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| March 2005 |
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| 03/31/05 | |
DeAngelo Williams Named to PLAYBOY All-America Team -- Memphis tailback one of 25 players to participate in Dream Team photo shoot (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, TENN. - University of Memphis senior tailback DeAngelo Williams has been selected to PLAYBOY'S 2005 College All-America Football Team, and in doing so will attend the publication's "Dream Team" photo shoot in May. Williams is the fourth U of M player honored by PLAYBOY Magazine. Kicker Ryan White was selected in 2000, while Joe Allison and Harry Schuh were chosen in 1993 and 1964, respectively. He will be one of 25 collegiate football players invited to Phoenix for the photo shoot and the full team will be released in a fall issue. This is the 49th year of the Playboy All-America tradition. Other former honorees include Dan Marino, John Elway, Troy Aikman, Barry Sanders, Michael Vick and Peyton Manning. The event will be held at the Hilton Pointe Resort at South Mountain, May 6-8. The 2005 Mutual of Omaha Blue-Gray Game will be held this Saturday, April 2, at Rhodes College. The awards ceremony will begin at 11:45 a.m., with the scrimmage to follow at noon. This is the second straight year that Rhodes has welcomed the Tigers on its campus. It is also the first year that the game will have a sponsor, as Mutual of Omaha has committed to a three-year partnership. The company will have an interactive booth and giveaways. Rhodes College is located on University St., which is off North Parkway. Fans are asked to park on University or Jackson as there is not extensive parking at the stadium. |
| 03/31/05 |  |
Track and Field Teams to Make Short Trip to Oxford for Ole Miss Invitational -- Several U of M athletes enter meet coming off strong performances last weekend (GoTigersGo.com) |
| Memphis, Tenn. - The U of M track and field teams will make the short trip south to Oxford, Miss., Saturday, April 2, to compete in the Ole Miss Invitational, hosted by the University of Mississippi. Entering the meet, several Memphis athletes are coming off incredibly strong performances at last weekend's LSU Tiger Relays. Heading up that group for the women is senior Lisa-Marie Hyman, who shattered her own school record in the triple jump with a leap of 42-00.75" (12.82m) in a victory at LSU. The mark qualified the Kingston, Jamaica, native for NCAA Regional Championships and currently ranks her first in Conference USA, second in the Mid-East Region and fourth in the nation in the event. Fellow senior Victoria Crawford was a second Lady Tiger to qualify for NCAA Regionals in the triple jump, as she finished third at the Tiger Relays with a mark of 41-00.50" (12.51m). The jump ranks her fourth in C-USA, fifth in the Mid-East Region and 12th in the nation. Sophomore Daniele Riendeau turned in a third stellar performance for the Memphis women, setting a new school record of 4:35.65 in a third-place finish in the 1500m. The time currently places her in second position among C-USA performers in the event. On the men's side, senior Janon Busby goes into Saturday's meet after a pair of third-place showings in the triple jump and high jump last weekend. The reigning C-USA indoor triple jump champion presently ranks third in the conference in both events with marks of 48-03.25" (14.71m) and 6-08.00" (2.03m), respectively. Compeition at the Ole Miss Invitational is set to begin at 10 a.m. Saturday morning with the women's hammer and javelin throws. The first running event will be the women's 5000m, which is scheduled for 12 p.m. A total of 12 teams, including C-USA foe Southern Mississippi, SEC powers, Alabama, Arkansas and Ole Miss and regional rival Arkansas State, are expected to join Memphis in the meet. Results for the Ole Miss Invitational will be available at Ole Miss' website, www.olemisssports.collegesports.com and will be posted at www.gotigersgo.com following the completion of the meet. |
| 03/31/05 | |
Tiger QB situation cloudy -- West says not much separates top three hopefuls (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Phil Stukenborg Contact March 31, 2005 After about two weeks of rain-interrupted spring practices University of Memphis football coach Tommy West isn't ready to name a starting quarterback. He admits that rising junior Patrick Byrne has done little to alter his status atop the depth chart, but that redshirt freshman Will Hudgens and freshman Billy Barefield are making progress too. ''We are nowhere near making a decision,'' he said. ''To me they are all about the same. They all do something well and they all make their mistakes. In my eyes I don't see anybody really ahead of the other right now.'' West is using the spring to begin the process of replacing Danny Wimprine, the UofM's record-setting quarterback who helped direct the Tigers to back-to-back bowls for the first time in the program's history. Byrne, Hudgens and Barefield haven't taken a snap in a college game. Byrne handled kickoff duties the past two seasons. Hudgens, the former Ridgeway High standout, spent last year rehabilitating from a torn anterior cruciate ligament. And Barefield graduated from high school in December and enrolled at the UofM in January to jump-start his college career. ''I'm OK with where they are because I believe there is progress being made,'' West said. ''The thing I'm most pleased with is mentally they have handled it pretty well. If you were coming to watch us practice for the first time you wouldn't know that there's not one out here who has taken a snap in a game. You wouldn't say, 'Boy, those quarterbacks are erratic or inconsistent.' ''They are all trying to do what we want done. They all want to please. To be honest, we are not going to put these guys in a situation where they have to win a game. That wouldn't be very smart. But they are going to have to make their plays, and they're going to have to be sound. I think they've tried to do that.'' The Tigers conduct their annual Blue-Gray Game at noon Saturday at Rhodes College. Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium is not available because its natural grass field is being replaced with artificial turf. In a 100-play scrimmage at the Liberty Bowl last Friday, Byrne, working with the No. 1 offense, overcame an interception on the opening play and had a solid afternoon. He completed 16 of his next 22 passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns. He also scored on a 9-yard run that was nullified by a penalty. ''I made a mistake early but I came back and I thought I did some pretty good things,'' Byrne said. ''Every day I think I'm getting more and more confidence under my belt. I feel as the spring goes on and as we get into the fall my understanding of what's expected is going to improve.'' Although he hasn't played quarterback in a game, Byrne has shown potential. During his first season in 2002 he was named the offensive scout team player of the year. In 2003 he was named the Blue-Gray Game MVP after tossing three touchdowns in the spring scrimmage. ''Patrick is a guy who has been running the offense for two years so he should be ahead right now,'' West said. ''But I want him to play a little bit better mentally than he's been playing. ''Will is a guy that hasn't done anything with this offense. He sat around last year and watched. And Billy, he should be getting ready for his junior-senior prom. He should still be in high school. So I think they are doing well.'' Hudgens, 6-3 and 200 pounds, passed for 1,203 yards as a senior at Ridgeway. ''I'm probably where I thought I'd be at this point ... still learning stuff,'' Hudgens said. ''I've got a lot to learn. I'm just really trying to get back in the groove of things coming off (knee) surgery and everything.'' He said offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner has been keeping on Hudgens about not favoring his left leg, which is in a brace. West has reminded him to pass like John Daly plays golf: grip it and rip it. ''I think I've moved my feet (in scrimmages) but then I'll watch myself on film and that left leg is just sitting on the ground. I'm close to 85 to 90 percent (healed). I'm not there yet but each day my knee feel better.'' Hudgens also had a solid scrimmage Friday completing 11-of-18 passes for 132 yards and a touchdown. He completed six straight passes on a late scoring drive for 62 yards. Barefield (5-10, 165) struggled in the scrimmage, completing 1-of-8 and fumbling a snap. ''I thought Friday was a setback from what I had been doing,'' Barefield said. ''Hopefully I can take two steps forward this week and get back ahead.'' Barefield accounted for 2,458 all-purpose yards and 27 touchdowns as a senior at Evangel Christian Academy in Shreveport, La., playing quarterback, running back and receiver. West said he has Byrne, Hudgens and Barefield ranked 1-2-3 based on seniority. ''Right now I don't know if they are competing as much as they are trying to learn and make themselves efficient,'' West said. ''Hopefully at the end of the spring they will have all learned and know enough so that when we come back in August they can compete. ''None of 'em are good enough to compete for a starting job. I'm trying to get 'em all in a position where they can compete for it. It would be different if one had played in a game.'' -- Phil Stukenborg: 529-2543 -------------------------------------------------------------- Blue-Gray Game What: The University of Memphis's annual spring scrimmage. When, where: Saturday, noon, at Rhodes College. Admission is free. |
| 03/31/05 | |
Defense rules Tiger scrimmage (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Phil Stukenborg Contact March 31, 2005 University of Memphis linebacker Tim Goodwell scored on a 28-yard interception return Wednesday at the Murphy Athletic Complex to pace a defense that had one of its more productive scrimmages of the spring. The Tigers went through a 74-play workout dominated by a defense that forced an interception and a fumble early before Goodwell's big play about midway through the session. ''It was the best scrimmage we've had, as a whole, on defense,'' Goodwell said. ''We're young. We're still trying to click. But today it was like everybody woke up and was ready to scrimmage. If we can keep that tempo for the remainder of the spring and the whole summer, we'll be ready for the fall.'' After the defense had three-and-out stops on the offense's first two series, defensive back Olen Whitely intercepted a deep ball from Will Hudgens intended for Antonio McCoy. Two series later, defensive end Brandon Farrar recovered a Joseph Doss fumble. After Goodwell's interception, defensive back Jake Kasser contributed a big hit, coming over from the left side of the defense to stop Mario Pratcher for no gain. Two plays later, he sacked Hudgens for a 5-yard loss. The offense scored late in the scrimmage on a 28-yard pass from freshman Billy Barefield to Pratcher, but the TD was sandwiched around a Sam Brewer sack and stellar pass breakups by Rod Smith and Josh Fletcher. Defensive end Marcus West added a sack late. ''We've got a lot to prove after last year,'' said cornerback Dustin Lopez. ''We're trying to hold up our end. We tried to bring some intensity to the field today.'' That intensity played havoc with two of the quarterback's numbers. Hudgens was 2-of-11 for 11 yards and an interception. Patrick Byrne was 4-of-11 for 45 yards and an interception. Barefield was 5-of-8 for 95 yards and the TD pass. |
| 03/31/05 | |
Jumping hurdles and oceans, athlete's voyage nears end (Daily Helmsman) |
| Tim Miller Sports Reporter March 31, 2005 Back home in Budapest, Hungary, Daniel Kiss, a hurdler on The University of Memphis track and field team, was running away from the competition. During his high school career, he racked up ten national championships in indoor and outdoor competitions combined. Kiss won the Hungarian Indoor National Championship in the 110m hurdles in 1999 and 2000. He also claimed the Outdoor National Championship in 1999 and 2000 in the same event. Kiss knew if he wanted to progress, he had to go somewhere that offered a higher level of competition. That place was half way around the world -- the U.S. "Here, anywhere I go everyone's good," Kiss said. "The hurdlers are at a higher level." So, how did Kiss land in Memphis? Gary Nemeth, a senior sprinter for the Tigers and also Hungarian, is Kiss's best friend. After receiving a scholarship to The University, Nemeth lobbied hard to bring his buddy along for the ride. "I let coach know about him," he said. "I was like his agent." It wasn't a tough sell for Nemeth. Head coach Glenn Hays wasn't about to turn down a 6'6" hurdler with such a gaudy background. "He's the second best high hurdler in school history in terms of his personal best," Hays said. Unfortunately for Kiss, he stumbled out of the blocks at Memphis. After breaking his leg last year, he was unable to compete in any outdoor events. "I got injured here immediately," Kiss said. "I wasn't able to show my ability." The stress facture that sidelined Kiss in 2004 also left him with only one year of eligibility as a Tiger. Coach Hays only wishes he had more time. "There's not much of a future here for him now," he said. That doesn't mean Hays has lost interest in his hurdler, it just makes his goals more immediate. "We're hoping he'll win the conference and qualify for the NCAA outdoor championships," Hays said. If his recent performance is any indicator, these goals are definitely within reach. He recovered from the leg injury and had a strong showing in the Conference USA Indoor Championships that were held in February in Houston. Kiss finished second to defending champion Andrew Carruthers of Houston, with a time of 7.86 seconds in the 60m hurdles final. At the LSU Tiger Relays on Saturday, Kiss participated in the men's 4x100 relay team along with Willie Green, Daniel Bandy, and Nemeth. The Tigers finished in fifth place with a time of 41.23. Although Kiss plans on going back to Hungary upon his graduation, he hasn't lost focus in Memphis. "I came here to do something special," he said. In order to do this, Kiss will be in a race against time. |
| 03/31/05 |  |
Baseball Out Dueled by Austin Peay, 9-6 -- Tigers finish five-game road trip 2-3 (GoTigersGo.com) |
| CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - MEMPHIS (8-14) 202 010 001 - 6 9 3 Austin Peay (13-10) 001 131 12X - 9 11 3 Junior Jordan Tolliver and freshman Chris Newsom each hit their first career home runs, but Austin Peay managed to plate runs in six of their eight half-innings to claim a 9-6 non-conference win over Memphis, Wednesday evening at Raymond C. Hand Park. After taking a 4-0 lead through two-and-a-half innings, the Tigers were outscored by the Govs, 9-2, over the final six innings of action. APSU remains perfect at home in seven games. For the third consecutive game Memphis got on the board first. The Tigers broke the scoring column first with a pair of runs in the opening inning. Tolliver ignited the rally with a one-out double just inside the third base bag. Ryan Martin followed with drive to left centerfield that was dropped by Will Hogue. Tolliver put Memphis on the board on a wild pitch and Adam Amar knocked Martin in on a single through the left side. Tolliver produced the Tigers' next two runs, in the third inning, on a two-run home run over the centerfield fence. The round tripper was Tolliver's first as a Tiger. Austin Peay cut the Memphis advantage to 4-1 after Will Hogue looped a double just inside the leftfield foul line to break up starter Blake Richardson's string of eight straight retired batters. Cody Youngblood then belted an RBI-double to left, driving Hogue in. The Govs closed the gap in the home half of the fourth inning as Richardson walked Brett Luther and then hit Jared Walker. DH Chris Hyde then lined a double into the rightfield corner to bring Luther in. With runners on second and third and just one out, the Governors looked as if they would produce a big inning. However, Richardson was able to fan the next three batters to put the threat to rest. Memphis won the answerback inning on the first batter of the inning, when Newsom launched a Devin Thomas offering over the rightfield wall to put the Tigers ahead 5-2. APSU plated three runs in the fifth to tie the contest at 5-5. Jake Peterson led off the frame with a double off the centerfield wall. After a one-out walk, a Tiger error allowed the Govs to score to close the Tiger lead to 5-3. An RBI-single by Walker followed by a sacrifice fly by Hyde tied the game. The Govs made it four unanswered runs, in the sixth, to claim its first lead of the contest after Tommy Smith led off the inning with a triple off the wall in centerfield and then scored on a groundball out. APSU used a pair of Memphis errors to extend its lead to 7-5 in the seventh, and plated a pair of insurance tallies in the eighth for the 9-5 final. The Tigers got a bases-loaded walk by Martin to come within three runs with two outs in the ninth. Memphis will now return home for a four-game homestand that begins with a three-game Conference USA series with the Southern Miss Golden Eagles, Apr. 1-3. First pitch for Friday's series opener is set for 6:30 p.m. at "The Nat". Listen to the live broadcast with the `Voice of Tiger Baseball', Jeff Brightwell on WUMR 91.7 FM. |
| 03/30/05 |  |
Alex Bucewicz Named C-USA Player of the Week -- Senior earns second weekly honor of the season (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Senior Alex Bucewicz (Melbourne, Australia) was named the Conference USA Men's Tennis player of the week after winning his No. 2 singles match to clinch a 4-3 victory over Georgia State on Sunday. Bucewicz clinched the Tiger victory with a thrilling third set tiebreaker, 13-11. All four Memphis points in that match were singles victories from the Tiger senior class. The Tigers are the No. 68 ranked team in the country in the latest poll released on March 29th. Memphis is 9-9 on the season and 3-1 in Conference USA play. A three-time member of the Conference USA academic honor roll, Bucewicz is one of two Tigers to have already posted 10 singles wins this season. This is Bucewicz's second weekly honor of the season and the fourth of his career. The Melbourne, Australia native is now 10-8 in singles on the season, including a 5-1 mark at No. 2 and a 5-7 mark at No. 1, and is 6-4 in his last 10 matches. Bucewicz and fellow senior Marten Tamla are 6-6 at No. 2 doubles on the season. For his career, Bucewicz is 80-39 in singles and 60-33 in doubles. He is on pace to graduate this May with a degree in Health and Human Performance. The Tigers will next return home for an Apr. 6th match against Southeast Louisiana. That match will be played at the U of M Varsity Courts located on the corner of Echles and Spottswood. Admission is free. |
| 03/30/05 | |
Riendeau Adds Name to Lady Tiger Record Book in 1500m -- Sets third U of M record of 2005 season (GoTigersGo.com) |
| Baton Rouge, La. - The Lady Tiger records keep coming for distance runner Daniele Riendeau, as the sophomore set a new University of Memphis mark in the 1500m at last weekend's LSU Tiger Relays. Riendeau's record-setting performance came in a third-place finish at the Tiger Relays, where she posted a time of 4:35.65. The mark broke Laura Brewer's school record, which had stood since 1979, by just under eight seconds. The 1500m record is the third of the 2005 seasons (indoor and outdoor) for the Ottawa, Ontario native, who previously set U of M bests in the indoor mile-run (5:01.14) and 3000m (10:12.77). Riendeau will now turn her attention toward the ultimate goals of qualifying for NCAA Regionals and winning a Conference USA championship. She currently sits just eight seconds off the 1500m Regional qualifying time of 4:27.80, and ranks second in C-USA, just tenths of a second behind Lisa Green of Tulane, who finished second at the Tiger Relays with a time of 4:35.24. The next meet for Riendeau and the rest of the U of M track and field squads will be the Ole Miss Invitational, which will be held Saturday, April 2, in Oxford, Miss. |
| 03/30/05 |  |
Breakfast raises $100,000 for U of M athletics (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Phil Stukenborg Contact March 30, 2005 Nearly $100,000 was raised for the University of Memphis Tiger Scholarship Fund Tuesday during an invitation-only breakfast at The Racquet Club for area business leaders and key supporters of the athletic department. The Tiger Scholarship Fund, formerly known as Tiger Clubs, is the fund-raising arm for athletics and helps defray the $5 million cost of providing scholarships for the school's 300-plus student-athletes. Bill Lansden, the UofM's associate athletic director for development, said about $4.4 million was raised last year by the department's fund-raising arm and the goal is to reach $5 million this fiscal year, which ends June 30. ''Schools in (Bowl Championship Series) conferences average $7.5 million annually in fund-raising,'' Lansden said. ''That's what we're compared to. We are going to get to $7.5 million but we've first got to grow annually. And our first goal is to reach $5 million this year.'' More than 100 business leaders and supporters attended the meeting presented by the university and the Tiger Scholarship Fund. Former First Tennessee chairman and CEO Ron Terry was the featured speaker. Tiger football coach Tommy West and UofM women's basketball coach Blair Savage also spoke briefly, as did athletic director R. C. Johnson before boarding a private jet for Tuesday night's Memphis-Saint Joseph's NIT game in New York. ''As state funding (for universities) has gone down, tuition costs have gone up,'' Johnson said. ''Our ultimate goal is to have the gift-giving equal the scholarship costs. It's $5 million now but it will be $6 million quickly.'' Terry, who recently became the 16th member of the Ambassador's Club (a $500,000 donation), said an investment in athletics was an investment in the university. ''I truly believe that dollars put into the athletic program leverage more dollars going into the academic programs simply because of the media exposure that athletics get that universities' academic programs can't get,'' Terry said. ''In a better world it might be more balanced but that's the world we live in.'' Football indoors The Tiger football team went through a two-hour workout indoors at the Murphy Athletic Complex's turf room Tuesday, chased inside by wet fields saturated by Sunday's heavy rains. West said he hoped to take his team outdoors today -- field conditions permitting -- to practice and conduct a scrimmage of ''about 80 or 90 plays.'' The Tigers will play their Blue-Gray Game at noon Saturday at Rhodes College. |
| 03/30/05 |  |
Rocky ride stops -- Tigers become underachievers again in loss to Saint Joseph's (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Gary Parrish Contact March 30, 2005 NEW YORK -- With less than a minute left in his college career Duane Erwin stood on the court, glanced up at the scoreboard, looked down and then up again. Up. Down. Up. Down. The University of Memphis senior's head bounced back and forth, from wood to rafter for most the final seconds. He appeared to hope the clock would stop or at least pause and offer a little more time. "Everything went through my mind," Erwin said later. "I was just wondering what more I could have done." Erwin explained he was thinking what more could he have done to win this specific game. Still, the thought translated well to the entire year. With a 70-58 loss to Saint Joseph's in the NIT semifinals Tuesday night, this wacky season the Tigers have endured came to an abrupt, if not unimpressive, end. So everybody sat around a joyless locker room inside Madison Square Garden, and asked themselves that same question Erwin presented, just in a broader sense. What more could they have done? In this game? In this season? To avoid a third NIT in five years? To make the postseason meet preseason expectations? "It was a wild year," acknowledged Memphis point guard Darius Washington, who scored 14 points against SJU. "But you know, in November and December we weren't an NCAA team or an NIT team. We were nothing. But Coach Cal got us turned around." And then here in New York they turned around again. This time, back in the wrong direction. With Jeremy Hunt sidelined because of a torn ACL, this Memphis team looked a lot like that Memphis team that started 7-7 and was routed early by Syracuse, Maryland and Pittsburgh. The Tigers (22-16) had six assists and seven turnovers. They missed 13-of-17 3-point attempts. They were out-rebounded by a 40-31 margin. It created a game in which Memphis never got closer than six points in the final 13 minutes, and was labeled "selfish" by its coach, John Calipari. Meanwhile, Saint Joseph's (24-11) moved on to Thursday's championship game against South Carolina, a 75-67 winner over Maryland in Tuesday's nightcap. "Saint Joe's did what they had to do, and we didn't," Calipari said. "They deserved to win the game." Later, Calipari stood outside near the team bus, and further addressed the situation. A brisk New York wind pounded him in the face. The symbolism was hard to miss. For the past five months Calipari has run against the wind, almost without exception. A preseason Top 25 ranking turned into a midseason disaster, into a late-season collapse, into another NIT. And though Calipari admitted the end result wasn't ideal, or even satisfactory, he seemed to have few regrets about this season as a whole, even if he has several times called it the hardest of his career. "Is this what we want? No. We want to be in the Final Four. That's why I came here," Calipari said. "But I tell you what, I'm proud of these guys. This has been a rewarding year. It's just a downer, how it finished." -- Gary Parrish: 529-2365 -------------------------------------------------------------- NIT Tuesday's semifinals Saint Joseph's 70, Memphis 58 South Carolina 75, Maryland 67 Thursday Championship: Saint Joseph's (24-11) vs. South Carolina (19-13), 6 p.m. CST; ESPN |
| 03/30/05 | |
U of M Postgame (Commercial Appeal) |
| Play of the game Every time Memphis made a run and got close in the second half, Saint Joseph's had somebody make a big shot to increase its cushion. With 1:53 left that somebody was Pat Carroll, a 6-5 wing who hit a 3-pointer from the right corner as the shot clock neared expiration. The jumper gave SJU a 66-55 advantage, and seemed to put the game out of reach for good as chants of "The Hawks will never die!" began. Stat of the game In the previous seven games, Darius Washington had averaged 5.7 assists. Against Saint Joseph's, the freshman point guard managed just one assist and three turnovers. The Tigers were 1-7 this season when Washington had one or no assists. X's and O's Without Jeremy Hunt available to help handle the ball, Washington had to stay on the court as much as possible. Here's why: The freshman took his first break with about six minutes left in the first half, which left no point guard in the game. On the Tigers' first possession without him, Abdulai Jalloh got a steal before Memphis even got into an offensive set. Quickly, John Calipari re-inserted Washington. Odds and ends After the loss, Washington stood outside the locker room and spent about 10 minutes talking with New Jersey Nets star Vince Carter. The two joked and laughed and seemed to have a good time. But apparently after that Carter was really busy. Because when a young Saint Joseph's fan hanging out near the Hawks' locker room asked politely if she could snap a quick picture with him, Carter turned, said "No," and walked away. "The young girl's response? "He is so mean." Memphis junior Rodney Carney is now 16th on the Tigers' all-time scoring list with 1,265 points, just one point behind Bobby Parks. Carney scored 607 points this season. If he were to match that number as a senior, the Indianapolis native would end his career with 1,872 points, or three more than the legendary Larry Finch tallied in his three varsity seasons. Tuesday marked the first time Washington has played in front of an unfriendly crowd since he missed 2-of-3 free throws at the end of regulation against Louisville in the title game of the Conference USA Tournament. So, predictably, he heard about it. Every time Washington went to the line, the Saint Joseph's students chanted "1-for-3!" or "Choke!" over and over again. Washington was unfazed, and made 5-of-6 in the game. Washington, by the way, is now 23-of-26 from the free-throw line since missing his final two against Louisville. That translates to 88.5 percent. Carney usually amazes crowds with some sort of dunk. On Tuesday, he instead did it with defense, though the feat still involved the junior's leaping ability. Jalloh was on his way to what appeared to be an open layup late in the first half. But Carney sprinted back, met Jallohin the air and turned him back the other way. It was a combination of athleticism and power, and easily the best block by any Tiger this season. What's next The loss means Memphis's season is over and that the Tigers finished with a 22-16 record in the final year for Duane Erwin, Arthur Barclay and Anthony Rice. The UofM's next game should be in early November, when it plans to participate in the preseason NIT. In other words, the Tigers could be back at The Garden in eight months. -- Gary Parrish |
| 03/30/05 | |
Carney says he'll be back for senior season -- Freshman Washington also plans to return to U of M next year (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Gary Parrish Contact March 30, 2005 NEW YORK -- Rodney Carney's name has been surrounded by NBA Draft rumors for months. Will he stay? Will he go? After Tuesday's season-ending loss to Saint Joseph's, the University of Memphis junior addressed the issue. "More than likely, I'll be back," Carney said. "I haven't really thought about it much. But now that I think about it, I think I'll be back." According to most draft analysts, Carney could be a late first-rounder on athleticism alone, but would more than likely slip into the second round, where guaranteed contracts are hard to come by. Thus, the 6-7 wing seems intent on returning for another year of college. Asked whether he believes he's ready to be a pro, Carney, without hesitation, answered, "No," as did freshman Darius Washington, who said, "I will be a sophomore at Memphis" when asked about his future plans. Either way, Calipari said he intends to meet with both players in the coming weeks, and talk about the possible scenarios. "If I thought either of them could go in the first round or be drafted at any significant number, I'd tell them to go," Calipari said. "But I don't see that happening. I think either one of them would be lucky second-round picks." |
| 03/30/05 | |
Tigers hold lead, beat Murray St. (Commercial Appeal) |
| By From Our Press Services March 30, 2005 The University of Memphis baseball team beat Murray State 11-8 Tuesday, but not before nearly blowing a 10-1 lead. Chris South (2-1) got the win in relief, allowing no runs on no hits, and walking two in 12/3 innings. Ryan Fly allowed no hits and walked one in the last two innings to earn the save for Memphis (8-13). Jake Ociesa (2-2), who took the loss for Murray State (13-12), was rocked for 10 runs on seven hits in 11/3 innings. |
| 03/30/05 | |
Lady Tigers Come Back to Down SIU, 4-3 -- Memphis picks up third road win of the season (GoTigersGo.com) |
| Carbondale, Ill. - The Lady Tiger tennis team (4-9) came back from dropping the doubles point with wins at 1, 2, 4 and 6 singles to upend Southern Illinois, 4-3, Tuesday. It was the third road win of the season for the Lady Tigers, while Southern Illinois suffered the loss in its home opener.
The Salukis struck first, coming back from an 8-1 loss at No. 1 doubles to win at No. 3 doubles. With all eyes on the No. 2 doubles, the Salukis held on for a 9-7 win and an early 1-0 lead in the match.
But the Lady Tigers would answer back with junior Andrea Feichtinger evening the match at one apiece with a 6-1, 6-3 win at No. 2 singles. She would be shortly followed by junior Kristin Noble, who posted a 6-2, 6-3 win, making it 2-1 Memphis. Sophomore Alex Tjioe, who booked a 6-3, 6-2 win at No. 6 singles, stretched the Memphis lead to 3-1 before Marlene Dirnstorfer wrapped up her seventh singles victory of the season, 6-3, 6-2, at No. 1.
The Lady Tigers return home for their final home match of the season, Saturday. The match will begin at 1:30 p.m. Memphis 4, Southern Illinois 3 Singles No. 1 -- Marlene Dirnstorfer (UM) def. Mario Blanco, 6-3, 6-2 No. 2 -- Andrea Feichtinger (UM) def. Amanda Taillefer, 6-1, 6-3 No. 3 -- Tana Trapani def. Brooke Cowie (UM), 4-6, 6-0, 6-3 No. 4 -- Kristin Noble (UM) def. Zoya Honormand, 6-2, 6-3 No. 5 -- Zuzana Palovic def. Christina Wieser (UM), 5-7, 7-5, 10-6 No. 6 -- Alex Tjioe (UM) def. Laura Bredniak, 6-3, 6-2 Doubles No. 1 -- Dirnstorfer/Cowie (UM) def. Blanco/Trapani, 8-1 No. 2 -- Palovic/Honarmand def. Feichtinger/Tjioe (UM), 9-7 No. 3 -- Taillefer/Bredniak def. Noble/Kathrin Kohl (UM), 8-5 |
| 03/29/05 | |
Tigers Knocked Out Of NIT By Hawks, 70-58 -- Carney scores 21 to lead Memphis as season comes to an end (GoTigersGo.com) |
| By IRA PODELL AP Sports Writer NEW YORK - Pat Carroll scored 13 of his 24 points in the second half, and Saint Joseph's won for the 21st time in 2005 by beating Memphis 70-58 in the NIT semifinals on Tuesday night. Carroll, the Atlantic 10 co-player of the year, was 6-of-9 from 3-point range - including 3-of-4 in the second half, when the Hawks pulled away behind 56.3-percent shooting. Dwayne Jones added 13 points and 14 rebounds - eight offensive - for Saint Joseph's, 21-5 since Jan. 1. The Hawks (24-11), who had to win four games just to get to Madison Square Garden, will face either Maryland or South Carolina for the tournament championship on Thursday. Memphis won three times at home but couldn't get past the Hawks, who continue to prove that they are a strong national program. Saint Joseph's reached the regional finals of the NCAA tournament last year behind the star guard tandem of Jameer Nelson and Delonte West, who now play in the NBA. Now, the Hawks are enjoying the longest postseason run in school history. John Bryant grabbed seven rebounds for Saint Joseph's and continues to give the Hawks a lift since returning from a broken arm. Rodney Carney scored 21 points, 17 in the second half, and freshman guard Darius Washington added 14 for Memphis (22-16). Washington finished 23-of-26 from the free throw line in the NIT. It was his two misses with no time remaining in the Conference USA championship game that sent Memphis to this tournament instead of the NCAA. Memphis used a 12-5 run during the first 5:30 of the second half to make it 37-35. But the Hawks responded with a 10-2 spurt to push their lead back to 10 points. The Tigers used pressure to get back into the game after trailing 32-23 at halftime. But the Hawks used great second-half shooting to secure the victory. After Washington made two free throws, Carroll responded with a 3 to make it 40-35. Dwayne Lee made a pretty pass inside to Robert Ferguson for a layup that made it 46-37. Carroll took over late with two 3s that pushed the advantage to 66-55 with 1:57 remaining. After the Saint Joseph's run, Memphis never got closer than six points the rest of the way. The Hawks' defense was the reason why. Memphis averaged 71.8 points, but was held under 60 for the seventh time this season. Saint Joseph's is 22-2 when holding opponents to 60 points or fewer, and the Tigers are 3-13 when they fail to reach 70. Saint Joseph's led at halftime for the fourth straight time in the NIT. The only tournament game the Hawks trailed at the break was the opener against Hofstra. The Hawks were behind for just 51 seconds of the first half, and have been ahead for all but 17 minutes in the NIT - nearly 12 of which came against Hofstra. Memphis looked ready to run through the NIT, winning their three preliminary games by an average of 20 points. But the Tigers' third trip to the NIT Final Four ended early. They had won nine straight in the tournament and 12 of 13, taking the title in 2002 over South Carolina. |
| 03/29/05 | |
Box Score -- Saint Joseph's 70, Memphis 58 (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS (22-16) Barclay 1-3 0-2 2, W.Williams 1-3 0-0 2, Erwin 4-11 0-0 9, Rice 1-4 1-4 4, Washington Jr. 4-16 5-6 14, Carney 9-16 2-4 21, Dorsey 2-3 2-2 6. Totals 22-56 10-18 58. SAINT JOSEPH'S (24-11) Carroll 8-13 2-2 24, Mallon 0-2 0-0 0, Jones 6-10 1-4 13, Lee 1-7 7-8 10, Stachitas 2-10 7-8 11, Bryant 1-2 1-2 3, Jalloh 0-3 4-7 4, Ferguson 2-3 0-0 5. Totals 20-50 22-31 70. Halftime-Saint Joseph's 32-23. 3-Point Goals-Memphis 4-17 (Erwin 1-1, Rice 1-4, Washington Jr. 1-5, Carney 1-7), Saint Joseph's 8-21 (Carroll 6-9, Ferguson 1-2, Lee 1-5, Jalloh 0-1, Mallon 0-1, Stachitas 0-3). Fouled Out-None. Rebounds-Memphis 31 (Carney, Erwin 6), Saint Joseph's 40 (Jones 14). Assists-Memphis 6 (Rice 2), Saint Joseph's 15 (Lee 7). Total Fouls-Memphis 19, Saint Joseph's 16. |
| 03/29/05 | |
Baseball Holds Off Murray State for 11-8 Triumph -- Tigers look for third straight at Austin Peay on Wednesday (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MURRAY, Ky. - MEMPHIS (8-13) 280 000 100 - 11 11 3 Murray State (13-12) 110 213 000 - 8 10 6 Memphis benefited from four Murray State errors to score eight runs in the second inning en route to an 11-8 win on Tuesday afternoon in non-conference action. Memphis improves to 8-13 with its second consecutive win. A two-run double by Ryan Martin gave Memphis a first-inning lead. Chad House led off the game with an infield single and stole second before moving to third on a single by Jordan Tolliver. After a Murray run in the first, Memphis took advantage of four Thoroughbred errors to break open the contests with eight runs in the second and push ahead 10-1. A House single through the right side followed walks by Alex Fennell and Chris Newsom. Fennell scored on the single, but Murray State rightfielder Lincoln Kent misplayed the ball and it rolled under his glove and to the rightfield wall. The error allowed Newsom to score from first and House to advance to third. A fielding error by shortstop Phil Lopez allowed Tolliver to reach and House to score. Kent made his second error of the inning when an Adam Amar flyball glanced off the end of his glove allowing Tolliver and Martin to score. RBI-singles by Robbie Goss and K.K. Chalmers brought Amar and Goss home, respectively. An RBI-ground out by Fennell capped the Tigers' scoring for the inning. Murray answered back with a run in the second and two more in the fourth. Dustin Hennigar's fourth-inning RBI-single to left cut the Tiger lead to 10-3. The ball rolled under House's glove and to the wall on the play, allowing Hennigar to score. The Breds plated their third unanswered run, in the fifth inning. Alex Stewart blasted a double off the top of the centerfield wall and moved to third on a groundout. He then scored when Amar mishandled a groundball off the bat of Tyler Pittman. MSU continued to chip away at the Memphis lead in the sixth after Austin Swain began the frame with a single. Tiger reliever Greg Rees then hit Lopez and DH Chaz Ebert looped a single to center to load the sacks. Seth Hudson lifted a sac fly to leftfield and Stewart drove in Lopez on a bases-loaded fielder's choice groundout to close the Memphis lead to 10-7. Ebert then scored on a wild pitch to close the gap to just two runs. Errors continued to plague the Breds in the seventh. Memphis' first two batters reached and Fennell then laid down a bunt single. However, Thoroughbred reliever West Harris' throw to first sailed wide to allow Patrick Hope to score from second. Murray committed six errors in the contest. Five Tigers posted multiple hits as Memphis scored in double digits for the fifth time this season. Martin drove in a pair of runs and House, Tolliver and Hope each scored three runs. Chris South picked up his second win of the year, while Ryan Fly closed the game with two scoreless innings to record his second save. Murray State starter Jake Ociesa took the loss after giving up 10 runs in one and one-third innings of work. Ociesa gave up just four earned runs in a hard-luck outing. The Tigers will take the diamond for the final game of this five-game road swing on Wed., Mar. 30 when they face Austin Peay. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. Listen to the live broadcast with the `Voice of Tiger Baseball', Jeff Brightwell on WUMR 91.7 FM. |
| 03/29/05 |  |
Dobson Signs with Kansas City Wizards -- Last year's team captain becomes first Tiger taken by MLS team (GoTigersGo.com) |
| KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas City Wizards General Manager Curt Johnson announced yesterday the signings of defender Daniel Dobson to the Wizards developmental roster. He joins one other signee, three Wizards draftees and two returning players on the developmental roster in advance of the 2005 MLS season opener this weekend. "With an expanded regular season and our first year of Reserve League play, the opportunities for young talented players have never been more abundant," Johnson said. "Each of these players will have the opportunity to develop under Bob Gansler and Brian Bliss. Both are fantastic teachers of the game and have helped us to develop many young players over the past five-plus seasons." Dobson was a standout defender/midfielder for the University of Memphis. The 21-year-old served as the Tigers captain his senior year and helped lead them to an impressive 16-4-1 record, capturing the Conference USA regular season and Tournament Championship and earning a berth in the NCAA tournament. As a senior, Dobson registered career highs for goals (5), assists (7) and points (17). Dobson joins three other players on the Wizards developmental roster who were acquired during the MLS SuperDraft and Supplemental draft earlier this year including forward Ryan Pore and midfielders John-Minagawa-Webster and Doug Lascody. Each MLS team is allowed ten developmental players at one time and players can be added or released from the developmental roster at any time during the season. |
| 03/29/05 | |
Familiar foe -- Tigers' Calipari has long relationship with fellow coach at Saint Joseph's (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Gary Parrish Contact March 29, 2005 NEW YORK -- It was March 26, 1996, or four days before John Calipari would coach the biggest game of his life. The rise of Massachusetts basketball had reached its apex. In 96 hours, Calipari's Minutemen would face Kentucky in the NCAA Final Four at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, N.J. There were ticket requests to be handled. Nerves had to be calmed. A game plan had to be designed. So what did Calipari do? He loaded his players on a bus and took them across the Hudson River to Madison Square Garden to watch Saint Joseph's, UMass's Atlantic 10 brethren, play in the NIT semifinals. "They were actually on their way to the Meadowlands, and he stopped and brought his team in to watch us play just to show support," said Phil Martelli, who was then in his first season as Saint Joe's coach. "I'll never forget that." Tonight at 6 (CST), the University of Memphis (22-15) and Saint Joseph's (23-11) will play in the first semifinal of the NIT. Calipari and Martelli are back at The Garden. But this time, the roles are different. Calipari is no longer the young hotshot just stopping by on his way to the Final Four. Instead, he's a participant, for the third time in five years. Likewise, Martelli is no longer the longtime assistant just trying to get a grip on being a head coach. Instead, he's a 10-year veteran dealing with the loss of two first-round NBA draft picks in the season after the best season in the history of Hawk basketball. So, no, this is not the ideal setting for either. Still, as far as the NIT goes, it's as compelling a matchup as can be desired featuring two of the true characters of this sport who attract headlines. Like last month, when Martelli was all over the news. With Martelli's Hawks playing Temple, Owls coach John Chaney inserted a player into the game with the instructions to commit hard fouls. One of those fouls resulted in a broken arm for Saint Joseph's forward John Bryant. In the ensuing public outrage, Chaney was suspended for the Atlantic 10 Tournament. Calipari, who had a famous incident with Chaney during his days at UMass, commented on the situation on ESPN. "(Because it's) fair-haired Phil in Philly and it was St. Joe's and they're losing, (Chaney's) out. That's my problem with it. I think it's hypocritical," Calipari said, comparing the situation to one he had with Chaney years ago. In that incident, Chaney tried to attack Calipari in a press conference, which resulted in nothing but a nice TV clip. In 2005, a student-athlete was hit and broke his arm, resulting in Chaney's suspension. "I called John on that," Martelli said. "It was a very sensitive thing, and unless you went through that, how could you possibly comment on the situation from afar?" So Martelli asked for an explanation. "I told Phil I meant it as a positive comment," Calipari said. "At first, Phil was like, 'Why would you say that? You and I are friends.' But I said, 'Phil, you are bigger in Philadelphia than (Eagles coach) Andy Reid. How?' "Instead of saying 'fair-haired' I could've said, 'Mr. Popular' or something," Calipari said. "But basically what I was saying was that when it happened to me the city didn't have a problem, so why do they have a problem now? ... But I don't condone (either incident)." So the storyline is set. And though it's possible the whole thing has been overblown, both coaches know it's a point of focus, and something that will be addressed again tonight once ESPN2 begins its broadcast. "It is a storyline," Martelli acknowledged. "John and I have been written and talked about enough, so the emphasis should really be on the teams. But if this brings attention to the tournament, then that's great." With that, he paused. Then Martelli, who is mostly bald, offered a more light-hearted take on the fair-haired label. "But really," he said, "I'm just ecstatic somebody would mention hair and my name in the same sentence." -- Gary Parrish: 529-2365 ----------------------------------------------------------- NIT semifinals Matchup: Tigers (22-15) vs. Saint Joseph's (23-11). When, where: Today, 6 p.m. CST, at New York's Madison Square Garden. TV, radio: ESPN2, WMC-AM (790), WKBQ-FM (93.5). Tonight's other semifinal: South Carolina (18-13) vs. Maryland (19-12), 8:30 p.m. CST; ESPN2 |
| 03/29/05 | |
Tigers vs. Saint Joseph's (Commercial Appeal) |
| 6 p.m. CST, Madison Square Garden, New York TV, radio: ESPN2, WMC-AM (790), WKBQ-FM (93.5). Records: Memphis 22-15, Saint Josephs' 23-11. Series standing: Memphis leads, 1-0. Latest line: Memphis by 21/2 . Notables This will be the Tigers' 17th game on national television this season. Ron Franklin, Bill Raferty, Fran Fraschilla and Holly Rowe will handle the ESPN2 broadcast. ... The winner of tonight's semifinal will play either Maryland or South Carolina in the championship game Thursday at 6 CST. There is no third-place game. ... People still trying to get tickets today can do so online at ticketmaster.com. According to Saint Joseph's Web site, anyone using the code "stjoes" will receive a $5 discount. ... The Tigers won the only meeting between this schools, 77-60, in the ECAC Holiday Festival on Dec. 27, 1991, at Madison Square Garden. ... Memphis is 19-14 all-time in the NIT. The Tigers have won nine straight NIT contests, dating to the 2001 third-place game against Detroit. ... Memphis is 1-2 at MSG this season, with losses to Syracuse and Pittsburgh and a victory over Saint Mary's. ... Memphis is 5-4 at MSG in the John Calipari era. . . . Memphis junior Rodney Carney is 19th on the Tigers' all-time scoring list with 1,244 points. He needs one field goal to pass Orby Arnold. With 11 points the Indianapolis native will move into 16th place, just ahead of James Bradley. ... Senior Duane Erwin needs six blocked shots to move past Kelvin Allen into seventh on the school's all-time list. Scouting the Tigers Memphis is coming off an 81-68 victory over Vanderbilt on Wednesday in the NIT quarterfinals. In that win, Rodney Carney came off the bench to score a game-high 26 points. He'll probably continue to be a reserve -- expect Waki Williams to get his first start -- even though Jeremy Hunt's season is over thanks to a torn ACL suffered in the first half against the Commodores. The injury leaves Memphis with two healthy guards: Darius Washington and Anthony Rice. Washington is the only capable point guard, so he'll probably log extensive minutes. The freshman is averaging 35 minutes per game this season. Scouting the Hawks Saint Joseph's, coached by Phil Martelli, is coming off a 58-51 victory at Texas A&M Wednesday in the NIT quarterfinals. In that win, senior wing Pat Carroll scored 22 points, 11 of which came from the free throw line. St. Joe's has won 20 of its past 25 games after starting 3-6. That rough opening included a 91-51 loss at Kansas and a loss at San Francisco. But the Hawks rebounded to win their fifth consecutive Atlantic 10 title, becoming only the second school to complete such a feat. The other was UMass, during the Calipari years. Like Memphis, Saint Joseph's lost in its league tournament final, 76-67, to George Washington. The Hawks beat GW in the regular season by 15 points. Senior forward John Bryant is averaging 2.6 points per game. But that's not why he's famous. Instead, he's known as the guy who suffered a broken arm when Temple coach John Chaney sent his "goon" in to commit fouls late this season. At the time, Bryant's career was feared over, but he should play tonight, though not at 100 percent. Key matchup: Anthony Rice vs. Pat Carroll Carroll is actually listed as the Hawks' 3-man. But Rice, Memphis's shooting guard, will probably get the assignment. After all, he is the Tigers' top perimeter defender, and the only other option is Rodney Carney, who has struggled on the defensive end lately. Carroll scored 22 points last time out and took eight 3-pointers. So Rice has to guard outside the arc and keep the Saint Joseph's senior from getting open looks. -- Gary Parrish |
| 03/29/05 | |
Tigers return to NYC for NIT semifinals (Daily Helmsman) |
| Daniel Ford contact March 29, 2005 The joke was made in the halls outside The University of Memphis basketball locker room at FedExForum. Moments after an 81-68 win over Vanderbilt in the NIT quarterfinals last Wednesday, a team manager commented about going back to New York for the NIT Final Four when a someone standing in the hall said, "You guys play there more than the (New York) Knicks." The Tigers (22-15) have indeed been frequent visitors to Madison Square Garden, making their third trip of the season and seventh in the last five years. They will make their Big Apple return against St. Joseph's (23-11) tonight. For coach John Calipari, the return trip offers a chance for redemption. In their first two trips this season the Tigers are 1-2. "As bad as we played last time it's almost like, 'let's go redeem ourselves,'" said Calipari, whose team suffered a 15-point loss to Syracuse and a 19-point loss to Pittsburgh. "People watching us will say they can't believe it's the same team." Memphis isn't playing like the confused team that fell apart in the final minutes against Syracuse or the squad that showed no semblance of rhythm against the Panthers. The Tigers are winners of six of their last seven games, their best stretch of the season. In the span Memphis' average margin of victory is nearly 18 points. "We're more of a seasoned team now. Plus our seniors are playing well," Calipari said. "When you have three seniors out there and a junior, even if you're point guard is a freshman, those other guys are veteran guys." It is yet to be seen how the team will react without junior guard Jeremy Hunt, who tore his ACL in the quarterfinal win. The Tigers were 6-1 since Hunt replaced Rodney Carney in the starting lineup. Hunt was also the only consistent ball handler other than freshman guard Darius Washington. "(His injury) affects us a lot. He was the backup point, he also started so now we're going to have to switch up some things," Carney said. "Some other players are going to have to run point like me. We're going to have to lock down and we kind of know what we have to do." Senior post Duane Erwin has been playing his best basketball in his last few games. In his final home game, Erwin pulled down 15 boards and tallied 10 points. "We're ready to go to New York," Erwin said. "I'm trying to go out the way I came in, with an NIT Championship." Memphis' run throughout the first three rounds of the NIT would've been hard to predict. After a gut-wrenching 76-75 loss to Louisville in the Conference USA Championship game that cost Memphis an NCAA bid, some wondered if the team would care enough to play well in the NIT. The spark came the day after the loss. "After Darius missed those free-throws, he came up the next day and said, 'We're going to win this NIT for you all'," Erwin said. "That touched everybody." |
| 03/29/05 | |
Keys to the Game (Daily Helmsman) |
| Ben Cowens contact March 29, 2005 Memphis Tigers (22-15) vs. St. Joseph's Hawks (23-11) NIT Semifinal at Madison Square Garden Hot Rod Rodney Carney is the Tigers' leading scorer of the season at 15.8 points per game, but his production is notoriously erratic. Carney has scored 20 or more points in 14 games this season, leading the Tigers to a 10-4 record in those games. In the 11 games he scored 10 or fewer points, Memphis compiled a 5-6 mark. His 33-point differential between highest and lowest scoring games this season is by far the highest spread on the team. With Jeremy Hunt now out with an ACL injury, Carney will have to produce big numbers offensively. Aside from Darius Washington Jr., he's the only player than can consistently penetrate the St. Joseph's exterior defense and create opportunities to score. His height and athleticism can cause the Hawks plenty of problems. But If Carney struggles offensively, Memphis won't get out of the 50s and St. Joe's will advance. Role players must roll Memphis is just 4-7 in games that Hunt has missed this season, but it has been more than two months since he last missed a game. Since that time, the Tigers are playing much better basketball, but lack of depth is now a greater issue. Since Hunt's last missed game, Memphis has lost Sean Banks and the scoring he could often provide. So who will pick up the slack? Waki Williams has scored six points or less in all but two of his 24 appearances. Joey Dorsey and Arthur Barclay rarely provide offensive punch. Almamy Thiero and Simpice Njoya almost never play. Duane Erwin has five straight double-figure games to his credit, so maybe he'll be the answer. Regardless, at least two of those six players must provide moderate output, or one of them needs to have a career day. Defend the perimeter The loss of Jeremy Hunt might hurt most on defense, where Memphis usually excels. Hunt is smart enough and quick enough to take charges and strong enough to guard more physical players. That versatility will be missed and the Tigers may struggle to guard the perimeter, where St. Joseph's has three good three-point shooters, led by Pat Carroll (44 percent). The Hawks love the three ball, hitting about 37 percent on the season, while making 7.2 per game. Without Hunt in the lineup, the Tigers forwards will have to switch and hedge effectively. If the bigger, slower Tigers have to spend too much time helping on the perimeter, which will open scoring and passing lanes. "Wild shot in the dark" prediction: The Hawks have played great defense lately, holding their last four opponents to 51 points per game. Memphis can also force opponents to toss bricks, ranking fifth in field goal percentage defense The difference will be which team can get open looks. I think Rodney Carney shows up big ... he seems to like Madison Square Garden. The Pick Memphis 68 St. Joseph's 65. |
| 03/28/05 | |
Baseball Set to Wrap Up Five-Game Road Swing with a Pair of Midweek Contests -- Tigers take on Murray State on Tuesday and Austin Peay on Wednesday (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Riding the momentum of a 15-5 victory over USF on Sunday, first-year head coach Daron Schoenrock's Memphis Tigers look to continue their winning ways with two midweek games. Memphis will face Murray State at 2 p.m. on Tues., Mar. 29, before traveling to Clarksville, Tenn. to take on Austin Peay at 6:30 p.m. on Wed., Mar 30. Memphis will make the trip to Murray State looking to avenge a 10-9 loss suffered at the hands of the Thoroughbreds on March 23rd. Memphis was unable to withstand a late rally by Murray in the second loss in a four-game losing streak. The Tigers enter the week 7-13 after winning one of three in Tampa, over the weekend, despite outscoring the Bulls 27-19 in the series. Memphis has played well as of late, hitting .306 as team over the last five games. Chad House leads the team and is ranked second among all C-USA players with a .403 batting average and a .500 on-base percentage. Ryan Martin, who smashed a grand slam in the Tigers series finale against USF, is hitting .354 and leads the squad with a .573 slugging percentage with a team-high 29 hits, six doubles and four home runs. Adam Amar is the third of five Tigers who are hitting above .300. The Memphis first baseman is hitting at a .325 clip, including hitting .385 with runners in scoring position. He leads the team with 10 two-out RBI. Murray is 13-11 after taking winning an OVC series over Southeast Missouri, two games to one. The Breds are led by Seth Hudson and Alex Stewart who are both hitting above the .300 mark. Murray is hitting .271 as a team. The Murray pitching staff has struggled, giving up 5.32 earned runs a game. Austin Peay will host the Tigers on Wednesday. The Governors are one game over .500 at 11-10, but have yet to lose a game at home this year. APSU boasts a strong presence at the plate as six regulars are hitting over .300 on the year. Shortstop Jared Walker is the run producer for the Govs, driving in a team-high 18 with four of the team's 10 triples. The Austin Peay staff is currently yielding 5.02 earned runs per game as opposing hitters are hitting .290 against them. The Tigers will begin a four-game homestand starting with a Conference USA series this weekend, Fri., Apr. 1-Sun., Apr. 3. against Southern Miss. |
| 03/28/05 | |
Women's Tennis Back on the Road, Tuesday -- Will face SIU Tuesday afternoon (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, Tenn. - It will be back on the road for the Lady Tiger tennis team (3-9, 1-3 C-USA) as Memphis travels to SIU-Carbondale, Tuesday. Memphis is looking to snap a two-match losing streak heading into the Tuesday contest, as the Lady Tigers suffered a narrow 4-3 loss at Louisiana-Lafayette in their last contest on Mar. 19th. With the 10-day break in action, the Lady Tigers are hoping to be healthy and back at full strength for the SIU match. Senior Marlene Dirnstorfer brings a three-match winning streak at No. 1 singles to the court. Dirnstorfer has won five of her last six matches after snapping a four-match losing streak that ran through early February. She is now 6-6 on the season at the No. 1 slot. Sophomore Christina Wieser has also had a lot of success in the last four matches, winning three of the last four at No. 5 singles to improve to 5-7 on the season in singles. This will be SIU-Carbondale's first home match of the season after starting the year with a 3-6 mark through the first nine matches. Two of those wins have come in the last three matches (a 5-2 win over Youngstown State and a 6-1 win at Evansville). The Salukis are a very familiar foe to the Lady Tigers as they participate in Memphis' fall tournament. Memphis will return home for a match against Troy State, Friday, followed by a Saturday match against UALR. The UALR match will be the final home match for senior Marlene Dirnstorfer. |
| 03/28/05 | |
Tiger Notes (tennis, track, baseball) (Commercial Appeal) |
| By From Our Press Services March 28, 2005 Tiger tennis triumphs: Alex Bucewicz defeated Martin Stiegwart, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (11) in the deciding match as the University of Memphis men's team improved to 9-9 on the season with a 4-3 win over Georgia State. Triple jumpers qualify: Memphis athletes Lisa Marie-Hyman and Victoria Crawford finished first and third respectively at the LSU Tiger relays in Baton Rouge, La., and each reached NCAA Regional qualifying marks with their performances. Hyman's winning jump was 42-03/4 feet while Crawford finished with a mark of 41-0. The men's and women's teams will be back in action Saturday as they travel to Oxford, Miss., for the Ole Miss Dual Meet Day. In baseball Memphis 15, South Florida 5 at Tampa, Fla.: Ryan Martin and Adam Amar each hit home runs to lead Memphis. The win gives the Tigers a 7-13 record and a 2-4 C-USA mark. The Bulls fall to 17-13 and 5-1. The win ends Memphis's four-game losing streak. The Tigers broke the game open with a seven-run fifth inning, highlighted by Martin's grand slam. Amar followed with a solo blast. Martin finished with six RBI. |
| 03/27/05 | |
Lady Tiger Triple Jumpers Have Big Day in Outdoor Debuts -- Hyman finishes first with Crawford placing third; Both hit Regional qualifying marks (GoTigersGo.com) |
| Baton Rouge, La. - It was a big day for University of Memphis women's triple jumpers at the LSU Tiger Relays as Lisa-Marie Hyman took a victory and Victoria Crawford placed third, with each reaching NCAA Regional qualifying marks in her outdoor debut. Hyman, who sat out the first outdoor meet due to a slight shin injury, made a powerful return, taking the triple jump title and qualifying for NCAA Regionals with her leap of 42-00.75" (12.82m). Crawford, also competing in her first meet after finishing the women's basketball season, claimed her third-place finish and Regional spot with a jump of 41-00.50" (12.51m). In addition to her tally in the triple jump, the senior claimed seventh place in the high jump with a mark of 5-04.25" (1.63m). Hyman, a three-time Conference USA triple jump champion, and Crawford, a four-event scorer at the 2004 C-USA Outdoor Championships, are expected to be the two most prolific performers for the Memphis women for the outdoor season. Beyond Hyman and Crawford, several other Lady Tigers had quality showings at the Tiger Relays. Daniele Riendeau placed third in the 1500m with a personal-best time of 4:35.65. Mary Claire Dake and Nora Nemere placed third and fifth, respectively, in the 3000m steeplechase with times of 11:44.24 and 12:17.39. Chen Edri logged a pair of seventh-place tallies with a leap of 5-04.25" (1.63m) in the high jump and a toss of 133-04" (40.63m) in the javelin. Josetta Brooks placed eighth in the 400m hurdles with a time of 1:05.73 and Annette Uzoh finished ninth in the shot put with a heave of 41-07.25" (12.68m). For the Tigers, Janon Busby was the top performer at the meet. The senior placed third in both the high jump and triple jump with leaps of 6-06.75" (2.00m) and 48-03.25" (14.71m), respectively. The men's 4x100m relay team, composed of Willie Green, Daniel Bandy, Daniel Kiss and Gary Nemeth, recorded a fifth-place finish with a time 41.23. Brandon Winbush and Norbert Gulyas recorded two additional top-seven performances for the U of M men. Winbush placed sixth in the triple jump with a leap of 46-10.75" (14.21m), while Gulyas finished seventh in the discus with a toss of 154-04". The LSU Tiger Relays were hosted by Louisiana State University at Bernie Moore Stadium on the LSU campus in Baton Rouge. The Memphis track and field squads will be back in action next Saturday, April 2, as they travel to Oxford, Miss., for the Ole Miss Dual Meet Day. |
| 03/27/05 | |
Tiger Seniors Backstop Men's Tennis to 4-3 Victory -- Alex Bucewicz wins third set tiebreaker, 13-11 (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The No. 66 University of Memphis men's tennis team (9-9, 1-3 C-USA) came back from dropping the doubles point to down Georgia State (11-5) in non-conference action Sunday. The Tigers, who had dropped the No. 1 and 2 doubles matches, got singles victories from four members of the senior class to pick up their fourth straight victory.
