I'm not here to talk about the top ranked recruiting class for 2010, and I'm not here to talk about the past recruiting success that Memphis has had. I'm here to talk about the recruits for 2011. I know what your thinking. It's a little early to start speculating on the 2011 class. You're absolutely right. I'm doing it anyway.
What must be taken into account is who will not be here. The players that will leave after 2010 will be Elliot Williams, assuming he doesn't have a break out NBA caliber season and jump the ranks this year, Wesley Witherspoon, Roburt Sallie, assuming he doesn't mind coming back as a 24 year old for 2010, and Will Coleman. That leaves us with a need for wings and a center.
Several of the nation's top recruits for 2011 are considering Memphis. In fact, the top ranked recruit overall is in that list. His name is Michael Gilchrist. He plays small forward for St. Patrick High School in New Jersey. His measurements are at 6-7, 190lbs. He is very explosive. His two best attributes has to be his ball handling skills, and his perimeter shot. He is also an excellent defender who gets his fair share of blocks. The interesting thing about Gilchrist is the he said he was coming to Memphis for sure last year. Of course, there was a coaching change that caused him to reevaluate his decisions. He currently lists both Memphis and Kentucky, among others, as teams he is considering.
Another top prospect that plays small forward and is interested in Memphis is Adonis Thomas. He plays for Melrose High School in Tennessee, but he is better known among Memphis fans for being a member of Memphis Magic, where he plays with current UofM commits Joe Jackson, Tarik Black, and Chris Crawford. He is ranked by scouts as the second best small forward behind Michael Gilchrist. He measures in at 6-5, 204lbs. He has a good midrange game, and his athleticism allow him to attack the rim with ease. He is also a great defender and is very unselfish with the ball. He has some moves that reminds one of a power forward, but he executes these moves with much greater speed. The thing Thomas needs to work on the most is his ball handling ability and perimeter shot. He reminds me of Witherspoon in that he seems most suited to play a hybrid 3/4 type position. It will be interesting to see if him or Gilchrist will be a higher priority for Memphis. Gilchrist is better but will most likely turn pro after one year. It might be better to keep Thomas around for the long run. Also, Thomas is from Memphis, and Pastner uses an inside out recruiting philosophy.
Johnny O'Bryant is also listing Memphis as a school he is considering. He is the top rated Center according to scouts. He is from East Side High School in Mississippi. His measurements are 6-9, 225. He has a deverse set of skills for a center. Of course, his best quality is his rebounding and shot blocking. However, he also can drive to the basket with ease, and I've seen him knock down a three pointer or two. His offense game doesn't always look polished, but it usually gets the job done.
Ky Madden is a shooting guard who is interested in the Tigers. He is rated by scouts as the 19th best shooting guard. He plays for East Poinsett County High School in Arkansas. He is listed at 6-5, 195lbs. He is very long and athletic. He posses great ball handling skills for his size. His best attribute is his ability to attack the rim. He can play and defend multiple positions.
Kendren Johnson is a point guard who is considering Memphis. He is ranked by scouts as the 41st best point guard in the nation. He plays for Marshall County High School in Tennessee. He is a true pure point guard. He has great court vision and loves to get his teammates involved. Look for this to be another Bruce Pearl and Josh Pastner recruiting battle.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Sunday, November 22, 2009
How 'Bout Them Seniors
Willie Kemp, Doneal Mack, and Pierre Henderson Niles. Each of these players belong to the senior class of the Memphis Tigers this season. Each of these players were highly touted coming out of high school. None of them seemed to be able to live up to the hype. Kemp had a good freshman year, leading the Tigers to an Elite Eight, but lost confidence after being stuck on the bench behind Derrick Rose and then Tyreke Evans. Niles gained an extraordinary amount of weight before starting his freshman season and was never able to contribute the way he was supposed to. Mack has been streaky. Sometimes he's on sometimes he's cold.
This year marked a new chance for all of them as the roster was depleted and a new coach came in. Niles hasn't been magnificent, in fact he has shown a lot of weakness on the offensive end, but his loss of weight over the offseason has given him the ability to contribute significant minutes. He has racked up an average of 18.3 minutes per game. Last season it would have been amazing to see him play for more than ten minutes on any given night. During this time he can do what he does so well, rebound. He has averaged 5.7 boards per game.
Willie Kemp has played with confidence and passion. Last season he just seemed nervous to be on the court. Now he seems comfortable. He appears to relish the coaching change and available playing time. His leadership role as a point guard and senior doesn't bother him one bit either. He has an average of four assists per game. He's only taken four, but he has made every free throw he's shot. He has the second best three point percentage of the team at 40%, going 4 for 10 from behind the arc. I expect these numbers to get better as he went 3 for 5 in the last game against Tennessee Tech. He also averages 32.3 minutes a game, second to Elliot Williams, showing Coach Pastner's faith in him.
Doneal Mack has been the hot hand of the team. He is shooting 57.1% from the field, second only to dunk machine Will Coleman. He's even going 53.3% from behind the arc. These numbers have made him the second leading scorer for the Tigers, behind Elliot Williams, at 11.7 points per game.
This year marked a new chance for all of them as the roster was depleted and a new coach came in. Niles hasn't been magnificent, in fact he has shown a lot of weakness on the offensive end, but his loss of weight over the offseason has given him the ability to contribute significant minutes. He has racked up an average of 18.3 minutes per game. Last season it would have been amazing to see him play for more than ten minutes on any given night. During this time he can do what he does so well, rebound. He has averaged 5.7 boards per game.
Willie Kemp has played with confidence and passion. Last season he just seemed nervous to be on the court. Now he seems comfortable. He appears to relish the coaching change and available playing time. His leadership role as a point guard and senior doesn't bother him one bit either. He has an average of four assists per game. He's only taken four, but he has made every free throw he's shot. He has the second best three point percentage of the team at 40%, going 4 for 10 from behind the arc. I expect these numbers to get better as he went 3 for 5 in the last game against Tennessee Tech. He also averages 32.3 minutes a game, second to Elliot Williams, showing Coach Pastner's faith in him.
Doneal Mack has been the hot hand of the team. He is shooting 57.1% from the field, second only to dunk machine Will Coleman. He's even going 53.3% from behind the arc. These numbers have made him the second leading scorer for the Tigers, behind Elliot Williams, at 11.7 points per game.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Put On Notice
The Tigers held their own against the top ranked team, Kansas. They didn't play perfect. In fact, by many standards they didn't play well. They shot the ball awfully. They were bad on free throw attemps, bad on three point attempts, but good on defense (is it just me, or does that sound familiar?)
What the Memphis Tigers did was show heart. They played a scrappy game that oozed determination. They never gave up. There was a time when Kansas stretched the lead to ten. It was the second half. That's what was supposed to happen, right? Kansas winning by double digits. Memphis letting it fall towards the end. Not this night. Memphis clawed their way back into the game. They were constantly nipping at the heals of Kansas, and the look on Bill Self's face said it all. Unbelievable.
This game showed a few things. One is that Memphis' low numbers may not be as much of a problem as previously thought. On most nights, the Tigers will stick to a nine man rotation. On this occassion it was only seven. While Kansas' players were cramping up and taking IV injections, Memphis was putting it all on the floor,and they did so with tireless speed. It also showed us that Memphis' strong point will continue to be their defense. They held Kansas to only 57 points. Three pointers did not go as well as has been expected for this season, but I wouldn't be surprised to see that change very soon.
Finally, it put the nation, C-USA in particular, on notice that Memphis will be a national contender. They will be a team to fear, and you won't have to wait until 2010. This game will definitely give the Tigers a healthy boost of confidence. Williams, Coleman, and Kemp all let it be known that they feel good about how they performed, and they plan on keeping Memphis a powerhouse.
Two best players of the night had to be Willie Kemp and Elliot Williams. Williams stepped it up. He had a career high 21 points. My favorite part of watching him play is how well he manages his shot through contact. Kemp displayed an air of confidence that I haven't seen in him since his freshman year. He may not be a scorer, but he is certainly a play maker. His best attribute is how well he knows his seniors. If he drives and dishes, and that ball lands in the hand of Pierre Henderson-Niles or Doneal Mack, it's going in. He also seemed to desire more of a leadership role. For the most part, when him and Williams are on the floor together, Williams brings up the ball, although they do switch. When the game was winding down and it was close, however, Kemp stood next to Williams, who was waiting for the inbound pass, and said he wanted to bring the ball down. This is good because it frees up Williams to play off the ball in a role that better fits his style.
The worst plays came in the post, but Niles, Coleman, and Witherspoon can sleep well knowing they won't play a athlete with a post presence as strong a Cole Aldrich for a long time.
What the Memphis Tigers did was show heart. They played a scrappy game that oozed determination. They never gave up. There was a time when Kansas stretched the lead to ten. It was the second half. That's what was supposed to happen, right? Kansas winning by double digits. Memphis letting it fall towards the end. Not this night. Memphis clawed their way back into the game. They were constantly nipping at the heals of Kansas, and the look on Bill Self's face said it all. Unbelievable.
This game showed a few things. One is that Memphis' low numbers may not be as much of a problem as previously thought. On most nights, the Tigers will stick to a nine man rotation. On this occassion it was only seven. While Kansas' players were cramping up and taking IV injections, Memphis was putting it all on the floor,and they did so with tireless speed. It also showed us that Memphis' strong point will continue to be their defense. They held Kansas to only 57 points. Three pointers did not go as well as has been expected for this season, but I wouldn't be surprised to see that change very soon.
Finally, it put the nation, C-USA in particular, on notice that Memphis will be a national contender. They will be a team to fear, and you won't have to wait until 2010. This game will definitely give the Tigers a healthy boost of confidence. Williams, Coleman, and Kemp all let it be known that they feel good about how they performed, and they plan on keeping Memphis a powerhouse.
Two best players of the night had to be Willie Kemp and Elliot Williams. Williams stepped it up. He had a career high 21 points. My favorite part of watching him play is how well he manages his shot through contact. Kemp displayed an air of confidence that I haven't seen in him since his freshman year. He may not be a scorer, but he is certainly a play maker. His best attribute is how well he knows his seniors. If he drives and dishes, and that ball lands in the hand of Pierre Henderson-Niles or Doneal Mack, it's going in. He also seemed to desire more of a leadership role. For the most part, when him and Williams are on the floor together, Williams brings up the ball, although they do switch. When the game was winding down and it was close, however, Kemp stood next to Williams, who was waiting for the inbound pass, and said he wanted to bring the ball down. This is good because it frees up Williams to play off the ball in a role that better fits his style.
