March 9, 2010

Complete Release in PDF Format

2010 GMC Sierra Conference USA Tournament
#10 seed ECU (10-20)/#7 seed Houston (15-15)
vs.
#2 seed Memphis (23-8)
Thursday, Mar. 11 • 12 pm CT
BOK Center •Tulsa, Okla.

Tigers On TV/Radio/Web
Television: CBS College Sports/Comcast digitial channel 222 (Roger Twibell, play-by-play; Sean Farnham, color analyst)
Radio: WREC 600 AM (Dave Woloshin, play-by-play; Matt Dillon, color analyst; Forrest Goodman, studio host)
Web: Game to be streamed live on Memphis athletics web site at gotigersgo.com via All-Access (must register to view game)

TIGERS OPEN C-USA TOURNAMENT PLAY THURSDAY VS. EAST CAROLINA OR HOUSTON
The University of Memphis squad (23-8, 13-3 C-USA) enters the 2010 GMC Sierra Conference USA Tournament as the No. 2 seed and begins play on Thursday, Mar. 11 at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla. The Tigers earned a bye into the tournament quarterfinals and will meet the winner of the first-round contest between No. 7 seed Houston (15-15, 7-9 C-USA) and No. 10 seed East Carolina (10-20, 4-12 C-USA).

The Tigers' C-USA Tournament quarterfinal game, to be aired on CBS College Sports (Comcast digital channel 222), is slated for a 12 p.m. (CT) start.

Memphis wrapped up its 2009-10 regular season winning seven of its last eight. In that stretch, the Tigers posted wins over UCF 76-70 Feb. 10, Tulsa 93-86 Feb. 13, Tulane 77-64 Feb. 17, SMU 76-63 Feb. 20, Southern Miss 76-69 Feb. 27, UAB 70-65 Mar. 3 and Tulsa 75-53 Mar. 6. The lone loss was a 92-75 setback at Houston Feb. 24.

After having their 64-game Conference USA win streak snapped Jan. 20 with a 72-67 loss to UTEP, the Tigers responded with back-to-back league wins over Houston 92-77 Jan. 23 and Marshall 75-72 Jan. 27. Prior to the Jan. 20 UTEP loss, Memphis opened Conference USA play with three-straight league victories over Southern Miss 59-57, East Carolina 77-57 and Rice 80-68.

East Carolina enters the C-USA Tournament having dropped four of its final six regular season games. The Pirates' two wins were road victories at Rice 76-65 Feb. 20 and at UCF 68-66 Mar. 2.

Houston also lost four of its final six games of the regular season. The Cougars' two victories were home wins over Memphis 92-75 Feb. 24 and Rice 78-70 Mar. 3.

SCOUTING THE PIRATES
East Carolina brings a 10-20 overall record into the 2010 GMC Sierra Conference USA Tournament. The Pirates finished C-USA play in 10th place with a 4-12 league mark. East Carolina dropped four of its final six regular season games, and the two wins were road victories at Rice 76-65 Feb. 20 and at UCF 68-66 Mar. 2.

Junior guard Brock Young, a 2010 All-Conference USA third team pick, leads a trio of double-figure scorers for the Pirates with a 15.3 scoring average. Darrius Morrow (12.3 ppg) and Jamar Abrams (11.3 ppg) also average double digits in the scoring column for East Carolina. Morrow is the team's leading rebounder (6.6 rpg), and Young is tops on the squad with 166 assists (5.5 apg; first in C-USA). Abrams is the Pirates' top three-point threat at 35.8 percent from the arc.

East Carolina is shooting 43.3 percent from the field, 32.3 percent from the three-point line and 70.2 percent from the charity stripe. The Pirates are out-rebounding their foes by an average margin of +1.4 boards per game (35.6-34.2). East Carolina is averaging 16.8 turnovers per game, which is tops in the league.

