Oct. 7, 1999

MEMPHIS, Tenn. --A season ago, the University of Memphis basketball program had its share of memorable moments. Despite being a subpar year there were flashes which peered into the Tigers' future.

The recollections included the play of rookie center Kelly Wise who started six of Memphis' final seven games. During the regular season's final month Wise averaged almost three blocks per game and his seven rejections against Marquette were among the top 10, single-game performances in U of M history.

Despite a knee injury which sidelined him for four games in December, Marcus Moody ranked third in steals in C-USA, averaging 2.08 per game to go along with 12.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists. The game following his return from the injury, Moody was back in the Tigers' starting lineup and despite not being at 100 percent, he averaged 36.6 minutes a game of playing time during the remainder of the season.

There was Keiron Shine's career afternoon in Houston when he scored 26 points, making five-of-11 from three-point range.

And how about the way Shamel Jones ended the year at the Conference USA Tournament. Despite a flu bug that sidelined him the second half, Jones was five-for-five in the first period scoring 15 points against South Florida.

Last year was a season in which the University of Memphis fielded a team which featured only five combined years of NCAA experience and no player with more than one. Now, while this year's squad may continue to have a youthful look, the Tigers will have the advantage of an extra year of court experience.

Five of the Tigers' eight returning lettermen are underclassmen, including Wise, Moody and Jones. Junior Shyrone Chatman and sophomore Paris London also saw extensive playing time last season.

Shine is one of three seniors who return, joining James Harris and Aaron Mulvagh.

"Each team has to create its own identity," third-year coach Tic Price said. " I like the team unity this group showed early in the preseason. The returning players all have good top side. They are all physically stronger."

While eight players return, the Tigers will miss the experience and leadership of departed seniors Omar Sneed and Jermaine Ousley. Sneed was a two-time NABC all-district performer who became the only junior college transfer in Memphis history to score 1,000 career points. Ousley averaged 7.5 points during his career and his 75 career blocks ranks among the top 10 in U of M history.

Following is a preseason breakdown of the Tigers heading into the new millennium.

POINT GUARD

Keiron Shine's first season as a Tiger had an ominous start. The Memphis native received an elbow to his right eye in the U of M's season opener against UNC-Wilmington last year. The contusion caused Shine to miss the Tigers' NIT game against Gonzaga but two weeks later he was back in the starting line up.

As a junior college transfer, Shine platooned at the point and started more than half the Tigers' games last year. Over the season's final six contests he became more of a scoring threat, averaging 9.8 points an outing.

Memphis should have headed into the season with two experienced point guards but at the conclusion of his freshman season Dinno Daniels returned to New Orleans for personal reasons.

Returning for Memphis is junior Shyrone Chatman who played primarily at the two, or shooting guard position, but did register some time early at point guard.

In the spring the Tigers added depth to the position by signing Courtney Trask, the Louisiana Sports Writers Association's Class 3A Player of the Year. Trask averaged 26 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds as a senior at Baton Rouge's Parkview Baptist High School. During Trask's career, Parkview Baptist was 148-33 and ranked as high as sixth in the nation.

While Shine gives the Tigers incredible quickness and tremendous leaping ability for a 5-10 player (he had a break-away dunk against Ole Miss), Trask adds court savvy to the U of M program.

SHOOTING GUARD

Memphis heads into the preseason solid at the shooting guard position with the return of both Chatman and Moody. But the U of M will be looking for more production from its perimeter shooters this season.

The Tigers shot a record-low 27.7 percent from three-point range last year, marking just the third time since the advent of the three-pointer the U of M has shot less than 30 percent from behind the arc. Marcus Moody's three-point shooting clip of 32.8 percent led the Tigers.

With both Shine and Moody back as returning starters as well as Chatman and Trask in the mix, Memphis will look for experience to help cure its shooting woes.