The worst plays came in the post, but Niles, Coleman, and Witherspoon can sleep well knowing they won't play a athlete with a post presence as strong a Cole Aldrich for a long time.
Monday, November 16, 2009
2010 Memphis Recruiting
The Memphis Tigers have done it again. The number one recruiting class in the nation has officially been secured over the past few days. Before the spring signing period, it was already strong with commitments from Joe Jackson, Chris Crawford, Will Barton, and Antonio Barton. Anyone else joining was questionable.
Hippolyte Tsafack was a lock for the Maryland Terrapins. Who knew what Jelan Kendrick was thinking. It didn't matter anyway, he was going to sign late for sure. Tarik Black even appeared to be drifting away from Memphis. His coach convinced him not to attend Memphis Madness, and whispers were that he was leaning towards Marquette.
Then the spring signing period started. All the players who committed signed. That was enough for most Tiger fans. After the last offseason, seeing names on the dotted line was a sigh of relief. Then they got a pleasant suprise, Hippolyte Tsafack committed to Memphis. He isn't the best post player in the country, but he can rebound, defend, and has amazing potential. If that wasn't enough Jelan Kendrick committed. Kendrick was ranked as the fifth shooting guard in the nation, and is capable of playing positions ranging from the point guard position to the small forward position. As soon as he made his announcement, he urged Tarik Black to follow. Tarik Black did follow. Tarik Black has risen to the ranking of elite post players. The recruiting class of Memphis has risen to the top spot for 2010.
One of the more interesting things about this recruiting class, aside from the extreme depth and talent, is the versatility. We have two combo guards Antonio Barton and Joe Jackson. They both primarily play point guard, but they are more than suited to play the shooting guard position. Chris Crawford and Will Barton are both swingmen. They play shooting guard, but they can also play small forward. Crawford has even dabbled in the point guard position before. Jelan Kendrick is versatile enough play point guard, shooting guard, or small forward. Tarik Black and Hippolyte Tsafack can both play power forward and center. With the talent that will likely return next year (Wesley Witherspoon, Elliot Williams, and Will Coleman) the lineup possibilities will be endless.
Hippolyte Tsafack was a lock for the Maryland Terrapins. Who knew what Jelan Kendrick was thinking. It didn't matter anyway, he was going to sign late for sure. Tarik Black even appeared to be drifting away from Memphis. His coach convinced him not to attend Memphis Madness, and whispers were that he was leaning towards Marquette.
Then the spring signing period started. All the players who committed signed. That was enough for most Tiger fans. After the last offseason, seeing names on the dotted line was a sigh of relief. Then they got a pleasant suprise, Hippolyte Tsafack committed to Memphis. He isn't the best post player in the country, but he can rebound, defend, and has amazing potential. If that wasn't enough Jelan Kendrick committed. Kendrick was ranked as the fifth shooting guard in the nation, and is capable of playing positions ranging from the point guard position to the small forward position. As soon as he made his announcement, he urged Tarik Black to follow. Tarik Black did follow. Tarik Black has risen to the ranking of elite post players. The recruiting class of Memphis has risen to the top spot for 2010.
One of the more interesting things about this recruiting class, aside from the extreme depth and talent, is the versatility. We have two combo guards Antonio Barton and Joe Jackson. They both primarily play point guard, but they are more than suited to play the shooting guard position. Chris Crawford and Will Barton are both swingmen. They play shooting guard, but they can also play small forward. Crawford has even dabbled in the point guard position before. Jelan Kendrick is versatile enough play point guard, shooting guard, or small forward. Tarik Black and Hippolyte Tsafack can both play power forward and center. With the talent that will likely return next year (Wesley Witherspoon, Elliot Williams, and Will Coleman) the lineup possibilities will be endless.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
A Slow Start
Last nights exhibition had much the same problem as the one before it, a slow start. Contrary to most people, however, I believe the slow start was more an offensive problem. The defensive pressure definitely picked up. Kemp and Mack were doing solid as always, but guys like Witherspoon and Barham were playing defense with much more intensity. The problem was that CBU exploited their defense. Memphis likes to play fast. The play fast offense, so they practice defense against a fast offense. CBU was perfectly content to slow it down and get a lot of ball movement. I can't tell you how many times it looked like Memphis' defense looked like they would force a clock violation when, suddenly, a shot would be made with two seconds left, usually a three pointer.
Memphis played very poorly in the first half. This can probably be attributed to a poor performance by Elliot Williams. Although he still was the leading scorer, with 15 points, he was not the same team leader we saw against LeMoyne Owen. Its obvious the team will rely on him as they were down by as much as 14 at one point, and they were still trailing by one at half time.
Wesley Witherspoon was really the reason this team survived. It's not often that we see Witherspoon play with that passion for that amount of time. He finished with 14 points, six rebounds, and six assists. He was confident, and he was good.
Will Coleman also looked good at the end of the game. He didn't play much early after being yanked for not diving after a loose ball. The loss of playing time must have affected him because he came back with a force. He ended the game with six points, making all of his attempts, excluding those from the charity stripe. He also ended with the second most rebounds, behind Witherspoon, with 5 which is pretty impressive considering his limited minutes. He also got two key blocks that helped the Tigers to get their confidence.
The only other players that stood in this game were Kemp and Sallie. Sallie did a great job in the paint once again with 11 points. He also made the only three point shot that went in for this team. Kemp was confident. I see him having a very good season this year. He wasn't afraid to drive. He didn't do it often, but when it was needed, he got to the glass. He didn't over dribble, and he didn't attack the rim with too much force like he has in the past. His stat line was nothing to write home about, but Pastner apparently agreed with me about his production as he spent more minutes on the floor than any other player.
Interesting to note, I'm not sure this team will be the three point shooting team it has been made out to be. Against LeMoyne Owen, they had a good three point shooting percentage but didn't seem comfortable relying on it. This time they shot a horrible 1 out of 12 from behind the arc. A big part of the problem is that they want to be a three point shooting team so bad that they force it. They settle for the low percentage shots when it isn't necessary. They must first establish a drive. Once they get the defense worried about them attacking the glass, they will find the open three's more readily.
Also, Memphis used a full court press during the entire second half. Will they be able to do this in future games? Roburt Sallie played point guard for small portion of the game. I Knew he played point as a JUCO, but with his shooting mentality, I never thought I would see it at Memphis.
Memphis played very poorly in the first half. This can probably be attributed to a poor performance by Elliot Williams. Although he still was the leading scorer, with 15 points, he was not the same team leader we saw against LeMoyne Owen. Its obvious the team will rely on him as they were down by as much as 14 at one point, and they were still trailing by one at half time.
Wesley Witherspoon was really the reason this team survived. It's not often that we see Witherspoon play with that passion for that amount of time. He finished with 14 points, six rebounds, and six assists. He was confident, and he was good.
Will Coleman also looked good at the end of the game. He didn't play much early after being yanked for not diving after a loose ball. The loss of playing time must have affected him because he came back with a force. He ended the game with six points, making all of his attempts, excluding those from the charity stripe. He also ended with the second most rebounds, behind Witherspoon, with 5 which is pretty impressive considering his limited minutes. He also got two key blocks that helped the Tigers to get their confidence.
The only other players that stood in this game were Kemp and Sallie. Sallie did a great job in the paint once again with 11 points. He also made the only three point shot that went in for this team. Kemp was confident. I see him having a very good season this year. He wasn't afraid to drive. He didn't do it often, but when it was needed, he got to the glass. He didn't over dribble, and he didn't attack the rim with too much force like he has in the past. His stat line was nothing to write home about, but Pastner apparently agreed with me about his production as he spent more minutes on the floor than any other player.
Interesting to note, I'm not sure this team will be the three point shooting team it has been made out to be. Against LeMoyne Owen, they had a good three point shooting percentage but didn't seem comfortable relying on it. This time they shot a horrible 1 out of 12 from behind the arc. A big part of the problem is that they want to be a three point shooting team so bad that they force it. They settle for the low percentage shots when it isn't necessary. They must first establish a drive. Once they get the defense worried about them attacking the glass, they will find the open three's more readily.
Also, Memphis used a full court press during the entire second half. Will they be able to do this in future games? Roburt Sallie played point guard for small portion of the game. I Knew he played point as a JUCO, but with his shooting mentality, I never thought I would see it at Memphis.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Player Performance
Elliot Williams:
By far the best player on the team, and he showed it against LeMoyne Owen. When the Tiger's where starting slow, and everyone had some anxiety about initiating a drive, Williams stepped up. He scored the first two points of the night, free throws. He is obviously not afraid to make a play through contact. Williams led the Tigers in scoring with 24 points and 8 of 11 from the floor. Also hit 3 of 4 from behind the arc and 5 of 6 free throws. Tied for highest assists with 6. Had a few too many turnovers, however, and I did not see the pesky on the ball defending he is so highly regarded for.
Wesley Witherspoon
Definitely the second best player on the team. The Tigers will need him and Williams to perform consistently if they want to win. He solidified his status as a playmaker in this game. It shows as he is tied with Williams for most assists with 6. Second leading scorer with 13 points. Second leading rebounder with 7 boards. Almost had some foul trouble in early second half but managed to keep it under control after that. Very versatile, very athletic, and very confident. Considering what a slow first half he had, his stats are phenomenal. If he learns to play with a high effort every minute of every game, he could become more of an asset than Williams.
Pierre Henderson-Niles
Leading rebounder with 11 boards. It should be noted, however, that four of these rebounds came one after another as he would shoot, miss, rebound, and repeat. The main thing about Niles was he looked a lot better. He can jump, he can run, and he played 20 minutes without looking tired.
Willie Kemp
Very strong defense. He tripped up the guards fairly consistently. 3 assists to 1 turnover. Did not have an extremely strong night offensively, but he shot 4 of 5 from the field. Kemp did play with a lot of confidence, which is also true for the rest of the senior class. 1 of 1 from behind the arc and 3 of 3 from the free throw line. Scored 12 points.
Roburt Sallie
Showed something we rarely saw from him last year, a great ability to drive. Sallie had a suprisingly low 3 point percentage as he only hit 1 of 3 from behind the arc. He did, however, his 5 of 10 overall. Scored 11 points.
