SB Nation - Memphis Tigers

In a Perfect World (Conference Realignment)

Evan Pfaff — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:30:13 -0000

by Tony Gutierrez - AP

Could a University of Houston QB be soon hoisting the Big 12 Championship trophy? (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Today the Big Ten conference issued a statement that they are exploring the possibility of expanding.

Every few years we hear the same rumblings and every few years there are articles published about what realignment would look like. But not since Penn State was admitted into the Big Ten has anything official been released. With that, below is the definitive article on the topic.

And even though this is a basketball blog, I will focus on the BCS aspect of realignment to argue my points. I will discuss basketball, though, and all points held for football can loosely translate over to hoops as well.

Currently there are six BCS conferences and those 6 all get automatic BCS-bowl bids. Those conferences are Big East, SEC, Big 10, Big 12, Pac-10, ACC. Of those six, three of the conferences have enough football teams to have a conference championship game (the Big East would have enough if more of their charter schools had D1 football programs).

Part of the BCS issue is that you have some conferences without 12 schools, who don't currently have conference championship games. Adding conference championship games will ultimately help the BCS by crowing, on a field, a true conference champ. This will help with BCS bowl bids, and especially the BCS championship game. (Think of a rule where you have to at least win your division to get a BCS bid.

The other BCS issue is of the non-BCS schools and where they should lie. My realignment program take that into account.

Without further ado, after The Jump is the Big12Hoops.com Realignment plan.

MIZZOU MOVES TO THE BIG 10.

Why is this good for the Big 10? By admitting Mizzou into the Big 10, the Big 10 would secure a coveted TV market, namely St Louis. They would also get a share of the Kansas City TV market. By expanding westward, revenues from the Big 10 Network and apparel sales would grow. The Big 10 would also secure a 12^th team and legitimize a conference championship game. The divisions would be as follow:

Big 10 East: Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Indiana, Purdue, Penn State

Big 10 West: Mizzou, Illinois, Northwestern, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa

Under this scenario all regional rivalries remain in tact

Why is this good for Mizzou? The Big 12 seems to forget about schools not named Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Kansas (basketball). There is no television network, so Mizzou's games are generally only regionally shown. There is Big Monday for basketball, but that is mainly reserved for Texas and KU. Under this, Mizzou's football games could be carried on the Big 10 Network and basketball games will be tied into the Big 10 ESPN deal. All this leads to a major recruiting advantage in both revenue generating sports.

Mizzou also has a rival in Illinois that would heat up instantly and the heated rivalry with Kansas will replace the Illinois basketball and football games on the schedules. Instead of St Louis, though, the KU games will be played at the Sprint Center and Arrowhead in KC.

But what about... Iowa State? The Cyclones seem to also be a natural fit and could easily add fuel to the rivalry with in-state foe Iowa Hawkeyes. The problem is that the Big 10 gains little from that arrangement. They are already pretty entrenched in the Hawkeye State and the addition of ISU wouldn't help their regional or national reputation.

THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON JOINS THE BIG XII

Why is this good for the Big 12? The University of Houston is a large campus, in a region of Texas that is currently underdeveloped with college sports. Houston is the 4^th largest city in the country, and by planting a team there, the Big 12 will get even more Texas viewership.

The big question would be on alignment, since there will now be 5 Texas schools. My proposal is for

Big 12 "North": Nebraska, Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State

Big 12 "South": Texas, Houston, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Baylor, Colorado

The division names will have to be rebranded, but adding Colorado to the South is acceptable because Coloradoans joke that there are more Texans in the state than natives.

Why is this good for Houston? Historically, the Cougars have had a good football team, and have won a basketball national championship. Having a Big XII logo on their court will increase their recruiting presence in the city and state and potentially turn them into powerhouse.

But what about... TCU? TCU would be a good choice, if they were bigger. Their 8000 student just wouldn't cut it if the conference wishes to remain the BIG 12. Houston's enrollment is approximately 30,000 students. Commuter school or not, Houston would help retain the "Big" in Big 12.

BYU AND UTAH GO TO THE PAC-10

Why is this good for the Pac-10? By including Utah and BYU into the Pac-10, the conference will have the 12 schools needed for an automatic conference championship games. Both programs have historically legitimate football and basketball programs, and they will bring their rivalry with them. Geographically, they are far enough West to warrant admission into the conference.

The division would be as follows

Pac-10 North: Washington, Washington State, Oregon, Oregon State, BYU, Utah

Pac-10 South: Arizona, Arizona State, California, Stanford, UCLA, USC

Why is this good for BYU and Utah? Both recruit well from the West, and inclusion into the conference will aid that. And by coming over as a pair (and as rivals) they bring legitimacy to the expansion eastward.

But what about... geography? The state of Utah doesn't border any states of current Pac-10 members, and that may cause some issues, but distance isn't really something the conference has ever regarded. Consider that Tucson, AZ to Seattle, WA is 1100 miles, or 400 miles farther than Tucson to Provo, UT.

ADD MORE TEAMS TO THE MOUNTAIN WEST

Why is this good for the Mountain West? As it stands under this scenario, the Mountain West is down to 7 members (the current 9, minus BYU and Utah). To get up with the big boys, the MWC needs to add 5 schools. The 5 that should move to the MWC should be: Boise State, Nevada, New Mexico State, Rice, SMU.

There is already talk of Boise coming over to the MWC, so that is a no brainer. The others are coming over as "rivals" to existing MWC schools. Nevada will face UNLV, New Mexico State will pair with New Mexico, Rice and SMU will pit against TCU is a three-way battle for Texas.

Having 12 schools will allow the conference to host a championship game, matching the winners of each division, which would be as follows:

MWC North: UNLV, Nevada, Air Force, Wyoming, Colorado State, Boise State

MWC South: San Diego State, New Mexico, New Mexico State, TCU, Rice, SMU

Why is this good for the 5 programs? The shift from either the C-USA or WAC will legitimize the programs (see the next point). All will also enter the new MWC with a foe. Everyone wins.

But what about... the MWC still remaining relatively minute as compared to their BCS brethren? Why would these schools shift from one conference to another, just for shits and giggles? See next point.

ADMIT THE MOUNTAIN WEST INTO THE BCS

Why is this good for the BCS? Controversy will mainly be avoided. By admitting the redesigned MWC into the BCS you are accepting the current BCS gate crashers. You are bringing in the current at-large schools causing heartache and giving yourself another conference champion that the country can latch onto.

Why is this good for the MWC? Why isn't it good for the MWC?

But what about... the C-USA and WAC? These two conferences are now in shambles. What to do? See next item.

