Memphis Roar

The leaves have started to turn and fall, which is a sign of an annual renewal process, is in full effect. Shedding the old, making way for the new. New leaves, a new season, a new year. In no other city is this analogy more appropriate than Memphis, TN. The old is gone and the new has come.

After the old leaves of the University of Memphis’ men’s basketball program were violently stripped from their branches, a new season is here and the renewal process has begun. Memphis Madness marks the official start for the basketball season for the Tigers and the commencement of preseason practices. This annual event, which will be held on Friday, October 16th at the FedEx Forum, is the first opportunity for fans to see the team that will engorge their hearts for the next six months.

With all of the change in players and staff, Memphis Roar would like to introduce a new series; Turning a New Leaf: An Introduction to Memphis’ Players and Staff. Essentially, this will be a “program” or “guide” to help familiarize those who may be in attendance on October 16th.

Part One of Three: The Backcourt

With the loss of Tyreke Evans and Antonio Anderson to the NBA, the remaining back-court players have been given an additional 63.3 minutes of playing time, according to ESPN. Yes, 63.3 minutes was the average amount of combined time that Evans and Anderson spent on the court. The other minutes of the backcourt belonged mostly to Doneal Mack, a returning senior guard, who averaged 25.1 minutes a game playing mostly the shooting-guard spot.

It is easy to see that this season is a time for transition, growth, learning, second-chances, and third-chances for the guards of the Tigers. There are many questions looming around these players. For example:

Q:Where will the minutes come from? Who gets them?

Q: Will we see a traditional offense with players holding-down the 1, 2 and 3 spots?

Q: Is Willie Kemp ready for redemption?

Q: Is Elliot Williams the missing link?

Q: Will Roburt Sallie hit ten three-pointers a game? [/sarcasm]

Let’s run down the players.

The Returnees:

Willie Kemp

Doneal Mack

Roburt Sallie

Preston Laird

Wesley Witherspoon

The newcomers:

Elliot Williams

Drew Barham

D.J. Stephens

Malik Thomas

Tyler Foster

Wilie Kemp, # 5, 6′2″/ 184lbs, guard out of Bolivar, Tennessee, Senior:

When Willie Kemp first came to Memphis there was a lot hype surrounding his arrival. He was listed as a top fifty recruit in the country and a top five guard. He was more coveted by some than former Ohio State point guard Mike Conley. It was even rumored that his recruitment was responsible for the early departure of previous Memphis point guard Darious Washington. Up to this point, Kemp’s career has been far less glamorous than his recruitment. According to ESPN, Kemp averaged just 13.5 minutes per game, 2.9 ppg, 1 rebound per game, and 1 assist per game in the 2008-2009 season. His best season came his freshman year in the 2006-2007 season, where Kemp as the starting freshman point-guard averaged 21 minutes per games tallying 6.4 ppg and 2.2 assists per game while leading Memphis to the Elite Eight.

There are two things that have truly held Willie Kemp back. The first is Kemp’s shooting percentages. In his junior year, Kemp hit career lows for FG percentage at 28.3% and 3-point percentage at 26.3%. Kemp’s ability to hit a big shot must make a huge comeback if Kemp himself is going to do the same.

The second thing that was truly holding Willie Kemp back; his previous coach. It is no secret John Calipari and Willie Kemp never really saw eye to eye. Reports of Calipari constantly screaming at and publicly berating Kemp are well known. The support system for Willie Kemp was never there and the fact Calipari continued to recruit over Kemp with the addition of Derrick Rose and Tyreke Evans did not help. The only thing that truly emerged for Kemp last year was his ability to be a shut-down defender, forcing turnovers and making opposing guards to work very hard against the Tiger full-court press. Willie Kemp has the opportunity to turn it all around. Under a new coaching staff and what head coach Josh Pastner says will be a faster offense, all the pieces may be in place for Kemp to emerge as the leader and point-guard that Tiger nation always wanted him to be.

Doneal Mack, #20, 6′5″/187lbs, guard out of Charlotte, North Carolina, Senior:

Doneal Mack is the only returning starter from the 2008-2009 Tigers basketball team. Touted previously has the Tigers’ “zone-breaker”, Mack has the opportunity to be a senior leader with experience to back it up. Mack, just as Willie Kemp, has seen an Elite Eight, a Final Four, and a sweet sixteen over the past three years. Mack knows what it’s like to start for the Tigers in a big game.

Doneal Mack averaged a career high 25.1 minutes per game last year, which is odd considering that Mack almost left the Tigers last year for New Orleans. Despite his increased minutes, his shooting percentages have only gone down; as he experienced career lows in FT%, 3-P%, and FG%. The decrease in his shooting percentages can be attributed to a trifecta of things: an increased effort on the defensive end, his increase in minutes and being forced to be a “zone-breaker”. Tiger fans are use to seeing Doneal Mack sit in the corner of the court waiting for the out-let pass. What Tiger fans LOVE to see is Mack pump-faking the ball, driving to the rim, and finishing.

