Go ahead, count 'em out.
"Memphis is in a weak conference," "they won't make it past the Sweet Sixteen," "the Tigers won't be battle tested for the NCAA Tournament," "they can't shoot free throws."
I've heard them all. But the excuses just won't cut it anymore.
What does the University of Memphis men's basketball team have to do to get some respect? Lose? Because they sure can't seem to do that this year.
Currently, the Memphis Tigers are 24-0 overall, with a 10-0 record in Conference USA, not to mention a No. 1 national ranking in both polls.
This team has quality wins over Oklahoma, Connecticut, Southern California, Cincinnati, Georgetown, Arizona, Gonzaga, and Houston (twice).
The Tigers also easily took down Siena and Austin Peay, both favorites to win their respective conferences. Their non-conference schedule is second to none; maybe even the best in the country.
Memphis' conference schedule, however, leaves a little to be desired.
Conference USA is ranked 10th best nationally and consists of teams such as Rice, Southern Methodist, and East Carolina, which have a combined 19 wins among them.
However, the conference also includes several respectable schools in Houston, UAB, and UTEP.
But the fact is that night in and night out, no matter if Memphis is playing Rice or Houston, the opposing team throws everything they have at the Tigers. Every conference road game that Memphis has played has been sold out, full of screaming fans and alumni who have come to see their team take a shot against the No. 1 team in the country.
Still, the Tigers have yet to lose. As a matter of fact, they haven't just won all ten conference games; they have dominated them. Only two out of the ten victories have come by single digits; the other eight were blowouts.
The Memphis squad is winning their conference games by an average of 21.9 points per outing. Yes, they are ranked a whopping 327th out of 328 teams in free throw shooting, but the Tigers make them when they count most. The same was said of last year's Tigers, but when the NCAA tournament rolled around, they shot over 70 percent from the charity stripe.
With a couple big tests coming up at UAB and against No. 3 ranked Tennessee, the Tigers look to keep their perfect record and prolong their winning streak.
The Memphis vs. Tennessee game, which will take place on February 23rd, was strategically scheduled a couple weeks before Selection Sunday to prepare the Tigers for the NCAA tournament. This game could also potentially decide whether or not Memphis finishes with an undefeated regular season.
So go ahead, count Memphis out. Tell everyone that they don't deserve their No. 1 ranking.
Come April 7th, though, when the Tigers are playing for the national championship, be prepared to eat your words.
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7 months ago
Thanks for the love. We Tiger fans know that this team is special. Everyone else will soon realize it as well! Go Tigers!
7 months ago
Great article!
I am glad at least one writer see's it clear, that we are winners and deserving of everything that has come our way.
Got another tough one tonight with a sold out crowd and a team just itching to knock off the number one team in the nation.
My bets on my Tigers who will come to play.
Go Tigers!
7 months ago
Duke's won nine of ten by double-digits in conference play...
And I would hardly count Cincinnati a quality win.
7 months ago
who said any thing about duke, nobody denied duke of being good ,although the tigers are better. this was an article about memphis
7 months ago
Memphis 79
UAB 78
How 'bout them TIGERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Memphis Fans
7 months ago
ESPN is giving pleanty of respect to the Tigers. It is just Memphis has not overly impressed this season, IMHO.
7 months ago
If the Memphis Tigers got 1/2 the publicity that some other schools have gotten this year, they would be everyone's #1. Since they have been on ESPN only a few times, for basketball fans to watch, many basketball fans really don't know what type of team they are. PUT THEM ON ESPN 10 TIMES IN A SEASON and the fan base would surely become much larger.
Thanks for your wonderful article. GO TIGERS!!!
A 100% U OF M FAN
7 months ago
I DVR CDR every time they play.
7 months ago
You do realize that ESPN does not decide who is on based on who is good but rather who draws the highest ratings. Duke, North Carolina etc... will bring in higher ratings so therefore ESPN sells more advertising space and can charge more for advertising space. They would show Coppin State vs. Delaware State if it brought the ratings.
7 months ago
I don't know if this was in response to my article or not. My viewpoint on Memphis is right now they deserve their #1 ranking, no question about it, and even if they lose a game before the year is over, they still undoubtedly in my mind deserve a #1 seed. I just am afraid that their free throw shooting though could catch up to them in March.
As is the case with any single elimination tournament, the overall best team doesn't always win if that best team's biggest weakness really rares its ugly head on the same night their foe plays their best game.
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