Memphis Roar

After suffering a disappointing last-second loss at the TD Garden in Boston against the University of Massachusetts this past Saturday, the University of Memphis Tigers came out of the gates blazing hot in a noon-time 87-57 blowout win Tuesday against Southeast Missouri State (SEMO). The Tigers opened the game with a 10-0 run in the first 2 minutes 20 seconds fueled by 7 points by Doneal Mack.

After that opening spurt, the Tigers failed to maintain any consistency with their defensive intensity or offensive execution. Repeatedly settling for jump-shots, the Tigers shot just 25% from three (4-of-16) in the first half. Much of this was the result of SEMO head coach Dickie Nutt using a two-three zone defense. The Tigers were able to get good screening  and driving action in their half-court offense but instead of finishing in the lane or at the rim, the Tigers kicked the ball out to the perimeter for jump shots.

“At halftime the adjustment we made was we put a high-post guy in the high-post and we were able to get some more action. You look in the first half, we had open looks,” said Pastner of the 16 first-half threes. ”The thing about the zone is that you can’t live and die by the three with it but when you’re open and you make a couple, teams are going to get out of it.”

The Tigers looked as though they would have foul trouble for the second straight game. Both Elliot Williams and Willie Kemp picked up their second fouls early in the first-half.  One of Williams’ two fouls came when the Tigers did not get to the defensive boards resulting in a SEMO offensive rebound and the ensuing foul.
 
Despite the foul trouble, Williams led the way for the Tigers finishing with 20 points (7-of-13 from the field), 9 rebounds, and 8 assists. Coming off of a 23-point performance against UMASS, Doneal Mack continued his hot shooting, netting 19 points (4-8 from three). While Will Coleman played well early in the season and Wesley Witherspoon struggled, the roles have now been reversed. Coleman totalled a very quiet 2 points, 2 blocks and 3 rebounds in 20 minutes while Witherspoon finished with 15 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. Even though Roburt Sallie continues to struggle shooting the ball, he contributed by rebounding (6 total) and playing defense (3 steals and 2 blocks).

“[Sallie] was o-for-5 from three but again he had six rebounds, three assists, three steals, two blocks. He still came up with a lot of good recoveries,” Pastner said of what Sallie added to today’s win.
 
Other than Marland Smith and Cameron Butler, SEMO did not have many bright spots. Smith, whose quickness made for a tough defensive assignment, finished the game with 15 points, many of which came before Josh Pastner switched Doneal Mack over to defend him. Butler showed some good offensive skills, leaving Memphis’ post-defenders standing flat-footed on spin moves and turn-around jumpers.
 
The Tigers now break for the Christmas holidays.  The players will now have three days off followed by a two practice day on Saturday and a single practice on Sunday. They will next take the court December 28 against the IUPUI Jaguars.  This game is the Tigers’ final tune-up before the New Year’s Eve matchup against the University of Tennessee Volunteers.

“You look at their RPI, it’s in the sixties. They are a team that beat Indiana State by 20 points and Indiana State is going to win their league. The entire focus is IUPUI,” Josh Pastner said about the Tigers’ next opponent IUPUI.
 
STAT OF THE GAME: The Tigers finished the game with 22 assists on 33 made baskets.

POSITIVE THOUGHT OF THE GAME: This Tigers team still has obvious areas that need work, but the fact of the matter is that the Tigers were predicted to beat SEMO today by 29 points (77-48) by Ken Pomeroy. With 3:48 remaining in the game, the Tigers lead by 29 (79-50), with the actual predicted scores being only +2 for each team. The final score was 87-57 with a total margin of 30 points.
 
Points of Interest:

 
 
- Tiger 2010 commit Tarik Black was in attendance.

- The Tigers recognized Coach Gene Bartow at halftime.

- The Tigers’ 2008-2009 Sweet Sixteen banner is now hanging in the FedEx Forum.

- Former Tiger player Antonio Anderson was in attendance.

BOX SCORE