SCOUTING THE COUGARS
Houston brings a 15-15 overall record into the 2010 GMC Sierra Conference USA Tournament. The Cougars finished C-USA play in a tie for seventh place with a 7-9 league mark, and won the tiebreaker with SMU. Houston lost four of its final six games of the regular season. The Cougars' two victories were home wins over Memphis 92-75 Feb. 24 and Rice 78-70 Mar. 3.

Senior guard Aubrey Coleman, Conference USA's leading scorer, paces the Houston offense with a 26.0 scoring average. Kelvin Lewis is the Cougars' only other double-figure scorer at 15.1 ppg. Coleman is also Houston's top rebounder at 7.5 rpg, followed by Maurice McNeil's 7.4 rebounds per game. Desmond Wade is the squad's assists leader with 147 dimes (4.9 apg). Lewis (39.7 percent), Sean Coleman (38.8 percent) and Adam Brown (37.5 percent) all shoot over 35 percent from the three-point line.

The Cougars are shooting 41.9 percent from the field, 35.3 percent from the arc and 71.1 percent from the free throw line. Opponents are out-rebounding Houston by an average margin of +8.7 boards per contest (33.9-42.6). The Cougars lead C-USA in turnovers forced per game (17.5) and turnover margin (+8.1).

Memphis vs. East Carolina Notes

DID YOU KNOW?
The Tigers and Pirates played the first-ever league game in the newly-aligned Conference USA in 2005-06. Memphis posted a hard-fought 77-67 victory over East Carolina on Jan. 11, 2006.

All 12 C-USA schools played on Jan. 11, but the Memphis-East Carolina was the first game to tip off that night. The contest was also first C-USA game televised by CSTV (now CBS College Sports).

AN ARC ADVANTAGE FOR TIGERS?
In the postseason, all teams are looking for advantages that help them win, and Memphis may have one at the three-point line if the Tigers face the Pirates in Thursday's Conference USA Tournament quarterfinal game.

Memphis enters the tournament as C-USA's top three-point shooting squad at 38.5 percent, while East Carolina is last in the league in three-point field goal percentage defense at 36.7 percent. In Conference USA play only (16 games), the Tigers lead the league at 42.1 percent from the arc. East Carolina is 10th in C-USA in three-point field goal percentage defense at 36.3 percent (league games only).

TURN `EM OVER
In addition to taking advantage at the three-point line, the Tigers hope to turn up the defensive pressure and force many East Carolina miscues. The Pirates lead Conference USA in turnovers at 16.8 miscues per game and are last in the league in turnover margin at -4.9.

On the other side, Memphis is second in C-USA in turnovers forced (15.7) and turnover margin (+4.3).

Memphis vs. Houston Notes

HOME AREA BOY VERSUS HOMETOWN SCHOOL
For the fifth time in the 2009-10 season, Memphis head coach Josh Pastner is facing a school from his hometown area when the Tigers play Houston in the 2010 GMC Sierra Conference Tournament quarterfinal round on Thursday.

Pastner is a Kingwood, Texas, native, and Kingwood is a suburb of Houston. In fact, Pastner grew up approximately 20 miles from the University of Houston campus.

Pastner, who attended Kingwood High School, coached the Houston Hoops summer ball team during his high school and collegiate (Arizona) days.

Already in 2009-10, Pastner has a 3-1 record versus Houston area universities. The Tigers defeated Houston Baptist 93-52 Jan. 3, Rice 80-68 Jan. 16 and Houston 92-77 Jan. 23. The setback was a 92-75 loss at Houston Feb. 24.

PASTNER VS. PENDERS
Although Thursday's C-USA Tournament game is the only the third time they are matching wits as head coaches, Josh Pastner and Tom Penders have been on opposing sidelines before the 2009-10 season. As an assistant at Arizona, Pastner and the Wildcats faced Penders' Houston squads three times from 2005-06 through 2007-08. Arizona won two (2005-06, 2007-08) of those three meetings.

During his playing days for the Wildcats in the late 1990s, Pastner and his teammates battled Penders' Texas squads in back-to-back seasons in 1996-97 and 1997-98. Arizona won both games.

