Memphis

Poll: Who Locked Up the Best 2010 Recruiting Class?

Shawn Siegel — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:16:34 -0500

Conference USA Preview: 2009-10

CHN — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:06:11 -0500

With Memphis in flux following the departure of John Calipari, this might be the year someone like Tulsa, Houston, or UTEP breaks through. The other contenders better act quickly as Memphis has locked up a monster recruiting class next year..

Conference Rank: 10th

10 year average: 8th

Conference USA Page

All-CUSA Team
Pos.	Player	Team	Yr.

G	Aubrey Coleman	Houston	Sr
G	Ben Uzoh	Tulsa	Sr
G	Randy Culpepper	UTEP	Jr
G	Willie Kemp	Memphis	Sr
F	Jerome Jordan	Tulsa	Sr

Player of the Year - Jerome Jordan Freshman of the Year - Keith Clanton (UCF)
CHN Award Winners		Returning Leaders
CHN All-Americans Jerome Jordan High-Major All-Americans Jerome Jordan (1st Team) Aubrey Coleman (2nd) Willie Kemp Roburt Sallie Ben Uzoh		Points: Aubrey Coleman 19.4 Rebounds: Jerome Jordan 8.6 Assists: Brock Young 7.6 Team: Houston 75.8

Conference USA Standings
Nat'l	Team	League	Tourney

33	Memphis	CUSA	1	NCAA
38	Tulsa	CUSA	2	NCAA
80	UTEP	CUSA	3	NIT
100	Houston	CUSA	4	CBI/CIT
118	Marshall	CUSA	5	CBI/CIT
153	UAB	CUSA	6
163	UCF	CUSA	7
193	SMU	CUSA	8
208	Tulane	CUSA	9
211	East Carolina	CUSA	10
230	Rice	CUSA	11
272	Southern Miss	CUSA	12

*Click on links for full Top 144 team preview

** returning conference champion

Poll: Who Do You Think Will Win the CUSA?

College Basketball Preview - 348 Team Ranking - Alphabetical Ranks/Previews

East Carolina vs. Memphis Football Preview

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:59:26 -0400

No football on Wednesday night (Game 1 of the World Series) but there is a game on Tuesday, with East Carolina (4-3, 3-1) hitting the road to take on Memphis (2-5, 1-3) at 8 PM on ESPN2. The Pirates, who are looking to defend their Conference USA title, got off to a slow start this season with losses to West Virginia and North Carolina but they've won three of their last four games. In Memphis they'll take on an offense that can move the ball, ranking sixth in the conference in total offense (362 yards per game), but they average just twenty-one points per contest.

Tommy West's Tigers are talented on that side of the ball with players such as RB Curtis Steele and WR Duke Calhoun leading the way, but the quarterback position has been the holdup. Tyler Bass is out for the season with a shoulder injury, putting the job back into the hands of Will Hudgens with Arkelon Hall backing him up. Hopefully the sight of ECU, who knocked both of them out of last year's 30-10 Pirate victory, won't result in negative flashbacks.

As for the Pirates they've had problems moving the ball consistently, especially in the passing game. ECU ranks ninth in the conference in both pass offense (198 yards per game) and passing efficiency (112.7 rating). But they've been able to remain in contention for the conference crown due to a defense that can force turnovers. Led by safety Van Eskridge and linebacker Nick Johnson the Pirates have forced seventeen turnovers (10 interceptions) in 2009, resulting in a turnover margin of +4 (3rd in Conference USA).

Memphis ranks among the worst teams in the conference in turnover margin and with the Pirates having the better defensive unit of the two the game will likely come down to how well Will Hudgens performs for the Tigers. Look for the Pirates to win a game that plays out a bit closer than many will expect it to.

Poll: Who Will Win Conference USA?

