NCAA Basketball FanHouse

Mack May Be Back to Memphis

Charles Rich — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:15:00 EST

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

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

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

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

Mack May Be Back to Memphis originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Robert Vaden Returning to UAB

Shiloh Carder — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Conference USA Basketball, NBA Prospects

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

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

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

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

Robert Vaden Returning to UAB originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Mon, 16 Jun 2008 12:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Memphis Gains Dozier; Will Lose Mack

Shiloh Carder — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 15:14:00 EST

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

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

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

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

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

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

Memphis Gains Dozier; Will Lose Mack originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Fri, 13 Jun 2008 15:14:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SMU AD Sees No Point in Being Coy About Notre Dame

Charles Rich — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 00:51:00 EST

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

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

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

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

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

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

SMU AD Sees No Point in Being Coy About Notre Dame originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Wed, 11 Jun 2008 00:51:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Memphis' Antonio Anderson Withdraws From Draft

Shiloh Carder — Sun, 25 May 2008 01:10:00 EST

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

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

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

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

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

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

Memphis' Antonio Anderson Withdraws From Draft originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Sun, 25 May 2008 01:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

Shiloh Carder — Sat, 17 May 2008 04:17:00 EST

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

As for the Big East, adding Memphis would mean they'd expand further west and into the football fertile South (adding ECU would bring in the North Carolina market). They'd also continue to stockpile on great hoops programs and pick up another ~~big~~ sizeable city market.

On the football side, adding a ninth member to me is a no-brainer. However, it gets a bit messy on the basketball side. The Big East already has 16-teams (which is absurd) and adding one or two more schools would be way too much. They could drop one or two non-football schools (DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Notre Dame, Providence, Seton Hall, St. John's and Villanova).

Um, but which one would they drop? From a competitive standpoint, St. John's would top the list. But, c'mon, that's their New York City connection and that ain't happening. Georgetown, Marquette and Villanova are top notch hoops programs. Providence and Seton Hall are Big East originals. Notre Dame is Notre Dame (even without the pigskin). That leaves DePaul ... and I'd doubt they'd shoo away ChicagoLand.

But all this does bring out one huge point: Memphis has grown too big for its home.

Previously at FanHouse:
Teams Want in the Big East Even If the Big East Doesn't Want Them

Memphis A.D. Denies That He Is Talking With the Big East Conference originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Sat, 17 May 2008 04:17:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

Josh Alper — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EST

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

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

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

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

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

(H/T Sports by Brooks)

This Is Why Derrick Rose's Coaches Told Him To Keep His Hands Up on Defense originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Fri, 18 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Finally, A Blue Chip Recruit Goes Smart

Charles Rich — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 06:30:00 EST

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

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

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

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

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

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

So, why should Evans put his own name to a binding agreement?
He didn't. Schools can make oral promises to release a player if a coach leaves, but that is hardly the most reliable method.

A LOI is a one-way contract. It binds a player to that school for up to his entire eligibility unless a school releases him or the player wants to play at a lower college division. At the same time, the school is only required to give the scholarship for one-year with the control over renewing it each season.

For years, there has been speculation and hopes that some top-recruit would at least dare to tweak the system by not signing the LOI. Then, at least, he would have more freedom if he wanted out.

In a perverse way, the NBA 1-year restriction out of high school provides a greater opportunity for that. Schools recruit the likely one-and-done players. They really hold a lot more leverage. Would Indiana have rejected Eric Gordon if he said he would show-up, but not sign a LOI? Michael Beasley at K-State?

Tyreke Evans is in that position. He doesn't have to sign his LOI, ever. Memphis will still give one of the best high schoolers in the country his scholarship. And if they took a stand, you know other schools would fall over themselves to do so.

Evans can sit back and wait. He might, ultimately, sign an LOI just to make people happy. He can, however, take his time and make sure Calipari doesn't jump on the NBA coaching carousel in May or June.

Finally, A Blue Chip Recruit Goes Smart originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Thu, 17 Apr 2008 06:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tyreke Evans Signs With Memphis

Josh Alper — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 16:40:00 EST

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

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

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

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

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

Tyreke Evans Signs With Memphis originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Wed, 16 Apr 2008 16:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

Shiloh Carder — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 12:32:00 EST

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Memphis' Derrick Rose Will Announce His Decision to Enter the NBA Draft originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Tue, 15 Apr 2008 12:32:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Calipari Watched History Repeat With Chalmers' Three

Charles Rich — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 09:27:00 EST

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

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

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

There is little doubt that Calipari wanted his team to foul. Calipari was an assistant 20 years prior when he saw what happens when you don't foul at that point in a game.He was an assistant at Pitt in the 1988 NCAA Tournament. Pitt was a 2 seed and in the second round found themselves battling Vanderbilt with a 3 point lead in the final seconds.