MERGE THE C-USA AND WAC

Why is this good for the two conferences? Because of the success of some of their schools, and regional ability to move, the Conference USA and WAC are currently left in shambles (under this proposal). Essentially afterthoughts as they are, now they are left with 15 schools between them. They could either split them up 8 and 7 or combine forces and form a 15 league mega conference. In terms of basketball, as we have seen with the Big East, and their 16 school hoops conference, too many schools doesn't water down the pool.

But what about... regionality? The C-USA is currently a conglomerate of throw-ins from around the country. Under this plan, that would just increase to a truly national conference. The members of it would be: Fresno St, Hawaii, Idaho, La Tech, San Jose St, Utah St, UTEP, Tulane, Tulsa, UAB, Cent Florida, ECU, Marshall, Memphis, Southern Miss

Using the scenario outlined above, 18 schools will change conferences. This sounds like a lot, but as you can see many will be moving as groups and either with or to a rival.

But what about the Big East? Well, the Big East is the one conference I am leaving alone. In their football world, they are lacking the 12 members to create a championship game. But when you include their basketball members, they are a 16-team powerhouse.

One final thought. I reserve the right to claim this entire scenario null and void if Notre Dame ever decides to join the Big 10. If that were to happen, I would still endorse some shifting, but nothing to the extent of this proposal. More on that if a Notre Dame to the Big 10 rumor starts getting some legitimate traction.

Help save the Oakland Golden Grizzlies, pt 1

SFBE.NF — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 20:30:46 -0000

When we began furiously previewing anything and everything that involved collegiate basketball, I made what I thought to be a fairly heady but far-fetched decision: that the Oakland Golden Grizzlies would be your 2010 bracket-buster and advance to the Sweet 16.

Here's why: it's a team that returns four starters including Jonathan Jones, the team's leader and program's most decorated player of all time. Last season, they were Summit League runners-up (see: Woodside, Ben) without senior forward Derick Nelson, who is talented enough to receive all-conference honors this season, despite missing all but 17 minutes of last year's campaign due to injury. Furthermore, their non-conference schedule features games against Wisconsin, Michigan State, Kansas, Syracuse. Ample opportunities to secure a statement win, or at least some respect.

I also just wanted some attention and something to hang my hat on in March if a level of success, unforeseen by the general media, were to materialize.

But after a 4-4 start, low-lighted by a 30 point drubbing at the hands of the aforementioned Jayhawks, followed by a 31 point loss to the Memphis Tigers, the Golden Grizzlies need our help. Their best win is against UCA (Central Arkansas), and I only say that because at first glance you could be fooled into thinking they beat the UCLA Bruins.

So with that, SFBE is adopting a needy college basketball team during this holiday season.

From this point going forward, we will be offering weekly updates on the Grizz, for better or worse, and spread the gospel of head coach Greg Kampe. Maybe it will catch on, and our readership will find it in their heart to declare their support for the little guy based in Rochester, Michigan. Or maybe it won't, and this team will continue to tread water in mediocrity. We hope for the forward.

What does this team need to do in order to right the ship? Well for starters, they need to guard. The Golden Grizzlies allow 72 points a game, and not just against the nation's elite. In last night's victory over IUPUI-Fort Wayne, they gave up 76 points.

Ken Pomeroy has them rated as in the lower half of the country in both offensive and defensive efficiency, which essentially means the team doesn't do enough with their 69 possessions per 40 minutes. Dig a bit deeper and you learn that at this time, Oakland is just very average in comparison to the 346 other Division I college basketball programs.

Things need to change for the Golden Grizzlies. We are here to help right the ship.

RPI WATCH: 11/23/09

BracketCat — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 01:00:13 -0000

Well, it's officially basketball season here at BOTC, so I'm going to try and get some basketball-related stuff on here on a more consistent basis. Big 12 Outlook will return after New Year's, but in the meantime, I need to resume the Big 12 previews and shift them into overdrive a little in order to make up for lost time.

The other thing I want to do is update you on all of our opponents on a daily basis. I'll look at how they performed in yesterday's games and maybe track the RPIs a little, too. The idea is to get a general picture, on a day-to-day basis, of how strong our non-conference schedule is, because I've seen some concern from various corners of late.

For a more detailed discussion, hit the jump. But here's a short preview: We did ourselves a lot of good in Puerto Rico.

Here's how our opponents have performed to date, in order to provide a baseline comparison and bring everyone up to speed. (After all, not everyone has been paying attention to hoops like I have, given our North-contending football team and what have you.)