WILSON VS. HOUSTON
Another member of the Memphis coaching staff is very familiar with the Houston program. Tiger assistant coach Willis Wilson served as head coach at Rice University, also located in Houston, from 1992-2008 and faced the Cougars 22 times during his tenure. Houston held a narrow 12-10 edge in the crosstown rivalry meetings while Wilson was at Rice.

SCORING LEADERS COLLIDE
Offense may be on display Thursday when Conference USA's top two scorers face off at the BOK Center in Tulsa. Houston's Aubrey Coleman leads the league with a 26.0 scoring average, while Memphis' Elliot Williams is second in C-USA with an 18.5 average.

SCORE, SCORE AND SCORE SOME MORE
The scoreboard operator may want to have his or her finger ready Thursday when Memphis and Houston meet in the 2010 GMC Sierra C-USA Tournament at the BOK Center. The Cougars are second in Conference USA in scoring offense at 78.7 ppg, while Memphis is fourth at 75.7 ppg.

In C-USA games only, the Tigers are second in the league in scoring offense at 75.8 ppg, and Houston is third at 73.8 ppg.

Both teams lit up the scoreboard in their earlier meetings this season. Memphis posted a 92-77 victory over the Cougars Jan. 23 at FedExForum, and Houston returned the favor with a 92-75 win over the Tigers Feb. 24 at Hofheinz Pavilion.

THREES A-FLYING ON THURSDAY
Thursday could be a fun game to watch if fans love to see three-point shooting because Memphis and Houston enjoy hoisting up the treys. Memphis is No. 1 in Conference USA in three-pointers made per game at 8.6, while Houston is No. 2 in the league at 7.1.

In the NCAA rankings, Memphis is No. 15 and Houston No. 23 in treys made per game.

In the C-USA individual rankings, four of the league's leaders in three-pointers made per game are featured in Thursday's game. Houston's Kelvin Lewis leads C-USA with 3.0 treys made per game, while Doneal Mack and Roburt Sallie are tied for seventh at 1.9 three-pointers per contest. Memphis' Elliot Williams is ninth among C-USA's treys made per game leaders (1.8).

TOUGH TO TURN OVER...
If fans are looking for a mistake-free game, they may get that in Thursday's Memphis-Houston contest in the C-USA Tournament quarterfinal game at the BOK Center. Houston and Memphis are No. 1 and 2, respectively, in C-USA in turnovers committed, turnovers forced and turnover margin.

The Cougars are ranked No. 1 in the nation in turnover margin and No. 2 in turnovers committed, while the Tigers are No. 28 in turnovers committed and No. 8 in turnover margin.

In the Jan. 23 game, Memphis won the turnover battle. The Tigers forced 16 Houston turnovers, while committing only 12 miscues. However, the Cougars won the turnover game in the Feb. 24 encounter (13-17). The following charts both teams' turnover categories and their league rankings:

	Memphis	Stat	Houston

	11.5/2nd	TO Committed	9.4^/1st

	15.7/2nd	TO Forced	17.5/1st

	+4.3/2nd	TO Margin	+8.1*/1st

* No. 1 in nation; ^ No. 2 in nation

...BUT BEWARE, THIEVES ON COURT THURSDAY
While both squads take very good care of the ball, they'll have to be on alert Thursday. Memphis and Houston are two of the top teams in Conference USA in steals per game. The Cougars lead C-USA with 9.9 steals, while the Tigers are third at 8.5 steals.

In the NCAA rankings, Houston is No. 7 and Memphis No. 25 in steals per game.

A MATTER OF CITY PRIDE
When Memphis and Houston take the court Thursday, it won't just be two schools facing off. It also features an encounter for city pride between the Bluff City and Space City USA, as both teams have players on the rosters from their respective cities.

For the Tigers' side, five players hail from the Memphis area. James Harvey Jr., Elliot Williams and Preston Laird are from Memphis, while Drew Barham is from Cordova and Aaron Jacques from Bartlett.

Three Cougars call Houston home, and they are Aubrey Coleman, Sean Coleman and Jamon Wilson.

