Memphis Tigers Basketblog

Austin Nichols Commits to the Memphis Tigers

2012-11-05T20:40:00.000-06:00

Pastner did it again. Landing Austin Nichols put the stamp on a stellar class featuring Nick King, Markell Crawford, Pookie Powell, and Kuran Iverson. It came as a surprise to most. Nichols looked to be headed out east to play for the Vols, but luckily for Josh Pastner and the Memphis Tigers, things didn't work out this way.

Memphis fans might be getting used to these types of surprises. Tarik Black was on his was to Marquette. Chris Crawford was a Tennessee lock. Did anyone see Stan Simpson coming? What about Jelan Kendrick (even though he ultimately never saw the court)? It's gotten to the point where, no matter what you hear on the recruiting trail, you can't count out Memphis.

With the addition of Nichols, this year's recruiting class should have Memphis ready to enter the Big East. It's better than the heralded class featuring Crawford, Black, Barton, Kendrick, Jackson, and others. Most of all, it fills every conceivable need the Tigers have, and then some. This class will also have the added benefit of some upper class leadership to show them the ropes. The depth of the Tigers as they enter the Big East (barring some major unforeseen defections, draft entries, or non-qualifiers) will be astounding.

As if he hadn't done it already, Pastner has cemented himself as a top-notch recruiting machine. You can question his X's and O's, you can question his ability to motivate, you can even question his ability to deal with unruly players, but you can't question his ability to get players. He's gotten big time recruits each year he's been here, and when he needed to add big classes, he came through.

Important Season for Paster

2012-11-04T14:08:00.002-06:00

There's no doubt this season is huge for Josh Pastner and the Memphis Tigers. Paster has done a lot in his first three seasons to keep Memphis relevant in the post-Calipari era. He's won the C-USA Championship and taken Memphis to the NCAA tournament in both of the last two years.

Unfortunately, Memphis fans don't settle for championships in a conference they feel like they should dominate, and they certainly don't settle for NCAA tournament appearances. They want tournament runs, deep runs. Most, but certainly not all, have been willing to give Josh some patience. He is, after all, a rookie coach. His first year he had a squad full of leftovers and a season-saving transfer in Elliot Williams. His next two years he had the talent, but his teams severely lacked experience.

This year, no excuses will suffice. He has a talented, veteran squad with a full two seasons under their belt to learn his system. They've seen the court enough to know that you have to play hard no matter who the opponent is. If the questionable losses they took their first two years didn't teach them that, then Pastner has to find a way to make them understand.

He also has a pair of talented newcomers, who should benefit from having a veteran squad. They should do much better than the heralded 2010 class, simply due to the fact that they will have guidance and won't be so heavily relied on from the start. Shaq Goodwin is an incredibly post player with speed, strength, and a jump shot. What the Tigers really need from him, however, is defense and rebounding. Geron Johnson has NBA talent, but will have to learn to make opposing offenses struggle. If he can't do that, Chris Crawford will make sure he sees plenty of time on the bench.

In any case, this team is as deeper, more talented, and more experienced than any team Pastner has coached. The post isn't as woefully thin as it has been, either. For these reasons, Pastner needs to get past the criticism that I'm sure rings in his ears every night. No top-25 wins, no tournament wins. That must change, or his job will feel much less secure, and when you're preparing to enter one of the top two basketball conferences in the nation, you've got enough pressure to worry about.

Trey Draper: A True Student-Athlete

2010-11-09T16:31:00.004-06:00

Leonard "Trey" Draper is a 5-10, 170lb. walk-on freshman guard for the University of Memphis. He graduated from Mitchell High School, in Memphis, where he played both basketball and baseball. Trey Draper truly exemplifies the ideal student-athlete. During his time at Mitchell, he served on the Leadership Council, on the Student Council and as a peer mediator. He chose these roles for a variety of reasons: he had leadership instilled in him at an early age, his guidance counselor thought it would be to his and other students benefit, and he simply enjoyed being involved.

Although Draper spent his junior and senior years as a starter and team captain for his basketball team, most people thought he was better at baseball. As a baseball player, he started and was team captain all four years. Once he made the jump to the collegiate level, however, he decided to stick with hoops stating that he "loved basketball too much to let it go."

