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Mack May Be Back to Memphis

Charles Rich — 2008-07-09T00:15:00 00:00

Filed under: Memphis Basketball, Conference USA Basketball, NCAA Basketball Campus

The decision by sophomore Doneal Mack to transfer from Memphis last month was a bit of a surprise. It was reported that he was unhappy with only averaging 12.5 minutes per game. The reserve guard was, however, poised to get more minutes with guards Chris Douglas-Roberts and Derrick Rose going to the NBA. The once highly recruited guard didn't choose a SEC or ACC team as initially indicated. Instead, he ended up choosing the University of New Orleans at the beginning of July and began to take classes.

Apparently he's had another change of heart. Barely a week at New Orleans and he wants to return to the Memphis Tigers. While it appears that Coach John Calipari is willing to take back the flighty Mack, the NCAA is now involved. Mack registered and began taking classes at another school. While it is within an actual window of time to return (14 days) and he took part in no athletic activities, there is still a bureaucracy that needs to be followed before he can be fully reinstated.

All the same, if I'm running the Memphis Tigers website, I don't list his bio and name on the roster until the NCAA signs off on this.

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Robert Vaden Returning to UAB

Shiloh Carder — 2008-06-16T12:30:00 00:00

by Shiloh Carder

Filed under: Conference USA Basketball, NBA Prospects

One of the oldest underclassmen to declare for the NBA Draft will be going back to school. Robert Vaden has informed coach Mike Davis that he will be returning to UAB for his senior season.

Vaden played at Indiana for two seasons and left when Davis left to coach in Birmingham. He sat out the 2006-2007 season before having an outstanding junior year this past season.

Vaden is already 23 years old (he'll turn 24 next March) which let some to think he may stay in the draft. His draft stock most likely won't change next year. He'll be older than most draftees, which now means that his talent has hit the ceiling.

He will re-join a Blazers team that should be good enough for an NCAA Tournament bid and could (maybe) challenge Memphis in Conference-USA. He led the team with a 21.1 ppg average and dumped an amazing 142 threes.

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Memphis Gains Dozier; Will Lose Mack

Shiloh Carder — 2008-06-13T15:14:00 00:00

by Shiloh Carder

Filed under: Memphis Basketball, Conference USA Basketball, NBA Prospects

Well, Memphis will get back one player from last year's National Championship runner-up squad ... and lose another one.

Robert Dozier will take his name out of the NBA Draft and return to school. The junior will be the top returning scorer on the team (he trailed Derrick Rose and Chris Douglas-Roberts last season) and should be a guy that John Calapari will lean on next season.

He joins Antonio Anderson as Tigers who declared for the draft but returned to school.

On the flip side, reserve guard Doneal Mack will leave Memphis and transfer. The Charlotte, NC native hinted that Clemson, LSU and Wake Forest are the schools he's looking at heading to.

Mack was fifth on the team in scoring last year (6.9 ppg), but played just 12 minutes in the Tigers' last four NCAA Tournament games (from the Sweet 16 on) and scored no points. During the season, Mack only saw extended amounts of playing time in blowout victories.

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SMU AD Sees No Point in Being Coy About Notre Dame

Charles Rich — 2008-06-11T00:51:00 00:00

by Charles Rich

Filed under: Notre Dame Football, Conference USA, Notre Dame Basketball, Conference USA Basketball, SMU Football

You are the Athletic Director at a school in Conference USA where the first thing that is associated with your football program is, "Oh, yeah, the only program to ever get the death penalty in football." The men's basketball team last made the NCAA Tournament in 1993. There's an opening for a job that pays more, greater prestige and doesn't struggle to be the 6th most relevant program in the state.

Of course you would listen if Notre Dame wanted to talk to you about taking their vacant AD position.

SMU athletic director Steve Orsini said Monday he would be willing to listen to Notre Dame officials about their vacant AD position if he is contacted about the job.

