| Derrick Rose takes a few licks, but returns to deliver the knockout blow for Final Four-bound Memphis. (AP) |
Memphis 85, Texas 67. Rose: a practically flawless postseason thus far.
Make no mistake: This was a multi-pronged butt whipping of a very good Texas team. The Tigers used their significant athletic and size advantage to punish the Longhorns physically. The Tigers are like Mike Tyson pre-Buster Douglas -- they just bash your face in early with waves of long, intimidating athletes. By the time teams pull themselves off the floor, they're trailing by 20.
Memphis even made most of its free throws. Now we know the world will soon spin off its axis.
The symbol of the Tigers' dominance was Rose. There might be someone I'm missing but I'm uncertain if there has been a faster player in recent years from end to end than Rose. If you timed him in the 40-yard dash, the clock would start ticking backward -- he's so speedy.
"He's become a great player," said Texas' D.J. Augustin.
On one play in the first half, Rose jumped high above the rim, grabbed a rebound, and in about 3-4 seconds, was gently laying the ball in at the other end of the court.
Texas has faced some of the better teams in the nation this year but still at times the Longhorns looked like they were suffering from post-traumatic Rose disorder.
See Rose steal the basketball and lead the break. See Rose dish for a dunk. See him get the rebound. See Rose steal the basketball from Texas' great guards.
Never thought these words would ever be stated but Texas uber-guard Augustin was thoroughly outclassed by Rose.
"Just living a dream right now," said Rose.
After the game, Rose spoke to his mother on the telephone. She began to cry. He almost started crying. So Rose got off the line as quickly as possible because he didn't want to tear up in the locker room.
In the first half, Augustin and guard A.J. Abrams must have felt like crying as well but for different reasons. They were a combined 2 of 12 for nine points. The two guards finished the game just 10 of 34.
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Entering this game, the Longhorns committed the fewest number of turnovers in the nation. In the first half alone, Augustin had four. On Friday against Stanford, the entire team had only six.
The biggest reason for the Longhorns' poor offensive shooting and sloppy ball handling was because of the size advantage of Rose and Chris Douglas-Roberts (who also combined to score 16 of the first 18 points in the first six minutes of the game). Augustin and Abrams constantly had long arms in their faces when shooting. It was like trying to make buckets over Manute Bol.
"It was pretty difficult trying to get shots off over them," said Abrams.
"I don't think we've seen as good a defense all year as (we saw) today," said Texas coach Rick Barnes.
"They made things terrible," said Atchley of the Memphis defense. "They are long and athletic so we had to make extra cuts but we couldn't make many shots in the first half and you can't do that against a team like Memphis."
There was a telling scene late in the game when Augustin was attempting to guard the 7-inch-taller Douglas-Roberts but was getting shoved around, forcing Augustin to grab Douglas-Roberts and get called for a foul. It looked, at least for a moment, that the unflappable Augustin was rattled.
As Augustin and Douglas-Roberts separated, the latter gave Augustin a little shove as if to say: get out of here little man.
Please forgive me if I mention another college basketball player besides Tyler Hansbrough who has grit and determination. Rose has both in abundance. As Texas was making a strong run to begin the second half, Rose, deep inside the post area and falling back, made an arching jumper over the outstretched hands of the 6-foot-10 Atchley. It was a tough, gritty play that secured a 43-34 lead for Memphis.
More grittiness. Rose led Memphis to a win in what was basically a home game for the Longhorns. In two games in the South Region, Rose shot 17-of-26 from the field and averaged 24 points, seven assists and five rebounds. He was named the region's most outstanding player.
There was another time when Rose was hit in the face, this time by Augustin. Rose gets hammered constantly and crawls right back to his feet. Gritty.
Actually, do you know who Rose resembles?
John Stockton.
(Except Rose isn't dirty.)
Rose has Stockton's offensive skill set, toughness and intensity as well as those super-quick hands.
Derrick Stockton Rose.
With three minutes left in the game and up by 19 points, Memphis players began holding up four fingers knowing their trip to San Antonio was secure.
The number they should have been holding up was 23.
Rose's number.