Senior Alex Bucewicz clinched the victory with a 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (13-11) victory at No. 2 singles to decide the match. Bucewicz fought off three match points to pick up the deciding match.
"Alex played some great tennis today," Head Coach Paul Goebel said. "That was one of the most amazing tiebreakers I have ever seen, it was great college tennis. Georgia State has a great team and we did not play our best tennis, so we were lucky to get out of here with a win."
The Tigers will host Southeast Louisiana, Wednesday, beginning at 2 p.m. at the University of Memphis varsity courts on the corners of Echles and Spottswood Avenues on campus. No. 66 Memphis 4, Georgia State 3 Singles No. 1 -- Jamie Rodrigues (GSU)def. James Spence (UM), 7-5, 7-5 No. 2 -- Alex Bucewicz (UM) def. Martin Stiegwardt, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (13-11) No. 3 -- Marten Tamla (UM) def. Clarence Boyd, 6-2, 6-4 No. 4 -- Anze Cevka def. Alex Jago (UM), 6-4, 6-3 No. 5 -- Mark Finnegan (UM) def. Matic Sulin, 6-2, 6-2 No. 6 -- Scott Felsenthal (UM) def. Frank Suro, 6-3, 6-2 Doubles No. 1 -- Boyd/Cevka def. Felsenthal/Spence (UM), 8-4 No. 2 -- Suro/Stiegwardt def. Bucewicz/Tamla (UM), 8-6 No. 3 -- dnf |
| 03/27/05 | |
Baseball Races to 15-5 Win Over USF in Series Finale -- Ryan Martin and Adam Amar hit back-to-back homers (GoTigersGo.com) |
| TAMPA, Fla. - MEMPHIS (7-13; 2-4 C-USA) 134 070 0 - 15 17 1 USF (17-13; 5-1 C-USA) 001 040 0 - 5 9 4 The Tigers got a grand slam and back-to-back home runs as part of a seven-run, nine-hit fifth inning, to salvage a win 15-5 win in the Conference USA series finale against USF Sunday afternoon. Ryan Martin hit the Tigers first grand slam since since Josh Payne hit a grand slam in a 15-3 route of Wake Forest in 2004. Amar followed with a solo homer to left to complete Memphis' first back-to-back homers of the season and first since Brent Dlugach and Martin accomplished the feat at USF in 2003. Memphis snaps a four-game losing streak with the win, while USF suffers its first league loss of the season. Martin's grand slam and Amar's solo homer highlighted a seven-run fifth inning for the Tigers. Martin followed singles by Newsom, House and Tolliver with his team-leading fourth home run of the year. Amar's home run was his third of the year. The Tigers tied a school record with12 at-bats in the inning, and came just one hit shy of the record of 10 hits in an inning. Memphis ripped six hits in the inning before recording an out. House and Newsom each posted two hits in the inning. The Tigers never trailed in the contest as they jumped ahead with a score in the first half-inning of play for the second time in the series. Chad House led the game off with a single for the second consecutive contest. He drew a balk from USF starter Ty Pryor to move to second. Adam Amar then broke the scoreless tie with an RBI-single up the middle. Memphis extended the lead to 4-0 in the second after Patrick Hope singled, and K.K. Chalmers recorded his fifth straight single. Following a four-pitch walk by Chris Newsom, House knocked a sac fly to center to score Hope. An RBI-single by Tolliver brought Chalmers home to put Memphis ahead 3-0. The Tigers plated their third run of the inning on a sac fly off the bat of DH Ryan Martin. The Tiger refused to let up and took an 8-0 lead in an action-packed, four-run third. Cory Barton led off the frame with a double to left that looked like an ordinary pop up. However, USF leftfielder Tim Orlosky was unable to locate the ball as it fell at the base of the wall. Barton advanced to third on a wild pitch before Hope and Chalmers drew walks to load the sacks. An RBI-groundout by Newsom scored Hope and chased Bulls hurler, Pryor from the ballgame. House then chopped a fielder's choice groundball to first, but USF first baseman Matt McHargue opted to try to throw Hope out at the plate. The throw got away from the USF catcher as Hope slid home. Chalmers was able to score from second as the ball scooted to the backstop. Martin followed with a single up the middle to plate House. USF found its way to the scoring column via a solo home run over the left field wall by Ty Taborelli. A three-run shot over the leftfield wall by Brian Baisley capped a four-run inning and cut the Tiger lead to 15-5 in the home half of the fifth. Martin paced the 17-hit attack with a 2-for-5 day and six RBI. House added three hits, three runs and a pair of RBI. Five other Tigers finished the contest with multiple hits. Memphis starter Daniel de Armas improved to 2-0 in four and two-thirds innings. He allowed just two earned runs. Chris Davis and Chris South held the Bulls scoreless in a combined two and one-thirds innings. Pryor (2-2) took the loss for USF. Memphis will remain on the road for its next contest, as they will travel to Murray, Ky. to face the Murray State Thoroughbreds on Tues., Mar. 29. Game time is set for 2 p.m. Murray claimed a 10-9 win over the Tigers at Nat Buring Stadium on Mar. 23. Listen to the game's live broadcast with the `Voice of Tiger Baseball', Jeff Brightwell calling play-by-play action on WUMR 91.7 FM. |
| 03/27/05 | |
U of M prospects boosted by NIT -- Deep tourney run may indicate bright future (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Gary Parrish Contact March 27, 2005 You go to NIT.org. You find History. You find Postseason. And there it is, that one sentence that makes everything seem better. In the past, there have been several teams that have had a (semifinal) finish in the NIT in one year and then followed it up the following year with a Final Four finish in the NCAA. Underneath that, there's a list of such schools. It's 13 names long. So all things considered, is it possible this is a good sign for the University of Memphis, despite the overall disappointment of a third NIT semifinal in five years? "I think so," said point guard Darius Washington. "I think we're becoming a better team, and I think it's going to help us for next year." The Tigers (22-15) play Saint Joseph's (23-11) on Tuesday at 6 p.m. CST inside New York's Madison Square Garden. That'll be one NIT semifinal. The other, between Maryland and South Carolina, will follow. Then the winners of the two games meet Thursday for the championship. And though it will be a nice achievement -- here's the bad, realistic news -- it actually could mean nothing in relation to next year, despite what the NIT Web site infers. Granted, that statistic about the 13 schools offers hope, but the truth is that no team has completed the NIT-semifinal-one-year, NCAA-Final Four-the-next package since Louisville in 1985 and 1986. That's two decades ago. And when you consider that last year's NIT finalists were Michigan and Rutgers -- two teams that combined to go 23-37 this season -- optimism wanes. Is a deep NIT run a precursor to NCAA success? Or is it just a nice epilogue to an otherwise underachieving season? "It depends," answered UofM coach John Calipari. "If you have all seniors, then it probably doesn't mean much because those guys won't be back. But if you have a young team, then yeah, I think it helps get you ready for next year." Memphis falls somewhere in the middle. The Tigers will lose three starters -- Anthony Rice, Duane Erwin and Arthur Barclay -- and possibly a fourth if junior Rodney Carney opts to turn pro. That's not a good sign. Still, the Tigers' best player will be back in Washington, as will Joey Dorsey, Waki Williams, and Jeremy Hunt, though it's doubtful the latter's torn ACL will be healed in time for the opening of practice in October. Add to that nucleus a consensus Top 10 recruiting class, and even if signee Shawne Williams doesn't enroll (again, the NBA) Memphis should be the most-talented team in the new, less-daunting Conference USA. That is a good sign. So like most things, this NIT run is either the end of something OK or the beginning of something great, depending on how a Tiger fan chooses to look at it. Either way, the success of the past couple of weeks is, if nothing else, instilling a winning attitude. That's something nobody debates, especially not Phil Martelli, because he's seen it work before. "We were in the NIT finals my first year (in 1996) and we started three seniors," said the Saint Joseph's coach. "So the next year, we came back and people thought, 'Ah that was great. But what are we going to do now?' Then we ended up in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament that year. "So the NIT is an opportunity for your program to exhibit the beliefs that you're trying to build," Martelli concluded. "All the teams that get to New York are showing that competition is the most important thing. So whatever label you want to put on it -- NCAA or NIT -- this is still about competition. And I do believe that winning begets winning. So I believe that playing and winning at this time of the year gives you a jump start on the following year, and that this can be a basis for you to build on." -- Gary Parrish: 529-2365 -------------------- NIT semifinals Matchup: Memphis (22-15) vs. Saint Joseph's (23-11). When, where: Tuesday, 6 p.m. CST, at New York's Madison Square Garden. TV: ESPN2. U of M pep rally The University of Memphis Alumni Association has scheduled a pep rally for Tuesday at 5 p.m. (EST) at Intercontinental The Barclay New York (111 East 48th Street). It will include light snacks, beverages and a cash bar. Tiger spirit squads and pep band will be in attendance. |
| 03/27/05 | |
Tigers' Avery starts to show leadership qualities -- West encouraged by receiver's work ethic (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Phil Stukenborg Contact March 27, 2005 He says he'll continue to make his trademark bead necklaces for teammates. And he'll keep flashing that ever-present, easy going smile. But University of Memphis receiver Maurice Avery realizes -- as he enters his senior season -- that he'll have to make some changes as the veteran of the team's receiving corps. There is a responsibility that comes with experience. Gone are Tavares Gideon, Darron White, Tavarious Davis and Chris Kelley, a foursome who combined for 117 catches, 1,524 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2004. Back is Avery, the team's second-leading receiver last season with 36 catches for 422 yards and a touchdown. A second-team all-Conference USA receiver as a sophomore, Avery has 85 receptions for 1,164 yards and nine TDs the past two seasons. He's spent this spring sharpening not only his route-running and blocking skills, but honing his leadership qualities. Avery, along with senior Mario Pratcher and junior Ryan Scott, are the only returning receivers who caught passes last season. They are being counted on to assist in the development of a young, talented group of newcomers, led by Antonio McCoy, Carlton Robinzine and Earnest Williams. ''It's different because I've got to be more serious and take things from a senior (perspective),'' said Avery, recruited out of Atlanta to play quarterback. ''I'm cutting out all the joking on the sidelines and in practice. I've got to lead by my actions.'' It is that quality that has been apparent during the team's rain-plagued spring practice that runs through April 9. After Saturday's brief workout at the Murphy Athletic Complex -- which followed a 100-play scrimmage Friday -- Tiger coach Tommy West admitted he's been encouraged by what he's seen, too. ''I think Maurice has played the best, practiced the best and been the most consistent he's been since the (knee) injury at Louisville (in November 2003),'' West said. ''He was playing really well (in 2003). And this is the best I've seen him play since then. ''I told players in the (team) meeting (Saturday) that Mo is becoming a guy I can tell the young guys, 'Hey, practice like that guy.' He's becoming a leader for us.'' In Friday's scrimmage at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Avery caught six passes for 93 yards and a touchdown. He also gained some hard-earned yards after the catch. ''I'm seeing a more business-like approach from Maurice Avery,'' said receivers coach Clay Helton. ''It's his last year. He's really developing into a wideout and not just a quarterback who plays wideout. That's been nice to see.'' Helton said Avery has been outstanding in the spring as a blocker. He said Avery realizes the better his blocking skills, the more successful the Tigers will be running the football. And the stronger the Tiger running game, the better Avery's opportunities on deep routes. ''From a blocking standpoint, I think he's been as good as he's ever been this camp,'' Helton said. ''And he's also doing things in the passing game as far as being a polished route runner instead of being someone who just gets open based on pure physical strength and great hands.'' Avery also has made strides coming back to passes ''rather than being stationary and letting somebody jump over his back,'' Helton said. ''He realizes that if he keeps that separation he can make the catch easier and get some yards after the catch.'' But it's Avery's leadership skills that are catching the attention of Helton. ''He kind of looks around and sees he is the old guy now,'' Helton said. ''He is the leader. What I've been proud of is him showing everybody how to be a wide receiver -- the toughness in the running game by blocking and making plays when his number is called. ''That's the role he's taken on and the other guys are following it. He's brought a 'Shut up and work' attitude to this camp along with Pratcher and Slim (Scott).'' Pratcher said it's imperative that he, Scott and Avery ''be great leaders on and off the field.'' ''This is our chance to be leaders,'' said Pratcher, the former Trezevant High standout who had 15 catches last season. Scott, who had two TD catches last season, said the first-year receivers ''look up to us because we've been there before.'' And no one has been there more than Avery, whose only touchdown catch last year came in the GMAC Bowl loss to Bowling Green. ''I knew this year was coming, so last year I had my fun,'' Avery said. ''We've got a great bunch of (young) wideouts. "They're fast, talented and they can catch. I'm trying to get them grown up.'' -- Phil Stukenborg: 529-2543 |
| 03/27/05 | |
Tiger Notes (baseball, golf) (Commercial Appeal) |
| By From Our Press Services March 27, 2005 Tigers drop another 1-run decision to South Florida TAMPA, Fla.-- Memphis outhit South Florida 16-10, but could never make up for a three-run first-inning deficit, as USF outlasted the Tigers, 8-7, on Saturday in the second game of a three-game Conference USA series. The loss was Memphis's fourth straight and the team's third one-run loss in a row. Memphis (6-13, 1-4 C-USA) lost on Friday night, 6-5. Memphis starter Stephen Gostkowski struggled to find the strike zone early in the first inning, putting Tim Orlosky and Bryan Hierlmeier on with walks. Both runners would come around on a two-run double by Jeff Baisley to give USF (17-12, 5-0) a 2-0 lead. The Bulls scored the third run after Brian Baisley drew a walk and stole second. Jeff Baisley scored on Tiger catcher Cory Barton's throw to second. Memphis was held scoreless until the fourth when Patrick Hope hit an RBI triple over centerfielder Ty Taborelli's head. The Tigers tied the contest on an RBI single to center by K.K. Chalmers and a run-scoring double by freshman Chris Newsom. A two-run blast by Matt McHargue reclaimed the lead for USF in the fourth. IN GOLF Memphis's Tate takes 15th: Memphis sophomore Stacey Tate closed out the final round of the Baylor-Tapatio Springs Shootout in Boerne, Texas, with a 6-over-par 78 to finish tied for 15th. The Lady Tigers (323-326-334-983) ended the tourney tied for 15th among the field of 18 teams. Baylor shot a final-round 311 to hold off Michigan and earn a seven-stroke win.Baylor's Josefin Svenningsson earned medalist honors after carding a final-round seven-over 79 for a 221 total. |
| 03/27/05 | |
Tigers' fortunes at FedExForum mixed, but most agree move was right (Commercial Appeal) |
| By David Williams Contact March 27, 2005 From high in FedExForum, the University of Memphis basketball game played out in miniature, the players like shuffling pieces in a board game. Charles Burgess, 47, who like so many fans dates his love of Memphis basketball to Larry Finch, watched and let his mind wander to other Tiger teams and other Tiger dens, to The Pyramid and Mid-South Coliseum. "The Coliseum, you remember that?" said Burgess, who like so many Memphis fans holds that the Roundhouse, with its matchless atmosphere, its capacity for 11,200 fans and countless dramas, was the Tigers' dream home. "Oh, yeah. Definitely." Such are the memories Tiger fans hoard with each change of address. Such is the baggage they tote into each new home. "I can deal with the change," Burgess said, "but it's good to reminisce." He paused now and considered FedExForum -- a luxurious gym built for the NBA, a tricked-out palace of glass, stone, bells and whistles where the Grizzlies are landlord, the Tigers are tenant, and the question remains: Did the university make the right move, leaving The Pyramid? "Probably within five years," Burgess finally decided, "it'll feel like the Tigers' home." Home-court advantage? If a college basketball arena is about winning games and influencing fans, FedExForum hasn't quite delivered overnight. But Anthony Rice, who's ending his career as the Tigers' all-time leading 3-point shooter, sat at his locker after the NIT rout of Northeastern and sounded confident that FedExForum will come to be an advantageous home court. "I think it will be, in the long run," he said, "even though we didn't have an awesome season playing in this building." The Tigers lost seven games this season in their new digs. They lost a combined four home games in their final three seasons at The Pyramid, going undefeated there last season. Overall in 13 seasons, they won 80.4 percent of the time. In their last 21 seasons at the Coliseum, the Tigers won 86 percent of the time at home, including a two-season unbeaten spree in the mid-1980s. But what Rice said with a shooter's cool confidence, coach John Calipari said moments later with his trademark rapid-fire surety. "Everybody thinks, 'Well, the building ... ' Nah," said Calipari, whose team lost three home games in December alone. "This is going to be fine. We've got as nice of facilities here as anybody in the country." He said his Tigers were "rocked" by a tough early schedule, and if they'd played as well then as they've played of late, "we don't lose to any of those people." As the Tigers struggled on the court, so they did at the turnstiles. By falling a few hundred short of averaging 10,000, the U of M won't receive the full $800,000 payment from the Grizzlies that's called for in their contract. Instead, athletic director R.C. Johnson said he expects to receive about $700,000. "Part of the problem obviously is that we had a difficult season this year," said Mike Rose, a prominent Tiger donor, "and we didn't get the kind of crowds that we would have maybe hoped to get. "But when we did get the crowds, I couldn't tell the difference between the enthusiasm and the involvement of the fans being in The Pyramid or being in the Coliseum, even." Rose had favored the move to FedExForum, and helped the Tigers negotiate a lease through two-plus years of sometimes-contentious talks with the Grizzlies. Another prominent donor, Ben Bryant, hadn't been so sure. "I'll have to say, at first I had mixed emotions. I was one of those who felt it might be best for the university to stand on its own two feet at The Pyramid." One season in, "I guess I'm a convert now. I think the Forum is best for the city and the university." By staying put, the Tigers would have had The Pyramid to themselves. Outside, there might have been the giant image of a Tiger set against the shimmering stainless steel. Inside, there need not have been any sign that -- oh, by the way -- an NBA team moved to Memphis four years ago. "I think for a year or two it might have been all right," said Johnson, who added, "If I had it to do all over again, I would make the same decision." One reason to move was the U of M's concern that with The Pyramid as a secondary arena, the city and county wouldn't be inclined to update and improve it. There were other factors: FedExForum held the promise of increased fan comfort and the proximity to Beale Street. It also gives Calipari an impressive stage from which to make his recruiting pitches. Grumbles to grins? If you're a major donor or a modest one, you have Bill Lansden's ear. He's the U of M's associate athletic director of development, and so he hears things, good and bad. "It runs the gamut," he said. "Everybody likes FedExForum. It's beautiful. It's got all the great amenities. But some fans don't feel like it's the home of the Tigers, and that's understandable." Mike Golub, Grizzlies executive vice president of business operations, said, "We don't underestimate the emotion of going to a venue that is run by the Grizzlies. "But this is one of finest buildings in the country, and we hope that their fans share the opinion that truly their administration and coaches have, which is that it's the right thing for the program." Some fans also don't like that their season tickets, good for lower-bowl seats at The Pyramid, are in the upper deck of FedExForum. Some fans don't like the parking logistics. "This year, we had a lot of complaints, I'm not going to lie to you," Lansden said. "Having said that, next year's going to be a lot better, and the year after that's going to be better. "That is our home and people are going to come to appreciate it." Lansden's theory is that with time the new becomes familiar, comfortable, sometimes even beloved. Then there's another theory, held by former star point guard Elliot Perry. He likes FedExForum and said it's where the university belongs. But in the end, Perry doesn't care whether the Tigers are holding court in their new house, the Roundhouse, the Pointed House or the middle of Beale Street. "All I care about," he said, "is winning." -- David Williams: 529-2310 -------------------------------------------------- STATE OF THE MARRIAGE: It took the University of Memphis more than two years of negotiations to strike a deal with the Grizzlies to play in FedExForum. Here's a two-part look at the marriage after one season: Peaceful coexistence? Publicly, at least, the sides appear to be working well together. Tigers coach John Calipari praised the Grizzlies for their scheduling flexibility during the NIT. "I think what's newsworthy is that there's been very little news about the relationship," said Mike Golub, Grizzlies executive vice president of business operations. "We're working together really well." Finances: The agreement calls for the Tigers to receive an $800,000 annual payment from the Grizzlies -- if the U of M averages a turnstile count of 10,000. Because they averaged only 9,587, the university expects to receive about $700,000. To boost attendance next season, said athletic director R.C. Johnson, the school is studying ways to lure more students to games. And for the upper-level fans, he said, a price reduction is a possibility. |
| 03/26/05 |  |
Tate Finishes Tied for 15th at Baylor Shootout -- Lady Tigers take 15th place (GoTigersGo.com) |
| BOERNE, Texas - Despite cold and rainy weather, University of Memphis women's golf sophomore Stacey Tate closed out the final round of the Baylor-Tapatio Springs Shootout with a 6-over-par 78 to finish tied for 15th individually.
Play was delayed for an hour and a half Saturday due to rain as the temperature dropped into the 50s after two opening rounds played in sunny weather that topped 80 degrees. The Lady Tigers (323-326-334--983) ended the tournament tied for 15th among the field of 18 teams.
After setting a round low in the second round of the tournament on Friday by carding an 80, sophomore Ashley Burross tied her career tournament low with an 85-80-86--251. This tournament marked the first of the season for Burross. Forced to withdraw in the second round, sophomore Meghan Mahoney made a return individually in the third round shooting an 85.
Baylor shot a final-round 311 Saturday to hold off Michigan and earn a seven-stroke win. Finishing behind Baylor (295-291-311--897) and Michigan (301-300-303--904) in the team standings was SMU (314-296-314--924), 27 strokes back after shooting a final-round 314 Saturday. Oklahoma finished fourth at 931 and Texas Tech was fifth at 938. Rounding out the top 10 were Florida International and UTEP (sixth place tie - 958), Wisconsin (eighth place - 962) and Arkansas-Little Rock, Eastern Michigan and Toledo (ninth place tie - 965).
Baylor's Josefin Svenningsson earned individual medalist honors after carding a final-round seven-over 79 and finishing the tournament at five-over 221. She became the first Bear to win the individual title at the Baylor Shootout, and was one of three Baylor golfers to finish among the top five in the field of 98. Laura Cross of SMU finished as runner up to Svenningsson, carding a five-over 77 Saturday and finishing at seven-over 223. Baylor freshman Sian Reddick finished third at eight-over 224 after shooting a five-over 77 in the final round.
The field of 18 teams included five schools ranked among the nation's Top 50 according to Golfstat.com (No. 24 Michigan, No. 29 SMU, No. 38 Baylor, No. 42 Oklahoma and No. 50 Texas Tech).
The Lady Tigers will next compete in their final tournament before hosting the Conference USA Championship on April 18-20. Memphis will travel to Hattiesburg, Miss., to take part in the Golden Eagle Invitational hosted by Southern Miss on April 4-5. Par: 72 Yardage: 6007 Fin. School Scores 1 Baylor University 295 291 311 897 +33 2 Michigan, U. of 301 300 303 904 +40 3 SMU 314 296 314 924 +60 4 Oklahoma, U. of 306 311 314 931 +67 5 Texas Tech Univ 316 312 310 938 +74 6 Fla. International 321 307 330 958 +94 Texas El Paso, U. of 315 323 320 958 +94 8 Wisconsin, U. of 329 310 323 962 +98 9 Arkansas-Little Rock 322 317 326 965 +101 Eastern Michigan 322 320 323 965 +101 Toledo, U. of 327 315 323 965 +101 12 Texas-Pan American 329 315 323 967 +103 13 Xavier University 326 319 325 970 +106 14 TX A&M CorpusChristi 335 322 322 979 +115 15 Memphis, Univ. of 323 326 334 983 +119 16 Sam Houston St. U. 330 325 333 988 +124 17 Arkansas State Univ. 349 333 331 1013 +149 18 McLennan CC 351 332 347 1030 +166 15 Memphis, Univ. of 323 326 334 983 T 15 Stacey Tate 78 75 78 231 T 65 Ashley Burross 85 80 86 251 T 71 Cameron Barber 82 85 86 253 T 76 Bernie Rosero 84 86 85 255 WD Meghan Mahoney 79 WD 85 |
| 03/26/05 | |
Baseball Drops Third Straight One-Run Game in 8-7 Loss to USF -- Tigers-Bulls series finale moved up to 11 a.m. EST (GoTigersGo.com) |
| TAMPA, Fla. - MEMPHIS (6-13; 1-4 C-USA) 000 302 200 - 7 16 2 USF (17-12; 5-0 C-USA) 300 203 00X - 8 10 2 Memphis outhit USF 16-10, but could never make up for a three-run first-inning deficit, as USF outlasted the Tigers 8-7 in game two of the three-game C-USA series. The loss was Memphis' fourth straight and the team's third one-run loss in a row. USF (17-12) remains undefeated in conference play, at 5-0. Junior starter Stephen Gostkowski struggled to find the zone early in the first inning, putting Tim Orlosky and Bryan Hierlmeier on with walks. Both runners would come around on a two-run double down the rightfield line by Jeff Baisley to give USF a 2-0 lead. The Bulls plated the third run of the inning after Brian Baisley drew a walk and stole second. Jeff Baisley scored on Tiger catcher Cory Barton's throw to second. Memphis was held scoreless until the fourth inning, when Patrick Hope knocked an RBI-triple over Bulls centerfielder Ty Taborelli's head. The Tigers tied the contest on an RBI-single to center by K.K. Chalmers and a run-scoring double that fell on the leftfield baseline off the bat of true freshman Chris Newsom. The RBI-double was the first hit of Newsom's career. A two-run blast over the scoreboard in rightfield by first baseman Matt McHargue reclaimed the lead for USF in the fourth. Newsom again came through for the Tigers in a clutch situation to pull Memphis with one run at 5-4 in the sixth inning. Chalmers reached on a bunt single, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by USF catcher Brian Baisley. Newsom then shot a single off the leg of Bulls third baseman Jeff Baisley to score Chalmers. The Tigers tied the contest for the second time as Newsom scored on a looping single to right field by Chad House. USF's Dexter Butler lined a double to the leftfield corner to lead off the home half of the sixth to ignite a three-run rally. Orlosky then lined a double to the right field corner to give the Bulls a 6-5 lead. Jeff Baisley shot an RBI-single to right field to bring Orlosky home, and a sacrifice fly by Brian Baisley extended the USF lead to 8-5. The Tigers fought to keep the game close with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh. Adam Amar roped a double to the right centerfield gap. He moved to third when Robbie Goss reached on a fielding error by USF shortstop Jeremy Brand. Barton's single plated Amar to cut the deficit to 8-6. Goss crossed on a single up the middle by Chalmers. Chalmers finished the day with the first three-hit game of his career. USF threatened to take a two-run lead in the eighth after Taborelli advanced to third on a pair of Tiger throwing errors. Jeff Baisley ripped a shot that looked as if it would get over the head of Chalmers, but the freshman was able to haul in the out on a diving catch at the wall. Memphis, who scored six of its seven runs with two outs, was led by Chalmers four-hit day, while House, Jordan Tolliver, Amar, Goss and Newsom each had two hits. Chalmers and Newsom also posted a pair of RBI each. Gostkowski suffered his fourth straight loss, giving up eight runs, all of which were earned, in five and one-third innings of work. Reliever Drew Jaudon was effective for Memphis, shutting the Bulls out in two-and-two-thirds innings. The winning pitcher was USF reliever Chase Lirette. Lirette gave up four runs on six hits in two innings in relief of starter Daniel Thomas. Tim Mattison earned his second save in as many outings after keeping the Tigers off the board in the ninth. Memphis and USF will play the series finale on Sun., Mar. 27 with the first pitch set for 11 a.m. local time due to weather uncertainties. Listen to the game's live broadcast with the `Voice of Tiger Baseball', Jeff Brightwell calling play-by-play action on WUMR 91.7 FM. |
| 03/26/05 | |
Mistakes put damper on Tiger session -- Errors aside, West pleased with team (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Phil Stukenborg Contact March 26, 2005 The University of Memphis football team hadn't practiced since Sunday, victimized by heavy rains early in the week that saturated the team's practice fields at the Murphy Athletic Complex. So Friday the Tigers boarded buses and made the short trip down Southern Avenue to Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, getting in a 100-plus play scrimmage on a picture-perfect afternoon: clear skies, no wind and temperatures in the upper 70s. And, except for several penalties -- on both sides of the ball -- that would have been costly in a game situation, Tiger coach Tommy West deemed it a productive session. ''There were way too many plays where we beat ourselves,'' West said. ''We probably had three, four or five different plays where we beat ourselves. That was a disappointing part of the scrimmage. ''But for the second scrimmage (following an 81-play workout Sunday), I felt like the competition level was pretty good. Our intensity has to get a little better, but for the most part it was pretty good.'' West got a solid efforts from his top two quarterbacks -- junior Patrick Byrne and freshman Will Hudgens. Byrne, working with the No. 1 offense, was 16-of-23 for 134 yards and two touchdowns. Hudgens, a former standout at Ridgeway High, was 11-of-18 for 132 yards and a late-scrimmage TD. On the late scoring march, Hudgens completed 6-of-7 passes for 62 of the drive's 64 yards. Among the errors that frustrated West were several personal foul penalties, including one assessed by West after Byrne carried nine yards for a TD. After the play, receiver Taz Knockum engaged in a shoving match with defensive back Javar Pollard, and West nullified the score. Byrne, who has not taken a snap at quarterback during his first two seasons, didn't let the penalty affect him. He recovered by completing three straight passes, the final one going 4 yards to tight end Brett Russell for a toucdown. ''Other than the plays that beat ourselves, I was really pleased,'' West said. Maurice Avery, who will be a senior, led the receivers with six catches for 93 yards, a total that included several punishing yards after the catch and a 34-yard touchdown. Trezevant High's Mario Pratcher added 67 yards on five receptions -- including a 40-yard pickup on an over-the-shoulder grab near the sidelines. Ryan Scott had seven catches for 52 yards and a TD. Defensively, the scrimmage started with an interception by defensive lineman Rubio Phillips, who tipped a Byrne pass near the line of scrimmage and caught it. The pick would have resulted in a 40-yard touchdown return had the officials allowed play to continue. Freshman linebacker TiQuintin Morrell added a fumble recovery on quarterback Billy Barefield's botched snap. Linebackers Tim Goodwell, Carlton Baker and Heath Grant had tackles for lost yardage. ''It's kind of difficult to have a rhythm on offense (early in the spring),'' defensive coordinator Joe Lee Dunn said. ''It's a lot easier to play defense. ''Our guys they made some tackles they hadn't been making, but I'm still not pleased with the blitz. We can't get off of anybody. We're going to have to get off blocks if we're going to be worth a flip. This was the first time we had blitzed (in spring scrimmages) ... we've got to get better, I know that.'' Dunn said there is competition at some linebacker and secondary spots, but he said the defensive line is relatively set with Marcus West and Phillips at the end positions and newcomer Ryan Williams at noseguard. Williams is a redshirt freshman from Christian Brothers High. ''Ryan Williams has played really good,'' Dunn said. ''He gives us some things that we haven't had in the three years I've been here. If he can lose a little weight, I think he'll be quicker and can run better. ''He gives us some movement in there. I think he can get down the line and make a play outside. Where we might have had one play a game there (in the past), he's worth five or six plays. If teams don't double-team him, I think he's going to get in the backfield and make the play.'' With such a young team, West said he hopes to continue scrimmage work throughout next week leading into next Saturday's Blue-Gray Game at Rhodes College. Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium will not be available as crews will begin work on installing an artificial grass playing surface Monday. -- Phil Stukenborg: 529-2543 |
| 03/26/05 | |
Tiger Notes (baseball, golf, basketball) (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Our Press Services March 26, 2005 Late HR lifts S. Florida past Tigers -- Memphis can't hold early lead at Tampa TAMPA, Fla. -- Tim Orlosky belted an eighth-inning pinch-hit home run over the right-centerfield wall to propel South Florida to a 6-5 victory over Memphis Friday in the first game of a three-game Conference USA baseball series. Memphis wasted little time getting its bats going as eight Tigers went to the plate in the first inning. Junior Jordan Tolliver and senior DH Ryan Martin hit consecutive singles, and Adam Amar drew a walk to load the bases. Robbie Goss put Memphis on the board with a two-run single. Cory Barton knocked Amar in on a single to put the U of M ahead, 3-0. Junior reliever Tim Senter (0-3) took his third straight loss on the mound. IN GOLF Baylor-Tapatio Springs Shootout at Boerne, Texas: Shooting a 3-over-par 75 in the second round, Memphis sophomore Stacey Tate jumped into the top 14 individually.Although Tate (78-75-153) moved up eight spots from 22nd place in the first round, the Lady Tigers fell four spots in the second day of the three-day tourney, dropping from 10th to 14th. Baylor shot a 3-over-par 291 and extended its lead to 15 strokes over second-place Michigan. In developments Razorback suspended: John Jackson, a safety for the football Razorbacks, has been suspended from the team for the second time in a year for violating team rules, a University of Arkansas spokesman said. Kevin Trainor, assistant athletic director at Arkansas, declined to say what rule was broken by Jackson, 21. Georgia pleads case: University of Georgia officials pleaded their case to an appeals committee Friday, asking the five-member panel to lighten sanctions imposed last fall against its men's basketball program. The NCAA ordered four years' probation and the loss of three scholarships in August after accusations of academic fraud, unethical conduct and providing improper benefits to student-athletes during former coach Jim Harrick Sr.'s tenure. UMass hires Ford: Travis Ford was hired as the basketball coach at Massachusetts after guiding Eastern Kentucky to a 22-9 record this season and giving Kentucky a scare in the first round of the NCAA tournament. University of Memphis assistant Tony Barbee was a candidate for the job once held by UofM head coach John Calipari. |
| 03/25/05 | |
Baseball Falls to USF, 6-5 -- Tigers lose on USF's eighth-inning home run (GoTigersGo.com) |
| TAMPA, Fla. - MEMPHIS (6-12; 1-3 C-USA) 300 010 010 - 5 7 3 USF (16-12; 4-0 C-USA) 000 220 11X - 6 10 1 Tim Orlosky belted an eighth-inning pinch-hit home run over the right centerfield wall to propel USF to a 6-5 win over Memphis in game one of the three-game Conference USA series. Memphis wasted little time getting the bats going, as eight Tigers went to the plate in the top of the first inning. Junior Jordan Tolliver and senior DH Ryan Martin posted consecutive singles, and Adam Amar drew a walk to load the bases. Robbie Goss put Memphis on the board with a two-run single. Cory Barton knocked Amar in on a single to put the U of M ahead, 3-0. The three-run cushion would hold until Bulls second baseman Dexter Butler ripped a two-run single up the middle to cut the lead to 3-2. Memphis got one run back in the fifth. Chad House led off the frame with a single, stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball, before Martin looped a single into right centerfield to bring him in. USF battled to tie the contest with a pair of runs in the home half of the fifth inning. Kris Howell singled to lead off the frame and Jeff Baisley reached on a catcher's interference. Brain Baisley and Jeremy Brand posted back-to-back RBI singles to knot the game at 4-4. USF claimed its first lead of the contest in the seventh after Jeff Baisley led off the inning with a single to right. A Memphis throwing error on the play allowed him to advance to third before his twin brother Brian drove him in with a single through the right side. The Tigers tied the game in the top of the eighth on an RBI-single off the bat of Barton. Barton and Martin led the Tigers seven-hit night with two hits apiece. Junior reliever Tim Senter (0-3) took his third straight loss on the mound after giving up a pair of runs on three hits in two innings of relief. Tiger starter Neil Schenk was solid, scattering seven hits and giving up four runs in six innings. USF's preseason All C-USA pitcher Casey Hudspeth picked up a hard-earned win, allowing five runs on seven hits in eight innings of work. Tim Mattison came in and worked a scoreless ninth for his fourth save of the year. The Tigers and Bulls will take to the diamond for game two on Sat., Mar. 26. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. EST. Listen to the live broadcast with the `Voice of Tiger Baseball', Jeff Brightwell on WUMR 91.7 FM. |
| 03/25/05 | |
Tate Climbs Eight Spots in Second Round at Baylor Tournament -- Lady Tigers finish day in 14th place (GoTigersGo.com) |
| BOERNE, Texas - Shooting a 3-over-par 75 in the second round of the Baylor-Tapatio Springs Shootout on Friday, University of Memphis sophomore Stacey Tate jumped into the top 14 individually.
Although Tate (78-75--153) moved up eight in the standings from 22nd place in the first round, the Lady Tigers fell four spots in the second day of the three-day tournament, dropping from 10 to14. Memphis (323-326--649) lost one of its top performers in the round when sophomore Meghan Mahoney was forced to withdraw due to injury. Mahoney shot a 7-over 79 on Thursday. It is the third tournament she has withdrawn from this season.
In her first tournament of the season, sophomore Ashley Burross shaved five strokes off her first round total, placing her in second on the Memphis team and tied for 55th place individually. Burross shot a 8-over 80 on Friday with a two-round total of 161. The 80 round is the lowest of her career in eight tournaments. Burross came into the tournament averaging an 88.4.
Baylor was led by junior Josefin Svenningsson, who turned in a tournament-best two-under 70 Friday and leads the individual field of 98 by three strokes with a two-round two-under 142. SMU sophomore Laura Cross matched Svenningsson's two-under 70 in the second round and stands tied for third at two-over 144 with Baylor junior Meredith Jones (73-73--146). Oklahoma freshman Heather Wright is second at one-over 145.
Baylor shot a team three-over-par 291 Friday and extended its lead to 15 strokes over second-place Michigan. Trailing Baylor (295-291--586) and Michigan (301-300--601) in the team standings is SMU (314-296--610), 24 strokes back after shooting a second-round 296 Friday. Oklahoma stands fourth at 617 and Florida International and Texas Tech are tied in fifth place at 628. Rounding out the top 10 are UTEP (seventh place - 638), Arkansas-Little Rock and Wisconsin (eighth place tie - 639) and Eastern Michigan and Toledo (10th place tie - 642).
The field of 18 teams includes five schools ranked among the nation's Top 50 according to Golfstat.com (No. 24 Michigan, No. 29 SMU, No. 38 Baylor, No. 42 Oklahoma and No. 50 Texas Tech).
