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Memphis Tigers
Location: Memphis, Tenn. | Founded: 1912 | Enrollment: 20,332 | Colors: Blue and Gray
Coach: Josh Pastner | Home Court: FedEx Forum | Capacity: 18,400

Record: (4-1, 0-0 Conference USA)
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Tigers report: Getting inside
 

The Sports Xchange
 
 
Getting inside · Notes, quotes · Strategy and personnel
 

 

Memphis came seconds away from reaching its ultimate goal for the 2007-08 season.

"Ten seconds to go, we're thinking we're national champs, all of a sudden a kid makes a shot, and we're not," Memphis coach John Calipari said after his team suffered a 75-68 overtime loss to Kansas in the NCAA Tournament championship game. "It will probably hit me like a ton of bricks tomorrow, that we had it in our grasp."

After winning 38 games, losing only one in the regular season and spending five weeks at No. 1, Memphis made an impressive run through the NCAA Tournament that included wins over Michigan State, Texas and UCLA.

In the championship game, the Tigers appeared to have everything under control when they took a 60-51 lead with 2:12 left in regulation. The Jayhawks spent the final two minutes chipping away while the Tigers blew several opportunities to put the game away.

At that point, two of Memphis' season-long struggles returned after the Tigers seemed past them in the NCAA Tournament. First, senior center Joey Dorsey fouled out with 1:23 left after having played with more discipline and purpose during the tournament.

"When I got my fifth foul I was like, 'Oh my God,'" Dorsey said. "I felt like I was letting my teammates down again. And I was hoping it wouldn't go to overtime."

Then guards Chris Douglas-Roberts and Derrick Rose combined to miss four of five free throws in the final 1:15 after scoring so effectively from the free-throw line throughout the postseason.

"Yeah, it came back and bit us," Douglas-Roberts said. "We missed them at a crucial time."

Rose was correct when he said, "It wasn't really the free throws. If we'd done things before the free throws, we would've been in good shape." At the same time, any one of those free throws would have forced Kansas to score twice in the final seconds of regulation. Instead, after Rose put the Tigers ahead 63-60 by making one of two free throws with 10 seconds left, the Jayhawks got one last chance.

The Tigers intended to foul Kansas guard Sherron Collins as he raced downcourt and Rose believed he had done that, but the officials -- as they had done most of the game -- allowed the players to decide the outcome. Collins passed to Mario Chalmers, who sank a contested 3-pointer with 2.1 seconds to send the game into overtime.

The Jayhawks' comeback seemed to take the air out of the Tigers. When Kansas threw the first punches in overtime, Memphis never responded and failed to give itself a chance in overtime.

"They did everything they were supposed to do to put us in a position to win a national title," Calipari said of his players. "What happened out there is not on one person, it's on all of us including me. You have the kind of lead we had, you're supposed to win the game."

Instead of celebrating the program's first national championship, the Tigers will have to move forward toward an uncertain future. The Tigers hit a home run when top prep Tyreke Evans announced his intentions to attend Memphis at his April 16 Signing Day press conference.

But Calipari knows he is losing Dorsey, backup point guard Andre Allen and Rose, but he also anticipates losing Douglas-Roberts.

Douglas-Roberts, a first-team All-American and the C-USA player of the year, was regarded as a likely candidate to go pro throughout the season. A strong performance in the postseason and a realistic opportunity to be selected in the first round might have convinced him to enter the NBA draft.

Rose came to Memphis as one of the nation's top prospects and Calipari knew Rose might be gone after one season. Rose's impressive run throughout the NCAA Tournament led to speculation among NBA Draft analysts that he might have moved ahead of Kansas State freshman Michael Beasley in the battle to be the overall No. 1 pick in the draft. Either way, Rose couldn't resist the tug and his game indicates he might be ready for the big leagues.

Two other junior starters, guard Antonio Anderson and forward Robert Dozier, are expected to return for their senior seasons. The same is true for the remainder of the roster, but players such as Anderson, Dozier, sophomore center Shawn Taggart, sophomore guards Willie Kemp and freshman wing Jeff Robinson all have growing to do as the Tigers' search for new go-to players to replace Rose and Douglas-Roberts. The tough, physical presence Dorsey provided won't be easily replaced either.

Calipari has already secured three prospects -- superstar guard Evans, rangy 6-8, 215-pound forward Matt Simpkins and 6-10, 210-pound Angel Garcia. Both add length, athleticism and ball skills to the Tigers' interior game but neither appears ready to make a big impact on the defensive end and the boards.

If Calipari can convince Devin Ebanks, a 6-8, 185-pound small forward from Oakdale, Conn., to join the Tigers, Memphis might be fully loaded next season when many expected a dropoff.

Copyright (C) 2008 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.