Odds are, he'd probably lick broken glass while crawling amidst scorpions to make the interview if needed. Not that he's actually been contacted yet.

It is also worth mentioning that Orsini graduated from Notre Dame, and was co-captain of the football team that won the national championship in 1977. Plus his wife is from South Bend, Indiana. Kind of increases the "duh" factor on a story that discloses Orsini has interest in the job.

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Memphis' Antonio Anderson Withdraws From Draft

Shiloh Carder — 2008-05-25T01:10:00 00:00

by Shiloh Carder

Filed under: Memphis Basketball, Conference USA Basketball, NBA Prospects

Memphis guard Antonio Anderson withdrew his name from the NBA Draft. Because he didn't hire an agent and kept his college eligibility, he will return to Memphis for his senior season.

"I've decided to take my name out of the draft," Anderson told CSTV.com. "The feedback I received is that I would be taken in the second round, and I wasn't comfortable with that. I took my name out this morning and I'm coming back."

It isn't any shock that Anderson would've come back to school. He wasn't viewed as a strong prospect to be a first round pick.

As of now, Anderson will be the Tigers' top returning scorer (he was fourth on the team last year with an 8.6 ppg average). Teammate Derrick Rose will be one of the first players taken in the draft, while Chris Douglas-Roberts is projected to be a late first rounder. Robert Dozier has entered his name in the draft but hasn't hired an agent either.

The cupboard won't be bare, however, as Memphis brings in super recruits Tyreke Evans, Angel Garcia and Wesley Witherspoon.

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Memphis A.D. Denies That He Is Talking With the Big East Conference

Shiloh Carder — 2008-05-17T04:17:00 00:00

by Shiloh Carder

Filed under: Big East, Memphis Basketball, Big East Basketball, Conference USA Basketball, Memphis Football

Memphis athletic director R.C. Johnson is saying that the school is not discussing a move to the Big East conference ... hdespite reports saying that they are.

''No, absolutely not,'' Johnson said. ''I have had no meetings with the Big East.''

"We have no expansion plans and are speaking to no schools about expansion," Big East spokesman John) Paquette said.

However, that doesn't mean that he's not interested in leaving Conference USA. There are some rumblings that Memphis does want to move up into a BCS conference and believe they've set up their program to be an attractive addition somewhere.

The pros for staying in Conference USA is, well, domination in basketball and a shorter travel schedule. The cons are everything else (competition, mo' money, mo' exposure, etc). They'd also rejoin Louisville and Cincinnati as conference brethren.

The rumblings also have East Carolina also thinking about bolting C-USA for the Big East.

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This Is Why Derrick Rose's Coaches Told Him To Keep His Hands Up on Defense

Josh Alper — 2008-04-18T17:00:00 00:00

by Josh Alper

Filed under: Memphis Basketball, Conference USA Basketball, NCAA Basketball Gossip

Derrick Rose has to be a pretty big man on the Memphis campus. Star of the basketball team about to make millions tends to have an intoxicating effect on the coeds.

Unless the coed has a boyfriend on the football team, that is. Playing second fiddle around school has to grate on the gridiron gang and when a guy like Rose comes sniffing around your girl, it's bound to raise your hackles. And, hackles raised, the football player is probably going to win if things escalate to a fight. Shame that it happened to Rose just before he was to go on camera and announce his move to the NBA.

Multiple sources close to the Memphis basketball and football programs have told CBSSports.com that Rose was recently involved in an altercation over a girl with Tiger football player Steven Black, an altercation that didn't go so well for Rose. Put another way, the possible No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft spent the early part of this week looking like a person who had just been in a scrap, making the way he announced his future plans -- through a release distributed by the Memphis Sports Information department -- convenient, if not necessary.

Black and Rose are both 6'3" but the footballer has about 30 pounds on him. A guy who dominates by pushing around smaller guards ain't gonna fare too well in that kind of fight. Even so, isn't Rose being a bit vain? As you can see above, we've seen him with a scrape or two before.