The 2005 Baylor-Tapatio Springs Shootout concludes with a third and final round of 18 holes Saturday beginning at 7:30 a.m. CST at Tapatio Springs Golf Resort, a 6,007-yard, par 72 course located 20 miles northwest of San Antonio. Par: 72 Yardage: 6007 Fin. School Scores 1 Baylor University 295 291 586 +10 2 Michigan, U. of 301 300 601 +25 3 SMU 314 296 610 +34 4 Oklahoma, U. of 306 311 617 +41 5 Fla. International 321 307 628 +52 Texas Tech Univ 316 312 628 +52 7 Texas El Paso, U. of 315 323 638 +62 8 Arkansas-Little Rock 322 317 639 +63 Wisconsin, U. of 329 310 639 +63 10 Toledo, U. of 327 315 642 +66 Eastern Michigan 322 320 642 +66 12 Texas-Pan American 329 315 644 +68 13 Xavier University 326 319 645 +69 14 Memphis, Univ. of 323 326 649 +73 15 Sam Houston St. U. 330 325 655 +79 16 TX A&M CorpusChristi 335 322 657 +81 17 Arkansas State Univ. 349 333 682 +106 18 McLennan CC 351 332 683 +107 14 Memphis, Univ. of 323 326 649 T14 Stacey Tate 78 75 153 T55 Ashley Burross 85 80 165 T62 Cameron Barber 82 85 167 T76 Bernie Rosero 84 86 170 WD Meghan Mahoney 79 WD |
| 03/25/05 | |
Pep Rally Scheduled for New York and NIT -- Tigers to face St. Joseph's at 6 p.m. (ET) (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The University of Memphis Alumni Association has scheduled a pep rally for Tuesday, Mar. 29th at 5:00 p.m. (ET) for the Tiger basketball team's appearance in the NIT semifinals. The pep rally will be held at the Intercontinental The Barclay New York (111 East 48th Street). It will feature light snacks and beverages and a cash bar. All Tiger fans are invited to stop by the pep rally and pick up a free pom pom prior to the Tigers' game against St. Joseph's. The Tiger spirit squads and pep band will be in attendance, as will Dr. Shirley Raines. The NIT semifinal game will tip at 7 p.m. (ET). |
| 03/25/05 | |
Tiger Notes (baseball, football, track) (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Phil Stukenborg Contact March 25, 2005 Schoenrock's Tigers try to end recent bad run -- S. Florida righthander will be tough to defeat The University of Memphis baseball team, which has lost two straight and eight of 10, opens a three-game Conference USA series tonight at South Florida. It won't necessarily afford Tiger first-year coach Daron Schoenrock a chance to end his team's skid. USF is tied for first in the C-USA standings and coming off an impressive sweep of Charlotte last weekend in a conference series at Charlotte, N.C. And the Bulls are expected to start one of the league's top pitchers in tonight's series opener. Sophomore righthander Casey Hudspeth, who has four wins, leads C-USA in strikeouts (48) and innings pitched (431/3 ) and is ranked in the top 10 in earned run average (3.12) and opponents' batting average (.225). Memphis (6-11 overall, 1-2 in C-USA) is struggling at the plate in several league categories. The Tigers have a conference-low six home runs and are ranked 11th in the 12-team league in slugging percentage (.375). A change in policy The deadline has passed for Tiger football season ticket holders sitting between the 20-yard lines on the west, or press box, side of Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium to join the Tiger Scholarship Fund (formerly Tiger Clubs) at the minimum donation level. A letter sent by the Tiger Scholarship Fund staff to football season ticket holders in February said it was necessary to have non-Tiger Scholarship Fund season ticket holders join "in an attempt to increase our annual giving donations and help offset the rising costs of scholarships." The cost of a full athletic scholarship to the UofM is between $8,000 and $16,000 annually. Those with season tickets between the 20-yard lines were allowed to join at the minimum donation level of $100 if they contacted the TSF office by March 15. New season ticket holders will be required to join the TSF at a designated giving level. As an example, a new donor requesting season tickets near the 40-yard line would be required to join at between $1,000 and $10,000. Since only 19 percent of the 60,000 seats at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadum (those between the 20s on the west side) have been designated as requiring a donation, those who don't wish to join will have a variety of seat options. Track shuffle The men's and women's track teams will participate in the LSU Tiger Relays today and Saturday at Baton Rouge, La., but will be without two of their premier athletes. Throwers J.D. Erickson and Gail Lee have elected to redshirt the outdoor season. Each will compete in selected meets as unattached entrants, but they will not travel with the team to those meets and their results will not contribute to the UofM's score. Although the women lost Lee -- the C-USA Indoor shot put champ -- they gained senior triple jumper Lisa-Marie Hyman. She missed last week's opening outdoor meet at Rhodes College with a shin injury, but the three-time C-USA triple-jump champion could factor into the UofM's scoring this weekend. Odds and ends The Tiger football team, which has had to cancel scheduled spring workouts this week because of wet field conditions, is slated to resume workouts today at the Murphy Athletic Complex. ... The Highland Hundred Tiger football booster club will sponsor the 7th Highland Hundred/Les Phillips Memorial Golf Tournament April 8 at Memphis National. For more information, visit the group's Web site (www.highlandhundred .com). ... The Tiger men's tennis team, which begins a five-match homestand Sunday against Georgia State, is ranked 66th in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association Rankings. |
| 03/25/05 | |
Torn ACL finishes season for Hunt -- Injury will require six months for recovery (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Gary Parrish Contact March 25, 2005 An MRI performed Thursday confirmed University of Memphis junior Jeremy Hunt tore his ACL against Vanderbilt. His season is over. "It's very disappointing," Hunt said after Wednesday's game against the Commodores, an 81-68 victory that advanced the Tigers to the semifinals of the NIT. "Seems like every time I get it going and get my legs back I get injured again." This injury is the latest in a string of setbacks Hunt has faced since enrolling at Memphis. The Craigmont High standout has, at different times, had a broken bone in his foot, a foot infection, a torn ACL, a broken bone in his wrist and now another torn ACL. Surgery will be scheduled after the Tigers return from next week's trip to New York. It will be Hunt's sixth operation in his three-year career. Assuming it takes the junior the customary six months to recover, Hunt should be cleared in time for the start of his senior season. Still, he'll miss all of this summer's workouts, and likely open practice at less than 100 percent. "I'm stunned," said Memphis coach John Calipari. "I don't know what to say." On a more urgent note, Hunt's injury leaves the Tigers (22-15) with two guards and just one capable point guard (Darius Washington) heading into Tuesday's NIT semifinal against St. Joseph's (23-11). That game is scheduled to tip at 6 p.m. CST inside Madison Square Garden. It will be televised by ESPN2. -- Gary Parrish: 529-2365 ------------------------------------------------------------ Tigers in NIT semifinals Matchup: Memphis (22-15) vs. Saint Joseph's (23-11). When, where: Tuesday, 6 p.m. CST, at New York's Madison Square Garden. TV: ESPN2. |
| 03/25/05 | |
Tiger FB Douglas opens some eyes -- NFL scouts leave Pro Day impressed (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Phil Stukenborg Contact March 25, 2005 Defensive tackle Albert Means had been invited to the NFL Scouting Combine in February, getting the opportunity to make an impression before NFL teams. Quarterback Danny Wimprine had made an impression of his own during a record-setting career, one that saw him lead the University of Memphis to back-to-back bowl games for the first time in the school's history. So Thursday's NFL Pro Day at the UofM was a chance for unheralded Tiger fullback Robert Douglas to bust through his relative anonymity. Douglas, to borrow a football phrase, didn't drop the ball. Making, perhaps, the strongest impression before a dozen NFL scouts assembled for workouts held at the Murphy Athletic Complex turf room, Douglas likely moved from being a free-agent signee next month to a late-round pick in the April 23-24 NFL Draft. Douglas, 6-3 and 232 pounds, had a remarkable afternoon. He ran a 4.63 40-yard dash, only .02 off the best by a fullback at the NFL Scouting Combine. His broad jump of 10 feet, 41/2 inches was nearly a foot farther than the top fullback distance at the combine. And his vertical leap of 39 inches was six inches higher than the best leap at the combine and nearly nine inches higher than the average for fullbacks participating in the combine. He also turned in significantly better times than combine fullbacks in on-field agility drills. "I had the (fullback) numbers (from the combine) as soon as they came out," Douglas said. "I had to have the numbers. I had 'em sitting next to my bed ... every event for every fullback at the combine. "When I woke up and when I went to sleep the numbers were right there. I scoped them out this morning, too. I looked at them, put them down, then I threw them away and went out and did what I had to do." Douglas, who switched to fullback early in his junior season, rushed for 62 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries last fall. He also had seven catches for 113 yards and two TDs. His strength was as a blocker, clearing numerous paths to the end zone for all-America running back DeAngelo Williams. Those attributes had scouts considering Douglas as a free-agent signee, but Thursday may have altered that projection. Douglas stood out among the nearly 40 players who participated. "You want to (have a workout) like a Robert Douglas," said Tennessee Titans scout Blake Beddingfield. "You saw him on film, you saw him play and then he comes out here and does a really good job today." Douglas, a former linebacker, caught passes from Wimprine in a workout before scouts after the pro day drills. "He's in great shape. He did all the athletic things (vertical jump, broad jump, 40-yard dash) really well," Beddingfield said. "He's a kid that probably helped himself today. "I think most of (the NFL scouts) walked away impressed with him. We feel a little better about him than we did in the fall." Wimprine didn't hurt his stock, either. And nothing may have been more encouraging to him than being measured at an even 6-0. A year ago, he had been measured at slightly less than 6-0. "That was exciting," Wimprine said. "It's like (selling) something for $4 or $3.99. It just sounds better. "If I'm (listed at) 5-11 and three-quarters instead of 6-foot, do I really think that makes much of a difference? Not really. But in the eyes of those seeing that 6-feet on the board, I think it does." Wimprine's best numbers came in the vertical leap and 40-yard dash. His leap of 34 inches was 21/2 inches higher than the average for combine quarterbacks. His 40 time of 4.72 was about a tenth of a second faster. "I walk away feeling I did pretty well and, if I did anything, I helped myself," Wimprine said. Means improved his 40 time (lowering it from 5.48 to 5.24 seconds) and his broad jump (increasing it from 8.6 to 8.8 feet). "I don't think there's any question that all three of those guys helped themselves today," said Tiger coach Tommy West, who observed the workouts. "I know all three had worked extremely hard coming into (Pro Day)." -- Phil Stukenborg: 529-2543 |
| 03/25/05 | |
Tigers perform for NFL scouts (Daily Helmsman) |
| Matthew Laurie Staff Reporter March 25, 2005 It's the sweatiest and sometimes fastest job interview in sports. Sixteen University of Memphis football players ran, jumped, sprinted, twisted, cut, caught, threw and stretched for a host of NFL scouts from at least 10 different franchises. Not all will be drafted on April 23, the first day of the draft and first three rounds, or even on the 24th, when the draft concludes with rounds four through seven. Players ran a gamut of drills displaying their athletic ability, which started with the 40-yard dash, then on to the vertical leap, broad jump, three cone drill, short ladder and long ladder. The day concluded with position drills, all with the purpose of impressing at least one scout. "It's hard to have pressure doing athletic stuff," said fullback Robert Douglas desperately trying to catch his breath. "Especially going into a classroom for a test, but coming out here and doing something I've been doing since I was 10 -- it's kind of different to just get pressure." However Douglas may be the first to tell you, without the excitement of pro day his numbers may not have been as impressive. "The numbers I put up before (with the team) probably weren't adrenaline based," he said. While times and measurements weren't readily available, Douglas had some impressive unofficial results. He jumped 10-foot-4 1?2 inches in the broad, timed a 4.63 40-yard dash and shot up 39 inches in the vertical leap, all with quarterback Danny Wimprine supporting him with cheers of "C'mon Robo." "If you want something bad enough, something inside of you got to come out and you just got to perform when it's time to perform," said Douglas. The only part of Douglas' workout that didn't go beyond what was planned was his bench press of 19 repetitions of 225 pounds. Any NFL team that drafts Douglas will get a versatile player, ready to do what it takes. When asked what impression he would like to leave with scouts, Douglas said what teams want to hear. He said he hoped a scout left saying "He's a hard worker, does what he's supposed to do, I want him on my team." Douglas' agent Brian Parker said these workouts don't count as much as some may believe. "I would say game tape and how you played on the field is 90 percent of it," said Parker. "They certainly want to test your athletic ability in these drills, but it's mainly how you perform on the field." Douglas spent 2 1?2 years as LB for the Tigers tallying 37 unassisted tackles, 16 assisted, a fumble recovery, two sacks and five tackles for loss. In 2003 he switched to fullback and finished his career with 65 yards and two touchdowns, with 62 of the yards coming as a senior. Danny Wimprine, another of Parker's clients -- along with Albert Means -- finished his Tigers career with 10,215 yards passing, 81 touchdowns, 49 interceptions and 55 percent completion percentage. Means, a transfer from Alabama, was a run stopper in college who could get penetration. Anchoring the defensive line for the Tigers, Means had career statistics of seven sacks, 141 tackles and 14 tackles for loss. Wimprine missed a few passes in his throwing exhibition but looked good. "I just want to make a team, make a squad and do what I can do best," said Wimprine. "Right now I'm just trying to get in the door." Wimprine scored unofficial measurements of a 9-foot broad jump and a 34-inch vertical leap. His 40-yard dash time was unavailable. Means had an 8-foot-8-inch broad jump, 271?2-inch vertical leap and a little over five seconds in his 40-yard dash. Parker said in the case of Wimprine, numbers don't tell the story. "He possesses characteristics you really can't teach, leadership ability, he's a proven winner on the field and I think his play speaks for itself," he said. "The draft is such an inexact science and with free agency going on right now I don't even know if the teams know who they're going to draft yet, so it's really hard to pinpoint who has the most to lose or gain." Jason Johnson did not participate in drills due to a left hamstring injury. Tigers at the NFL pro day workout LaKendus Cole - RB Isaac Daniel - TE Tavarious Davis - WR Robert Douglas - FB Cameron Essex - DB Gene Frederic - C/DS Tavares Gideon - WR Kenyun Glover - OG Jason Johnson - OT Lionel Pieh - DB David McNair - DE Albert Means - DT Tristan Thomas - DB Von Webb - WR Daron White - WR Danny Wimprine - QB |
| 03/25/05 | |
Is Calipari worth the money? (Daily Helmsman) |
| Tim Miller Commentary March 25, 2005 John Calipari. The name alone piques most people's interest around the city, especially die-hard Tigers fans. Everyone's got an opinion on the high-profile U of M men's basketball coach. But ultimately, it always seems to come down to one question: Is he worth the money? One thing is for sure. Coach Cal is not hurting for the bucks. Although Calipari only received a base salary of $146,082 from the University for the 2004-2005 fiscal year, he actually makes closer to $1.5 million when you factor in booster and corporate contributions and a clothing allowance. So how does this figure compare to other coaches around the country? Well, let's say that Calipari is currently netting more than Bruce Weber, the coach of the No. 1 team in the land, the University of Illinois. We'll leave it at that. Now comes the debate. Is Calipari deserving of this much cash? Let's take a look at the situation from a business standpoint first. The U of M was on ESPN a whopping 16 times this regular season. Beginning with a Nov. 18 match up with St. Mary's at basketball Mecca, Madison Square Garden, and ending with the season finale against Cincinnati at home at FedExForum, the Tigers have been on national TV almost as much as the "Newlyweds" has been on MTV. The national exposure peaked when the GameDay crew rolled into the Bluff City for the Tigers' Saturday night showdown with Louisville. Let's be honest. Coach Cal is a great businessman. Since his arrival, attendance is up and boosters are pumping money into the Tiger basketball machine more than ever. In fact, the basketball team generated $6.6 million in 2003 and was the only athletic team at The University that didn't lose money. The program's facilities are first-class now, with the building of the Finch Center and FedExForum. With all that said, there should be no argument as to whether or not Calipari is worth the money. But, as ESPN's Lee Corso would say, "Not so fast my friend." Since Calipari is the head basketball coach, let's turn our attention to winning basketball games. Of the 16 times the Tigers appeared on ESPN this season, they lost nine of them, including embarrassing blowouts at the hands of Syracuse, Pittsburgh, Maryland, and Providence. Don't forget the home losses to Louisiana Tech and TCU. The U of M only managed two wins against ranked teams. As a result, the Tigers missed the NCAA Tournament with a disappointing record of 19-15 record and landed instead in the NIT, or as some call it, the Not Invited Tournament. In his five seasons at the University, Calipari has managed only two NCAA Tournament appearances and only one win. Conference USA is not the ACC. It's not the Big East either. Yet, the Tigers have not won a single outright conference championship or a conference tournament championship during Calipari's reign. In fact, this year was the first time under Calipari that the team has even made the conference tournament finals. You can argue that a coach who is one of the top 20 highest paid coaches in college basketball should also have a team that is consistently ranked in the top 20. This hasn't happened here. Which brings us back to our original question. Is Calipari worth the money? Well, that depends. If you value exposure on a national level, you bet he is. If you value winning on a national level, you bet he isn't. |
| 03/25/05 | |
University official to look into chronic problem (Daily Helmsman) |
| Lydia Belew Contributing Writer March 25, 2005 As the hype surrounding Memphis' regular season home game with Louisville reached a fevered pitch, U of M Junior J.P. Catalano prepared to settle into his student section seat. Five minutes before the game began, an usher told him he would have to move. That's because his seat was given to a booster. "I was irate because I stood in line at 7 in the morning for those tickets and was told I had to sit in the highest section," says Catalano, "I was disgusted at the fact I pay tuition and attend the school and can't sit with my fellow students and show spirit." Reserved basketball tickets for University of Memphis students are not always used as student tickets. In fact, some students are being turned away from those "reserved" tickets so boosters can sit in the student section. At the National Invitation Tournament against Vanderbilt, Catalano received one of the reserved tickets bought by Coach Calipari and family. When he arrived 15 minutes late to the game, he was told his seats had been given away. "I can't believe this," says Catalano. Aren't student sections meant for students?" When told the situation, Associate Director of Athletic Business and Finance Bill Loften said that the FedEx employees were wrong in making the students move. "The seats should be reserved for the students even if they don't arrive until the last second of the game," Loften said. Loften says that he will follow up on this situation at the end of season wrap up meeting with the Forum. Other students have noticed this problem but are more understanding of why the boosters would be allowed to sit where they want. "I understand the boosters are important, and we wouldn't be able to have such a nice campus if not for their contributions," says recent transfer student Anthony DiGiosaffatte." We have to take care of them so they will donate money." Senior pre-med student Andres Diaz says that it is wrong for the students to be asked to leave the student section. "The whole point to being a fanatic is showing spirit with your classmates not without them," says Diaz. FedExForum did not return phone calls made to find out why the seats were being given away to boosters. Bill Loften seems to be the answer in solving this problem for The University of Memphis. |
| 03/24/05 | |
Memphis defeats Vandy 81-68 (Daily Helmsman) |
| Daniel Ford contact March 24, 2005 Duane Erwin kept to himself before the game. Quiet, focused and intent, Erwin unleashed himself once the game began and had one of his most memorable performances in the senior's final home game. Erwin turned in a gritty 10 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Tigers over Vanderbilt 81-68 in the quarterfinals of the NIT Wednesday night before a crowd of 9,770 inside FedExForum. So what was bouncing off the walls in Erwin's head before tipoff? "Dominate," he said. "I was going to go after every rebound. "I was going to put my body on the line and out-jump them and that's what I did for most of the night." With the win, Memphis heads to New York for its third NIT Final Four in the last five years. The Tigers will meet St. Joseph's next Tuesday at Madison Square Garden. The Hawks beat the Aggies 58-51, Wednesday night. Memphis forward Rodney Carney led all scorers with 26 points. Darius Washington totaled 23 points and seven assists. The Tigers have won six of their last seven games. Memphis frustrated the Commodores on the defensive end, creating 12 turnovers and coming up with defensive stops at crucial points. Vanderbilt shot 39 percent for the game and just 32 percent form beyond the arc. Memphis was 24 of 49 from the field and 5 of 12 from three-point range. The celebration in the Tigers' locker room was tempered after the team learned the extent of guard Jeremy Hunt's knee. Hunt's left knee appeared to buckle after he landed awkwardly under the basket. Hunt tried to play with the injury, but pulled up just moments after returning to the game. Hunt is awaiting an MRI, but coach John Calipari said a team doctor had all but confirmed a tear in the guard's left knee. "We think it's an ACL," Calipari said. "This kid has really done some things and now he's out again." Memphis is 6-1 since Hunt replaced Carney in the starting lineup before the start of the Conference USA Tournament. Vanderbilt was led by Shan Foster's 25 points. Memphis took advantage of the physical style of the Commodores by driving to the basket and drawing fouls. The Tigers made 28 of 33 free throws. Vanderbilt got to the line just 14 times, converting on nine attempts. |
| 03/24/05 | |
Lady Tigers in 10th Place after First Day of Baylor Tournament -- Tate and Mahoney end day in top 30 (GoTigersGo.com) |
| BOERNE, Texas - Scoring an opening round 323 (+35) on Thursday, the University of Memphis women's golf team is in 10th place at the fifth annual Baylor-Tapatio Springs Shootout.
The Lady Tigers were led by sophomores Stacey Tate and Meghan Mahoney who both finished in the top 30 individually. Tate shot a 6-over-par 78 in the first round of the three-day tournament after scoring a 36 in the front nine. She finished tied for 22nd while Mahoney ended the day in a tie for 27th with a seven-over-par 79.
Sophomore Ashley Burross made her first tournament appearance of the 2004-05 season. The Scottsdale, Arizona native is tied for 70th place with a 85 (13-over). Burross appeared in seven tournaments last year, averaging an 88.4 round average.
Other Lady Tigers to compete were sophomore Cameron Barber who shot an 82 (10-over) and junior Bernie Rosero who scored a 84 (12-over).
Host Baylor shot a seven-over-par 295 Thursday and holds a six-stroke lead over Michigan after the first round. Michigan freshman Isabelle Grendreau shot a 36-35 Thursday to lead the field of 98 with a one-under 71 through the first round.
Trailing Baylor and Michigan (301) in the team standings is Oklahoma, 11 strokes back after carding a first-round 306. SMU stands fourth with a 314, and UTEP is in fifth at 315. Rounding out the top 10 are Texas Tech (sixth place - 316), Florida International (seventh place - 321) and Arkansas Little Rock and Eastern Michigan (eighth place tie - 322). The field of 18 teams includes five schools ranked among the nation's Top 50 according to Golfstat.com.
The 2005 Baylor-Tapatio Springs Shootout continues with a second round Friday of 18 holes beginning at 7:45 a.m. CST at Tapatio Springs Golf Resort, a 6,007-yard, par 72 course. Par: 72 Yardage: 6007 Fin. School Scores 1 Baylor University 295 +7 2 Michigan, U. of 301 +13 3 Oklahoma, U. of 306 +18 4 SMU 314 +26 5 Texas El Paso, U. of 315 +27 6 Texas Tech Univ 316 +28 7 Fla. International 321 +33 8 Arkansas-Little Rock 322 +34 Eastern Michigan 322 +34 10 Memphis, Univ. of 323 +35 11 Xavier University 326 +38 12 Toledo, U. of 327 +39 13 Texas-Pan American 329 +41 Wisconsin, U. of 329 +41 15 Sam Houston St. U. 330 +42 16 TX A&M CorpusChristi 335 +47 17 Arkansas State Univ. 349 +61 18 McLennan CC 351 +63 10 Memphis, Univ. of 323 T22 Stacey Tate 78 T27 Meghan Mahoney 79 T41 Cameron Barber 82 T57 Bernie Rosero 84 T70 Ashley Burross 85 |
| 03/24/05 | |
MRI Reveals Hunt Suffered a Torn ACL In Wednesday's Game -- The Tiger guard will have surgery following the team's trip to New York for the NIT semifinals (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, Tenn. - University of Memphis junior Jeremy Hunt underwent an MRI this afternoon, and the test showed that he suffered a torn ACL of the left knee in Wednesday night's NIT game against Vanderbilt. It is the same knee that was injured in February of the 2003-04 season. Surgery will be scheduled following the Tigers' NIT trip to New York next week. The 6-foot-4 guard suffered the injury at the 8:01 mark of the first half when he drove to the basket and was fouled. Hunt left the game at that point, and Darius Washington Jr. shot the two free throws. The Memphis, Tenn., native returned a couple of minutes later, but had to leave the game again. Hunt played in 26 games, starting the last seven. In the postseason (Tigers were 6-1), Hunt averaged 13.7 points and 4.3 rebounds. He shot 45.5 percent from the field and had 18 assists and 18 steals in those seven starts. Hunt scored a career-high 24 points versus Northeastern in the NIT first round and had a career-best seven steals against USF in the Conference USA Tournament semifinals. For the season, Hunt averaged 9.5 points and 3.5 rebounds. He had 70 assists and 39 steals. Earlier this year, he missed eight games from Dec. 7 through Jan. 9 with a broken bone in his left wrist. He missed the Nov. 26 game against Maryland with a chest bruise. Last season, Hunt suffered his first ACL injury in a Feb. 20 practice. He underwent surgery Mar. 3, and traveled with the team to the Conference USA and NCAA Tournaments. |
| 03/24/05 | |
Track and Field Teams Head to Baton Rouge for LSU Tiger Relays -- Top-notch meet will be a tough early season test (GoTigersGo.com) |
| Memphis, Tenn. - The University of Memphis track and field teams will head south to the Louisiana bayou Friday-Saturday, March 25-26, as they travel to the LSU Tiger Relays, hosted by Louisiana State University in Baton Rogue, La. The Tiger Relays will be a tough early season test for the U of M athletes as they will square off against athletes from top squads from around the country. Entering the meet, the Tigers and Lady Tigers will each be without one of their top competitors, as throwers J.D. Erickson and Gail Lee have chosen to redshirt the outdoor season. Erickson and Lee will compete in select meets as "unattached" entrants, but will not travel with the team to those meets and will not contribute to team scores. While the U of M women lose one top competitor, they get another back for the outdoor season. Senior triple jumper Lisa-Marie Hyman is expected to return this weekend for her final season of competition after sitting out last Saturday's Rhodes Open due to a slight shin injury. The three-time Conference USA triple jump champion - 2 outdoor, 1 indoor - will begin her quest for a fourth title, which she narrowly missed when she finished second at the 2004 C-USA indoor meet. Several Memphis athletes, including Tigers Willie Green and Brandon Winbush and Lady Tigers Chen Edri and Sheena Ohlig will have great tests at the Tiger Relays, coming off strong performances at Rhodes. Green claimed the 100m last weekend in a personal best time of 10.72, also winning the 200m in 21.91. Winbush took the long jump title with a leap of 23-07.50" (7.20m), a personal best of his own. Edri registered two wins for the Lady Tigers, as she claimed the high jump and javelin, with marks of 5-06.00" (1.68m) and 131-03.50" (40.02m), respectively. Ohlig recorded a victory in her specialty event, the 100m hurdles, with a time of 14.57. This weekend's meet will provide a great measuring stick for all of the Memphis athletes and will let them know where they stand and where they need to be. Several U of M athletes will begin competition Friday night when the decathlon, heptathlon, men's hammer, sprint medley relays, distance medley relays and 100m, 100m hurdle and 110m hurdle prelims will be contested. The remainder of the squads will spring into action Saturday, with field events beginning at 11 a.m. and running events beginning at 2:30 p.m. Results for the LSU Tiger Relays will posted at gotigersgo.com following the completion of the meet. |
| 03/24/05 | |
Memphis, St. Joseph's To Meet In First NIT Semifinal Tuesday Night -- Tigers and Hawks to tip off play at 6:00 p.m. (CT) on ESPN2 (GoTigersGo.com) |
| NEW YORK, N.Y. - National Invitation Tournament (NIT) officials notified the University of Memphis Athletic Department that the Tigers will play in the first semifinal game on Tuesday, Mar. 29. Game time is 6:00 p.m. (CT), and Memphis will be the home team. Memphis (22-15) will play St. Joseph (23-11) in the first NIT semifinal contest, which is slated for ESPN2. Tuesday's game will be the second meeting between Memphis and St. Joseph's on the hardwood. The two schools last met in the 1991-92 season, and the Tigers posted a 77-60 win over the Hawks in the ECAC Holiday Festival that was held in Madison Square Garden. The other semifinal game, which is scheduled to start 30 minutes after the first contest, will have the Maryland-TCU winner face the Georgetown-South Carolina winner. The NIT championship game will be Thursday, Mar. 31 at 6:00 p.m. (CT) on ESPN. There is no NIT consolation game this year. Last season was the first year that the NIT consolation game was not played. |
| 03/24/05 | |
Memphis Downs Vanderbilt In NIT Quarterfinals, 81-68 -- Rodney Carney scores 26 points, and Darius Washington adds 23 and seven assists to lead the Tigers (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Rodney Carney scored 26 points, and Darius Washington added 23 and seven assists to lift Memphis over Vanderbilt 81-68 Wednesday night in the quarterfinals of the NIT. Anthony Rice had 11 points, and Duane Erwin scored 10 and grabbed 15 rebounds, putting Memphis (22-15) into the NIT semifinals for the third time in five years. The Tigers will play Saint Joseph's, a 58-51 winner over Texas A&M earlier Wednesday, in New York next Tuesday night. Shan Foster led Vanderbilt (20-14) with 25 points on 9-of-17 shooting, including 6-of-11 from 3-point range. Julian Terrell scored 11 points for the Commodores. On several occasions in the second half, Carney got free for 3-pointers and drove against the Vanderbilt trapping press. He made five of his six shots in the half, helping Memphis build a double-digit lead. Washington sealed the victory by hitting six straight free throws down the stretch. Vanderbilt, coming off a thrilling last-second win over Wichita State on Monday night, stayed close until midway through the second half when Memphis scored nine straight points to put the game out of reach. There were five ties and three lead changes in the first half, but the Tigers closed the period with an 8-2 run to carry a 36-29 advantage into the break. Vanderbilt used its cutting offense to get to the basket and have open 3-pointers. Foster connected on three of his five shots from outside the arc in the first half to lead the Commodores with 11 points, including eight as Vanderbilt jumped to an early lead. Memphis, meanwhile, tried to get its transition game running. Washington and Carney had nine points for the Tigers. The Tigers opened the second half with Carney and Rice helping build the lead to 49-37 with 14:14 left. But the Commodores stayed close with pesky defense and got to 51-48 on Dawid Przybyszewski's 3-pointer. Memphis answered with the 9-0 run to rebuild the lead to double digits. |
| 03/24/05 | |
Memphis Basketball/NIT Postgame Quotes -- Memphis 81, Vanderbilt 68 (GoTigersGo.com) |
| Memphis Head Coach John Calipari "Jeremy Hunt plays hard and he really motivated this team. I'm really proud of the way he played and the way the rest of the team played. This team plays hard. This team is playing well." "Let me say this to the fans. I don't know what we need to do, but we need that during our season. That's what we need. At halftime, if you're not out of your seats down low, we're letting everybody down low. I don't know what we do, but I know this, the fans enjoyed it. They grabbed onto this team. I'm just so happy for them for them to enjoy this. It's 11 o'clock at night, and I'm seeing kids in the stands, and I'm thinking, 'What is going on?'" Vanderbilt Head Coach Kevin Stallings "I am not so sure we don't know how to win games like this. I think tonight we were not good enough to win this game. Tonight Memphis was faster than us. They were able to take advantage of the game with their speed and quickness. For us to win the game, we needed it at a pace to where we could neutralize their speed and quickness." "The end of the first half hurt us and when we got behind in the second half, we had to try to extend the floor, and that really plays into their favor. We were not going to sit back and play passively. We were trying to win the game." |
| 03/24/05 | |
Memphis Basketball/NIT Boxscore -- Memphis 81, Vanderbilt 68 (GoTigersGo.com) |
| Official Basketball Box Score -- GAME TOTALS -- FINAL STATISTICS Vanderbilt vs MEMPHIS 03/23/05 9:00 pm at Memphis, Tenn. (FedExForum) ------------------------------------------------------------------ VISITORS: Vanderbilt 20-14 TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS ## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN 22 CARROLL, DeMarre.... f 2-5 1-1 0-0 1 0 1 2 5 1 1 0 2 18 32 FOSTER, Shan........ f 9-17 6-11 1-1 2 1 3 2 25 0 0 0 0 36 33 TERRELL, Julian..... f 3-7 0-0 5-6 4 2 6 5 11 2 2 1 0 19 01 MOORE, Mario........ g 3-10 1-6 1-2 0 2 2 2 8 3 3 0 1 33 44 SMITH, Corey........ g 3-11 0-3 0-0 0 3 3 4 6 4 1 0 4 33 02 GORDON, Alex........ 1-5 0-2 0-0 1 1 2 0 2 1 0 0 1 7 03 HOLWERDA, Jason..... 1-2 0-1 2-2 1 1 2 4 4 2 2 0 0 19 11 METCALFE, Alan...... 0-1 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 13 PRZYBYSZEWSKI, Dawid 2-5 1-3 0-1 1 3 4 1 5 1 2 0 0 17 20 CAGE, Dan........... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 2 0 1 1 0 0 8 54 SKUCHAS, Ted........ 1-1 0-0 0-2 1 1 2 3 2 1 0 1 0 9 TEAM................ 1 1 2 Totals.............. 25-64 9-28 9-14 12 15 27 25 68 16 12 2 8 200 TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 12-27 44.4% 2nd Half: 13-37 35.1% Game: 39.1% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 4-13 30.8% 2nd Half: 5-15 33.3% Game: 32.1% REBS F Throw % 1st Half: 1-4 25.0% 2nd Half: 8-10 80.0% Game: 64.3% 3,1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ HOME TEAM: MEMPHIS 22-15 TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS ## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN 11 Erwin, Duane........ f 2-5 0-0 6-6 3 12 15 2 10 1 3 3 1 30 55 Barclay, Arthur..... f 1-2 0-0 0-0 4 4 8 1 2 1 1 0 0 25 05 Hunt, Jeremy........ g 2-6 0-2 0-0 0 1 1 1 4 0 1 0 0 10 23 Rice, Anthony....... g 4-10 2-6 1-3 0 3 3 1 11 1 2 0 2 36 35 WASHINGTON, Darius.. g 5-8 1-1 12-13 0 1 1 3 23 7 5 0 3 35 01 Williams, Waki...... 1-4 0-0 0-0 1 3 4 2 2 1 2 0 0 22 03 Thiero, Almamy...... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 10 Carney, Rodney...... 8-13 2-3 8-9 1 1 2 3 26 0 0 3 1 31 14 Njoya, Simplice..... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 15 Dorsey, Joey........ 1-1 0-0 1-2 2 1 3 4 3 0 2 2 1 9 TEAM................ 1 2 3 Totals.............. 24-49 5-12 28-33 12 28 40 17 81 11 16 8 8 200 TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 14-34 41.2% 2nd Half: 10-15 66.7% Game: 49.0% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 4-10 40.0% 2nd Half: 1-2 50.0% Game: 41.7% REBS F Throw % 1st Half: 4-5 80.0% 2nd Half: 24-28 85.7% Game: 84.8% 2,1 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Officials: Bryan Kersey, Dwayne Gladden, Michael Stephens Technical fouls: Vanderbilt-None. MEMPHIS-None. Attendance: 9770 Score by Periods 1st 2nd Total Vanderbilt.................... 29 39 - 68 MEMPHIS....................... 36 45 - 81 |
| 03/24/05 | |
Late Surge Propels Murray State Past Tiger 10-9 -- Four-run Murray eighth-inning dooms Tigers (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Murray State 020 040 040 - 10 14 1 MEMPHIS 240 110 010 - 9 8 3 Murray State scored four runs in the top of the eighth inning to claim its first lead of the game and then held on for a 10-9 win against Memphis in non-conference action Wednesday. Memphis falls to 6-11 with its second straight loss, while Murray improves to 11-10. Memphis got on the board with a pair of runs in the home half of the first inning. Chad House led off the frame with a single and Ryan Martin followed with a one-out walk. Adam Amar then collected one of his three hits on the night to drive in both runs. A Lincoln Kent homer highlighted a two-run second for the Thoroughbreds, but the Tigers responded with four runs of their own in the bottom of the inning, to go ahead 6-2. An RBI-double in the fourth inning by Amar gave Memphis what seemed to be a comfortable 7-2 advantage. However, Murray would not let the game get away, and the Breds plated four runs in the fifth to close the gap to 7-6. The Tigers came back with a run in the fifth to extend the lead to 8-6, but it was all Murray State from then on as the Breds took advantage of a Tiger error in the eighth to load the sacks. Pinch hitter Dustin Hennigar then belted a three-run triple to the right center field gap to give Murray a 9-8 lead. Hennigar was then knocked home on a sacrifice fly to give the Thoroughbreds a 10-8 cushion. Memphis could only manage one more run in the contest when House scored on a Jordan Tolliver ground out. Amar led the Tigers with a three-hit night and four RBI, while House posted a pair of hit and scored three runs. Ryan Fly took the loss after giving up four runs in relief. Memphis will now travel to Tampa, Fla. to face USF in its second C-USA weekend of the season. Friday's contest is set for a 7 p.m. first pitch. |
| 03/24/05 | |
Going to the Garden -- U of M 81, Vanderbilt 68 (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Gary Parrish Contact March 24, 2005 Duane Erwin dove on the ball, called a timeout and everybody stood and cheered. Then the band started playing, and it was hard not to recognize the tune. Start spreading the news, I'm leaving today, I want to be a part of it, New York. New York. Actually, the University of Memphis isn't leaving until Sunday. But the point remained the same. With an 81-68 victory over Vanderbilt on Wednesday night, the Tigers are headed back to New York. Again. For the third time this season and seventh time in five years. It's the NIT semifinals Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden against Phil Martelli and Saint Joseph's, one of John Calipari's old coaching rivals from his Atlantic 10 days at UMass. That's what the Tigers' third consecutive convincing victory at FedExForum created. That's why the announced crowd of 9,770 was dancing and chanting throughout. "It feels good," said UofM senior Anthony Rice, who finished with 11 points and three rebounds. "It's a great opportunity for us. We have to take advantage of it." Memphis (22-15) advanced despite Jeremy Hunt suffering a knee injury in the first half. That left Darius Washington as the UofM's only capable ballhandler, but it worked out OK. Washington finished with 23 points and seven assists in 35 minutes. Rodney Carney added 26 points, and Erwin got 10 points and 15 rebounds to give the Tigers their ninth win in 14 games, all nine of which have come by double-digits. "We're a good team right now," Calipari said. "This team is playing well." The Tigers took a 36-29 lead at halftime, and increased it to double-digits, 47-37, on a Joey Dorsey free throw with 15:01 left. After that, Vanderbilt (20-14) cut the advantage to three points, but the Commodores never again tied the score or took the lead. Why? It was mostly because of the Tigers' defense. Memphis held Vanderbilt to 39.1 percent shooting from the field, including 35.1 percent in the second half. "Like I told you before," Calipari said, "we don't have any defensive weaknesses." Calipari said this with a smile, a clear dig at Vandy coach Kevin Stallings, who had sarcastically referenced that quote several times over the past few days. Still, it didn't take long for the smile to turn to a frown when Calipari addressed Hunt's injury. Gloria Hunt, Hunt's mother, told The Commercial Appeal that her son had torn his ACL for the second time in two years. An MRI is scheduled for today. Hunt had started the previous six games, and averaged more than 15 points in that span. "The reason we are playing the way we're playing is because of Jeremy Hunt," Calipari said. "I'm stunned. I don't know what to say." -- Gary Parrish: 529-2365 ------------------------------------------------------------------ NIT semifinal Matchup: Memphis (22-15) vs. St. Joseph's (23-11) When, where: Tuesday, 6 or 8:30 p.m. CST, at New York's Madison Square Garden. Championship: Thursday, 6 p.m. |
| 03/24/05 | |
Tournament run invigorates U of M fan base -- No interest? FedExForum support tells a different story (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Zack McMillin Contact March 24, 2005 How do you mend a broken fan base? Not, apparently, by playing in the NCAA Tournament. In the case of the University of Memphis basketball program, it is the NIT -- the Not Invited, Not Included, Not Interested Tournament -- that has rekindled the passion and feeling from their most ardent supporters. When the season began, no Tiger fan could have envisioned a March home game with Vanderbilt. Back then, the Tigers were ranked in the Top 25 and openly declaring their intent to run to the Sweet 16, and maybe farther. That they were playing in the Final Eight of this other tournament seemed irrelevant to the 9,770 fans who came to FedExForum on Wednesday. That the 81-68 victory over the Commodores meant a third trip to New York and the NIT semifinals (no, it's not called the Final Four) in John Calipari's five seasons seemed nothing like disappointment. With most of the fans squeezed together in the first two seating levels, the Grizzlies posh $250 million publicly financed arena somehow felt old-school, like the Tigers of yore lifting the lid off the Mid-South Coliseum. The cheers were lustier. The boos were meaner. The roars filled with more pure bliss. Bill Lansden, the Tiger associate athletic director in charge of raising money, never thought he'd find himself thankful for an NIT run, but there he was Wednesday, marveling at the noise and joy generated by the Tiger faithful. "It's put a new energy in our fan base," Lansden said. Lansden would not come right out and say it, but the great atmosphere had a lot to do with the NIT's democratic approach to selling tickets. First come, first serve. Ten bucks for the sorry upper-level seats at top-heavy FedExForum. Fifteen bucks to sit in the more exclusive lower levels, where, for far too many games this season, empty seats outnumbered warm bodies. To get a shot at those seats takes a minimum donation of $2,500, effectively pricing out so many of the fans who continue to make the Tigers a much larger draw on local TV than the Grizzlies, who nonetheless outperform the Tigers when it comes to attendance. It has also been two solid weeks of catharsis, going back to the end of the 75-74 Louisville loss in the Conference USA Tournament here, when Tiger freshman guard Darius Washington collapsed into sobs after missing two free throws with no time left on the clock. Refs cannot blow a whistle against Washington now without receiving a serious rejoinder from the crowd. And his open-court slalom runs for layups are punctuated with a few extra decibel levels of noise. Back in January, when the Tigers were reeling and Sean Banks had left the team and Jeremy Hunt had been arrested and the less-influential fans were still sore over the awful upper-deck sets, Lansden and his staff had to despair. The cash-strapped Tiger program depends on basketball to pay the bills, and the program was in the midst of a marketing meltdown. Nothing a nice tournament run -- even the NIT -- couldn't fix. "People have a good feeling now about Tiger basketball," Lansden said. "Some guy just told me tonight he couldn't wait until next year because we were going to be ranked in the Top 15." -- Zack McMillin: 529-2564 |
| 03/24/05 | |
U of M Postgame (Commercial Appeal) |
| Play of the game After spending most of the night on John Calipari's bad side for defensive mishaps, Rodney Carney was the player who put the game away. The 6-7 forward scored nine points in less than four minutes to advance a 57-48 score to 71-58 with 4:13 left. Vandy never got within single-digits again. Stat of the game Darius Washington had seven assists. Memphis is 11-1 this season when the freshman gets at least five assists. X's and O's With Jeremy Hunt sidelined, the Tigers played the final 25 minutes with no capable backup point guard for Washington. This made for a nice chess match between Calipari and Kevin Stallings. Calipari began subbing Washington on defense whenever possible to avoid a costly foul. Meanwhile, Stallings kept track, which created a funny sequence. One time, Calipari sent Washington to the scorer's table. When Stallings noticed, he sent Mario Moore to the scorer's table with instructions to go right at Washington. So Calipari countered, and called Washington back to the bench. At this, Washington frowned, clearly wanting to play. But Calipari grabbed his freshman and explained. "You see what he's doing, don't you?" Calipari asked. Washington shook his head, indicating yes, and sat for a few more minutes. Trends The Tigers improved to 10-2 in NIT games played in Memphis. The UofM has won its past nine NIT games at home. The last time the Tigers dropped an NIT game at home was when they lost to Arkansas State, 58-57, on March 18, 1991. Odds and ends With 8:01 left in the first half, Hunt was fouled on his way to the basket. He came down awkwardly and limped to the bench. A few minutes later, Hunt re-entered the game, but his knee buckled and caused a turnover, and the Craigmont High graduate limped to the locker room. The early diagnosis? A probable torn ACL. So Hunt's season is likely over, and his updated injury log through three years at Memphis looks like this: Foot surgery, a foot infection, wrist surgery, an ACL surgery and another possible ACL surgery. What's next The Tigers advanced to the NIT semifinals in New York, and they'll play Saint Joseph's on Tuesday night in Madison Square Garden. -- Gary Parrish |
| 03/23/05 | |
Women's Golf Competes in Tapatio Springs Intercollegiate Shootout -- Three-day tournament hosted by Baylor (GoTigersGo.com) |
| The University of Memphis women's golf team travels to Texas to compete in the fifth annual Tapatio Springs Intercollegiate Shootout hosted by Baylor University beginning Thursday. The three-day tournament will take place at the Tapatio Springs Golf Resort in Boerne, Texas. The 6,007 yard, par-72 course is located 20 minutes northwest of downtown San Antonio, Texas. Although the Lady Tigers will make their first appearance in the tournament, the program has ties to the shootout. Former Lady Tiger Natalie Tucker (1997-99) won the inaugural tournament in 2001 while with Indiana University. Eighteen schools compete in the tournament five teams in Golfstat's top 50. Two universities joining C-USA competition next year are also in the tournament--UTEP and SMU. Memphis competes in the tournament after finishing 16th at the UNLV Spring Invitational last week. Following the Tapatio Springs Intercollegiate Shootout, the Lady Tigers have one more spring tournament, the Southern Mississippi Invitational, before hosting the Conference-USA Championship at the Germantown Country Club on April 18-20. |
| 03/23/05 | |
Top U of M Throwers to Redshirt Outdoor Season -- J.D. Erickson and Gail Lee to sit out to focus on training (GoTigersGo.com) |
| Memphis, Tenn. - J.D. Erickson and Gail Lee, the top throwers for the Tiger and Lady Tiger track and field teams, have each decided to take a redshirt for the upcoming outdoor season. The pair led their respective squads in both the shot put and weight throw during the indoor season, but will now sit out the outdoor campaign to focus on training and save an additional year of outdoor eligibility. Erickson, a transfer from Mississippi State University, led the U of M men in both indoor throwing events, winning a Conference USA championship in the shot put and taking home runner-up honors in the weight throw. The Memphis native redshirted one indoor season while competing for the Bulldogs, and therefore had two indoor seasons, but only one outdoor season of eligibility when he joined the Tigers. He will now take his redshirt for the outdoor season to concentrate on training and allow for a complete season, indoor and outdoor, in his final year of competition. Lee, who joined the Lady Tiger squad just a few days before the beginning of the primary portion of the indoor season, was thrust directly into competition with little time to adjust to her new school. The transfer from Barton County Community College (Kan.) then drew added pressure when she made several technical changes in her throwing style. Even with those obstacles the Fort Worth native managed to put together one of the top seasons in Lady Tiger history, winning a C-USA title in the weight throw, and placing second in the shot put, and more importantly becoming the first All-American in Memphis women's track and field history with her 10th place finish in the shot put at NCAA Indoor Championships. With the advice of Coach Kevin Robinson, Lee will take her outdoor redshirt to allow more time to relax and adjust to Memphis and also to attempt to perfect her throwing technique. Though the losses of Erickson and Lee will leave large holes at the top of the U of M throwing lineups, the effects are not all negative. Their absence will present the opportunity for younger competitors, Norbert Gulyas and Darius Frye for the Tigers and Annette Uzoh and Sivan Aballi for the Lady Tigers, to step in make more substantial contributions. Erickson and Lee will continue to train with the Memphis throwers and are expected to compete in several meets as "unattached" entrants as they prepare for next season. |
| 03/23/05 | |
Top guard to challenge Washington -- Tigers to face Vanderbilt; winner goes to New York (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Gary Parrish Contact March 23, 2005 John Calipari was sitting at home, talking on the phone and watching the end of the Vanderbilt-Wichita State game. He saw the defenders break. He saw the pass. He saw the catch and the layup, and he felt like everybody else. "I was stunned," said the University of Memphis men's basketball coach. "Sometimes 19-year-olds do stupid things." And just like that, the Tigers (21-15) had their opponent for tonight's NIT quarterfinal that is scheduled to tip at 9 inside FedExForum. It is Vanderbilt (20-13), that team that won Monday when three Wichita State players -- the aforementioned 19-year-olds -- chased a Commodore toward midcourt while leaving another alone under the goal. The result was a length-of-the-court pass to a wide-open Corey Smith, who, in less than the 0.7 seconds left in regulation, caught the ball and laid it in to give Vandy a 65-63 win. Somewhere, Christian Laettner was smiling. He was probably also wondering exactly how Smith got behind everybody. "We ran a play that we've used in the past, just with a few new twists," Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings said in his postgame press conference. "It worked better than we hoped for." The reason it worked better than they hoped for was because the Commodore sprinting towards midcourt and drawing all the attention was Mario Moore. A 5-11 junior, Moore had already scorched Wichita State for a career-high 31 points on nine 3-pointers. He's a fast, confident shooter, and good enough to create a nice matchup of point guards tonight. So Darius Washington, are you ready? "The question is whether he's ready for the matchup against the Memphis Tigers," answered the UofM's freshman point guard. "It's not going to be a one-on-one battle. I'm just going to try to contain him. "He's their leading scorer. So if I can contain him and disrupt him, hopefully their team won't know how to react." One of the things that's helped Memphis make this NIT run has been a smothering defense that's been pretty good at containing and disrupting. The Tigers have held their past two opponents -- Northeastern and Virginia Tech -- to a combined 127 points. Northeastern only shot 40.4 percent from the field. Virginia Tech shot 35.5 percent. The Tigers are now holding opponents to 38.3 percent shooting from the field this season. That number ranks fifth in the nation. "I heard their coach say that his team didn't have a defensive weakness," Stallings said. "That's quite a statement." Still, it's unlikely Vanderbilt will be intimidated. The Commodores of the Southeastern Conference have won six of their past nine contests, including a 67-60 victory at Indiana on March 16. The winner of tonight's game will advance to the NIT semifinals, which will be played next Tuesday at New York's Madison Square Garden. "We know this game is going to be a war," said Memphis senior Arthur Barclay. "(Vanderbilt is) only about three-and-a-half hours away. "So hopefully some of their fans will come down, and our fans will come out and we'll give the fans what they want to see, a great game." -- Gary Parrish: 529-2365 ------------------------------------------------------ Tigers vs. Vanderbilt When, where: Today, 9 p.m., at FedExForum. TV, radio: ESPN2, WMC-AM (790), WKBQ-FM (93.5). Tickets: $10 for upper level, $15 for lower level and club level and $5 for students. |
| 03/23/05 | |
Tigers vs. Vanderbilt (Commercial Appeal) |
| 9 p.m., FedExForum TV, radio: ESPN2, WMC-AM (790), WKBQ-FM (93.5). Records: Memphis, 21-15; Vanderbilt, 20-13. Series standing: Vanderbilt leads, 8-4. Latest line: Memphis by 6. Notables John Calipari and Dr. T.C. Hilger, a UofM booster, have combined to purchase 500 tickets for tonight's game. The tickets will be distributed at no cost to students on a first-come, first-serve basis at the bursar's office on campus beginning at 8:30 this morning. Each student with a valid UofM ID can pick up one ticket. All tickets are reserved seats. Buses will be at Richardson Towers on campus at 8 tonight to take students to the game. ... This will be the Tigers' 16th game on national television this season. ... Memphis and Vanderbilt have not played since the 1998-99 season. The Tigers won the last meeting, 62-56, at The Pyramid. Memphis is 2-3 at home against Vanderbilt. ... Vanderbilt won the NIT in 1990. Memphis won it in 2002. ... The Tigers should feel fortunate the NIT committee gave them a home game because going to Memorial Gym would've been tough. Vanderbilt is 17-2 at home this season. The only losses were to Florida and Kentucky. Vandy has a 24-game winning streak at home against non-league opponents. ... Tonight will be Anthony Rice's 133rd career game as a Tiger. That will put him at the top of the school's career list, one ahead of Andre Turner and the late Baskerville Holmes. ... Monday's win gave Vanderbilt consecutive 20-win seasons for the first time since 1993-94. Scouting the Tigers Memphis, coached by John Calipari, is coming off an 83-62 victory over Virginia Tech last Saturday. In that win, Memphis placed five players in double figures, including Carney with 17. A 6-7 junior, Carney has come off the bench in each of the past six games. That has produced a 5-1 record for the Tigers, whose past eight victories have all been by double figures. Jeremy Hunt has replaced Carney in the starting lineup. He's averaged 15.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 3.0 steals per contest in six games as a starter. Memphis has lost seven games inside FedExForum this season. The losses were to Ole Miss, Louisiana Tech, Providence, TCU, Cincinnati and Louisville (twice). Still, the Tigers have won five of their past six in the first-year arena. UofM freshman point guard Darius Washington has averaged 5.5 assists in that span. He has 136 assists this season. Anthony Rice, the school's career leading 3-point shooter, has scored at least 13 points in five of his past six games. He's made four 3-pointers in four of those games. Scouting the Commodores Vanderbilt, coached by Kevin Stallings, is coming off a last-second victory over Wichita State late Monday night. In that game, Corey Smith caught a length-of-the-court pass with 0.7 seconds remaining, and laid it in to break a tie and give the Commodores a 65-63 win. The play capped a night otherwise highlighted by Mario Moore. The junior point guard hit nine 3-pointers and finished with a career-high 31 points. Vanderbilt is 3-7 in road games this year. The wins came at Tennessee, Auburn and Indiana. Moore and Smith are the only Commodores averaging double-figures in scoring. Smith, a 6-6 guard, is shooting 51.2 percent from the field, and 78.9 percent from the free-throw line. The Commodores finished 8-8 in the SEC this season, good enough for third place in the Eastern Division behind Kentucky and Florida. Vanderbilt played two other Conference USA schools this season. The Commodores lost at Cincinnati on Dec. 9, and beat TCU on Dec. 18. Key matchup: Darius Washington vs. Mario Moore It's doubtful Vanderbilt point guard Moore will hit nine 3-pointers again tonight. But if he even comes close, then Memphis is in trouble. So in addition to scoring and getting others involved,Washington has to defend the perimeter with urgency. The Memphis point guard will be dealing with a confident shooter tonight, one who might try to take over the game at the freshman's expense. -- Gary Parrish Probable starters U of M / P / Yr. / Ht. / Pts. / D. Washington / G / Fr / 6-2 / 15.2 / Anthony Rice / G / Sr. / 6-4 / 10.7 / Jeremy Hunt / F / Jr. / 6-4 / 9.7 / Duane Erwin / F / Sr. / 6-9 / 7.0 / Arthur Barclay / F / Sr. / 6-8 / 2.1 / Vanderbilt / P / Yr. / Ht / Pts. / Mario Moore / G / Jr. / 5-11 / 13.7 / Corey Smith / G / Sr. / 6-6 / 12.2 / DeMrre Carroll / F / Fr. / 6-7 / 3.9 / Shan Foster / F / Fr. / 6-6 / 8.7 / Julian Terrell / F / Jr. / 6-9 / 6.7 / / U of M / Vandy / FG percentage / .423 / .467 / Opp. percentage / .383 / .417 / FT percentage / .680 / .678 / 3 point percentage / .347 / .387 / Opp. percentage / .325 / .341 / Rebounds / 38.5 / 33.3 / Opp. rebounds / 35.5 / 33.0 / Points for / 71.5 / 71.3 / Points against / 65.3 / 64.5 / |
| 03/23/05 |  |
Five cities eye C-USA tournament -- Forum as host site no longer a certainty (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Gary Parrish Contact March 23, 2005 Once considered a lock for FedExForum, the future site of Conference USA's basketball tournament now appears very much uncertain. A source with knowledge of the situation told The Commercial Appeal on Tuesday that four cities -- Dallas, Houston, Tulsa and Birmingham -- are preparing bids to host the league's premier event next year in addition to Memphis. C-USA commissioner Britton Banowsky was traveling Tuesday, and could not be reached for comment. Meanwhile, assistant commissioner Russ Anderson acknowledged other cites have expressed interest, but declined to discuss specifics. "There are several cities on the radar," Anderson said. "But we did have a great experience in Memphis, and I would think Memphis is still high on the list of cities being considered." When C-USA made arrangements last year to hold its 2005 tournament at FedExForum, the league indicated the event would likely be in Memphis for the foreseeable future, mostly because of the new arena and the Tigers' expected dominance in basketball. But things have changed since then. Memphis has hardly been dominant, proof being this third NIT in five years. Crowds for the C-USA Tournament were sparse, and the championship game featuring Louisville and Memphis -- the league's dream matchup -- only drew 10,576, or about 8,000 less than capacity. Furthermore, an arrangement C-USA made with the Memphis & Shelby County Sports Authority fell apart that would've paid the league $1 million no matter how many tickets were sold. Banowsky was here two weeks ago and publicly criticized city officials for not following through on their oral agreement. Now it appears C-USA might not make the $1 million it was guaranteed, though all the accounting isn't done. "I think it will be really close," said Mike Golub, the Grizzlies vice president of business operations who runs FedExForum. |
| 03/23/05 | |
Tiger scrimmage sponsored -- Mutual of Omaha has rights to spring game (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Phil Stukenborg Contact March 23, 2005 University of Memphis officials said Tuesday that Mutual of Omaha will sponsor the annual Tiger football spring game for three years beginning with next month's scrimmage at Rhodes College. It is the first time the university has sold the rights -- through Tiger Sports Properties -- to its spring game. Tiger Sports Properties is the exclusive multi-media rights holder for the UofM athletic department. Terms of the agreement were not announced. The Mutual of Omaha Blue-Gray Game will be played at noon April 2 at Fargason Field on the Rhodes campus. An awards ceremony kicks off the festivities at 11:45 a.m. Memphis is unable to use its home field -- Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium -- because of the impending installation of an artificial playing surface. Memphis also played last year's spring game at Rhodes while the Liberty Bowl was being refurbished. For its sponsorship, Mutual of Omaha will receive public address announcements during the game, in addition to the right to erect signage and set up information booths for giveaways. Sponsorship of spring games is a recent additional source of revenue for college athletic programs. The University of Tennessee's spring game is being sponsored by edAmerica. "In this day and age, everything is sponsorable," said Tiger athletic director R.C. Johnson. "This is a new revenue stream for us." Johnson said while the Tigers had hoped to play the game at the Liberty Bowl, it was not worth the risk of delaying the field installation. "A construction guy told me that every day you delay on the front end can mean a three-day delay on back end," he said. "Playing at Rhodes will work for us. It worked for us last year." Last year's game attracted a crowd estimated at 4,500 by Rhodes athletic director Mike Clary. "Our bleachers seat 3,300," Clary said. "Those were filled and there were people lined up around the field. They seemed to enjoy the setting. "It's always been a good relationship between our staff and (Tiger coach) Tommy West. He's been great giving our coaches access to his practices. We're happy to accommodate them." |