Kansas State RPI = 28

Great Wins (RPI 1-50) = Dayton

Good Wins (RPI 51-100) = Loyola

Bad Losses (RPI 100 or greater) = none

Loyola (2-1) | RPI = 64: Loss at Kansas State (92-54), Win over Canisius (89-69), Win at Holy Cross (76-73)
Western Illinois (2-2) | RPI = 112: Loss at Arizona State (87-35), Loss at Kansas State (82-50), Win over Truman State (71-59), Win at Central Arkansas (56-46)
Boston (1-4) | RPI = 141: Loss at Iona (82-73), Loss to George Washington (69-59), Loss to Kansas State (80-70), Win over Indiana (71-67), Loss to No. 21 Georgia Tech (85-67)
Ole Miss (4-1) | RPI = 76: Win over UALR (92-64), Win over Alabama State (90-53), Win over Indiana (89-71), Win over Kansas State (86-74), Loss to No. 5 Villanova (79-67)
No. 18 Dayton (2-2) | RPI = 32: Win over Creighton (90-80), Win over No. 21 Georgia Tech (63-59), Loss to No. 5 Villanova (71-65), Loss to Kansas State (83-75)
IUPUI (4-1) | RPI = 75: Win at Drake (88-82), Win at Eastern Illinois (69-66), Win over Austin Peay (77-63), Loss at Auburn (80-65), Win over Georgia State (67-56)
Fort Hays State (2-0) | RPI = N/A (D-II): Win over Friends (82-46), Win over Central Christian College (85-66)
Washington State (3-0) | RPI = 140: Win over MVSU (94-66), Win over Eastern Washington (67-61), Win over IPFW (89-70)
Xavier (3-0) | RPI = 79: Win over Youngstown State (83-57), Win over Bowling Green (101-57), Win over Sacred Heart (105-65)
UNLV (3-0) | RPI = 1: Win over Pittsburg State (91-52), Win over Nevada (88-75), Win over Southern Illinois (78-69)
Alabama (2-1) | RPI = 186: Loss to Cornell (71-67), Win over Jackson State (86-69), Win over Providence (84-75)
UAPB (0-3) | RPI = 166: Loss at Colorado (88-72), Loss at Denver (75-56), Loss at UTEP (70-52)
Cleveland State (3-1) | RPI = 260: Loss at St. Bonaventure (72-62), Win over Wilmington (99-74), Win over Florida A&M (78-64), Win over Sam Houston State (80-65)
South Dakota (2-2) | RPI = N/A (D-I transition): Loss at Texas Tech (88-49), Loss to Oregon State (62-47), Win over TAMUCC (76-73), Win over Mayville State (99-67)
Missouri (2-0) | RPI = 280: Win over UT Martin (83-68), Win over UTPA (100-64)
Texas A&M (3-0) | RPI = 135: Win over Angelo State (88-69), Win at SMU (80-68), Win over Samford (68-49)
Colorado (3-0) | RPI = 128: Win over UAPB (88-72), Win over Coppin State (82-58), Win over Texas Southern (88-77)
No. 3 Texas (2-0) | RPI = 17: Win over UC Irvine (89-42), Win over Western Carolina (73-41)
Oklahoma State (3-0) | RPI = 21: Win over Seattle (86-64), Win over Southern (93-61), Win over North Texas (82-68)
Baylor (4-0) | RPI = 60: Win over Norfolk State (86-58), Win over Hartford (71-69), Win over Southern (61-45), Win over Hardin-Simmons (106-45)
No. 1 Kansas (3-0) | RPI = 46: Win over Hofstra (101-65), Win over Memphis (57-55), Win over Central Arkansas (94-44)
Nebraska (2-1) | RPI = 134: Win over SCUU (76-49), Loss at Saint Louis (69-55), Win over TCU (90-77)
Iowa State (4-0) | RPI = 188: Win over Idaho State (88-68), Win over Chicago State (72-50), Win at Drake (90-70), Win over MVSU (96-55)
No. 17 Oklahoma (2-1) | RPI = 65: Win over Mount St. Mary's (95-71), Win over UL Monroe (72-61), Loss at VCU (82-69)
Texas Tech (5-0) | RPI = 86: Win over South Dakota (88-49), Win over TAMUCC (66-59), Win over Oregon State (64-60), Win over Northwestern State (94-75), Win over Lamar (77-54)

My plan is to update this daily with the games are played the previous day, and I'll probably start looking at RPIs some time after Thanksgiving (they're pretty meaningless before that point due to the disparity in scheduling).

Update: Got bored and added the RPIs around midnight. I'll save the analysis for tomorrow's edition.

Things we missed during the third week of November

SFBE.NF — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:45:51 -0000

According to AOL Fanhouse, who has pulled out their magnifying glass and become quite investigative, alleges that South Florida's basketball team has violated NCAA rules for providing transportation to an unnamed player, among other infractions. In other news, Duke forward Kyle Singler bought a Snickers bar at an off-campus gas station. The $.87 used in the transaction could have come from someone who mows Coach K's lawn.
Just a month after spurning a formal induction to Indiana University's athletic Hall of Fame, Bob Knight is scheduled to speak at a Indiana (state, not the school) Basketball Hall of Fame fundraiser. The institution is the only statewide high school basketball hall of fame in the nation. Knight's speaking part at the December 17th event in Indy is sure to pack the house.
UCLA's Nikola Dragovic has been arrested on felony assault charges, stemming from an incident last month. Dragovic was out at a concert in Hollywood, you know just being fabulous, and ended up getting into a scuffle. These charges, coupled with a November 7th arrest for allegedly pushing his then girlfriend onto the ground, means that forward James Keefe is faced with a role he has never had to assume in Westwood...an offensive go-to guy.
Memphis is refusing to release the NCAA's response from their submitted appeal over that near banner 2007-2008 season, which was erased from the books this summer. The refusal is at the stern request from the NCAA, who is prohibiting the Tigers athletic department from telling the media what exactly the response was. The AP has requested the document under the Tennessee Open Records Act.

The Big Blue Daily Mail -- Sam Houston State Edition

Truzenzuzex — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:15:05 -0000

More photos » by Ed Reinke - AP

Charlie Coles is da man! What a great performance the Miami RedHawks gave in the post-game interview the other day.

Browse more photos »

Tonight, the Wildcats take on the Bearkats of Sam Houston State, a team I know absolutely nothing about, as their opening round game in the Cancun Challenge. Rumors have been swirling about the availability of Darnell Dodson and John Wall, but I have heard nothing definite. The closest I can come is:

Calipari is very unhappy with Darnell Dodson at the moment (that could explain why it took him so long to get into the game on Monday).
Calipari is getting happier with DeAndre Liggins. Happy enough to play him?
John Wall's uncle passed away earlier this week. Our sympathy goes out to his family. I have no idea if he will play or not, but I suspect he will.

In other news worth highlighting, UK just secured another football recruit, Avery Williamson, a Rivals 3* linebacker out of Milan, Tennessee. Willimson impressed at Lane Kiffin's Tennessee Camp and is one of the very best in the Volunteer state. Even though UT was not heavily recruiting Williamson, UK has had great success with the overlooked players from Tennessee and Georgia.

And finally there is this item about one of my favorite players, Chuck Hayes. I somehow missed this when it come out (I'm sure somebody linked it, though) but I think it deserves special attention. I love Chuck Hayes, and when he gets accolades, I like to put it on the front page.

The news follows the jump.

Rich Brooks & the SEC Teleconference « Over The Pylon
Blogpoll Week 11 - CBSSports.com
Cats aren't fooled by Georgia's sub-par stats | KentuckySports.com
"Georgia's still Georgia," sophomore offensive tackle Brad Durham said. "They're still big and athletic and, defensively, they're huge up front."

I think the "Georgia is Georgia" part was all that needed to be said.
Wildcat Blue In a Sea of Orange: Rich Brooks is making the bowls despite the absence of "star recruits"
Calipari's Cats Get Taste Of Kinder, Gentler Coach
Calipari had been hoping for a moment like this early in the season, a chance for him to see how his talented but largely inexperienced squad reacted to adversity for the first time.

"I was ecstatic," Calipari said.

I'm thinking Gillispie would have done this ... ah ... a little different. And his team was shocked.

"I’ve not really seen anybody be positive when you’re down 18, but he was," Miller said.