 
 

Memphis Tigers Message Board
Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Nov 16, 2007

November 24, 2009 11:45 pm
(POLL) I know we are Memphis fans, but come on!!! Looking at this objectively, we should be concidered for ranking next Monday.
I ask you fellow Tiger fans, where do we realistically belong, chance to take down a "Pro" team in Kansas, and 3 absoulute clobberings of other teams. Do the math.
What ranking do you think the Tigers deserve?
Reputation:96
Level:Superstar
Since:Feb 22, 2007

November 25, 2009 12:44 pm
I was reading the Bleacher Report about Angel Garcia attempting to speed up his return to possibly play in Jan. this season.
Although I applaud his determination to get out there and play, I wonder given his injuries to BOTH knees how smart a move this is?
As much as we need the depth and size right now, I really question his durability and wonder if it would be better to wait till next
...(more)
Reputation:87
Level:All-Star
Since:Nov 29, 2007

October 19, 2009 11:40 pm
Who do you guys expect to have a break-out season? I've been feeling Sallie since the 1st Tulsa game last season and his play during the Tourney was phenomenal. Guaranteed money from 3 from da 3. What do you guys think? Is Sallie our go-to guy?
Reputation:95
Level:Superstar
Since:Feb 4, 2008

November 18, 2009 11:17 am
Man what a day for college basketball yesterday turned out to be!!!  First Georgetown struggled.  Then the "Zags"!!!  My goodness, what a GREAT GAME!!!  Michigan State had all they could handle.  Then my beloved Tigers took on #1 Kansas.  The Tigers showed a LOT of heart last night.  They hustled on both ends of the floor.  Of course we had a poor ...(more)
Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Mar 3, 2007

November 18, 2009 12:23 am
You guys should be proud of your effort tonight unranked and playing the number one team in the country and coming that close after an offseason of turmoil.  You guys have got alot in common with us Zags, were both completly different than last year but competed on the road with top teams in the country, we should both break into the top 25 in a few weeks, and continue our tourney runs. Good ...(more)
Reputation:95
Level:Superstar
Since:Feb 4, 2008

November 17, 2009 2:21 pm
First, Will Barton.  Next, Joe Jackson.  Then Jelan Kendrick.  Now, Tarik Black.  It's official.  Memphis has the #1 recruiting class for the
2010-11 season.  I don't know what Pastner is telling these kids, but it's working.  He is the genuine article.  What you see is what you get.  You almost don't want to believe that anybody can be that posit
...(more)
Reputation:93
Level:All-Star
Since:Feb 24, 2009

November 15, 2009 6:29 pm
ok tiger fans and jhawk fans. its really gonna be hard for memphis to win this game against kansas, however stranger things have happened. there overall depth and talent should wear us down in the second half, but if we can play defense and rebound u never know. i really think these tigers have alot of heart and i have been impressed with coach paz. cant wait to see how my tigers stack up against ...(more)
Reputation:94
Level:All-Star
Since:Jun 30, 2009

November 14, 2009 1:02 am
Okay, I admit that I was a little bit worried tonight about the Jackson St. game and it was all for nothing. Pastner is a helluva coach. The team played well.  I expect Mack to bring the d next game.  I expect Coleman to double double again. I expect Niles at a double double. Roburt Sallie needs to keep on gritting it out. The hard work pays off. WesleWitherspoon is progresiing ...(more)
Reputation:86
Level:All-Star
Since:Jun 23, 2009

November 11, 2009 4:33 pm
According to the Commercial Appeal and Scouts.com, Hippolyte Tsafack, a big built power forward, has commited to the TIGERS!!!!  This is our first forward to commit to the tigers for 2010. The class now includes 5 star players Joe Jackson and Will Barton, 4 star player Chris Crawford, and 3 star players Antonio Barton and Hippolyte Tsafack. We are getting closer to having that #1 recruiting c ...(more)
Reputation:94
Level:All-Star
Since:Aug 20, 2009

November 13, 2009 5:03 pm
The Tigers kick it off tonight against Jackson State, and I've been waiting for this since april. The vets and the new players we have should be ready to get on the court and show the country we are still a good team (minus you know who). Nobody is giving us a chance, especially with the lost of all the recruits that were suppose to come to Memphis this season. The lost of Angel Garcia is goi ...(more)
Reputation:94
Level:All-Star
Since:Jul 11, 2008

November 15, 2009 1:25 am
Yes!!! The deal is done. 
 Jelan Kendrick will be a Memphis Tiger. 
2009-2010 has great potential, but 2010-2011 - the word is "WOW".   
I believe that Memphis will have it's dream class after all. 
Thank You Coach Pastner!!!  & Go Tigers!!!
Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Aug 21, 2007

November 16, 2009 11:54 am
I just watched your coach on First and 10.  Man that guy seems like an awesome guy with a great personality.  Good luck this season, I hope the young guy comes out and does well vs Kansas.
Reputation:95
Level:Superstar
Since:Feb 4, 2008

November 2, 2009 11:32 am
It's been a while since I've been on here, but B-Ball season is just around the corner.  Tiger fans, we took one on the chin with the departure of Shallowpari, and as we wade through the waters of dishonesty he left behind (nothing his name is attatched to of course), we find ourselves asking "Will we ever be back to what we once were?"  I'm here to tell you, without ...(more)
Reputation:93
Level:All-Star
Since:Feb 24, 2009

November 16, 2009 9:32 pm
great job coach p. 1 more big, # 1 class GO TIGERS
Reputation:77
Level:Pro
Since:Jul 14, 2007

November 17, 2009 9:20 pm
There is a liveblog for the game tonight at www.big12hoops.com, fyi.
 
 
 
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