| 03/22/05 | |
Coach Cal and U of M alumnus help students score more NIT tickets (Daily Helmsman) |
| John Scruggs contact March 22, 2005 As Eddie Tyus walked into the Student Recreation and Fitness Center Tuesday, he already knew what he would be doing tonight. "I was going to the Tigers game Wednesday whether or not they were giving away tickets," said Tyus, a junior physical education major at The U of M. Tuesday morning the athletic department announced that for the second time in a week, basketball coach John Calipari and his family had purchased 400 tickets to give to students for tonight's NIT quarterfinal game against Vanderbilt. This is Calipari's second student ticket purchase in under a week. Thursday, the Tiger basketball coach purchased 400 tickets for students to attend Saturday's second round NIT game against Virginia Tech. "Turnout started kind of slow last week," said Shante Young, a student financial assistant who works in the bursar's office where students can pick up the free tickets. "It picked up though." Young said all of the 400 student tickets were gone by the end of the day. In addition to Calipari's purchase for tonight's game, U of M booster Dr. T.C. Hilger called into coach Calipari's radio show Monday night and pledged to purchase another 100 tickets to give to students. "I read in the paper where coach Cal had purchased some student tickets," Hilger said. "It just struck me. Why not help?" Hilger, who is on active duty in the U.S. military, is currently working outside of Memphis, but he still follows the Tigers closely. "I follow the team on nationally broadcast games and on Yahoo sports online," he said. "These guys have really come together as a team through the efforts of the coaching staff," Hilger said. "They've bought into playing John Calipari team basketball." Hilger attended The U of M from 1961 - 1964 and his daughter, Amy de Jongh Curry, earned her B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees at The University and is an associate professor in the Joint Graduate Program in Biomedical Engineering. Steve Stroud, assistant athletic director for annual giving, said Hilger called this morning to make good on his pledge. "We've had a lot of fans and donors getting very excited about this game," Stroud said. "A lot of fans who haven't made it to the first NIT games are coming by to get tickets." Student Eddie Tyus thinks the purchase of student tickets by coach Calipari sends an important message to people on campus. "It lets people know that he cares about everybody here at The University," he said. "He also knows that Vandy is going to bring everybody, so that might have played a part in his decision." Tickets for tonight's game will be available on a first-come basis at the bursar's office at 8:30 a.m. this morning. One reserved seat of the 500 available tickets will be given to each student with a University ID. Buses will be at Richardson Towers at 8 p.m. tonight to take students to the 9 p.m. tip-off at FedExForum. Shante Young in the bursar's office said this shows a lot of support from coach Calipari and Dr. Hilger for Tiger basketball. "People will be lined up," she said. "It will be a very busy morning." |
| 03/22/05 | |
Coach and family, U of M booster to purchase 500 tickets for students (Daily Helmsman) |
| U of M press services March 22, 2005 Tiger head coach John Calipari is encouraging student supporters to turn out for Wednesday's NIT quarterfinal game versus Vanderbilt. In turn, Calipari and his family are helping the students' cause, purchasing 400 tickets to give to students for Wednesday's game. Also, Dr. T.C. Hilger, a University of Memphis booster, is joining the Calipari family in helping students get to the game, as he is purchasing 100 tickets to give to students. The 500 student tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first serve basis at the University's Bursar's Office beginning at 8:30 a.m.(CT) Wednesday morning. Each student with a valid University ID can pick up one ticket to Wednesday's game. The tickets are reserved seats. If a student picks up a free ticket and needs to get additional tickets, those tickets will have to be purchased at the Athletic Ticket Office or at FedExForum box office. Ticket prices are $15 for the lower and club levels, $10 for the terrace level and $5 for student tickets. In addition to the free student tickets, buses will be at Richardson Towers on the University of Memphis campus Wednesday evening at 8:00 p.m. (CT) to take students to the game. |
| 03/22/05 | |
Memphis to play Vanderbilt (Daily Helmsman) |
| The Associated Press March 22, 2005 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Corey Smith hit a layup as time expired and Vanderbilt advanced to the quarterfinals of the National Invitation Tournament with a 65-63 victory over Wichita State on Monday night. Vanderbilt (20-13) will play at Memphis on Wednesday night for a berth in the NIT semifinals in New York. Mario Moore hit nine 3-pointers and scored a career-high 31 points for the Commodores. With the game tied at 63 with 0.7 seconds left, Jason Holwerda threw a pass the length of the court to an open Smith, who caught the ball and laid it in as time expired, touching off a wild celebration on the Memorial Gym floor. Moments earlier, Wichita State's Jamar Howard nearly forced overtime by converting an offensive rebound off a missed free throw to tie the game. Vanderbilt's DeMarre Carroll blocked a potential layup by Howard with six seconds remaining to protect a 61-60 Vanderbilt lead. Moore made two free throws to push Vanderbilt's lead to 63-60. The Commodores fouled Sean Ogirri, who made the first foul shot and missed the second intentionally. Moore hit four 3-pointers in the final four minutes as Vanderbilt recovered from blowing a 12-point lead in the second half. Julian Terrell scored 14 points and had 14 rebounds for Vanderbilt, which extended its non-conference winning streak to 24 games. Paul Miller led Wichita State (22-10) with 13 points and six rebounds. PJ Couisanrd, Matt Braueuer and Randy Burns all scored 11. Vanderbilt lost a 12-point second half lead when Wichita State went on a 17-2 run to take a 50-46 lead with 4:36 to play. The Shockers saw their season end with a defeat in the NIT for the third straight year. Vanderbilt advanced to the NIT quarterfinals for the first time since 1998. Vanderbilt set a school-record for home victories with 17 and recorded back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time since 1993-94 |
| 03/22/05 | |
Tiger Notes (track, soccer, baseball) (Daily Helmsman) |
| Ben Cowens contact March 22, 2005 Rhodes Open yields highlights for track Tigers Following Gail Lee's final throw in the NCAA Indoor Championships, the Memphis track team officially turned their collective attention to the outdoor season. So far, so good. At the Rhodes Open, the season's first tune-up, nine U of M athletes won events and seven set personal bests. Eight more Tigers finished as runners up although none qualified provisionally for the NCAA Outdoor Regionals on May 27-28. Overall, men's track head coach Glenn Hays said the showing produced mixed results. "We had decent performances, but will have to get better scores to compete in conference," Hays said. The day saw several standout performances. Junior sprinter Willie Green overcame recent injuries and won the 100 and 200 m titles with times of 10.72 and 21.91, respectively. Lee continued her dominance in shot put, winning the event with a heave of 47 feet - 5 inches. Freshman Chen Edri posted high score in women's javelin and high jump and the Tigers men's 4 x 100 relay also took top honors. "It was good," Hays said. "We got a chance to see where we were without much pressure (and) we didn't have to travel." Men's and Women's track will return to action at the LSU Tiger Relays on March 25-26. Women's soccer continues impressive spring The Lady Tigers continued their impressive spring with a split on Sunday. Memphis lost the opener 1-0 to the Under-17 Region III Olympic Development Program, but rebounded to defeat defending C-USA champion UAB 4-2 in the nightcap. In the early game, Memphis had some good scoring chances, but failed to equalize, following ODP's goal in the 55th minute. "There are kids on this team that will probably play for the National Team in the future," said head coach Brooks Monaghan in a released statement. "I didn't think we were at our best and we made some poor decisions, which ultimately ended up costing us the game. But, this was a good chance to go up against some great competition." Against UAB, the offense returned to the usual spring form. Shoko Mikami scored her team-leading seventh goal of the spring in the 2nd minute. Candace Halvorson added two goals and Nicky McLeod scored another for the victors. Tigers baseball renews rivalry The University of Memphis baseball squad will continue a five-game homestand this week with its annual meeting with Ole Miss at AutoZone Park today at 6:30 p.m. The game is the Tigers' only scheduled appearance at AutoZone this season. General admission to the game is $8, and all U of M students get in free with a valid school ID. Children under two are also admitted free. Season tickets for Nat Buring home games will not be honored. Tiger football head coach Tommy West will throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Memphis will finish the home stand with Murray State on Wednesday at Nat Buring Stadium. |
| 03/22/05 | |
Mark Finnegan Named C-USA Player of the Week -- Finnegan earns Tigers' third weekly honor from league office (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, Tenn.-- - Senior Mark Finnegan (Kill, County Kildare, Ireland) was named the Conference USA men's tennis player of the week it was announced by the league office, Tuesday. Finnegan was 2-0 in singles and 2-0 in doubles over last weekend, as the Tigers picked up a win at No. 32 South Alabama, 4-3, and a 6-1 victory over C-USA foe Southern Miss. "Mark is playing some great tennis right now," Head Coach Paul Goebel said. "His wins this weekend were big for us in getting a good win over a ranked opponent on the road." Finnegan opened the weekend with a 6-2, 6-1 win at No. 6 singles in the win at ranked South Alabama. The senior followed that with a 7-5, 6-1 victory at No. 5 against USM's Reid Bourgeois. In doubles, Finnegan and junior Alex Jago went 2-0 at No. 3 doubles, winning 8-6 over USM and 8-2 against USA. Finnegan improved to 6-8 on the season and to 11-4 in doubles. Memphis is currently 8-9 on the season and 3-1 in Conference USA. The Tigers also broke into the ITA's national team rankings Tuesday at No. 66. Finnegan is a transfer to the Tiger program after playing his freshman and sophomore years at Georgia Southern. As a freshman, he was named the Southern Conference Freshman of the Year and was named the Team MVP. He suffered a shoulder injury prior to his first season in Memphis played mostly singles as a junior at Memphis, posting a 9-6 record in singles during last spring's dual matches. Finnegan is now 51-47 in singles during his collegiate career and is 32-31 in doubles. The Kill, County Kildare, Ireland native is 25-20 in singles as a Tiger and 17-9 in doubles. Memphis opens a five-match home stand against Georgia State, Sunday. This is the third weekly honor for the Tigers. The doubles team of James Spence (Christchurch, New Zealand) and Scott Felsenthal (Memphis, Tenn./White Station) won the first award, and senior Alex Bucewicz (Melbourne, Australia) earned the second weekly honor for the Tigers. |
| 03/22/05 | |
Green Named C-USA Men's Track and Field Athlete of the Week -- Sophomore sprinter claims first conference honor of outdoor season (GoTigersGo.com) |
| Irving, Texas - University of Memphis sprinter Willie Green has been named the Conference USA Men's Track and Field Athlete of the Week for March 22, it was announced Tuesday by the conference office. The sophomore is the first recipient of the conference award for the outdoor season. Green secured the first Athlete of the Week honor of his career with two individual titles and a relay victory at last Saturday's Rhodes Open, hosted by Rhodes College in Memphis. The first of Green's individual crowns came in the 100m, where he posted a personal best time of 10.72. His second triumph came with his time of 21.91 in the 200m. The Augusta, Ga., native grabbed a third title as part of the 4x100m relay team, which recorded a first-place tally in a time of 41.93. All total, the Memphis track and field squads claimed eight event titles and eight runner-up tallies at the Rhodes Open. Other Tiger victories came from Janon Busby and Brandon Winbush, who captured the high jump and long jump, respectively, while Lady Tiger wins came from Chen Edri in the high jump and javelin and Sheena Ohlig in the 100m hurdles. The University of Memphis Track and Field teams will be back in action this weekend, March 25-26, as they take the road for Baton Rouge, La., to compete in the Tiger Relays, hosted by Louisiana State University. |
| 03/22/05 | |
Men's Tennis Back in National Rankings -- Tigers to kick-off five-match home stand, Sunday, against Georgia State (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, Tenn. - In the first computer formula rankings of the 2005 spring dual tennis season, the University of Memphis men's tennis team (8-9 overall, 3-1 C-USA) jumped from being unranked in the committee's votes to being the No. 66 ranked team in the country it was released by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA), Tuesday.
To date, the Tigers have faced 11 nationally-ranked teams, all of them on the road. Memphis will wrap its 2004-05 spring season with five straight home matches, including one against No. 21 Middle Tennessee, Apr. 10th.
Memphis was one of four Conference USA teams in the first computerized rankings of the season. Tulane led all C-USA programs at No. 18, while Louisville was No. 26. TCU was No. 39 with the Tigers at No. 66.
The Tigers will begin their five-match home-stand Sunday against Georgia State. The Panthers are 11-3 on the season and bring a six-match winning streak with them to Memphis. The Panthers recently took down No. 57 USF, 4-3, and are looking for a second win over a C-USA program.
Senior Jamie Rodriguez leads Georgia State with a 6-6 mark at No. 1 singles. He has also played in a number of spots throughout the GSU doubles line-up, mostly playing with junior Matija Sulin to post a 5-1 mark at No. 3 doubles.
Sophomore Martin Stiegwardt has played all 11 matches at No. 2 singles, posting an 8-3 mark. Stiegwardt is also teaming with freshman Jacek Twarowski for a 7-1 mark at No. 2 doubles. Twarowski is one of three Panthers that have played more than one match at No. 3 singles so far this year for GSU. Clarence Boyd is 2-2 at No. 3 singles, freshman Anze Cevka is 2-1 and Twarowski is 0-4.
Twarowski is 4-1 at No. 4 singles, while Cevka is 4-0. But Cevka is also 3-2 at No. 5 singles, while Sulin and Frank Suro, a transfer from the University of Georgia, have both been highly successful at No. 6 singles. Sulin is 4-0 at No. 6 in his junior season, while Suro, a freshman, is 3-1.
The Tigers bring a season-best three-match winning streak into the contest and are coming off their first-ever win of the season over a top 40 ranked team. The Tigers defeated No. 32 South Alabama in Mobile last Friday, and followed that with a crucial 6-1 win over Southern Miss the following day to improve to 3-1 in league play.
Senior Alex Bucewicz spent two weeks in the national singles rankings, ranking No. 86 in the country before suffering a pair of losses to players outside the rankings. With the losses, Bucewicz dropped to 5-7 at No. 1 singles and fell out of the rankings released Tuesday.
Junior James Spence leads Memphis with 10 singles victories, including a 7-4 mark at No. 2 singles. Spence has a team-high four-match winning streak heading into the Georgia State contest.
The three through five slots have seen a lot of juggling for the Tigers as Memphis seeks to find some consistency in the line-up. Other than an 8-9 record at No. 1, Memphis has losing marks in two other singles spots (6-11 at No. 3 and 4-11 at No. 4), something that could be tough as the No. 4 singles slot is one of the strengths of Georgia State.
The match is tentatively scheduled to be played at noon on the HPER Courts on the U of M campus, but may move indoors earlier in the morning to accommodate the weather. Team Records By Positions Memphis Georgia State No. 1 singles 8-9 8-6 No. 2 singles 11-5 11-3 No. 3 singles 6-11 6-7 No. 4 singles 4-11 10-4 No. 5 singles 8-7 7-7 No. 6 singles 7-6 10-4 No. 1 doubles 9-7 4-7 No. 2 doubles 7-7 10-1 No. 3 doubles 11-4 8-3 |
| 03/22/05 | |
Mutual of Omaha Blue-Gray Game Set for April 2 -- Afternoon scrimmage to be played at Rhodes College (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, TENN. - The 2005 Mutual of Omaha Blue-Gray Game has been set for April 2 at Rhodes College. The awards ceremony will begin at 11:45 a.m., with the scrimmage to follow at noon. This is the second straight year that Rhodes has welcomed the Tigers on its campus. It is also the first year that the game will have a sponsor, as Mutual of Omaha has committed to a three-year partnership. The company will have an interactive booth and giveaways. "We really appreciate Coach Joe White and Rhodes Athletic Director Mike Clary for working with us and allowing us to use their facilities," said Coach Tommy West. "We had a great turnout last year and we are looking forward to another big crowd." The Tigers have completed five of their 15 official spring practices. Memphis opens its 2005 schedule on Labor Day against the Ole Miss Rebels. The game, slated for a 3:30 p.m. start at the Liberty Bowl, will be aired on ESPN. |
| 03/22/05 | |
Baseball's Meeting with Ole Miss Postponed -- Tigers and Rebels reschedule for April 27 at AutoZone (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Today's Memphis-Ole Miss baseball game at AutoZone Park has been cancelled due to inclement weather. The game has been rescheduled for Wed., Apr. 27, as part of a two-game home-and-home series. Memphis will travel to Oxford, Miss. for game one, on Tues., Apr. 26, before hosting the Rebels at the downtown ballpark in the series finale. Both games are slated for 6:30 p.m. starts. Tickets purchased in advanced for today's game will be honored on April 27. Gameday festivities will include a pre-game and post-game concert by Inner 61 and t-shirts will be given to the first 400 students. The Tigers will now prepare for tomorrow's matchup with Murray State (10-10) at Nat Buring Stadium. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. |
| 03/22/05 | |
Coach And Family, U of M Booster To Purchase 500 Tickets For Students For NIT Game -- Tigers to host Vanderbilt Wednesday night at 9:00 p.m. (CT) at FedExForum (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Tiger head coach John Calipari is calling for student supporters to turn out for Wednesday's NIT quarterfinal game versus Vanderbilt. In turn, Calipari and his family are helping the students' cause, purchasing 400 tickets to give to students for Wednesday's game. Also, Dr. T.C. Hilger, a University of Memphis booster, is joining the Calipari family in helping students get to the game, as he is purchasing 100 tickets to give to students. The 500 student tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first serve basis at the Univeristy's Bursar's Office beginning at 8:30 a.m. (CT) Wednesday morning. Each student with a valid University ID can pick up one ticket to Wednesday's game. The tickets are reserved seats. If a student picks up a free ticket and needs to get additional tickets, those tickets will have to be purchased at the Athletic Ticket Office or at FedExForum box office. Ticket prices are $15 for the lower and club levels, $10 for the terrace level and $5 for student tickets. In addition to the free student tickets, buses will be at Richardson Towers on the University of Memphis campus Wednesday evening at 8:00 p.m. (CT) to take students to the game. |
| 03/22/05 | |
Hunt's resurgence keys Tigers' NIT run (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Gary Parrish Contact March 22, 2005 This is the part of the season when people always look toward next season. Who's leaving? Who's coming? Fans with a lot of time on their hands develop mock starting lineups, and usually fall in love with prospects they have never seen in the process of imagining a Final Four run. Meanwhile, veterans not labeled stars get pushed to the side. Right now, Jeremy Hunt is on the side. He's a veteran, yet not a star for the University of Memphis. So when people start trying to replace Anthony Rice in next season's starting lineup, they use names like Chris Douglas-Roberts and Antonio Anderson, two highly-regarded Tiger recruits who should compete for significant playing time as freshmen. Granted, that could be how all this turns out, could be the direction John Calipari chooses to go. Still, nobody should forget about Hunt, not with the way he's been performing lately. "He's playing well," said Calipari, whose Tigers (21-15) will play Vanderbilt (20-13) in the quarterfinals of the NIT on Wednesday night at 9 inside FedExForum. "Jeremy's going to be a player here." Hunt replaced Rodney Carney in the starting lineup after a loss to Cincinnati in the last game of the regular season as Memphis turned to a three-guard lineup. Since then, the 6-4 junior has started six games. In those games, the Tigers are 5-1, and Hunt's been a big reason why. He's averaged 15.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 3.0 steals per contest. The Craigmont High graduate had 22 points and seven rebounds against Saint Louis, and a career-high 24 points and seven rebounds against Northeastern in the UofM's NIT opener last week. "Jeremy's picked it up big time," said Memphis senior Arthur Barclay. "He's playing his butt off. He's rebounding, playing great defense, stealing balls, dishing balls. "If the recruits for next year are watching and wanting to know what Coach Cal expects, that's what he expects." There are many attributes that make Hunt an asset for this team. But ask Calipari about him, and toughness is always the thing the fifth-year Memphis coach spends time addressing. Hunt has no problem banging with bigger opponents for rebounds. He has no problem taking a charge. He has no problem slashing to the lane and drawing fouls. Those things -- especially the last -- make Hunt's 35.5 shooting percentage easy to overcome. Because for every time he misses a shot, there's another time where he gets a rebound, causes a turnover or creates a foul and goes to the line. In fact, Hunt has been to the line 112 times this season, a number that ranks third on the team despite him missing nine games due to injury and two more because of a suspension. "I can get fouled, but I just have to start making the free throws," Hunt said with a smile after going 1-for-6 from the line in Saturday's win over Virginia Tech. "But really, all I'm trying to do is rebound, be aggressive and get fouled or create shots for my teammates. I'm not worried about starting, or next year. I'm just trying to help this team win the NIT." -- Gary Parrish: 529-2365 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Tigers in the NIT Matchup: Tigers (21-15) vs. Vanderbilt (20-13). When, where: Wednesday, 9 p.m., at FedExForum. Tickets: $10 for upper level, $15 for lower level and club level and $5 for students. Available through Ticketmaster, at the UofM box office and the FedExForum box office. |
| 03/22/05 | |
Tiger recruit will showcase skills tonight in Chicago (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Gary Parrish Contact March 22, 2005 Tonight Shawne Williams will participate in the Roundball Classic in Chicago. So if you're a University of Memphis fan with a subscription to College Sports Television, go ahead and tune-in and deal with your dilemma. What dilemma, you ask? The same dilemma Arkansas dealt with last year with Al Jefferson. The same dilemma North Carolina dealt with last year with Josh Smith. Naturally, most UofM fans must want Williams to perform well in this event featuring 24 of the top high school players. But if he performs too well, the chances of him ever actually being a Tiger will decrease while his NBA stock rises. "I'm not worried about it," said Memphis coach John Calipari. "If he's lucky enough to get himself into the lottery, I'll be more than happy for him. But I would love the opportunity to coach him." A 6-9 wing, Williams has begun to appear on mock drafts around the internet, and is reportedly becoming an intriguing prospect to many NBA scouts. NBADraft.net has the Laurinburg (N.C.) Institute Prep standout slotted as the 41st pick in June's draft. ESPN.com, last week, wrote that several unnamed general managers believed Williams would be a late first-round pick if he made himself available. "It's going to be his decision," Calipari said. "Some kids make good decisions. Some kids make bad decisions. So I just hope he makes the right decision, whatever that is." Why the late start? Given the choice, Calipari said he would rather play Wednesday's NIT quarterfinal earlier than its scheduled 9 p.m. start. But he had no choice. Here's why: First, that was the only time slot ESPN2 had available. Secondly, because the Vanderbilt-Wichita State game didn't start until 8 Monday night, it was easier to make the Tigers' next opponent play late. So 9 it is. "I wish we played the early game, but I don't care," Calipari said. "We may lose some of the kids who were going to come, but it'll be fine." |
| 03/22/05 | |
Memphis to play Vanderbilt (Daily Helmsman) |
| The Associated Press March 22, 2005 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Corey Smith hit a layup as time expired and Vanderbilt advanced to the quarterfinals of the National Invitation Tournament with a 65-63 victory over Wichita State on Monday night. Vanderbilt (20-13) will play at Memphis on Wednesday night for a berth in the NIT semifinals in New York. Mario Moore hit nine 3-pointers and scored a career-high 31 points for the Commodores. With the game tied at 63 with 0.7 seconds left, Jason Holwerda threw a pass the length of the court to an open Smith, who caught the ball and laid it in as time expired, touching off a wild celebration on the Memorial Gym floor. Moments earlier, Wichita State's Jamar Howard nearly forced overtime by converting an offensive rebound off a missed free throw to tie the game. Vanderbilt's DeMarre Carroll blocked a potential layup by Howard with six seconds remaining to protect a 61-60 Vanderbilt lead. Moore made two free throws to push Vanderbilt's lead to 63-60. The Commodores fouled Sean Ogirri, who made the first foul shot and missed the second intentionally. Moore hit four 3-pointers in the final four minutes as Vanderbilt recovered from blowing a 12-point lead in the second half. Julian Terrell scored 14 points and had 14 rebounds for Vanderbilt, which extended its non-conference winning streak to 24 games. Paul Miller led Wichita State (22-10) with 13 points and six rebounds. PJ Couisanrd, Matt Braueuer and Randy Burns all scored 11. Vanderbilt lost a 12-point second half lead when Wichita State went on a 17-2 run to take a 50-46 lead with 4:36 to play. The Shockers saw their season end with a defeat in the NIT for the third straight year. Vanderbilt advanced to the NIT quarterfinals for the first time since 1998. Vanderbilt set a school-record for home victories with 17 and recorded back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time since 1993-94 |
| 03/21/05 | |
Baseball Set for Clash with Ole Miss at AutoZone Park -- Tommy West to throw out ceremonial first pitch (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The University of Memphis baseball squad will finalize its season-long five game homestand this week with its annual meeting with Ole Miss at AutoZone Park on Tues., Mar. 22, followed by a matchup with Murray State on Wed., Mar. 23, at Nat Buring Stadium. Tiger football head coach Tommy West will throw out the ceremonial first pitch for Tuesday's game at AutoZone. The official first pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. General admission to the game is $8 and all U of M students get in free with a valid school ID. Children two and younger are also admitted free. Season tickets for Nat Buring games will not be honored for this game. Memphis is 6-10 on the year after dropping two of three in its first Conference USA weekend series of the season. The Tigers were shut out for the first time this year in the series-opener, but bounced back on Saturday to claim their first league win. Memphis was held to just one run in an 11-1 loss in the series finale. Houston outscored Memphis 23-10 in the weekend. The U of M has come up short in five of the last six contests and is 8-2 in the last 10. The Tigers are led offensively by Chad House, who continues to swing a hot stick, hitting .375. House leads the team and is seventh in C-USA in hitting and on-base percentage with a .478 clip. He has also scored 11 runs. Three other Tigers -Ryan Martin (.348), Patrick Hope (.348) and Jordan Tolliver (.329)--are hitting over .300. Martin is the Tigers big slugger leading the squad with three home runs, six doubles, 19 RBI and a .576 slugging percentage. He is tied with Tolliver for the team lead in hits at 23. Tolliver, a juco transfer from John A. Logan CC leads the team with 19 runs scored. Patrick Hope had a 15-game hitting streak snapped in the second game of the Mississippi State series on Wednesday, but still is among the team's top hitters with 21 hits in the young season. Tiger pitchers are led by middle relievers Drew Jaudon and Tim Senter. The juco transfers lead the team in ERA, at 3.00 and 3.55, respectively. Jaudon earned his first career save in the Tiger's 9-6 triumph over Houston on Saturday. The Memphis staff holds a 6.50 ERA and opponents are hitting at a .314 clip with 17 home runs against them. No. 14 Ole Miss is coming off an SEC series win over Florida, two games to one. The Rebels roster showcases six players from the Memphis area. Ole Miss has won 12 of its last 13, including a 10-game winning streak to get them to 17-4. The Rebs have dominated their opponents, outscoring them by more than 100 runs, 181-77, led by eight Rebel starters who are hitting over .300 this year, four of which are hitting above .350. Brian Pettway leads the charge at .434 with a team-high 36 hits, including eight home runs, five doubles and a team-leading 28 runs driven in. Stephen Head paces the team 25 runs scored. He is hitting .357 with 5 doubles, seven round trippers and 27 RBI. **more** The Rebel pitching staff has been solid, holding opposing hitters to a .247 average while maintaining a 3.00 ERA. Matt Maloney leads the staff with a 0.79 ERA and 42 strikeouts. The Tigers' oldest rival, Memphis holds a 52-82-1 all-time mark against Ole Miss. The Rebel's and Tigers' history dates back to the 1915 season. Murray State is 10-10, but has lost six straight going into Wednesday's meeting. Memphis holds a 55-29 record against the Thoroughbreds. The 55 Wins are the second most against any opponent. First pitch for the Murray State tilt is set for 6:30 p.m. at Nat Buring Stadium. Both games will be broadcast live by Jeff Brightwell on WUMR FM 91.7. |
| 03/21/05 |  |
Women's Basketball Post-Season Banquet Set for April 8th -- Registration form is included as a .pdf file below (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The Lady Tiger basketball team will gather to celebrate the 2004-05 season in a post-season banquet on April 8th at the University of Memphis Holiday Inn. Registration starts at 6:30 p.m., with the dinner beginning at 7 p.m. Cost for attending the banquet is $30 per person. Reservations are to be received no later than March 25th. Registration forms (as a .pdf file) are available below: Complete Release in PDF Format |
| 03/21/05 | |
A few things on my mind this week . . . SCATTERED THOUGHTS (Memphis Flyer) |
| FRANK MURTAUGH You want to know why an entire community fell in love with Darius Washington over two missed free throws on March 12th? It’s the most elementary aspect of a relationship: empathy. Very few among us would have been able to equate with Washington’s achievement had he made all three game-ending foul shots to beat Louisville and earn an NCAA tournament berth for his Memphis Tigers. But every last one of us shared his pain when he crumpled to the FedExForum floor after missing the last two. We’ve all suffered crushing loss, when the tears and regret overwhelm what strength we have left. Likewise, anyone in attendance last Wednesday night, when Washington was the first Tiger introduced before the team’s NIT opener at the Forum, could share the love that rode sound waves of cheer during the freshman’s extended standing ovation. It’s the only time I’ve ever experienced a game that was entirely anticlimactic to a pregame introduction. The highlight of the Tigers’ 25-point victory over Northeastern was certainly Washington’s breakaway dunk seven minutes into the game, his first points since Saturday’s heartbreak. The crowd of 7,392 sounded twice its size. And life went on in Tiger Nation. The Tigers’ third-round NIT game Wednesday night at FedExForum will be especially meaningful for Memphis senior Anthony Rice. In playing his 133rd career game, Rice will break a 19-year-old record held by Andre Turner and the late Baskerville Holmes. The achievement is further testament to Rice’s durability and consistency, a fitting mark to be left by one of the most underrated Tigers in the program’s history. But here’s the sad part. Only three of Rice’s games were in the NCAA tournament. By comparison, Turner and Holmes played together in 12 games (between 1983 and ‘86) on the sport’s brightest stage. Say what you will about John Calipari’s role in the disappointing 2004-05 season, but the guy is a walking 20-win season. This year marks his fifth straight 20-win campaign in Memphis (only achieved once before in the program’s history, from 1981-82 through 1988-89) and he won at least 20 his last six seasons at UMass. There are days when the immeasurable absurdity of professional sports makes me want to turn away from the television and sports page . . . forever. I read a hauntingly insightful excerpt from a book by Harvard economist Jeffrey Sachs in the March 14th issue of Time magazine. Sachs explores the means and possibilities for helping the millions upon millions of people worldwide living in extreme poverty (measured as living on less than one dollar a day). Sachs advocates relatively simple, but to this point neglected steps that can be taken, like providing impoverished communities with fertilizer, clean water, even mosquito nets to fight malaria. Then, last week in Sports Illustrated, I read about a couple of birthday gifts received by Shaquille O’Neal from his wife: a $16,000 cake and a $100,000 Superman necklace. This is every bit as ugly, in my eyes, as reading of the latest big-league steroid abuse. Shame on Shaq. And shame on all of us fans for affording his ilk this kind of head-shaking, perspective-quaking luxury. Consider this the next time you pay $10 for a basket of popcorn at a Grizzlies game that cost, oh, 25 cents to make. Maybe the National Hockey League is on to something. Mark McGwire’s testimony before Congress on steroid abuse in baseball last Thursday was nothing short of pathetic. By now -- particularly with his dodging any and all questions about his own possible use -- it’s clear the former Home Run King was juiced. (If Big Mac never used a steroid, I never used a pen.) But this is where McGwire -- the man, the human being -- could retain his heroic status. Remember, cheating damages his baseball credibility, his numbers . . . but it doesn’t have to damage his role as a contributing member of society. This is a guy who has been active -- with his wallet, Shaq -- in helping abused children. He left millions on the table with an unsigned contract in St. Louis when he abruptly retired four years ago. Instead of straightening his broad shoulders before Congress, though, and taking a swing at baseball’s most recent epidemic, McGwire leaned on the advice of attorneys, refusing to talk about “the past” or “negatives.” The past and “negatives” Mark, are the only reasons you were asked to Washington! The national pastime’s steroid mess just got messier. |
| 03/21/05 | |
Tiger Notes (basketball, baseball, soccer) (Commercial Appeal) |
| By From Our Press Services March 21, 2005 Tigers land another home game in NIT The University of Memphis will host its NIT quarterfinal on Wednesday at FedExForum. Tip-off is scheduled for 9 p.m., and the opponent will be the winner of tonight's game in Nashville between Vanderbilt (19-13) and Wichita State (22-9). ESPN2 will handle the broadcast Wednesday, marking the 16th time this season the Tigers (21-15) have played on national television. If the Tigers win, they will advance to the NIT Final Four in New York for the third time in five years. The semifinals of the NIT are March 29 at Madison Square Garden. The championship game is March 31. Tickets for Wednesday's quarterfinal will be available for public purchase at 8:30 this morning at the UofM's Athletic Office Building on campus. Anybody buying tickets today or Tuesday can pick them up at the AOB on Wednesday between 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. After that, all tickets will be moved to FedExForum's box office. Tiger Club season ticket holders who ordered tickets Sunday can pick them up after noon on Tuesday at the AOB. Ticket prices for the game are the same as the Tigers' previous NIT home contests, two double-digit victories over Northeastern and Virginia Tech. Seats in the lower levels are $15. Upper-level tickets cost $10. Student tickets are $5. In other games Houston 11, Memphis 1 at Nat Buring: The Tigers (6-10, 1-2 C-USA) couldn't generate any offense in Sunday's final baseball game of the series against visiting Houston (9-12, 2-1), mustering just five hits. Kevin Roberts went 3-for-5 with four RBI to pace the Cougars, including a two-run double in the third off Tiger starter Neil Schenk that gave his team a 3-0 lead. Memphis returns to action Tuesday with a game against Ole Miss at AutoZone Park. Football coach Tommy West is scheduled to throw out the first pitch for the 6:30 p.m. start. In developments Lady Tigers split: The University of Memphis women's soccer team split two games at the Huntsville (Ala.) College Classic, losing to a Region 3 Olympic Development Under 17 squad, 1-0, before beating UAB, 4-2. Candace Halvorson scored twice against the Blazers. |
| 03/20/05 | |
Lady Tigers Split Pair of Games in Alabama -- Memphis knocks off C-USA champ UAB, falls to ODP team (GoTigersGo.com) |
| Huntsville, Ala. - The women's soccer team dropped its first game of the spring season in its first game on Sunday but rebounded by winning its second game against defending Conference USA champion UAB at the Huntsville College Classic. The Lady Tigers were defeated by the Region III Olympic Development Program U-17 team 1-0 in the morning but then came back and exploded for four goals en route to a 4-2 victory over the Blazers in the afternoon. The split gives the Tigers a 4-1-2 record for the spring exhibition season. Against the ODP team, which had tied with Auburn and defeated Vanderbilt on Saturday, the game was scoreless until the around the 55th minute when Region III scored the lone goal of the game. The Tigers had two good scoring chances but did not finish on either of them. "No disrespect to the other teams we have played but this team was probably the best that we have played this spring," said Memphis coach Brooks Monaghan. "There are kids on this team that will probably play for the National Team in the future. I didn't think we were at our best and we made some poor decisions which ultimately ended up costing us the game. But, this was a good chance to go up against some great competition." Against UAB, which defeated the Tigers twice last season, Shoko Mikami opened the scoring just two minutes into the game when she converted a penalty kick for her team-leading seventh goal of the spring. In the 12th minute, UAB tied the score and then five minutes after that, went ahead 2-1 on another goal. Memphis wasted little time in answered as the Tigers scored against about three minutes later on a goal by Nicky McLeod that was unassisted, her second goal of the spring. Candace Halvorson then scored her second goal of the spring about four minutes before halftime to put the Tigers up 3-2 when she kicked a corner kick directly into the goal. Her first goal of the spring was also off a corner kick that went directly into the goal. Halvorson then netted her second goal of the game and third of the spring with about 10 minutes remaining in the game to give the Tigers the 4-2 advantage. She was assisted by Mikami, her second assist of the spring. "I think we were excited to play UAB even through it was just the spring since they were the team that ended our season last year," said Monaghan. "We were definitely ready to play and it was certainly the better of the two games today. It was a good win against a very good team and it shows what we are capable of next fall if we live up to our potential." The Tigers have just two games left in their spring schedule, the first of which comes on Saturday, April 2 at Arkansas. Memphis will then wrap up its spring slate of games with a home contest against Mississippi State on Tuesday, April 12 at Mike Rose Soccer Complex. |
| 03/20/05 | |
Memphis To Host NIT Quarterfinal Game Wednesday At FedExForum -- Tigers to face Wichita State-Vanderbilt winner Wednesday at 9 pm (CT) (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, Tenn. - National Invitation Tournament (NIT) officials notified the University of Memphis Athletic Department Sunday night that the Tigers will host an NIT quarterfinal contest Wednesday at 9:00 p.m. (CT). ESPN or ESPN2 will televise the game. The Tigers will play the winner of Monday's Wichita State-Vanderbilt game, which is being played in Nashville. That game is scheduled for an 8:00 p.m. (CT) tip on ESPN. Memphis advanced to the NIT quarterfinals with an 83-62 win over Virginia Tech Saturday. The Tigers had a 21-15 overall record. Tiger Club season ticket holders that ordered their tickets on Sunday afternoon can pick up their NIT quarterfinal tickets beginning at 12:00 p.m. (CT) on Tuesday at the Athletic Office Building on campus. The University of Memphis Ticket Office will also take ticket orders for the game beginning at 8:30 a.m. (CT) Monday. Those ordering tickets on Monday and Tuesday can pick up their tickets on Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. (CT) at the Athletic Office Building on campus. For those that are unable to come by the Athletic Office Building, their tickets will be available for pick-up at FedExForum box office prior to the game. |
| 03/20/05 | |
Memphis Athletes Take Home Nine Event Titles at Rhodes Open -- Green and Winbush set personal best marks, taking 100m and long jump crowns (GoTigersGo.com) |
| Memphis, Tenn. - On a day that was primarily used for training and gaining event experience, the University of Memphis track and field teams saw many positives as U of M athletes took home nine titles, set seven personal records and reached 12 NCAA Regional provisional qualifying marks at the Rhodes Open, hosted by Rhodes College in Memphis. Junior Willie Green, sophomore Brandon Winbush and freshman Chen Edri recorded several of the top Memphis finishes, reaching three reaching provisional marks, claiming five event titles, and setting two personal bests. Green took home titles in the100m and 200m where he posted times of 10.72 and 21.91, respectively. His mark in the 100m was personal best and provisionally qualified him for NCAA Regional championships. Edri recorded victories in the high jump and javelin with marks of 5-06.00" (1.68m) and (131-03.50" (40.02m), respectively, provisionally qualifying for NCAA Regionals in the high jump. Winbush posted a personal best of 23-07.50" (7.20m) in a victory in the long jump, also reaching a provisional qualifying mark. Other Memphis athletes taking home event titles were Gail Lee in the shot put (47-05.00" (14.45m)), Janon Busby in the jump (6-08.00" (2.03m)) and Sheena Ohlig in the 100m hurdles (14.57). All of their tallies were also provisional qualifying marks. The ninth Memphis event title came from the men's 4x100m relay teams, which posted a provisional qualifying time of 41.93. In addition to the nine event titles, U of M athletes posted eight runner-up tallies in the meet. Chanel Dunn, Gary Nemeth and Norbert Gulyas finished second and posted provisional qualifying marks in the women's 100m and men's 100m and discus, respectively, with marks of 11.91, 10.81 and 159-01.50" (48.50m). Other runner-up showings for the U of M were Daniele Riendeau in the 5000m (18:01.44), Josetta Brooks in the 400m hurdles (1:07.27) and Maria Majzik in the long jump (17-06.25" (5.34m)) for the women and Gary Nemeth in the 200m (21.99) for the men. The women's 4x100m relay team claimed another second-place finish and provisional qualifying mark with their time of 47.29. LaShunda Flake posted a final provisional mark for the U of M as she placed third in the 100m with a time of 12.20. Both the Tigers and Lady Tigers finished third in their respective team competitions with totals of 112 and 106 points. SEMO won the men's championship with 154 points, while Calvin College won the women's title with 159 points. The next meet for the track and field teams will be the LSU Tiger Relays, which will be hosted next weekend, March 25-26, by Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, La. |
| 03/20/05 | |
Baseball Drops Series Finale, 11-1 to Houston -- U of M looks ahead to Tuesday night meeting with Ole Miss at AutoZone Park (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Houston (9-12; 2-1 C-USA) 003 013 022 - 11 18 0 MEMPHIS (6-10; 1-2 C-USA) 000 001 000 - 1 5 3 Houston (9-12; 2-1 C-USA) pitchers combined to hold Memphis (6-10; 1-2 C-USA) to just five hits and one run to defeat the Tigers 11-1 and claim the Conference USA season-opening series three games to two. Jordan Tolliver was the lone Tiger to record multiple hits, going 2-for-3. Houston broke a scoreless tie with three runs in the top of the third inning. Consecutive singles by Brett Logan and Travis Tully gave way to an RBI ground ball by Jake Stewart. Houston took a 3-0 advantage after Kevin Roberts doubled to rightfield to score Tully and Stewart, who reached on a fielding error. UH scored a run in the fifth, but put the contest out of reach with three scores in the sixth. Logan and Tully again knocked back-to-back singles and, after a double play, Mark McGonigle drew a two-out walk. Roberts ripped his second double of the contest, plating Logan and McGonigle. The Cougars took a 7-0 lead when Roberts scored on a Tiger fielding error. The Tigers avoided the Cougars shutout bud with a run in the sixth on an RBI ground out by Adam Amar that scored Tolliver. Houston scored two runs in the eighth on a two-run blast by Brad Lincoln, and then posted two more in the ninth on an RBI-double by McGonigle, and a run-scoring single by Brian Temko. Cougar starter Kevin Roberts (2-1) picked up the win going seven innings and allowing just four hits and one run, while fanning six. Roberts went 3-for-5 on the day with four RBI and a pair of runs scored. Freshman Neil Schenk was the losing pitcher after giving up four runs on eight hits in four-and-two-thirds innings of work. Memphis will return to the diamond on Tues., Mar. 22 when they host the annual matchup with Ole Miss at AutoZone Park. Tiger football coach Tommy West will throw out the game's first pitch, with the official first pitch set for 6:30 p.m. General admission to the game is $8 and all U of M students get in free with a valid school ID. Children two and younger are also admitted free. Season tickets for Nat Buring games will not be honored for this game. |
| 03/20/05 | |
Sheer determination -- Barclay gets active on the boards, helping Tigers reach NIT quarterfinals (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Gary Parrish Contact March 20, 2005 Arthur Barclay is the backbone of this University of Memphis team. Tough. Proud. Relentless. He's a guy willing to do whatever's necessary to help the Tigers win. Except shoot. Getting a rebound and taking it back up is completely out of the question. So stop asking. He's not shooting. "I know I can shoot," Barclay said. "But sometimes I don't have the legs to go back up with it." Memphis advanced to the quarterfinals of the National Invitation Tournament with an 83-62 victory over Virginia Tech Saturday inside FedExForum. As for Barclay, he didn't score one point. He didn't even take a shot, or a free throw. Yet still, in many ways, the senior seemed like the difference in a nice matchup turned blowout that pleased the 9,129 in attendance. Barclay finished with 12 rebounds and two assists in just 15 minutes. At the half, he had six offensive boards in eight minutes while Virginia Tech, as a team, had four. The byproduct? Memphis led 41-27 after 20 minutes, which advanced a 26-point lead in a second half that allowed Barclay, and whoever else, to rest and coast down the stretch. "It's unbelievable," said UofM coach John Calipari. "And I'm trying to tell our other big guys, 'Watch him. Every one of you has more athleticism and raw talent than he does.' But let me just tell you, working hard is a talent. Being aggressive is a talent. That's a skill. And our other guys don't have that skill. "It's hard what he does. It takes unbelievable energy and unbelievable focus. But he's a guy who helps you win." While Rodney Carney (17 points), Anthony Rice (16 points), Jeremy Hunt (15 points), Darius Washington (14 points) and Duane Erwin (13 points) were doing all the scoring, Barclay spent the afternoon doing exactly what he's spent the whole year doing. There were no highlight-film dunks. Or fancy passes. Or even a rebound ripped from the top of the square. Everything was much simpler than that. Much more basic. Barclay drew two charges. He blocked out. He clapped a lot, and created energy. And a win. So now the Tigers (21-15) are one-victory away against a yet-to-be-determined opponent from advancing to the Final Four of the NIT. Meanwhile, Virginia Tech's season is over. "Memphis has a very, very good basketball team," said Virginia Tech's Seth Greenberg, the reigning Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year. "They really defended well." The box score proved it. Memphis held Virginia Tech (16-14) to 35.5 percent shooting from the field, and is now holding opponents to 38.3 percent for the season, which ranks fifth in the nation. The Hokies missed 13-of-15 3-point attempts, and 40-of-62 total shots. Sophomore Jamon Gordon was the only Virginia Tech starter to make at least half his attempts, going 6-of-12 from the field to score a team-high 16 points. Adding to the Hokies' demise was a lack of rebounding and poor free-throw shooting. Memphis dominated Virginia Tech on the boards by a 47-35 margin. And though the Hokies could have compensated for that deficit by getting points at the free-throw line, they didn't, and missed 13-of-29 attempts. "That was a tough game," said Virginia Tech freshman Deron Washington. "We couldn't make shots, or rebound or make free throws." But Memphis could, and did. So the Tigers lived to play again, possibly against Vanderbilt on Wednesday. "Everybody's pitching in right now," said Washington, the freshman point guard who had five assists for the third straight game. "Everybody's doing their part right now, and that's why we're winning like this." -- Gary Parrish: 529-2365 |
| 03/20/05 | |
U of M Postgame (Commercial Appeal) |
| Play of the game Opposing wings not versed on Rodney Carney's leaping ability often find themselves shocked when their jumper is blocked in a manner usually not realistic. Add Virginia Tech's Carlos Dixon to that list. He attempted a shot at the top of the key that was shoved down by Carney. The ball trickled towards midcourt, and Carney scooped it up and took off the other way. So the crowd stood, and the junior delivered. He jumped from just inside the foul line, and finished with a tomahawk dunk that gave the Tigers a 76-50 lead. The slam was replayed on the scoreboard no less than three times. Stat of the game Anthony Rice, played in his 132nd game as a Tiger. That number is good enough to tie Rice with Andre Turner and the late Baskerville Holmes for first on the school's all-time list of games played. Rice should break the record in the NIT quarterfinal. X's and O's With the shot clock and game clock almost identical at the end of the first half, Darius Washington dribbled the ball near midcourt while the seconds ticked away. His four teammates got into position, and then John Calipari attempted what can only be described as a misdirection play. Duane 'Red' Erwin stood alone in the right corner. For 15 seconds, Calipari yelled. "Give it to Red!," he said. "Shoot the 3, Red! Shoot the 3!." Apparently, Virginia Tech's Seth Greenberg had studied the Tigers' season statistics, and recognized Erwin had shot only five 3-pointers all season because the Hokies never guarded him. Washington never looked at Erwin, and instead got the ball to Jeremy Hunt, who was fouled on his way to the basket and made 1-of-2 free throws to give Memphis a 41-27 lead at halftime. Trends The Tigers improved to 9-2 in NIT games played in Memphis. Odds and ends Carney continued to move up the UofM's career scoring list. With 17 points against Virginia Tech, the junior forward is 20th on the list with 1,218 total points. William Bedford is 19th with 1,224 points. One of the officials Calipari exchanged words with a few times was a new face to FedExForum, but he had a familiar name. Tim Clougherty, son of longtime referee John Clougherty, worked the game. What's next The Tigers advanced to the NIT quarterfinals and will next play Vanderbilt, Western Kentucky or Wichita State in the quarterfinals. Vanderbilt will host the winner of Saturday night's Western Kentucky-Wichita State game Monday in Nashville. The winner of that game will then play Memphis on Wednesday, according to the NIT Web site. The site of that quarterfinal game has not been determined, but Memphis will bid to host. Either way, the process for ticket orders will begin today. Tiger Club season-ticket holders should call the Tiger Club office at 678-2331 today between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. to place orders for priority seating. Prices are $15 for the two lower levels, $10 for the upper level and $5 for students with valid ID. -- Gary Parrish |
| 03/20/05 | |
Martin leads Tigers to win over Houston (Commercial Appeal) |
| By From Our Press Services March 20, 2005 Senior Ryan Martin went 3-for-4 with a homer and three RBI, and Nick Bradshaw (1-0) scattered seven hits and struck out a pair as Memphis evened the series with a 9-6 victory over Houston Saturday at Nat Buring Stadium. The Tigers (6-9, 1-1) snapped a four-game losing skid and picked up their first Conference USA win under first-year skipper Daron Schoenrock. Memphis used a three-run seventh inning to take command of the ball game. Drew Jaudon worked a scoreless ninth to gain his first career save for Memphis. Memphis and Houston (8-12, 1-1) will play the series finale today at noon. |
| 03/20/05 | |
U of M changes thrust with Tiger Scholarship Fund -- 'We're trying to put the focus where it needs to be' (Commercial Appeal) |
| By David Williams Contact March 20, 2005 University of Memphis athletic fund-raising is getting a more serious face and a more assertive personality. Starting Monday the Tiger Clubs will be known as the Tiger Scholarship Fund. The name better reflects the fact -- unknown to many, apparently -- that donations to the fund go toward the annual cost of scholarships for student-athletes, which is more than $5 million a year. "Scholarship is the key word," said Bill Lansden, U of M associate athletic director of development. U of M alumnus Ben Bryant, president of the fund's Tiger Athletic Advisory Board, said, "We're trying to put the focus where it needs to be -- that the money that's given goes directly to funding the students' tuition." The Tiger Clubs raised about $4.4 million for scholarships last fiscal year, meaning the university had to make up a $600,000 shortfall. Lansden said, "We've got to get to the point where we are self-sufficient within the Tiger Scholarship Fund to where we are bringing in at least as many or more dollars than what our scholarships are." This year's fund-raising goal is $5 million. Down the road the target is $6.5 million to $7 million, which Lansden said would make Memphis more competitive with such "peer" schools as Louisville, Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Arkansas. Toward that goal, the school's six-person development office is looking to strengthen and broaden its base. Meetings are taking place with current donors to thank them, better explain the fund-raising mission, and seek referrals for potential new donors. "We have to stress to them that we need their help in meeting other people," Lansden said. "We need your Sunday school teacher. We need your next-door neighbor. We need your co-worker." Also, Lansden said, "We're asking certain Tiger Scholarship Fund members to help us host some receptions, maybe at their house or business. Invite 10 of your friends. Let's all get them in a room and talk about the Tiger Scholarship Fund and what it means. We're actively pursuing that. Actively." Bryant, who earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from the U of M, said he sees growth potential for fund-raising in the corporate community to expand what has been a "narrow giving base." And, he said, "There are a lot of donors out there who have given once and kind of fallen off the radar. We need to regenerate that line of communication." There are eight levels of giving in the scholarship fund, from $100 to $25,000, tied to basketball seating priority. But one goal of the Tiger Scholarship Fund is to urge donors to think beyond basketball. "Whether we have a winning basketball season or you don't like your seat locations, we want that donor to say, 'I'm still going to make my donation because I'm concerned about providing funds for student-athletes,'" Lansden said. "And that's the main message." Former Tiger basketball star Elliot Perry said that without a scholarship -- which includes tuition, room and board, and books -- his family couldn't have afforded to send him to college. "It was huge for me," he said. "First of all, it gave me an opportunity to further my education. And, at the same time, to go to the University of Memphis, where I had admired so many players. ... The dream was coming true." The new name and logo, then, aren't just about increasing donations. They're also about educating donors and potential donors. "It's going to be two or three years of us continuing to carry the message of the importance of the Tiger Scholarship Fund, the importance of donating to us, and where the money goes," Lansden said. -- David Williams: 529-2310 ----------------------------------------------- FUND-RAISING BY THE NUMBERS: $9,689: The cost for each in-state scholarship awarded to a student-athlete $18,413: The cost for each out-of-state scholarship 330-plus: The number of scholarship athletes at the U of M; some have partial scholarships $4.4 million: Funds raised for scholarships for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2004 $5 million-plus: Annual cost of athletic scholarships 2,600: Number of Tiger Clubs donors, at levels ranging from $100 to $25,000 $5 million: Fund-raising goal for fiscal year ending June 30, 2005 $22 million: U of M annual athletic budget |
| 03/19/05 | |
Memphis 83, Virginia Tech 62 (Daily Helmsman) |
| The Associated Press March 19, 2005 MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Sure, Memphis would rather be in the NCAA tournament. Right now, however, the Tigers simply want to keep playing. "We're peaking at the right time," Memphis center Arthur Barclay said. "We're in the NIT, and we're making the best of it. We're happy they let us in, so we're going to try and take advantage of it and win the whole thing." Memphis (21-15) took another step Saturday toward the semifinals in Madison Square Garden. Rodney Carney scored 17 points, leading five Memphis players in double figures helping the Tigers beat Virginia Tech 83-62 in the second round. Anthony Rice added 16 and Jeremy Hunt scored 15 for the Tigers, who held a double-digit lead throughout the second half. Darius Washington had 14 points and five assists. Virginia Tech (16-14) shot poorly late in the first half to give Memphis the lead for good. The Hokies also struggled from the foul line, hitting only 16 of 29 in the game. "Their defense is good," Virginia Tech coach Seth Greenberg said. "They're long. They're strong, and they are very quick to help. They contest well." Memphis made only half its free throws (13 of 26), but the Tigers got their transition game running, and in the second half poured on the points. "We just played the fourth-place ACC team, and we were up 25 points," Memphis coach John Calipari said. "We're a pretty good team also." Jamon Gordon led the Hokies with 16 points while Carlos Dixon scored 13. Zabian Dowdell, Virginia Tech's leading scorer, managed only eight points on 3-of-10 shooting. The Tigers dominated the boards 47-35, another key. "They kicked our tails on the glass, plain and simple," Greenberg said. "They basically were bigger and stronger than us. Barclay, the Memphis senior center, was a major contributor. He grabbed 12 rebounds, including eight on the offensive end, but never took a shot, not even a putback. "I jump maybe 3 inches, and that's on a good day," said Barclay, who has been beset by knee injuries during his career. "It's all about positioning and playing hard. If you play harder than your opponent, it's going to be hard. Most people don't want to play hard." Neither team led by more than three points through the first 16 minutes. In the stretch, there were 12 lead changes and five ties. Virginia Tech was shooting well, and Memphis was controlling the boards. But Virginia Tech suddenly began misfiring, hitting only one of its last 10 shots in the final eight minutes of the half. The Tigers went on a 15-2 run to close the period and led 41-27 at the break. Carney had 10 points, despite hitting only three of his 10 first-half shots. Dixon scored 10 for the Hokies. Memphis moved in front 47-29 early in the second half. It weathered a brief rally by the Hokies and maintained a double-digit advantage, holding a 76-50 lead with 5:36 left. "We laid the foundation," Greenberg said. "Building a program is a process. It doesn't happen overnight. Last year, having a winning season. This season, getting to postseason play." "We tried," he added. "We're a work in progress. We're not quick-fixing this thing." |
| 03/19/05 | |
Lady Tigers Fall 4-3 in Louisiana -- Memphis falls to UL-Lafayette (GoTigersGo.com) |
| The University of Memphis women's tennis team fell to 3-9 on the season with a 4-3 loss at Louisiana-Lafayette, Saturday afternoon.