Moody played in all 29 games as a freshman and opened his sophomore year as a Tiger with back-to-back 20-point games. A knee injury in mid-December sidelined him for four games, but after coming off the bench against UAB, he was back in the starting line up. For the year he averaged 12.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.1 steals.

In addition to his play on the offensive end of the court, Moody increased his rebounding numbers, almost doubling his average from his freshman year. He set a career high with seven rebounds in the Tigers' road win at Southern Mississippi then had at least seven boards in three other games during the month of February.

Chatman struggled the second half of the season, scoring a combined 10 points in the final 12 games. Prior to league play, Shine's injury pressed Chatman into more playing time at point guard early in the year and with Moody out with a knee injury he started and played 38 minutes in the Tigers' win over Ole Miss. He also played a key role in another win over a Southeastern Conference opponent scoring all 12 of his points in the second half against Vanderbilt, including a key three-pointer to give Memphis a four-point, second-period lead.

SMALL FORWARD

One void the Tigers had to tackle last season was the lack of a true small forward. The U of M experimented with Omar Sneed at the position early. And in the final game of the season Shamel Jones flourished there, scoring 15 first half points and draining all three of his attempts from three-point range before an illness sidelined him for the second half of the Tigers' Conference USA Tournament game in Birmingham.

Jones' playing time in February had been minimal before receiving a starting nod against Cincinnati. He started eight consecutive games beginning in December and his time on the court included a career-high 16 points and a complete-game effort in the Tigers' overtime win over Ole Miss. After the Tigers' third consecutive C-USA loss, an 80-70 setback at South Florida, he was relegated to playing off the bench.

Jones, who could also play at power forward or center, will be pressed at the three by Shannon Forman who is the epitome of a small forward. Forman originally signed with the Tigers out of Southern Lab High School in Baton Rouge but attended Northwest Mississippi Community College and was an early signee for the Tigers last fall. During his two-year career at Northwest Mississippi, Forman averaged 14.0 points along with 8.3 rebounds.

Aaron Mulvagh, a junior college transfer from last year, also returns with a year in the Memphis system.

POWER FORWARD

Athletic and versatile Paris London could be the next in a long line of solid power forwards at the University of Memphis. He was the Tigers' sixth man of the year last season while playing behind Omar Sneed.

As a rookie, London averaged 5.0 points and 2.6 rebounds while shooting 48.9 percent from the floor. In the Tigers' comeback attempt at UNC Charlotte, he came off the bench to score a career-high 13 points, going 6-of-7 from the field, and pulling down four rebounds.

In addition to London, Shamel Jones' versatility could lend itself to the junior playing at the position. Sophomore post player Kelly Wise could also provide depth at the position.

CENTER

Wise may have been the biggest surprise last season when he set virtually every Conference USA freshman record for blocked shots while averaging 6.2 points and 5.0 rebounds. By season's end, he had emerged as a regular starter for the Tigers. He almost pulled off a triple double in a late-season game against Marquette when he scored 12 points, had 12 boards and blocked a career-high seven shots.

In addition to Wise, returning for the Tigers is senior James Harris. Harris' floor time increased in the final month of the season, playing in the final five regular-season contests. Last year he added 1.2 points and 1.5 rebounds for the Tigers.

Memphis also signed 6-11 Earl Barron who averaged 20 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks at Clarksdale, Miss., High School.

THE SCHEDULE
The Tigers will face a challenging schedule right out of the gate in November as they open the year at the Maui Invitational. The tournament field includes Florida, Georgetown, North Carolina, Purdue, Southern Cal and Utah State as well as host Chaminade.

Memphis will also play host to Miami, Tennessee and Arkansas prior to beginning Conference USA play. In mid-December the U of M will face road games at Kansas State, Mississippi and Arkansas State.

This year's Conference USA schedule includes home games against DePaul, Louisville and UNC Charlotte from the American Division along with home-and-home series with National Division rivals UAB, Houston, South Florida, Southern Miss and Tulane.

One more note about the coming season ÷ the University of Memphis will play host to the Conference USA Tournament March 8-11.