(H/T Sports by Brooks)

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Finally, A Blue Chip Recruit Goes Smart

Charles Rich — 2008-04-17T06:30:00 00:00

by Charles Rich

Filed under: Memphis Basketball, Conference USA Basketball, NCAA Basketball Coaches, NCAA Basketball Recruiting

As noted, Tyreke Evans announced he would attend Memphis (for one year before the almost certain leap to the NBA). What he didn't do is sign a letter of intent (LOI) to attend Memphis.

So it's easy to understand why Evans, the fourth-rated high school basketball player in the country, announced Wednesday he was committing to play at Memphis -- and why he has yet to sign his national letter of intent.

Evans insisted there was nothing secretive about his decisions, explaining he had to head directly from the news conference held at his school, American Christian Academy, to New York and the Jordan Brand All-Star Classic, and that he would sign as soon as he returns Monday.

Sure, because there would be no time in his schedule to sign his name to anything and trust family or friends to fax the LOI.

Evans chose Memphis because of the coach. Not the school. He admitted what everyone knew. He also knows that Calipari's name is coming up for NBA jobs. Yes, Calipari and Memphis have agreed to a new contract that pays him $2.5 million. It isn't a signed contract yet. Plus, everyone knows that coaches contracts tend not to hold up real well when more money is offered.

So, why should Evans put his own name to a binding agreement?

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Tyreke Evans Signs With Memphis

Josh Alper — 2008-04-16T16:40:00 00:00

by Josh Alper

Filed under: Memphis Basketball, Conference USA Basketball, NCAA Basketball Recruiting

Ever since Memphis frittered away the NCAA Championship Game, there were rumors that John Calipari might be looking to make another try at the NBA. With Derrick Rose, Joey Dorsey and, potentially, Chris Douglas-Roberts heading to the league, the timing seemed right. Yesterday, though, just as Rose was announcing his departure, Coach Cal signed a contract extension to remain as the Tigers coach.

We found out why today. Tyreke Evans, McDonald's All-American and all-everything shooting guard, signed a letter of intent to play with the Tigers this afternoon. With all the openings in the starting five, Evans will be expected to shoulder a heavy load during what's widely believed to be his only collegiate season. Evans chose the Tigers over closer-to-home Villanova but it wasn't much of a surprise.

Evans is close to William Wesley, the Zelig of basketball in the United States. Wesley is close to just about everyone in the game but he's especially close to Calipari. The two men worked together to broker Memphis's deal with China and Wesley was close to Rose and it's believed he helped steer him to Memphis.

And then there's the unsavory business surrounding a murder committed by his cousin which Evans witnessed. It's believed to be gang-related and Evans might not mind getting out of Dodge for a while. As MJD points out at The Dagger, it's hard to argue with a recruiting pitch that includes the fact that "no one in Memphis wants to murder you."

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Memphis' Derrick Rose Will Announce His Decision to Enter the NBA Draft

Shiloh Carder — 2008-04-15T12:32:00 00:00

by Shiloh Carder

Filed under: Memphis Basketball, Conference USA Basketball, NBA Prospects

Another day, another high profile freshman announcing he's going pro. This time it is Memphis' Derrick Rose.

Sometime this week, Rose will announce that he's heading to the NBA:

The Commercial Appeal and WPTY-TV both cited sources close to the Memphis program in reporting that Rose, who averaged 14.9 points and 4.7 assists per game in the regular season and 20.8 points in six NCAA tournament games, would declare his intent to enter the draft. the Tigers finished national runners-up to Kansas.

WPTY and cable news channel CNBC also reported that Rose is close to signing with agent Arn Tellem. When asked about the possibility of signing Rose, Tellem's agency, Wasserman Media Group, declined to comment, according to WPTY's report.