Due to expected rain in the forecast, the teams played singles first, with both teams winning three matches, forcing the doubles play. Memphis picked up wins at No. 1, 4 and 5 singles before Louisiana-Lafayette grabbed the doubles point with wins at No. 1 and 3 doubles.
The Lady Tigers will next be in action March 30th at Southern Illinois. Doubles: 1) Lyles/Linden (UL) d. Dirnstorfer/Cowie (UM) 8-6 2) Feichtinger/Tijoe (UM) d. Landry/Meijer (UL) 8-1 3) Bortoletto/VanWeydeveld (UL) d. Noble/Kohl (UM) 8-2 Singles: 1) Marlene Dirnstorfer (UM) d. Day (UL) 5-5, ret. 2) VanWeydeveld (UL) d. Andrea Feichtinger (UM) 6-2, 6-1 3) Meijer (UL) d. Brooke Cowie (UM) 6-1, 6-1 4) Kristin Noble (UM) d. Linden (UL) 7-6, 4-6, 2-6 5) Christina Wieser (UM) d. Bortoletto (UL) 6-1, 7-5 6) Lyles (UL) d. Kathrin Kohl (UM) 6-0, 6-1 Records: Louisiana-Lafayette 4-5, UM: 3-9 |
| 03/19/05 | |
Tiger Tennis Improves to 8-9 Overall -- Memphis Downs Southern Miss, 6-1 (GoTigersGo.com) |
| The Memphis men's tennis team improved to 8-9 overall and 3-1 in Conference USA with a 6-1 victory over Southern Miss in Mobile, Ala., Saturday afternoon. With the win, Memphis has now won a season-best three consecutive matches heading into a Sunday (March 27th) home match against Georgia State. No scores for the individual matches were available, but the Tigers won the doubles point with victories at No. 1 and 3 doubles. The No. 2 team of Alex Bucewicz and Marten Tamla did not get to finish their match at No. 2. Southern Miss answered back with a win at No. 1 singles, but then the Tigers swept the 2 through 6 singles matches to improve to 2-0 on the weekend. Memphis will host Georgia State, March 27th, on the U of M campus courts. That match is slated to begin at noon. Admission is free. |
| 03/19/05 | |
Baseball Ties Series With 9-6 Triumph Over Houston -- Nick Bradshaw picks up first win as a Tiger (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Houston (8-12; 1-1 C-USA) 110 000 040 - 6 11 2 MEMPHIS (6-9; 1-1 C-USA) 220 010 31X - 9 9 2 Senior Ryan Martin went 3-for-4 with a homer and three RBI and Nick Bradshaw scattered seven hits and fanned a pair to earn his first win in a Tiger uniform as Memphis evened the series with a 9-6 win over Houston Saturday at Nat Buring Stadium. The Tigers snap a four-game losing skid and pick up the first Conference USA win under first-year skipper Daron Schoenrock. Memphis used a three-run seventh inning to take command of the ball game. Freshman K.K. Chalmers drew a one-out walk and then stole second before scoring on an RBI-single by Chad House. The innings was highlighted by runs scored by House and Martin after a critical throwing error by Houston backstop Brett Logan. House and Martin attempted a double-steal, and Logan's attempt to throw House out at third sailed wide sending the ball into the leftfield bullpen. The errant throw allowed both runners to score and give the Tigers a commanding 8-2 advantage. UH got on the board in the first on a solo blast by Kevin Roberts, but Memphis countered with a pair in the home half on an two-run double by Martin. The Cougars tied the contest at 2-2 on a second-inning solo shot over the left centerfield wall off the bat of Logan. However, the Tigers again answered with a pair of runs produced by a Chalmers single and an RBI ground out by Jordan Tolliver. Memphis went ahead 5-2 in the fifth on Martin's third home run of the year--a solo drive over the centerfield wall. Houston responded to the three-run Memphis seventh with four runs in the eighth to cut the deficit to 8-6, before the U of M tacked on an insurance tally in the eighth. Drew Jaudon worked a scoreless ninth to pick up his first career save for Memphis. UH starter Brad Lincoln took the loss after giving up five runs on five hits in five innings of work. Memphis and Houston will play the series finale on Sunday with the first pitch at Noon at Nat Buring Stadium. |
| 03/19/05 | |
Tigers Cruise Past Hokies In Second Round, 83-62 -- Rodney Carney leads the squad with 17 points (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Rodney Carney scored 17 points, leading five Memphis players in double figures Saturday and helping the Tigers beat Virginia Tech 83-62 in the second round of the NIT. Anthony Rice added 16 and Jeremy Hunt scored 15 for the Tigers (21-15), who held a double-digit lead throughout the second half. Darius Washington had 14 points and five assists. Virginia Tech (16-14) shot poorly late in the first half to give Memphis the lead for good. The Hokies also struggled from the foul line, hitting only 16 of 29 in the game. Memphis made only half its free throws (13 of 26), but the Tigers got their transition game running, and in the second half poured on the points. Jamon Gordon led the Hokies with 16 points while Carlos Dixon scored 13. Zabian Dowdell, Virginia Tech's leading scorer, managed only eight points on 3-of-10 shooting. Joey Dorsey dunks in the second half against Virginia Tech. Memphis scored the first five points, but after that neither team led by more than three through the first 16 minutes. In the stretch, there were 12 lead changes and five ties. Virgina Tech was shooting well, and Memphis was controlling the boards. But Virginia Tech suddenly began misfiring, hitting only one of its last 10 shots in the final eight minutes of the half. The Tigers went on a 15-2 run to close the period and carry a 41-27 lead into the break. Carney had 10 points, despite hitting only three of his 10 first-half shots. Dixon scored 10 for the Hokies. Memphis moved in front 47-29 early in the second half, weathered a brief rally by the Hokies and maintained a double-digit advantage, holding a 76-50 lead with 5:36 left. |
| 03/19/05 | |
Memphis Basketball/NIT Postgame Quotes -- Memphis 83, Virginia Tech 62 (GoTigersGo.com) |
| Memphis Head Coach John Calipari "We are really playing unselfish and executing offensively. Virginia Tech started the game shooting 65 percent, and by the end of the half, it was 38.5 percent. Arthur Barclay was unbelievable, and the reason we had the first half lead was because Arthur gave us second-chance opportunities with his offensive rebounding. "I told Rodney he had one job and that was to make it hard for Carlos Dixon to get the ball, and Rodney became a highlight tape offensively. I tried to explain to my team when you play that way I am more concerned about defending and rebounding and just let the offense happen. Defense first and it makes your offense happen." "Our whole team played well. I am proud of these guys and we just played the fourth-place ACC team and we were up 25 points. We are a pretty good team also." "We would like to have the game (NIT third round) here but it appears it will be here or Nashville. The true fans just want to be a part of this." Virginia Tech Head Coach Seth Greenberg "I thought we really played a high level today. Memphis is a good team and we have to do a better job of shooting free throws, especially on the road. We took care of the basketball, but we just couldn't make shots and we were not physically tough getting offensive rebounds." "We have to be stronger, bigger and work harder and get more organized. We need to get into the weight room. We have a lot of work to do and have to be committed. To be where we want to be, we have to make an unbelievable commitment over the next eight months." |
| 03/19/05 | |
Memphis Basketball/NIT Boxscore -- Memphis 83, Virginia Tech 62 (GoTigersGo.com) |
| Official Basketball Box Score -- GAME TOTALS -- FINAL STATISTICS Virginia Tech vs MEMPHIS 03/19/05 11:00 am at Memphis, Tenn. (FedExForum) ---------------------------------------------------- VISITORS: Virginia Tech 16-14 TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS ## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN 13 Deron Washington.... f 1-5 0-0 3-6 4 1 5 4 5 4 0 1 4 21 32 Carlos Dixon........ f 5-12 1-3 2-3 1 3 4 1 13 2 1 1 1 36 33 Coleman Collins..... f 2-8 0-1 4-8 4 5 9 2 8 1 0 0 0 32 01 Zabian Dowdell...... g 3-10 1-4 1-2 1 1 2 4 8 0 3 0 1 24 22 Jamon Gordon........ g 6-12 0-3 4-7 2 2 4 2 16 4 3 2 4 33 02 Bob Ritchie......... 0-1 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 03 Shawn Harris........ 1-4 0-1 2-2 0 0 0 3 4 0 1 0 1 7 11 Wynton Witherspoon.. 2-6 0-2 0-0 1 2 3 2 4 0 2 1 1 18 14 Robert Krabbendam... 2-2 0-0 0-1 0 2 2 0 4 1 0 0 0 13 21 Allen Calloway...... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 25 Jeff King........... 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 6 42 Chris Tucker........ 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 TEAM................ 1 3 4 Totals.............. 22-62 2-15 16-29 14 21 35 20 62 12 10 5 12 200 TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 0-0 0.0% 2nd Half: 22-62 35.5% Game: 35.5% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 0-0 0.0% 2nd Half: 2-15 13.3% Game: 13.3% REBS F Throw % 1st Half: 0-0 0.0% 2nd Half: 16-29 55.2% Game: 55.2% 8,1 ---------------------------------------------------- HOME TEAM: MEMPHIS 21-15 TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS ## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN 11 Erwin, Duane........ f 6-9 0-0 1-2 0 7 7 3 13 2 2 1 1 31 55 Barclay, Arthur..... f 0-0 0-0 0-0 8 4 12 3 0 2 1 0 0 15 05 Hunt, Jeremy........ g 6-13 2-3 1-6 3 4 7 2 15 2 2 0 0 31 23 Rice, Anthony....... g 4-12 4-11 4-5 0 1 1 1 16 3 3 2 2 31 35 WASHINGTON, Darius.. g 5-12 2-3 2-2 0 2 2 2 14 5 4 0 1 33 01 Williams, Waki...... 1-4 0-0 0-2 1 1 2 1 2 0 0 0 1 11 03 Thiero, Almamy...... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 10 Carney, Rodney...... 6-14 2-5 3-7 1 1 2 2 17 0 1 1 1 23 14 Njoya, Simplice..... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 15 Dorsey, Joey........ 2-2 0-0 2-2 3 6 9 4 6 1 4 1 0 21 TEAM................ 3 2 5 Totals.............. 30-66 10-22 13-26 19 28 47 19 83 15 17 5 6 200 TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 0-0 0.0% 2nd Half: 30-66 45.5% Game: 45.5% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 0-0 0.0% 2nd Half: 10-22 45.5% Game: 45.5% REBS F Throw % 1st Half: 0-0 0.0% 2nd Half: 13-26 50.0% Game: 50.0% 8,3 ------------------------------------------------------- Officials: Doug Sirmons, Pat Adams, Tim Clougherty Technical fouls: Virginia Tech-None. MEMPHIS-None. Attendance: 9129 Score by Periods 1st 2nd Total Virginia Tech................. 27 35 - 62 MEMPHIS....................... 41 42 - 83 |
| 03/19/05 | |
Enthusiastic Tigers enjoy postseason, even in NIT -- Fans responding to U of M play as well, Calipari says (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Gary Parrish Contact March 19, 2005 From afar, this is just the NIT. That other tournament. March Sadness. The 40-team bracket that confirms a school's season was not what it should've been, especially if -- like the University of Memphis -- the Top 25 polls published in November had said school's name in them. Still, there was Arthur Barclay the other night waving a towel in celebration, standing on the sideline of the Tigers' blowout of Northeastern smiling that big smile and having an all-around good time. You got lemons, you make lemonade. You got the NIT, you make the best of it. "This is my senior year," Barclay said. "I'm going to try to play until I can't play anymore." And so he will put on his white jersey at least one more time today, when the Tigers (20-15) take on Virginia Tech (16-13) at 11 a.m. inside FedExForum. It's the second round of the NIT on the first Saturday of the NCAAs. So nationally, the impact will be small, if not nonexistent. But locally, this has developed into something of a big deal. "Usually in a game like this you're going to get 2,500 because it's the NIT and it's Northeastern," John Calipari said after Wednesday's win. "But I told the team that there would be 8,000 or 9,000 people out there. Why? Because we play so hard and they want to see us play." An announced crowd of 7,392 lively, upbeat fans saw the Tigers play Wednesday even though the opponent was somebody nobody had ever heard of with an all-American candidate (Jose Juan Barea) nobody had ever heard of who wasn't even playing. Why? Calipari seemed to nail it. The way the Tigers performed last week -- and especially last Saturday in that gut-wrenching, 75-74 loss to Louisville in the Conference USA Tournament title game -- endeared this team to this town. People now love Darius Washington and the rest of the bunch. They saw the effort, and they smiled. They saw the tears, and they caved. "A Top 25 program -- which we are -- that's in the NIT doesn't get this kind of response," Calipari said. "It just doesn't happen. But it's happening because we're playing hard and we're playing together, and people love it. "I would just tell our fans to come out," Calipari added. "Let's have 9,000 or 10,000 for this game." Which, if nothing else, should be a better contest. Virginia Tech comes in the winners of two of its past three. The Hokies finished 8-8 in the Atlantic Coast Conference despite being picked last during the preseason. But mostly, the fans will be out to see Memphis, a team that is far from satisfied with circumstances, yet a long way from disappointed by them. You got lemons, you make lemonade. You got the NIT, you make the best of it. "Everybody is motivated to win this tournament," said UofM senior Anthony Rice. "It's unfortunate that we couldn't make the other tournament. But we're going to take advantage of our opportunity." -- Gary Parrish: 529-2365 ---------------------------------------------------- Tigers vs. Virginia Tech When, where: Today, 11 a.m., at FedExForum. TV, radio: ESPN2, WMC-AM (790), WKBQ-FM (93.5). Tickets: $10 for upper level, $15 for lower level and club level and $5 for students. |
| 03/19/05 | |
Tigers vs. Virginia Tech (Commercial Appeal) |
| 11 a.m, FedExForum TV, radio: ESPN2, WMC-AM (790), WKBQ-FM (93.5). Records: Tigers 20-15, Virginia Tech 16-13. Series standing: Tigers lead, 17-12. Latest line: Tigers by 8. Notables This will be the Tigers' 15th game on national television this season. The ESPN2 telecast will be handled by Lou Canellis and Tim McCormick. ... U of M coach John Calipari purchased 400 tickets to give to students for today's game. ... Memphis and Virginia Tech haven't played since the 1990-91 season. But when the two schools met annually, there many memorable games. The biggest, of course, was when the Tigers earned the No. 1 ranking on the morning of Jan. 10, 1983. Later that night, the Hokies upset then-Memphis State, 64-56, in Blacksburg, Va. ... The Tigers are 13-2 all-time at home against Virginia Tech. ... With a start today, Anthony Rice will play in his 132nd game at Memphis. That will tie the senior with Andre Turner and the late Baskerville Holmes for first place on the school's all-time list. ... The Hokies will be playing without Marquie Cooke, who took a leave of absence from the team on Monday. The freshman was a consensus Top 60 prospect coming out of high school. He was averaging 3.6 points in 16.7 minutes per game this season. ... Virginia Tech's Seth Greenberg was named ACC Coach of the Year earlier this week, but he's also among another group of coaches. In his second year at Virginia Tech after seven seasons at South Florida, Greenberg has the second-longest active streak without an NCAA Tournament appearance among the 122 coaches in the 10 major conferences. Only Rice's Willis Wilson, who has 13 consecutive years without an NCAA appearance, has a longer stretch than Greenberg's nine-year drought. Greenberg was 0-20 against Associated Press ranked teams at USF. However, Greenberg did win his last trip to Memphis, 75-74, in 2003 at the Pyramid when the Tigers missed two tip-ins at the buzzer. ... If Memphis wins, it will play either Vanderbilt, Western Kentucky or Wichita State Wednesday at a yet-to-be determined site. Scouting the Tigers Memphis is coming off a 90-65 win over Northeastern in the first round of the NIT on Wednesday. Jeremy Hunt led the Tigers in that game, scoring 24 points and grabbing seven rebounds. Since replacing Rodney Carney in the starting lineup five games ago, Hunt is averaging 15.4 points and 4.4 rebounds per contest. Memphis is holding opponents to 38.4 percent shooting from the field, which ranks fifth in the nation. Despite coming off the bench now, Carney remains the UofM's leading scorer. He's averaging 15.5 points per game, but has only reached double-figures in one of his past three outings. Scouting the Hokies Virginia Tech is coming off a 60-50 victory over Temple in the first round of the NIT on Tuesday. The Hokies have wins this season over N.C. State, Georgia Tech, Duke and Maryland. They finished tied for fourth in the ACC with an 8-8 mark. Zabian Dowdell leads Virginia Tech in scoring. He's averaging 14.6 points and 2.8 assists per game, and hit the game-winning 3-pointer in that Feb. 17 win over Duke. Dowdell and backcourt mate Jamon Gordon are somewhat interchangeable, both capable ball-handlers and scorers. Dowdell and Gordon help Virginia Tech play a tough man-to-man defense, and score enough to where, like Memphis, the Hokies do not depend on post scoring too much. Virginia Tech is 3-8 in road games. Key matchup: Darius Washington vs. Zabian Dowdell Washington has been a true point guard in the UofM's past five games, but today he may get his toughest competition here. Virginia Tech can run either guard at the Tigers' freshman, and it will. Still, Dowdell should get the first shot. It's not likely the Hokies will play much -- if any -- zone. So Washington should have an opportunity to dominate his man with the ball. If he does, and uses that to get his teammates involved, then the Tigers should win. |
| 03/19/05 | |
Cougar starter blanks U of M -- ouston 6, U of M 0 (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Phil Stukenborg Contact March 19, 2005 Anyone following the progress of University of Houston lefthander Matt Farrington this season could see Friday night coming. A junior from Sugar Land, Texas, Farrington opened the season with a victory over Texas A&M, the nation's ninth-ranked team, in the Minute Maid Park College Classic. Two weeks later, he was equally as impressive in pitching the Cougars to a 2-1 triumph over second-ranked LSU. Last weekend against Long Beach State, a team ranked just outside the top 25, he worked a season-high eight innings striking out six and walking one in a 2-1 victory. And Friday at Nat Buring Stadium against the University of Memphis, Farrington added the first complete game, and first shutout, of his career. Scattering four singles and allowing only one Tiger to reach second base, Farrington led the Cougars to a 6-0 win before about 150 in the Conference USA opener for both teams. Farrington (4-0) struck out seven, walked one and faced 30 hitters, only three over the minimum. ''He threw strike one a lot,'' said Tiger coach Daron Schoenrock. ''But after strike one, he mixed his pitches very effectively and got us in the air with fastballs out of the zone. His ability to do that, and change speeds, really kept our hitters off stride. ''I didn't really think it was a lack of concentration on the part of our guys. A good lefthanded pitcher who can do what he did is going to shut down offenses.'' Memphis (5-9 overall, 0-1 in C-USA) was shut out for the first time this season. Houston (8-11, 1-0) backed Farrington with a 12-hit attack led by Jake Stewart and Brad Lincoln, who had three hits each. The teams play Game 2 of the three-game series at 2 p.m. today. ''This was a huge win because it was our first conference game,'' Farrington said. ''And it's always good to set a tone from a pitching standpoint.'' While Farrington opened strong -- striking out two in a 1-2-3 first -- he also finished in impressive fashion, too. He retired 11 of the final 12 Tigers he faced and had two more strikeouts in a 1-2-3 ninth. ''I felt like I was throwing the ball where I wanted to, so that made it tough on the hitters,'' Farrington said. ''Pretty much my whole strategy was getting ahead with outside fastballs, and after that I was mixing in a changeup and maybe going inside late (in the count) after they started to sit on the outer half.'' Tiger starter Stephen Gostkowski (1-3) had a solid outing allowing four runs on eight hits and striking out eight. But the UofM offense couldn't solve Farrington, who was aided by two double plays. ''One encouraging thing was I thought Gostkowski gave us a chance to win the game,'' Schoenrock said. ''That's part of pitching on Friday nights in a good league. You're going to have to limit teams because they'll have a good guy going, too. I was proud of 'G' and how he battled.'' -- Phil Stukenborg: 529-2543 |
| 03/18/05 | |
Baseball Shut out by Houston, 6-0 -- Tigers shutout for the first time this year (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Houston (8-11; 1-0 C-USA) 210 000 012 - 6 12 2 MEMPHIS (5-9; 0-1 C-USA) 000 000 000 - 0 4 1 Matt Farrington faced just three over the minimum and held Memphis to four hits, as Houston defeated the Tigers 6-0 in the Conference USA opener for both teams. Memphis (5-9) has now dropped four straight. The Cougars got all the run production they needed in the first inning after Travis Tully belted a one-out double to the left centerfield wall. Brad Lincoln followed with a two-run double to center. UH (8-11; 1-0 C-USA) tacked on a run in the second and another in the eighth, before Lincoln capped the scoring with a two-run blast over the centerfield wall. Lincoln, along with Jake Stewart recorded three hits, while Tully had a two hits and a pair of RBI. Adam Amar was the lone Tiger to register multiple hits. Farrington improved to 4-0 on the year with the complete-game win, while Tiger hurler Stephen Gostkowski (1-3) took the loss. Gostkowski was solid, scattering eight hits and allowing four earned runs and striking out eight in eight innings of work. Memphis and Houston will continue the series with game two on Saturday. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. at Nat Buring Stadium. |
| 03/18/05 | |
Men's Tennis Downs No. 32 South Alabama, 4-3 -- Tigers take the doubles point and get wins at 2, 5 and 6 singles in the victory (GoTigersGo.com) |
| The University of Memphis men's tennis team picked up its first win over a top 40 program with a 4-3 win over No. 32 South Alabama in Mobile, Friday.
"This was a really great team effort and a good win for us," Head Coach Paul Goebel said. "We're really looking forward to another good match against Southern Mississippi tomorrow."
The Tigers, now 7-9 on the season, now have two wins over ranked programs this season (the other was a 4-0 win over then-No. 75 DePaul). Memphis got an 8-2 win from the duo of Mark Finnegan and Alex Jago at No. 3 to get the points rolling, but the Jaguars answered back with an 8-5 win at No. 1 doubles to make the No. 2 match the deciding factor for the doubles point. The senior tandem of Marten Tamla and Alex Bucewicz answered with a 9-7 Tiger victory to put Memphis up 1-0 heading into the singles.
Memphis picked up wins from seniors Scott Felsenthal and Mark Finnegan at the 5 and 6 singles spot and James Spence added a win at No. 2 to secure the 4-3 victory. Memphis 4, #32 South Alabama 3 DOUBLES 1. No. 31 Jacobs/Doskarayev (USA) def. Felsenthal/Spence (UM) 8-5 2. Tamla/Bucewicz (UM) def. Babej/Kepka (USA) 9-7 3. Finnegan/Jago (UM) def. Espiritp-Santo/Huffman (USA) 8-2 SINGLES 1. No. 45 Franticek Babej (USA) def. No. 86 Alex Bucewicz (UM) 6-4,6-2 2. James Spence (UM) def. Clinton Jacobs (USA) 6-3,6-1 3. Dias Doskareyev (USA) def. Marten Tamla (UM) 6-3,6-2 4. David Kepka (USA) def. Alex Jago (UM) 3-6,6-3,6-1 5. Scott Felsenthal (UM) def. Tiago Espirito-Santo (USA) 6-4,7-6 6. Mark Finnegan (UM) def. Mark Gellard (USA) 6-2,6-1 |
| 03/18/05 | |
Lady Tigers Fall 5-2 at McNeese State -- Marlene Dirnstorfer and Brooke Cowie score Memphis' lone points (GoTigersGo.com) |
| LAKE CHARLES, La - The University of Memphis (3-8) women's tennis team picked up singles victories at No. 1 and 3 singles, but those were the only two points the Lady Tigers could muster in a 5-2 loss to McNeese State, Friday afternoon.
Senior Marlene Dirnstorfer improved to 5-6 on the season at No. 1 singles with a 2-6, 6-4, 12-10 win atop the line-up to get Memphis a point, while her doubles partner, freshman Brooke Cowie, picked up her second straight win at No. 3 singles with a 2-6, 7-6 (5), 10-6 victory to pick up a second Lady Tiger point.
McNeese swept the three doubles matches and then sealed the victory with wins at No. 2, 4, 5 and 6 singles.
Memphis will remain in Louisiana and will face Louisiana-Lafayette, Saturday afternoon. McNeese State 5, Memphis 2 Singles 1. Marlene Dirnstorfer (UM) def. Noelia Furno, 2-6, 6-4, 12-10 2. Magali Risoleo def. Andrea Feichtinger (UM), 6-1, 6-1 3. Brooke Cowie (UM) def. Urska Debersek, 2-6, 7-6 (5), 10-6 4. Madeleine Hakansson def. Kristin Noble (UM), 6-1, 6-4 5. Ann Grebbelaar def. Christina Wieser (UM), 6-0, 6-4 6. Marina Gando def. Kathrin Kohl (UM), 7-5, 6-1 Doubles 1. Fusno/Hakansson def. Dirnstorfer/Cowie (UM), 8-0 2. Grobbelaar/Gando def. Feichtinger/Alex Tjioe (UM), 8-2 3. Debersek/Risaleo def. Noble/Kohl (UM), 8-2 Records: McNeese State: 5-2 Memphis: 3-8 |
| 03/18/05 | |
Women's Soccer Continues Spring Season with Two Games in Huntsville on Sunday -- Lady Tigers take on UAB and Region III ODP team (GoTigersGo.com) |
| Memphis, Tenn. - The women's soccer team will continue its spring exhibition schedule this weekend when the Lady Tigers travel to Huntsville, Ala. for the Huntsville College Classic, a collegiate showcase tournament, on Sunday, March 20. The Tigers will play two games there, taking on defending Conference USA champion UAB and the Region III Olympic Development Program Under-17 team. The Tigers will take on the ODP team at 10:00 a.m. and UAB at 3:00 p.m. Memphis has already played five spring games in three previous play dates, compiling a 3-0-2 record thus far in the spring. Sunday will be the last play date of the spring in which the Tigers will play multiple games. The Tigers have defeated a team of Japanese All-Stars, Minnesota, and a club team from Indianapolis, the Carmel Cyclones. Memphis has tied games with SEC opponents Alabama and Tennessee. Shoko Mikami leads the Tigers for the spring season with six goals and an assist for 13 points. Candace Halvorson and Nicky McLeod each have scored a goal as well and also have two assists apiece. Brittany Strung also has an assist to her credit. UAB, who defeated the Tigers twice during the 2004 season, the second defeat coming in the C-USA Tournament, finished the year with a 16-6-1 record and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, defeating Wake Forest in the first round and then falling to Tennessee in the second. The Blazers will be Memphis' second opponent of the spring that advanced to the NCAA Tournament last fall, with the Lady Vols being the other. "This will be a good opportunity to gauge where we are as a team right now in terms of the our conference," said Memphis coach Brooks Monaghan. "UAB is the defending champions and in order for us to get to where we want to be in our league, we will need to go through them. We should also see good competition from the ODP team as well. Overall, we are looking forward to what should be a day in which we can learn and improve." |
| 03/18/05 |  |
Softball Adds Assistant Coach -- Former Louisiana Tech pitcher added to U of M staff (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, TENN. - University of Memphis Head Softball Coach Windy Thees announced today the hiring of Marla Pinkston as assistant softball coach. She will handle the instruction of the pitchers as well as assist with camps and recruiting. Pinkston joins the Lady Tigers after a successful pitching career at Louisiana Tech in Ruston, La. A four-year letterwinner for the Lady Techsters, Pinkston was 16-18 as a senior and tallied a 1.84 ERA. She also registered 145 strikeouts and threw four shutouts in 2004. Pinkston played for the Lady Techsters from 2000-04. She redshirted in 2002 after sustaining a season-ending ankle injury. In her five years at Tech, Pinkston placed her name in the school record book in several categories. She ranks fourth all-time in strikeouts with 519 and in innings pitched with 703. She also ranks seventh all-time in wins with 49. She was the team's captain for three seasons. A native of Forney, Texas, Pinkston graduated from Tech with a bachelor's degree in educational services in 2004. She recently assisted in pitching instruction at LSU's summer camp, and has provided hitting and pitching instruction in Forney, Texas from 1996-2002. The Lady Tigers will begin playing softball for the 2006 season. Their schedule currently includes tournaments at Florida International and North Carolina, as well as non-C-USA meetings with Ole Miss, UT-Martin, Austin Peay and MTSU to name a few. For more information on Lady Tiger Softball, contact Windy Thees at 901-678-2315. |
| 03/18/05 | |
Darius the Great (Memphis Flyer) |
| Flyer Staff Some of us were there. Many more of us saw it on television. And almost all of us have heard about it by now: the two missed free throws that ended a game, an era, and the hopes of an entire city; Darius Washington, the valiant freshman who had been fouled in the act of shooting a three-pointer and had a chance to win the game against arch-rival Louisville -- and thereby crown the University of Memphis Tigers' season with a bid to the NCAA tournament. It had been a disappointing season, redeemed mainly by the emergence of Washington -- D-Wash, as he came to be called -- as a super point-guard and playmaker who kept the Tigers' season hopes alive, at times almost single-handedly. Upon seeing his last shot rim the basket and fall away on Saturday, Washington hit the deck, clearly devastated. He had literally to be lifted off the FedExForum floor by consoling teammates. They didn't blame him, nor did we, nor should he blame himself. As one of his teammates said, the team wouldn't even have been on the brink of such unexpected success without Washington's heroics -- including a heart-stopping steal of a Lousville pass in the crucial last few minutes. Not only was young Washington named to the all-tournament team for his exploits, he had previously been designated Conference-USA Freshman of the Year. Clearly, he will make many more shots than he misses in the years to come -- especially when it counts. Ralph Branca, the old Brooklyn Dodger pitcher who in 1951 yielded the pennant-wining home-run ball -- the "Shot Heard 'Round the World" -- to the Giants' Bobby Thomson, suffered the same kind of despair that Washington did, initially. Why me? he asked a friendly clergyman. Because you can take it, said Branca's priest, meaning that as a tribute to the forlorn pitcher's strength of character. We might say the same of Darius Washington. He too can take it, though it will surely hurt for a while. As far as we're concerned, his heart and talent are as great as his stature is small. And, with any luck, we've got three more years to watch this prodigy. |
| 03/18/05 | |
West makes sure Tigers stay busy -- WR McCoy shines during full-pad session (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Phil Stukenborg Contact March 18, 2005 It was sunny and the temperature was in the upper 50s, so University of Memphis football coach Tommy West saw an opportunity. Instead of wasting the ideal conditions and adhering to his spring practice schedule -- Thursday originally was an off day -- West summoned his young squad to the Murphy Athletic Complex and ran them through a workout, the team's first in full pads. The Tigers, breaking in three first-year quarterbacks, will practice in full pads today and Saturday. ''I wanted to get ahead if I could,'' West said. ''If the weather holds up, we'll be a day ahead because we are going to get some rain, we are going to get some bad days. "This is going to be a pretty good stretch on them ... five days in a row, three days in a row in pads.'' The UofM began spring practice Tuesday and went through two days in shorts before donning pads. Spring workouts continue through April 9. Antonio McCoy, one of three incoming receivers expected to play key roles, had several spectacular grabs during the practice, including a sideline reception on a perfectly thrown pass from Patrick Byrne. Byrne, the team's placekicker and a junior-to-be, is battling freshmen Will Hudgens and Billy Barefield for the starting quarterback job. In a brief, 23-play situation scrimmage to end practice Thursday, Byrne, working with the No. 1 offense, completed 2-of-3 passes for 13 yards. His incompletion was slightly overthrown, sailing through the hands of Carlton Robinzine, another promising young receiver and an ex-Bolton standout. Hudgens was 2-of-3 for 14 yards and Barefield was 3-of-3 for 20 yards. All-America running back DeAngelo Williams, who is going through limited work in the spring, did not participate in the scrimmage. ''We ran about 15 plays a group to get a little bit on tape, see who's flying around and who's not,'' West said. ''I thought it was good. I thought they competed good.'' West said it was still too early during the spring to assess the progress of his quarterbacks, who are vying to be the replacement for record-setting Danny Wimprine, a four-year starter who completed his eligibility last fall. ''This is going to be a learning process every day for them,'' West said. ''There are going to be some things that happen daily that are new to them. We've got one running play in right now and that's OK. We may just keep one running play in all week and learn to execute that play. ''We can't go very fast now, but that's what we're here for ... to learn what we're supposed to do and not beat ourselves.'' The Tiger defense, which struggled last season, drew West's ire early in the scrimmage for its lack of intensity. ''I was just disappointed with the way they moved around and tackled,'' he said. ''I didn't think they were very good today. I really thought they'd have a little more of a stinger about them. I didn't really see that. We've got to continue to work and make sure we've got the right people out there.'' -- Phil Stukenborg: 529-2543 |
| 03/18/05 | |
Memphis opening C-USA vs. Houston -- Schoenrock's team tries to shrug off MSU losses (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Staff and Wire Reports March 18, 2005 After dropping back-to-back, hard-fought games at nationally ranked Mississippi State earlier this week, the University of Memphis baseball team opens Conference USA play at Nat Buring Stadium tonight at 6:30 against Houston. It's apparent that C-USA officials showed no compassion for first-year Tiger coach Daron Schoenrock when putting together the 2005 schedule. The Cougars (7-11) have been relentless in the series, winning 21-of-25 and sweeping the three-game set against Memphis (5-8) last year at Houston. Schoenrock, a former Mississippi State assistant, isn't complaining. He said he's excited about beginning conference play after his team competed at a high level at Mississippi State. ''It was great for our kids to experience playing a team (Mississippi State) ranked in the top 25, a team with an impressive lineup and good arms on the mound,'' Schoenrock said. ''Our kids felt like they played with them.'' This weekend's series will offer its challenges, too. Although the Cougars aren't ranked in the top 25, the Tigers can't be lulled into thinking they're facing a struggling program. While the Cougars are four games under .500, they have had a difficult schedule, playing eight games against top 25 competition and winning two. ''They have a real solid pitching staff,'' Schoenrock said. ''They use the running game and the bunting game a little more than what we've seen.'' The Tigers will enter the series without outfielder Jordan Hart, a senior from Cordova. Hart tore a tendon in his knee while making a diving catch Tuesday against Mississippi State. Hart, a two-year starter who was hitting .282, underwent surgery Wednesday and will be lost for the season. ''That's going to hurt us,'' Schoenrock said. ''He was kind of the heart-and-soul of the team, the team captain. He had been playing fine and was really making progress.'' Junior college transfer Collin Bastien will be among those filling in for Hart. Righthander Stephen Gostkowski, an All-America candidate as a placekicker for the football team, will start tonight against Houston lefthander Matt Farrington. Farrington is 3-0 with a 2.57 earned-run average and 19 strikeouts in 28 innings. Schoenrock said a goal for his team is to win at least 15 of the 30 conference games it will play. He said a .500 league record should clinch a spot in the league tournament, which will be played May 25-29 at Southern Miss. |
| 03/18/05 | |
Baseball to Host Houston in Conference USA Opener -- Tigers look to snap three-game losing streak (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Thirteen games into the season, The University of Memphis baseball will prepare for the most important portion of the season--Conference USA play. Memphis will host Houston in the C-USA opening series for both teams this weekend at Nat Buring Stadium. The Tigers enter the five-game homestand on the heels of three straight losses, including being swept by No. 18 Mississippi State in the season series between the two teams on Tuesday and Wednesday. Along with breaking the three-game losing streak, the Tigers will also attempt to break Houston's three-game winning streak against them. The Tigers are led by Chad House and Patrick Hope, who are both ranked in the league's top-12 in hitting at .432 and 370, respectively. House is also third in on-base percentage. The defensive side of the diamond is where Memphis has struggled as of late. The Tigers have committed 13 errors in the last four games, included six in an 11-8 loss to MSU. Houston (7-11) has owned the series between the two schools, claiming 21 wins in 25 games played dating back to the 1997 campaign. The Cougars roughed the Tigers up last year in Houston in a series sweep as part of a season-long seven-game losing streak for Memphis. UH has swept Memphis five times in the series--1998, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2004--and has taken the series in all but one year. That year was 2003 when Memphis claimed it's first-ever series win over the Cougars 2-1. Houston is four games under .500, but has played a difficult schedule that has showcased 11 games with Top-35 teams. The Cougars are 3-8 in those contests with wins over No. 2 LSU and No. 9 Texas A&M. Houston is led offensively by Kevin Roberts and Jake Stewart, both of whom are hitting over .300. The pair has scored 10 runs to lead the team, while Dustin Kingsbury has driven in a team high 12 runs. The Cougars are hitting just .258 as a team. Friday's starter Matt Farrington leads the Cougars pitching staff with a 2.57 ERA. As a staff, the Cougar pitchers have a combined 4.03 ERA. |
| 03/17/05 | |
Calipari and family purchase 400 tickets for students (Daily Helmsman) |
| MEMPHIS, Tenn . -- Tiger head coach John Calipari is calling for student supporters to turn out for Saturday's NIT second round game versus Virginia Tech. In turn, Calipari and his family are helping the students' cause, purchasing 400 tickets to give to students for Saturday's game. The 400 student tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first serve basis at the Univeristy's Bursar's Office beginning at 9:00 a.m. (CT) Friday morning. Each student with a valid University ID can pick up one ticket to Saturday's game. The tickets are reserved seats. If a student picks up a free ticket and needs to get additional tickets, those tickets will have to be purchased at the Athletic Ticket Office or at FedExForum box office. Ticket prices are $15 for the lower and club levels, $10 for the terrace level and $5 for student tickets. In addition to tickets, two buses will be at Richardson Towers on the University of Memphis campus Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m. (CT) to take students to the game. |
| 03/17/05 | |
Windy Pity: Stiff breeze adds to Lady Tigers struggles in Las Vegas tourney (Daily Helmsman) |
| Matthew Laurie Sports Reporter March 17, 2005 What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. The University of Memphis women's golf team hopes they can leave their struggling play behind in Las Vegas, Nev., as they finished 14th out of 16 teams in the UNLV Spring Invitational. Wind dominated the first round as the Tigers and every other team had their high round of the tournament. "Oh my God, it was awful," said sophomore Stacey Tate. According to Tate, Black Mountain Country Club was a tough challenge with winds close to 30 mph. "The (back and front) nines are completely different," she said as she described one as narrow and the other with troublesome tree lines. Even the greens were affected. "The wind made the greens really fast," she said. "It was the first time we've ever played when it was that windy." In that first round Memphis players had scores of 82 - 82 -- 85 - 87 for a total of 336, nine strokes higher than their next highest round. The Tigers were better each subsequent round shooting 327 and 321 in the second and final rounds. Ashleigh Garman showed the greatest improvement of all the Tiger golfers, improving each round by more than five strokes. Garman scored rounds of 89 -- 84 -- 78 to finish with a total of 251 (+35). The third round score of 78 tied Garman's career low for a round and tied for the team low round with Tate. Tate led the Tigers with a team low 242 (+26). According to sophomore Cameron Barber, Tate and fellow sophomore Meghan Mahoney have played a key role on the team. "I think they've both stepped up and tried to be a leader," she said. With six sophomores, one freshman, and one junior, tournament experience may be what holding this team back. "Every tournament you can see that people are building confidence with competing," said Barber. "Everyone is slowly building their confidence." No. 23 ranked University of Southern California took home the tournament title with a total score of 895, followed by Pepperdine at 910. Arizona rounded out the top three with a final tally of 916. The Tigers finished 89 strokes behind USC with a final score of 984. Memphis' next tournament is March 24 - 26 as they head to the Tapatio Springs Shoot Out in Boerne, Texas. Men's golf Wind also affected the first round of The University of Memphis' men's golf team, as they struggled to come back from a 22 -- over par first round in the Conrad Rehling Invitational. However, they played their best golf during the final round to move up one spot to sixth place. Andy Shiels and Robbie Greenwell both shot 73 (+1) to lead the Tigers the last day. The Tigers will have some time off as their next tournament starts April 1 in the LSU Spring Invitational. |
| 03/17/05 |  |
Heather Watts Awarded NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship -- Watts one of just 28 female student-athletes nationwide to earn scholarship (GoTigersGo.com) |
| INDIANAPOLIS - Senior setter Heather has received yet another distinguished honor as she is one of just 56 student-athletes--28 males and 28 females-- nationwide, to be awarded a $7,500 postgraduate scholarships by the NCAA. The postgraduate scholarships of $7,500 each are awarded to student-athletes who participated in fall sports, which included women's badminton (emerging sport), men's and women's cross country, women's field hockey, football, women's rugby (emerging sport), men's and women's soccer, women's volleyball and men's water polo. In addition to the fall sport honorees, the NCAA also awards 116 postgraduate scholarships to student-athletes participating in winter and spring sports in which the NCAA conducts championships or participates in as an emerging sport, for a total of 174 postgraduate scholarships annually. To qualify for an NCAA postgraduate scholarship, a student-athlete must have an overall grade-point average of 3.200 (on a 4.000 scale) or its equivalent and must have performed with distinction as a member of the varsity team in the sport in which the student-athlete was nominated. The student-athlete must have behaved, both on and off the field, in a manner that has brought credit to the student-athlete, the institution and intercollegiate athletics. The student-athlete also must intend to continue academic work beyond the baccalaureate degree as a full-time or part-time graduate student. Nomination forms are sent to faculty athletics representatives for fall sports in September, for winter sports in late November, and for spring sports in January. Selections are made three times each academic year. The application must be submitted during the appropriate seasonal category for the sport to the appropriate regional committee chair. Candidates are screened by seven regional selection committees, and the award recipients are selected by the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Committee. |
| 03/17/05 | |
Track and Field Teams to Compete in Memphis for First Outdoor Meet -- Tigers and Lady Tigers back in action at Spring Opener hosted by Rhodes College (GoTigersGo.com) |
| Memphis, Tenn. - The University of Memphis track and field teams will be back in action Saturday, March 19, as they open the outdoor season with the Spring Opener, hosted by Rhodes College at the Rhodes Track and Field Complex. Saturday's meet will be the U of M's only meet of the season to be held in Memphis as the Tigers and Lady Tigers do not host a meet at the Billy J. Murphy Track. The relatively small but talented Memphis teams will look to build on several strong performances at the Conference USA Indoor Championships as the outdoor campaign begins. Junior thrower Gail Lee is once again expected to be a top performer in two events for the Lady Tigers as she will compete in the shot put and the hammer throw outdoors after excelling in the shot and weight throw indoors. Along with Lee, 100m hurdler Sheena Ohlig and high jumper Chen Edri will be preeminent competitors for the Lady Tigers in their respective events, with Edri also hoping to contribute in the javelin throw. Returning for the outdoor season and adding much needed depth to the U of M women's squad will be senior triple jumper Lisa-Marie Hyman, who comes back for her final season at Memphis. The school record holder and three-time C-USA champion (2 outdoor; 1 indoor) will seek a fourth conference crown after another great indoor season where she competed as "unattached" due to the previous utilization of her four years of indoor eligibility. On the men's side, the U of M will have to fill large void from the indoor season, as top-thrower and two-event Conference USA scorer, J.D. Erickson, will sit out the outdoor season in order to save full indoor and outdoor seasons of eligibility for his senior year. However, a number of Tigers including throwers Norbert Gulyas and Darius Frye will look to step up and fill the hole. With the absence of Erickson, the most successful Tiger will likely be senior jumper Janon Busby, who will look to carry a great indoor campaign in both the triple jump and high jump over into the outdoor season. Fellow senior and 110m hurdler Daniel Kiss is another Tiger who had an outstanding indoor season in the 60m hurdles, and will aspire for further success in the longer race outdoors. Several other Memphis men, including sprinters Willie Green and Austin Hunter, distance runner Abraham Shaposhnik and jumper Brandon Winbush each showed positive signs during the indoor season and will look for further improvement and more success outdoors. All of the U of M athletes, many of which will be competing in different events outdoors, will enter the Spring Opener with high hopes for the outdoor campaign. The meet, which will feature several colleges and universities from around the area, will thus be a great opening meet to tune up skills and prepare for the remainder of the outdoor season. Field events at the Spring Opener are scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Saturday morning, with track events slated to start at 10 a.m. Results for the meet will be posted at gotigersgo.com following the completion of competition. |
| 03/17/05 | |
Calipari And Family To Purchase 400 Tickets For Students -- Students can pick up free tickets at Bursar's Office Friday morning beginning at 9 a.m. (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Tiger head coach John Calipari is calling for student supporters to turn out for Saturday's NIT second round game versus Virginia Tech. In turn, Calipari and his family are helping the students' cause, purchasing 400 tickets to give to students for Saturday's game. The 400 student tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first serve basis at the Univeristy's Bursar's Office beginning at 9:00 a.m. (CT) Friday morning. Each student with a valid University ID can pick up one ticket to Saturday's game. The tickets are reserved seats. If a student picks up a free ticket and needs to get additional tickets, those tickets will have to be purchased at the Athletic Ticket Office or at FedExForum box office. Ticket prices are $15 for the lower and club levels, $10 for the terrace level and $5 for student tickets. In addition to tickets, two buses will be at Richardson Towers on the University of Memphis campus Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m. (CT) to take students to the game. |
| 03/17/05 | |
