Nov. 19, 2008
Complete Release in PDF Format 
TIGERS TO MEET CHATTANOOGA IN QUARTERFINAL ROUND OF PUERTO RICO TIP-OFF THURSDAY
The University of Memphis squad (2-0, 0-0 C-USA), ranked No. 13 in the Associated Press poll and No. 12 in ESPN/USA Today poll, continues its play in the 2008 O'Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tip-Off on Thursday, Nov. 20 with a quarterfinal contest versus in-state foe Chattanooga (0-2, 0-0 SoCon). Game time is 3:30 p.m. (CT) at Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The Tigers began action in the tournament on Nov. 15 with a 90-63 opening-round victory over Fairfield at FedExForum. Despite last Saturday's outcome, both Memphis and Fairfield advanced to the eight-team tournament field (see tournament bracket on page 4).
Prior to traveling to Puerto Rico to continue play in the second annual Tip-Off, the Tigers defeated UMass 80-58 on Nov. 17. The game tipped off ESPN's marathon of college basketball in which the network televised 23 hours of games.
Memphis, the 2008-09 preseason pick to win Conference USA, returns two starters and eight letterwinners from last year's squad that won an NCAA record 38 games (38-2 record) and advanced to the NCAA Tournament national championship game. En route to the title contest, the Tigers swept the Conference USA regular season and tournament crowns and the NCAA Tournament South Region championship.
Chattanooga, which is picked to win the North Division of the Southern Conference, started 2008-09 with two road setbacks at Tennessee 114-75 and Missouri 103-75. The contest at Missouri was an opening-round game of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off.
Last season, the Mocs posted an 18-13 overall record and tied for the SoCon North Division title. Chattanooga returns three starters and eight letterwinners from last season's squad.
SCOUTING THE MOCS
Chattanooga, which is picked to win the North Division of the Southern Conference, started 2008-09 with two road setbacks at Tennessee 114-75 and Missouri 103-75. The contest at Missouri was an opening-round game of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off.
Last season, the Mocs posted an 18-13 overall record and tied for the SoCon North Division title. Chattanooga retuens three starters from last season's squad.
Junior guard Ty Patterson leads four Mocs in double figures with a 17.0 scoring average. Nicchaeus Doaks (16.0 ppg), Stephen McDowell (14.0 ppg) and Jasper Williams (10.5 ppg) also are averaging double digits for Chattanooga. Doaks leads the Mocs on the glass at 9.5 rpg, while Khalil Hartwell is second at 9.0 rpg. Keyron Sheard leads the squad with nine assists (4.5 apg).
The Mocs are shooting 43.4 percent from the field, 34.7 percent from the arc and 61.4 percent from the charity stripe. Opponents are out-rebounding Chattanooga by an average of 7.0 boards per game (36.0-43.0). The Mocs' opponents are also shooting 54.5 percent from the floor.
MEMPHIS, MAKE ROOM FOR ANOTHER KING
Move over a little, Elvis. You too, Jerry Lawler. There is another king in Memphis.
With the Tigers' 80-58 victory over UMass Nov. 17, head coach John Calipari became the winningest coach in Memphis basketball history. Calipari entered 2008-09 with 219 wins at Memphis, and with his squad's two victories this year, he surpassed Larry Finch's win total of 220. The following shows the top-five winningest coaches in Tiger basketball history:
Coach/Years Wins
John Calipari/2000-pres. 221
Larry Finch/1986-97 220
Zach Curlin/1924-48 173
Dana Kirk/1979-86 158
Bob Vanatta/1956-62 109
MEMPHIS VS. THE SOCON
The Tigers have an all-time record of 15-5 against current members of the Southern Conference (SoCon). Memphis has played Chattanooga (8-2), Davidson (0-1), Furman (2-0), The Citadel (3-2), UNC-Greensboro (1-0) and Wofford (1-0).
The last time Memphis played a SoCon school was the 2002-03 season, and the Tigers posted a 72-55 win over Furman on Dec. 7, 2002, at The Pyramid.
In the 2001-02 campaign, Memphis played two SoCon schools, with both meetings coming in tournament play. The Tigers defeated UNC-Greensboro 82-62 in the opening round of the 2002 NIT postseason classic en route to the championship. Earlier that same season, Memphis defeated Wofford 88-61 in the opening game of the Guardians Classic. That contest was the Tigers' 2001-02 season opener.
CALIPARI VS. THE SOCON
Memphis head coach John Calipari has a perfect 3-0 record versus members of the Southern Conference (SoCon). Calipari has coached against Furman (1-0), UNC-Greensboro (1-0) and Wofford (1-0). The last time Calipari coached against a SoCon school was the 2002-03 season, and the Tigers posted a 72-55 win over Furman on Dec. 7, 2002, at The Pyramid.
DOUBLE YOUR PLEASURE
For the second time in his career, Antonio Anderson recorded a double-double. The 6-foot-6 guard had 15 points and a career-best 12 boards in the Tigers' 80-58 victory over UMass Nov. 17. He also had five assists and one steal in the win.
His previous career rebounding high was 11 boards versus East Carolina in the 2006-07 season. Anderson's first career double-double also came in the 2006-07 campaign when he had 14 points and 10 rebounds in Memphis' NCAA Tournament second-round win over Nevada.
"BULL-DOZIER"-ING THE COMPETITION
When Robert Dozier announced he was withdrawing from the 2008 NBA Draft and returning for his final season, head coach John Calipari stated that he needed to return and play with passion and determination. In other words, Calipari wanted Dozier to dominate in 2008-09.
Well, Dozier showed the nation a little of that in the Tigers' 80-58 victory over UMass before a national ESPN audience. The 6-foot-9 forward scored 18 points, grabbed five boards and blocked four shots. He also had one assist and one steal in 30 minutes of play.
Dozier stepped up early in the UMass game, especially when the Tiger offense was struggling. In the game's first 13 minutes, the Lithonia, Ga., native netted 10 of the team's first 17 points, with four points coming on two emphatic dunks.
ALL-AROUND `REKE
All the talk from the national pundits about Tyreke Evans was that he was a talented and gifted scorer. Well, at least we can give them some credit, as Evans has proved he can score. After the Tigers' first two games, the 6-foot-6 guard is averaging 19.0 points.
But, Evans is quickly proving there is more to his game than just putting the ball in the net. The Chester, Pa., native is also averaging 5.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3.5 steals. He is shooting nearly 50 percent from the field (48.3) and 75 percent from the free throw line.
Evans' stat line from the UMass game is proof of his all-around game with 19 points, six boards, four assists and five steals.
YOUTH LEARNING QUICK
With a young squad like the Tigers are in 2008-09, John Calipari expected a lot of mistakes early. So, in practices leading up to the regular season opener, Calipari drilled two points home to his squad -- limit turnovers and silly fouls.
So far, so good for the Tigers. After two games, Memphis is averaging only 13.5 turnovers and 16.5 fouls per game. In limiting their fouls, the opposition is finding it difficult to get to the foul line. In fact, the Tigers have made more free throws (42) than their opponents has attempted (30).
SPOON GETS IT GOING
After a nightmare of a collegiate debut Nov. 15 (0 points, 3 turnovers), head coach John Calipari told freshman Wesley Witherspoon that he was going to be good. He just wasn't going to be good that night.
Two days later, things looked better for the 6-foot-9 forward/guard. Witherspoon played a solid game in the Tigers' 80-58 win over UMass Nov. 17. The Atlanta, Ga., native had nine points, two assists and three steals in 17 minutes.
For more notes on the Memphis-Chattanooga game, click on the pdf link at the top of the page.