It shouldn't come as any surprise that Draper loves basketball. His grandfather, the first Leonard Draper, was good friends with Larry Finch. He stated that his parents told him he was attending games before he was born, and that several basketball players, including "Andre Turner, Penny Hardaway, David Vaughn, Elliot Perry, and many more" held him as a child.

But this isn't his only connection to the program. He is also friends with Tiger freshman point guard, Joe Jackson. Draper called him, "one of my best friends." When asked whether his relationship with either Jackson or his grandfather influenced his decision to attend the University of Memphis, he admitted that they wanted him to become a Tiger, but "at the end of the day, it was my decision."

Draper referred to the moment when he drew the loudest applause of the night after hitting a three point attempt against LeMoyne Owen as "a dream come true." He then noted that the support from his team is what meant the most to him.

He also had a message for the fans, "I just want to let the Tiger fans know I am excited to be here, and my teammates and I are working hard everyday to bring a National Championship back to Memphis."

Adonis Thomas Commits to the University of Memphis

2010-10-31T19:32:00.002-05:00

Adonis Thomas, a five star small forward who plays for Melrose in Memphis, Tennessee, has given his verbal commitment to play basketball for the University of Memphis. While many expected the Tigers to be the team that would eventually land Adonis Thomas, the commitment was still a relief for most of Tiger Nation. Josh Pastner and his staff focused their attention on Adonis Thomas at the expense of other recruits.

Landing Adonis Thomas was a great pick up for the University of Memphis for a couple of reasons. The first is his incredible talent. Adonis Thomas has been rated as high as the number one prospect in the country by some and is rarely seen outside of the top ten. He is a wonderful offensive player, but he is truly special because of what he can offer on defense and rebounding.

It's also important because for the second year in a row, Pastner was able to land Memphis's top recruit, last year he signed point guard Joe Jackson of White Station. What's even better is that Adonis Thomas is also academically focused and talented.

This commitment signifies many things to Tiger fans. The first is that Pastner's recruiting last year was not a fluke. While everyone considered him to be a great recruiter before accepting the head coaching job for Memphis, they also knew it's much easier to recruit for established coaches like Lute Olsen and John Calipari. Landing Adonis Thomas also showed that it will be very hard for other programs to land elite level talent from Memphis. Finally, the commitment made it clear that Memphis can land recruits that are concerned with the level of education that they will receive while in school.

The future looks bright, and fans have a reason to celebrate.

Bluff City Classic: Thursday

2010-06-18T12:38:00.003-05:00

Thursday night the suns played. The team consisted of Antonio Barton, Chris Crawford, Jelan Kendrick, Drew Barham, DJ Stephens, and 5 others who will not play for the Memphis Tigers. Luckily, the coach of that team subbed five players at a time, so anytime one Tiger was on the floor, they were all on the floor.

Chris Crawford was absolutely amazing. He has a great feel for the game and is very unselfish. He looked like he would make a better point guard than either Antonio Barton or Jelan Kendrick. He dished out somewhere between 5-7 alley oop passes including one to either Stephens or Kendrick (He did so many I might be getting them mixed up) off the back board. Not suprisingly, he also showed a great touch from the behind the three point line. He's really fun to watch because it looks like he's doing nothing. His hand barely moves, and all the sudden, an alley oop or three point shot is happening.

Jelan Kendrick was pretty good as well. It seemed like he was using this time to practice on things he doesn't normally do. He also appeared very eager to play the point guard position. At one point in the game, he attempted an alley oop pass from half court, and it ended up going in.

Antonio Barton seems like he will be a great point guard by his junior year. He is very quick and athletic. What he is lacking is court vision and decision making skills. He had quite a few turn overs on bad passes.

Drew Barham appeared about the same. He can still hit the three, but hasn't shown a superior talent. He does seem like he's been working on his defense some, though.

D.J. Stephens obviously listened to Pastner about working on his wing skills. He hasn't gotten them down yet, but he is trying. He attempted several three pointers. One of them went in. Still has that really high jump which is always fun to watch.

In the crowd, Wesley Witherspoon, Joe Jackson, Will Barton, Angel Garcia, and Will Coleman were all there to cheer on their team mates. While most of them sat down to enjoy the game, Coleman was on his feet the whole time. He seemed really eager to play.