Washington feels the love as Tigers roll over Northeastern -- University of Memphis 90, Northeastern 65 (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Gary Parrish Contact March 17, 2005 The game was out of hand. It had long been decided. But Darius Washington was back at the free throw line for the first time since that other time, and so everybody stood and clapped. He took three dribbles. He spun the ball. He let it go, and smiled. Swish. "It was a relief," Washington said after the University of Memphis's 90-65 victory over Northeastern. "It felt good." And so it was, a perfect scene for a perfect night, at least as far as NIT openers go. An announced crowd of 7,392 filled the two lower levels of FedExForum with blue Wednesday, and created an atmosphere better than many of Tigers' regular-season contests. Some of it can be attributed to reasonable ticket prices. Some of it was because Memphis City Schools are on spring break. But mostly, it's safe to presume, fans came out to see and support Washington, the UofM freshman who's been a topic of conversation since missing two free throws at the end of regulation in a 75-74 loss to Louisville over the weekend. That time, he collapsed on the court. This time, he was picked back up. Tears have been shed. Games have been lost. But we're so glad to have Darius as boss. Those were the words written on one sign a young girl held. There were several others like it scattered throughout the crowd. So when it was time for the Tigers' starting lineup to be announced, people grabbed their poster boards and stood. For the first time this year, Washington was introduced first. "I was shocked," he said. "I didn't know why, because I'm usually second. But once I got out there, I knew." As soon as public address announcer Chuck Roberts got the words "At guard, a 6-2 freshman from Winter Park, Fla., ..." out of his mouth, the roar began. Roberts finished the name -- DARIUS WASHINGTONNNNNN! -- then pulled away from his microphone, and let the fans take over. For a solid 60 seconds, the ovation continued without another starter being introduced. Washington stood alone on the court. He waved to the crowd. He wiped his left eye. "It was great," said UofM coach John Calipari, whose Tigers will play Virginia Tech (16-13) in the second round of the NIT at 11 a.m. Saturday at FedExForum. "We had Darius introduced first to let him just soak it in and be out there by himself. We wanted him to understand that feeling by himself. "Our fans were fabulous." Washington finished with 13 points and five assists. He was 4-of-5 from the free throw line, by the way, and far too much for Northeastern (21-10) to handle, especially considering the Huskies were playing without their star point guard, Jose Juan Barea. Barea was serving a suspension that was punishment for throwing punches in a loose ball situation last Saturday against Vermont. Northeastern coach Ron Everhart summed-up the situation with one sentence. "On our end," he said, "it's tough to play without your leading scorer." Proof was that Northeastern committed a season-high 23 turnovers and shot 30.8 percent from the field in the first half. Lost in the feel-good night centered around Washington was another standout performance by Jeremy Hunt. Two days after an MRI was performed on his ailing left knee -- results were negative -- the junior guard finished with a career-high 24 points, seven rebounds, three assists and six steals. Hunt was 10-of-15 from the field, a big reason why the Tigers shot 51.6 percent for the game and scored at least 90 points for the first time in 10 contests. "Everybody is really coming together now," said Memphis senior Anthony Rice. "Everybody is on the same page, and really motivated to try to win this tournament." -- Gary Parrish: 529-2365 |
| 03/17/05 | |
U of M Postgame (Commercial Appeal) |
| Play of the game Anthony Rice is a shooter. Not a dunker. A shooter. But he sure tried to fool some people Wednesday night. Rice was on a break, and going full speed toward the goal in the second half. Closing fast was Shawn James, Northeastern's freshman standout, and the leading shot blocker in the nation. So what did Rice do? Stop and pull-up for a jumper? Pass the ball? Pump-fake? No. Instead, the 6-4 guard threw down a dunk on the 6-9 James, which easily created the highlight of the night. "I saw him coming," Rice said. "But I just said, 'If he blocks it, he blocks it. But if I get him, it's going to be good for me.'" Chalk it up as a "good for me" moment. Stat of the game Either way, James proved he hasn't just been taking advantage of lesser competition to lead the nation in blocks. He finished with seven blocks against Memphis, including four in the first half. He came in averaging 5.4 per game. X's and O's Northeastern likes to run and play up-tempo, but without its point guard the style was difficult to pull off. Adrian Martinez was solid filling in for the suspended Jose Juan Barea. But he's not Barea. So the Huskies couldn't keep up, which might be why they tried to play some zone against Memphis. Trends With the win, John Calipari became the first coach in school history to compile at least 20 victories in his first five years on the job. It also guaranteed the Tigers will have five straight 20-win seasons for the first time since 1985-1989. Odds and ends A dunk will never impress Calipari as much as a smooth switch on defense. But at least Waki Williams tried. After getting an earful from Calipari for letting his man hit an open jumper, Williams found himself alone under the left side of the goal on the Tigers' next possession. He ran through, received a pass and threw down a dunk on the other side that represented one of the best slams of the night and gave Memphis a 48-26 advantage with 17:10 left. The loudest cheers for anybody not named Darius Washington came for Simplice Njoya when he checked into the game with 12:29 remaining. A 6-10 forward, Njoya was benched for the entire Conference USA Tournament after publicly criticizing Calipari following the March 5 loss to Cincinnati. But against Northeastern, the junior from Cameroon got to play, and the 7,392 fans in attendance seemed to appreciate as much. They gave him a standing ovation. Njoya played five minutes. Memphis improved to 16-3 in games in which it is leading at the half. The only losses in that criterion were Louisiana Tech, Houston and Cincinnati. The Tigers are now 11-1 when Washington gets at least five assists. What's next The Tigers advanced to play Virginia Tech in the second round of the NIT. When? Saturday at 11 a.m. Where? FedExForum, but it took a while to settle it. NIT officials were on a conference call until late Wednesday night trying to figure out whether to play the game at FedExForum or in Blacksburg, Va. As of 11:30 p.m., UofM officials said they still had no official word, but officials were contacted very soon thereafter. One of the ESPN channels will broadcast the game live. Virginia Tech is 16-13 this season, and owns victories over Duke, N.C. State, Georgia Tech and Maryland. The Hokies are coached by former South Florida coach Seth Greenberg, who is this year's ACC Coach of the Year. -- Gary Parrish |
| 03/17/05 | |
Bulldogs take pair off Tigers MSU improves record to 11-2 with victories (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Our Press Services March 17, 2005 Colleges STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Brian LaNinfa's two-run double in the eighth inning Wednesday lifted Mississippi State to a 4-2 win over Memphis. LaNinfa's drive to left-center broke a 1-all tie and Ed Easley followed with an RBI single to make it 4-1. Mississippi State (11-2) improved to 10-0 at home. Memphis fell to 5-8. Josh Johnson had a career-high seven strikeouts in seven innings before giving way to winning pitcher Brett Cleveland (1-0) in the eighth. Earlier Wednesday, Jeffrey Rea had four hits and three RBI and Mississippi State defeated Memphis, 11-8, in the completion of a game suspended by rain. Brad Fly had a two-run single for Memphis, which had a season-best 17 hits. Other Developments Rebel coach pleads innocent: Ole Miss assistant football coach Joe Cullen has pleaded innocent to public drunkenness. Cullen, 37, did not attend the hearing in Oxford (Miss.) Municipal Court. Cullen entered the plea through his attorney. Cullen is scheduled for trial on May 4 for the misdemeanor charge. Cullen was arrested by Oxford police on March 3, a week before the football program was scheduled to start spring practice. Cullen, who was hired in January to coach the Rebels' defensive line, has not attended team activities since his arrest was reported this past week. Cullen is the second Ole Miss assistant football coach to be arrested on an alcohol-related charge. Former linebackers coach Charlie Camp resigned Jan. 29, a day after he was arrested on the Oxford square and charged with driving under the influence. Meanwhile, Rebel football player McKinley Boykin is free on bond while he awaits a court date to answer a misdemeanor assault charge. Police records show the 21-year-old defensive lineman was arrested by Oxford police on March 10 for alleged domestic violence. He posted bail and was released just after midnight on March 11. |
| 03/17/05 | |
Memphis 90, Northeastern 65 (Daily Helmsman) |
| The Associated Press March 17, 2005 MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Jeremy Hunt scored a career-high 24 points and five Memphis players scored in double figures, leading the Tigers to a 90-65 win over Northeastern in a first-round NIT game Wednesday night. Hunt shot 10-for-15 from the field and finished with seven rebounds for Memphis (20-15), which will face Virginia Tech in the second round. Virginia Tech opened the tournament with a 60-50 win over Temple. Northeastern (21-10) played without star guard Jose Juan Barea, who was suspended for "unnecessarily rough play" while scrambling for a loose ball in the team's loss to Vermont in the America East championship game. Barea ranks ninth in the nation in scoring average at 22.2 points, and ranks seventh nationally in assists with 7.3. Rodney Carney finished with 14 for the Tigers. Darius Washington scored 13, and Duane Erwin and Arthur Barclay each added 10 points. Marcus Barnes led Northeastern with 19 points, and Adrian Martinez scored 15. Shawn James, the America East conference rookie and defensive player of the year, finished with 12 points, grabbed seven rebounds and blocked seven shots. Memphis forced the Huskies into eight turnovers early and 12 in the first half. It wasn't until Bennet Davis hit a 3-pointer for Northeastern with 9:29 left in the half, cutting Memphis' lead to 21-10. The miscues and Northeastern's 31 percent shooting helped Memphis to a 44-23 lead at the break. Barclay scored all of his 10 points in the half, missing only one of his five shots. He also had six rebounds. The second half was more of the same. Memphis maintained at least a 20-point lead through much of the period, and Northeastern never threatened. |
| 03/17/05 | |
Memphis To Host Virginia Tech In NIT Second Round At FedExForum -- Tigers-Hokies to renew old Metro rivalry at 11:00 am Saturday (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, Tenn. - University of Memphis athletic department officials learned just before midnight Wednesday that the Tigers will host a National Invitation Tournament (NIT) second round game Saturday at FedExForum. The game, which will be televised on either ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU, is slated for an 11:00 a.m. (CT) start. Tickets for Saturday's game will go on sale Thursday morning. For ticket information or to order tickets, call 678-2331. The Tigers advanced to the NIT second round with a 90-65 win over Northeastern Wednesday. With the victory, Memphis (20-15) reached the 20-win plateau for the fifth-consecutive year. Virginia Tech (16-13) defeated Temple 60-50 in an NIT first round game Tuesday in Blacksburg. Seth Greenberg, former USF head coach, is in his first season at Virginia Tech and guided the Hokies to an 8-8 record in Atlantic Coast Conference play. Greenberg was voted ACC Coach of the Year. The Tigers lead the all-time series against Virginia Tech 17-12, but the Hokies won four of the last five meetings, including the last three. All of the previous 29 meetings came when both schools were members of the former Metro Conference. The Hokies won the last encounter between the two programs in 1990-91, an 82-79 victory in the final regular season game in the Mid-South Coliseum (Mar. 2, 1991). |
| 03/16/05 | |
Tigers Advance In NIT, Defeat Northeastern 90-65 -- Hunt scores career-high 24 points as Memphis advances to a second round game versus Virginia Tech (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Jeremy Hunt scored a career-high 24 points and five Memphis players scored in double figures, leading the Tigers to a 90-65 win over Northeastern in a first-round NIT game Wednesday night. Hunt shot 10-for-15 from the field and finished with seven rebounds for Memphis (20-15), which will face Virginia Tech in the second round. Virginia Tech opened the tournament with a 60-50 win over Temple. Northeastern (21-10) played without star guard Jose Juan Barea, who was suspended for "unnecessarily rough play" while scrambling for a loose ball in the team's loss to Vermont in the America East championship game. Barea ranks ninth in the nation in scoring average at 22.2 points, and ranks seventh nationally in assists with 7.3. Rodney Carney finished with 14 for the Tigers. Darius Washington scored 13, and Duane Erwin and Arthur Barclay each added 10 points. Marcus Barnes led Northeastern with 19 points, and Adrian Martinez scored 15. Shawn James, the America East conference rookie and defensive player of the year, finished with 12 points, grabbed seven rebounds and blocked seven shots. Memphis forced the Huskies into eight turnovers early and 12 in the first half. It wasn't until Bennet Davis hit a 3-pointer for Northeastern with 9:29 left in the half, cutting Memphis' lead to 21-10. The miscues and Northeastern's 31 percent shooting helped Memphis to a 44-23 lead at the break. Barclay scored all of his 10 points in the half, missing only one of his five shots. He also had six rebounds. The second half was more of the same. Memphis maintained at least a 20-point lead through much of the period, and Northeastern never threatened. |
| 03/16/05 | |
Memphis Basketball/NIT Postgame Quotes -- Memphis 90, Northeastern 65 (GoTigersGo.com) |
| Memphis Head Coach John Calipari "I said before the game that usually, in a game like this, you're going to get 2,500 people. But (I told the team) you're going to see eight or nine thousand people out there. Why? Because we play so hard and they want to see us play. They are proud of you because of how hard you play. Now let's go out and just play the way we play. And that's what we did." "Understand that they (Northeastern) did not have their best player. That's why the game kind of got to where it was. You're talking 25 points and seven and a half assists per game. But I'm proud. We're passing the ball (well) and every guy on the team helped us today." "This next game is an ACC team and Seth Greenberg was Coach of the Year in the ACC. It's going to be the challenge of challenges for us." "(The ovation for Darius) was great. I kind of figured that our fans would do that. What they saw is that he wants to win. That's the number one thing." Northeastern Head Coach Ron Everhart "My first impression (from looking at the game's box score) proves the fact that we turned the ball over way too much. Their offensive rebounds really hurt us. You got to give their big guys credit -- (Arthur) Barclay especially in the first half. He had all 10 of his points in the first, and that really made a difference." "The Tigers are playing well. Their guys off the bench are giving great minutes, and the team is rebounding the ball well, especially their wing guys. That's Cal being a great coach. We were playing against a guy who is a hall of fame basketball coach." "In our end, it's tough to play without your leading scorer." |
| 03/16/05 | |
Memphis/NIT Basketball Boxscore -- Memphis 90, Northeastern 65 (GoTigersGo.com) |
| Official Basketball Box Score -- GAME TOTALS -- FINAL STATISTICS Northeastern vs MEMPHIS 03/16/05 7:00 pm at Memphis, Tenn. (FedExForum) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- VISITORS: Northeastern 21-10 TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS ## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN 21 James, Shawn........ f 4-8 0-3 4-4 3 4 7 3 12 1 2 7 0 31 33 Cole, Janon......... f 1-5 0-0 1-2 3 3 6 4 3 0 3 0 2 23 03 Barnes, Marcus...... g 6-14 1-6 6-9 1 2 3 1 19 2 6 1 0 31 11 Martinez, Adrian.... g 5-11 4-7 1-2 2 1 3 4 15 2 4 0 0 27 22 Kelly, Bobby........ g 1-2 0-1 0-0 0 4 4 0 2 2 2 0 1 20 01 Popoola, Dipo....... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 10 Kirkland, Jerome.... 0-0 0-0 0-0 1 0 1 3 0 0 1 0 0 14 12 Davis, Aaron........ 3-5 2-3 2-2 0 1 1 0 10 1 0 0 0 19 14 Davis, Bennet....... 1-5 1-2 0-0 0 3 3 1 3 1 2 0 0 14 15 Farmer, Jeff........ 0-0 0-0 0-2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 50 Washington, Mark.... 0-2 0-0 1-2 1 1 2 4 1 1 3 0 0 16 TEAM................ 2 2 Totals.............. 21-52 8-22 15-23 13 19 32 21 65 10 23 8 3 200 TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 8-26 30.8% 2nd Half: 13-26 50.0% Game: 40.4% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 3-12 25.0% 2nd Half: 5-10 50.0% Game: 36.4% REBS F Throw % 1st Half: 4-7 57.1% 2nd Half: 11-16 68.8% Game: 65.2% 3,2 ------------------------------------------------------------------ HOME TEAM: MEMPHIS 20-15 TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS ## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN 11 Erwin, Duane........ f 4-7 0-0 2-2 1 5 6 1 10 0 2 1 0 20 55 Barclay, Arthur..... f 4-7 0-0 2-3 5 1 6 3 10 1 1 1 0 16 05 Hunt, Jeremy........ g 10-15 2-3 2-2 3 4 7 4 24 3 3 0 6 34 23 Rice, Anthony....... g 3-9 1-6 0-0 1 1 2 2 7 0 1 1 1 26 35 WASHINGTON, Darius.. g 4-7 1-3 4-5 0 1 1 4 13 5 3 0 0 29 01 Williams, Waki...... 3-5 0-0 0-0 2 4 6 3 6 4 0 2 1 24 03 Thiero, Almamy...... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 10 Carney, Rodney...... 4-9 2-5 4-4 1 4 5 0 14 3 0 1 0 27 14 Njoya, Simplice..... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 5 15 Dorsey, Joey........ 1-5 0-0 4-10 2 2 4 4 6 1 1 1 2 18 TEAM................ Totals.............. 33-64 6-17 18-26 15 22 37 23 90 17 11 7 10 200 TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 18-37 48.6% 2nd Half: 15-27 55.6% Game: 51.6% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 4-13 30.8% 2nd Half: 2-4 50.0% Game: 35.3% REBS F Throw % 1st Half: 4-5 80.0% 2nd Half: 14-21 66.7% Game: 69.2% 3,1 ----------------------------------------------------------------- Officials: John Grobe, Sean Wright, Ron Groover Technical fouls: Northeastern-None. MEMPHIS-None. Attendance: 7392 Score by Periods 1st 2nd Total Northeastern.................. 23 42 - 65 MEMPHIS....................... 44 46 - 90 |
| 03/16/05 | |
Baseball Swept at Mississippi State -- Errors costly as Tigers drop fourth straight game to MSU (GoTigersGo.com) |
| STARKVILLE, Miss. - MEMPHIS (5-8) 100 000 001 - 2 2 2 No. 18 Mississippi St. (11-2) 001 000 03X - 4 10 0 Mississippi State (11-2) scored three unearned runs in the eighth inning of a pitchers duel to defeat Memphis 4-2 and remain undefeated at home. Memphis falls to 5-8 on the year after dropping its third straight contest. MSU took advantage of a two-out throwing error by Memphis on a fielder's choice groundball. With two on, State's Bryan LaNinfa provided the game-winning RBI's on a two-run two-out double to the left centerfield gap. The Bulldogs added another run on a single by Ed Easley to extend the lead to 4-1. The Tigers closed the deficit to 4-2 with a run in the ninth after Chris Newsom scored on a fielder's choice ground out by Patrick Hope. Hope was held hitless, snapping his career-long hit streak at 15 games. Adam Amar gave Memphis an early 1-0 lead, when his first-inning single up the middle scored Jordan Tolliver from second. Amar produced two of the Tigers' three hits in the ballgame. MSU tied the contest in the third frame when shortstop Bunky Kateon led off the inning with a single and leadoff hitter Jeffrey Rea followed with a triple to the right centerfield gap. U of M centerfielder Brad Fly thwarted the Bullies attempt to gain the lead when he threw out Rea at the plate on an attempt to tag up on a shallow fly ball. Bulldog starter Josh Johnson hurled a six-inning one-hitter and retired 11 straight Tigers in the third through sixth innings. He fanned seven Tiger hitters before being lifted for reliever Brett Cleveland, who earned the win. MSU pitchers combined to strike out 11. Freshman K.K. Chalmers held the Bulldogs hitless in the first two innings and gave up just one run in his first career start. Tiger relief pitchers Tim Senter and Drew Jaudon held Mississippi State scoreless for four innings. Ryan Fly was the hard-luck loser after giving up all three unearned runs in the eighth. MEMPHIS (5-7) 022 030 100 - 8 17 6 No. 18 Mississippi St. (10-2) 215 030 00X - 11 13 2 In the rain-suspended game, Memphis out hit Mississippi State 17-13, but the Tigers were unable to overcome the six errors made on Tuesday night as they fell 11-8. The Tigers and Bulldogs combined for 18 runs, 21 hits and seven errors in the first four-and-a-half innings on Tuesday night before the rains forced the game's suspension. The Tigers put runners in scoring position in the seventh behind a leadoff double by Robbie Goss. After Goss moved to third on a groundball out off the bat of Cory Barton, Bastien came up with a clutch two-out triple to the left centerfield gap to bring Memphis with three runs at 11-8. The run-scoring triple was Bastien's first Division I RBI. Memphis ripped six hits in the final four innings, but left six runners on. The Tigers left 10 runners on for the game. Blake Richardson (1-1) suffered the loss for Memphis after giving up 11 runs, five of which were unearned. Tiger relief pitcher Chris Davis held the Bulldogs scoreless in three-and-one-third innings. State starter Brooks Dunn improves to 3-0 on the year after giving up seven runs on 11 hits in five innings of work. Saunders Ramsey picked up his third save for MSU after recording the final out of the game. Memphis will now look ahead to its opening Conference USA weekend against Houston. Friday's series-opener is set for a 6:30 p.m. first pitch. |
| 03/16/05 | |
Lady Tigers Have Best Round of Spring in Final Day at UNLV -- Memphis finishes 16th in tournament (GoTigersGo.com) |
| HENDERSON, Nev. - Despite shooting its best round of the spring, the University of Memphis women's golf team ended the UNLV Spring Invitational in 16th place on Wednesday.
Led by freshman Ashleigh Garman who tied a career best with a 78 (6+) in the final 18-hole round, the Lady Tigers finished 336-327-321--984 (+116). Garman's 89-84-78--251 is her third best three-round low in her young collegiate career. It is also the second-straight tournament she has had a 78 round.
Sophomore Stacey Tate led Memphis with an 82-78-82--242 finish and was followed by Meghan Mahoney's 82-86-80--248 total. Junior Bernie Rosero (85-83-81--249) and sophomore Cameron Barber (87-82-82--251) round out the rest of the Lady Tiger's team.
No. 23 USC (306-299-290--895) finished first in the tournament followed by No. 5 Pepperdine (317-302-291--910) and No. 19 Arizona (312-298-306--916). Arizona's Cassandra Kirkland took home medalist honors with a 76-69-76--220 (+4).
Memphis will next participate in the Tapatio Springs Shoot Out hosted by Baylor University in Boerne, Texas. The three-day tournament runs from March 24-26. The Lady Tigers have two more spring tournaments before they host the Conference USA Championship on April 18-20. Team Results (Golfweek Ranking) 1 Southern California (23) 306 299 290 895 2 Pepperdine (5) 317 302 291 910 3 Arizona (19) 312 298 306 916 T4 Tennessee (9) 318 306 302 926 T4 Michigan (25) 316 308 302 926 6 UNLV (27) 312 309 306 927 7 Brigham Young Univ. (41) 325 310 303 938 8 Purdue (26) 326 303 312 941 9 Nevada, U. of (63) 321 310 311 942 10 Iowa State Univ. (60) 327 312 307 946 11 Nebraska, U. of (63) 329 309 317 955 12 Northern Arizona U. 332 321 303 956 13 Denver, Univ. of (69) 332 316 313 961 14 Indiana University 343 318 321 982 15 Eastern Washington U 338 317 328 983 16 Memphis 336 327 321 984 17 UNLV (B) 350 327 328 1005 18 Northern Iowa, U. of 344 340 322 1006 16 Memphis 336 327 321 984 T49 Stacey Tate 82 78 82 242 T71 Meghan Mahoney 82 86 80 248 T75 Bernie Rosero 85 83 81 249 T81 Cameron Barber 87 82 82 251 T81 Ashleigh Garman 89 84 78 251 |
| 03/16/05 | |
There are no regrets for Tigers point guard -- Washington says missed foul shots will make him stronger (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Gary Parrish Contact March 16, 2005 Given the opportunity, Darius Washington would do it all again. He'd bump his chest. He'd smile at reporters. He'd wink at the bench. He'd step to the free-throw line, take a deep breath and thank God he was fortunate enough to be in a position to send the University of Memphis to the NCAA Tournament. Damaged? Scarred? Rick Ankiel-ed for life? In a similar situation, some might be. But not D-Wash. And he wants Tiger fans to know that. "It hurts, but it's not changing anything," said the Tigers' freshman point guard. "You can't dwell on the past. If it happens again, I still want to be in that same situation, with three free throws and nobody on the line. "But next time, I'll just have to make them." Washington sat on the top row of the bleachers at the Finch Center Tuesday afternoon and addressed the media for the first time since those missed free throws at the end of Saturday's 75-74 loss to Louisville. Among the things Washington pointed out heading into tonight's NIT opener against Northeastern (21-9) at FedExForum: Yes, he was shocked when he missed the second free throw after making the first. If John Calipari would've called a timeout to let him regroup, he believes it would've helped. No, the red light on the backboard that shone while he shot didn't bother him. He noticed it, but didn't mind it and considers it a non-factor. Yes, he has seen the highlight of him collapsing. No, he didn't want to. "I was at the hotel with my dad Saturday night, and we were watching ESPN and it came on," Washington said. "I changed the channel. But he stole the remote and changed it back. He told me I couldn't hide from it. He said that 30 years from now they'd be showing that same clip, and I needed to get it out of my system. "Since then ... I've seen it about a thousand times." Which is close to the number of E-mails and calls Washington has received in the aftermath. His personal web site -- DWash.net -- has been flooded with posts. So has his university E-mail account, which can easily be (and has easily been) found online. And then there was the call from Isiah Thomas, the Hall of Fame point guard who is now the general manager of the New York Knicks. "He told me he passed the ball to the opposite team one time, and they lost the game, and that Magic Johnson bounced one off his foot in the playoffs (that caused a loss)," Washington said. "He said that we all lose games, but that you just can't let it break you." And will it break Washington? "No," he answered. "It's going to make me strong as steel." Which may come in handy tonight. Memphis (19-15) and Northeastern (21-9) will tip off just after 7. But before that, there will be the introductions of the starting lineups, and it's hard to imagine Washington won't receive a nice ovation from the fans, some of whom are coming merely for that moment. So as where Saturday produced tears of disappointment and heartbreak, there could be a different kind of, as Tommy West might say, "sweating eyes" this time around when Washington's name is called. Strong as steel, huh? Good luck. "It's going to be scary," Calipari said. "We're probably going to make Darius last in the introductions just for that reason. But it should be special." -- Gary Parrish: 529-2365 --------------------------------------------------------------- Tigers vs. Northeastern When, where: Today, 7 p.m., at FedExForum. TV, radio: WLMT (30), WMC-AM (790), WKBQ-FM (93.5). Tickets: $10 for upper level, $15 for lower level and club level and $5 for students. Available through Ticketmaster (525-1515), at the UofM ticket office (678-2331) and the FedExForum box office. |
| 03/16/05 | |
Tigers vs. Northeastern (Commercial Appeal) |
| FedExForum, 7 p.m. TV, radio: WLMT (30), WMC-AM (790), WKBQ-FM (93.5). Records: Tigers 19-15, Northeastern 21-9. Series standing: First meeting. Latest line: Tigers by 131/2 . Notables Though Memphis and Northeastern have never played, John Calipari is familiar with the school from his days at UMass. Calipari coached against Northeastern, located in Boston, twice when he first took over the Minutemen program. He has a 1-1 career record against the Huskies. ... If the name of Ron Everhart sounds familiar, here's why: The Northeastern coach graduated from and played basketball at Virginia Tech in the early 1980s. Thus, he spent several nights in the Mid-South Coliseum, and later at The Pyramid. Everhart was an assistant at Tulane in the late 1980s and early 1990s under Perry Clark at Tulane. So he was a part of the Penny Hardaway years before getting his first head coaching job in 1994 at McNeese State. Everhart spent seven seasons there before being replaced by -- the Memphis connections just won't stop -- former Tiger coach Tic Price. ... This is Northeastern's first NIT appearance and first postseason appearance since 1991. ... Memphis has a 16-14 NIT record. Scouting the Tigers Memphis is coming off a 75-74 defeat to Louisville, now ranked fourth in the nation, in the title game of the Conference USA Tournament. Rodney Carney has come off the bench for the past four games and should do so again tonight despite being the Tigers' leading scorer. He's averaging 15.6 points per game. Jeremy Hunt has taken Carney's spot in the starting line-up and will play tonight despite injuring his knee in Saturday's title game. Hunt had an MRI on Monday. Results were negative, and he practiced Tuesday. Scouting the Huskies Northeastern had won eight straight prior to last Saturday's America East Tournament title game. With an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament at stake, the Huskies were routed by Vermont, 80-57, their third loss of the season to Vermont. Northeastern's other six losses this season came to Birmingham Southern, Harvard, Wright State, Connecticut (by 37 points), Holy Cross and Maine. Jose Juan Barea is the Huskies' leading scorer, averaging 22.2 points and 7.3 assists per game.. The 6-0 junior was recently named an honorable mention All-American by Sports Illustrated. And he won't play tonight because he was suspended Tuesday afternoon for two punches he threw in a loose ball situation against Vermont. This will be the first game Northeastern has played without its Puerto Rican standout. Key matchup: Joey Dorsey vs. Shawn James Calipari is trying to win a NIT title, but he also wants to use this time to prepare for next season. So expect freshman Joey Dorsey to get extended minutes this postseason, considering he is the UofM's future in the post. Dorsey will get a nice challenge tonight inside from Northeastern's Shawn James. Also a freshman, James is averaging 5.4 blocks per game, which ranks first in the nation. -- Gary Parrish |
| 03/16/05 | |
Calkins: Tigers played way back into fans' hearts -- C-USA run worth more than NIT berth (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Geoff Calkins Contact March 16, 2005 James Edwards doesn't know exactly why he collapsed. He had been waiting to buy Memphis basketball tickets when it happened. Edwards is 78. His wife, Jane, is 79. They drove to the University of Memphis Athletic Office building Monday morning, the day tickets for tonight's NIT game between Memphis and Northeastern went on sale. "There was a long line," Edwards said. "We had been in line about two hours." Edwards started to feel hot. Then hotter. Then ... "I think I spit up on my shirt," Edwards said, "and then I was out like a light." Someone caught Edwards on the way down; the other Memphis fans rushed in to help rouse him. The university police sped to the scene. "I guess there was quite a commotion," said Edwards. He wasn't out for more than a couple minutes. Someone suggested he should go get checked out, just in case. Edwards refused. "I went down there to get tickets," he said. "When I came to, the people in line were nice, they let me go in front of them. "We went right over there and bought two tickets." • • The Memphis Tigers play Northeastern in the first round of the NIT tonight. It's discouraging, isn't it? The season started with such promise. Even the head coach said he had a Top 20 team. Now the Tigers are back in the NIT -- the third time in five years -- trying to prove they're the 66th best team in the country. "We shouldn't be in the NIT," said Edwards. He's right about that. "We should beat TCU and UAB," said Edwards. He's right about that, too. "But I'm proud of what those guys did the last four games," he said. "They looked like a different team to me." Which is why this NIT game is different. Which is why these Tiger players are worthy of your appreciation. No, they didn't make it to the only tournament that matters. But, in the last week, they did something that might be even bigger. They won back James and Jane Edwards. What's that, you say? Who are James and Jane Edwards? They are nobody and everybody. They are, oh, let Edwards tell you. "We both grew up in Memphis," he said. "I went to Messick High School and she went to Treadwell." Edwards served in Japan right after World War II. The day he got back -- "November 1, 1946," he said -- he visited his brother at what was then Memphis State College. "He introduced me to Jane," Edwards said. "She was a student, looking in her locker for something." They fell in love, married, had two sons and went to a lot of Memphis games. OK, they did other stuff, too. He sold advertising. They went to St. Luke's on Highland. But as much as anything else, they were Tiger fans, generous and constant, the kind of people too often derided these days as "blue hairs." What an ungrateful term that is. Edwards graduated from Memphis in 1949. Jane was a class ahead of him. They've been been supporting the team for more than half a century. "At the Coliseum, our seats were under the American flag," Edwards said. "They were good seats." The team then moved to The Pyramid. "We started upstairs but gave more money and moved downstairs," Edwards said. "We had good seats over there, too." The team then moved to FedExForum. "We were sorely disappointed," Edwards said. It's not that the building isn't beautiful. But the Edwards's donation put them back up in the rafters. "There are a lot of people who are unhappy," he said. "We aren't the only ones." The players didn't help matters. They lost games they shouldn't have lost, fought with each other and brought dishonor to the university. And the coach wouldn't play a zone! "You can call me hardheaded if you want to," Edwards said, "but I got so where I couldn't stand it. We finally decided we weren't going to go to the Conference USA Tournament." Understand, the Edwardses had traveled with the Tigers to every conference tournament before this one. Every single one, no exceptions. Memphis had played in 29 conference tournaments; the Edwardses had been to all 29. "We've been to Biloxi and Chicago, Louisville and Cincinnati," Edwards said. "We went to that one at Virginia Tech in the middle of nowhere. But for one reason or another, we were turned off this year." The Edwardses catch the bus to the games at Halle Stadium. They ride with a regular group. "We asked around and nobody was going," Edwards said. "Everyone had lost interest." So the Edwardses watched the tournament on TV. Jane sat on the couch; he sat in his rocking chair. "It sure felt different," Edwards said. It looked different, too. In a good way. The Tigers thumped Saint Louis, Charlotte and South Florida. "Something changed," Edwards said. "They were a totally different team." Then came the Louisville game. Oh, what a miracle. It was everything good about college basketball; it was everything good about Memphis basketball. And it came down to a freshman, standing at the line, with three foul shot shots to win it. "He made that first one so easy," Edwards said. "He just threw it up there and it went in and I knew it was going to happen." It didn't happen, of course. It didn't feel any better in the Edwardses' den than it did in yours. "My heart went out to him," Edwards said. "What a way to lose a game." So it was an unhappy ending. Except for what happened next in the Edwards household. James and Jane talked it over. They really hadn't planned on going to another game, but they decided they really should go tonight. To support the guys. Especially Darius Washington, the freshman who missed those last two foul shots. "We're behind him," Edwards said. "We'll sure let him know that." So yes, this is an NIT game. And it doesn't change the disappointing season. But when Washington is introduced, there will be at least two old/new Tiger fans, cheering like crazy. "We're back," said Edwards. Which you can count as a victory. To reach Geoff Calkins, call him at 529-2364 |
| 03/16/05 | |
Defense dives in -- Tigers are working to toughen up what was last season's weakest link (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Phil Stukenborg Contact March 16, 2005 As it opened spring practice Tuesday at the Murphy Athletic Complex, the University of Memphis football team trotted from the locker room to the fields and was greeted by a brisk northerly wind. The weather conditions were a cold slap in the face, but it's likely Tiger defensive coordinator Joe Lee Dunn didn't feel them. He, understandably, is still smarting from his group's lackluster performance last season. The UofM defense, one of the nation's best units in 2003, struggled throughout most of 2004, allowing 24 passing touchdowns and finishing 111th in pass defense. In the team's 52-35 loss to Bowling Green in the GMAC Bowl, the Tigers allowed 365 passing yards, about 100 more than their average. It's a breakdown that Dunn is intent on correcting, beginning with spring practice. He's even taken over coaching the middle linebackers, after not coaching a specific position last season. ''I've studied the films and all that stuff,'' Dunn said. ''The sad thing was the same mistakes we made in the first game of the year we were making in the 12th game of the year. And watching the film from the Bowling Green game (in the GMAC Bowl), it was probably the worst game we played all year. We just stunk it up.'' In defense of Dunn, the Tigers were going against one of the nation's top passers in Bowling Green's Omar Jacobs, who tossed five touchdowns in the game. But that fact didn't console Dunn, much like it failed to comfort him in late December. ''We didn't do anything right,'' Dunn said. ''You've got to make sure they are in the game and doing what they are supposed to do. I did a poor job of watching film (last year) and finding out what the dadgum problem was. So I'm going to be a little more involved in that this year so we don't do what we did last year.'' Dunn, a former defensive coordinator at Arkansas, Ole Miss and Mississippi State, said the defensive breakdowns weren't limited to one group. ''It was the defensive line, the linebackers, the secondary, the coaches, it was everybody involved with it,'' he said. ''We won eight games, but I felt like I'd been shot 35 times after the season last year.'' Dunn said had he graded each defensive player, not one would have graded over 50 percent last season. ''It was sad when I was looking at it after the season was over,'' he said. ''I usually don't watch the (Tiger defensive) film but one or two times, but I'm going to have to do a whole lot more this coming year. ''The scheme is not the problem. We didn't get the (concepts) over to them good enough. After playing in that system 75 or 80 plays a game, they should be better this year. Hopefully, they will be.'' The Tigers return seven starters on defense, including all-conference selections Wesley Smith at free safety and Marcus West at left end. Among the key losses will be defensive tackle Albert Means, who could be taken in next month's NFL Draft. The defense also lost tackle David McNair, safety Scott Vogel and cornerback Tristan Thomas. ''We've got to stop the run, beat people and make plays,'' said defensive line coach Craig Boller. ''We did more of that the year before than we did last year. It's not a scheme thing. We've just got to make plays when it's time to make a play.'' Marcus West, a senior from Columbus, Miss., led the defense with 91/2 tackles for loss and six sacks last season. But the defense, which scored three times in 2003, was able to score only once in 2004. ''A lot of time we were one-on-one and we didn't make our plays,'' Marcus West said. ''When we are one-on-one, as a defense, we've got to win, we've got to be the best. That's what a lot of our focus will be this spring.'' Linebacker Carlton Baker, like Dunn, believes the group will benefit from being a year older and more familiar with the system. ''I didn't make a lot of plays I should have made last year,'' said Baker, who was second on the team with 96 tackles. ''I blew some assignments, but with maturity and experience, things should get better. "That's why I worked so hard in the offseason. That's why a lot of guys worked so hard. We don't want to make the same mistakes we did last season.'' -- Phil Stukenborg: 529-2543 |
| 03/16/05 | |
Tigers try tight end as offensive tackle (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Phil Stukenborg Contact March 16, 2005 Tight end John Doucette opened spring practice by auditioning at a new position: offensive tackle. Doucette, a senior from New Orleans, may spend the entire spring at the position. ''We'll put him there for a few weeks and see how he does,'' Tiger coach Tommy West said. ''Now is the time to look at that.'' Doucette (6-2, 265) caught 11 passes for 137 yards and a touchdown last season and has 33 career receptions for 375 yards and four TDs. He is a three-year starter at tight end who earned a spot on Conference USA's All-Freshman Team in 2002. After walking off the field Tuesday, West asked Doucette how practice with the offensive line went, and Doucette said he knew ''all the plays.'' Doucette said his only problem was coming to practice in his No. 82 jersey. Linemen are limited to wearing Nos. 50 to 79. ''Coach (Rick Mallory) was mad because I came out with this number,'' Doucette said. Miami Dolphin offensive lineman Wade Smith made a similar move late in his Tiger career and has prospered in the NFL. Moving outside Taz Knockum, who'll be a redshirt sophomore, will also be at a new position. Knockum, from Baton Rouge, La., has moved to receiver. As a senior at Catholic High in Baton Rouge, Knockum (6-2, 205) rushed for 1,143 yards and caught 29 passes for 418 yards and three touchdowns. Out of high school, Rivals.com listed Knockum as the No. 24 all-purpose back in the nation. ''Taz is a guy we're looking for a place to play,'' West said. ''I don't see him playing (running back) in front of DeAngelo or (Joseph) Doss, so we're moving him to wideout. He's lost some weight (about 15 pounds), and he's got good hands. I think this is a way to get him on the field.'' Spring game shuffle West said the Tigers hope to have information on the date and location of their spring game by the end of the week. Traditionally, the game is held at the end of spring workouts (April 9 this year), but a conflict has arisen because an artificial playing surface is being installed at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium for next season. Ideally, Tiger officials would like to hold the Blue-Gray game (or scrimmage) at the Liberty Bowl before work begins on the playing surface. Limited work Tiger All-America running back DeAngelo Williams, who will return for his senior season, participated in Tuesday's workout. But West said Williams probably won't participate in scrimmages. He said there's no need to risk injury to the Heisman Trophy contender, and it's more important to get scrimmage work in for reserve backs Doss, Jamarcus Gaither and Brian Davis. No work Junior college defensive back Brandon McDonald, listed as the backup cornerback to Dustin Lopez, did not participate in the workout because of a knee injury. McDonald (5-11, 180)is scheduled to undergo an MRI Thursday. McDonald played at Jones County (Miss.) Community College. |
| 03/16/05 |  |
Tidmore wins, team finishes 4th at National Championship (Daily Helmsman) |
| Daniel Ford contact March 16, 2005 Beth Tidmore wasn't just sitting around on her spring break. Tidmore was busy setting a new NCAA record and taking home the air rifle national championship at the 26th Annual National Collegiate Men's and Women's Rifle Championship at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. The All-American shot 590 in the team match and followed that up with a 104.2 in the individual finals for a new record of 694.2 and her first national championship. "It was very exciting," Tidmore said. "I'm relieved it's over. It was exciting and there was a lot going on, but I am relieved to be able to calm down for a while." The only thing more impressive than Tidmore's score might be the competition she shot it against. The 694.2 bested Andrea Franzen, a freshman at Nebraska and the Swedish National Champion, and Matt Rawlings of Alaska-Fairbanks, who was the overall national champion in aggregate scoring from the air rifle and small bore competitions. Monday, Tidmore and sophomore Katie Benjamin were named All-Americans. Tidmore was selected for the first-team, while Benjamin was tabbed for the second-team. Both shooters were named as second-team All-Americans last season. The Tigers also qualified for the air rifle as a team, a first for the program. Head coach Butch Woolbright wasn't sure how his team would respond in their first ever National Championship, but he got his answer from an unlikely place. "I was a little bit concerned," Woolbright said. "When we got out there Friday night, the NCAA had set up a karaoke machine for the teams and our kids got up there and started singing, 'What Do You Think of Me Now?' and I felt right then that we were going to do extremely well the next day." The next day Memphis surpassed most expectations by finishing fourth, with a score of 2329, just nine points behind first place finisher Jacksonville State who shot 2338. Having her whole team there made the weekend more fun for Tidmore, who went without her team last year having qualified individually. "Having the whole team there it was just like a big get-together," Tidmore said. "We were very relaxed, we sang karaoke, we played pool, for a while we almost forgot we were at a competition." In the team competition Tidmore's 590 was tops on the Tigers squad, followed by freshman Krissey Bahnsen's 588, Benjamin's 581 and sophomore Brian Phillips, who shot a 570. With one year left, Tidmore said she still has plenty in her sights. "Long term? I'd like to do this again next year," Tidmore said. "Even longer term? I'd really like to train for the 2008 Olympics." |
| 03/16/05 | |
NIT tickets on sale now (Daily Helmsman) |
| Ben Cowens contact March 16, 2005 Students who want to attend this evening's NIT first round game against Northeastern have a number of options available. Tickets can be purchased on campus at the Athletic Office Building ticket office, from FedExForum's box office or ticketmaster.com. Tickets for all students cost $5 with a valid Student ID, but only one ticket can be purchased per student at the discounted price. All other attendees -- including faculty -- will pay regular price -- $10 for a terrace level seat and $15 for lower and club levels. Lamar Chance, basketball sports information director, said student sections for the NIT remain the same as the regular season -- including section 101 behind the west basket. Chance encourages students to buy their tickets through The U of M ticket office in the Athletic Office Building, which will be open from 8:30 a.m. till approximately 4:30 p.m. today. Around that time, remaining tickets will move to the FedExForum, so he advises students to buy them earlier in the day. For walk-up ticket buyers, the FedExForum box office is open from 10 a.m. until the 7 p.m. tip-off. Doors at FedExForum open at 6 p.m. The winner will play Virginia Tech or Temple. Date, time and site for the second round game will be announced later. |
| 03/15/05 | |
Lady Tiger Golfers Improve in Second Round of UNLV Spring Invitational -- Memphis in 16th place after 36 holes (GoTigersGo.com) |
| HENDERSON, Nev. - The University of Memphis women's golf team shaved nine points off its first round total on Tuesday at the UNLV Spring Invitational as winds calmed down at the Black Mountain Golf and Country Club.
Although improving, the Lady Tigers dropped to 16th place in the 18 team field with a 336-327--663 (+87) through the first two rounds of the three-round tournament. Four of the five Memphis golfers bested their first round score. Sophomore Stacey Tate once again led the Tigers with a 6-over-par 78, placing her in a tie for 35th place. Tate birdied on the seventh hole of the second round and through 36 holes is 82-78--160 (+16).
Junior Bernie Rosero shot a second round 83 (+11) placing her along with sophomore Meghan Mahoney in a tie for 71st place. Sophomore Cameron Barber had the team's second best score on Tuesday, shooting a 10-over-par 82 after scoring an 87 (+15) in the first round. Barber is tied for 76th place with an 87-82--169.
Leading the tournament is Cassandra Kirkland of Arizona after she shot a three-under 69 for the low round of the tournament thus far. Kirkland's strong second round brought her back to even par for the invitational (75-69-144). Kirkland leads Catalina Marin of USC by two strokes after she posted her second straight 73 for a total of 146 (+2). Eileen Vargas of Pepperdine is third (74-75-149, +5), Heather Olmstead of Nevada, Reno is fourth (80-70-150, +6).
USC has five players in the top 25 and leads after two rounds of the tournament with a team total of 605 (+29). Arizona is in second place (610, +34) followed by Pepperdine (619, +43) and UNLV (621, +45).