Doneal Mack
His best attribute was his smoothering defense. When he was trying, he made LeMoyne Owen's guards look foolish. Hit 1 of 1 from behind the arch.
Will Coleman
Pretty much what was expected. No outstanding stats, but he showed amazing athleticism. Definitely slammed a few alley-oops. Almost had some foul trouble early on that had hit sit out a good portion of the first half. Needs to do a better job of rebounding. Scored 11 points, mostly from other Tigers' missed shots.
DJ Stephens
Did good. A lot better than I expected. I had my doubts about his ability to play power forward with his lack of height, but when you see him stretch his arms, you know it won't be a problem. Very athletic. Dunks with ease and is pretty fast. Wouldn't be surprised to see him contribute significant minutes this season.
Drew Barham
Almost non existent. 0 for 3 from the field, two of them from behind the arc, but he's a freshman, and it's early. This is what exhibitions are for.
By far the best player on the team, and he showed it against LeMoyne Owen. When the Tiger's where starting slow, and everyone had some anxiety about initiating a drive, Williams stepped up. He scored the first two points of the night, free throws. He is obviously not afraid to make a play through contact. Williams led the Tigers in scoring with 24 points and 8 of 11 from the floor. Also hit 3 of 4 from behind the arc and 5 of 6 free throws. Tied for highest assists with 6. Had a few too many turnovers, however, and I did not see the pesky on the ball defending he is so highly regarded for.
Wesley Witherspoon
Definitely the second best player on the team. The Tigers will need him and Williams to perform consistently if they want to win. He solidified his status as a playmaker in this game. It shows as he is tied with Williams for most assists with 6. Second leading scorer with 13 points. Second leading rebounder with 7 boards. Almost had some foul trouble in early second half but managed to keep it under control after that. Very versatile, very athletic, and very confident. Considering what a slow first half he had, his stats are phenomenal. If he learns to play with a high effort every minute of every game, he could become more of an asset than Williams.
Pierre Henderson-Niles
Leading rebounder with 11 boards. It should be noted, however, that four of these rebounds came one after another as he would shoot, miss, rebound, and repeat. The main thing about Niles was he looked a lot better. He can jump, he can run, and he played 20 minutes without looking tired.
Willie Kemp
Very strong defense. He tripped up the guards fairly consistently. 3 assists to 1 turnover. Did not have an extremely strong night offensively, but he shot 4 of 5 from the field. Kemp did play with a lot of confidence, which is also true for the rest of the senior class. 1 of 1 from behind the arc and 3 of 3 from the free throw line. Scored 12 points.
Roburt Sallie
Showed something we rarely saw from him last year, a great ability to drive. Sallie had a suprisingly low 3 point percentage as he only hit 1 of 3 from behind the arc. He did, however, his 5 of 10 overall. Scored 11 points.
Doneal Mack
His best attribute was his smoothering defense. When he was trying, he made LeMoyne Owen's guards look foolish. Hit 1 of 1 from behind the arch.
Will Coleman
Pretty much what was expected. No outstanding stats, but he showed amazing athleticism. Definitely slammed a few alley-oops. Almost had some foul trouble early on that had hit sit out a good portion of the first half. Needs to do a better job of rebounding. Scored 11 points, mostly from other Tigers' missed shots.
DJ Stephens
Did good. A lot better than I expected. I had my doubts about his ability to play power forward with his lack of height, but when you see him stretch his arms, you know it won't be a problem. Very athletic. Dunks with ease and is pretty fast. Wouldn't be surprised to see him contribute significant minutes this season.
Drew Barham
Almost non existent. 0 for 3 from the field, two of them from behind the arc, but he's a freshman, and it's early. This is what exhibitions are for.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Lemoyne Owen Exhibition
The Tigers had the first showing against LeMoyne Owen. The starters were Willie Kemp, Elliot Williams, Roburt Sallie, Wesley Witherspoon, and Pierre Henderson-Niles. Doneal Mack did not start as a punishment for showing up late to a team meeting. When on the floor together, Williams and Kemp seemed to trade the point and shooting guard positions. If a guard got a defense rebound, he often iniated the offense. Doneal Mack also played point guard for a time while Kemp and Williams were both on the bench.
The first half of the game was rather sloppy. A major part of the problem was defense. Most players, not including Willie Kemp and Doneal Mack, were simply not bringing sufficient defense to the table. LeMoyne Owen kept up with Memphis' score and even exchange the with the Tigers. Around the three minute mark, you could see that Memphis had begun to warm up. There was no looking back after that.
Field goal percentages improved from a first half 47.2% to 69% in the second half. Likewise 3pt percentages improved from 25% in the first half to 83.3% in the second. It should also be noted that most of the points came in the paint and not from three pointers.
The most memorable play of the night: Roburt Sallie got a steal and nearly swotted the ball out of bounds. He saved it and passed it to Willie Kemp. Kemp drove, when he noticed a defender was closing in on him, he pass it off the backboard for a dunk from Will Coleman.
The scariest moment of the night: Wesley Witherspoon took a hard fall and hurt his leg. He limped off the court. When he walked back to the bench he looked fine, but he sat out the rest of the game (Not much time left coupled with a high lead). It turned out to only be a cramp.
Many recruits were at the game. Chris Crawford, Joe Jackson, and Tarik Black all watched the game together. Ray Parks and Adonis Thomas were also in attendance
The first half of the game was rather sloppy. A major part of the problem was defense. Most players, not including Willie Kemp and Doneal Mack, were simply not bringing sufficient defense to the table. LeMoyne Owen kept up with Memphis' score and even exchange the with the Tigers. Around the three minute mark, you could see that Memphis had begun to warm up. There was no looking back after that.
Field goal percentages improved from a first half 47.2% to 69% in the second half. Likewise 3pt percentages improved from 25% in the first half to 83.3% in the second. It should also be noted that most of the points came in the paint and not from three pointers.
The most memorable play of the night: Roburt Sallie got a steal and nearly swotted the ball out of bounds. He saved it and passed it to Willie Kemp. Kemp drove, when he noticed a defender was closing in on him, he pass it off the backboard for a dunk from Will Coleman.
The scariest moment of the night: Wesley Witherspoon took a hard fall and hurt his leg. He limped off the court. When he walked back to the bench he looked fine, but he sat out the rest of the game (Not much time left coupled with a high lead). It turned out to only be a cramp.
Many recruits were at the game. Chris Crawford, Joe Jackson, and Tarik Black all watched the game together. Ray Parks and Adonis Thomas were also in attendance
Monday, October 26, 2009
Preston Laird
Preston Laird recently recieved a scholarship from the University of Memphis for one year. This might be explained by the wonderful shooting he displayed last season (he did hit every three pointer he took). But then again, it's not as impressive to have a good three point shooting percentage when all of your minutes come in the final two minutes of a blow out game.
I really can't say I understand this move. Laird is willing to play on the team for free, and we should be willing to let him. If any walk-on deserves a scholarship it is Drew Barham. He understands the game better and is a more consistent shooter in difficult game situations. Now we have two players on scholarship who will likely not see many minutes, the other being D.J. Stephens.
I trust the judgement of Pastner and the rest of the coaching staff, but I can't say I follow their logic.
In any case, congratulations Preston. You are a true tiger, and I have no desire to take away from your accomplishments
I really can't say I understand this move. Laird is willing to play on the team for free, and we should be willing to let him. If any walk-on deserves a scholarship it is Drew Barham. He understands the game better and is a more consistent shooter in difficult game situations. Now we have two players on scholarship who will likely not see many minutes, the other being D.J. Stephens.
I trust the judgement of Pastner and the rest of the coaching staff, but I can't say I follow their logic.
In any case, congratulations Preston. You are a true tiger, and I have no desire to take away from your accomplishments
Friday, October 9, 2009
Exclusive Drew Barham Interview
1. How is your relationship with Coach Pastner and the other assistant coaches?
Great. I don't think their could be a better coaching staff. It fits perfect.
2.How is your relationship with the other players?
I get along with all the players, we all do things together as a team. If I go anywhere (even home) their is normally one of my teammates with me.
3. Describe your workouts with "Big Rich."
Hard but good. You know its working when you put on around 10 lbs since I've been here and increased my strength majorly.
4. Is there any player on the team you connect with more than others?
Elliot Williams - we played ball together since we were little. But I like all of them
5. How were your experiences with CBHS and the Nashville Celtics? Do you think they prepared you for college basketball?
Wouldn't trade my experiences. Yes most of the offensive motion sets we are running I did with both these teams. They taught me the fundamentals of basketball.
6. I have you listed at 6'6 1/2 and 185lbs, has anything changed?
6'6 1/2 is correct i was measured yesterday. You could say 6'7 with basketball shoes. 189 lbs
7. Your 3pt shot is your specialty, is there anything else you have been focusing on development wise?
Defense
8. Did the fact that your father went to the UofM affect your decision to play for the Tigers?
No not at all
9. Was it difficult to turn down a scholarship in order to walk-on for Memphis?
Probably the hardest decision I have ever made. And all the wait until my release was horrible.
10. Aside from being MVP and winner of the 3pt shooting contest in the East/West All-Star game, are there any other accomplishments in basketball that you are proud of?
Um maybe some like State all tournament team n mcdonalds all american nominee for tennessee and Mvp a couple of times
11. How did it feel during the time that you were unable to talk to Pastner about coming to Memphis?
Bad. I thought I had given up all I had worked for since I was little during that stretch but it has been well worth the wait
12. What were the coach's and athletic director's original reactions to your decommitment and how did that change by the time you were released from you LOI?
Shocked...didn't understand why..so the came to my house next morning. Always my dream to play for my hometown and all my family and grandma are here and coaching changes at Memphis
13. How did it feel to finally get the call saying your were going to be released?
So happy! I just thanked the Lord..and Coach Lowry cause he didn't have to do it.
14. How do you see your role next season with the Tigers?
Can knock down shots. Keeping the defense open for elliot and willie n wes to drive. Use my length at 4 if we need it
15. Can you describe a typical practice and individual workout?
Lots of skill work. Then work on defense and fundamentals then play live. All the practices are run exceptionally well and very intense.
