Congratulations Memphis Faithful!
Your team lucked out at the end and advanced in the NCAA Tournament Sunday. I believe that any or all deficiencies pointed out in previous articles on this website came to fruition on Sunday. Memphis shot 15 for 32 from the free-throw-line (rounded up that's 47%). The Tigers blew leads and let Mississippi State back into the game.
On the bright side of things ,the Tigers out-rebounded the Bulldogs 42-31 and had 19 assists to State's nine. The Tigers also had 11 blocked shots. With those numbers alone, without looking at the score, the Tigers should have won this game by 20 points or more. The only problem is they didn't.
Memphis won this game in large part to the poor decision Bulldogs coach Rick Stansbury made at around the two minute mark of the second half. With 1:46 left, the Tigers had the ball and a six point lead. It was at this time the Bulldogs should have played the let's-extend-this-game card and fouled anybody wearing a white jersey on the floor.
Chances are the Bulldogs would have had a better shot at winning the game, or at least tying it, than the out-of-control running three pointer attempted at the buzzer.
Mississippi State is going home though, and the Memphis Tigers are moving on. Memphis fans rejoice, for now. Michigan State is coached by someone who actually HAS won an important game in his career.
Tom Izzo has a team that is likely less athletic than the Tigers, but has better basketball players, smarter basketball players, and that makes me sick because I hate the Big Ten. Tom Izzo is they type of coach that will find a team's flaws and expose them. Unfortunately for Memphis, they have a lot of them!
Memphis received a stay of execution on Sunday from the kind folks from Starkville Mississippi. Don't look for the Tigers to survive this weekend. I would put the house on it! I just hope Gus Johnson is calling that particular game!
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4 months ago
you're an idiot.
4 months ago
you're an idiot.
4 months ago
Gavin Brownstein is a TRUE BONEHEAD!!! If everyone knows Memphis is a poor free throw shooting team, which they are. Why do you think they keep winning you DORK? It's because they have great talent and always seem to overcome the poor free throw shooting by capitalizing on their other assets of quickness, confidence & determination. Don't you think every team they play tries to capitalize on this weakness? Of course they do. Does it work? No. Are you an Idiot & a Dork Gavin? Of course you are.
4 months ago
Gavin,
Good article, I was thinking the same thing while watching the game on Sunday, WHY NOT FOUL??. Izzo is to smart not see that if the game is close down the streach. Also, a telling stat in the game was the fact that Memphis only had 1 or 2 games which were within 10 points at the end. The reason teams didn't do more of that is because Memphis plays in the CONFERANCE-USA, and teams were not in the game at the end. Prediction: Michigan St. in a close one
4 months ago
Tim, while writing personal insults in all capitals is definitely cool (sarcasm), I'm not sure you read the main point of this article, which makes a lot of sense.
Like the past two years, as Memphis plays better teams, FT's will become an issue, as will their 3-point shooting, which tends to tighten up when they do not have a double-digit lead.
4 months ago
I love it when the Memphis Nation rails on me! I never had an opinion on the basketball team really until the Memphis Morons came out of the woodwork. This is not to say that all Memphis fans are boneheads because most of them are not. Any knowledgeable basketball fan will agree this article at least somewhat. Look, the numbers don't lie. Memphis just isn't that good.
4 months ago
Memphis just isn't that good....at free throws.
They do the rest as good or better than anyone in the country.
4 months ago
I am glad that you have an opinion, because you don't have a clue. If you take a team that wins in spite of their weaknesses, that is a great team. If you take a team like UCLA that has to rely on the officials to give them wins, is that a great team?
Memphis has heart, pride and talent; that got them where they are and will continue to carry them on.
4 months ago
What you don't mention about Memphis is this...
Memphis Tigers Basketball, last 3 years
*101-9 (.918) overall
*54-1 (.982) vs. C-USA opponents
*47-8 (.855) vs. non-conference opponents
*19-8 (.704) vs. "big 6" opponents
*82-1 (.988) vs. non-"big 6" opponents
*84-7 (.923) in regular season play
*17-2 (.895) in post season play
*58-2 (.967) at home
*28-3 (.903) on the road
*C-USA Champions: 2006 (13-1), 2007 (16-0), 2008 (16-0)
*C-USA Tournament Champions: 2006, 2007, 2008
*NCAA Tournament Appearances: 2006 (Elite 8), 2007 (Elite 8), 2008 (Sweet 16 and still alive)
*57 weeks in the AP Top 25 Poll (36 weeks in the top 5)
"not a good team"?
They're good enough for me.
from 4 months ago
C-USA had how many teams in the top 65 (NCAA tournament)? 1 (Memphis). Of course they are going to throw up great win loss records. Any of the top 25 teams in the nation would.
I am assuming that "big 6" means the big 6 conferences in which case that is the one stat that you put up that I will go by. 19-8 is not that good, in fact that would earn them a 7 or 8 seed in this years tournament. And they may still find themselves going to the Elite 8 because they do have a good team, but eventually they will be beat because of their free throws. Just like most of their losses to the "big 6".
The rest of the stats are garbage because C-USA is garbage!!!
4 months ago
So easy to draw out the truth. Your BCS bias is showing.
Memphis is undefeated in CUSA for the second straight year.
Not much else they can do if an AQ league wont take them.
101 wins over 3 years is garbage???? You're a fucking moron.
Stick to football. Memphis will be in it's 3rd straight Elite 8, hater.
from 3 months ago
Way to back yourself up w/ anything of substance. ANYONE can rant or throw a hissy-fit when they get upset. I still think they are a quality team but in the end better coaching is going to beat them, just like the last 2 years. MSU of Memphis b/c of free throws!
3 months ago
I love it when Anonymous pops off at me. Have some balls and put a name on your comment.
3 months ago
Great call, Big Red. Dumbass. By the way, Memphis shot 74% from the line against the mighty Michigan State Spartans. Next.
3 months ago
Memphis Tigers men's basketball, last three seasons
*103-9 (.920) overall
*54-1 (.982) vs. C-USA opponents
*49-8 (.860) vs. non-conference opponents
*21-8 (.724) vs. "big 6" opponents
*82-1 (.988) vs. non-"big 6" opponents
*84-7 (.923) in regular season play
*19-2 (.905) in post season play
*58-2 (.967) at home
*28-3 (.903) on the road
*C-USA Champions: 2006 (13-1), 2007 (16-0), 2008 (16-0)
*C-USA Tournament Champions: 2006, 2007, 2008
*NCAA Tournament Appearances: 2006 (Elite 8), 2007 (Elite 8), 2008 (Final 4 and still alive)
*57 weeks in the AP Top 25 Poll (36 weeks in the top 5)
3 months ago
Wow I bet you feel really dumb right now. Enjoy that feeling while the Tigers move to the Final Four!!! Go Tigers Go!!!!
3 months ago
Your house, huh? So when can I move in? :P
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