He will try to stop Memphis freshman star Washington
In a Memphis starting lineup filled with upperclassmen, Darius Washington Jr. stands out. No, not because he's a freshman. Because he doesn't play like one.
Tonight at 7:30, when the Tigers (16-10, 9-3 Conference USA) visit No. 21 Charlotte (19-4, 10-2), the offensive-minded Washington will face defensive-minded Mitchell Baldwin, a converted high school shooting guard who's settled in as point guard, defender and ball distributor.
Whoever gets the best of this matchup will likely help determine whether Charlotte has a chance to roll into Louisville's Freedom Hall next week with a Conference USA regular-season title at stake. A loss would drop Charlotte into a tie for second with Memphis, a full game behind Louisville.
"We're going to try to make him uncomfortable, and not let him sit there and run their stuff," Baldwin said of Washington. "...We'll have to contain him in transition, and definitely get up on his shot."
Washington was a 2004 Parade first-team All-American and a McDonald's All-American who averaged 32 points in high school in Florida. In C-USA play, he's first in 3-point percentage (50), third in scoring (17.5 points), fourth in assists (4.42), fifth in field-goal percentage (55.2) and sixth in steals (1.83).
"He's a really talented player who's matured quickly," Charlotte coach Bobby Lutz said. "...He's playing like a first-team all-league player."
Memphis coach John Calipari said Washington has improved each game and is growing more comfortable.
"This game down there will be a little tougher for him. They're going to come after him," Calipari said. "... With this kid, we're trying to keep it (pressure) off him some so it's not just all on his shoulders because he's a freshman."
Pressure is what Baldwin hopes to apply. He wants to force Washington to work hard on offense. Baldwin will push tempo, dribble through pressure and get the ball to Charlotte's scorers -- Curtis Withers, Eddie Basden and Brendan Plavich. In the past four games, Baldwin has averaged 3.3 points, 5.8 assists and 1.25 turnovers. He played 78 minutes against Saint Louis and DePaul with no turnovers.
"With the guys we have -- Eddie scoring a bunch and Curt on any given night can put up close to 40, and Plav, we need him to hit shots -- with those guys scoring, there's not much pressure on me to score," Baldwin said. "Even if I have eight points and six or seven assists, that's just as good."
In a Memphis starting lineup filled with upperclassmen, Darius Washington Jr. stands out. No, not because he's a freshman. Because he doesn't play like one.
Tonight at 7:30, when the Tigers (16-10, 9-3 Conference USA) visit No. 21 Charlotte (19-4, 10-2), the offensive-minded Washington will face defensive-minded Mitchell Baldwin, a converted high school shooting guard who's settled in as point guard, defender and ball distributor.
Whoever gets the best of this matchup will likely help determine whether Charlotte has a chance to roll into Louisville's Freedom Hall next week with a Conference USA regular-season title at stake. A loss would drop Charlotte into a tie for second with Memphis, a full game behind Louisville.
"We're going to try to make him uncomfortable, and not let him sit there and run their stuff," Baldwin said of Washington. "...We'll have to contain him in transition, and definitely get up on his shot."
Washington was a 2004 Parade first-team All-American and a McDonald's All-American who averaged 32 points in high school in Florida. In C-USA play, he's first in 3-point percentage (50), third in scoring (17.5 points), fourth in assists (4.42), fifth in field-goal percentage (55.2) and sixth in steals (1.83).
"He's a really talented player who's matured quickly," Charlotte coach Bobby Lutz said. "...He's playing like a first-team all-league player."
Memphis coach John Calipari said Washington has improved each game and is growing more comfortable.
"This game down there will be a little tougher for him. They're going to come after him," Calipari said. "... With this kid, we're trying to keep it (pressure) off him some so it's not just all on his shoulders because he's a freshman."
Pressure is what Baldwin hopes to apply. He wants to force Washington to work hard on offense. Baldwin will push tempo, dribble through pressure and get the ball to Charlotte's scorers -- Curtis Withers, Eddie Basden and Brendan Plavich. In the past four games, Baldwin has averaged 3.3 points, 5.8 assists and 1.25 turnovers. He played 78 minutes against Saint Louis and DePaul with no turnovers.
"With the guys we have -- Eddie scoring a bunch and Curt on any given night can put up close to 40, and Plav, we need him to hit shots -- with those guys scoring, there's not much pressure on me to score," Baldwin said. "Even if I have eight points and six or seven assists, that's just as good."