16. Has the offensive strategy been implemented in practices yet? If so, can you describe it?
Motion with a some dribble drive, shooters spot up on the drives
17. Are any players standing out?
will coleman, elliot williams
18. Does it feel good to know that Tiger sports reporter Dan Wolken of the Commercial Appeal hardly considers you to be a walk-on?
I mean I guess it really doesn't matter..I'm here to play basketball walk-on or not. It would be nice to be on scholarship like i was but it's not my decision and Coach said if your good enough you will play. I'm not worried about it but the money for school would sure help out a lot
19. I know you have liked the Tigers since childhood, have you ever considered yourself to be a "fan" of any of your current team mates?
haha No. I like Penny thats bout it
20. I've heard you comment on video that you were trying to adjust to the fast pace nature of college basketball, how has that been goin?
Good, everyday you get more used to it. Its good that i'm doing getting ready for it now instead of during the season. I'll be ready to roll come November
21. Is there anything else you would like Memphis Tiger fans to know?
Hum...I'm just happy I'm here and didn't go to So ill. and thanks to all the fans for treating me so nice once i got here. It helped a ton in knowing I made the right decision. GO TIGERS
God Bless
Great. I don't think their could be a better coaching staff. It fits perfect.
2.How is your relationship with the other players?
I get along with all the players, we all do things together as a team. If I go anywhere (even home) their is normally one of my teammates with me.
3. Describe your workouts with "Big Rich."
Hard but good. You know its working when you put on around 10 lbs since I've been here and increased my strength majorly.
4. Is there any player on the team you connect with more than others?
Elliot Williams - we played ball together since we were little. But I like all of them
5. How were your experiences with CBHS and the Nashville Celtics? Do you think they prepared you for college basketball?
Wouldn't trade my experiences. Yes most of the offensive motion sets we are running I did with both these teams. They taught me the fundamentals of basketball.
6. I have you listed at 6'6 1/2 and 185lbs, has anything changed?
6'6 1/2 is correct i was measured yesterday. You could say 6'7 with basketball shoes. 189 lbs
7. Your 3pt shot is your specialty, is there anything else you have been focusing on development wise?
Defense
8. Did the fact that your father went to the UofM affect your decision to play for the Tigers?
No not at all
9. Was it difficult to turn down a scholarship in order to walk-on for Memphis?
Probably the hardest decision I have ever made. And all the wait until my release was horrible.
10. Aside from being MVP and winner of the 3pt shooting contest in the East/West All-Star game, are there any other accomplishments in basketball that you are proud of?
Um maybe some like State all tournament team n mcdonalds all american nominee for tennessee and Mvp a couple of times
11. How did it feel during the time that you were unable to talk to Pastner about coming to Memphis?
Bad. I thought I had given up all I had worked for since I was little during that stretch but it has been well worth the wait
12. What were the coach's and athletic director's original reactions to your decommitment and how did that change by the time you were released from you LOI?
Shocked...didn't understand why..so the came to my house next morning. Always my dream to play for my hometown and all my family and grandma are here and coaching changes at Memphis
13. How did it feel to finally get the call saying your were going to be released?
So happy! I just thanked the Lord..and Coach Lowry cause he didn't have to do it.
14. How do you see your role next season with the Tigers?
Can knock down shots. Keeping the defense open for elliot and willie n wes to drive. Use my length at 4 if we need it
15. Can you describe a typical practice and individual workout?
Lots of skill work. Then work on defense and fundamentals then play live. All the practices are run exceptionally well and very intense.
16. Has the offensive strategy been implemented in practices yet? If so, can you describe it?
Motion with a some dribble drive, shooters spot up on the drives
17. Are any players standing out?
will coleman, elliot williams
18. Does it feel good to know that Tiger sports reporter Dan Wolken of the Commercial Appeal hardly considers you to be a walk-on?
I mean I guess it really doesn't matter..I'm here to play basketball walk-on or not. It would be nice to be on scholarship like i was but it's not my decision and Coach said if your good enough you will play. I'm not worried about it but the money for school would sure help out a lot
19. I know you have liked the Tigers since childhood, have you ever considered yourself to be a "fan" of any of your current team mates?
haha No. I like Penny thats bout it
20. I've heard you comment on video that you were trying to adjust to the fast pace nature of college basketball, how has that been goin?
Good, everyday you get more used to it. Its good that i'm doing getting ready for it now instead of during the season. I'll be ready to roll come November
21. Is there anything else you would like Memphis Tiger fans to know?
Hum...I'm just happy I'm here and didn't go to So ill. and thanks to all the fans for treating me so nice once i got here. It helped a ton in knowing I made the right decision. GO TIGERS
God Bless
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Where they are now.
This upcoming season will have only one starter from the 2008-09 season. That title belongs to Doneal Mack, last seasons starting shooting guard. So what happened to the other four? Only two of them were drafted, and only one of those drafted will actually be playing in the NBA next season.
Starting at point guard was Tyreke Evans. He was picked as the 4th overall pick by the Sacramento Kings. Contrary to some beliefs, he will continue to play the point guard position rather than the shooting guard position.
Robert Dozier was also drafted. He was selected by the Miami heat as the 60th overall pick in the second round, the final pick of the draft. Although coaches gave positive feedback on Dozier, he apparently felt that he would not recieve adequate playing time. He has since decided to spend the next season developing his skill in Greece. The team he plays for is called Colossus.
Antonio Anderson was not drafted during the 2009 NBA draft. Nevertheless, he spent the summer working towards his goal, and he has been picked up by the Charlotte Bobcats. He believes defense will still be his strong point in the NBA.
Shawn Taggart also left after last season. There are whispers that he is playing professionally in Europe.
Starting at point guard was Tyreke Evans. He was picked as the 4th overall pick by the Sacramento Kings. Contrary to some beliefs, he will continue to play the point guard position rather than the shooting guard position.
Robert Dozier was also drafted. He was selected by the Miami heat as the 60th overall pick in the second round, the final pick of the draft. Although coaches gave positive feedback on Dozier, he apparently felt that he would not recieve adequate playing time. He has since decided to spend the next season developing his skill in Greece. The team he plays for is called Colossus.
Antonio Anderson was not drafted during the 2009 NBA draft. Nevertheless, he spent the summer working towards his goal, and he has been picked up by the Charlotte Bobcats. He believes defense will still be his strong point in the NBA.
Shawn Taggart also left after last season. There are whispers that he is playing professionally in Europe.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Something We Haven't Seen
Our thoughts can now be put to rest. Coach Pastner will not be implementing a carbon copy of the Dribble Drive Motion Offense that we are used to seeing, according to Doneal Mack. This shouldn't come as a suprise. That style of offense serves only two purposes. The first is for recruiting. All DDM consists of is attacking the rim, if the opportunity is there, put the ball in. If it isn't, kick it out to the open teammate. It is an easy to learn offense that resembles the style of play most players did in high school. The second, which in contingent on the first, is that it puts players in one on one situations. This is excellent when you have depth coupled with outstanding players.
This season, however, the Tigers do not have the depth that they are used to. They also do not have the incoming freshman talent. The time for a new offense is now. As one might guess, Pastner will be implementing a Lute Olsen style Motion Offense, with some occassional DDM on the side. The main difference is the Motion Offense uses a lot of pick setting, something Calipari vigorously avoided. Other than that, the offense are very similar. They both have good deal of one on one situations. They are both fast paced. They both spread the defense, and Coach Pastner has said since he was an assistant coach for Calipari that the Lute Olsen Motion Offense spreads the defense even farther than DDM.
Doneal Mack seemed to view the new offensive style in a positive manner. He said that it fit the individual skills of each player well, especially because many players on the Memphis team are good at shooting of the pick and roll. Also, expect Memphis to use their big men more effectively. Pastner is focusing heavily on their skill development, something he is known for and Cal was known not to do.
This season, however, the Tigers do not have the depth that they are used to. They also do not have the incoming freshman talent. The time for a new offense is now. As one might guess, Pastner will be implementing a Lute Olsen style Motion Offense, with some occassional DDM on the side. The main difference is the Motion Offense uses a lot of pick setting, something Calipari vigorously avoided. Other than that, the offense are very similar. They both have good deal of one on one situations. They are both fast paced. They both spread the defense, and Coach Pastner has said since he was an assistant coach for Calipari that the Lute Olsen Motion Offense spreads the defense even farther than DDM.
Doneal Mack seemed to view the new offensive style in a positive manner. He said that it fit the individual skills of each player well, especially because many players on the Memphis team are good at shooting of the pick and roll. Also, expect Memphis to use their big men more effectively. Pastner is focusing heavily on their skill development, something he is known for and Cal was known not to do.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Tarik Black
Now that Joe Jackson has committed to Memphis, our back court will be good, regardless of whether or not Memphis lands anymore guards for the 2010 season. The focus now will be on the post.
Will Coleman will likely be around in 2010 to provide a talented center. The question mark will be the powerforward position. Tarik Black, of the Memphis Magic summer circuit program, would provide a perfect fit. The fact that he played on a team with Joe Jackson doesn't hurt either. Neither will the presence of #1 shooting guard Will Barton, or the extremely available playing time.
Tarik Black, your hometown awaits your decision.
Will Coleman will likely be around in 2010 to provide a talented center. The question mark will be the powerforward position. Tarik Black, of the Memphis Magic summer circuit program, would provide a perfect fit. The fact that he played on a team with Joe Jackson doesn't hurt either. Neither will the presence of #1 shooting guard Will Barton, or the extremely available playing time.
Tarik Black, your hometown awaits your decision.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
It Official! (the pieces are falling into place.)
Joe Jackson, the 5-11 top 25 point guard for White State and the Memphis Magic, made it official yesterday afternoon at 5:30 that he will be playing for the Memphis Tigers next year. He joins fellow point guard Antonio Barton, 3 stars, and his brother Will Barton, the #1 ranked shooting guard.
This commitment ensures a top recruiting class for Memphis, it currently ranks as the third best recruiting class under Ohio and Syracuse. Those talented three guards will have company with Wesley Witherspoon, Elliot Williams, and possibly Roburt Sallie, who might leave due to age (unless he has been talking to Taggart). The Tiger's backcourt will be a force to be reckoned with in the 2010-11 season.
Now the recruiting will shift towards big men. We need a solid center to back up Will Coleman, and a couple of good power forwards. Having two five star guard recruits, and an obviously think frontcourt, should help in successful recruiting.
