A lot of us college basketball fans keep asking that question in our head.
Do coach John Calipari and the rest of the Memphis Tigers have enough fire power to make it to San Antonio?
I can honestly say, their run in the tournament will come to an end in this regional semifinal game, and these are the reasons I believe this:
I believe Drew Neitzel and company will put a close to the Memphis Tigers' run. They are a great perimeter team like Memphis, but, yes, the Tigers' big men will outmatch the big men for the Spartans. However, I think the Tigers' great athletes will be worn down by the great defensive side of Michigan State.
Let's come to reality now. The last time Michigan State was a No. 5 seed, they made the Final Four. And they are certainly an underdog, but coach Izzo couldn't like this situation any better.
If the Spartans get the Tigers in a half court setting, it will be to their advantage.
Another great point, let's look at some facts here. I think this game will come down to the wire with free throws being a huge factor. Because Memphis shoots just over 59 percent, I think this will come to haunt the Tigers coming down the stretch in the second half.
The way I see the Spartans winning is if Drew Neitzel and the other guards show up; they have been very streaky all season.
Raymar Morgan has to play a huge role in this game as well. The Spartans are a very guard-oriented team that ranks as one of the top shooting teams in the country.
Even without a No. 2 scorer behind Neitzel, the Spartans of Michigan State feature enough balance on offense to keep them in the game with most good opponents.
I believe if Michigan State plays with high intensity and a strong perimeter game, they will be tough to slow down. With that said, the Tigers will have their hands full.
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4 months ago
Nice job with your first article on here Jordan. I am happy you decided to join after I told you to. Everybody help him out with any adjustements you think he should make so his articles from now on are very good. He is a good friend of mine from middle school and is now one of my roomates so be nice to him. Good job Jordan, for a noob haha
4 months ago
and I can't spell still, I meant to say adjustments....
4 months ago
thanks man, feel free to voice any concerns or opinions on my article, I am interested in hearing from everybody.
4 months ago
Michigan State can't match the athleticism of Memphis and will not be able to keep pace with them. Calipari will tell his players they are the underdog because everyone wants to call this game as the upset of the sweet 16. But it won't happen, just you watch.
4 months ago
I'll be pulling for Michigan State, but I think Memphis wins simply because Dickey V. went crazy and said the Spartans would beat Memphis.
Like you said, Neitzel is way too inconsistent, and Memphis is better in the frontcourt and the backcourt.
Free throws will eventually hurt Memphis, but I don't think that will happen until the next round.
4 months ago
Um, I have similar articles to this and I firmly agree with all of the above comments. Athleticism can only take you so far when you can't hit a free throw.
4 months ago
I wish I knew the Tigers free throw percentage relative to the 40 minutes. How are they the first 10 vs. the last 10? Maybe Calipari has a point about being able to hit when the game matters? Just thinking out loud. Maybe someone knows the answer.
4 months ago
You people keep spouting about freethrows and MEMPHIS keeps winning. 35-1 this season and 92-7 in 3 years. you think Memphis hasnt been in a close game? "Anonymous" is on point. We make em when it counts. So keep pickin Memphis to lose and they will keep doing what they do best. WIN!
Good luck
GO TIGERS
from 4 months ago
Yeah they are 92-7 in three years and how many national championships has that brought them? You HAVE to make free throws in March to win the whole thing. They almost got beat in the second round because they couldn't make free throws in the last 3 minutes. I didn't think when they were up 7 with under 1:30 left they would have trouble making free throws. They are call FREE throws for a reason. You just step up, do your thing, and make them. They aren't going to run teams off the floor this late in the season, they aren't good enough for that.
from 4 months ago
There is a reason that the Memphis Tigers have a record of 92-7 over the last three years--weak conference. Example:the Hawaii football team this year, who went undefeated this year and I believe only lost one game the year before. They had a great record but then got blown out by Georgia, who lost games that season. Season winning records mean nothing in the NCAA, because the conferences are unevenly distributed with talent. But, Memphis is ranked as the #1 seed, and it is obvious that they are a good program. But pitted against a Big Ten team, I think they will be left in the dust on Friday. good luck Memphis....
GO GREEN!