This was a no-brainer, as it comes off of rumors that he's already looking for an agent. Rose saw his already high stock rise even greater as he lead his Memphis Tigers to the NCAA Championship game. He may be the one player who can knock Kansas State's Michael Beasley off the #1 spot.

With all the money he's about to make, he can buy a truckload of Gummi Bears!

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Calipari Watched History Repeat With Chalmers' Three

Charles Rich — 2008-04-11T09:27:00 00:00

by Charles Rich

Filed under: Memphis Basketball, Conference USA Basketball, March Madness, NCAA Basketball Coaches

Memphis Coach John Calipari has been second guessed and raked for not calling a timeout after Derrick Rose hit the second of his 2 free throws that gave Memphis that 3 point lead in the final seconds. The argument being, that he should have called the timeout to make sure his team was sure to foul Kansas before they could be ready to take a three-point shot that could tie the game. The image of Derrick Rose pulling his hands away from Mario Chalmers that helped give Chalmers the space to shoot that game-tying 3 sure suggested Rose thought he shouldn't foul.

Calipari wanted his team to foul and he has stated that he told them that before the free throws ($), that they were fouling -- just not "hard enough" to be called -- and/or that Sherron Collins got away from his man at halfcourt.

There is little doubt that Calipari wanted his team to foul. Calipari was an assistant 20 years prior when he saw what happens when you don't foul at that point in a game.

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It's Now Eighteen Years Since Last 'Non-BCS School' Has Won NCAA Tournament

Shiloh Carder — 2008-04-08T02:13:00 00:00

by Shiloh Carder

Filed under: Memphis Basketball, Conference USA Basketball, March Madness

Memphis nearly won the 2008 NCAA Tournament but let it slip away in the closing moments. It would have given Memphis and Conference USA their first national championships ... and the first title for a "non-BCS" school since 1990.

Yes, it has been 18 years since UNLV (then from the Big West Conference) crushed Duke for the national championship. Since then, the ACC has won six, SEC has won five, Big East has won three, Pac-10 has won twice and the Big XII and Big Ten each winning once (see the list after the jump).

The last non-BCS team to win a title before UNLV was Louisville (who was in the Metro Conference) in 1980 and 1986. Marquette was an independent when they won the championship in 1977. Interesting that both Marquette and Louisville were members of the C-USA until 2005.

Just getting to the Final Four is quite the feat. Memphis joins George Mason ('06), Louisville ('05), Marquette ('03), Utah ('98), UMass ('96) and Cincinnati ('92) as non-BCS schools getting to the Final Four since those great UNLV teams. Of those teams, only Memphis and Utah advanced to the title game.

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ESPN Classic to Replay Kansas-Memphis

Shiloh Carder — 2008-04-08T01:52:00 00:00

by Shiloh Carder

Filed under: Kansas Basketball, Memphis Basketball, Big 12 Basketball, Conference USA Basketball, March Madness, NCAA Basketball Media Watch

Did you miss Monday night's National Championship game? Were you a disgusted Kansas fan that turned the channel thinking your team was done and miss the comeback? Do you want to see where Memphis let it get away and stew about those "if we just" moments?

Hell ... do you want to see a great basketball game? Well, you can.

ESPN Classic is going to replay the Kansas-Memphis game on Tuesday night at 11:00pm EDT. It will be shown following the conclusion of the women's National Championship game pitting Tennessee and Stanford (that will be on ESPN).

See the first overtime title game since 1997. The first championship for Kansas since 1988. The (seemingly) only good game in the entire NCAA tournament this year.

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NCAA Tournament Championship: Kansas-Memphis, Overtime LiveBlog

Charles Rich — 2008-04-07T23:31:00 00:00

by Charles Rich

Filed under: Kansas Basketball, Memphis Basketball, Big 12 Basketball, Conference USA Basketball, March Madness

Well, this is helping to make-up for a fairly lackluster Tournament.