Calipari evenly — but not harshly — challenged his players to prove themselves.
Basketball recruiting: The strength of Memphis' class was a major statement by first-year coach Josh Pastner - ESPN
With a few players graduating and a few anticipated early departures, the Wildcats are going to have a few need areas to fill. Look for UK to make a push to get a point guard, a shooter and some size. The Wildcats could get a head start on filling these needs if they get a commitment from Tobias Harris (Brookville, N.Y./Half Hollow Hills), who plans to announce his decision on Thursday. They also are in the running for unsigned prospects Brandon Knight (Coral Springs, Fla./Pine Crest), Josh Selby (Baltimore/Lake Clifton), Doron Lamb (Laurelton, N.Y./Oak Hill Academy) and Terrence Jones (Portland, Ore./Jefferson), among others.

With Calipari at the helm, I'll worry about recruiting when he gives me a reason to. Until then, I expect a top five class every year.
Tobias Harris! Tobias Harris! Tobias Harris! - Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician
Kentucky will not get Harris, IMO, but here is some info in how his recruitment is going.
Don't Bet On It!: Around the SEC - Dawg Sports
Texas Overwhelms Western Carolina 73-41 - Burnt Orange Nation
* And yes, I hope Kansas fans see this, and react to this. Not because I want a chest-thumping war, but because I think this is our rival in basketball. Rick Barnes and Bill Self see it the same way, and I'm all for it. The Texas-Kansas back-and-forth over the last 6 years has been the best kept secret in college hoops, and I absolutely love that we have a powerhouse like Kansas to constantly measure ourselves against. They're smart fans: I think they see it, too. This should be the most fun season to date.

I think Peter's right. The Kansas-Texas rivalry has really been heating up over the years. Who knows, one day it may be as recognized as it deserves.
Rush The Court " Blog Archive " Memphis Learns Its Fate, Can’t/Won’t Tell Anyone the Results…
Does the NCAA not understand that operating in this manner in no way engenders public trust and faith in the fairness and equitable nature of the system? Do they not see that, regardless of the strength of their argument on the merits, John Q. Fan reads this and can only conclude that the NCAA is hiding the ball so as to get its way in the end? Are they too dense to realize that a simple and consistent application of rules and policies are the first step toward removing much of the thinly-veiled cynicism that those still following big-time college sports have for it?

I'm afraid I can't improve on this at all. Must read.
StraitPinkie.com Previews Sam Houston State at Kentucky | straitpinkie.com
Cats say Miller fits dribble-drive | courier-journal.com | The Courier-Journal
Two weeks ago, Calipari said, he noticed that Miller's shoulders were leaning back on his jump shot. Instead of going straight up with a shot, he was fading away from it. The result was a flat shot.

But the observation slipped Calipari's mind.

Let's hope Miller has it working now. We need a bit more out of him.
A healthy dose of Patterson, sound defense keys to Kentucky's 2009-2010 seasons
" SEC links: Can Georgia stand a little praise? John Clay’s Sidelines
John Clay's SEC links
Jeff Sheppard Podcast: Titans of Kentucky – LostLettermen.com
What Everyone Needs to Know About The DDMO
A really nice set of principles for the DDM offense. Very interesting.
" Video: John Calipari before today’s practice John Clay’s Sidelines
Cobb may not play at Georgia | Vaught's Views
Uh-oh. I hope that shoulder can heal in three days.
ZAGSBLOG " Doron Lamb Weighing Options; Pitt Signs 3
Tom Leach - Kentucky Football, Kentucky Basketball, UK Football, UK Basketball
Tom has a several new podcats up you will want to listen to.
Miami Coach Not Impressed By Lexington Reporter's Question - Media Meltdowns - Deadspin
A reporter asked Miami of Ohio coach Charlie Coles (a 17.5-point underdog last night) how he let the Kentucky game "get away from him." He was not amused.
Memphis Tigers Fall (Barely) to Top-Ranked Kansas | Tiger Blue | Memphis Flyer
If you’re a college hoops fan, you gotta love Dick Vitale’s enthusiasm. But objectivity? His unbridled defense of the Memphis program in respect to the allegations that Derrick Rose had a proxy take his SAT for him was hardly a broad assessment of the matter. Long tied to the mast of college basketball, Vitale should show greater concern for the shortcuts players are bound to take to skirt the NBA’s draft restrictions. Whether or not Rose is guilty, the allegations are serious. And whether or not they impact programs competing for a national championship, such transgressions have to be fought by the NCAA.

I didn't hear Vitale's comments, but I do agree that the allegations are a serious matter, even if I don't agree with the disposition of the case. We cannot allow rampant academic fraud in college sports, and the NCAA is the last bulwark against that. So while I disagree with how the NCAA handled the Memphis case, I do agree that allegations of fraud are of grave concern.
About What You Expected: Louisville 96, Arkansas 66 - Arkansas Expats
As the second half dragged on, I found myself begging for the game to end, but overall, it's hard to get too upset up about the outcome. The Hogs played hard, but they are severely short-handed right now, and Louisville is a Top 20 team. Anybody who didn't think the game had a strong likelihood of playing out this way is living with a healthy dose of denial.

Big win by Louisville. But Pitino's Sypher woes continue.
LSU Tigers defeat Western Kentucky in men's basketball | LSU Tigers Central - - NOLA.com
A bit of a surprise. Western has a good team, this was a solid win for LSU.
Kentucky sophomore one of SEC's most dangerous players || OnlineAthens.com
"He [Randall Cobb] might be the most talented player in the Southeastern Conference today," said Georgia coach Mark Richt, gearing up for Saturday's game against Kentucky. "We know what he did last year. He just about single-handedly beat us himself."

High praise from the Georgia coach.

A Lesson for Kentucky Basketball

Truzenzuzex — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:45:10 -0000

More photos » by Jeff Roberson - AP

The X man didn't look much like a mutant last night.

Browse more photos »

Last night's game between the Kansas Jayhawks and the Memphis Tigers is a great lesson for the Jayhawks that they get to learn without much cost, much like Kentucky's game versus the Miami RedHawks the other night. It isn't exactly free -- both teams took a hit to their pre-season hype and credibility -- but its value is far beyond that ephemeral penalty.

Take a look at what Yahoo's Jason King said about Kansas last night:

Kansas’ players seemed arrogant and, as a team, the Jayhawks lacked cohesion. Memphis, meanwhile, used pesky defense and hustle plays to stay in the game. The Tigers forced 21 turnovers while fighting back from a 10-point deficit midway through the second half.

Remember the article about swagger the other day? This is the danger of having swagger -- the possibility that it can run over into arrogance. Arrogance in a college basketball team, particularly early in the season, leads to defeat. The Jayhawks dodged a bullet, the 'Cats dodged a bullet, the Tar Heels dodged a bullet, and the Spartans dodged a bullet. There is a lesson to be learned here, I think.