Memphis-Conference USA Tournament Notes

MEMPHIS IN C-USA TOURNEY
The Tigers have played in every Conference USA Tournament since 1996, and have a 19-10 record (.655 winning percentage) in the league's postseason classic. This is the ninth time in the last 10 years that Memphis earned a first-round bye in the tournament. The 2005 tournament was the only time in the last 10 years that the Tigers had to play a first round game.

Memphis is this year's C-USA Tournament No. 2 seed, and it is the fourth time the Tigers are the tournament's second seed. Memphis has also been the No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, No. 7, No. 8 and No. 11 seed in past C-USA Tournaments.

In Conference USA Tournaments held in Memphis (1996, 2000, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009), the Tigers have a 17-3 mark (.850 winning percentage). The Tigers won the championship in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009, and reached the semifinals in 1996, the second round in 2000 and the championship game in 2005.

In C-USA Tournament games played outside Memphis, the Tigers have a 2-7 record (.222 winning percentage). The following shows the Tigers' seed and record in the C-USA Tournament year-by-year:

Year	Seed	Record

2010	2	--

2009#	1	3-0

2008#	1	3-0

2007#	1	3-0

2006#	1	3-0

2005^	7	3-1

2004	2	0-1

2003*	2	1-1

2002	3	0-1

2001*	4	1-1

2000	11	1-1

1999	8	0-1

1998	3	0-1

1997	4	0-1

1996*	2	1-1

Totals		19-10

Record in Memphis		17-3

Record outside Memphis		2-7

# C-USA champion

* Advanced to the C-USA semifinals

^ Advanced to the C-USA Championship Game

MEMPHIS IN LEAGUE POSTSEASON OUTSIDE THE BLUFF CITY
The Tigers have an all-time record of 34-23 (.596 winning percentage) in conference postseason tournament games played outside the Bluff City. Memphis has won four league tournaments away from its home floor.

The following shows the Tigers' record in conference tournaments hosted outside Memphis:

Conference	Record Outside	No. of

	Memphis	Titles

C-USA	2-7	0

Great Midwest	4-3	0

Metro	20-9	3

Mississippi Valley	8-4	1

Total	34-23	4

CARRY ON THE TIGER TRADITION IN POSTSEASON
In only his first year as the Memphis head coach, Josh Pastner has done a tremendous job in keeping the winning tradition going for the Tigers in regular season play. Now, Pastner is looking to continue the Tigers' winning ways in the conference postseason.

The previous Memphis head coaches have had success in their first conference postseason tournaments, posting a 10-6 record (.625 winning percentage). The program's head coaches have been especially successful in their first league tournament game with a 6-1 mark (.857 winning percentage).

The following shows what Tiger head coaches have done in their first conference tournaments:

Coach/Conf.	First-Game	Record

	Result	In Tour.

Curlin/Miss. Valley	45-23, W	2-1

	Will Mayfield

Yates/Metro	73-69, W	2-1

	Saint Louis

Kirk^/Metro	62-60, W	1-1

	Saint Louis

Finch^/Metro	87-58, W	3-0*

	Cincinnati

Price^/C-USA	57-85, L	0-1

	Southern Miss

Jones#^/C-USA	60-58, W	1-1

	USF

Calipari^/C-USA	71-64, W	1-1

	Marquette

	6-1	10-6

*tournament champ

#interim coach

^First year as Memphis head coach

TIGERS GOING FOR C-USA TOURNEY TITLE RECORD
If Memphis can win the 2010 GMC Sierra C-USA Tournament crown, it would be the Tigers' fifth tournament championship. The five tourney titles would set the Conference USA record for most postseason crowns.

Last year, Memphis tied Cincinnati for the most C-USA Tournament titles with four. The Tigers won the C-USA postseason classic from 2006-09, while the Bearcats won the 1996, 1998, 2002 and 2004 C-USA Tournaments. Memphis is the only C-USA program to have won four-straight league tournament championships.

For more Memphis/Conference USA notes, please click on the pdf link at the top of the page.