Dec. 18, 2008

ATLANTA, Ga. - University of Memphis senior Robert Dozier has been named to the 2008-09 Naismith Trophy early-season watch list, the Atlanta Tip-Off Club announced on Thursday. This is the second preseason National Player of the Year watch list Dozier's name has appeared on, as he was selected a Wooden Award preseason candidate in early November.

The Naismith Trophy watch list was compiled by the Atlanta Tipoff Club's Board of Selectors, which based its criteria on player performances from the previous year and expectations for the 2008-09 college basketball season. The watch list does not include incoming freshmen, although those student-athletes will be considered in the first vote in February, 2009.

The Naismith Trophy presented by AT&T will be awarded at the 2009 NCAA Men's Final Four in Detroit, Mich.

Last year, the Tigers' Chris Douglas-Roberts was one of four finalists for the Naismith Trophy, joining Kansas State's Michael Beasley, North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough and UCLA's Kevin Love in that group. Hansbrough received last year's Naismith Trophy.

A 2008-09 All-Conference USA preseason team pick, Dozier is one of the Tigers' two returning starters from last year's squad that won an NCAA record 38 games (38-2 mark) and advanced to the NCAA title game.

Dozier entered 2008-09 closing in on the Memphis 1,000-point club. The Lithonia, Ga., native now has 997 career points and needs three points to reach the milestone. Dozier also has 739 rebounds and 180 blocks for his career, and can move up on the school's all-time lists this season. When he reaches 1,000 points and 750 boards, Dozier will become only the seventh Tiger in the program's history to do so. The other Tigers in the 1,000-point, 750-rebound club are Keith Lee, Forest Arnold, Kelly Rise, Ronnie Robinson, David Vaughn and Don Holcomb.

Dozier is one of two Conference USA players on the Naismith Trophy preseason list. Joining Dozier on the list is UAB's Robert Vaden.

The Tigers (6-2), ranked No. 23 in the Associated Press poll and No. 21 in the ESPN/USA Today poll, continues their seven-game homestand Saturday, Dec. 20 when they host No. 11/11 Syracuse (10-1) at FedExForum. The game, to be televised by ESPN, is slated for a 5 p.m. (CT) start.