The lesson is that unless you adopt a professional attitude about the work before you, swagger just looks arrogant and classless. It inspires other teams not to fear you, but to want to kick your butt all over the arena, and sometimes, a little inspiration is all you need -- right, Nick Winbush?

The early season is for learning lessons, and right now, the lesson is don't crown yourself king until you have won a few battles. That lesson should be burning into the brain of every player on UK, KU, Michigan State and UNC. That crown doesn't fit any of these teams yet -- it's much too small to fit on swelled heads. Those heads will shrink as the season goes on and young players learn, but the learning needs to start right now.

Lesson #1 -- respect your opponent, and don't take him for granted. Otherwise, he might rise up and smite you.

More after the jump.

There is another interesting thing about this game that is more relevant to the Wildcats -- it brought out the Kentucky detractor (or more correctly, the Calipari detractor) in ESPN's Dana O'Neal. I generally like Dana's work, but tonight, she really laid the wood to the new UK coach:

Kansas is not the dominant, etch-the-name-on-the-trophy No. 1 team everyone thought it was and John Calipari's Shermanesque, scorched-Earth policy on Memphis has not rendered the Tigers obsolete.

And later in the same article ...

And then Calipari bolted to Kentucky, taking players, secretaries, potted plants and the hopes for the 2009-10 season with him. In his wake stood Pastner, a 32-year-old caffeine-eschewing, sleep-avoiding, curse-averse, first-time coach who ended Tuesday night's press conference remarking how cool it was to be holding a press conference.

Josh Skywalker. Darth Cal. Get it?

But I digress. The point of this piece is to note that several of the top teams have proven themselves not quite ready for prime time, and so far, it has not cost any of them much more than a raised eyebrow and significantly increased practice intensity.

But if the lesson goes unlearned, that bill will come due in the form of embarassing losses. And Bill Self, friend of Billy Gillispie, can get all the insight he wants about embarassing losses with a phone call to the former UK coach.

11/17 Game Links: Oh Elliot, you were so close!

SFBE.NF — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:54:51 -0000

Kansas survives, Elliot Williams misses for the win

Another great early season Spartans - Bulldogs game

It's a low scoring affair in D.C., Georgetown escapes with victory

Siena tops Northeastern in a nice early-season BracketBuster match-up

Louisville embarrasses Arkansas by 30

Tennessee embarrasses UNC-Asheville...by 75!

Get used to this headline: Warren leads Sooners to win

LSU survives against seasoned Western Kentucky team

Dana O'Neil: KU not invincible; UM not going away

Liveblog: Memphis Tigers at Kansas Jayhawks

editor@big12hoops.com — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:33:12 -0000

NOTE: Big12Hoops will be liveblogging the Memphis/Kansas game beginning tonight at 8:30 pm CST.

Check back here at 8:30pm CST when we go live. You'll also be able to watch the game live online right her e for those not able to watch the game on ESPN. (Note: The game is also available online at ESPN360.com.

&amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php?option=com_mobile&amp;amp;amp;task=viewaltcast&amp;amp;amp;altcast_code=e8adde80c9" mce_href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php?option=com_mobile&amp;amp;amp;amp;task=viewaltcast&amp;amp;amp;amp;altcast_code=e8adde80c9"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Kansas Jayhawks vs. Memphis Tigers&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

Watch Live Online: Memphis at Kansas

Memphis Tigers@ Kansas Jayhawks

Tuesday, Nov 17, 2009, 9:00 PM CST
Hall of Fame Showcase - St. Louis, MO

Complete Coverage >

Kansas-Memphis News

Top-ranked Kansas and Memphis square off in St. Louis
(Sports Network) about 8 hours ago.
Memphis (1-0) vs. (1) Kansas (1-0)
(Sports Network) about 8 hours ago.

KANSAS			FG			3PT			FT			Rebounds			Misc
	G	M	M	A	Pct	M	A	Pct	M	A	Pct	Off	Def	Tot	Ast	TO	Stl	Blk	PF	PPG
Xavier Henry	1	24.0	8.0	12.0	66.7	5.0	8.0	62.5	6.0	6.0	100.0	1.0	4.0	5.0	2.0	0.0	1.0	1.0	2.0	27.0
Sherron Collins	1	29.0	7.0	15.0	46.7	4.0	10.0	40.0	5.0	6.0	83.3	1.0	3.0	4.0	3.0	2.0	1.0	0.0	3.0	23.0
Cole Aldrich	1	24.0	4.0	5.0	80.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	3.0	6.0	50.0	3.0	5.0	8.0	1.0	1.0	1.0	4.0	2.0	11.0
Marcus Morris	1	22.0	3.0	5.0	60.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	3.0	4.0	75.0	1.0	3.0	4.0	2.0	0.0	1.0	1.0	1.0	9.0
Tyshawn Taylor	1	25.0	2.0	4.0	50.0	1.0	3.0	33.3	3.0	6.0	50.0	0.0	4.0	4.0	6.0	2.0	1.0	1.0	1.0	8.0
Elijah Johnson	1	17.0	4.0	5.0	80.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	3.0	1.0	4.0	1.0	2.0	1.0	0.0	1.0	8.0
Markieff Morris	1	12.0	2.0	3.0	66.7	0.0	0.0	0.0	2.0	2.0	100.0	3.0	4.0	7.0	0.0	1.0	2.0	0.0	1.0	6.0
Thomas Robinson	1	17.0	1.0	5.0	20.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	3.0	8.0	37.5	1.0	4.0	5.0	2.0	3.0	1.0	0.0	1.0	5.0
Conner Teahan	1	8.0	1.0	4.0	25.0	1.0	3.0	33.3	0.0	0.0	0.0	2.0	0.0	2.0	0.0	1.0	0.0	1.0	0.0	3.0
Chase Buford	1	4.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.0	2.0	50.0	2.0	0.0	2.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.0	1.0
Tyrel Reed	1	15.0	0.0	4.0	0.0	0.0	3.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	3.0	3.0	3.0	0.0	1.0	1.0	0.0	0.0
Jordan Juenemann	1	3.0	0.0	1.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0