Shawn Siegel — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:28:34 -0400

Memphis Basketball Preview: #33

Joel Welser — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:57:10 -0400

Overall Rank: #33

Conference Rank: #1 Conference USA

2008-09: 33-4, 16-0

2008-09 postseason: NCAA

Coach: John Pastner (First year at Memphis, 0-0 overall)

Some of the names may not sound familiar, but do not expect Memphis to drop off the face of the Earth even though they lost their coach and their top four scorers from a year ago. Certainly things will be much, much more interesting in Conference USA than they have been recently, but the Tigers are still a team to contend with.

Key Losses: G Antonio Anderson, F Robert Dozier, G Tyreke Evans, F Shawn Taggart

Key Newcomers:

Four incoming wings that include Drew Barham, Tyler Foster, D.J. Stephens and Malik Thomas will provide depth, but there are a few more experienced players who will make a bigger impact. Junior college transfer guard James Harvey will help replace Antonio Anderson and Tyreke Evans, but it is fellow junior college transfer Will Coleman who will likely be starting from day one. Coleman, a 6-9, 250 pound forward, has the size to battle under the basket, but he is also surprisingly agile and will use both of those skills to finish around the basket and hit the glass. Elliot Williams, a transfer from Duke, will be eligible to play immediately after starting 12 games for the Blue Devils a season ago.

Backcourt:

Williams has some competition on the perimeter for a starting job though and that goes to show the amount of talent that was mostly sitting on the bench in Memphis last year. Doneal Mack is the team’s top returning scorer at 8.7 points per game and could be the team’s go-to-guy if he can start hitting the long ball more consistently. Roburt Sallie is already a consistent shooter and should once again be a great sixth man. Willie Kemp might not be a great scorer like Evans was, but he is a steady ballhandler and an experienced senior who should be ready to take over the leadership role.

Frontcourt:

The frontcourt has more questions. The loss of Robert Dozier and Shawn Taggart leaves a couple huge holes under the basket. Those two combined to average 23.3 points, 15.1 rebounds and 3.0 blocks during the 2008-2009 campaign. Nobody is going to put up numbers like that this year. Wesley Witherspoon is an intriguing option though. He is really a big 6-9 wing who does his best work running up and down the floor, but if new Coach John Pastner lets him run free, Witherspoon could be in for a big year. Pierre Henderson-Niles started ten games last year, but he has lacked the conditioning to play more than 15 minutes per game. If he can stay in shape, he can be a solid contributor to the frontcourt.

Who to Watch:

The most important players on this team will end up being the newcomers who are not freshmen. Kemp, Sallie and Mack are a formidable trio on the perimeter, but they will need help from Williams and Harvey. Williams was a highly touted recruit heading into Duke and is still a young player with his best days ahead of him. Perhaps it is the play of Coleman that will be the difference between the NCAA and the NIT. Coleman has to give the frontcourt a scoring punch and some toughness or Memphis will get beat under the basket by many teams, and not just non-conference opponents.

Final Projection:

Tulsa and UTEP are going to give the Tigers a run for their money, but the Tigers arguably still have the most talented team in the conference. Whether or not that talent turns into victories will depend on the transition of the coaching regime and how quickly the newcomers can adjust to life in Memphis.

Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA

Projected Starting Five:

Willie Kemp, Senior, Guard, 2.9 points per game

Elliot Williams, Sophomore, Guard, DNP last season

Doneal Mack, Senior, Guard, 8.7 points per game

Wesley Witherspoon, Sophomore, Forward, 4.0 points per game

Will Coleman, Junior, Forward, DNP last season

Next Top 144 Teams
34		35		36		37

College Basketball Preview - 144 Teams in 144 Days - Alphabetical Ranks/Previews

The Ultimate Schedule: Conference USA East Division

Raphielle Johnson — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 02:43:29 -0400

Conference USA Schedule “Rules”:

- Four non-conference games

- Eight conference games (three against West Division opponents)

- Conference USA Championship Game (December 5^th)

Week 1: Ole Miss @ Memphis (September 6^th)

A game that’s become the traditional opener for both schools, the Tigers would land a serious blow for Conference USA should they upset a team many have in their preseason Top 10 polls. The Rebels won last season’s meeting 41-24, and Memphis hasn’t beaten the Rebels since the 2004 season opener. In order for Memphis to have any chance at beating Ole Miss, Curtis Steele will need to have an outstanding day and Arkelon Hall will need to make a few plays through the air while not turning the ball over. No one’s expecting Memphis to win, but an upset (or at the least a good showing) could move the Tigers into the Conference USA title conversation.