Wednesday's final round is set to tee off at 10:00 a.m. (CST) on the first and 10th holes on the par-72, 6,009-yards course. Black Mountain Golf and Country Club -- Par 72 -- 6,009 yards TEAM RESULTS (Golfweek Ranking) 1. USC (23) 306-295--601 2. Arizona (19) 312-302--614 3. Pepperdine (5) 317-302--619 4. UNLV-A (27) 312-309--621 T5. Tennessee (9) 318-306--624 T5. Michigan (25) 316-308--624 7. Purdue (26) 326-303--629 8. Nevada (63) 321-310--631 9. BYU (41) 325-310--635 10. Nebraska (63) 329-309--638 11. Iowa St. (60) 327-312--639 12. Denver (69) 332-316--648 13. Northern Arizona 332-321--653 14. Eastern Wash. 338-317--655 15. Indiana 343-318--661 16. Memphis 336-327--663 17. UNLV-B 350-327--677 18. Northern Iowa 344-340--684 - Through 36 holes, 18 holes remaining 16 Memphis 336 327 663 T35 Stacey Tate 82 78 160 T71 Meghan Mahoney 82 86 168 T71 Bernie Rosero 85 83 168 T76 Cameron Barber 87 82 169 T88 Ashleigh Garman 89 84 173 |
| 03/15/05 | |
Baseball Versus Mississippi State Suspended Due to Rain -- Tigers trail 11-7 with contest to resume at 2 p.m. on Wednesday (GoTigersGo.com) |
| STARKVILLE, Miss. - MEMPHIS (5-6) 022 030 000 - 7 11 6 Mississippi St. (9-2) 215 030 000 - 11 10 1 Memphis banged out 11 hits, but committed six fielding errors before the rains came down and forced the suspension of Tuesday's matchup between the Tigers and Bulldogs. Memphis trailed in the action-packed affair, 11-7 in the bottom of the fifth inning when the decision was made to call the game. The contest will resume Wednesday at 2 p.m. with game two to follow. Mississippi State wasted little time getting ahead of the Tigers in the home half of the first inning. Leftfielder Jeff Butts got the rally started with a walk and Bulldogs All-American Brad Corley followed with a single to leftcenter field, putting runners on the corners. Brad Jones put the Bulldogs on the board with a sacrifice fly to shallow to center field. Tiger centerfielder K.K. Chalmers made a strong throw to the plate, but the ball skipped between the legs of Tiger backstop Cory Barton, allowing Butts to score. The Bullies took a 2-0 led on an RBI-single by Joseph Hunter. The Tigers got the two runs back in the top of the second ignited by a lead off single by first baseman Adam Amar. Jordan Hart then drew a walk. After a double play, Barton came through with a clutch single through the right side to score Hart. Patrick Hope tied the game at 2-2 with an RBI-single up the middle that extended his career-long hitting streak to 15 games. State took a 3-1 lead in the second on a two-out single bloop single by Jeff Rea that landed just out of the reach of Tiger shortstop Jordan Tolliver. Memphis took its first lead of the game in the third after consecutive singles by Chad House, Tolliver and Ryan Martin loaded the bases with no outs. Brad Fly, who entered the game in the second inning after rightfielder suffered an injury chasing down a foul ball, put the Tigers ahead 4-3 with a two-strike single to right that brought Tolliver and Martin home. Memphis touched MSU starter brooks Dunn up for five hits in the inning. A third-inning sac fly by Hunter tied the contest 4-4 and a throwing error by Robbie Goss allowed Jones to score from second and give State a one-run lead. MSU gained a three-run cushion after an RBI-single by Michael Rutledge and a wild pitch allowed Ed Easley to score. The Bulldogs went up 8-4 after Rea's single to center scored Rutledge. The see-saw battle continued in the Tigers' half of the fifth led as Tolliver and Martin reached base in consecutive plate appearances. Amar reached on an infield error to load the bases. Robbie Goss lined what looked to be a two-run single up the middle. However, the ball hit the second base umpire, causing the runners to advance just one base. Memphis cut the MSU lead to 8-7 on an infield single by Hope. However, the Bulldogs regained the four-run advantage with three runs on four hits in the fifth before the rains fell. Junior Blake Richardson gave the Tigers a solid effort in his second outing of the season. The juco transfer gave up 11 runs, six of which were earned, in four and two-thirds innings. He fanned three. |
| 03/15/05 | |
Tidmore and Benjamin Named Rifle All-Americans -- Memphis Tigers also received Team Academic Award (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, TENN. - University of Memphis shooters Beth Tidmore and Katie Benjamin have been named All-Americans by the National Rifle Association. Tidmore was tabbed as a first-team selection, and Benjamin was named as a second-team pick. Tidmore, who last weekend won the NCAA Air Rifle Championship title, was an honorable mention pick as a freshman, and a second teamer last year as a sophomore. Benjamin was also honored as a second-team pick last season. Four members of the Tiger Rifle squad also received academic honors. Tidmore, Benjamin, Brian Phillips and J.B. Vaughan each received the Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association Scholar-Athlete Award. Memphis was also one of only seven teams in the nation to receive the CRCA Team Academic Award. |
| 03/15/05 | |
Tigers Open Spring Practice -- Coach West pleased with first day of workouts (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, TENN. - The Tiger Football team took the field for the first time since the GMAC Bowl when they suited up for the first day of spring practices today. The Tigers spent two hours working on fundamentals in cold and windy conditions, and will return to the field on Wednesday for similar workouts. Junior quarterback/kicker Patrick Byrne, redshirt freshman Will Hudgens and true freshman Billy Barefield all threw passes during the workout. Senior Maurice Avery, who may still get some reps at quarterback this spring, worked with the receivers. "This was a good practice for us," said head coach Tommy West. "There was a lot of teaching and a lot of learning going on, and we knew it was going to be that way because we have some inexperience at some key positions." Several senior Tigers came out to practice to show their support including quarterback Danny Wimprine, wide receiver Chris Kelley and defensive tackle David McNair. Junior college transfer Brandon McDonald (DB), was sidelined for today's practice with an injured knee. He will have an MRI performed on his knee Thursday. Also on the sidelines was receiver Brandon Stewart, who tore his ACL on a kick-off return against Tulane. |
| 03/15/05 | |
Windy Conditions Creates Difficult Opening Round for Women's Golfers -- Tigers end first round in 14th place (GoTigersGo.com) |
| HENDERSON, Nev. - Blustery winds that gusted past 30 miles an hour caused golfers to shoot high scores Monday as the University of Memphis women's golf team is in 14th place with a 336 (+48) after the opening round of the UNLV Spring Invitational. No one in the field managed to shoot par or better as Catalina Marin of USC posted the low round of the day with a one-over 73 to grab the early lead on the par-72, 6,009-yard course at Black Mountain Golf and Country Club. Marin's effort in the winds help the Trojans take the opening-round lead as a team with a 306 (+18). UNLV and Arizona are both six strokes off the pace after carding a 312 (+24) over the first 18 holes. Sophomores Meghan Mahoney and Stacey Tate both led the Tigers with a 10-over 82 to finish the first day in a tie for 38th place. Junior Bernie Rosero shot an opening round 13-over-par 85 to finish the day third on the team and in a tie for 62nd place individually. Rounding out the Tigers team, sophomore Cameron Barber posted a 15-over 87 and freshman Ashleigh Garman shot a 17-over 89. Memphis will compete in the second round of the three-day tournament on Tuesday. |
| 03/15/05 | |
Tigers regroup, prepare for NIT -- Loss to Louisville pushed aside (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Gary Parrish Contact March 15, 2005 John Calipari sat at a table for about 45 minutes, just watching his players shoot jumpers and dunk during what was as laidback a postseason workout as you'll ever see. Big men were on one end. Guards were on the other. Then out of nowhere, the University of Memphis coach got up. "OK," he said. "Everybody down here." Calipari grabbed a ball, lined his players up and told each of them to take three free throws. Darius Washington stood in the back. He just watched. Only three made all three. "There was no pressure, no fans, no television, nothing moving," Calipari said later. "But I just wanted to put them all up there, let them know what the little kid went through." What the little kid went through. Two days later, that's still what people were talking about. Darius Washington. At the free-throw line. Against Louisville. No time left. Three makes, it's a win and the NCAA Tournament. Two makes, it's overtime. Anything less ... So Calipari gathered his team Monday afternoon and gave a short speech in preparation for the Tigers' Wednesday night NIT game at FedExForum against Northeastern. "I don't want anybody feeling sorry for me, and you don't want anybody feeling sorry for you," Calipari said. "This is our situation. We'll deal with it." Nobody's been dealing with it quite like Washington, who with one make and two gut-wrenching misses at the end of the 75-74 loss to Louisville went from star basketball player to sympathetic figure. He has been the subject of conversation from Memphis to Manitoba, and flooded with E-mails and calls of goodwill since the highlight of him collapsing at the free-throw line in tears began dominating ESPN Saturday afternoon. Sam Cassell called. Antonio Burks called. Isiah Thomas called. Dr. Eli Morris, associate pastor at Hope Presbyterian, even dedicated his Sunday service to the UofM freshman. "Every service on Sunday," Morris said. "I told people that if they didn't know what I was talking about, to just forgive me." Washington seemed in fine spirits Monday, but did not address the media per his coach's request. "One more day," Calipari said. "I just want him to bounce the ball a little bit, take some shots, relax." Asked if Washington was aware of the public sentiment toward him, Calipari didn't hesitate. "Oh yeah," he said. "It's been great. Darius knows." And he clearly appreciates it. Washington has his own Web site that's been running since his days as a McDonald's All-American in Orlando. It's DWash.net, and it's been overrun with posts offering support. With notes piling up, Washington finally responded. The subject line read simply, "CALLING ALL TIGER FANS." "I want you all to know that I take the time to read all messages posted, and I really appreciate ALL of the support in my time of need," he wrote. "I just wish the outcome would have been different. Thank you all for your support." -- Gary Parrish: 529-2365 -------------------------------------------------------- Tigers in the NIT Matchup: Tigers (19-15) vs. Northeastern (21-9). When, where: Wednesday, 7 p.m., at FedExForum. Tickets: $10 for upper level, $15 for lower level and club level and $5 for students. Available through Ticketmaster (525-1515), at the UofM ticket office (678-2331) and the FedExForum box office. |
| 03/15/05 | |
Tiger aide Barbee in running for UMass job (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Gary Parrish Contact March 15, 2005 Thanks to Monday's firing of Steve Lappas, UMass is looking for a new coach. Perhaps it'll look toward Memphis. "I don't know," said UofM coach John Calipari. "But I hope so." No, Calipari isn't considering returning to UMass. But one of his assistants, Tony Barbee, is a leading candidate for the job, according to several reports. Barbee played for Calipari at UMass in the early 1990s, and even did a year of color commentary for the Minutemen radio network. He's been at Memphis with Calipari since 2000. "Tony would be an unbelievable choice," Calipari said. "Who knows that situation better than him?" Calipari said he's already talked to multiple people at UMass about Barbee, who was on a recruiting trip Monday in, of all places, Boston. Asked if Barbee could interview with UMass before returning for the Tigers' NIT game on Wednesday, Calipari answered, "I don't know. He could." According to The (Springfield, Mass.) Republican, Barbee is expected to interview as early as today. Hunt hurt again? UofM guard Jeremy Hunt did not practice Monday, and instead had an MRI on his left knee. Hunt injured the knee toward the end of Saturday's loss to Louisville when he collided with teammate Joey Dorsey. "It feels better today," Hunt said before leaving the Finch Center. "But I just wanted to get it checked out." Conspiracy? Rick Hartzell is a college referee. He's also the athletic director at Northern Iowa. This has been discussed a lot lately, and for all the wrong reasons. Northern Iowa earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. Since the Panthers were one of the last teams in the field, it would not have been good for them had Memphis beaten Louisville and taken a spot ultimately used for an at-large bid. Why is this important? Because Hartzell was the man who called a charge on Hunt with less than 10 seconds remaining in Saturday's game. Had it been a block, Hunt would've shot two free throws, and possibly given the Tigers a win. Even so, Calipari isn't buying into the conspiracy. He said he had no problem with Hartzell working the game. "The last call (on Darius Washington, Hartzell) made," Calipari said. "So, we had our chances. I didn't feel like the calls went one way or another." A punch equals a game? Northeastern point guard Jose Juan Barea could be suspended for Wednesday's NIT game against Memphis. Barea, who averaged 25 points and eight assists in the Huskies' three America East Tournament games, was caught on tape punching a Vermont player in a loose-ball situation Saturday. On Monday, Northeastern sports information director Mickey Brown said the school expects a decision on Barea's availability to be made today. |
| 03/15/05 | |
Tigers and Fans sound off (Commercial Appeal) |
| Editor's note: The following is an open letter to University of Memphis freshman point guard Darius Washington from four former Tiger point guards. Dear Darius, As a group of former Tiger point guards, we want you to know that we are proud of you and your teammates. Today the disappointment of falling short in Saturday's game probably seems overwhelming to you. But we all want you to know that your willingness to take the last shot of the game showed great courage. Without your tremendous play in the second half we would not have even had a chance to win. True success comes from being willing to take the big shot at the end of the game. Sometimes they fall, sometimes they don't. In your career there will be many shots that do fall, and when the game is on the line we want the ball in your hands. Keep your head up. We're proud to call you a fellow Tiger point guard. Elliot Perry Tony Madlock Antonio Burks John Wilfong Former players weren't the only ones writing to Washington: Letter to Darius Washington: Thanks for engineering a great run in the tourney. You were absolutely brilliant in the second half on Saturday. After you single-handedly dismantled the Cards in Freedom Hall, Rick Pitino completely changed his club's style of play for our next two games with them. That's the ultimate show of respect. You don't lose that by missing a couple of free throws. Keep on bringin' it! We'll dance soon enough! Jimmy Adkins Cordova Others just wanted to sing the praises of Washington and the team: I'm terribly proud of the way the Tigers fought this year with all the troubles they had both on and off the court. Washington has no reason to hang his head as he gave that last game his all. I was glad to see that coach Cal was the first person out there to pick that young man up off the floor. That is leadership. Dan O'Shea Austin, Texas If Saturday's game were to be played over again 100 times, there is no one I'd rather see shooting those free throws than Darius Washington in each of those 100 games. There is no one I'm looking forward to watching next season more than him. And, as hard as this loss might seem now, I've never been prouder of a Tiger basketball team than I am of this year's squad. David Twombly Memphis |
| 03/15/05 | |
Offensive line solid, but needs experience -- Return of Handy, Butler should help UofM (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Phil Stukenborg Contact March 15, 2005 When the preseason college football publications hit the newsstands this summer, they'll undoubtedly wrap the University of Memphis's hopes for a Conference USA title around All-America running back DeAngelo Williams's immense talents. Then they'll question whether the Tigers have an offensive line capable of clearing a path to Heisman Trophy consideration for Williams, who rushed for 1,948 yards last season and was named the league's co-offensive player of the year. It's a legitimate question and concern, as the Tigers open spring practice today at the Murphy Athletic Complex. Fifteen spring workouts are scheduled through April 9. The Tigers lost four starters on the offensive line from a team that finished 8-4 and earned a spot in the GMAC Bowl. All-league selections Gene Frederic (at center) and Jeremy Rone (at right tackle) departed, along with left tackle Jason Johnson and right guard Jason Matthews. Junior-to-be Blake Butler is the lone returning starter and he'll appear at a new position, moving from left guard to center. It's a predicament that would unnerve most offensive coaching staffs, particularly those grooming a new starting quarterback. But the UofM contingent is confident the line -- which features Butler, Andrew Handy, Abraham Holloway, Willie Henderson and Bruce McCaleb -- will be up to the challenge. "What I like is most of these guys we have now have been on the field and have played," said offensive line coach Rick Mallory. "For two or three years, they've all heard the same stuff, which is great." Mallory is encouraged by the return of Handy, a 6-2, 310-pound senior-to-be. Handy sat out last season as a redshirt, while recovering from a broken leg suffered late during the 2003 season. Handy, who'll operate at left guard, has made 19 starts in his three-year career. "He's a guy we really missed last year," Mallory said. "He's a force inside ... it'll be nice to have him back." Tiger coach Tommy West said the decision to redshirt Handy was sound, even though Handy was not a proponent. "He wasn't 100 percent ready last year, and we made the decision during two-a-days (in August) to redshirt him," West said. "He didn't like it at the time, but now he's tickled to death. He's all smiles now because he's healthy, he's in his fifth year and now he's the leader of the offensive line." Butler, the son of former Tiger linebacker and assistant coach Keith Butler, will be playing his third position. He also played tackle and guard. "He can play center," West said. "He understands our offense as well as anybody. I really don't think it'll be a major adjustment for him. He'll know the assignments, he'll just have to get the shotgun snap down. That's the hardest part of playing center for us." While they didn't start last season, Holloway and Henderson played. Holloway, a redshirt sophomore-to-be who'll begin the spring at left tackle, was in on 68 snaps. Henderson, a junior-to-be from Ridgeway High, was in on 41 snaps, including 24 in the regular-season finale at South Florida. It's a better situation than West encountered in 2003. "Two years ago we were starting new on the offensive line," West said. "Those were guys that hadn't played. These guys know our system, they've been in our system, they've been coached by our coaches. "I really expect this to be a pretty smooth transition. I like what we have except (our lack of) experience. We just don't have the experience right now, and that's major. But we have a system, and we put players into our system." Williams and the offensive line will be responsible for helping first-year quarterbacks Will Hudgens and Billy Barefield, along with junior-to-be Patrick Byrne, acclimate themselves to the position. None has taken a snap in a college game. "Anytime there's a lot of new on your team, that creates excitement," West said. "We're looking forward, as a staff, to getting on the field and working with some new people. I really believe we can be as talented a team as we've been, even though we'll be inexperienced in a lot of places." -- Phil Stukenborg: 529-2543 |
| 03/15/05 | |
Editorial 03/15: A valiant effort (Commercial Appeal) |
| A cynic might say there's no such thing as a moral victory. But it's darned hard to be cynical about the effort the University of Memphis basketball team gave last week. The Tigers put a disappointing regular season behind them by making an improbable run to the Conference USA tournament championship game. Facing their archrivals from the University of Louisville, the Tigers kept 10,576 fans at FedExForum on the edge of their seats Saturday. The script at the end seemed perfect: With the Tigers trailing by two and no time left on the clock, the game's leading scorer, Darius Washington, strode to the line for three free throws. Hitting all three would have meant a conference championship and a bid to the NCAA Tournament. Hitting two would have sent the game to overtime. But Washington hit only one, allowing Louisville to slip away with a 75-74 victory. Washington has no reason to hang his head. Without his stellar play, particularly in the second half, Memphis wouldn't have been in a position to win the game. Tigers fans need to come down off the ledges, too. Their team needs their support in the NIT, starting with a game vs. Northeastern Wednesday at FedExForum. Hopefully, when Washington and his teammates take the court, the crowd will give them the ovation they richly deserve. |
| 03/15/05 | |
Memphis looks to regroup in time for NIT (Daily Helmsman) |
| Matt Laurie Sports Reporter March 15, 2005 The University of Memphis basketball team has been transformed. Evidence could be seen on FedExForum's sweat-stained floor where Tigers left buckets of it but fell short last weekend in the Conference USA tournament final. "You got a group right now that finally invested in their season," said head coach John Calipari. The new look Tigers (19-15) will try to reap dividends as they take the floor tomorrow against Northeastern University (21-9) in the first round of the National Invitational Tournament. The Huskies failed to make the NCAA tournament much like Memphis, by losing to Vermont in the America East tournament final. Jose Juan Barea, a 6-foot guard, leads Northeastern with 22.2 points per game and 7.3 assists. He also leads the team in steals and free throw percentage. Before the loss to Vermont, the Huskies had won 11 of their last 12 games. Physically drained, senior guard Anthony Rice is more concerned with his own team that his opponent. "I don't know nothing (about Northeastern)," Rice said. "In a tournament like this you really don't have that much time to prepare for a team. You have to get yourselves ready." Rice is optimistic the Tigers will be ready physically by tomorrow night's game. "We'll recuperate and be ready to go," he said. To see how the Tigers will respond emotionally, fans will have to wait until gametime. "I know some of these guys may not even want to play right now," said Rice. It's apparent the sting is still with the team, but Monday's practice wasn't anything close to resembling the image fans received watching Saturday's heart-wrenching loss. Darius Washington Jr. didn't look like a player that was on the wrong end of one of the most dramatic games in Memphis Tiger basketball history. He was smiling. He was smiling while Calipari's son, Bradley, was trying his hardest to throw Washington a lob pass he could dunk. He put all his might into a 25-foot three-pointer that sailed passed Washington who was purposely late getting to the shot. Short memories are essential for any athlete and senior Duane Erwin has been one long enough to understand the past is best left there. "It takes 24 hours then it leaves the system," he said. Erwin is Washington's roommate and while at home the night of the Louisville game they didn't utter a word about basketball. "We were just talking, being friends and hanging out," said Erwin. The personal exchange between senior Erwin and freshman Washington Jr. is exactly what Calipari didn't see earlier in the season. "I talked early on that we had no investment, none," Calipari said. "And that's why when we got down eight to Pitt(sburgh) it went to 20, cause no one cared. When we went down 12 to Maryland it went to 30, no one cared. There was no investment. They didn't work. They didn't play together. They didn't care about one another. "Well, by the end of the year they all had invested their life savings and invested their lives in this season. And they got along, and they cared about one another and that's why they wouldn't let go of that game ... They were at my house yesterday. I said 'Why did it hurt so bad for us to lose that game? Everybody cried. Why? We lost to Pitt(sburgh) and no one cried. When we lost to Maryland no one cared. Because you had no investment.'" |
| 03/15/05 | |
Numbers don't always tell the story (Daily Helmsman) |
| Ben Cowens Commentary March 15, 2005 I've always been a numbers guy. Give me points per game, batting average, RPI and all the other tools that quantify a player's or a team's value. They certainly have a place in the games we play -- they always will -- but sometimes you get a reminder of how little the numbers explain. And how little they matter. On Saturday against Louisville , Darius Washington Jr. ?put up plenty of numbers. He scored 23 points, handed out 6 assists and made 2 steals. He also went 1-3 from the free throw line with the clock at 0:00, contributing to Louisville's 75-74 win. But anyone who saw the game knows that even the most important number of all -- the score -- failed to adequately capture what took place. What that scoreboard didn't show is how hard Memphis played. It doesn't reveal how difficult it is to beat a top-10 team after you've already played three consecutive days. Stats don't show Anthony Rice tugging on his shorts just before hitting another clutch three pointer, or how a weary Arthur Barclay secured an offensive rebound among three Louisville players. There is no stat that shows how 12,000 emotionally charged people can sound like 35,000 and how each nervously reacted to clutch shot after clutch shot. Numbers can't explain how Washington must have felt when he collapsed following that final free throw miss. Or how Memphis fans care so little about that result, and so much for him. Statistics can't reveal how Barclay incessantly replays his final foul in his mind, which Cardinals guard Larry O'Bannon turned into game-winning four point play. "That was the stupidest move I've ever made on a basketball court," he said on Saturday. "I'm the reason we lost." Box scores can't show how as tormented as Barclay feels now, Memphis fans have already forgotten his mistake and will fondly recall him with a smile and head full of good memories. Cold, hard numbers can't convey the tearful phone calls made to local radio shows expressing not disappointment, but sympathy, gratitude and pride. Years from now, everyone at FedExForum last Saturday will forget the numbers. No one will care about the Tigers rebounding advantage or Louisville 's 15-23 performance from three point range. What they'll remember are the players on the court and the great show they put on. They'll remember the tension, the emotion and the humanity that a great basketball game can -- and did -- elicit. They will recall how jubilant or distraught they were when that final free throw fell just short, but how much worse they felt for Darius Washington. Then they'll remember that seconds later, Louisville star Francisco Garcia cut his celebration short to console his fallen opponent. Unfortunately, the Selection Committee only saw the 15 losses Memphis posted this season. The committee hasn't followed Memphis day after day. They can't really understand how far the Tigers have come on the court. To be fair, it isn't their job to consider it. When 300 basketball schools are considered for 65 tournament spots, there have to ways to separate them, and a compilation of rankings, records and statistics is the best option available. Memphis didn't have the numbers to receive a bid. It's too bad invitations aren't handed out on heart. ? |
| 03/14/05 | |
McArdle Helps Defeat Former Team With Two Goals -- Tigers earn third-straight spring shutout (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, Tenn. - University of Memphis men's soccer forward Cormac McArdle helped defeat his former Irish prep team Colaiste Ide by scoring both goals in a 2-0 shutout on Monday at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex.
"Cormac was the difference in the game" said Memphis head coach Richie Grant. "He created several chances for his and scored two goals. He looked dangerous all night."
In the 28th minute of the first half, McArdle headed up a throw-in from transfer Patrick Ahern. The Irish native then headed his own header past Colaiste Ide goalie Brendan Nash to put the Tigers on the board, 1-0. Eleven minutes later, McArdle knocked a ball in for another goal after a corner kick from Dayton O'Brien that was deflected by Jared Britcher to McArdle from about 10 feet out.
McArdle played for Colaiste Ide before coming to the United States to play at the junior college level. He then transferred to Memphis last year as a junior and missed the first several games due to an injury.
"It was very nice to play against (Colaiste Ide)," McArdle said. "They played five games in seven days. We were a little bit stronger. I'm very happy to have the opportunity to play against them."
McArdle finished the game with six shots, four on goal, after having five shots in the first half. He now has three goals in four spring games after being named the MVP in the Memphis Cup won by the Tigers.
This was the fifth straight-year Memphis has met up with the school from Ireland. The Tigers now have a 4-0-1 record against the school that has produced several Memphis players in the last few years, including Grant and current players McArdle, Gavin McInerney, Gary Connolly, and Michael Coburn.
"It was a good spring game. Colaiste Ide was excellent in making it difficult for us. They showed great fitness in their game. Credit needs to be given to them for staying in the game. They were working the whole 90 minutes."
Grant said he enjoys meeting up with his former team in the spring.
"This is a nice situation for us," Grant said. "It's always nice to play a different type of game in the spring."
Mark Gourlay and Marcus McCarty both finished second on the team in shots with two. The Tigers had 14 shots with nine on goal compared to Colaiste Ide's 12 and five. McInerney and Tyler Strom split goalkeeping duties for Memphis, combining for five saves.
The Tigers will next play in the Tim McCage 7 v 7 competition at Echles Field all day on April 2. Colaiste Ide 0 0 -- 0 Memphis 2 0 -- 2 Goals: Memphis-Cormac McArdle (Patrick Ahern), Cormac McArdle (Dayton O'Brien, Jared Britcher) |
| 03/14/05 | |
Baseball Hits the Road for Two Games at Mississippi State -- Schoenrock returns to Starkville for the first time since taking head job at Memphis (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, Tenn. - First-year baseball Coach Daron Schoenrock will enjoy a homecoming of sorts when the Tigers travel to Starkville, Miss., for a pair of midweek games on Tuesday and Wednesday. First pitch for both games is slated for 4 p.m. As the Bulldog pitching instructor, Schoenrock helped guide the Bullies to a 111-68-2 mark in three seasons. Schoenrock was 3-1 against Memphis over the last three seasons at MSU. Memphis (5-6) fell below .500 for the first time, in a tough 1-4 week of competition that ended with a hard-fought 11-10 loss to Indiana State in the final day of the USA Challenge. However, the Tigers continue to battle, led by seniors Chad House and Ryan Martin. House leads the team and Conference USA in hitting at .459, and is ranked second in the league with a .556 on-base percentage. Martin has a pair of homers, five doubles and holds C-USA's eighth-best slugging percentage at .609. Patrick Hope, owner of the team's longest hitting streak at 14 games, is 10th in the conference in on-base percentage (.472) and 12 in hitting at .378. State leads the overall series with Memphis, 20-40 after sweeping the season series last year in Starkville. MSU has won two straight and 12 of the last 14 against Memphis, dating back to 1995. Mississippi State won eight in a row between 1996 and 2003. Ranked 18th in this week's Collegiate Baseball National poll, and in the National Collegiate Baseball Writer's Association (NCBWA) poll, the Bulldogs boast an impressive 9-2 record as they prepare for the midweek series. MSU opened the season with eight straight wins, before suffering a pair of losses at No. 9 Arizona. The Wildcats took the three-game series from the Bullies two games to one. Mississippi State has yet to lose in the confines of Dudy Noble Field. MSU has outscored the opponent 70-24 at home and 89-52 overall. The Bulldog hitters have roughed up opposing pitching to the tune of a .319 batting average with a .432 slugging percentage and 30 extra base hits. Centerfielder Joseph Hunter leads the crew in hitting at .469. Jeff Butts, who is hitting .370, has been the big RBI-man, leading the team in hits (17), doubles (5), RBI (14) and total bases (24). Bulldog starting pitchers have produced a combined 4.78 ERA, while the staff has combined to post a 3.99 ERA with 85 strikeouts. The Bulldog hurlers have held opposing bats to a .255 average. Brooks Dunn (1-0) leads all pitchers with at least 10.0 innings of work, with a 3.18 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 11.1 innings. Alan Johnson (1-1) paces the staff with 17 strikeouts in 17.0 innings. |
| 03/14/05 | |
Coach Calipari Postseason Quotes -- The Tiger head coach talks about his team and the NIT (GoTigersGo.com) |
| (On the team) "Earlier this year, our players didn't play together, work together because they had not invested anything into the season. By the end of the year, all had invested their life savings into the season. They got along, cared about one another and did things for each other. And that's why they wouldn't let go of that (Louisville) game). Now, our players are looking at this and saying, "This is where we are, so let's make the best of it." "This team right now -- the way they are playing -- is the best team I've had here at Memphis. We may have had a few more talented players in the past, and we may have a couple of players with kinks in their armor on this team. But, we've not had as solid of a defensive team as this one. We have some post presence, a bench, an unbelieveable point guard and guys that can shoot the ball. We may not be as tough as some other teams in the country, but we got tougher as the year went on." (On being in the NIT) "If you remember the 2002 NIT, we played well and were beating everybody by 20 points. I don't know if we're capable of doing that this time because of all the talented teams in the NIT this year. Our second game could be Temple or Virginia Tech. Our third game could be Vanderbilt or Indiana. And you're still not in New York." "If you get to New York, then we could meet Maryland, which beat us by over 20 points in November. This is a tough field and our team knows that. You could possibly play Virginia Tech, Indiana, Notre Dame and Maryland in this field. You don't play those teams in the NCAA Tournament until the Final Four or Elite Eight rounds." "We know what we're up against, and this is another chance for this team. We're going into the NIT with one thought in mind and that is to keep advancing and keep this season going." (On Northeastern's guard Barea) "I saw their guard, Jose Juan Barea, play when I was down recruiting at Miami Christian High School a couple of years ago. I asked his coach about Jose, and he said it was too late because he had signed with Northeastern. Jose is a good player. He's really quick." |
| 03/14/05 | |
Tigers to play host to Northeastern in NIT -- Temple-Va. Tech winner would be next (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Gary Parrish Contact March 14, 2005 Left out of the NCAA Tournament, the University of Memphis will open its third NIT in five years on Wednesday with a 7 p.m. game against Northeastern at FedExForum. The Tigers (19-15) are one of five Conference USA schools in the 40-team field. If Memphis wins, it will play Temple or Virginia Tech in the second round. That's right. The Tigers could again meet Temple, which would give us a John Calipari-John Chaney matchup as early as Saturday, but probably on Monday or Tuesday. Calipari and Chaney, of course, have a storied past from their days together in the Atlantic 10. While Calipari was at UMass, Chaney once threatened to kill him after a game. Since then, the two have made up. They even talked after Chaney's most recent lowpoint, when the 73 year-old, upset at officials, sent seldom-used Nehemiah Ingram into a game against Saint Joseph's last month and ordered him to "send a message." Ingram, whom Chaney labeled a "goon," fouled out in four minutes. One of those fouls resulted in Hawks senior John Bryant breaking his arm after a hard fall. Chaney has been suspended ever since. But he is expected to return for Temple's NIT opener Tuesday. Either way, for that matchup to take place the Tigers must first recover from Saturday's heartbreaking loss to Louisville and beat Northeastern. Located in Boston, Northeastern finished second in the America East Conference this season and has a 21-9 record. The Huskies lost Saturday to Vermont in the America East Tournament title game thanks to all-American candidate Taylor Coppenrath's 37-point performance. Jose Juan Barea is Northeastern's leading scorer. He's a 6-0 junior who averaged 22.4 points per game. The Tigers would need three straight victories to advance to the NIT semifinals in New York on March 29. The finals are March 31. Memphis won the NIT three years ago. -- Gary Parrish: 529-2365 --------------------------------- Tigers in the NIT Matchup: Tigers (19-15) vs. Northeastern (21-9). When, where: Wednesday, 7 p.m., at FedExForum. Tickets: On sale starting at 8:30 this morning at the U of M's Athletic Office Building. Prices are $10 for upper level, $15 for lower level and club level and $5 for students. |
| 03/14/05 | |
Tiger Notes (baseball, golf, soccer) (Commercial Appeal) |
| By From Our Press Services March 14, 2005 Tigers fall to Indiana State in USA Challenge finale Despite a furious, seven-run rally in the eighth and ninth innings, the University of Memphis baseball team fell just short against Indiana State, 11-10, on Sunday afternoon at the USA Challenge at USA Stadium in Millington. The Tigers scored three runs in the eighth and four in the ninth, but ISU (3-9) notched its highest run output of the year and won on Ryan Witges's a walk-off single RBI in the bottom of the ninth. The Tigers finished fourth in the Challenge after going 1-2 on the weekend. Ryan Martin had three RBI for the Tigers (5-6). Connecticut (9-3) wrapped up a perfect weekend and the title with a 3-0 shutout of Tennessee-Martin (4-10) in the first game of the day. In the final game, UALR earned second place with a 3-0 win over Tennessee-Martin. Developments Tiger golf sixth: After two forgettable rounds in the first two rounds of the Conrad Rehling Invitational at Tuscaloosa, Ala., the University of Memphis men's golf team posted its best team score of the tournament and moved up two spots on the leaderboard to finish sixth out of 12 teams. The Tigers shot a nine-over 297 in the third round. Andy Shiels and Robbie Greenwell each shot one-over 73 to lead the Tigers on the final day. Shiels was the top Memphis finisher, finishing tied for 29th at 14-over 230 (78-79-73). Host Alabama claimed the team title with a total of 17-over 881. The Tigers passed both Mississippi State and Ole Miss on the leaderboard to finish in sixth, as both the Bulldogs and Rebels had been in sixth and seventh place, respectively, entering the final round. MSU finished tied for seventh and Ole Miss finished eighth. Tiger soccer exhibition: For the fifth consecutive year, the University of Memphis men's soccer team will host Colaiste Ide in a spring match-up at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex tonight at 7:30. Admission is free. The Tigers are 3-0-1 all-time against the Irish prep school. Over the years, the school has been a hot bed for Memphis recruits, producing head coach Richie Grant as well as current Tiger players Michael Coburn, Gary Connolly, Cormac McArdle and Gavin McInerney. |
| 03/13/05 | |
Memphis To Host Northeastern In NIT First Round Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. (CT) -- Tickets on sale beginning Monday at 8:30 a.m. (CT) (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The University of Memphis basketball squad received a bid to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) Sunday night and will meet Northeastern in a first-round game Wednesday, Mar. 16 at FedExForum. Game time is 7:00 p.m. (CT). The Tigers enter the NIT with a 19-15 overall record and advanced to the Conference USA Tournament title game Saturday. The Huskies bring a 21-9 record into the NIT and made it to the America East Tournament championship contest Saturday. Northeastern, which posted a 15-3 conference mark, fell to Vermont in the conference title game. General public tickets for the NIT first-round game are $15 dollars for the lower and club levels and $10 for the terrace level. University of Memphis students can purchase tickets for $5 with their university ID. To purchase tickets, go by the ticket office in the Athletic Office Building or call 678-2331. The ticket office will open to take ticket orders beginning at 8:30 a.m. (CT) Monday. The Memphis-Northeastern winner will face the Temple-Virginia Tech winner Mar. 19, 21 or 22. The second-round game site and time is to be determined. For more information on the NIT, go to the postseason classic's web site at www.nit.org. |
| 03/13/05 | |
Late-Game Rally Falls Short in 11-10 Loss to Indiana State -- Tigers look ahead to midweek series with Mississippi State (GoTigersGo.com) |
| Millington, Tenn. - MEMPHIS (5-6) 002 100 034 - 10 13 2 Indiana State (3-9) 101 304 101 - 11 12 2 Memphis scored a combined seven runs in the eighth and ninth innings, but the rally came up short as Indiana State plated a single run in last of the ninth to claim an 11-10 triumph in the USA Challenge. The Tigers finished fourth in the Challenge after going 1-2 on the weekend. Down 10-3 with just six outs remaining, the Tigers staged a strong surge that would eventually put them in position to win the ballgame. Jordan Tolliver, who went 4-for-5 with a trio of runs, ignited the rally with an infield single to lead off the eighth inning. Consecutive walks by Ryan Martin and pinch hitter John Peterson loaded the bases for Robbie Goss, who drove Tolliver in on a ground ball out. Cory Barton then plated Martin on a ground out to cut the deficit to 10-5. An RBI double by senior Jordan Hart knocked Peterson in to cap the Tigers' scoring in the eighth. But Memphis was not done as K.K. Chalmers led the ninth off with a walk. Chad House and Tolliver followed with back-to-back singles to load the sacks. Martin's sac fly brought Chalmers home to make the score 10-6. RBI-singles by Peterson and Goss followed, cutting the Tigers deficit to just two runs. Hart then produced a critical two-out double to score Tolliver and pinch runner Chris Newsom, to knot the contest at 10-10. However, ISU used a pair of hits and a hit batsman to load the bases in the bottom of the ninth, before a game-winning single ended the game. The game was a see-saw battle early on. The Sycamores jumped on top in the first via a solo homer by Jake Eigsti, but Memphis took hold of a 2-1 lead in the third after Martin hit a lined shot over the right field wall. ISU tied the matchup at 2-2 in the third on a solo home run off the bat of Chris Schmidt. The U of M again gained the advantage when Hart scored from second on an errant throw by ISU second baseman Ryan Bond. The Sycamores seemingly took command of the game with eight runs in the fourth through seventh innings, giving them the 10-3 cushion. The Tigers outhit the Sycamores 13-12, behind the bats of Tolliver and Hart. Hart had a pair of doubles and three RBI in the game. House also had two hits, while Patrick Hope stretched his career-long hitting streak to 14 games with an infield hit in the first inning. Tiger reliever Chris South took the loss after giving up the single run in the ninth. Freshman Neil Schenk fanned seven in five-and-two-thirds innings in just his third career start. Memphis will now prepare to hit the road for a two-game midweek series with Mississippi State on Tues. and Wed., Mar. 15-16. First pitch for Tuesday's tilt is set for 4 p.m. at Dudy Noble Stadium in Starkville, Miss. |
| 03/13/05 | |
Best Team Round of Tournament Moves Tigers up Two Spots, Finish Sixth in Alabama -- Four of five golfers in starting lineup shoot best rounds of tournament in the final round (GoTigersGo.com) |
| Tuscaloosa, Ala. - After two forgettable rounds in the first two rounds of the Conrad Rehling Invitational, the Memphis men's golf team rebounded and posted its best team score of the tournament on Sunday and moved up two spots on the leaderboard to finish sixth out of 12 teams, four spots better than last weekend's finish. The Tigers shot a nine-over 297 in the third round, the fourth best round of the day and for the fifth time in their seven tournaments, shot their best score in the final round. Although not a single individual shot at or below par in any round at this tournament, the first time that has happened this year, three of the five Memphis individuals in the starting lineup improved their scores in the final round. Andy Shiels and Robbie Greenwell each shot one-over 73 to lead the Tigers on the final day. Keven Fortin-Simard shot a three-over 75 to rebound from his high scores on the first two days. Ian Rochester rounded out the scoring on day three with a four-over 76, equalling his second round total. Justin Miers shot an 88 but it was not counted in the team score. Clayton Ellis, competing as an individual, meaning his score did not count toward the team's score, also shot his best round of the tournament, a three-over 75. Shiels was the top Memphis finisher, ending the tournament tied for 29th at 14-over 230 (78-79-73). Greenwell and Rochester both finished just behind Shiels tied for 34th place at 15-over 231. Ellis finished alone in 41st at 17-over 233 (79-79-75) while Fortin-Simard finished in 46th. Miers' final round pushing him down the leaderboard and he finished in a tie for 59th. Host Alabama claimed the team title with a total of 17-over 881, holding off a final round charge by second place Georgia State, who fired a six-under 282 and finished the tournament at 20-over 884. The Tigers passed both Mississippi State and Ole Miss on the leaderboard to finish in sixth, as both the Bulldogs and Rebels had been in sixth and seventh place, respectively, entering the final round. The Tigers finished six strokes ahead of the seventh place Bulldogs and just one stroke behind fifth place Tulane. "We hung in there and fought and did a good job of just grinding through and getting the most out of our rounds," said Memphis coach Grant Robbins. "I was pleased the way we finished and we were just one shot away from being in the top five, which considering the way we played in the first two rounds is something that we can build on." The Tigers will take the next two weekends off after playing in tournaments the last two consecutive weekends. They will return to action April 1-3 when they play in the LSU Spring Invitational in Baton Rouge, La. |
| 03/13/05 | |
Tiger spring 'fling' -- 'Gym rats' in the hunt to take over quarterback duties (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Phil Stukenborg Contact March 13, 2005 When the University of Memphis football team opens spring practice Tuesday at the Murphy Athletic Complex the coaching staff will begin the task of replacing starters on the defensive line, at defensive back, on the offensive line, at receiver and at quarterback. Ah, quarterback. It's a position that has been in Danny Wimprine's capable and record-breaking hands since Tommy West's first season as the UofM coach in 2001. Wimprine became the starter midway through his freshman season and ended his career by leading the Tigers to a second consecutive bowl game. West on Tuesday will watch the three leading candidates -- junior-to-be Patrick Byrne and freshmen Will Hudgens and Billy Barefield -- take reps under center. "This will be the first time I've been in a situation (at Memphis) where you don't have a quarterback with game experience," West said. But Byrne, Hudgens and Barefield have backgrounds that intrigue the coach. "Our three quarterbacks are all gym rats," West said. "Patrick, Will and Billy are guys that played all sports in high school. All three are ballplayers." With the lack of experience at quarterback, West said receiver Maurice Avery, a reserve quarterback in 2002, will take some snaps at the position too. Avery, who will be a senior, has spent the past two seasons working as a slot receiver, amassing 85 receptions for 1,164 yards and nine touchdowns. "With Maurice being older and having moved our team as a quarterback and scored, he will quarterback some this spring," West said. "If we get toward the first game (Sept. 5 against Ole Miss) and I don't feel comfortable, that might be an option." Byrne, who handled kickoff duties last year, hasn't taken a snap but he has been exposed to the Tiger offense for three years. As a redshirt in 2002 he played quarterback for the scout team and earned the Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year Award. In the 2003 spring game he earned MVP honors by completing 11 passes for 129 yards and three touchdowns. And in the 2004 preseason he was busy at the position, including 11-of-22 for 112 yards and a touchdown in a scrimmage. "I've been in the system for three years now and participated in the spring and fall camps," Byrne said. "It's still going to be different because you are going to be running with the first-teamers and a lot more is expected. You just have to be that much better." Byrne said former Louisville quarterback Stefan LeFors, the 2004 Conference USA co-offensive player of the year, is someone he hopes to pattern himself after. LeFors was among the nation's most accurate passers as a senior. "He was very efficient," Byrne said. "There were some games where he might not throw for very many yards but he was always efficient. "In our offense, if you're efficient, we're going to be successful, we're going to be moving the ball. I'm definitely looking to be more accurate." Byrne, who played quarterback for two seasons at T. R. Miller High in Brewton, Ala., said Wimprine has offered advice on how to handle adversity and keep level-headed. Hudgens, the former Ridgeway High standout, was unable to play last year while recovering from an off-season knee injury. Hudgens, 6-3 and 215 pounds, tore his left anterior cruciate ligament last April participating in an area slam dunk contest and did not participate in practices either. West said the strong-armed Hudgens will be able to handle limited contact this spring. Barefield, 5-10 and 165 pounds, normally would be finishing his senior year of high school. But he graduated early, enrolled at the UofM in January and hopes to push Byrne and Hudgens for playing time. Barefield has, along with Hudgens and Byrne, been throwing extensively on his own the past two months to improve his accuracy. "Hopefully I'll do well and be able to stay at quarterback," said Barefield, who was moved last fall from quarterback to running back. Barefield rushed for 1,300 yards and 19 touchdowns for Evangel Christian Academy in Shreveport, La., and added 49 catches for 666 yards and seven TDs. He helped ECA to an 11-3 record and a state title. He transferred from a private academy in San Antonio to ECA last year and had expected to play quarterback. But his tenure there was brief. "I went through the spring at quarterback," he said. "After the first game we didn't have a good game all around as far as the team went, and in the next game I was given a short leash. I thought I would be given a little more slack. I just got yanked. But I (moved positions) and just kept playing hard." Barefield set the single-season all-purpose yardage record (2,458) at Evangel and set a record for kickoff-return yards in a game (170). He returned to play quarterback in Max Emfinger's high school all-star game in Shreveport in January. "It was like I had never stopped playing quarterback," he said. "When I was under center at the all-star game it was like everything slowed down for me. "In that first game at quarterback (at Evangel) it was like everything was flying all around me and I didn't know what was happening. In the all-star game I was able to play like I used to. It gave me a lot of confidence. It proved to me I could play quarterback at any level in high school and hopefully I can make the transition to college." He is looking forward to the opportunity. "I think the only person that has seen snaps in games are Patrick (on kickoffs) and Mo (Avery)," Barefield said. "Me and Will haven't seen the field but it will be fair game and whoever performs the best will be given the spot." Byrne is as excited to begin the spring practice schedule, which runs through April 9 with the spring game at a to-be-determined location. "I think it's going to be a competitive spring," Byrne said. "With Danny being here, you knew you weren't going to play that position. So to be competing for the job is exciting." -- Phil Stukenborg: 529-2543 |
| 03/13/05 | |
A tearjerker -- Memphis's NCAA dreams bounce away vs. Cardinals (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Gary Parrish Contact March 13, 2005 The clock hit zero. The backboard turned red. And really, it was a perfect color for the scene. Red. You know, for stop. Stop and watch. Stop and breathe. Stop and take in this magical moment, the one Darius Washington was -- in his own mind -- about to deliver for the University of Memphis. Three free throws. No time left. With the Tigers trailing Louisville by two points, it didn't take a mathematician to figure out the potential outcome. "I thought he was making all three, and we were winning," said Tiger coach John Calipari. "And he thought he was making them all, too.' But he didn't, of course. He didn't make them all. Washington made the first, then missed the second and third and collapsed as Louisville celebrated, the winners of Saturday's 75-74 Conference USA Tournament title game. Ellis Myles was one of the Cardinals storming the FedExForum court. His thoughts as Washington's final free throw bounced right? "It's over. We won. Let's party." Anthony Rice was one of the Tigers frozen by sorrow. His thoughts as Washington's final free throw bounced right? "It's hard to explain. It just hurt." There were seven ties and 11 lead changes. There was drama and huge plays from opening tip to final horn. Still, this 85th meeting between these two rivals will be remembered for just one thing. For the freshman. At the line. With a chance to send the Tigers (19-15) to the NCAA Tournament. Three makes, and it's done. Two makes, and it's overtime. One make, and ... it's the NIT, and an arena full of tears. Players crying. UofM employees crying. Men and women alike, standing at their seats, staring at Louisville (29-4) cutting down nets and crying. By this time, Washington had been lifted off the court and was now sitting on the bench, devastated. Calipari kissed him on the head. Teammates patted him on the back. It didn't help. Never mind that Washington scored 18 second-half points and finished with a game-high 23. Afterward, nobody remembered that, or cared. Washington didn't get his 24th and 25th points. That's what hurt. "But it's not Darius's fault," said Memphis senior Arthur Barclay. "You can't put that on the kid." Rick Pitino agreed. "Our whole team is elated we won, but we feel bad for Darius Washington," said the Louisville coach, whose Cards made 15-of-23 3-point attempts and shot 51 percent for the game. "It's not easy being on the line by yourself like that. But (Memphis) wouldn't have even been in that position if it wasn't for his spectacular play." Prior to that fateful sequence, Washington was dominating like he did in Memphis's win at Freedom Hall last month, zigging and zagging and keeping the Tigers close. He grabbed a loose ball, laid it in and gave Memphis a 73-71 advantage with 40.2 seconds remaining. Then after Larry O'Bannon countered with a 3-pointer, and Brad Gianiny added a free throw with 6.7 seconds left, Washington raced upcourt, got near the arc and drew a foul from Francisco Garcia. The whistle blew. The crowd of 10,576 cheered. Washington smiled, pounded his chest and stepped to the line with all the confidence of a budding star. He made the first, and winked to the bench. A few seconds later, he had both eyes -- and his entire head -- buried on the court underneath his blue jersey. Washington had missed. Twice. So he fell to his knees. Then he fell on his face. Then he cried and cried and cried. Just like everybody else. "I am devastated," Calipari said. "There are a lot of people who are just like, 'I can't believe it.' There are a lot of devastated people in this town right now." |
| 03/13/05 | |