With a new staff and offense in place, Doneal Mack’s role will definitely change this season. The coaching staff will look to Mack to use his experience to lead the Tigers backcourt in whatever role is needed from him. Leadership? Experience? Defense? Clutch shots? Mack will be one of the ones looked to for these things.

Roburt Sallie, #3, 6′5″/196lbs, guard out of Sacramento, California, Junior:

Everyone and their mother will tell you that the moment Roburt Sallie truly emerged was against Cal State Northridge in the first game of the NCAA tournament during the 2008-2009 season. This may be undeniable, but when exactly in that game was it? Back to back threes was nothing new from Sallie prior to that game. So what about that game made that light-bulb finally go off? Maybe it was the moment when he hit his 5th three-point shot of the game, or maybe it was his 6th, or 7th, or 8th, or even his 9th make from beyond the arc. No wait, it was 10th make from deep that turned a few heads of the Tiger Nation and the sports nation as well.

To say Roburt Sallie is a good outside shooter is like saying Tiger Woods is a decent golfer. Roburt Sallie finished with 35 points, leading the Tigers to their first-round win. Roburt Sallie averaged just 15.3 minutes per game and 5.8 points per game last year; however his team leading 3-point percentage of 47.0% is what should get the most attention. In addition, he also lead the team in FT% at 80.8%, a welcome site to the Tiger nation’s sore eyes.

Roburt Sallie is 23 years old and has experienced much in the college basketball career, bouncing around between prep school, junior college and Nebraska all before landing at Memphis. His clutch shooting in big-games may be the determining factor in a few close wins this season. A fast-paced Memphis offense will leave Sallie with many opportunities to shoot from deep, and his ability to make use of those moments will be the definition of clutch.

Elliot Williams, #15, 6′5″/180, guard out of Memphis, TN, Duke University transfer, Sophmore:

To say Elliot Williams is the most important addition to the Tiger’s backcourt is a slight understatement. Williams transferred from Duke due to an illness in the family. Elliot Williams averaged just 16 minutes and 4.2 points per game last year at Duke University, a team notorious for giving smaller roles to incoming freshman. However, Williams emerged as a starter and big-game player late into the year.

According to ESPN Scouts, Inc, Elliot Williams was the 18th best player in his recruiting class and the sixth best player at his position. Elliot Williams is capable of playing positions ranging from a typical point-guard to a small-forward, but do not get caught up with positions on this Memphis offense. Early Memphis practices have spectators wondering if Williams could be the best player in Conference-USA this season. His ability to gel with his new teammates and coaching staff will be key to the Tigers run in Conference-USA.

Forgotten Backcourt Factor:

What should not be lost to the observer of the Tiger’s backcourt is their ability to play shutdown defense. Willie Kemp’s vastly improving defensive style can only be matched with that of EIliot Williams defensive intensity. Williams has been notorious for his frustrating length and ability in the full-course press. Roburt Sallie proved to be the only Tiger last year capable of stopping smaller faster guards. Sallie’s ability to continue that will be instrumental against teams such as Tulsa and UTEP this year. Doneal Mack has seen the results of playing hard-nosed, pressing defense over the past three years, and his defensive experience should not be overlooked.

Other Backcourt Players:

There will be other Tiger players who may spend some time in the backcourt. These will be covered briefly here, but will a more extensive look in Part II of the series; the Tigers Frontcourt.

Wesley Witherspoon: With Witherspoon likely spending a majority of his time as a power forward this year due to a lack of depth, his speed and ability to finish at the rim may put him in the backcourt often as well. The Tiger Nation will be a spectator of many four-guard sets similar to past Arizona and Villanova teams. Remember, Witherspoon even spent some minutes playing point-guard in the early games of last season.

Backcourt Walk-ons:

Walk-ons may also see minutes and are an important part in the team’s chemistry and practice time, especially this season.

Drew Barham, #12, 6′7″/180lbs, forward out of Memphis, TN, freshman:

Drew Barham chose to walk-on at the University of Memphis over a scholarship with Southern Illinois. With great size and the ability to stroke the open jumper, Barham has a chance to contribute immediately for the Tigers this season. He has the size to shoot over most smaller guards, and, despite not being overtly athletic, he has enough saavy and length to create some problems on the ball. All these things considered, he will likely see some time at the small forward position. However, his role within this year’s team will be discussed more in-depth in Part II.

Preston Laird, #31, 6′2″/182lbs, guard out of Germantown, TN, sophmore:

According to ESPN, Laird averaged 1.7 minutes per game and made all three attempts from behind the arc (making him technically the best three-point shooter in the nation). Laird hopes to see more key action in the upcoming season, but his main responsibilities will be continuing to improve his efforts on the practice floor in order to provide high level competition to Memphis’ other guards.

James Harvey, Tyler Foster and Malik Thomas, both incoming walk-ons, will also see some limited minutes in the Tiger backcourt. A more extensive look at the walk-ons will be addressed in the final article of this series.