The NCAA game is known in Pittsburgh as "the Barry Goheen game."

Goheen made a desperation 3-pointer in the final seconds to force overtime, denying Pitt a spot in the Sweet 16. Goheen was the hero, but [Jerome] Lane blames former Pitt coach Paul Evans for the loss.

"We never should have let them shoot a 3," Lane said, "Why not foul like John Calipari said? John Calipari said that in the huddle, and [Evans] told him to be quiet. Why not let them shoot free throws? We're up by three, and you've got the greatest rebounder in the game under the hoop to get the rebound."

After that game, Paul Evans did try to claim that he told the players to foul, but no one backed up his claim.

Additional sidenote. That Pitt team featured a starting freshman point guard named Sean Miller. The same Sean Miller that coaches the Xavier Musketeers. The same Sean Miller who told his team just to play defense and not foul Ohio State in the final seconds of that second round game last year. Allowing Ron Lewis to hit a game-tying 3 and send the game into overtime, and Ohio State took the game from there.

Calipari Watched History Repeat With Chalmers' Three originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Fri, 11 Apr 2008 09:27:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

Shiloh Carder — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 02:13:00 EST

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

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

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

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

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

List of the last eighteen NCAA Tournament Champions:

ACC: Duke (3x), North Carolina (2x), Maryland
SEC: Florida (2x), Kentucky (2x), Arkansas
Big East: UConn (2x), Syracuse
Pac-10: Arizona, UCLA
Big XII: Kansas
Big Ten: Michigan State

It's Now Eighteen Years Since Last 'Non-BCS School' Has Won NCAA Tournament originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Tue, 08 Apr 2008 02:13:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ESPN Classic to Replay Kansas-Memphis

Shiloh Carder — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 01:52:00 EST

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

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

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

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

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

ESPN Classic to Replay Kansas-Memphis originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Tue, 08 Apr 2008 01:52:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NCAA Tournament Championship: Kansas-Memphis, Overtime LiveBlog

Charles Rich — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 23:31:00 EST

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

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

1st Half LiveBlog
2nd Half LiveBlog

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Congratulations to Kansas.

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

Latest College Basketball Photos

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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NCAA Tournament Championship: Kansas-Memphis, Overtime LiveBlog originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Mon, 07 Apr 2008 23:31:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NCAA Tournament Championship: Kansas-Memphis, Second Half LiveBlog

Charles Rich — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 22:29:00 EST

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kansas leads 39-38 with 15:15 remaining.
10:50: Wow. How did Collins not get called for a travel when he carried the ball to the hoop on his hip?

Kansas isn't just getting the rolls. They are so close to the basket when they put the shots up, there isn't a lot of force on the shot to allow it to stay on the rim and fall in.

Kansas remains on top 43-42 with 11:43.

10:51: Coke Zero could be the best drink ever made, but after seeing these "da-da-da-duh-duh-duh" commercials this past month and the past year, I would rather drink a Mr. Pibb.

10:56: It's been hard to single out a single Kansas player on offense, since the Jayhawks have done what they have done all season -- shared the ball so well. Chalmers and Arthur are the leading scorers with 11 and 12 respectively, but it hasn't been like they dominated it. They have 7 players who have scored in the game.

It's easier to notice when a Memphis player does something on offense, because the Dribble Drive Motion offense, isolates players and lets them shine. The Kansas team defense, though, has really limited it beautifully.
Of course, just then, Derrick Rose drills a 3 to give Memphis a 49-47 lead with 8:08 in the game.

11:11: Derrick Rose is feeling more aggressive in the second half. It also helps that his jumper is starting to fall.

Memphis feeds so much off of its offense. As they made a few jumpers, they got more aggressive on defense. Forcing more turnovers and getting after loose balls. Then they get to attack the basket as Kansas also tries to get after the rebounds. Rose now has 15 points after going straight to the basket after Dozier grabs an offensive rebound and tossing it to him.

And now Rose hits an off-balance 3 with the shot clock at 1. Correction, in the timeout, they ruled it was a two.

A 12-2 Memphis run to go up 56-49 with 3:49 left.

11:18: Packer notes that Memphis is now packing it in defensively to force Kansas to take jumpers and shots around the perimeter.

Looks like it is foul-o-rama time for the game. Rose is fouled near mid-court, but that was only team foul #6. Dozier gets fouled next out there. He hits both to give Memphis a 9 point lead with 2 minutes.