Other Games Considered: Rice @ UAB (9/5), Appalachian State @ East Carolina (9/5)

Week 2: East Carolina @ West Virginia (September 12^th)

ECU thoroughly outclassed the Mountaineers in Greenville last year, so expect West Virginia to be on full alert when the Pirates reach Morgantown. Jarrett Brown takes over for Pat White at quarterback, but he’s got some big game experience to his credit. And Noel Devine also returns for West Virginia, but neither he nor White mattered much in last year’s meeting. Home-field advantage could end up being the determining factor, but to expect the defending C-USA champs to simply fold once they get off the plane would be to disrespect their resume. Should be a fun matchup.

Other Games Considered: UCF @ Southern Miss (9/12), SMU @ UAB (9/12), Marshall @ Virginia Tech (9/12),

Week 3: East Carolina @ North Carolina (September 19^th)

The Pirates take center stage once again; such is life when you take on all comers in the non-conference schedule. ECU won the most recent meeting (2007) but has lost eight of the eleven all-time meetings. Butch Davis has the Tar Heel program looking ready to turn the corner and consistently contend for ACC titles, but ECU provides a serious roadblock before they reach conference play. Both teams will be coming off of tough road games the previous weekend (UNC visits Connecticut), so whether or not there will be any kind of “hangover” will be an interesting question to answer.

Other Games Considered: Virginia @ Southern Miss (9/19), Buffalo @ UCF (9/19), UAB @ Troy (9/19)

Week 4: UCF @ East Carolina (September 26^th)

Southern Miss’ trip to Lawrence is more intriguing from a national perspective, but sometimes it’s just as interesting to check out a program in need of a big win travelling to face the division favorite. Not sure if George O’Leary is on the hot seat or not (I’d say no, although the Erick Plancher situation definitely doesn’t help matters), but how big would a win in Greenville be for the Knights? UCF has lost the last three meetings, two of which were by double digits; even in the season that the Knights won C-USA (2007) they allowed the Pirates to score fifty-two points. Last year’s game featured five combined turnovers and a combined 10-34 on third downs. While both defenses will once again be solid, don’t expect either offense to be as bad as they were in last year’s meeting.

Other Games Considered: Southern Miss @ Kansas (9/26), Marshall @ Memphis (9/26)

Week 5: Memphis @ UCF (October 3^rd)

Two teams hoping to crack the top two of ECU and Southern Miss get together in Orlando in what is a big game for the visiting Tigers. Since Conference USA expanded the Tigers have not beaten the Knights, alternating between blowouts and close finishes in the four meetings. If you follow the trend Memphis is “supposed” to get blown out, but not so fast. The quarterback position didn’t play very well or the Knights in 2008, and who’s to say that things will automatically shoot up in that area? The Tigers have some solid offensive weapons; it’s now about whether or not they can get over the hump that is UCF.

Other Games Considered: Southern Miss @ UAB (10/1), East Carolina @ Marshall (10/3)

Week 6: UTEP @ Memphis (October 10^th)

These two haven’t played since the 2006 season, and both teams are hoping that they can make a little noise in 2009. Both teams have solid playmakers on offense, and the meeting in the Liberty Bowl could very well come down to who has the ball last. Memphis, however, was the far superior defensive team last season and if much doesn’t change Mike Price’s team will have a tough time improving upon their fourth-place (in the West Division) finish in 2008. Also working in the favor of these two teams is an underwhelming slate around the league, meaning that many eyes will be paying attention to this one.

