Tigers-Volunteers: Running Diary of the Battle of Tennessee

Hey folks, just thought I’d keep a little running diary during the most hyped college hoops game this year, Bill Simmons style.

Will the game live up to the hype? My guess is yes. Both of these teams have ridiculous individual talent and their fast-paced styles of play will surely make for an exciting and entertaining evening.

To be honest, I strongly believe that a loss could be a good thing for Memphis. Nothing could leave the Tigers more vulnerable in the tournament than an undefeated season. Why? Losses make you angry. They motivate you to work harder in practice, and make you hungrier for wins. For more information on this theory, ask Bill Belichek…. Anyway, it’s time for the tip!!!

9:00pm – Peyton Manning’s the only person in the FedEx Forum wearing orange. ESPN busts out Dick Vitale for the game… why not? He’s the franchise.  Memphis’ intro song? You guessed it: Eye of the Tiger.

9:04pm – Three Smith’s in the Volunteer starting lineup!? That’s better than the Atlanta Hawks’ Johnson, Williams, Smith lineup.

9:06pm – Tennessee makes a three and Calipari calls timeout… no wonder Memphis is perfect on the season, their coach is a Hermione Grangeresque perfectionist.

9:11pm – Hahaha… Dickie-V says the Tigers are probably the best basketball team in the city… anyone disagree?

9:16pm – Close game through about 7 min (20-16, Tigers). Nine threes made thus far… Jajuan Smith and Antonio Anderson are stroking it like Anthony Parker and Jason Kapono (shameless plug). But seriously, are college players even challenged by the distance of the college three? Sure doesn’t look like it…

9:22pm – How good is Memphis? Their back-up point guard’s in the game for future-lottery pick Derrick Rose. He (Antonio Allen) was a two-time Mr. Basketball in Tennessee at Booker T. Washington high school. The Tigers’ third-string point guard, Willie Kemp, who’s currently sitting on the bench, was also Mr. Basketball in Tennessee his senior year in high school! I wonder if Kemp wishes he’d gone elsewhere for his college career… say, Knoxville?

9:30pm – Memphis by 5, 29-24. About 9 minutes to go in the half and Memphis continues to drop trifectas like they’re…. umm… I don’t know, the number one team in the nation?

9:33pm – Chris Douglas-Roberts is NBA caliber. Book it, he’ll average at least 17 per game during his prime in the pros.

9:36pm – How old is Elvis’ former wife Priscilla Presley? Wow…

9:38pm – What’s Chris Lofton up to? 0 – 1 on the night. The guy dropped 34 on Memphis when the teams played last year.

9:46pm – Memphis is the 4^th-worst foul shooting team in D1 basketball. How can they still be undefeated shooting 58% from the line on the year!? Wow… good ol’ Conference-USA basketball…

9:47pm

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