11:20: Memphis holds a 60-53 lead with 1:54 left. It should take at least 15 minutes to get through the next 114 seconds assuming Kansas keeps fouling.

11:22: Billy Packer starts talking pressure free throws and tosses Nantz the softball/CBS tie-in Masters comparison for short putts.

Oooooh. Joey Dorsey fouls out with 1:23 left and Memphis up 62-56. On the bright side for the Tigers, he won't be taking any free throws at the end.

11:24: 44 seconds left. Memphis leads 62-60. Chris Douglas-Roberts missed a crucial front-end of a 1-and-1 and Chalmers got a score. Memphis has the ball, but it feels like Kansas has the advantage.

11:29: Wow!!! Collins never got a shot off and Memphis avoided hacking him. Of course, Chris Douglas-Roberts misses his last 3 FTs. Still, Dozier somehow grabbed the offensive rebound. Rose got fouled with 10.8 left.

Douglas-Roberts ended up with the ball and slammed it down in frustration at his misses. No technical called. Billy Packer thinks it's the right call, and I have to agree. It's a judgment call. It wasn't to show up officials, so there was no reason to call it.

11:30: Rose misses his first, but makes the second. Chalmers, hits the clutch 3 to tie the game with 2.1 seconds left.

63 all.

Latest College Basketball Photos

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AP

NCAA Tournament Championship: Kansas-Memphis, Second Half LiveBlog originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Mon, 07 Apr 2008 22:29:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

Nathan Fowler — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 22:23:00 EST

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

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

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

Collins, Chalmers, Rush and Robinson Are Outplaying The Memphis Backcourt originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Mon, 07 Apr 2008 22:23:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NCAA Tournament Championship: Kansas-Memphis, First Half LiveBlog

Charles Rich — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 21:18:00 EST

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

Second Half LiveBlog is here. OT LiveBlog.

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

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

Tip-off is just a few minutes away.

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

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

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

Memphis getting more attempts and shooting better. No wonder they hold the lead, 9-5 with 15:36 in the game.
9:42: Collins to Kaun on a back-screen for a beautiful alley-oop dunk. A nicely designed play out of the TV timeout.

Kansas seems to have shaken off the early nerves on offense. Much more aggressive and less hesitant.

On defense, the Jayhawks aren't in a zone, so much as packing it inside. They are surrounding anyone that comes in the paint from Memphis. Preventing the drives to the basket and clogging passing lanes. They are trying to make Memphis settle for jumpers and perimeter shots. It's what Tennessee did earlier this year to Memphis with success.

Memphis, by the way, is 3-3 on free throws. Kansas is 3-4.

Early foul trouble on the Memphis side for Shawn Taggart and Robert Dozier with 2 fouls for each with more than 12 minutes to go in the half.

It's 13 all with 11:33 left in the half. So far it looks like the kind of game everyone was hoping to see.

9:44: Crap. Meatloaf doing an AT&T prepaid cell phone commercial? If they air that commercial more than 3 times in this game, I may have to turn off the TV.

9:53: Kansas gets its first lead at 10:56, 15-13.

Darrell Arthur has been the offensive sparkplug for Kansas with 6 points on 3-6 shooting. The momentum shifted to Kansas side. Their defense has Memphis frustrated -- 5 straight misses before Dorsey steal and slam to break a nearly 4 minute scoring drought.

Russell Robinson for Kansas is the first Jayhawk with 2 fouls at 8:45.

Memphis finally gets its first 3 after missing 4 straight when Anderson drains won. Then Dozier hits one.

Kansas, though, is now really hot. After starting 2-6 they shot 8-11 to take a 24-21 lead with 7:25 until the half.

10:02: Hey, Roy Williams wearing black with a Jayhawk sticker on his shirt.

Wow. Rose saves a miss from Anderson and somehow kicks it all the way out to the wide open Chris Douglas-Roberts who drained the open 3.

The energy on both teams is a joy to watch.

Now, Memphis is starting to find range on the perimeter. Douglas-Roberts has 13 points on 5-7 shooting.

With 3:50 left in the half it is tied once more at 28.

Kansas is getting much more balanced scoring, and able to do more at the rim. Memphis, on the other hand, is now doing it all from outside the paint on jumpers. That favors Kansas.

10:08: Memphis is getting killed on the boards. Kansas is showing more energy -- and size going after missed shots at both ends. Whether short or long rebounds, Kansas is getting there first. Kansas holds a 16-9 rebounding advantage

Dorsey has 4 points and 2 blocks, but 0 rebounds.