Other Game Considered: Southern Miss @ Louisville (10/10)

Week 7: Memphis @ Southern Miss (October 17^th)

If Memphis wants to entertain any thoughts of finishing higher than their third place finish in 2008, they’ll need to beat the Golden Eagles in Hattiesburg for the third straight time. The Tigers, in fact, have won four of the previous five meetings, but none of those wins were by more than six points. In last season’s meeting the Tigers were phenomenal on the ground, rushing for 285 yards and possessing the football for more than thirty-five minutes in the 36-30 win. If Curtis Steele can rush for another 178 yards Southern Miss could fall again. However, Larry Fedora’s team is a far better offensively at this point than they were at the time of the last meeting so expect a wild, high-scoring affair.

Other Games Considered: Rice @ East Carolina (10/17), Marshall @ West Virginia (10/17), Miami (FL) @ UCF (10/17)

Week 8: Bye Week (October 24^th)

As lean as the schedule seemed in Week 6, at least there was the option of UTEP/Memphis. No such decisions this week, so it’s a good time to recharge the batteries for the stretch run.

Week 9: Southern Miss @ Houston (October 31^st)

While Southern Miss has some excellent offensive weapons they’d be hard-pressed to get into an all-out shootout with the Houston Cougars. These are two of four teams to score seventy points or more in a game last season, but for the year the Cougars were a far more potent unit, ranking second in the conference in total offense. The Golden Eagles ranked fourth, but their yardage average (433.5 yards per game) was more than one hundred yards less than the Cougars (562.8 ypg). Quarterbacks Case Keenum and Austin Davis will throw the ball to capable receivers, and backs Bryce Beall and Damion Fletcher are more than capable of stealing the headlines. Preview of the Conference USA title game? Possibly.

Other Games Considered: East Carolina @ Memphis (10/27), Marshall @ UCF (11/1)

Week 10: Virginia Tech @ East Carolina (November 5^th)

ECU overkill in regards to the non-conference games selected? Maybe, but look at who the Pirates are taking on this year and you know they won’t be accused of ducking anyone. Just like the West Virginia game this is a rematch of a game the Pirates won last season. ECU knocked off the Hokies, eventual ACC champions, in Charlotte thanks in large part to special teams. For all the talk about “Beamer Ball” it was an ECU blocked punt that was returned by T.J. Lee for the game-winning score.

The Hokies were outgained by more than one hundred yards, but to be fair this had as much to do with the bad decision (at the time, and it was corrected) to redshirt Tyrod Taylor. With Taylor on the field things could be different; at the very least he offers Virginia Tech another dimension they didn’t have in last year’s meeting.

Other Games Considered: Memphis @ Tennessee (11/7), UCF @ Texas (11/7), and Florida Atlantic @ UAB (11/7)

Week 11: East Carolina @ Tulsa (November 15^th)

Just like the Southern Miss/Houston matchup on Halloween, these two could very well see each other the first Saturday in December as well. The Pirates beat Tulsa in last season’s conference title game 27-24, picking off David Johnson five times and forcing seven turnovers overall in the win at H.A. Chapman Stadium. With a new quarterback running things for Todd Graham and offensive coordinator Herb Hand, the Pirates will look to ratchet up the pressure in order to force some mistakes. Key number from the previous meeting: 199. As in the number of passing yards for Tulsa, who was third in C-USA in passing offense (301.9 ypg) last year. If the Golden Hurricane aren’t balanced on offense they can be slowed down.

Other Games Considered: Southern Miss @ Marshall (11/14), UAB @ Memphis (11/14)

Week 12: UAB @ East Carolina (November 21^st)

Yes, ECU again. But with the quota of three interdivisional games already reached, Southern Miss hosting Tulsa has to be watched from a distance. Two of the last three meetings in this series have gone down to the wire despite the rebuilding nature of the UAB program, including a Blazers win in 2006. The trend of the series has been a simple one: low-scoring games mean that UAB’s got a shot while the higher the scores go, so go the chances of a Blazer victory. Eleven starters return on offense for Neil Calloway’s team, so there may be enough weapons needed to steal a win in Greenville. However, it would be in the best interest of the Blazers to have their defense keep the Pirates under wraps.