4 months ago
What a tool. LMAO Did CDR beat you up and take your lunch money?
4 months ago
If you (the readers) haven't yet noticed, this site does nothing but troll about the Memphis Tigers to get page hits...
4 months ago
Listen, as a Michigan State Fan, I'm getting a little nervous about the outpouring of national bandwagoning favoring Sparty over the Tigers. I've read articles calling Memphis "a fraud," "fatally flawed," and "undisciplined street-ballers." I imagine Calipari has each of them stapled on the locker room bulletin board. Yes, I love Izzo in March, and yes State has all the pieces needed for a deep run, but the fact remains that they've been horribly prone to laying an egg this season. I also think State is getting inflated attention because they beat pundit darling Pitt, a team whose run through the Big East tourney catapulted them into the spot light, after a solid, but non-spectacular season. No one seems to want to admit that maybe Pitt just wasn't that good. Personally, I think this is going to be a great game featuring two different basketball ideologies. Physical position defense (MSU) vs. disruptive pressing defense (MU). Set offense (MSU) vs. Slashing improv offense (MU). Who will win? I don't know...and neither do you. That's why they call it March Madness. GO STATE!!!
4 months ago
"outpouring of national bandwagoning favoring" Wow, that's quite a mouthful and I promise never to use "bandwagoning" in a sentence ever again. lol
4 months ago
yea it seems that everyone is ripping memphis on this page.. just about every analyst is putting them down the same way they did last year.. and i am goin to have to go with the guy who said state was goin to lose b/c of dickie v..just about every team he has picked to win is already out..matter of fact he picked pitt. to beat state and picked drake to be a cinderella in the tourny..they doubted the tigers last year to make it deep and are doubting them this year.. so they will until they lose or win it all so keep doubting and we will keep winning..tigers #1 seed and only one loss team this year (by 4) i guess we dont know how to win do we??
4 months ago
yea it seems that everyone is ripping memphis on this page.. just about every analyst is putting them down the same way they did last year.. and i am goin to have to go with the guy who said state was goin to lose b/c of dickie v..just about every team he has picked to win is already out..matter of fact he picked pitt. to beat state and picked drake to be a cinderella in the tourny..they doubted the tigers last year to make it deep and are doubting them this year.. so they will until they lose or win it all so keep doubting and we will keep winning..tigers #1 seed and only one loss team this year (by 4) i guess we dont know how to win do we??
4 months ago
No... no.. i go to University of Memphis... they are a bunch of gang-banging street-ballers. They're undisciplined and CONSTANTLY in jail for something. One of them got away with battary right before this tournament started.
Unfortunately they are a bunch of C-, 2.0 grade point averaging fools... but hey.. at least they're good at something!
4 months ago
WOW "Anonymous" what a douche. Those are ALL LIES
4 months ago
"I can honestly say, their run in the tournament will come to an end in this regional semifinal game"
You still sticking with that statement. It was 50-20 at the half. Good call.
4 months ago
Great article douchebag. Keep up the good work. Memphis made MSU look like a D-II team tonight and dominated them in every facet of the game. Good luck to Texas, because they will need luck to beat this Memphis team. Memphis has the talent at every position and the bench over Texas. It should be another double digit win for the Tigers.
4 months ago
What ever you say bud...... your the kind of guy that proabbly had georgetown winning it all. Nice job
4 months ago
Hahahahahahaha
Yeah, that Big 10 is a beast...yeah, Memphis is only 102-9 over the last three seasons because they play in C-USA and only beat crappy teams. Tulsa, Houston, UAB or UTEP would school that slop from the Big 10. Next.
4 months ago
Jordan, maybe you should be writing for your local junior high team until you learn something about the game. Memphis simply DOMINATED. The only reason MS pulled within 18 was the Tigers got bored.
4 months ago
Nice prediction. Lucky Memphis relaxed in the second half so you didn't lose by 60. Memphis' second team would have easily beaten Michigan State yesterday
4 months ago
Eat crow you dumb mother fucker. Thats the best comeback you have to somebody who calls you out for being a total moron. Memphis pushed Michigan State's shit in---and you're left looking like a moron. You dumb fuck !
4 months ago
Tigers blew em' out! Texas too! Go Tigers Go.
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