1st Half LiveBlog
2nd Half LiveBlog

It's safe to say that if Memphis loses, this is about missed free throws down the stretch.

11:40: And Memphis is totally demoralized. Dorsey not being inside hurts, but they are just hanging their heads a bit more.

Memphis hasn't scored in the OT and Kansas holds a 69-63 lead with 2:29 left.

11:43: Chris Douglas-Roberts may have gakked on free throws in the final minute, but that was a big 3 to make it a 3 point game with 1:01 left. Kansas still holds the 71-68 lead.

11:47: It's all Kansas at this point. Loose ball on the court, and Kansas gets the tie-up and they have possession.

11:48: And just as I type that, Kansas turns it over by slipping on the court on the inbound.

No harm, as Douglas-Roberts misses a 3 and Memphis has to foul.

18.2 seconds left and Collins shoots free throws. He gets them both to give Kansas the 76-68 lead.

11:50: Kansas wins the NCAA Tournament National Championship 76-68.

Congratulations to Kansas.

Mario Chalmers was named the MVP. Deservedly so. He hit the game-tying 3 with 2.1 seconds left to send the game into OT. Chalmers had 18 points, 4 steals, 3 rebounds and 3 assists.

Latest College Basketball Photos

Head Coach Bruce Pearl speaks to his team and Tennessee fans after watching the NCAA selections at Thompson Boling Arena on Sunday, March 16, 2008 in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Lisa Norman-Hudson)

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Bruce Pearl discusses NCAA selections with assistant coach Jason Shay during the NCAA selections at Thompson Boling Arena on Sunday, March 16, 2008 in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Lisa Norman-Hudson)

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Bruce Pearl and his daughter Leah watch the NCAA selections at Thompson Boling Arena, along with Tennessee team members and Athletic Director Mike Hamilton, left, Sunday, March 16, 2008 in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Lisa Norman-Hudson)

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Tom O'Connor, chair of the NCAA Division 1 men's basketball tournament committee, addresses the media in a teleconference call following the bracket announcements in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 16, 2008. (AP Photo/Tom Strickland)

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Tom O'Connor, chair of the NCAA Division 1 men's basketball tournament committee, addresses the media in a teleconference call following the bracket announcements in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 16, 2008. (AP Photo/Tom Strickland)

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Tom O'Connor, chair of the NCAA Division 1 men's basketball tournament committee, addresses the media in a teleconference call following the bracket announcements in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 16, 2008. (AP Photo/Tom Strickland)

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South Alabama basketball players Daon Merritt, leaping on left, Brandon Davis, center, and DeAndre Coleman celebrate after being awarded an at-large bid to the NCAA Mens National Basketball Tournament on Sunday March 16, 2008 at the South Alabama Student Center. South Alabama will played Butler in the first round in Birmingham on Friday. (AP Photo/Press-Register, Chip English)

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Members of the Georgia basketball team react when their NCAA tournament bracket position is announced following their 66-57 win over Arkansas in the 2008 Southeastern Conference basketball tournament championship game at Alexander Memorial Coliseum on the campus of Georgia Tech in Atlanta on Sunday, March 16, 2008. Georgia will face Xavier. (AP Photo/Phil Coale)

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Drake University players Adam Emmenecker, left, and Bill Eaddy react as they watch the NCAA basketball tournament selection show, Sunday, March 16, 2008, in Des Moines, Iowa. Drake, the Missouri Valley Conference champions, will play Western Kentucky in the West Region on Friday in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

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Georgia guard Sundiata Gaines (2) holds up the MVP trophy after defeating Arkansas 66-57 for the Southeastern Conference basketball Championship at Alexander Memorial Coliseum on the campus of Georgia Tech in Atlanta, Sunday, March 16, 2008. Gaines, was named MVP of the tournament. (AP Photo/Phil Coale)

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NCAA Tournament Championship: Kansas-Memphis, Second Half LiveBlog

Charles Rich — 2008-04-07T22:29:00 00:00

by Charles Rich

Filed under: Kansas Basketball, Memphis Basketball, Big 12 Basketball, Conference USA Basketball, March Madness

And we're back. First Half LiveBlog is here. OT LiveBlog.