Other Games Considered: Tulsa @ Southern Miss (11/21), Memphis @ Houston (11/21)

Week 13: Southern Miss @ East Carolina (November 28^th)

The scheduling gods got this one right, matching the two favorites for the East Division crown on the final day of the regular season. However the Golden Eagles have won seven of the last eight meetings in the series, and they haven’t lost at ECU since 1994. If the division crown comes down to this meeting then the Golden Eagles have the historical advantage, and if Southern Miss stops the run again this year they’ll be well on their way to eight out of nine. The Pirates rushed for just sixty-six yards in last season’s 21-3 loss, and the game was sewn away thanks to two touchdowns within the first four minutes of the fourth quarter. A loss to Southern Miss didn’t cost ECU a trip to the title game in 2008; a loss this year due to the date on the calendar could keep them home this year.

Other Games Considered: Memphis @ Tulsa (11/27), UCF @ UAB (11/28)

Week 14: Conference USA Championship Game (December 5^th)

The pick here is that Houston knocks off East Carolina thanks in large part to the arm of Case Keenum, clinching a trip to the AutoZone Liberty Bowl in the process.

Conference USA Football Preview

Raphielle Johnson — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:53:10 -0400

Offense sells tickets…does it win titles?

By Raphielle Johnson

A familiar theme within Conference USA was the explosive offensive capabilities of many teams. But for all the fireworks that came from the likes of Houston and Tulsa it was the league’s best defensive team that won the title. East Carolina survived a mid-season letdown that followed huge non-conference wins over Virginia Tech and West Virginia, clinching a title game berth opposite the Golden Hurricane. ECU’s 27-24 win, which included five Pirate interceptions, meant the first conference title of any kind for the program since 1976.

Skip Holtz’s team could very well find itself back in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl with seventeen starters back in Greenville. QB Patrick Pinkney threw for more than 2,600 yards last season, and RB Dominique Lindsay returns after missing all of 2008 due to injury. But the Pirates’ calling card is a tough defense led by safety Van Eskridge and middle linebacker Nick Johnson. The key for the Pirates will be navigating a treacherous non-conference schedule (West Virginia, North Carolina and Virginia Tech). Outside of a mid-November trip to Tulsa the Pirates’ toughest conference games will be at home.

As for who can challenge ECU within the East Division, look no further than Larry Fedora’s Southern Miss Golden Eagles. Southern Miss got off to a slow start in 2008, losing six of their first eight contests. But the Golden Eagles finished with a flourish, winning their last five games with no single-digit margins until the 30-27 overtime win in the New Orleans Bowl (versus Troy).

RB Damion Fletcher is back for one more run through the conference, and there’s a very good chance that he could once again lead the league in rushing. But the health of WR DeAndre Brown, who suffered a broken leg in the bowl game, will be important. When 100%, Brown gives the Southern Miss a vertical threat that cannot be ignored by opponents.

As for another challenger, Tommy West’s Memphis Tigers may be the team best equipped to push its way into the top two. WR Duke Calhoun has caught at least one pass in each of the thirty-seven games he’s played in, and Carlos Singleton led the Tigers in receiving last season. But the development of RB Curtis Steele helped the Tigers immensely on offense.

The junior college import ran for more that 1,200 yards in 2008, taking some of the pressure off of QB Arkelon Hall. However, Memphis will need to find answers in regards to line play, both offensively and defensively, if they want to compete with East Carolina and Southern Miss. Those lines will receive a significant test in the season opener, when the Tigers host Ole Miss in front of a national television audience (ESPN).

As for the rest of the East, both Mark Snyder (Marshall) and George O’Leary (UCF) have very important seasons ahead of them in regards to the state of their programs. Snyder simply hasn’t won enough to appease a fan base used to bowl games and national titles (at the now FCS level). O’Leary’s case is a little less cut and dry, with the program coming under fire from some circles following the death of Erick Plancher a couple of seasons ago. Combine this with the fact that the reigning conference champions going into 2008 finished 4-8 (3-5 C-USA). Ten starters are back on offense for UCF, which will hope that its quarterbacks can complete a higher percentage of their passes in 2009 (42.9%).

