Memphis Roar

The Houston Cougars came to town ready to be the spoiler to a magical conference winning streak that the Tigers are currently enjoying. Memphis opened the game on a 15-0 run. Thanks to an abundance of first half turnovers that lead would slowly dwindle to 5 points at the half. Two minutes into the 2nd half Houston took their first lead of the game 44-43 on a 3pt shot by Aubrey Coleman. A hushed silence came to FedEx Forum. Losing a fifteen point lead at home can be a bit demoralizing to a team. The Tigers went down the court on the next possession and took the lead back. They never relinquished that lead and continued to grow it to double-digits. At the end calls for ‘Preston’ could be heard from the crowd. The lead was a comfortable one so Preston Laird entered the game pulled down a final rebound and dribbled the ball until the clock ran out. Memphis had beaten the No. 2 team in Conference USA 83-68.

The Tigers had succeeded in neutralizing every weapon that Houston had except one, Aubrey Coleman. Coleman ended the night with 35 points. He shot 44% of Houston’s shots. He scored 51% of Houston’s points. He made 73% of Houston’s free throws. For good measure he was also their leading rebounder.

Lately naming a player of the game is quite difficult. The Tigers are playing as a team so much that individual performances are often masked by the team effort. Take Tyreke Evans. He didn’t score a lot, only 10 points but when the Tigers got down a point he took the ball right in for the score. We could mention the double-double 19 points and 10 rebounds that Robert Dozier had. We could also talk about the rather quiet 16 points that Antonio Anderson had. The performance though that stood out the most was that of Doneal Mack. Doneal continued his excellent defensive play. He also hit a season best 5-7 three-point shots. All 5 starters scored in double figures.

This was an unexpected easy game for the Tigers. Coming up this week are two road games SMU and Gonzaga.

Houston Cougars
Record: 12-6, 3-2 Conference, 3-3 road

Gone from this year’s Houston team is 24 ppg sharpshooter Rob McKiver.  Replacing him with nearly identical numbers is junior guard Kelvin Lewis. Aubrey Coleman, a JUCO guard averaging 18 ppg has also been added. Houston also has developed a post presence in Marcus Cousin averaging 12 points and 9 rebounds.  Read the rest of this entry »

With so much negativity surrounding the potential 2009 recruiting class for UAB, there has to be light at the end of the tunnel. Mike Davis has shown from day one that he has the ability to evaluate and land big-time talent. So, when is this light coming?

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“The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.”

- Thomas Jefferson

In this case, we aren’t talking about a tree but a rock. A huge rock (about 15 feet long and 8 feet tall) that sits at the corner of Volunteer Blvd and Temple St to be exact. This rock stands as a cornerstone for The University of Tennessee’s fraternity row. “The Rock” is painted many times each day with annoncements, bithdays, game times, and pretty much anything anyone wants to paint on it for everyone to see.

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It’s been a long time since Antonio Anderson has lost a road game in conference play. It is a similar ritual for every road game that the Tigers play. Fans buy tickets in droves when Memphis comes to town. They paint their faces. They are loud when their team is introduced. Read the rest of this entry »

The Memphis Tigers, now sitting at #18 in the polls, heads into Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum on Wednesday night to face the East Carolina Pirates in what has all the makings of a traditional trap game.

According to Wikipedia, a trap game is used to describe a forthcoming hazardous game, most often occuring when a good team (Memphis) beats another good team (Tennessee) and then subsequently has to play a mediocre team (ECU). The good team (Memphis) is often emotionally spent and overlooks the mediocre team (ECU), hence the trap. A trap game can also occur when a good team (Memphis) has to play a bad team (ECU) one week and a good team (Houston) next. The good team overlooks their next opponent and concentrates their efforts on the better team.

Both definitions of a trap game ring true in this case. Not only did the Tigers focus so much on a good opponent before tomorrow night’s game, but they will also be stressing the importance of a home win against Houston on Saturday.

With the Tigers coming off of a highly-contested road win against a very good Tennessee team (yes, we still believe they are a very good team), they are now going up against a Pirates team that is struggling to keep its head above the .500 mark. At 10-8 overall, East Carolina’s best win comes against Virginia Commonweath (RPI 55, Record:15-5), 93-90. ECU has also had a loss to Coastal Carolina (RPI 273, Record: 9-11) by 8.

After starting 8-1, ECU suffered a 41-point beatdown at the hands of Wake Forest and have gone 2-6 since. Sam Hinnant, ECU’s leading scorer, shot 40-percent from three a season ago but has struggled so far this season at 30-percent from three. On the otherhand, James Legan currently leads C-USA in 3pt FG%.

ECU also has a freshman to keep an eye on in Darius Morrow. Morrow (6′9 260lbs) has been one of the best freshman in C-USA this year along with Tyreke Evans and Arnett Moultrie of UTEP, all three having been honored as C-USA Freshmen of the Week.

This game is probably going to be a high scoring affair on the part of the Tigers. With the focus on staying intense and starting well on the road in conference, Memphis must show that they are willing to jump on the Pirates from the start.

Trap game? The definition fits, but these Tigers will break the mold. Memphis by 15.

ECU SUMMARY

3 Home losses this year: George Mason, Wake Forest and UTEP.

Leaders:
Sam Hinnant – 6′4″ Senior Guard, 15.1 ppg, 30% 3pt FG%
James Legan -6′3″ Senior Guard, 13.1 ppg, 45.9 3pt FG%
Darrius Morrow – 6′8″ Freshman Forward, 10.4 ppg, 7.3 rpg

Stat comparisons:
Memphis averages 76.2 ppg vs. ECU allowing 72.0 ppg
ECU averages 74.5 ppg vs. Memphis allowing 60.7 ppg
Memphis outrebounding opponents by 5 rebounds per game vs. ECU being outrebounded by 2 rebounds a game.