This commitment ensures a top recruiting class for Memphis, it currently ranks as the third best recruiting class under Ohio and Syracuse. Those talented three guards will have company with Wesley Witherspoon, Elliot Williams, and possibly Roburt Sallie, who might leave due to age (unless he has been talking to Taggart). The Tiger's backcourt will be a force to be reckoned with in the 2010-11 season.
Now the recruiting will shift towards big men. We need a solid center to back up Will Coleman, and a couple of good power forwards. Having two five star guard recruits, and an obviously think frontcourt, should help in successful recruiting.
Friday, September 11, 2009
A look at the future
As the 2009-10 season draws ever nearer, Tiger fans are growing more and more excited... for the 2010-11 season. When our top recruiting class consisting of Xavier Henry, Demarcus Cousins, Nolan Dennis, and Donnell Dodson left I thought the bad news was over.
Later in the off-season our new prized recruit, Latavious Williams, decided that China might be a better destination for him than Memphis would. Certainly it can't get worse can it? Of course, it can!
Our most viable power forward option, Martin N'Galoro, got injured and was forced to stay at home in France and miss the entire 2009-10 season. That was okay, though. We still had Angel Garcia. While he would be an unorthodox power forward, he would certainly contribute a great deal to our thin post. Not anymore. Garcia has torn his ACL and will be forced to sit out this season, again.
On the bright side, it looks as though the season's disappointment will not become a trend. Joe Jackson is set to announce his commitment to the University of Memphis, as said by his coach, grandmother, and the fact that he is announcing in a U of M building. He is ranked as the #5 point guard and the #21 player overall. He joins point guard Antonio Barton and his brother Will Barton, who is ranked as the #1 shooting guard and the #6 player overall. This commitment will ensure Memphis will have a top ten recruiting class next season.
Later in the off-season our new prized recruit, Latavious Williams, decided that China might be a better destination for him than Memphis would. Certainly it can't get worse can it? Of course, it can!
Our most viable power forward option, Martin N'Galoro, got injured and was forced to stay at home in France and miss the entire 2009-10 season. That was okay, though. We still had Angel Garcia. While he would be an unorthodox power forward, he would certainly contribute a great deal to our thin post. Not anymore. Garcia has torn his ACL and will be forced to sit out this season, again.
On the bright side, it looks as though the season's disappointment will not become a trend. Joe Jackson is set to announce his commitment to the University of Memphis, as said by his coach, grandmother, and the fact that he is announcing in a U of M building. He is ranked as the #5 point guard and the #21 player overall. He joins point guard Antonio Barton and his brother Will Barton, who is ranked as the #1 shooting guard and the #6 player overall. This commitment will ensure Memphis will have a top ten recruiting class next season.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
When "big man" goes bad
Pierre Henderson-Niles, this is a player who was once a top 40 recruit for his class. He showed an enormous amount of potential. His skills, however, didn't translate to the college level. This was not because he wasn't good enough. He just got too big. As a result, his ability to jump, and his stamina, was drastically affected.
Close to the beginning of his freshman year in college, Niles sustained an injury to his ankle. During this time he was unable to exercise to stay in shape. Making things worse, he rediscovered his love for fast food.
His weight fluctuated over the next four years, topping out at around 335lbs. His playing time was limited. Calipari did what he does when a player doesn't live up to his expectations. He ignored him.
This summer, Coach Josh Pastner has made Niles follow a strict diet and exercise regiment that has significantly reduced his weight. He is currently checking in at about 275lbs. This is great news. Given the lack of depth, and lack of big men, we will probably need to rely on him more than we have had to in the past. This is especially true when you consider how reluctant Garcia is to mix it up in the paint. That brings us from three big men down to two.
I don't think this will make him a star, but it will certainly help out. He probably won't become a starter, but at least he will be able to make significant contributions off the bench.
Close to the beginning of his freshman year in college, Niles sustained an injury to his ankle. During this time he was unable to exercise to stay in shape. Making things worse, he rediscovered his love for fast food.
His weight fluctuated over the next four years, topping out at around 335lbs. His playing time was limited. Calipari did what he does when a player doesn't live up to his expectations. He ignored him.
This summer, Coach Josh Pastner has made Niles follow a strict diet and exercise regiment that has significantly reduced his weight. He is currently checking in at about 275lbs. This is great news. Given the lack of depth, and lack of big men, we will probably need to rely on him more than we have had to in the past. This is especially true when you consider how reluctant Garcia is to mix it up in the paint. That brings us from three big men down to two.
I don't think this will make him a star, but it will certainly help out. He probably won't become a starter, but at least he will be able to make significant contributions off the bench.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Official Roster
Classes have started. Even with as many players as I have seen come and go this off season, I think it's safe to assume the roster is complete and solid.
Scholarship players(9):
Seniors:
Willie Kemp- point guard, 6-2, 184
Pierre Henderson-Niles- center/forward, 6-8, 278
Doneal Mack- shooting guard, 6-5, 187
Juniors:
Will Coleman- center/forward, 6-9, 250
Roburt Sallie- shooting guard, 6-5, 196
Sophmores:
Wesley Witherspoon- forward/guard, 6-9, 210
Elliot Williams- shooting/ point guard, 6-5, 180
Angel Garcia- forward, 6-11, 245
Freshmen:
DJ Stephens- guard/forward, 6-5, 170
Walk-ons(5):
Juniors:
James Harvey- guard, 6-2, 200
Sophmores:
Preston Laird- guard, 6-2, 182
Freshmen:
Tyler Foster- guard/forward, 6-5, 185
Drew Barham- forward/guard, 6-7, 185
Malik Thomas- guard/forward, 6-4, 195
All players are official allowed to play except for Drew Barham, His school is expected to release him from his letter of intent on Oct. 15.
just for fun, here's my guess for starting lineup
PG-Elliot Williams
SG-Roburt Sallie
SF-Doneal Mack
PF-Angel Garcia
C-Will Coleman
Fill-ins
PG-Willie Kemp
SG-Drew Barham/Willie Kemp
SF-Drew Barham
PF-Wesley Witherspoon
C- Pierre Henderson Niles
Expect many players to play many positions.
Scholarship players(9):
Seniors:
Willie Kemp- point guard, 6-2, 184
Pierre Henderson-Niles- center/forward, 6-8, 278
Doneal Mack- shooting guard, 6-5, 187
Juniors:
Will Coleman- center/forward, 6-9, 250
Roburt Sallie- shooting guard, 6-5, 196
Sophmores:
Wesley Witherspoon- forward/guard, 6-9, 210
Elliot Williams- shooting/ point guard, 6-5, 180
Angel Garcia- forward, 6-11, 245
Freshmen:
DJ Stephens- guard/forward, 6-5, 170
Walk-ons(5):
Juniors:
James Harvey- guard, 6-2, 200
Sophmores:
Preston Laird- guard, 6-2, 182
Freshmen:
Tyler Foster- guard/forward, 6-5, 185
Drew Barham- forward/guard, 6-7, 185
Malik Thomas- guard/forward, 6-4, 195
All players are official allowed to play except for Drew Barham, His school is expected to release him from his letter of intent on Oct. 15.
just for fun, here's my guess for starting lineup
PG-Elliot Williams
SG-Roburt Sallie
SF-Doneal Mack
PF-Angel Garcia
C-Will Coleman
Fill-ins
PG-Willie Kemp
SG-Drew Barham/Willie Kemp
SF-Drew Barham
PF-Wesley Witherspoon
C- Pierre Henderson Niles
Expect many players to play many positions.
Official Schedule
Now that the in-conference schedule is out we can see what the full schedule will look like for our tigers.
Nov 3-LeMoyne Owen (exhibition)
Nov 9-Christian Brothers (exhibition)
Nov 13-Jackson State
Nov 17-Kansas
Nov 24-Central Arkansas
Nov 30-Oakland
Dec 5-Arkansas State
Dec 9-Montana State
Dec 12- Arkansas
Dec 19- at UMASS
Dec22-Southeast Missouri State
Dec 28-IUPUI
Dec 31-Tennessee
Jan 3-Houston Baptist
Jan 6-at Syracuse
Jan 9-at Southern Miss
Jan 13-East Carolina
Jan 16-at Rice
Jan 20-UTEP
Jan 23-Houston
Jan 27-at Marshall
Jan 30-at SMU
Feb 3-UAB
Feb 6-Gonzaga
Feb 10-UCF
Feb 13- at Tulsa
Feb 17- at Tulane
Feb 20-SMU
Feb 24-at Houston
Feb 27-Southern Miss
March 3-at UAB
March 6-Tulsa
March 10-13 C-USA Tournament in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Nov 3-LeMoyne Owen (exhibition)
Nov 9-Christian Brothers (exhibition)
Nov 13-Jackson State
Nov 17-Kansas
Nov 24-Central Arkansas
Nov 30-Oakland
Dec 5-Arkansas State
Dec 9-Montana State
Dec 12- Arkansas
Dec 19- at UMASS
Dec22-Southeast Missouri State
Dec 28-IUPUI
Dec 31-Tennessee
Jan 3-Houston Baptist
Jan 6-at Syracuse
Jan 9-at Southern Miss
Jan 13-East Carolina
Jan 16-at Rice
Jan 20-UTEP
Jan 23-Houston
Jan 27-at Marshall
Jan 30-at SMU
Feb 3-UAB
Feb 6-Gonzaga
Feb 10-UCF
Feb 13- at Tulsa
Feb 17- at Tulane
Feb 20-SMU
Feb 24-at Houston
Feb 27-Southern Miss
March 3-at UAB
March 6-Tulsa
March 10-13 C-USA Tournament in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Monday, August 31, 2009
3 point saga
I have already stated that next year's teams will be an excellent three point shooting team. Sallie can hit the three like no other, we saw this during last season's first round of the NCAA tournament. Garcia's specialty is his three pointer, Elliot William's specialty is his three pointer, and Kemp and Mack go on three point hot streaks all the time. Even Preston Laird hit all the threes he threw up last year.
Now we have a new addition. Drew Barham of the Nashville Celtics is now a Memphis Tiger walk on. As long as he is let out of his letter of intent by Illinois, he will be eligible to play this season. Guess what his strength is. Three point shooting.