The Thundering Herd return eight starters each on offense and defense, including all four defensive linemen and offensive threats Cody Slate and Darius Marshall. How Marshall makes up for the loss of WR Darius Passmore remains to be seen, but they will need someone to step up on the outside. Coach Snyder brought in Rick Minter, who has experience at Cincinnati and Notre Dame, to run a defense that finished 2008 eighth in Conference USA in total defense.

Neil Calloway’s UAB Blazers are also looking to make a move within the East Division, and with eighteen starters back (including all eleven on offense) they could do just that. QB Joe Webb shouldered much of the load last season, eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark on the ground while throwing for more than 2,600 yards. The burden of being essentially the lone offensive playmaker may have shown itself in his sixteen interceptions to ten touchdown passes. If Rashaud Slaughter and Justin Brooks can step up in the backfield and receivers such as Frantrell Forrest and Mark Ferrell can help in the air UAB could separate from the other teams that finished 3-5 in 2008.

As for the West, offense reigned supreme in 2008 and it’s expected to be the same in 2009. Tulsa, Houston and Rice were the conference’s most explosive offensive teams, and more of the same is to be expected. Houston QB Case Keenum led Conference USA in total offense, averaging more than 400 yards per game. The next two in that category, Chase Clement (Rice) and David Johnson (Tulsa), have both moved on and that fact gives the Cougars the edge in the division race. Running back Bryce Beall also returns for the Cougars, along with three returning starters each at receiver and on the offensive line.

There is a negative for Houston; six starters need to be replaced on a defense that was seventh in Conference USA in both total and scoring defense. If head coach Kevin Sumlin and company can find some answers on that side of the football Houston has a change to pass Tulsa as division champ.

Todd Graham’s Golden Hurricane return six starters on offense (but lose Johnson and RB Tarion Adams), but the biggest loss could be that of offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn. A trio of receivers with the same last name (Damaris, Trae and Ricky Johnson) will lead a receiving corps that could once again light up scoreboards throughout the conference.

Defensively Tulsa should be in decent shape with MLB Mike Bryan (how was he only an Honorable Mention All-Conference selection?) being one of eight returning starters on the unit. Tulsa actually finished fifth in the conference in total defense, but they struggled against the pass (ninth in pass efficiency defense). The three-game stretch that will go a long way in determining the fate of the Golden Hurricane is in November, with Houston, East Carolina and Southern Miss all in a row. Outside of those three games the conference schedule is manageable for the Golden Hurricane, so some good fortune there could give them another shot at the conference title.

As for David Bailiff’s Owls, they’ll be going through the unenviable task of replacing one of the most productive combinations in college history. QB Chase Clement and WR Jarrett Dillard have moved on, leaving large holes to fill in their wake. Do-it-all offensive (and sometimes defensive) standout James Casey is also gone, as is RB C.J. Ugokwe, and with just four starters back on offense the defense may have to do some heavy lifting in the early going. Early-season games against Texas Tech and Oklahoma State will test a unit that returns eight starters, including leading tackler FS Andrew Sendejo and KAT Travis Bradshaw.

The team that may need to improve for the sake of its head coach is UTEP, which has struggled of late under Mike Price since he hit the ground running upon his arrival is 2004. After two consecutive bowl appearances to start off his tenure, Coach Price has a record of 14-22 over the last three seasons. QB Trevor Vittatoe’s return will go a long way in getting the Miners back into contention for a bowl berth, but truth be told if the defense isn’t up to par (11^th in C-USA in total defense last season) it may not matter what the offense puts on the board. The linebackers will need some polish, and two of the team’s top three tacklers from 2008 are gone, but the seven returning starters should help lead the improvement.

SMU and Tulane round out the division, with the hope in Dallas being that the Mustangs can make significant strides in their second season under June Jones. Coach Jones had to go with a true freshman at quarterback in Bo Levi Mitchell, and to say that there were some growing pains in the 1-11 campaign would be an understatement. But to be honest, the lack of playmakers around Mitchell had just as much to do with his struggles as his youth. A season under Mitchell’s belt should help with his progression as a quarterback, as should the return of seven other offensive starters and eight defensive starters.