Roy Williams spoke to CBS at the half. He mentioned his affection for the Kansas program has never gone away. Unbelievably, they never asked him about the Bill Self-Oklahoma State rumors and the parallels to his saga with UNC when he was coaching Kansas in the Championship game. How does that not even get asked. Even if Williams deflects, that has to be asked.

10:40: Memphis goes inside right away to start the second half. Then forces an immediate turnover. Memphis ties the game within the first minute plus.

Yeah, safe to say Memphis Coach John Calipari emphasized attacking the basket at halftime. Two of Memphis' 3 shots were dunks.

Kansas, meanwhile, hasn't changed a thing. Continually getting the ball in the paint and getting high percentage shots close to the basket.

Nice observation by Billy Packer on Joey Dorsey holding the ball after a slam to give Memphis time to get back on defense. It hasn't helped as Memphis gets whistled twice, trying to prevent Kansas from driving to the basket.

Kansas leads 39-38 with 15:15 remaining.

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Collins, Chalmers, Rush and Robinson Are Outplaying The Memphis Backcourt

Nathan Fowler — 2008-04-07T22:23:00 00:00

by Nathan Fowler

Filed under: Kansas Basketball, Memphis Basketball, Big 12 Basketball, Conference USA Basketball, March Madness

All the talk leading up to this game was about how tough Derrick Rose and Chris Douglas-Roberts were for other teams to matchup with, but the Kansas guards are really taking it to them on both ends of the court. Robinson and Collins are doing a great job keeping Rose out of the lane, slowing down the Memphis offense and turning him over. Chalmers has played terrific help defense and his quick hands are causing all sorts of problems. CDR had a great first half, but Rush is a huge reason why Kansas is hammering the Tigers on the glass and is scoring himself.

At the beginning of the year most pundits tabbed the KU backcourt as the best in the country, and right now they are living up to that billing. Tough, terrific defensively and willing to share the ball or score themselves, it's hard to imagine a better quartet of guards this season.

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NCAA Tournament Championship: Kansas-Memphis, First Half LiveBlog

Charles Rich — 2008-04-07T21:18:00 00:00

by Charles Rich

Filed under: Kansas Basketball, Memphis Basketball, Big 12 Basketball, Conference USA Basketball, March Madness

Second Half LiveBlog is here. OT LiveBlog.

Finally. It seems the main hope for this game -- I mean for those without a vested interest -- is for a competitive game. There's no upsets now. The games have generally been panned for this Tournament. Not much drama. Everyone just wants the best game from both teams.

It looks like the punditry has swung to Memphis. On ESPN, Digger Phelps and Dick Vitale went with Memphis. Only Jay Bilas took Kansas. Both Seth Davis and Clark Kellogg took Memphis on CBS. It seems the NBA attitude of taking the team with the best player on the court -- Derrick Rose of Memphis -- took control of the decision making.

Tip-off is just a few minutes away.

9:32: Memphis gets the tip and Dorsey scores right away, inside to give Memphis the first score. Everyone wonders what Dorsey will do. He's shown up in this Tournament, and kept his mouth shut so far. If he's keeping his emotions in check, that's good news for Memphis.

Several turnovers already. Memphis has 2 and Kansas has 2. Both teams really active at slapping at the ball on the perimeter.

Kansas has seemed a little tighter on offense. They look a little tentative once they get the ball up court. It looks like they are probing on offense, because Memphis is getting back quickly on defense.

Memphis getting more attempts and shooting better. No wonder they hold the lead, 9-5 with 15:36 in the game.

