No matter how talented the players, if a team’s offense doesn’t run smoothly and efficiently, the window for success shrinks. And in many cases, such as the Memphis Tigers this season, it’s rather noticeable, too.

Despite losing three NBA players from last season’s NCAA championship runner-up squad, the Tigers still had high hopes before the start of the 2008-09 season.

A pre-season top 15 ranking hinted that the addition of one of freshman McDonald’s All-American Tyreke Evans and return of seniors Antonio Anderson and Robert Dozier would be enough to keep Memphis competing at a high level.

But Memphis and coach John Calipari soon found out it wouldn’t be so easy. For the first nine games of the season – which included all three of Memphis’ losses to this point – the offense was rickety. The point guard situation was a jumbled mess and Evans wasn’t as involved in the offense as he needed to be.

Evans averaged just 14.8 points per game through the Tigers’ first nine games, where Memphis went just 6-3 with losses to Xavier, Georgetown and Syracuse. His average dipped to 12.3 points per game in those losses.

After trying Willie Kemp (confidence issues and an inability to run the team), Antonio Anderson (way out of position from his normal No. 3 spot) and Wesley Witherspoon (a freshman in every sense of the word) at the point, Calipari finally turned to Evans to run the team.

Calipari believed that with the ball in Evans’ hands each time down the court, his star freshman wouldn’t feel and play as detached from the offense as he had been.

And though Evans wasn’t necessarily a point guard – he was recruited as a scorer, a shooting guard – having the ball in his hands more often was something the team needed to be successful.

Evans meshed well with the position, scoring 20 points with four assists against Drexel in his point guard debut. He followed with 14 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists against Cincinnati, and 27 points and four assists against Northeastern.

Since his move to the point guard spot, Evans has averaged 19.9 points per game, increasing his season average to 17.2.

And more so than just Evans, the entire team has benefited.

Since Evans’ move to point guard, the Tigers have increased their scoring average (from 76.6 to 78.0), field-goal percentage (from 41.1 to 46.4), 3-point percentage (from 26.3 to 37.8) and 3-pointers made per game (from 5.7 to 6.8).

Antonio Anderson, who started the season mired in a devastating shooting slump, has scored in double figures six of the past seven games, including posting a triple-double with 12 points, 10 rebounds and 13 assists against Lamar.

Even if Evans is “out of position,” the dilemma has been solved. Memphis (14-3, 4-0 Conference USA) has its point guard, its dribble-drive motion offense is vastly improved and the Tigers have looked more like themselves in winning eight consecutive games.