As for the Green Wave, head coach Bob Toledo drew a rough two games to start the season: Tulsa and BYU. At least both games will be at the Louisiana Superdome…which will probably ensure that droves of Golden Hurricane and Cougar fans make the trip to cheer on their respective teams. Tulane also wasn’t done any favors in the three-game stretch of Houston, Southern Miss and LSU in October.

RB Andre Anderson was the most productive member of the Tulane offense in 2008, rushing for more than 800 yards. Eight starters return to an offense that ranked ninth in total offense and tenth in rushing offense, while six starters return on defense. There is room for growth, but just how much Tulane progresses could be stunted by a tough schedule.

Storyline: Offense sells tickets but defense wins championships. If anyone’s to challenge defending champion East Carolina they’ll need to play solid defense, not just outscore people.

Players of the Year: QB Case Keenum (Houston) and FS Van Eskridge (East Carolina)

How they’ll finish

East 1. East Carolina West 1. Houston

2. Southern Miss 2. Tulsa

3. Memphis 3. UTEP

4. UCF 4. Rice

5. UAB 5. SMU

6. Marshall 6. Tulane

Next: Conference USA East and West ultimate schedules

John Calipari: Smoke & Fire

Jason Brubaker — Thu, 28 May 2009 11:40:45 -0400

Memphis allegations don't help Calipari's reputation

Here we are, in the middle of the NBA and NHL playoffs, and yet UK basketball is still dominating the national headlines.

Too bad that those headlines aren't exactly brimming with positive news.

On the same day that former coach Billy Gillispie announced he has filed a lawsuit against the school hoping to collect $6 million, the Memphis Commercial Appeal has reported that Memphis is under investigation by the NCAA for major violations, including "knowing fraudulence or misconduct" on the SAT by a former player, as well as providing money to an associate of a player.

To make matters worse, it has been announced that prized UK recruit John Wall has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor for a breaking-and-entering arrest in April. Under the plea agreement, Wall will have to complete 75 hours of community service and stay out of trouble for the next six months.

All of a sudden, UK fans who were full of excitement a week ago now find themselves using that energy to vigorously defend their coach, as well as the integrity of their program. Think the folks just down I-64 who wear Cardinal red will make any mention of this during the annual UK/UL tilt this year?

In a released statement, the UK Athletic Department made it clear that Calipari was not named in the report, although he does plan on attending a hearing held by the NCAA to address the allegations.

"First and foremost, there are no NCAA allegations against UK Head Men's Basketball Coach John Calipari," read the release. "Coach Calipari was forthcoming with the University of Kentucky during the hiring process about any issues under investigation at the University of Memphis at that time. It is normal procedure for the NCAA to ask a former coach to participate in a hearing. Therefore, Coach Calipari will participate as requested."

So while it's still early in the process, it appears Calipari may not be facing any charges, despite the fact that these alleged violation occurred on his watch. However, when you examine this situation and compare it to the situation at the University of Massachusetts when Calipari left, you'll find some eerie similarities.

In both cases, the programs were accused of major violations after Calipari left the school. In both cases, Calipari has not been directly named or tied to the violations. And in both cases, skeptical fans find it hard to believe that these violations could occur supposedly with Calipari having no knowledge of them.

With the news of the allegations breaking on the same day that Wall pleaded guilty, Calipari's reputation appears to be catching up to him. And for an image-conscious program like Kentucky, you have to think the administration is sweating just a bit right now as this process plays out.

Calipari supporters, and UK fans, will be quick to point out that Calipari himself has never had any violations, and that Wall is just a young kid who made a mistake (over-zealous UK fans could probably justify signing Christian Laettner right now if they thought he could deliver victories). But a look at the big picture delivers a disturbing reality, namely that trouble just seems to follow Calipari around.

Now maybe there's nothing to this story. And it's possible that he knew nothing about his player's SAT scores, or payments made to a player's friend. But when there's a pattern of behavior, a pattern of near-violations and recruiting kids with criminal records, you have to wonder... how much longer before something sticks on Calipari? Is it just coincidence that the two programs he coached at have been accused of major violations under him? Or is there something more to it?