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One-and-Done Rule May Have Made Derrick Rose a Cool 10 Million Bucks

Will Brinson — 2008-04-07T19:15:00 00:00

by Will Brinson

Filed under: Memphis Basketball, Conference USA Basketball, March Madness, NBA Draft, NBA Media Watch

The estimation of $10 million is, of course, just that. But Derrick Rose should probably give David Stern a huge hug when his name gets called during the first 30 or so minutes of the NBA draft in June. Rose, even if Memphis wins, seems like a one-and-done player, and with his ridiculous NCAA tournament (can you have negative turnovers, like in a positive fashion?) he has not only vaulted Memphis to the title game, but jacked up his draft status as well. And Darren Rovell is estimating that his superb play has made him roughly ten mil.

It's hard to say where Rose might have went had the rule not have existed--each guru has his own site -- but let's say, for argument sake, a pre-college Rose would have gone third. Where does he go after tonight's Championship Game? Possibly first. Possibly second. Maybe third. But the fact is that this tournament has given him a great marketing platform that the likes of O.J. Mayo and Michael Beasley obviously won't realize.
So before we even start with projecting how far Rose rose and how his rookie scale might have jumped up, I'm saying his shoe deal over a six year contract is up $10 million from the tourney alone. Tonight is a great opportunity for a kid like Rose as a guy like Carmelo Anthony has proven in years past.

TZ points out, and I agree, that Rovell may actually be underselling the loss that Mr. Mayo is going to take as result of this year's college basketball season. Prior to his year at USC, Mayo would have likely been top five in the draft (although not a lock, certainly a high probability), but his relatively under the radar season with Tim Floyd has him dropping a few slots and a potential pay scale.

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Memphis-Kansas Prediction: Blowout

Shiloh Carder — 2008-04-07T12:42:00 00:00

by Shiloh Carder

Filed under: Kansas Basketball, Memphis Basketball, Big 12 Basketball, Conference USA Basketball, March Madness

I feel that the NCAA Championship game between Memphis and Kansas will be a blowout. Well, at least a double-digit margin with one team having that cushion for most of the game.

Which team will win? Now, that's a guess.

This has been a tournament of blowouts. Of course we see the top seeded teams buzzsaw through their opponents early on in the tournament ... but the games get less competitive later on as well.

-First Round: The average margin of victory was 15.3 ppg ... with 23 games decided by double-digits (11 of them by at least 19 points).

-Second Round: This has actually been the most competitive round. The average margin of victory was down to 11.3 ... and that includes UNC and Louisville hanging 30+ point beatings on their opponents (without those two, the average is around 8 ppg). Only 7 of 16 games were decided by double digits.

-Sweet 16: This was the ultimate round of blowouts. The margin of victory was 15.5 points ... as 7 of 8 games were decided by double digits. Only UCLA and Xavier won by less than 15 points.

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Trying To Perceive the Truth About Memphis

Josh Alper — 2008-04-07T10:55:00 00:00

by Josh Alper

Filed under: Memphis Basketball, Conference USA Basketball, March Madness

John Feinstein of the Washington Post and William Rhoden of the New York Times are both discussing Memphis on the morning of the title game. Each writer has zeroed in on the same thing. Either because of the program's past history of NCAA rules issues, the color of the players skin or the style of play, Memphis has been the outsider at this Final Four featuring three of the game's most storied programs.

Rhoden takes issue with the overuse of terms like athletic and long when describing Memphis. Too often, they are code words for black players who play undisciplined basketball and are only interested in the highlight play. That's certainly the case here, since Memphis is guilty of neither of those things.

The reality is that the Memphis offense is not turning the ball over and the defense is suffocating, and Memphis can play virtually any style at any time.

Bill Self deserves every plaudit he's getting and it's easy to see why Oklahoma State wants to spend the GDP of Iceland to bring him to Stillwater but whose team was it that let their opponent off the mat on Saturday night? John Calipari's team kept their foot on UCLA's throat while it was Kansas that lost all discipline and focus.

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