Roburt Sallie Not Suiting Up As a Memphis Tiger Next Season

2010-05-19T16:21:00.001-05:00

Roburt Sallie, a junior guard for the University of Memphis, has announced that he will not return to Memphis to finish out his final year of eligibility. "I am grateful for my two years in Memphis, and no matter where I go on from here, Memphis and Tiger basketball fans will hold a special place in my heart," said Sallie. He plans to either pursue a career in Europe or to finish his final year of NCAA eligibility at a school that is closer to his home in Sacramento, California. He would be eligible to play immediately assuming that he graduates in August as planned.

Sallie played with the Tigers for two seasons after transferring from Laurenberg Prep in North Carolina. He started in 21 of the 70 games he played for Memphis. During that time, he averaged 8.2 points and 1.2 steals. He also had a field goal percentage of 43.2%, but was slightly more effective from beyond the arc at 43.8%. Coach Pastner had this to say regarding Sallie's decision, "Tiger Nation should be appreciative of what Roburt did while wearing the Blue and Gray. Roburt gave his all in his two years here, and I am thankful for the opportunity to have coached him."

The game most Tiger fans will remember him for is the one against Cal St Northridge in the first round of the 2009 NCAA tournament. During this game, he hit ten three pointers, the second most three pointers ever made in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

There are likely several factors involved in his decision to leave, the most obvious being his age. If he returned, he would play next season as a 25 year old. Also, he is graduating in August. There is also the fact that his playing time would likely decrease thanks to the stellar recruiting class that Pastner has assembled. Possibly most influential, however, is the fact that his father is battling cancer. If he does return to college, he will certainly be closer to his father.

Sallie contributed a lot to the University of Memphis, and he will be missed.

Elliot Williams to the NBA Draft

2010-04-13T14:10:00.004-05:00

Fox News broke the story that Elliot Williams has officially declared for the draft. He has also signed an agent, preventing him from deciding to return to college. This should not come as a surprise as Coach Josh Pastner has said that Williams will either be in or out, no testing of the waters.

This is obviously bad for the Tigers from an experience stand point. Right now, the only players in the backcourt that won't be freshman are Wesley Witherspoon and Roburt Sallie, assuming he decides to return.

It does have some positives, though. There was a bit of a log jam at the guard positions which made the starting lineup very complicated. Would Joe Jackson or Will Barton have to sit on the bench? Or maybe, keep playing Wesley Witherspoon as a power forward? Now the starting line up is much easier to figure out. It will probably go something like this; PG:Joe Jackson SG:Will Barton SF:Wesley Witherspoon PF:Angel Garcia C:Will Coleman. That's a lot of talent for a starting five. So, there's nothing to be upset about (Although I'm sure many tiger fans weren't going to be upset with the problem of having too many players capable of starting).

Tiger fans should wish Elliot Williams well. While he won't be a lottery pick, going in the late first or early second round is nothing to laugh at. It also looks great for Josh Pastner to take a role player from Duke that averaged less than five points a game and turn him into a draft pick (As Dan Wolken so graciously pointed out on his Twitter account). Fans should just be glad he joined us for the one season that he did. That was when we truly needed him.

Pierre Henderson-Niles

2010-02-09T00:10:00.004-06:00

Josh Pastner recently announced that Pierre Henderson-Niles will no longer be a part of the Memphis Tiger's basketball team. In his statement, Pastner stated that Niles was not leaving due to any disciplinary actions, but rather it was a mutual parting of ways.

This is going to be a tremendous blow to a team that already has a very thin roster, especially in the front court. While Niles didn't really perform extremely well, he did keep the Tiger's other players from getting worn out and into foul trouble. Look for an increase in minutes from Will Coleman, D.J. Stephens, and Angel Garcia.

Many fans will look to see the gap filled by Garcia. It should be noted that Garcia's production will be limited. He recently came off an injury, just began practicing, and hasn't played a D-1 game in a while. Also, he has yet to prove his ability inside the paint. He prefers to play behind the arc.

UAB vs. Memphis

2010-02-04T13:20:00.004-06:00

After last nights game, Tiger fans and players alike can let out a collective sigh of relief. After dropping a road game to SMU, Memphis bounced back to defeat one of the top teams in conference USA, UAB.