It's still much too early in this process to make any determinations, and it can't be overstated that Calipari's name did not appear in the report. So the possibility exists that he was in no way involved with this.

But where there's smoke, there's usually fire. And there's been a lot of smoke around Calipari's programs. As for the fire? We'll just have to wait and see.

Tyreke Evans: NBA Draft Profile

Jeff Fox — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 11:43:48 -0400

Tyreke Evans

College: Memphis

Class: Freshman

Position: PG/SG

Height: 6’6”

Weight: 219lbs

Accolades: All-NCAA West Region Team (09), Honorable Mention All-American - CHN (09), Honorable Mention All-American - AP (09), Freshman of the Year - CHN (09), All-Freshman Team - CHN (09), Freshman of the Year - USBWA (09), High Major Player of the Year - CHN (09), High Major Freshman of the Year - CHN (09), First Team High Major All-Freshman Team - CHN (09), First Team All-C-USA (09), C-USA Tournament MVP (09), C-USA All-Tournament Team (09), C-USA Freshman of the Year (09), C-USA All-Freshman Team (09), First Team All-American - Parade - high school (08), Pennsylvania Player of the Year - high school (08), McDonald’s All-American - high school (08), MVP McDonald’s All-American Game - high school (08), Fourth Team All-American - Parade - high school (07).

Scouting Report: A versatile, high scoring phenom.

Strengths: Big-time scorer. 7’3” wingspan. Athletic. Highly skilled. Versatile - can play in the backcourt or on the wing. Memphis became a better team when he took over at point guard. Can get to the hoop at will - terrific slasher. Good ball-handler. Very good size for the backcourt. Was “the man” for an elite program in college. Uses his quickness and long arms to get lots of steals. Good at getting to the line. Hardworking - good attitude.

Weaknesses: A year older than most other freshman. Inexperienced. Didn’t play in a BCS conference. Poor shooter -needs to improve outside shot to keep defenders honest. Turns over the ball too often. Questionable shot selection. Plays out of control at times. Can he play point guard in the NBA? Off court issue - his cousin shot and killed a man while a passenger in Evans’ vehicle.

Projected 2009 Draft Range: Top ten to mid first round pick.

Consensus: While Evans’ jump shot needs serious work, he is a very good prospect due to his size, wingspan and skill level. While he should be a good NBA player regardless, if he proves he can be an NBA point guard he’ll be even better.

Stats: Tyreke Evans Stats

NBA Draft on CollegeHoops.net

More 2009 NBA Draft Profiles

Current NBA Mock Draft Position

Complete NBA Draft coverage

CHN's Six-Star Ranking System w/ 2008 Equivalents

= Superstar/All-NBA Potential - Michael Beasley

= Potential NBA All-Star - Derrick Rose

= Consistent NBA Starter - Brook Lopez

= 6th Man/Fringe Starter - Russell Westbrook

= Career Reserve - Roy Hibbert

= Fringe NBA Player/12th Man - JR Giddens

0 stars = Life in the Minor Leagues - Drew Neitzel

Former Memphis Recruit Darnell Dodson Signs With UK

Press Release — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 11:20:45 -0400

LEXINGTON, Ky. - The University of Kentucky men's basketball program has signed Miami-Dade Community College standout Darnell Dodson, Coach John Calipari announced on Friday.

Dodson, originally from Greenbelt, Md., attended Miami-Dade Community College last season where he helped guide the Sharks to a Southern Conference Championship and a 26-2 regular season record. The 6-7 small forward averaged 15.7 points and 5.6 rebounds while shooting 76.7 percent from free throw line en route to First Team All-Southern Conference honors.

Dodson joins DeMarcus Cousins (Mobile, Ala.), Kentucky Mr. Basketball Jon Hood (Madisonville) and Daniel Orton (Oklahoma City, Okla.) as members of UK's 2009 signing class.

The late signing period runs from April 15 through May 20.