NCAA Tournament: Memphis Survives Thanks to Dumb Coaching

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!