Memphis Basketball 2008-09: One Step Away, Two Steps Back

Two minute and 12 seconds remained, and Memphis was up nine in the championship game. Memphis wasn't even expected by some to make it past the Sweet 16, but a surge in free throw shooting and a surge by both Chris Douglas-Roberts and Derrick Rose led the Tigers all the way to this moment.

Suddenly, two minutes and 12 seconds later, the game was headed into overtime and Memphis was without their starting center Joey Dorsey. The two Achilles' heels Memphis had going into the tournament (foul trouble and free-throw shooting) did them in en route to losing to Kansas in the national championship game.

Now, three of the players that helped Memphis on that run are in the NBA, and Memphis is left with only two remaining starters and a few players off the bench. Memphis also got a few recruits in order to aid in the rebuilding process, but the task will be brutal, especially with the schedule Memphis has to face.

Memphis will play in the Puerto Rico shootout, where they could meet either USC or Seton Hall in the second round, assuming they beat Chattanooga. Then in December the Tigers travel to our nation's capital to take on a Georgetown team that was very solid last year and should be this year, even without Roy Hibbert.

Two of the toughest games for the Tigers will be on the road when they have breaks in conference play. In late January, the Tigers will make a trip over to Knoxville to avenge last season's only loss against Tennessee, and in mid-February, the Tigers have to travel to Washington to take on a much-improved Gonzaga team from last year.

They also will be facing some new threats from Conference USA, such as Tulsa and UTEP, while UAB should still be another contender.

The Tigers have a tough road in what will be a rebuilding year for them, but don't count them out just because of no Rose, CDR, or Dorsey. The Tigers will have some players that can step up for them.

The player I believe will have the biggest year for the Tigers is Robert Dozier. With CDR gone, Memphis will need him to step up and score points. In their exhibition game he had 21 points, so good signs from him so far. Memphis also returns outstanding defender Antonio Anderson, so their defense should still be solid.

Calipari also got a big name recruit in Tyreke Evans, and Willie Kemp should be the point guard this year for the Tigers. Also the Tigers still have shot-blocker Shawn Taggart and a big body in Pierre Niles. Doneal Mack and Jeff Robinson both give the Tigers even more depth.

Roburt Sallie is supposed to be a good shooter for the Tigers, and freshman Wesley Witherspoon will make another great addition to the roster. Simpkins and Garcia are two high profile forwards recruited that should see some playing time, and if they fit into the system, they will be great players by their junior or senior year.

The Tigers have some losses, and their gains this season won't make up for that initially, but over the course of a few seasons the Tigers will be back to the championship and will probably win it next time as long as Calipari stays.

Important things to remember are that Calipari is still the coach and the Tigers still have players from that team last year who had a great role in getting the Tigers to the championship game (Dozier, Anderson, Kemp, Taggart). Memphis won't go 38-2 this year, and they may very well lose five or six games this season, but I wouldn't bet on any more.

The Tigers will win the C-USA Championship again, and they will be back in the NCAA Tournament. I imagine the Tigers could make it back to the Elite Eight and may pull a surprise and make it back to the Final Four depending on if the team improves.

The Tigers have taken a few steps back, but they look to continue to move forward from here.