Now we have a new addition. Drew Barham of the Nashville Celtics is now a Memphis Tiger walk on. As long as he is let out of his letter of intent by Illinois, he will be eligible to play this season. Guess what his strength is. Three point shooting.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Falling off
I know a lot of Tiger fans are not quite as excited about next season as we have been about the last four or so. Not that we aren't anxious. That's why so many of us are scrounging for any offseason news we can get are hands on (not that there's been any shortage).
We do know that things just cannot go as well. We only have one returning starter. We have a lot of talent, but lack depth, especially in the front court. The out of conference schedule is very weak, and, as a result, it will be especially difficult to get a high seed in the NCAA tournament this year. That is assuming we win the C-USA tournament.
I am kind of okay with this drop in talent. I know next year will be better. We already have Barton and Jackson is already trimming the fat(by that I mean knocking Kentucky off his list of schools). Our dreams of championships can begin again.
But think about it. In conference games will be fun again. Not that I didn't enjoy watching Memphis beat SMU by more points than SMU had scored itself. I just wasn't kept at the edge of my seat. In the last two years, I have probably had a total of two minutes where I thought that Memphis would lost an in conference basketball game. All two of those minutes were during Memphis's first match against Tulsa last season, and that includes stopped game play.
Now we can go to or watch conference games and wonder if we are going to win. We can watch the tournament and feel our anxiety rise as Memphis makes it closer to the tournament. Competition will be brought back to our conference games, and I think that's a good thing. Atleast for now.
We do know that things just cannot go as well. We only have one returning starter. We have a lot of talent, but lack depth, especially in the front court. The out of conference schedule is very weak, and, as a result, it will be especially difficult to get a high seed in the NCAA tournament this year. That is assuming we win the C-USA tournament.
I am kind of okay with this drop in talent. I know next year will be better. We already have Barton and Jackson is already trimming the fat(by that I mean knocking Kentucky off his list of schools). Our dreams of championships can begin again.
But think about it. In conference games will be fun again. Not that I didn't enjoy watching Memphis beat SMU by more points than SMU had scored itself. I just wasn't kept at the edge of my seat. In the last two years, I have probably had a total of two minutes where I thought that Memphis would lost an in conference basketball game. All two of those minutes were during Memphis's first match against Tulsa last season, and that includes stopped game play.
Now we can go to or watch conference games and wonder if we are going to win. We can watch the tournament and feel our anxiety rise as Memphis makes it closer to the tournament. Competition will be brought back to our conference games, and I think that's a good thing. Atleast for now.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Thank the Lord, we found a power forward.
With Martin N'Galoro injured and out for the season, I have been extremely worried about the power forward position. Sure Niles is trimming down, but he seems to fit into the center position better( and I still question his ability to play for long periods of time). Garcia is a decent choice though he needs to toughen up and get a better post game. Either way, our power forward will need a back up, and it was starting to look like they wouldn't get one.
Then we learned of DJ stephens. He's only a two star recruit, but his high school nick name is the human highlight reel. He's only 6'5( hope that 43-inch vertical leap isn't just talk), but so was N'Galoro.
In any case, it's good to have some numbers. I want to play fast, and I want to press. We need numbers for that kind of game.
Then we learned of DJ stephens. He's only a two star recruit, but his high school nick name is the human highlight reel. He's only 6'5( hope that 43-inch vertical leap isn't just talk), but so was N'Galoro.
In any case, it's good to have some numbers. I want to play fast, and I want to press. We need numbers for that kind of game.
NCAA ruling
I'll start with the good news. Elliot Williams has been cleared to play. Sure, it was never in doubt, but, with N'Galoro out of the picture, we need all the assurance we can get about next seasons roster.
Then there is the bad news. Our 07-08 Final Four season has been vacated. I found this extremely dissappointing as that season meant a lot to me. Also, I was excited to see if we could get the NCAA's all time longest in-conference winnging streak.
On the good side, however, Calipari will not be considered to be major contributor for that record. He is the only coach to have two Final Four appearances vacated at two seperate schools. We feel you UMASS. Also, does anyone else find it wierd that he left both schools right before the programs were accused of violations.
In the end, it's not really that bad. We didn't lose any scholarships, we can still have television appearances, and we can still compete to play in the NCAA tournament. Let's just look forward to a new era under Pastner. I doubt any of his wins will ever be vacated.
Then there is the bad news. Our 07-08 Final Four season has been vacated. I found this extremely dissappointing as that season meant a lot to me. Also, I was excited to see if we could get the NCAA's all time longest in-conference winnging streak.
On the good side, however, Calipari will not be considered to be major contributor for that record. He is the only coach to have two Final Four appearances vacated at two seperate schools. We feel you UMASS. Also, does anyone else find it wierd that he left both schools right before the programs were accused of violations.
In the end, it's not really that bad. We didn't lose any scholarships, we can still have television appearances, and we can still compete to play in the NCAA tournament. Let's just look forward to a new era under Pastner. I doubt any of his wins will ever be vacated.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Elliot Williams
This could very well be our next star. He isn't that different from Tyreke Evans in a lot of ways. They played together in the McDonald's All American game. Evans was ranked 3 in that class and Williams was ranked 16. Williams is even a likely candidate for point, though his natural position is shooting guard. Sound familiar?
I don't doubt that he will end up playing point guard. He has the ball handling skills to do it, but I don't think its necessary. Most people want to see it happen because it worked so well with Evans. The situation is slightly different now. For one thing, I think Kemp will blossom under Pastner. He didn't fit in well with Calipari and was thrown to the side one too many times. I would like to see Kemp play point and do it well. Also, Evans natural position may have been shooting guard, but he was never as effective when we wasn't ball dominate. Williams can work with another player that handles the ball.
There are some similarities in the way Evans and Williams play, though. Both of them have superior ball handling abilities, both of them have deceptive speed, both of them are great at stealing the ball, and both of them finish at the rim with highlight reel quality dunks. While Evans might be better at most of these things than Williams, Williams does have one distinct advantage. He can consistently hit his threes. This makes him much more difficult to guard because he is well rounded. Also, by the time he first puts on his Tiger's uniform, he will have already had a years worth of college basketball experience. This will be invaluable to Williams. Just as he will be invaluable for the Tigers.
Check out some Elliot William's highlights on the video bar.
I don't doubt that he will end up playing point guard. He has the ball handling skills to do it, but I don't think its necessary. Most people want to see it happen because it worked so well with Evans. The situation is slightly different now. For one thing, I think Kemp will blossom under Pastner. He didn't fit in well with Calipari and was thrown to the side one too many times. I would like to see Kemp play point and do it well. Also, Evans natural position may have been shooting guard, but he was never as effective when we wasn't ball dominate. Williams can work with another player that handles the ball.
There are some similarities in the way Evans and Williams play, though. Both of them have superior ball handling abilities, both of them have deceptive speed, both of them are great at stealing the ball, and both of them finish at the rim with highlight reel quality dunks. While Evans might be better at most of these things than Williams, Williams does have one distinct advantage. He can consistently hit his threes. This makes him much more difficult to guard because he is well rounded. Also, by the time he first puts on his Tiger's uniform, he will have already had a years worth of college basketball experience. This will be invaluable to Williams. Just as he will be invaluable for the Tigers.
Check out some Elliot William's highlights on the video bar.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Weak Out of Conference Schedule
This schedule was retrieved from An Article by Dan Wolken of the Commercial Appeal.
Nov. 3 – LeMoyne-Owen (exhibition)
Nov. 9 – Christian Brothers (exhibition)
Nov. 13 – Jackson State
Nov. 17 – vs. Kansas (St. Louis, Mo.; Hall of Fame Showcase)
Nov. 20 – Tennessee Tech (Hall of Fame Showcase)
Nov. 24 – Central Arkansas (Hall of Fame Showcase)
Nov. 30 – Oakland (Hall of Fame Showcase)
Dec. 5 – Arkansas State
Dec. 9 – Montana State
Dec. 12 – vs. Arkansas-Little Rock (North Little Rock, Ark.)
Dec. 19 – vs. UMass (Boston, Mass.)
Dec. 22 – Southeast Missouri State
Dec. 28 – IUPUI
Dec. 31 – Tennessee
Jan. 3 – Houston Baptist
Jan. 6 – at Syracuse
Feb. 6 – Gonzaga
11 lines have never spelled disappointment so concisely. Aside from 5 games; Tennessee, UMass, Syracus, Gonzaga, and Kansas, this schedule is all fluff. Me might not have had many more tough games last season. A few teams reappear as our major competition; Syracuse, Gonzaga, and Tennessee.The problem is that there are so many no-name teams.
The Tigers will have to win almost every game. With such a weak out of conference schedule, and such a weak conference, no one will believe that we are a talented team unless we win our five non-fluff games. I find it hard to believe that we wont lose at least two of those games, and other losses will be sprinkled through out the rest of the schedule.
I will be absolutely necessary to win the coneference tournament to get into the NCAA tournament. Getting a high seed will be next to impossible.
Don't get me wrong, I understand Coach Pastner's position. He had to focus on staff and players. They were an absolute necessity. He had only one recruit stay, returning players were iffy, and there was no coaching staff to speak of.
I also understand wanting to play it safe. He has just recently been able to look at his complete roster. Even now, two players are waiting to be cleared by the NCAA (Martin Ngaloro and Elliot Williams). Pastner was not sure what kind of talent he would be working with. This is not the ideal time to make a stacked schedule. Not to mention, after four years of 30 plus win seasons, Tiger's fans will not be happy with a lot of losses.
While this is the type of schedule we should expect to see from our first time head coach, most of us don't want to settle for meeting our expectations this season.
Nov. 3 – LeMoyne-Owen (exhibition)
Nov. 9 – Christian Brothers (exhibition)
Nov. 13 – Jackson State
Nov. 17 – vs. Kansas (St. Louis, Mo.; Hall of Fame Showcase)
Nov. 20 – Tennessee Tech (Hall of Fame Showcase)
Nov. 24 – Central Arkansas (Hall of Fame Showcase)
Nov. 30 – Oakland (Hall of Fame Showcase)
Dec. 5 – Arkansas State
Dec. 9 – Montana State
Dec. 12 – vs. Arkansas-Little Rock (North Little Rock, Ark.)
Dec. 19 – vs. UMass (Boston, Mass.)