1:02 left in the half and Kansas up by 5, 33-28. The Jayhawks have 24 points in the paint while the Tigers have only 8.

10:13: Horrible final sequence for Memphis. Even after they managed to get an offensive rebound, they did nothing with it. They ended up with nothing in the final 5+ minutes.

Kansas looks great after a shaky start. They are shooting 51% while holding Memphis to 39%. The Jayhawk defense has been stout with a well-executed game-plan of packing it inside.

Sherron Collins has been all over Derrick Rose, pressuring him the entire time he holds the ball.

Back with the Second Half LiveBlog after Halftime.

Latest College Basketball Photos

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AP

NCAA Tournament Championship: Kansas-Memphis, First Half LiveBlog originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Mon, 07 Apr 2008 21:18:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Memphis-Kansas Prediction: Blowout

Shiloh Carder — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 12:42:00 EST

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-Elite Eight: A bit closer (12.3 average), but three of the four games were decided by double digits.

-Final Four: This was touted the greatest Final Four ever because all #1 seeds advanced here. Doesn't make sense that the margin of victory (16.5) was the greatest of the tournament. Heck, Kansas held 28-point lead over the top-ranked Tar Heels at one point.

Of these stats, there is one thing that does suggest this could be a closer game: the second round of the weekend sees better games than the one before it. You could dismiss that as "duh, there are better teams facing off" ... but that didn't hold true between rounds 2 to 3 and 4 to 5.

I hope this will be a great game and my eyes tell me it will be. However, the tournament trend isn't as kind to that.

Memphis-Kansas Prediction: Blowout originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Mon, 07 Apr 2008 12:42:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Trying To Perceive the Truth About Memphis

Josh Alper — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 10:55:00 EST

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

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

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

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

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

Calipari gets very little credit for the job he's done this season. Even normal coach sycophants like Billy Packer can't seem to find a way to overpraise him. The strategy of letting Chris Douglas-Roberts and Derrick Rose feast on smaller guards gets lost when all the talk is about athleticism. Yes, they are great athletes and they've used those skills, plus guile and determination to dominate the entire season. The wink and nod about the kind of players that Memphis gets to play for them only makes the truth harder to see.

Feinstein discusses the whispers around San Antonio that Memphis is going to end up having their tournament record vacated because of improprieties with their transcripts.

Still, the sentiment lingers that a team made up of black kids who play up-tempo basketball can't possibly play the game the "right" way and can't possibly be the beloved "student-athletes" the NCAA won't stop trumpeting. In other words, they can't possibly be the "best" kids.

I wonder how many of the guys whispering about Memphis's transcripts would have signed Rose, CDR and Joey Dorsey to play for their programs?

Memphis's last trip to the Final Four did end up vacated, as did Calipari's trip with UMass in 1996, but so did UCLA's 1980 trip with Larry Brown, who also handed Roy Williams a Kansas program that was about to go on probation. Dean Smith can relate. He took over North Carolina in 1961 while they, too, were on probation. It's a sad state of affairs but there are but a handful of programs that have avoided such fates.

Bitter sniping about unsubstantiated recruiting violations, attempts to diminish a team's accomplishments because of incorrect perceptions about their style of play and meaningless parallels to past events. All of these add up to one thing, really, which is a way to explain away getting your butt kicked.

Trying To Perceive the Truth About Memphis originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Mon, 07 Apr 2008 10:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Memphis' Derrick Rose Has a Gummi Bear Tummy Ache

Shiloh Carder — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 16:37:00 EST

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

With all the hype around the NCAA Tournament and the Final Four ... we tend to forget that these are just 18-22 year old guys.

Memphis' Derrick Rose missed media sessions today because of a stomach ache. It isn't the flu or diarrhea or anything serious. It's candy!

"He eats Gummy Bears and Starburst for breakfast, and Twizzlers and Honey Buns for dinner. That's why his stomach hurts," fellow guard Chris Douglas-Roberts said. "We tell Derrick the whole year, 'Stop eating so many Gummy Bears and Sour Straws.' But he can't. ... Nobody eats Gummy Bears more than him."

Willy Wonka would be proud.

Remember those days when you'd get some Gummi Bears (or worms) from that candy isle at the store and just tear into them? A few hours later, your stomach would feel like it had a hurricane in it. Maybe it was Pixie Stix, Sour Patch Kids, Smarties, Now And Laters, Lemon Heads, Johnny Appleseeds, Fun Dip or Pop Rocks for you. In any event, we've all been there before.

Rose should be fine for Monday night's championship game.

Memphis' Derrick Rose Has a Gummi Bear Tummy Ache originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Sun, 06 Apr 2008 16:37:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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