MEMPHIS			FG			3PT			FT			Rebounds			Misc
	G	M	M	A	Pct	M	A	Pct	M	A	Pct	Off	Def	Tot	Ast	TO	Stl	Blk	PF	PPG
Elliot Williams	1	33.0	5.0	11.0	45.5	2.0	6.0	33.3	7.0	11.0	63.6	0.0	3.0	3.0	3.0	3.0	2.0	0.0	1.0	19.0
Will Coleman	1	21.0	5.0	7.0	71.4	0.0	0.0	0.0	6.0	7.0	85.7	5.0	5.0	10.0	0.0	1.0	0.0	5.0	1.0	16.0
Wesley Witherspoon	1	20.0	3.0	9.0	33.3	2.0	5.0	40.0	5.0	7.0	71.4	1.0	3.0	4.0	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0	3.0	13.0
Doneal Mack	1	20.0	2.0	4.0	50.0	2.0	3.0	66.7	2.0	2.0	100.0	0.0	1.0	1.0	2.0	1.0	0.0	0.0	3.0	8.0
Roburt Sallie	1	34.0	2.0	8.0	25.0	1.0	5.0	20.0	2.0	5.0	40.0	2.0	5.0	7.0	4.0	1.0	4.0	0.0	0.0	7.0
Drew Barham	1	6.0	2.0	2.0	100.0	1.0	1.0	100.0	2.0	3.0	66.7	1.0	1.0	2.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.0	7.0
Pierre Henderson-Niles	1	18.0	2.0	4.0	50.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.0	4.0	25.0	2.0	3.0	5.0	0.0	2.0	1.0	0.0	1.0	5.0
Willie Kemp	1	33.0	1.0	3.0	33.3	0.0	2.0	0.0	2.0	2.0	100.0	1.0	3.0	4.0	3.0	3.0	2.0	1.0	1.0	4.0
Preston Laird	1	2.0	0.0	1.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	2.0	4.0	50.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	2.0
D.J. Stephens	1	9.0	0.0	1.0	0.0	0.0	1.0	0.0	1.0	3.0	33.3	1.0	1.0	2.0	0.0	1.0	0.0	0.0	1.0	1.0
Malik Thomas	1	1.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Charles Holt	1	1.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Aaron Jacques	1	1.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.0	0.0	1.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Tyler Foster	1	1.0	0.0	1.0	0.0	0.0	1.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0

Kansas Schedule

Next 5 Games

Memphis	Tue 11/17	9:00 PM CST
Central Arkansas	Thu 11/19	7:00 PM CST
Oakland, Mich.	Wed 11/25	7:00 PM CST
Tennessee Tech	Fri 11/27	7:00 PM CST
Alcorn St.	Wed 12/02	7:00 PM CST

Last 5 Games

Hofstra

Fri 11/13

W 101 - 65

Memphis Schedule

Next 5 Games

@ Kansas	Tue 11/17	9:00 PM CST
Tennessee Tech	Fri 11/20	7:00 PM CST
Central Arkansas	Tue 11/24	7:00 PM CST
Oakland, Mich.	Mon 11/30	7:00 PM CST
Arkansas St.	Sat 12/05	7:00 PM CST

Last 5 Games

Jackson St.

Fri 11/13

W 82 - 53

Rank	Team	Points
1	Kansas Jayhawks	1616
2	Michigan St. Spartans	1520
3	Texas Longhorns	1412
4	Kentucky Wildcats	1370
5	Villanova Wildcats	1353
6	North Carolina Tar Heels	1301
7	Purdue Boilermakers	1297
8	West Virginia Mountaineers	1139
9	Duke Blue Devils	1078
10	Tennessee Volunteers	938
11	Butler Bulldogs	859
12	Connecticut Huskies	830
13	California Golden Bears	792
14	Washington Huskies	783
15	Michigan Wolverines	598
16	Ohio St. Buckeyes	598
17	Oklahoma Sooners	490
18	Dayton Flyers	372
19	Georgetown Hoyas	358
20	Louisville Cardinals	344
21	Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets	320
22	Clemson Tigers	265
23	Illinois Fighting Illini	261
24	Minnesota Golden Gophers	170
25	Maryland Terrapins	167

Rank	Team	Points
1	Kansas Jayhawks	770
2	Michigan St. Spartans	738
3	Texas Longhorns	691
4	North Carolina Tar Heels	671
5	Kentucky Wildcats	640
6	Villanova Wildcats	617
7	Purdue Boilermakers	584
8	Duke Blue Devils	538
9	West Virginia Mountaineers	535
10	Butler Bulldogs	436
11	Tennessee Volunteers	433
12	California Golden Bears	396
13	Connecticut Huskies	388
14	Washington Huskies	366
15	Ohio St. Buckeyes	306
16	Michigan Wolverines	305
17	Oklahoma Sooners	260
18	Minnesota Golden Gophers	163
19	Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets	162
20	Georgetown Hoyas	158
21	Dayton Flyers	157
22	Louisville Cardinals	136
23	Clemson Tigers	111
24	Syracuse Orange	79
25	Illinois Fighting Illini	70

A KenPom Preview: Memphis Tigers

rockchalk — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:16:51 -0000

More photos » by Mark Humphrey - AP

This picture is ALWAYS a good thing. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)

Browse more photos »

So, I basically lied. No other content came out over the weekend. My b. But I couldn't see the Hofstra game anyways, so any thoughts I had would have been limited to the box score. Fortunately, pending some ridiculous multiple-overtime Xavier game tonight, I should be able to watch the Kansas-Memphis clash tonight. Meaning I'll be itching to let the world hear my thoughts about the game. Which means I'll make time for a game recap. And that's a promise.

Opening Thoughts

You know, in name, this game seems like a gigantic deal. Kansas-Memphis. 2008 National Championship rematch. Two of the best teams from a season prior. But neither of these teams resemble the teams who showed up in San Antonio. Especially Memphis, considering they've lost their entire team, more-or-less, plus their coach since then.

So, while Kansas-Memphis sounds exciting and all, there's one team that, at least on paper, is definitely better. So yeah. This is a game that could trip us up, but it isn't likely. And don't even start talking about 2008. Besides Sherron Collins, no one else really remains that played. Cole and the Big Boy on Memphis, yeah, I guess, but come on.

However, if nothing else, I guarantee they show Mario's shot at least once or twice. And no matter the circumstance, it's always a glorious occasion to watch that. That'll probably be the highlight of the night.

The Background

The Memphis of your older brother who is like 3 years older is not the same anymore. All of those players your older brother grew up watching are gone, and so is the greased hair of the coach who recruited them all there. Now, they are still filled with talent, and their new coach is already shaping up to be reminiscent of his predecessor, but still. Not the same team that was the second-best team in all the land in 2008. Not one bit.

It remains to be seen what will happen with this Memphis Tigers team. Will they continue to be a National Title contender every year-or-two, being capable of beating anybody anywhere at anytime? Or will they sink down a level, to where they continue to dominate the crappy Conference-USA conference they're in, but not really scare the living daylights out of national powers. My money's on some mix of the two, because I like riding fences, but if I had to pick one, give me the second one. They'll still be capable of making intense runs in the NCAA Tournament, because Josh Pastner is going to make sure they always have talent, but I don't think they'll win make a Final Four any time soon. Which isn't a knock, when you think about it, really.