Dec. 22 – Southeast Missouri State
Dec. 28 – IUPUI
Dec. 31 – Tennessee
Jan. 3 – Houston Baptist
Jan. 6 – at Syracuse
Feb. 6 – Gonzaga
11 lines have never spelled disappointment so concisely. Aside from 5 games; Tennessee, UMass, Syracus, Gonzaga, and Kansas, this schedule is all fluff. Me might not have had many more tough games last season. A few teams reappear as our major competition; Syracuse, Gonzaga, and Tennessee.The problem is that there are so many no-name teams.
The Tigers will have to win almost every game. With such a weak out of conference schedule, and such a weak conference, no one will believe that we are a talented team unless we win our five non-fluff games. I find it hard to believe that we wont lose at least two of those games, and other losses will be sprinkled through out the rest of the schedule.
I will be absolutely necessary to win the coneference tournament to get into the NCAA tournament. Getting a high seed will be next to impossible.
Don't get me wrong, I understand Coach Pastner's position. He had to focus on staff and players. They were an absolute necessity. He had only one recruit stay, returning players were iffy, and there was no coaching staff to speak of.
I also understand wanting to play it safe. He has just recently been able to look at his complete roster. Even now, two players are waiting to be cleared by the NCAA (Martin Ngaloro and Elliot Williams). Pastner was not sure what kind of talent he would be working with. This is not the ideal time to make a stacked schedule. Not to mention, after four years of 30 plus win seasons, Tiger's fans will not be happy with a lot of losses.
While this is the type of schedule we should expect to see from our first time head coach, most of us don't want to settle for meeting our expectations this season.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Starting lineup
Now that the roster is pretty much settled, I thought I would take a moment and write about who I think will be starting, and who I think should be starting.
The players that Coach Pastner will most likely use to start are:
Elliot Williams- point guard
Doneal Mack- shooting guard
Wesley Witherspoon- small forward
Angel Garcia- power forward
Will Coleman- center
The players I would have start would be:
Willie Kemp- point guard
Elliot Williams- shooting guard
Doneal Mack or Wesley Witherspoon- small forward(I'm split because Witherspoon has an amazing amount of potential, but Mack has the experience)
Angel Garcia- power forward
Will Coleman- center
The players that Coach Pastner will most likely use to start are:
Elliot Williams- point guard
Doneal Mack- shooting guard
Wesley Witherspoon- small forward
Angel Garcia- power forward
Will Coleman- center
The players I would have start would be:
Willie Kemp- point guard
Elliot Williams- shooting guard
Doneal Mack or Wesley Witherspoon- small forward(I'm split because Witherspoon has an amazing amount of potential, but Mack has the experience)
Angel Garcia- power forward
Will Coleman- center
Monday, August 3, 2009
Will next seasons team be a top 25?
I don't think anyone is expecting next season to turn out as well as the last, but with 30 plus wins, and only four losses, a step back certainly doesn't mean falling into obscurity.
A lot of people don't see next season's Memphis Tigers as being the top dog of conference USA, like they have been since the conference was reorganized. I'm not one of those people. Sure we won't be undefeated in conference play (I'm just hoping we can extend the streak long enough to beat Kentuck's all time high in-conference winning streak), but there are not many C-USA teams that will be able to handle the Tigers.
Their perimeter game will most definately be their strength. The Tiger's frontcourt is loaded with guys like Elliot Williams, Willie Kemp, Doneal Mack, Wesley Witherspoon, and Roburt Sallie. In this area, the talent, and depth, is not lacking.
The biggest problem will be at the post. I do expect Will Coleman to be an immediate impact player. As the number 2 ranked JUCO player, he has proven himself to be a beastly, yet still amazingly atheletic, player. He will be solid, but he cannot do it alone. Pierre Henderson-Niles has shown flashes of what he can do. He is an excellent rebounder and shot blocker. His contributions will be valuable, but most likely limited. He has never been in great shape, and it shows as he begins to huff and puff on the court (not something we can afford).
The person who will really need to step up to keep this team as a dominate program is Angel Garcia. He is our other freakishly athletic big man. The most interesting part about Garcia is that he plays more like a perimeter player than a post player. He already has his NBA range 3-pointer down. This makes me excited because it will change the way he plays his role as a power forward. Unfortunately, it also makes me nervous. We have plenty of 3-point shooters, and what we really need is someone to get down low. He needs to learn to play by the post. He has to pull down rebounds, block shots, and put his back to the basket.
If Garcia developes himself into a quality power forward, I believe this team will have no problems staying in the top 25, and having another impressive season. If he doesn't the team will still perform well, but the competition will have more opportunities to capitalize on their weaknesses.
A lot of people don't see next season's Memphis Tigers as being the top dog of conference USA, like they have been since the conference was reorganized. I'm not one of those people. Sure we won't be undefeated in conference play (I'm just hoping we can extend the streak long enough to beat Kentuck's all time high in-conference winning streak), but there are not many C-USA teams that will be able to handle the Tigers.
Their perimeter game will most definately be their strength. The Tiger's frontcourt is loaded with guys like Elliot Williams, Willie Kemp, Doneal Mack, Wesley Witherspoon, and Roburt Sallie. In this area, the talent, and depth, is not lacking.
The biggest problem will be at the post. I do expect Will Coleman to be an immediate impact player. As the number 2 ranked JUCO player, he has proven himself to be a beastly, yet still amazingly atheletic, player. He will be solid, but he cannot do it alone. Pierre Henderson-Niles has shown flashes of what he can do. He is an excellent rebounder and shot blocker. His contributions will be valuable, but most likely limited. He has never been in great shape, and it shows as he begins to huff and puff on the court (not something we can afford).
The person who will really need to step up to keep this team as a dominate program is Angel Garcia. He is our other freakishly athletic big man. The most interesting part about Garcia is that he plays more like a perimeter player than a post player. He already has his NBA range 3-pointer down. This makes me excited because it will change the way he plays his role as a power forward. Unfortunately, it also makes me nervous. We have plenty of 3-point shooters, and what we really need is someone to get down low. He needs to learn to play by the post. He has to pull down rebounds, block shots, and put his back to the basket.
If Garcia developes himself into a quality power forward, I believe this team will have no problems staying in the top 25, and having another impressive season. If he doesn't the team will still perform well, but the competition will have more opportunities to capitalize on their weaknesses.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Joe Jackson
For those of you who haven't heard about him, Joe Jackson is the point guard for White Station as well as Memphis Magic. His highest interest for college seems to be between Tennessee, Memphis, and Kentucky. His relationship with coach Pastner seems to be very good, but he has also shown a tremendous amount of admiration for coach Calipari.
Most Memphis fans have considered Jackson to be a lock for the Tigers 2010 team. I don't think that is necessarily true. It is probably the most likely scenario, but there is definately no guarantee.
Jackson has made it clear that he wants to take his time before choosing what college he will play for. That makes a lot of sense. Where he will go to school could drastically impact his future. Also, the publicity athletes recieve during recruiting battles can be very beneficial for players with aspirations of joining the NBA.
Should he play for Memphis? I think so. He would be a hometown hero who would develope pride for his city. His commitment, combined with Will Barton's, would ensure a talented backcourt for the Tigers. If he was able to convince Tarik Black to join him as well, then Black could pair with Will Coleman to make a powerful frontcourt.
Of course, these are just the thoughts of a fan. I'm sure at this point he is waiting to see two main things. The first, is how the NCAA allegations against the Memphis basketball program will play out. The second, is how well Josh Pastner will perform during his first season as a head coach.
Most Memphis fans have considered Jackson to be a lock for the Tigers 2010 team. I don't think that is necessarily true. It is probably the most likely scenario, but there is definately no guarantee.
Jackson has made it clear that he wants to take his time before choosing what college he will play for. That makes a lot of sense. Where he will go to school could drastically impact his future. Also, the publicity athletes recieve during recruiting battles can be very beneficial for players with aspirations of joining the NBA.
Should he play for Memphis? I think so. He would be a hometown hero who would develope pride for his city. His commitment, combined with Will Barton's, would ensure a talented backcourt for the Tigers. If he was able to convince Tarik Black to join him as well, then Black could pair with Will Coleman to make a powerful frontcourt.
Of course, these are just the thoughts of a fan. I'm sure at this point he is waiting to see two main things. The first, is how the NCAA allegations against the Memphis basketball program will play out. The second, is how well Josh Pastner will perform during his first season as a head coach.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Will next season Tigers play different?
In our last two season, the Memphis Tigers have had two primary strengths. The first, and by far the most obvious, has been the furious defense. Both of our last two teams have been notorious for holding opposing teams to low scores.
In 07-08, Joey Dorsey was an extremely prevelant defensive presence. Derrick Rose was also extremely dedicated to defense, and that has benefited him in his NBA career as many players at that level are more interested in offensive accomplishments.
In 08-09, it was more of a team effort. Antonio Anderson was most certainly the defensive leader. He always defended the opposing team's top scorer, and he did it well. Anderson held many talented scorers to embarassingly low field goal percentages.
Tyreke Evans also did a great job as a defender because he usually presented himself as a tremendous mismatch for most NCAA point guards. Taggart also proved his defensive abilities in the tigers second match against Tulsa that season. He basically single-handedly ensured that the Tigers would not need another miracle buzzer beater to finalize their victory over Tulsa.
I don't expect next season to be much different on the defensive end. Willie Kemp has proven himself to have a tremendous dedication to the defense, which coupled with him incredible speed, makes him a difficult player to score against.
Elliot Williams worked his way into Duke's starting line up his freshman year due, in large part, to his shut down defense.
Doneal Mack and Wesley Witherspoon have shown signs of their ability to be solid players on a team oriented defense.
Most important of all, however, is William Coleman. He is a tremendous defensive presence. For a man his size, he has a rediculous amount of athleticism. Also, the fact that he has been compared to Joey Dorsey makes one believe in his defensive abilities.
The difference in next season will be between offensive strategies. The 07-08 strengths laid in three areas. The first was Derrick Rose's uncanny ability to finish at the hoop and score, if necessary. The second was Chris Douglass Roberts ability to seemingly score a will. Finally, Joey Dorsey was able to slam in almost any lob or missed shot to ensure two points for the University of Memphis Tigers basketball team.
The 08-09 offensive relied primarily on the ability of Evans to attack the rim. If he was unable to finish, he had several options to dish the ball off to. He could pass to Taggart for a dunk, he could give it to Dozier for a back to post finish, or he dish it to either Sallie or Mack for a 3-pointer.