The game brought as much intensity as fans have ever seen in a conference game before (yes I am counting the buzzer-beating Tulsa win last season). While this game may not have been decided by less that double digit points in the final seconds, it was a battle the whole way through. 30 lead changes and 10 ties resulted from the UAB Memphis rivalry game. Luckily, Elliot Williams and Wesley Witherspoon stepped up by scoring 25 and 29, respectively. Towards the end when a UAB win was still possible, UAB employed a tactic that Tiger fans have become used to seeing, they fouled. With the Tigers forced to earn the win at the line, they delivered. In the second half, Memphis shot over 90% from the charity stripe.

Will Coleman also had another good game with 9 rebounds and 7 blocks. He looked a lot more like that Dorsey-style player that Memphis fans were hoping for. Twice last night, he blocked back to back shots. These were crucial blocks as they came in the final minutes when Memphis was starting to go on a run.

Pastner also showed his ability to be a good X's and O's coach. He switched the defense often to keep UAB confused. The came ready for man to man and had to face zone for the entire first half. The defense switched to man, box and one, and triangle and two to keep UAB from getting comfortable offensively.

All in all it was a very encouraging game. Memphis has yet to lose back to back games since Kemp, Niles, and Mack stepped on campus, and I bet they're glad it stayed that way. The Tigers remain in the hunt for the regular season title, they're currently tied at third with UAB behind UTEP and Tulsa, who are tied for first. Not to mention a two game losing streak puts you in a bad state of mind to face a top 25 team like Gonzaga on Saturday.

Jackson's Connections

2010-02-02T18:50:00.003-06:00

It's worth noting that in a recent interview Joe Jackson said he was friends with Michael Gilchrist. He also stated that if he comes back for a second year, which he plans on doing, he will try to recruit him to Memphis. Michael Gilchrist is the top overall player for the class of 2011. He plays small forward.

Tiger's Stance is Clear

2010-02-02T00:06:00.005-06:00

At this point in conference play, it's pretty safe to assume we know where the Tigers stand talent-wise. They certainly aren't going away as a team that C-USA foes need to pay attention to, but they also aren't the favorites, by any means, to win the regular season or tournament title.

The recent win over Marshall, and loss to SMU, really balanced each other out. Before this Memphis was nipping at the heels of the big boys in conference, but they had not proved that they belonged at the top. The signature win against Marshall put them right back in the mix. Before that, there were three teams in second place in C-USA, and Memphis was one of them. The loss to SMU, however, was a major set back. While this team almost upset Marshall and UAB, two of the top teams in this conference, make no mistake, it was a loss to a bottom tier C-USA team.

Now there are three teams tied at first place in C-USA UAB, Tulsa, and UTEP. Memphis ranks directly behind them. With a game against UAB on Wednesday, they have a chance to say once more, that they belong at the top of the pack. The following Saturday, they will play top-25 team Gonzaga. Failing to secure both of these wins means that the Tigers will most likely have to win the conference tournament to get into the Big Dance. Failing to beat UAB, will almost definitely mean no C-USA regular season title.

Memphis recruiting.

2009-11-28T16:27:00.003-06:00

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.

How 'Bout Them Seniors

2009-11-22T21:50:00.002-06:00

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.

Put On Notice

2009-11-19T15:35:00.004-06:00

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.

2010 Memphis Recruiting

2009-11-16T11:42:00.004-06:00

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.

A Slow Start

2009-11-10T15:43:00.004-06:00

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.

Player Performance

2009-11-05T13:33:00.005-06:00

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.

Lemoyne Owen Exhibition

2009-11-04T00:45:00.004-06:00

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

Preston Laird

2009-10-26T12:28:00.003-05:00

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

Exclusive Drew Barham Interview

2009-10-09T12:31:00.000-05:00

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

Where they are now.

2009-09-29T14:42:00.004-05:00

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.

Something We Haven't Seen

2009-09-22T14:44:00.004-05:00

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.

Tarik Black

2009-09-15T15:41:00.004-05:00

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.

It Official! (the pieces are falling into place.)

2009-09-12T14:51:00.001-05:00

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.

A look at the future

2009-09-11T13:02:00.001-05:00

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.