The Offense

Even though it's only one game, I'm going to use the statistics from that one game. This team has changed enough to where I think that's fair.

Four Factors

eFG% (123rd) -- The Memphis we're all used to. They are as athletic as can be, but they can't always get the ball in the bucket. Which is kind of an important part of basketball. Coincidentally they were 123rd last year as well, so that's just creepy. They really like counting with their offensive eFG% numbers I guess.
TO% (100th) -- This is what happens when you have a bunch of athletes who are learning a new coach and taking on substantially increased roles. They'll make plenty of stupid mistakes Tuesday night in St. Louis. But they'll be a better team in the end for it. And by the end of the year, they'll be dangerous.
Off. Reb% (18th) -- Damn. Impressive. That's what you get, I suppose, for having a 485-pound man. Just kidding, Pierre, just kidding. I know you lost weight and added a name last season, they only mentioned it like 18 million times. So yeah, he can offensively rebound, though. We have enough size and talent down low as to where this shouldn't be a problem, but it might be.
FTA/FGA (3rd) -- They took nearly as many free throws as field goals in their fast game of the season against Jacksonville State. Wow. Damn. That's just incredible. So, I guess John Calipari's dribble-drive, Princeton offense on steroids type of deal is still in action in Memphis. So, just give 'em some space on the perimeter to shoot, and shuffle those puppies. And hands straight up, just like you are pointing to Jesus.

The Defense

eFG% (49th) -- Last year, they were first. I know, I know, different team, but I guarantee their ranking at the end of the year is better than 49th. Like seriously, I'd bet you a ridiculous amount of money. Right now. They play good defense. Again, because it's early, it won't be as sharp. By the end of the year, oh boy.
TO% (24th) -- This is getting there. They're going to force some turnovers. Poke some balls out. Break up passing lanes. Reject the crap out of the ball and recover. So, please, take care of the ball. Over/under on stupid freshman turnovers? 7.5.
Off. Reb% (197th) -- So, yeah, while Henderson-Niles has learned how to offensively rebound, he needs to pick up some extra time on the defensive boards. Otherwise, Cole Aldrich should have a fun game. And I'm excited to finally see Thomas Robinson, the greatest high school rebounder of all timez!!1!1!
FTA/FGA (34th) -- Memphis gets fouled, silly. They don't foul.

The Players

Willie Kemp (G Sr.) -- He can't really shoot. He turns the ball over at a decent rate. He's a non-factor on the boards. And he can't shoot one bit. Not really worried about this fellow. At least on offense. He can play defense.

Doneal Mack (G Sr.) -- He can shoot slightly better, but not really. Doneal never really turns over the ball, though, and he never gets called for a foul. Another defense-first player, which was one thing with CDR, Rose and Tyreke. Now, they need to step up their offensive game.

Pierre Henderson-Niles (F Sr.) -- Not really that good of a player. I mean he wouldn't be bad as a role player off the bench, just picking up some rebounds and using his 5 fouls. But as the primary big guy down low, you can do a helluva lot better. He's basically a non-factor on offense, and he isn't nearly as good of a rebounder as he should be at his size. He's a good rebounder -- he could easily be an amazing one.

Wesley Witherspoon (F Soph.) -- Witherspoon is an excellent athlete, albeit one who can't shoot much at all. However, he can still get to the hoop and get fouled a bunch, which is certainly valuable. Plus, he's a pretty good rebounder. I think he's going to explode at some point this season and take off for awhile. If he could just consistently hit a jumpshot...

Elliot Williams (G Soph.) -- Wanna hear a funny story? Based off of the boxscore from their first game, their best player this season is going to be Elliot Williams. But last year, as a freshman, he didn't play enough to show up on KenPom. Wow. He can't really shoot either, however he can really get to the basket consistently. I don't really know anything else about him. So yeah, just watch and learn on Tuesday night I suppose.

Roburt Sallie (G Jr.) -- I'll never forget it. For the first time, I stayed home from school to watch the first day of the NCAA Tournament. The first game I watched was Cal State Northridge-Memphis. And I watched as the Matadors outplayed the Tigers for forever, and they would have probably pulled off the upset except for...a career shooting day by Roburt. He more than doubled his previous career high, and was like 8-11 from three-point range or something ludicrous like that. It was insane. And that's all he's good for, basically. Shooting the three. He can light you up from long range, but that's about it. Which is a good mix, considering everyone else on Memphis pretty much sucks at the long ball.

Closing Thoughts

This is a good, early season test. It shouldn't be some epic game that we could just as easily lose as win, but they at least have the talent to pull off the upset. We're going to have to play good defense, and more importantly have good ball movement on offense. As Bill Self said in the ESPN Inside Access special from yesterday, he wants his players to think and play unselfishly. This will be a good test of that. Because if we move the ball well, and get it to the open guy, and we actually hit the open shot, absolutely no way we lose tomorrow.

We're winning. I think winning big, too.

Rematch: Memphis Gives No. 1 Kansas First Big Test of the Season

editor@big12hoops.com — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:49:33 -0000

More photos » by Darron Cummings - AP

Kansas' Sherron Collins, left, and Cole Aldrich face their biggest test of the season against Josh Pastner's new-look Memphis team. The match-up will be televised on ESPN and Big12Hoops.com will be liveblogging the game beginning at 8:30pm CST.

Browse more photos »

Note: Big12Hoops will be liveblogging the Memphis/Kansas game. You can log-in by visiting our KU section right now or here at Big12Hoops.com beginning at 8:30pm CST.

CJ Golightly
Big12Hoops Contributor
sports@big12hoops.com

Two of the nation's top teams face their first big test of the season in a re-match of the 2008 NCAA Tournament Championship game.

Rookie head coach Josh Pastner leads a new-look Memphis team, headlined by youth and inexperience, into the post-John Calipari era following his exit to head the Kentucky program.

Bill Self's Kansas team features one of the deepest rosters in school history, along with a No. 1 pre-season ranking in every major poll.

Relentless and driven, yet young and unproven, Pastner gets his first chance to make a splash as a head coach as the Tigers and Jayhawks face off once again, this time with considerably less on the line.

Exacting sweet revenge on Bill Self and Kansas would immediately endear him to the hearts of Tiger-loving hoops fans everywhere. Upsetting a national championship contender in the second week of the season is a fantastic way of erasing any lingering skepticism from the fanbase.