Next season will most likely be all about raining threes. Think about it. Kemp's strong point is his 3-pointer, Doneal Mack's strong point is a 3-pointer, Elliot Williams strong point is his 3-pointer, hell, even Garcia's strong point is his 3-pointer. The best part is, their shots won't be nearly as risky with a guy like William Coleman to either slam it in or grab the rebound.
In any case, next season sure should be interesting.
In 07-08, Joey Dorsey was an extremely prevelant defensive presence. Derrick Rose was also extremely dedicated to defense, and that has benefited him in his NBA career as many players at that level are more interested in offensive accomplishments.
In 08-09, it was more of a team effort. Antonio Anderson was most certainly the defensive leader. He always defended the opposing team's top scorer, and he did it well. Anderson held many talented scorers to embarassingly low field goal percentages.
Tyreke Evans also did a great job as a defender because he usually presented himself as a tremendous mismatch for most NCAA point guards. Taggart also proved his defensive abilities in the tigers second match against Tulsa that season. He basically single-handedly ensured that the Tigers would not need another miracle buzzer beater to finalize their victory over Tulsa.
I don't expect next season to be much different on the defensive end. Willie Kemp has proven himself to have a tremendous dedication to the defense, which coupled with him incredible speed, makes him a difficult player to score against.
Elliot Williams worked his way into Duke's starting line up his freshman year due, in large part, to his shut down defense.
Doneal Mack and Wesley Witherspoon have shown signs of their ability to be solid players on a team oriented defense.
Most important of all, however, is William Coleman. He is a tremendous defensive presence. For a man his size, he has a rediculous amount of athleticism. Also, the fact that he has been compared to Joey Dorsey makes one believe in his defensive abilities.
The difference in next season will be between offensive strategies. The 07-08 strengths laid in three areas. The first was Derrick Rose's uncanny ability to finish at the hoop and score, if necessary. The second was Chris Douglass Roberts ability to seemingly score a will. Finally, Joey Dorsey was able to slam in almost any lob or missed shot to ensure two points for the University of Memphis Tigers basketball team.
The 08-09 offensive relied primarily on the ability of Evans to attack the rim. If he was unable to finish, he had several options to dish the ball off to. He could pass to Taggart for a dunk, he could give it to Dozier for a back to post finish, or he dish it to either Sallie or Mack for a 3-pointer.
Next season will most likely be all about raining threes. Think about it. Kemp's strong point is his 3-pointer, Doneal Mack's strong point is a 3-pointer, Elliot Williams strong point is his 3-pointer, hell, even Garcia's strong point is his 3-pointer. The best part is, their shots won't be nearly as risky with a guy like William Coleman to either slam it in or grab the rebound.
In any case, next season sure should be interesting.
Who should start point guard for the Memphis Tigers?
The three names that are most commonly tossed around are Willie Kemp, Elliot Williams, and Doneal Mack. Roburt Sallie and Wesley Witherspoon are certaintly possibilities, but I wouldn't bet on it.
Sallie does a great job as a shooter. Also, his ability to energize the offense off the bench shows his perfect role for this particular team. Witherspoon could mature into a decent point guard. With his skill set, I find it difficult to believe coach Pastner would use him in this way unless he adapted it to a Penny Hardaway style point forward position.
Most likely, Elliot Williams will be the starting point guard for the Memphis Tigers. His more natural position is shooting guard, but in the tigers team, he could work out quite well at point. I mean hey, it worked out for Tyreke Evans.
In all honesty, I personally feel that Willie Kemp should be given the first chance to start as the Memphis Tigers point guard. During his freshman year he started, and that year the Tiger's team made it to the Elite 8.
During his sophmore year, he lost confidence when losing his role to one-and-done player Derrick Rose. He did, however, do a fairly good job as a shooting guard as he developed an admirable 3-point shot.
By his junior year, Kemp was playing with a tremendous lack of confidence. Once again he lost his starting point guard position to a one-and-done player by the name of Tryeke Evans. Even worse, Kemp struggled to find the 3-point shot he had developed during his sophmore year.
While Pastner will most likely use an offensive style similar to the Dribble Drive Motion that Memphis basketball has become famous for, he will probably also run slightly more set plays, and implement a Lute Olsen style Motion Offense. Willie Kemp will fit into that style of play better and will most likely gain confidence by working with a player-developement driven coach. The fact that no one and done players threaten to take his spot, will work to his advantage as well.
Then, Elliot Williams could take on an Andre Allen type role. Most of the time he would play as a shooting guard while Kemp played at point. When needed, Kemp could take a break. Then Williams would man the point guard position while Sallie jumped in for that shooter role he plays so well.
Sallie does a great job as a shooter. Also, his ability to energize the offense off the bench shows his perfect role for this particular team. Witherspoon could mature into a decent point guard. With his skill set, I find it difficult to believe coach Pastner would use him in this way unless he adapted it to a Penny Hardaway style point forward position.
Most likely, Elliot Williams will be the starting point guard for the Memphis Tigers. His more natural position is shooting guard, but in the tigers team, he could work out quite well at point. I mean hey, it worked out for Tyreke Evans.
In all honesty, I personally feel that Willie Kemp should be given the first chance to start as the Memphis Tigers point guard. During his freshman year he started, and that year the Tiger's team made it to the Elite 8.
During his sophmore year, he lost confidence when losing his role to one-and-done player Derrick Rose. He did, however, do a fairly good job as a shooting guard as he developed an admirable 3-point shot.
By his junior year, Kemp was playing with a tremendous lack of confidence. Once again he lost his starting point guard position to a one-and-done player by the name of Tryeke Evans. Even worse, Kemp struggled to find the 3-point shot he had developed during his sophmore year.
While Pastner will most likely use an offensive style similar to the Dribble Drive Motion that Memphis basketball has become famous for, he will probably also run slightly more set plays, and implement a Lute Olsen style Motion Offense. Willie Kemp will fit into that style of play better and will most likely gain confidence by working with a player-developement driven coach. The fact that no one and done players threaten to take his spot, will work to his advantage as well.
Then, Elliot Williams could take on an Andre Allen type role. Most of the time he would play as a shooting guard while Kemp played at point. When needed, Kemp could take a break. Then Williams would man the point guard position while Sallie jumped in for that shooter role he plays so well.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Tiger Fannatic
My fascination with tiger basketball began in the 07-08 season. As a student at the university of memphis, it didn't take long for me to hear about our rediculous winning streak and our 3 powerhouse players Derrick Rose, Chris Douglass Roberts, and Joey Dorsey.
During the next offseason, I became interested in recruiting. It was obvious we wouldn't be able to pull together another 38-2 run, but two names, Tyreke Evans and Wesley Witherspoon, definately got my attention. I followed the tigers for the rest of the season, all the way to their sweet 16 appearance.
I was also following the recruiting for the upcoming season. Unlike the season before, it seemed very likely that the tigers would have a legitamit shot at the national championship. With guys like Nolan Dennis, Xavier Henry, and Demarcus Cousins already committed, (and John Wall likely to follow) who would be able to stop us?
Then fans were informed that John Calipari was targeted as Kentucky's next head coach. That was the beginning of the end. Not for tiger basketball mind you, but for me. I was scrounging for information like an addict.
First, I was looking for confirmation that Calipari had accepted the job. Then, I was looking to see who would be our new head coach. That was followed by the search for an assistant coaching staff. Don't even get me started on watching the Nuggets and hoping the would go ahead and lose already so Jack Murphy could announce his plans to join the Memphis Tigers.
By this point, I was hooked, and this offseason had more stories than I could handle. We kept our team, but lost our number one recruiting class. We kept Will Coleman, though. We got a top 20 recruiting in Latavious Williams, though we ultimately lost him to China. Lance Stephenson seemed to likely, at various points in his recruiting, but eventually signed with Cinncinnatti instead. We got a little known French forward named Martin Ngaloro. Then the Barton brothers, Will and Antonio, committed to our 2010 team. Elliot williams transfered to Memphis to be closer to his home. Pilgrim looked like he would transfer here from Kentucky, but that didn't pan out. Rose and Dozier were in the news for questionable SAT scores, with the former threatening to wipe out that 38-2 national title runner up season I hold so dear. Memphis high schools were producing lots of elite players that actually seem interested in staying in Memphis.
After my obsession grew, and my friends got tired of my constant tiger talk, I decided blogging would be an appropriate way to vent some of my built up basketball anxiety. I hope you enjoy.
During the next offseason, I became interested in recruiting. It was obvious we wouldn't be able to pull together another 38-2 run, but two names, Tyreke Evans and Wesley Witherspoon, definately got my attention. I followed the tigers for the rest of the season, all the way to their sweet 16 appearance.
I was also following the recruiting for the upcoming season. Unlike the season before, it seemed very likely that the tigers would have a legitamit shot at the national championship. With guys like Nolan Dennis, Xavier Henry, and Demarcus Cousins already committed, (and John Wall likely to follow) who would be able to stop us?
Then fans were informed that John Calipari was targeted as Kentucky's next head coach. That was the beginning of the end. Not for tiger basketball mind you, but for me. I was scrounging for information like an addict.
First, I was looking for confirmation that Calipari had accepted the job. Then, I was looking to see who would be our new head coach. That was followed by the search for an assistant coaching staff. Don't even get me started on watching the Nuggets and hoping the would go ahead and lose already so Jack Murphy could announce his plans to join the Memphis Tigers.
By this point, I was hooked, and this offseason had more stories than I could handle. We kept our team, but lost our number one recruiting class. We kept Will Coleman, though. We got a top 20 recruiting in Latavious Williams, though we ultimately lost him to China. Lance Stephenson seemed to likely, at various points in his recruiting, but eventually signed with Cinncinnatti instead. We got a little known French forward named Martin Ngaloro. Then the Barton brothers, Will and Antonio, committed to our 2010 team. Elliot williams transfered to Memphis to be closer to his home. Pilgrim looked like he would transfer here from Kentucky, but that didn't pan out. Rose and Dozier were in the news for questionable SAT scores, with the former threatening to wipe out that 38-2 national title runner up season I hold so dear. Memphis high schools were producing lots of elite players that actually seem interested in staying in Memphis.
After my obsession grew, and my friends got tired of my constant tiger talk, I decided blogging would be an appropriate way to vent some of my built up basketball anxiety. I hope you enjoy.
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