Calkins: March sadness -- With NCAA dream in hand, Tigers watch it fall away (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Geoff Calkins Contact March 12, 2005 All zeroes on the clock. Memphis trailed Louisville by two. Darius Washington, a sweet-faced, 19-year-old freshman stepped to the line with the fate of a season in his palms. He was all alone. Truly. Because no time remained, no other players stood around the lane. He had three shots. Make two, the game goes into overtime. Make three, Memphis wins everything. Wins the game, wins the tournament, wins a trip to the NCAAs. Washington swished the first shot. He pointed to the bench and winked. Ha! He winked! He was going to do it, wasn't he? The second shot hit the rim and -- his father still couldn't believe this, an hour later -- bounced to the right. "I don't know how that happened," said Darius Washington Sr. "He thrives on that." The miss shook the kid. Memphis coach John Calipari saw this from the bench. "I should have called time," he said. "But I let it play out." Third shot. Everyone standing. Millions watching on TV. Some Memphis players interlocked arms. Arthur Barclay draped a towel over his head. Duane Erwin sat, not looking, at the farthest corner of the court. Washington set the third ball spinning on its way. One ball, so much at stake. It hit the rim once, twice, then bounced off to the right. Washington dropped to his knees, then fell to the floor. Calipari ran to him, but couldn't pull him up. Jeremy Hunt tried and failed, too. Darius Sr. fought his way past security. "I'm getting out there," he said. "That's my son." • • Memphis forward Duane Erwin called it an instant classic. It was so much bigger, richer and more human than that. Louisville defeated Memphis to win the Conference USA Tournament Saturday, 75-74. If you weren't there to see it, you should probably go ahead and start lying. Tell everyone you saw the last one in the series. Tell everyone you saw that miracle of a game. "Amazing," said Calipari. "Incredible," said Louisville coach Rick Pitino. "Let's party," said Louisville forward Ellis Myles. Uh, let's not. But let's stand in wonder at the effort, at the spectacle, at the ability of college kids to summon up a game that surpassed anything that could reasonably have been expected of them. The Tigers had played three games in three nights. Their previous game ended after 8 p.m. Friday. They tipped off against Louisville at 10:35 a.m. Go get 'em, guys. Would you like some coffee first? But who needs coffee when you're running on pure adrenaline? The Tigers were fabulous. The Cardinals were fabulous. Here's an actual excerpt from the first half play-by-play: 2:27: Made 3-pntr by Rice, Anthony. 2:05: Made 3-pntr by Dean, Taquan. 1:51: Made 3-pntr by Carney, Rodney. 1:30: Made 3-pntr by Palacios, Juan. Four 3-pointers in a row. Bang, bang, bang, bang. The lead changed every time. That's how the thing went. At some point it became less a game than a series of gasps. And it came down to the final minutes, which Calipari described like this: "Aw, they're going to win! ... They just lost it. ... Oh, my gosh, they're going to win! ... Oh, man, they lost it ... Oh, gosh, he got fouled, he's getting three free throws, they're going to win!" In the middle of it all was Washington, which was fitting somehow. He has been in the middle of it all season, the good and the bad. He had to learn how to play point guard. He had to deal with a resentful, sometimes angry Sean Banks. "Did he think of leaving?" said Darius Sr. "No, but I did." Father and son talked constantly, dozens of times a day. "Thank God for Nextel," said Darius Sr., patting his cell phone. Darius Sr. was just a junior in high school when Darius Jr. was born. He later married Tarchelle -- "my high school sweetheart," he said -- and they had a daughter, too. But Darius Sr. poured his love of basketball into his son, made him the focus of their collective dreams. "He's never failed," said Darius Sr. "I can't think of when he's failed at anything." Now Darius Sr. was watching his son lift the Tigers into the NCAA Tournament, and he wasn't exactly surprised. Washington scored eight of the Tigers' last nine points. If Washington hadn't taken over, said Pitino, "they're not even in the game." With six seconds left, Louisville's Brad Gianiny missed the second of two free throws. Erwin rebounded the miss and got the ball to the little guy. He flew up the court. As he rose to shoot, Louisville's Francisco Garcia plowed into him. "Who wants to be there more than you?" Calipari asked Washington in the huddle. "Nobody," Washington said. At the shoot-around before the tournament, Calipari had every player practice a game-winning shot. He somehow forgot about his point guard. "Hey," said Washington, visibly ticked, "what about me?" The kid can shoot free throws, too. When he went home for Christmas, he worked on it with his dad. "He shot 200 a day," said Darius Sr. "To distract him, I would stand behind the goal and wave a mop." Washington had five games this year when he didn't miss a free throw, including 10-for-10 performances against UAB and TCU. He was shooting 71.8 percent for the year. Small wonder the Louisville players had a bad feeling when he stepped to the line. Earlier in the year, they lost to Kentucky when Patrick Sparks hit three straight free throws with no time left. "Deja vu," Myles said. "After he hit the first one, I was thinking, 'Dang, he might hit these next two.'" That's not how it happened, of course. Washington stayed down on the court for a very long time. He couldn't muster a comment. He couldn't take his head out of his hands. "He's sick," said Erwin. "Anybody would be sick." Everyone tried to console him. Memphis players, Louisville players, even the Louisville coach. Pitino told a small story about another guy who once missed a big foul shot. "I remember UMass was playing Providence ... Sports Illustrated wrote 'UMass almost got the No. 1 seed in New England as Rick Pitino missed the one-and-one.'" So Washington is not the first one to be in this position, but that won't make him feel better anytime soon. The NCAA Selection Show takes place this evening. Memphis doesn't need to watch. Someday, though, Washington will understand that people don't hold him responsible, that, if anything, they want to wrap their arms around him and tell him everything will be OK. Ana Schilling, 10, is the daughter of Memphis assistant Ed Schilling. She's a ball girl, and very wise. As she left the locker room Saturday, she sent a message that might as well have been from the whole community of Memphis fans. "Daddy," she said, "tell Darius that we love him." To reach Geoff Calkins, call him at 529-2364 |
| 03/13/05 | |
McMillin: Game adds to series lore -- Tigers-Cards play another to be remembered (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Zack McMillin Contact March 13, 2005 Where does it rank? In the long history of the Louisville-Memphis rivalry, where to put Saturday's stupefying 75-74 victory by Louisville, in the Conference USA Tournament final? The vintage produced on Saturday needs some time to age, but it definitely brought to mind some of the classics. It had drama. It had significance. It had two teams playing at the very top of their games. It even had players like Memphis guard Darius Washington and Louisville forward Francisco Garcia on their way to becoming legendary figures in their respective programs. "The drama was incredible," said Louisville coach Rick Pitino. "What was at stake was enormous." "What a great game," said UofM coach John Calipari. "What a great game." Saturday's game resembled many of the most epic matchups of the past. It was like the 1972 Missouri Valley Conference playoff, played before a packed house at Vanderbilt, in that the Tigers had to win to earn an NCAA Tournament bid. It was like the 1982 overtime victory at the Coliseum in that a freshman nearly led the Tigers to a colossal victory; Keith Lee, the freshman from 1982, was sitting on the front row along the baseline, looking right at Darius Washington, the current dazzling freshman, when he took those fateful free throws. It was like the 2003 C-USA Tournament semifinal at Freedom Hall, with back-and-forth drama draining everyone in the building, even the sportswriters. And, in a eerie way, it was like the 1986 regular-season finale at Louisville. In that one, Andre Turner was called for a foul in the final two seconds, sending Milt Wagner -- called the Ice Man for his cool under pressure -- to the free-throw line. Wagner, who is now an administrative assistant for the Tigers, calmly swished both tries to give the 'Ville a one-point victory. Todd Stinson, a Louisville fan from Bowling Green, Ky., said that game came to mind as he watched Washington step to the line. "I looked down," said Stinson, "and saw Milt Wagner on the bench, and I was just glad they didn't let Milt come in and shoot them." Trouble with the bubble Not even John Calipari can summon the optimism and righteous justification necessary to approach today's broadcast of Selection Sunday with even a shred of hope. "No, none," Calipari said, almost whispering, when asked whether he thought there was any chance at all for his team to receive an at-large bid. "But for anybody who watched it, they'd have to say, 'Man, oh man.' But you gotta bounce one in." That's the same hard lesson the Tigers learned in 2001-2002, when their low RPI kept them out of the NCAA Tournament in Calipari's second season as coach. In the final game of the 2002 regular season, the Tigers, led by Dajuan Wagner, went to Cincinnati and played their best game of the year. It took Steve Logan's miracle length-of-the-court drive and rim-rattling shot to force an overtime that the Bearcats, an eventual No. 1 seed in the tournament, won. Memphis went 21-9 that year but the RPI of 69 meant a berth in the NIT, which the Tigers went on to win. Going into Saturday's game with Louisville, the Tigers (now 19-15) were ranked 111th in the new, weighted RPI, according to collegerpi.com. For comparison purposes, the old RPI formula still had the Tigers ranked 94th. Although the NCAA Tournament selection committee has always been adamant that the RPI is just one of many tools it utilizes, it is useful to note that the worst-ranked teams to ever be awarded at-large bids were New Mexico (No. 74 in 1999) and Air Force (No. 70 last season). No team with more than 14 losses has ever gotten an at-large bid. "I screwed this up by the early schedule," Calipari said. "I should've done what everybody else does, play three tough teams and then beat everybody else up and have 22 or 23 wins right now. I screwed it up." That may be, but the losses that hurt the Tigers more than any other came not against the Marylands, Pittsburghs and Syracuses on the schedule. Replace those losses with wins over mid-major opponents with low RPIs, and the RPI would be approximately the same. Fact is, if the Tigers had held their homecourt and beaten nonconference opponents Ole Miss (14-17, No. 138), Louisiana Tech (14-15, No. 148) and Providence (13-17, No. 93), they would have a strong argument. The road loss to Saint Louis (9-21, No. 121) in the final week of the regular season also looms large. As well as the Tigers played in the C-USA Tournament, it's losses like those that will put the Tigers into the NIT for the third time in Calipari's five seasons. Calipari keeps saying he's learned a lesson about scheduling, but he should remember that, in 2001-02, it was a nonconference schedule littered with too many RPI rankings of 200 or worse that doomed them. Going too far the other way could hurt his program, both in the eyes of future selection committees and especially those Tiger fans who aren't exactly thrilled about having to sit in the rafters of FedExForum's top-heavy basketball arena. Bada Bing Pitino called Garcia "maybe the funniest guy" he's ever coached. On Saturday, after the game, Garcia told Pitino he was afraid of what might have happened if Washington had hit the free throw, since it was Garcia's ill-timed leap that created the three-shot foul. "He says, 'Coach, what were you thinking? Were you going to get your people after me?'" Pitino said. "I said, 'Francisco, I'm an Italian American. I'm not a member of the Sopranos.'" All-tournament team They need to start adding a sixth-man to all-tournament teams. The media voted on these five guys for the 2005 C-USA All-Tournament team: Anthony Rice and Washington of Memphis, Garcia and Taquan Dean of Louisville and Terrence Leather of South Florida. Dean was voted the MVP, though you'd never have known it to listen to Pitino, who again heaped praise on senior center Ellis Myles. Myles averaged 9.7 points, 9.0 rebounds and 7.3 assists for the tournament. "I don't mean this to put down Taquan or Francisco or anybody else, but we'd be a .500 team without Ellis Myles," Pitino said. "Maybe a little better than that, but, in our offense, he makes every pass. ... Our players know how valuable an asset he is." To be continued? Pitino was adamant that the Tigers and Cardinals would not play next season, though he wouldn't rule out a resumption of the series in the future. "Our respect for them is off the charts," Pitino said. "I think down the road it could happen, but it just can't happen next year because we are at Miami, at Kentucky. The Miami game is an Orange Bowl thing that isn't going to always happen. "Certainly, we'd like to do it with Memphis. It's a great town, a fabulous place to play and we have great respect for their coaches. Believe me, it's not even a trace of arrogance on our part, because we are both on the same level." Louisville, which is going to the Big East next season, maintains it can schedule whichever two Conference USA teams it wants to fulfill a vaguely worded clause in the agreement that allowed Louisville to leave C-USA without paying an exit fee. Calipari continued to say that a game next season is possible, if C-USA gets a favorable ruling. Pitino said he did not like the way the Big East has chosen to schedule, with 15 round robin games and home-and-homes with three selected opponents. Add that to two road games with Kentucky and Miami and throw in Memphis and, "we'd be an NIT team every year." "Down the road, we'd love to continue it, once we get a little healthy with our schedule," Pitino said. By the way, since 1970-71, Louisville now holds a 38-32 edge in the series, with the average score of the games at 73-72. Contact reporter Zack McMillin at 529-2564 |
| 03/13/05 | |
Tigers' loss will go down as legendary game -- Louisville escapes with win that's an instant classic (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Phil Stukenborg Contact March 13, 2005 They were drained and exhausted, their emotions spent after Saturday's Conference USA men's basketball tournament championship game between longtime rivals Louisville and the University of Memphis. For two highly entertaining hours, sixth-ranked Louisville and gritty, unranked Memphis staged a back-and-forth college basketball drama that wasn't decided until there was no time remaining on the FedExForum scoreboard. Fans from both sides -- evenly split among the 10,576 who gathered for the early morning title game -- followed scrambled eggs with scrambled emotions. The question as Louisville's 75-74 victory was secure was this: Does CBS have a cable channel to run instant sports classics? Tiger freshman point guard Darius Washington, whose determined play in the closing minutes had placed the UofM in position for the upset and automatic NCAA Tournament berth, missed two-of-three free throws with no time left to allow the Cardinals (29-4) to escape. If this is the final game in the series for quite some time -- Louisville moves to the Big East Conference next season -- what way a to temporarily end it. ''That was two heavyweights going at it. That was a big-time, NCAA production,'' said Tiger athletic director R.C. Johnson. ''That's what March Madness is all about.'' Washington, who scored 11 of his game-high 23 points in the final seven minutes, was fouled while attempting a three-pointer as time expired. He went to the line with a victory, a C-USA Tournament title and an NCAA Tournament berth on the line ... literally. After sinking the first, he missed his next two to allow the Cardinals to celebrate their 18th win in 19 games. Memphis (19-15) will prepare for an NIT invitation that will come after today's NCAA selection show. ''It's a real shame we are not going to be in the dance,'' Tiger athletic director R.C. Johnson said. ''Louisville is right there, but we're right there with them. ''I am so proud. It was a gutty effort and I know, unfortunately, people will remember those last (two missed free throws), but we wouldn't have been there without that kid. You've got to look at the big picture.'' Memphis and Louisville fans, along with their bands and cheerleaders, created a festive atmosphere an hour before tipoff with their chanting and cheering. Memphis, playing in its first C-USA Tournament final in the league's 10-year history, was tied with Louisville at the half. The Tigers led 65-64 with six minutes left and 73-71 with 4:26 to go before Larry O'Bannon's three-pointer with 27 seconds left gave the Cards a 74-73 lead. ''It was a game no one deserved to lose,'' Louisville athletic director Tom Jurich said. ''I know it's a cliche, but it's true. We've played a lot of good basketball, but that was a good (Memphis) basketball team. They pounded us at our place, and we've got a great team.'' Memphis had only played Louisville once in 10 years of C-USA Tournament games. ''I think it's going to be one of the better tournament games to have ever been played in Conference USA,'' said Louisville fan Steve McCubbin, who moved to Memphis from Louisville four years ago. ''I think it will be one of the better ones played anywhere this year. It was great. ''Both teams showed a lot of character. Memphis showed a lot by having to play four games in four days.'' Hundreds of Tiger fans sat stunned as they watched the Cardinals players cut down the nets and celebrate on the court. Most felt for Washington, who crumpled to the court as his second free throw glanced off the rim. Others saw a reason for optimism. ''I think we're going to be incredible next year,'' said Tiger fan Jim Phillips, 53, of Memphis. ''I think this bodes well for the future and it looks bright. That was a freshman out there (putting the Tigers in position for the win in the closing minutes). And we've got a lot of good guys coming back and a lot of good recruits. ''That's what I saw. We played the No.6 team in the country toe to toe. They probably had one of the best shooting nights of their lives, and we still about pulled it out.'' Louisville shot 65.2 percent from three-point range (15-of-23), which was better than the Cardinals shot from the free-throw line (62.5). Phillips, a 1973 UofM graduate and one-time vice president of the student body, attended the Tigers' only NCAA Tournament finals appearance in 1973 -- a loss to UCLA -- and said Saturday's atmosphere rekindled 32-year-old memories. ''This was way too familiar,'' he said. ''I think we proved today we are as good as anyone in the country.'' -- Phil Stukenborg: 529-2543 |
| 03/13/05 | |
U of M Postgame (Commercial Appeal) |
| Play of the game Darius Washington had just grabbed a loose ball and laid it in to give the Tigers a 73-71 lead with 40.2 seconds left. So Rick Pitino called a timeout and designed a play for Francisco Garcia. Instead, Larry O'Bannon ended up with the ball. No problem. The senior sank a long 3-pointer despite being fouled by Arthur Barclay with 27.0 seconds left . O'Bannon missed the ensuing free throw. Still, that shot -- one of his three second-half 3-pointers -- was huge and helped give the Cards an outside shot at a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Stat of the game In the previous game between these two, there were a total of seven made 3-pointers. This time, the Cards hit 15, all by themselves. Louisville finished 15-of-23 from beyond the arc. Garcia hit five. Taquan Dean hit four. Of the Cards' nine field goals in the second half, seven were 3-pointers. The Cards' 15 3-pointers tied a C-USA Tournament record. X's and O's The problem with starting Jeremy Hunt (a 6-4 guard) in place of Rodney Carney (a 6-7 forward) against Louisville was that the Tigers had three starters standing 6-4 or shorter. Consequently, Garcia, a 6-7 wing, had a 3-inch height advantage over anybody guarding him. This became a factor early, when Garcia hit two quick 3-pointers over Hunt. Trends Memphis has gone 18 straight seasons without winning a league tournament title. The last was a Metro Conference Tournament Championship, won in 1987, two years after Keith Lee led the Tigers to the Final Four. Speaking of Lee, he was at the game Saturday, sitting underneath the goal near the Memphis bench. Odds and ends Washington had four assists at the half and finished with six. Under those circumstances, Memphis doesn't usually lose. The Tigers are 10-1 this season in games in which Washington gets at least five assists. The freshman point guard averaged 5.8 assists per game in the C-USA Tournament. Memphis junior Simplice Njoya did not play for the fourth straight game. Prior to the C-USA Tournament, the 6-10 forward had played in 23 straight contests. But he hasn't seen the court since publicly criticizing coach John Calipari after the March 5 loss to Cincinnati. In the locker room Saturday, Njoya was asked if he knew he would be held out of this tournament before the tournament started. The native of Cameroon answered, "I have no comment." With the win, Pitino improved to 32-8 all-time in league tournaments. He is 25-3 in his time at Kentucky and Louisville. Prior to Pitino taking over, the Cards were 5-6 in C-USA Tournament games. Pitino has gone 8-2 in this event over the past four years. Former Tiger Antonio Burks awoke early to watch the game despite the two-hour time difference and sat alone in his hotel room on Portland, Ore. "I'm going to call (Washington) after our game," said Burks, last season's C-USA Player of the Year as a senior for the Tigers. "It makes you feel bad. Even though it's hard at that time, I hope he stays strong even though things didn't go his way. "There aren't too many players who can say they've been in that position where you have a do-or-die situation on your season with three free throws. I can't relate to what he's going through. But against Louisville in my junior year I had two free throws when they were up one. I made one and missed one, and they ended up winning that game so I know what it means against Louisville." What's next The Tigers will now, in all likelihood, play in their third NIT in the past five years. After the NCAA Tournament Selection Show is held tonight, a call from the NIT will presumably come. Memphis will probably play early this week, possibly at FedExForum. -- Gary Parrish and Ronald Tillery |
| 03/13/05 | |
A wild few seconds (Commercial Appeal) |
| :40.2 After a Jeremy Hunt misses the second of two free throws, Duane Erwin pokes the ball away from Louisville guard Taquan Dean. It goes right to Darius Washington, who lays it in between two Cardinals. Memphis 73, Louisville 71 :27 Louisville's Larry O'Bannon hits a 3-pointer from the top of the key and is fouled by Arthur Barclay. O'Bannon misses the free throw. Louisville 74, Memphis 73 :07.7 On the next Tiger possession, Jeremy Hunt is called for a charge after he runs into Ellis Myles. Louisville 74, Memphis 73 :06.7 On the inbounds play, the Cardinals throw the ball long to seldom-used Brad Gianiny, who is fouled and hits one of two free throws. Louisville 75, Memphis 73 :00 Washington is fouled by Francisco Garcia as he fires up a 3-pointer at the horn. The Tiger freshman makes the first foul shot, but misses the final two. Louisville 75, Memphis 74 |
| 03/13/05 | |
If NIT makes call, the Tigers will accept bid (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Gary Parrish Contact March 13, 2005 John Calipari is tired. So are his players. As a whole, the University of Memphis is mentally and physically spent. Just like Arkansas. Still, Memphis won't follow the Hogs' lead and decline an invitation to the NIT. "I put ourselves in this position with this schedule, so we'll live with it," Calipari said. "If we're in the NIT, we're in there to win another championship." Thanks to a 75-74 loss to Louisville on Saturday afternoon, the Tigers -- barring something really strange -- will not be invited to the NCAA Tournament today. Instead, they'll probably get a call from the NIT, and participate in the second-tier event for the third time in five seasons. Sure, some Memphis players are still holding out hope that somehow they impressed somebody enough over the past four days to become the first 15-loss team to ever garner an at-large bid. But Calipari wasn't optimistic Saturday afternoon, and made it clear he'd be ready for another possible NIT run. So did Arthur Barclay. "If we don't get selected (for the NCAA Tournament), we will play in the NIT," Barclay said. "To not play is not a classy thing to do." -- Gary Parrish, 529-2365 |
| 03/13/05 | |
Tiger fans sound off on the game (Commercial Appeal) |
| 'No reason to hang his head' Darius Washington has no reason to hang his head. The C-USA final would have been a blowout for Louisville had it not been for Darius. There were many times while watching him that I was reminded of the great Michael Jordan. Like Michael, Darius has that keen sense of timing and placement. The hang time under the basket while he was deciding from which side to shoot was amazing! Darius shines on his own, but also understands the importance of team play. I look forward to many more years of watching this terrific player both while he is in college and when he makes it professionally. You are a joy to watch, Darius! You made me and many other Tiger fans proud this year! Laurie Brewer Memphis As sad as I feel that we lost, there are no words that convey what I feel for Darius Washington. If it was not for Darius's stellar play we would not even have been in the final game, much less be in a position to win. I am not taking away anything from our other players, but this young freshman is special. And let us not forget that he is just a freshman. He has not only stolen the ball and made unbelievable shots and plays when it seemed hopeless, but he has also stolen our hearts. Time heals all, and in time Darius and we the Tiger faithful will put behind the sadness and we will enjoy the knowledge that this young man is going to be with us for the next three years. And I firmly believe with Darius as our floor leader, our basketball team will reach a goal that we have never achieved in the past. This young man is special, and his future basketball skills will be something that we are going to enjoy for years to come. Thank you Darius Washington and the Memphis Tigers for giving us one heck of a run. Rommy Hammond Memphis Don't warry Darius. You made it happen. You gave us a chance. You played your heart out. So many times we saw some of your teammates give up when you gave all that you could give. Individuals don't win or lose games. Teams do. You did Memphis and yourself proud. Thank you for a great season. Christopher Love Baton Rouge, La. I just wanted the Tigers to put into the game as much as we do as fans. They did, especially the last four games. They gave me the Tiger fever I lost. Thank you Memphis Tigers. I am behind you and cannot wait for next season. I am a believer. Again. Betros Wakim Orlando, Fla. I now live in Chicago, having graduated from the University of Memphis two years ago. I watched Calipari arrive, and change the program. I watched Memphis blow it against Arizona State, fight against Oklahoma State, and watched them storm through this tumultous and ridiculous 2005 season. It certainly is the most compelling and personal loss I have ever experienced as a Tigers fan. The reason? Darius Washington, the player with the most poise and talent I have ever seen in a Tigers uniform, was the player left stranded at the line. The freshman with the maturity to regroup a flailing and selfish basketball team was the kid left fallen on the floor of the Forum. Stay with us through next year Darius, and lead these guys to the Final Four! Stephen Lydic Chicago ** PRICK ALERT! ** Tigers have endured worse It is obscene after the Tigers' poor season both on the court and off to say that losing in the Conference championship game is one of the toughest losses Memphis has ever endured. Memphis was lucky to play four decent games this season, all in the tournament. They do not deserve an NCAA berth and rightfully lost the tournament. They have played lackluster ball all season, Calipari has been unprofessional in his treatment of players (the Njoya incident), there are pending assault charges against Jeremy Hunt, and the Sean Banks debacle have resulted in real embarrassment to the University of Memphis and have caused damage to its reputation. Four games does not make a season. To characterize this loss as one of the toughest sports losses in Memphis history after such a despicable season is a distinct insult to the real gentlemen and sports heroes like Larry Finch and Ronnie Robinson who lost in the NCAA finals. James A. Carraway Jr. Cordova |
| 03/13/05 | |
C-USA tourney should be profitable -- League would like a permanent home (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Phil Stukenborg Contact March 13, 2005 Conference USA commissioner Britton Banowsky said Saturday he expects the league to make money from the conference basketball tournament that was held at FedExForum and would like to find a permanent home to build a base of fans and tradition. The tournament ended its four-day run in Memphis Saturday in dramatic fashion. Top seed and sixth-ranked Louisville held off a furious charge from the University of Memphis to win, 75-74. Memphis was hosting the tournament for the first time since 2000 and the third time in the league's 10-year history. ''The conference is going to make money (off the tournament),'' said Banowsky. ''The only question is how much money is the conference going to make.'' The Memphis & Shelby County Sports Authority guaranteed Conference USA $1 million when it bid for the tournament, but C-USA officials never signed the contract. ''We targeted $1 million as a minimum some time ago with the (guarantee) from the city,'' Banowsky said. ''That's what we were promised. We expect to achieve that number.'' Banowsky said he and his staff will review the tournament's expenses and revenues in the next few weeks and ''make a judgment whether the event was successful from a financial perspective.'' Memphis's success in the tournament helped with ticket sales and atmosphere. The Tigers, who entered the tournament on a four-game losing streak, reached the C-USA finals for the first time in the league's 10-year history with wins over Saint Louis, 25th-ranked Charlotte and South Florida. Saturday's title game attracted 10,576 in the 18,000-seat arena. ''It's been one of the better tournaments I've been around from a competitive standpoint,'' Banowsky said. ''The games were good games with big drama. And we were very pleased with the way the facility operates and the staff. It's the best I've ever dealt with in 15 or so years of conference tournaments. ''The event had a build to it in the (Memphis) market because of the emergence of the Tigers, and that was healthy for us. It's fair to say we've been a little disappointed in pre-tournament ticket sales, which may have been a function of the up-and-down season the Tigers had. But we've been delighted with the response we've gotten.'' Banowsky said between 5,000 and 6,000 full-session ticket packages (at $175 each) were sold for the tournament, the last C-USA Tournament featuring perennial powers Louisville and Cincinnati. The Cardinals and Bearcats bolt for the Big East Conference in 2005-06. ''We'd like to have 8,000 pre-tournament tickets sold, then you have a base significant enough to carry you,'' he said. Banowsky said conference tournaments work best if ''they can build year in and year out at one site and afford fans priority seating opportunities so people can make plans and develop some tradition at the event. ''It will be several weeks before we really get a feel as to whether or not this is the best option for us (in the future).'' Besides Louisville and Cincinnati, C-USA loses Charlotte, Saint Louis, South Florida and Marquette next season. SMU, Rice, Tulsa, UTEP, Marshall and Central Florida will replace them. Banowsky called FedExForum an ''ideal venue'' with its proximity to Beale Street's restaurants and clubs and to downtown hotels. ''I think it went terrific, and most of what I'm getting is (positive feedback) from other athletic directors,'' said Tiger athletic director R.C. Johnson. ''But we'll sit down this week and analyze everything and have the staff that's been the heart and soul of this tournament -- our staff, the conference staff, the Grizzlies staff. I appreciate the efforts the Grizzlies put forward and the efforts of the whole city. ''We want this back. I can't imagine any atmosphere that's going to be better than what we had today. This isn't Madison Square Garden (permanent site of the Big East Tournament), but this is the logical site (for C-USA). I know it happens to be our home, but the truth of the matter it is logical geographically.'' |
| 03/13/05 | |
Sound off -- Proud of the Tigers' three seniors; Feeding the flames (Commercial Appeal) |
| Proud of the Tigers' three seniors In light of all of the disappointments and problems the University of Memphis Tigers have faced this season (before the Conference USA tournament), I would like to say how proud I am of our three seniors (Arthur Barclay, Duane Erwin and Anthony Rice). All three are graduating. All three are good role models. Everyone is so concerned with tournament appearances, but shouldn't this count for something? Whitney Williams Memphis Feeding the flames This is not about the dispute between John Calipari and Geoff Calkins. I'm sure Calipari feels he is justified, while Calkins has stated publicly that he is not trying to be hard on the coach. The issue that I raise is regarding Calkins on the radio. Personally, I have enjoyed listening to both Calkins and George Lapides. Both bring something different to the table. I suspect Calkins would prefer to let his writing do his talking on the Calipari issue. Unfortunately, the radio show requires him to respond in public to those with strong feelings for both sides. This public response each day helps to feed the fire. I do not know the solution. But I am afraid to ask what's next. Is Wendi C. Thomas about to co-anchor her own talk show? Jerry Baker Cordova |
| 03/13/05 | |
In the news (rifle, baseball, track) (Commercial Appeal) |
| U of M shooter wins national crown University of Memphis all-America Beth Tidmore won the national championship in the air rifle division at the National Collegiate Men's and Women's Rifle Championships Saturday in Colorado Springs, Col. Tidmore set a new NCAA standard with a score of 694.2. "I am so very proud of what Beth has been able to accomplish this year," said head coach Butch Woolbright. "She has worked so hard and represented this university well. I am also very proud of this team as a whole for placing fourth in their first-ever trip to the NCAA Championship." Briefly: Adam Amar went 3-for-5 with a homer and four RBI to back the pitching of Daniel de Armas as the University of Memphis (5-5) downed Arkansas-Little Rock (9-13), 5-1, in a college baseball game at the USA Challenge at USA Stadium. Gail Lee earned the first all-America honor ever by a University of Memphis women's track athlete, finishing in 10th place in the shot put at the NCAA Indoor Track in Fayetteville, Ark. Lee's throw was 51 feet. -- From Our Press Services |
| 03/12/05 | |
Beth Tidmore Wins National Championship in Air Rifle -- Tigers place fourth as a team at the NCAA Championships (GoTigersGo.com) |
| COLORADO SPRINGS - All-American Beth Tidmore represented the University of Memphis as an individual at the 26th Annual National Collegiate Men's and Women's Rifle Championship at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. Tidmore set a new NCAA standard with a score of 694.2 and took home the national championship in the air rifle division. "I am so very proud of what Beth has been able to accomplish this year," said head coach Butch Woolbright. "She has worked so hard and represented this University well. I am also very proud of this team as a whole for placing fourth in their first-ever trip to the NCAA Championship." Tidmore shot a 590 in the team match, which then qualified her for first place, and advanced her to the finals. She shot a 104.2 in the finals to give her the NCAA record mark of 694.2. She defeated Andrea Franzen, a freshman for Nebraska who is the Swedish National Champion, and Matt Rawlings from Alaska-Fairbanks. Rawlings was the overall national champion in aggregate scoring, having competed in air and smallbore. The Tigers also qualified for the NCAA Championship as a team in air rifle, for the first time in school history. They entered Saturday's competition in sixth place, and managed to finish in fourth with a score of 2329. Jacksonville State won the air rifle title with a 2338 following a tie breaker with Nebraska, which also totaled a 2338. The U.S. Military Academy finished third with a 2331, just ahead of the Tigers. The Naval Academy shot a 2323 for fifth, and last year's national champion Alaska-Fairbanks placed sixth with a total of 2322. Nevada-Reno tied Kentucky with a 2317, but placed ahead of UK with the tie breaker. Individually, Tidmore led Memphis with a 590, followed by Krissey Bahnsen who posted a 588. Katie Benjamin turned in a 581, while Brian Phillips tallied a 570. In aggregate scoring, the U.S. Military Academy won the overall national championship with a total of 4659. They shot a 2328 in smallbore, and 2331 in air rifle. The Tigers did not shoot smallbore, and thus did not place in the overall team competition. Jacksonville State placed second with a 4658, followed closely by Nebraska and Alaska, which totaled a 4657 and a 4656, respectively. The Naval Academy placed fifth with a 4637, and Kentucky finished sixth with a 4627. "As I stated earlier, I couldn't be more proud of how well we matched up with the teams out here," added Woolbright. "This team has worked so hard this season, and it really showed." |
| 03/12/05 | |
Lee Becomes Memphis' First-Ever Women's Track All-American -- Junior thrower places 10th at NCAA Indoor Championships (GoTigersGo.com) |
| Fayetteville, Ark. - University of Memphis junior thrower Gail Lee set three goals going into the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships Friday in Fayetteville, Ark., and though she did not set a personal record or make the finals, she did reach the supreme goal of being named an NCAA All-American. With her toss of 51-00.00" (16.62m) in the final of three throws, the first semester Lady Tiger recorded a 10th place finish in the shot put, and most importantly the first-ever All-America honor for a U of M women's track and field athlete. "Being an All-American is the ultimate honor in collegiate track and field," said Coach Kevin Robinson. "It is a huge accomplishment for both Gail and our program." Lee, who had two throws over 50 feet, put fourth a tremendous effort, but was never able to get off her best put. Despite that however, she moved up two spots from the 12th place ranking she had entering the meet and missed the top nine and the event finals by less than two inches. "Gail responded amazingly in the biggest meet of her life," said Robinson. "She competed well, but was just never able to get off her best throw." The All-America accolade is just the latest of long list of accomplishments for the Fort Worth, Texas native in her first semester as a Lady Tiger. Earlier in the season she set school records in both the shot put and the weight throw, reaching NCAA provisional qualifying marks in both events. She was also a Conference USA Women's Athlete of the Week honoree and became the first women's track and field athlete ever to qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championships. With her most recent honor, Lee became only the second Memphis athlete, man or woman, in over 20 years to be named an All-American. Former Tiger thrower Gaute Myklebust was the only other Memphis recipient since 1981, when he was named an All-American in the discus in 2004. After a tremendous indoor season, Lee, along with the rest of her Lady Tiger and Tiger teammates, will now turn their attention toward the outdoor season. The first meet of the outdoor campaign will be the Spring Opener, which will be hosted in Memphis by Rhodes College next Saturday, March 19. |
| 03/12/05 | |
Men's Tennis Wraps Arizona Trip With Win -- Downs Northern Arizona, 5-2 (GoTigersGo.com) |
| Results Memphis 5, Northern Arizona 2 Sedona Racquet Club Sedona, Arizona Singles 1. Alex Bucewicz (UM) def. Thibault Schramm (NAU) 6-3, 7-6 2. James Spence (UM) def. Henrik Lilja (NAU) 6-3, 6-3 3. Jeremy Coll (NAU) def. Alex Jago (UM) 6-7, 6-4, 10-8 4. Jamie Maxwell (NAU) def. Marten Tamla (UM) 7-6, 2-6, 10-7 5. Mark Finnegan (UM) def. Aldert Jansma (NAU) 6-3, 6-3 6. Scott Felsenthal (UM) def. Brian Grooms (NAU) 6-4, 6-4 Doubles 1. Spence/Felsenthal (UM) def. Schram/lilja (NAU) 8-4 2. Coll/Maxwell (NAU) def. Bucewicz/Tamla (UM) 9-8 3. Finnegan/Jago (UM) def. Grooms/Jansma (NAU) 8-5 |
| 03/12/05 | |
Tigers Struggle in Second Round, Fall to Eighth at Conrad Rehling Invitational -- Miers and Rochester rebound to post better second round scores than those from Friday (GoTigersGo.com) |
| Tuscaloosa, Ala. - For the second straight day, windy conditions played a part in high overall scores at the Conrad Rehling Invitational on Saturday. Though not as extreme as the gusts in Friday's first round, wind played a part in Memphis not having a single individual shoot under par for the third straight round of golf as the Tigers fell from seventh to eighth with a second round of 23-over 311 at the Ol' Colony Golf Club. "The conditions were still tough but some teams did put up some low scores so we can't blame it entirely on the weather," said Memphis coach Grant Robbins. "We are just struggling right now." After having at least one player shoot par or under par in their first 16 rounds of the year, Memphis has not had a single player shoot par or under par in the last three rounds of competitive golf, dating back to last weekend's final round of the St. Croix Collegiate Classic. Justin Miers was the low scorer for the Tigers on the day, as he bounced back from his first round 81 to put up a respectable two-over 74. Ian Rochester also improved his score by three strokes, firing a four-over 76 after his first round 79. Both Miers and Rochester are tied for 29th place at 11-over 155 to lead the Tigers. Andy Shiels shot a 79 and is in 40th place at 13-over 157 (78-79). Robbie Greenwell shot an 82 and is in 41st while Keven Fortin-Simard shot a forgettable 85 and is tied for 55th. Clayton Ellis, who is competing as an individual, put up a 79 and is tied for 41st at 14-over 158 (79-79). The Tigers are currently at 45-over 621 for the tournament (310-311) and trail seventh place Ole Miss by two strokes. Memphis leads ninth place Michigan by three strokes. Host Alabama fired by far the lowest team round of the day, posting a two-under 286 to move into first place at 14-over where they lead first round leader Michigan State by 10 strokes. Thomas Hagler of the Crimson Tide leads the field at even par. Only three golfers in the entire field shot under par in the second round after only one managed to do so in the first. "We are starting four freshmen now and that can mean some inconsistency," said Robbins. "We are lacking in confidence right now and what we need to do is get off to a good start tomorrow to help our confidence." |
| 03/12/05 | |
Baseball Claims 5-1 Triumph Over Arkansas-Little Rock -- Adam Amar blasts three-run homer to pace Tigers (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MILLINGTON, Tenn. - UALR 001 000 000 - 1 6 1 MEMPHIS 300 100 01x - 5 9 3 Adam Amar went 3-for-5 with a three-run home run and four RBI, while senior pitcher Daniel de Armas gave up one run on just three hits in five innings to power Memphis to a 5-1 win over Arkansas-Little Rock (9-13) in the second day of the USA Challenge. Memphis (5-5) snaps a three-game losing skid with the win. Memphis bats came alive early in the contest as shortstop Jordan Tolliver got the Tigers going with a double to the leftfield corner. Patrick Hope connected with a single to left to extend his hitting streak to 13 games, dating back to last season. Amar followed Hope with his team-leading second round tripper of the year. Tommy Bryant singled home the Trojans only run of the contest to shave the Tigers lead to 3-1 in the third. But Memphis answered back with a run in the fourth, on an RBI-single off the bat of Amar, and another in the eighth after Hope drove Chris Newsom in on a single through the right side. de Armas (1-0) earned his first win of the year. Drew Jaudon continued to be effective in relief as he allowed just three hits in three innings. Chris Davis finished the contest, working a one-two-three ninth. Cody Fry (1-1) was the loser on the mound for UALR. The Tiger offense was paced by Amar's three hits, while Tolliver and Hope each posted a pair of hits. Memphis will round out the weekend of competition on Sunday when they face the tournament host, Indiana State Sycamores. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. |
| 03/12/05 | |
Tigers Fall To No. 6 Louisville In Conference Finals, 75-74 -- Darius Washington scores 23 points to lead Memphis (GoTigersGo.com) |
| By TERESA M. WALKER AP Sports Writer MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Memphis freshman Darius Washington Jr. missed two of three free throws with no time left on the clock, allowing No. 6 Louisville to escape with a 75-74 victory and the Conference USA championship on Saturday. Louisville's Brad Gianiny hit one of two free throws with 6.7 seconds to give Louisville a two-point lead. Washington was fouled by Francisco Garcia while shooting a 3-pointer at the buzzer. He hit the first, prompting his teammates to dance on the court, but then bounced the next two off the rim. Washington dropped to the floor at the free throw line, covering his head with his hands. Louisville (29-4) won its second C-USA tournament title in three years. The Cardinals will go into the NCAA tournament on their longest winning streak of the season, with victories in their last nine games and 18 of their last 19. Garcia finished with 19 points, Taquan Dean and Juan Palacios each had 14 and Palacios had 11 rebounds. Larry O'Bannon finished with 13 for Louisville, including 3-of-3 from 3-point range. Memphis (19-15) had been the only team to beat the Cardinals in the 19-game stretch, and the Tigers' best hope of playing in the NCAA tournament was winning the conference's automatic bid by winning the tourney. They nearly pulled it off after winning three games to reach their first C-USA tournament final. Memphis' Jeremy Hunt tied the game at 71 by hitting a free throw, but missed the second. Louisville got the rebound, but Duane Erwin tipped the ball away from Dean to Washington, who scored on a layup for a 73-71 lead with 42.7 seconds left. O'Bannon answered with a 3-pointer from the top of the key and was fouled, but missed the free throw for a 74-73 lead with 27 seconds to go. Hunt was called for a charge with 7.7 seconds remaining. Gianiny was fouled and hit his first free throw. Washington had 23 points and six assists. Anthony Rice added 20 points for Memphis. The Cardinals became only the second C-USA team to win both the regular season and tournament titles in the same season. |
| 03/12/05 | |
Box Score -- No. 6 Louisville 75, Memphis 74 (GoTigersGo.com) |
| LOUISVILLE (29-4) Myles 3-7 3-4 9, Palacios 5-7 2-3 14, Garcia 5-12 4-4 19, Dean 5-11 0-0 14, O'Bannon 5-8 0-3 13, L.Wade 0-2 0-0 0, Jenkins 2-2 0-0 5, Gianiny 0-0 1-2 1, P.Johnson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 25-49 10-16 75. MEMPHIS (19-15) Erwin 5-12 0-0 10, Barclay 1-2 0-0 2, Hunt 3-10 4-5 10, Rice 7-14 2-2 20, Washington Jr. 9-15 3-6 23, W.Williams 2-3 0-0 4, Carney 2-5 0-0 5, Dorsey 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 29-61 9-13 74. Halftime-Tied 41-41. 3-Point Goals-Louisville 15-23 (Garcia 5-8, Dean 4-7, O'Bannon 3-3, Palacios 2-2, Jenkins 1-1, L.Wade 0-2), Memphis 7-20 (Rice 4-7, Washington Jr. 2-5, Carney 1-3, Hunt 0-5). Fouled Out-Barclay. Rebounds-Louisville 27 (Palacios 11), Memphis 28 (Erwin 7). Assists-Louisville 16 (Myles 8), Memphis 19 (Washington Jr. 6). Total Fouls-Louisville 16, Memphis 15. A-10,576. |
| 03/12/05 | |
FROM MY SEAT (C-U.S.A. FINAL EDITION) -- The most gallant effort ever? Maybe. Certainly the most heartbreaking (Memphis Flyer) |
| FRANK MURTAUGH TIGER TEARS Heartbreak hurts. But it can be that much more painful to witness. With time having expired at the 2005 Conference USA championship Saturday at FedExForum, University of Memphis freshman Darius Washington missed a pair of free throws that would not only have won his team a tournament trophy, but would have -- more poignantly for this all too emotional season in Tiger Nation -- earned Memphis a berth in the NCAA tournament. Of course, the made shots would have beaten hated Louisville, perhaps the finest reward of all. When Washington’s third attempt -- he had been fouled attempting a buzzer-beating three-pointer -- fell to floor, so did Washington. The all-tournament C-USA Freshman of the Year, having made nine of 15 shots from the field for 23 points, was reduced to a prostrate, tear-stained victim of lost destiny. And it took several teammates to lift him to his feet. (You want to know what kind of pressure Washington faced with those shots? Teammate Duane Erwin -- a senior -- was kneeling in front of me at the opposite end of the floor, back to Washington, unable to so much as watch.) The tragedy of the 75-74 loss is that Washington’s collapse ended forty minutes of near-perfect basketball, the finest game (college or professional) FedExForum has seen in its inaugural season. Here was a struggle between the sixth-ranked team in the country, a club with Final Four aspirations, and their underachieving hometown rivals, attempting a fourth must-win in four days for the dance ticket that makes or breaks a season. There was a one-minute stretch, late in the first half, that was basketball at its most brilliantly sublime. Tiger senior Anthony Rice -- with Washington, named to the all-tournament team -- drained a three pointer to give Memphis a 36-35 lead. Louisville’s Taquan Dean -- later named the tournament’s MVP -- answered with a trey of his own, followed by a rainmaker from the Tigers’ Rodney Carney, only to have Cardinal freshman Juan Palacios drill a three-pointer to regain the lead for Louisville, 41-39. Sixty seconds, four treys, twelve points. Rice’s free throws evened the score at 41 before halftime. Right on script. Louisville scored the first five points of the second half, and continued to hit from long range (they made a remarkable 15 three-pointers in the contest). But Memphis, the tournament’s seventh seed remember, simply would not go away. Rice hit another three-pointer to give Memphis a 57-54 lead with just over 10 minutes to play, only to see Cardinal star Francisco Garcia sandwich an Erwin layup with two threes for a 60-59 Louisville lead. Back and forth the storied programs went, down to the final minute. Jeremy Hunt made the first of two free throws to tie the score at 71 with 49 seconds left. Erwin stripped Dean of the ball after the missed foul shot, and Washington was there to pounce. His driving layup gave Memphis a 73-71 lead, only to see it lost when Larry O’Bannon hit, yes, a three-pointer in front of Arthur Barclay with 27 ticks left on the clock. After an offensive foul was called on Hunt, the Cards’ Brad Gianiny made a free throw to set up the dramatic, game-ending free throw sequence. If hearts were indeed broken all over the Mid-South, the healing has to start in the Tiger locker room. And don’t tell any of Washington’s teammates his missed opportunity cost Memphis a championship. “You should be blaming me,” softly spoke Barclay after the tears had been dried. “I lost the game for us . . . I was late getting [to O’Bannon]. It wasn’t Darius’ fault.” “I’ve been in this situation for four years,” noted Rice, his voice still quivering. “And we’ve managed to lose all of them. I told Darius to keep his head up. That was a lot of weight on him. [Just watching], your mind goes blank. Your heart stops. He had made all the plays down the stretch. We wouldn’t have even been in the game without him.” Washington will heal. He’s not only a tough point guard, but a tough young man, his force of personality being part of what drove enigmatic star Sean Banks to the sidelines and eventually off campus. He demanded -- with his coach’s public backing -- that these Tigers follow him, that the beat of his dribble become the pulse of Tiger Nation. And, particularly over four unforgettable days at FedExForum, Washington’s team responded. Memphis coach John Calipari -- the often volcanic tempest of screams, stomps, and punches during a game -- was composed and forthright during his postgame remarks. “My team couldn’t have played better,” he said. “We lost to a great team, and my hat’s off to them. They’re a one seed . . . and they escaped. “[My team] is one of the top 20 in the country. But we’re where we are. I screwed up with that early schedule, and hopefully I’ll learn from it. I should have scheduled three tough games, beaten up on everyone else, and we wouldn’t be talking about [being on the NCAA bubble]. I screwed up.” When asked about playing in the NIT, the likely scenario considering no 15-loss team has ever received an at-large bid to the NCAAs, Calipari didn’t so much as hesitate. “If we have the chance to extend our season,” he replied, “we’re going to play. I have young players who need to play, need the minutes.” Leaving FedEx Forum for the fourth time in four days, you got the distinct impression that no one needed those next minutes on the basketball court more than one Darius Washington. |
| 03/12/05 | |
It's Tigers-Cardinals for title -- U of M needs victory today for automatic NCAA berth (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Phil Stukenborg Contact March 12, 2005 From his perch in the upper section of FedExForum's lower bowl, Louisville basketball fan Steve Havens watched as University of Memphis fans, players and officials celebrated the Tigers' 81-68 victory over South Florida. The UofM's win in the Conference USA Tournament semifinals set up the championship game that Memphis fans -- and even Havens -- wanted. For what could be the last time in this long and storied rivalry, the Tigers and the Cardinals will meet in today's 10:35 a.m. title game. For Memphis, a victory gives the Tigers an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament, an unlikely scenario after the UofM ended the season on a four-game losing streak and with a 16-14 record. But three wins in three days have moved the Tigers (19-14) one win from a coveted NCAA invitation. That it will require a victory over sixth-ranked Louisville makes it that much more appealing for both sides and a national television audience that will be watching on CBS. ''I think this will be the apex of Memphis tournament basketball,'' said state Sen. Steve Cohen, D-Memphis, a lifelong Tiger basketball fan. ''I hate to say it but I don't know if we'll ever reach it again. It's Memphis vs. Louisville probably for the last time in a championship event, in this city. You can't ask for more. It's what every fan should look forward to and be here for because it won't happen again.'' Havens, 50, said he was among a contingent of Louisville fans that wanted it to be a Memphis-Louisville final, even if it meant battling a Tiger team on their home court. ''We wanted to play them from the very start,'' Havens said. ''For a rivalry that has been this good for so long, this is the way it should end. The Cincinnati rivalry has gotten stronger in recent years, but this is the rivalry.'' Memphis will be playing Louisville for the third time this season. The Tigers beat Louisville, 85-68, Feb. 9 at Louisville and the Cardinals retaliated with a 53-44 win Feb. 26 at FedExForum. Both games were on ESPN. Memphian Paul Chambers, 44, said he believed the Tigers could make a run to the finals after an impressive, 79-59, first-round win over Saint Louis. Memphis followed with wins over No. 25 Charlotte in the quarterfinals and surprise semifinalist South Florida. ''You could not have expected us to be in the finals after the up-and-down season we've had and all of the off-the-court shenanigans and the loss of Sean Banks,'' Chambers said. ''But it's come down to this. This is what all Tiger fans live for.'' Louisville leaves C-USA after this season for the Big East Conference, ending a rivalry that has been built through several league affiliations, including the Missouri Valley and Metro conferences. ''There's an awful lot of things that make this special,'' Tiger athletic director R. C. Johnson said. ''I'm so proud of the team and the coaches, the way the players are playing and the coaches are coaching. And you can see by the response of the fans that Tiger pride is huge.'' Memphis will be playing in the C-USA final for the first time in the league's 10-year history. ''It's going to be a great game,'' Tiger senior Arthur Barclay said. "We'll be fine.'' -- Phil Stukenborg: 529-2543 |
| 03/12/05 | |
Tigers vs. Louisville (Commercial Appeal) |
| 10:35 a.m., FedExForum TV, radio: WREG-TV (3), WMC-AM (790), WKBQ-FM (93.5). Records: Tigers 19-14, Louisville 28-4. Series standing: Louisville leads, 50-34. Notables Louisville and Memphis split two games this season. Memphis won, 85-68, on Feb. 9 at Freedom Hall. Louisville won, 53-44, on Feb. 26 at FedExForum. ... John Calipari holds a 4-3 advantage over Rick Pitino in games played while each was coaching at his current school. Overall in college games, dating to the UMass-Kentucky years, Pitino holds a 7-5 advantage. ... As of Friday, the Tigers' CollegeRPI.com ranking was 112. Louisville's was 17. ... Today will mark the first time the Tigers have played in a championship game of a league tournament since 1994. Memphis hasn't won a league tournament in 18 years. This will be the Cards' third C-USA Tournament title game. Louisville won the event in 2003. Scouting the Tigers Memphis, coached by John Calipari, has now won three straight games, the latest being a 81-68 victory over South Florida on Friday night. The Tigers have a 13-6 record at FedExForum. The losses came to Ole Miss, Louisiana Tech, Providence, TCU, Louisville and Cincinnati. Rodney Carney, the UofM's leading scorer, has come off the bench in the past three games. He had 23 and 20 in the first round and quarterfinals of the C-USA Tournament, but was held to seven points in the semifinals. Freshman Darius Washington led Memphis with 20 points and four assists against USF. Senior Anthony Rice added 19 points, and five rebounds. He is now averaging 10.4 points per game. Scouting the Cardinals Louisville, coached by Rick Pitino, has won eight straight games and is 17-1 in its past 18 contests. The only loss in that span was to Memphis in Freedom Hall on Feb. 9. The Cards' only losses this season were to Iowa, Kentucky, Houston and Louisville. Louisville advanced to the title game with Friday's 74-67 victory over UAB. In that win, junior guard Taquan Dean had 15 points, 11 rebounds and six assists. He's averaging 14.2 points per game despite battling a case of mononucleosis during the season. Francisco Garcia is Louisville's leading scorer. He's averaging 15.3 points per game. Garcia and senior guard Larry O'Bannon are the only two Cards to start every game this season. Key matchup: Memphis's shooters vs. Louisville's zone That's right. Louisville's zone. We know it sounds crazy, especially for a Rick Pitino team. But with the success the Cards had throwing a zone defense at Memphis in the last meeting two weeks ago, it's hard to imagine Louisville not using it again. So this time, Memphis must make jumpers. The Tigers shot 19.6 percent in the previous meeting, and missed 22-of-23 3-point attempts. A similar performance will secure a defeat, and an NIT bid. So Carney, Washington, Rice and Jeremy Hunt have to make shots. -- Gary Parrish |
| 03/12/05 | |
Calkins: Oh, what a beautiful morning it is when rivals meet for last time (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Geoff Calkins Contact March 12, 2005 Joe Carson took his place at one of the ticket windows, behind a dozen or so other Memphis fans. Carson works th |