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Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Oct 16, 2007
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Before I begin, let me say that these comments are somewhat bias since I need Memphis to loose to Michigan St. in my bracket to help me make up some ground, so please don't crucify me for my comments here. That being said, I can see that there are far more Memphis fans out there than I had originally realized by the manner in which and by which many of you are reacting to the comments by one Mr. Freeman. While I do not know him or agree with all of his points, one thing remains true, Memphis stinks from the foul line! Sorry, but that is a fact and that is why they will not win the tournament. Their athleticism is unmatched. They have players that can and probably will jump right out of the gym. They have at least 3 to 5 players that will be playing at the next level. But they can't make FT! When I was watching the game yesterday I told the guys that I was watching with that if Mississippi St. fouled any Memphis player that went up for a shot from 10 feet in they would win the game. Face it, when a team shoots below 50% from the line and much higher from the field from 10 ft in, put them at the line. Mississippi St. should have began to foul Memphis from 5 minutes left till the end of the game and they would have been victorious! Not a pretty way to win but you win! They were outmatched talent wise but that was where they could have made up the difference. I hope that Michigan St. learns from the near miss of Mississippi St. and takes care of this team of Shaqs...
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Reputation:80
Level:All-Star
Since:Dec 21, 2006
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While I agree with most of your article I disagree with the comment on their athleticism being unmatched. Their is a team down in North Carolina that runs by far and away the most efficient offense of any team in the NCAA tournament. UNC is the fastest team in the NCAA and Memphis really dosen't understand the meaning of running an actual offense. While UNC can fast break better then anybody in the NCAAs they also have the skill players that can slow it down and run a normal offense aswell. Ty Lawson (Who by the way is in my mind the best point guard in the nation as far as the actual position is concered) has 11 assists and 0 turnovers so far in the tournament. That is the eppitamy of a point guard. He also drives the lane better then anybody in college basketball. This is where UNC gets so many easy looks. If his shot isn't there Someone else has an uncotested shot elsewhere on the court. He does what a point guard is suppose to do, create opprotunities. And right now I really don't see anyone else playing better basketball then they are.
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Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Oct 16, 2007
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dolfan200411,
I'm sorry, I should have clarified my athleticism statement. I meant on their side of the bracket. I too think that UNC is the best team in the field and that it is their tournament to loose. I do think that their are other teams with a much easier draw to get to the big game though (look at UCLA and now Kansas) and I hope that the added pressure and competitiveness of UNC's games do not inhibit or prevent them from winning it all...
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Level:Amateur
Since:Mar 24, 2008
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Indeed we love our Tigers! However and in all honesty - FTs are a huge concern for this team. Those who love and have watched the Tigers play every game this year know that FTs have hurt us. Even when they were blowing teams out - and on average - the scores in most regular season games this year could have 7 to 13 points higher per game due to poor FT shooting.
I heard that Tom Izzo said in a local broadcast in Mich. last night, and talking about the matchup with Memphis - "..we got 25 fouls to give and we plan on using everyone of them." Yikes - Tigers better practice some free throws between now and Thursday.
However - to all Tiger detractors out there -- there is one fact about the Tigers that most do not know. Unlike any college BB team I have ever seen - this team especially - this team throughout the year has always risen to the level of competition and rarely any higher. Even in the TN loss - they played just good enough to win - and were suprised by the last TN bucket. Sure - the Tigers could lose somewhere along the way -- but remember this, by always at least rising to level of competion of their opposition in every game -- they never have a had a "bad game". Sure they could have played a lot better, given their talent in every game they played this year. But that one fact: rising to the level of the competion may carry them all the way.
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Reputation:38
Level:Rookie
Since:Mar 24, 2008
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North Carolina has a EASY walk to the Final Four. They should even have to play their starters to get there. Even Duke could have gotten through their bracket.
UCLA got lucky and pulled one right out of their shorts. Yet, we call this "impressive defense". Had A&M not paniced and hit just 1 shot late in the game, UCLA would be home crying. Honestly, UCLA impresses me less than Stanford. In March, Stanford could take em.
Kansas is impressive, great team, great balance. They should win their region no problem.
Memphis. Unfortunately, all of the competition in CUSA bailed a couple of years ago (Louisville, Cincinnati, Marquette, etc) Good move for them, bad that Memphis stays there, because if they were to go through the tournament and absolutely humiliate every opponent to win the national championshio, the national media would call it "luck". When you get right down to it, all of the power conferences were a tad overrated this year anyway, as evidenced by how many "Cinderella's" got the chance to keep dancing, so was Conference USA that far off the mark? Probably not. (Note to self: check and see how many SEC teams are left in tourney.)