The Tigers have enjoyed remarkable success at the national level the last few years. This season, expectations have been tempered; the ear-ringing buzz has evolved into more of a low hum. If the New Tigers are still worthy of some national attention, this is their chance to shout it to the world.

Analyzing the Jayhawks and Tigers

Backcourt: Duke transfer Elliot Williams should make an immediate impact at Memphis. He is a talented offensive player and should blossom into a star for Pastner. Robert Sallie is an outstanding three point shooter. He will have an expanded role this season and will be relied on to do much more than just shoot. Senior Willie Kemp brings experience and must provide some consistency.

Doneal Mack is the Tigers best individual defender, and his services as a stopper will be needed. Explosive and versatile wingman Wesley Weatherspoon will also be counted on to slow down the bevy of dangerous athletes at Self's disposal.

The Kansas backcourt is led by senior Sherron Collins, a preseason candidate for National Player of the Year. He's a terrific shooter and an outstanding penetrator. He has quickness, and strength, and can score in a variety of ways. He's also an experienced leader that provides everything a coach could hope for from a point guard.

Jayhawk blue chip freshman Xavier Henry is an elite talent. He's an incredible scorer, a ridiculous athlete, and a matchup nightmare. He'll combine with productive and versatile sophomore Tyshawn Taylor along with Collins, forming one of the most dangerous and explosive backcourts in America.

Advantage Kansas. The Memphis guards are the strength of the team, but this Kansas group is special.

Frontcourt: Kansas big man Cole Aldrich is a defensive game changer. He blocks shots and rebounds as well as anyone in the country. Like teammate Sherron Collins, Aldrich is a preseason favorite for National Player of the Year. Twin brothers Marcus and Markieff Morris provide additional size up front for the Jayhawks. Both are athletic workhorses who contribute at both ends. The Jayhawk front court is rock solid as well.

For the Tigers, Will Coleman is the man in the middle. Coleman is uniquely explosive and powerful. Though raw, his combination of power and leaping ability make him a low post force. Coleman will team up with a slimmed down (to approximately 275 pounds) Pierre Henderson-Niles to battle the formidable Kansas frontline.

Advantage Kansas: The Aldrich/Coleman matchup is intriguing, as they play similar roles but in very different ways. Coleman relies on his timing and explosive hops to block shots and snatch rebounds, where Aldrich utilizes his size and length to bother and send back shot attempts. Aldrich is, however, a proven entity and a much more complete player. Toss in the Morris twins, and the Jayhawks clearly get the nod up front.

Overall

Pastner and his young squad face an onerous task. The Jayhawks are a legitimate national title contender. They have size, strength, athleticism, skill, and depth. They have one of the best coaches in the country., one of the best point guards in the country and one of the best big men in the country. They are truly a powerhouse.

Ultimately, the Tigers should struggle to cope with the overwhelming depth and talent of the Jayhawks. While there isn't a remarkable discrepancy between the two groups of starters, the dropoff from the first to the second unit of Memphis will be difficult to overcome. This season, they must make a habit of simply wearing their opponent down.

The Kansas Jayhawks are the Ivan Drago of the NCAA. It will take a Rocky Balboan effort for the Tigers to escape with a victory.

Regardless of outcome, it promises to be an entertaining affair.

SB Nation - Memphis Tigers

In a Perfect World (Conference Realignment)

Help save the Oakland Golden Grizzlies, pt 1

RPI WATCH: 11/23/09

Things we missed during the third week of November

The Big Blue Daily Mail -- Sam Houston State Edition

A Lesson for Kentucky Basketball

11/17 Game Links: Oh Elliot, you were so close!

Kansas survives, Elliot Williams misses for the win

Another great early season Spartans - Bulldogs game

It's a low scoring affair in D.C., Georgetown escapes with victory

Siena tops Northeastern in a nice early-season BracketBuster match-up

Louisville embarrasses Arkansas by 30

Tennessee embarrasses UNC-Asheville...by 75!

Get used to this headline: Warren leads Sooners to win

LSU survives against seasoned Western Kentucky team

Dana O'Neil: KU not invincible; UM not going away

Liveblog: Memphis Tigers at Kansas Jayhawks

NOTE: Big12Hoops will be liveblogging the Memphis/Kansas game beginning tonight at 8:30 pm CST.

Check back here at 8:30pm CST when we go live. You'll also be able to watch the game live online right her e for those not able to watch the game on ESPN. (Note: The game is also available online at ESPN360.com.

Kansas-Memphis News

Kansas Schedule

Next 5 Games

Last 5 Games

Memphis Schedule

Next 5 Games

Last 5 Games

NCAA Men's Basketball Top 25

A KenPom Preview: Memphis Tigers

Opening Thoughts

The Background

The Offense

The Defense

The Players

Closing Thoughts

Rematch: Memphis Gives No. 1 Kansas First Big Test of the Season

SB Nation - Memphis Tigers

In a Perfect World (Conference Realignment)

Help save the Oakland Golden Grizzlies, pt 1

RPI WATCH: 11/23/09

Things we missed during the third week of November

The Big Blue Daily Mail -- Sam Houston State Edition

A Lesson for Kentucky Basketball

11/17 Game Links: Oh Elliot, you were so close!

Kansas survives, Elliot Williams misses for the win

Another great early season Spartans - Bulldogs game

It's a low scoring affair in D.C., Georgetown escapes with victory

Siena tops Northeastern in a nice early-season BracketBuster match-up

Louisville embarrasses Arkansas by 30

Tennessee embarrasses UNC-Asheville...by 75!

Get used to this headline: Warren leads Sooners to win

LSU survives against seasoned Western Kentucky team

Dana O'Neil: KU not invincible; UM not going away

Liveblog: Memphis Tigers at Kansas Jayhawks

NOTE: Big12Hoops will be liveblogging the Memphis/Kansas game beginning tonight at 8:30 pm CST.

Check back here at 8:30pm CST when we go live. You'll also be able to watch the game live online right here for those not able to watch the game on ESPN. (Note: The game is also available online at ESPN360.com.

Kansas-Memphis News

Kansas Schedule

Next 5 Games

Last 5 Games

Memphis Schedule

Next 5 Games

Last 5 Games

NCAA Men's Basketball Top 25

A KenPom Preview: Memphis Tigers

Opening Thoughts

The Background

The Offense

The Defense

The Players

Closing Thoughts

Rematch: Memphis Gives No. 1 Kansas First Big Test of the Season

Check back here at 8:30pm CST when we go live. You'll also be able to watch the game live online right her e for those not able to watch the game on ESPN. (Note: The game is also available online at ESPN360.com.