John Calipari has resurrected a program that was dead. Previous coaches believed in only recruiting locally (Kirk, Finch, Price). They also believed in "padding" their schedules to make the end of season record look more impressive than it was. They also didn't graduate students. It was a second rate program in all respects. John Calipari has brought this program to life, he is graduating players, he chooses to play a tough out of conference schedule and he coaches a team that plays at national championship level year after year. But, to the national media, the players are "streetballers", "not a team", "no discipline", etc. Absolutely no respect at all and it is so easy and predictable when everyone just piles on.
Hate on and enjoy it. Have your fun ... make your jokes and be the armchair quarterback champions that you all are. Memphis probably won't be able to finish it all this year because of the obvious free throw shooting woes, but I guaran-damn-tee you ... they'll be back strong and in your face next season.
Oh and along the way ... a couple of them will even graduate.
GO TIGERS!!!
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Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Oct 16, 2007
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mark0621,
Did you forget that Tennessee is in UNC's bracket? Didn't they beat Memphis? Huh... UCLA held their first round opponent to 29 points, YES 29!!! Granted they were a 16 seed but that is historical puts them in the record books. They have to be doing something right on the defensive side of the ball, don't they?!? Then you go on to say that Kansas is going to, "win their region no problem". You don't exactly have to be Nostradamus to predict that one. There's nobody left in their bracket!!! If anyone has an easy road to the Final Four it's them...
Calipari has done something that is no less than phenomenal with Memphis, without question. He has tremendously gifted and talented athletes to put out there on the court every night. But the achievements of their coach have nothing to do with the performance of the players on the court from the foul line. When they are there, for whatever reason, they seem to over think things, tense up, or whatever...I would never expect a group of guys that play every play without fear or hesitation to, when they are singled out and put in the spotlight, to have such a mental stigma. Not that anyone asked, but it seems that the problem is from the shoulders up to me...
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Reputation:93
Level:All-Star
Since:Mar 23, 2007
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You know, it's fine if you don't like <st1:city w:st="on"> <st1:place w:st="on"> Memphis</st1:place> </st1:city> , if you don't think we can win it all, if you don't like our offense, if you don't like our coach. I am a die hard <st1:place w:st="on"> <st1:city w:st="on"> Memphis</st1:city> </st1:place> fan and have been all my life, and I am not convinced we can win it all. Don't get me wrong... I think we have the talent and the coach. What I don't see is the consistent ability to put it all together and play great basketball at an elite level no matter who we play for 40 minutes. I see that in a few other teams this year, and I don't see it in us... at least not consistently... not yet. And we definitely have our work cut out for us when we, in all likelihood, will play a Tom Izzo team, Texas in Texas, UCLA (who we have never beaten), and quite possibly the best basketball team I have seen in years... <st1:state w:st="on"> <st1:place w:st="on"> North Carolina</st1:place> </st1:state> . Name me another #1 who has that hard road!!<o:p> </o:p>
Having said all that, for this so called journalist to say we don't play as a team, that we don't have a good coach, that we don't run a legitimate offense is, well, bombastically ignorant. Mike Freeman writes like a Freshman for his College paper hating on their rival team, not a professional. We are in the Sweet 16 for the third straight year with our non-offense. Our team has won 35 games (so far)… over 100 in just 3 years! We are only one of two teams EVER to have 3 consecutive 30+ win seasons, along with <st1:place w:st="on"> <st1:state w:st="on"> Kentucky</st1:state> </st1:place> ’s famous Coach Rupp. Our coach is one of four finalists for Coach of the Year! Our offense has a name and is recognized as “legitimate”. Calipari refined it and is now credited with helping to create an offense that is rapidly growing in High School, College, and the NBA. It is not just exciting to watch but it is effective. We are helping to revolutionize the game of basketball. The downside seems to be that this offense is so difficult to learn and implement correctly that you don't leave yourself a lot of time to practice free throws. Oh well... we all have a weakness. And yes, our conference is not strong. Is that our fault?? Our conference would be one of the top 3 or 4 if <st1:city w:st="on"> Cincinnati</st1:city> , <st1:city w:st="on"> Louisville</st1:city> , <st1:city w:st="on"> Marquette</st1:city> , DePaul, and others had not left <st1:city w:st="on"> Memphis</st1:city> , UAB, and <st1:city w:st="on"> <st1:place w:st="on"> Houston</st1:place> </st1:city> for the Big East. Playing in a weaker conference has hurt us as well. I will admit that. Oh well... we have another weakness. Yes, we are not perfect, yes free throws do matter, yes we do need to pull it together this week or we may miss the Final Four again. But I have one thing to say to Mr. Freeman… Let he whose team has no sin, let his ignorant, non-journalistic self cast the first stone. See you in San Antonio!
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