U of M needs victory today for automatic NCAA berth
From his perch in the upper section of FedExForum's lower bowl, Louisville basketball fan Steve Havens watched as University of Memphis fans, players and officials celebrated the Tigers' 81-68 victory over South Florida.
The UofM's win in the Conference USA Tournament semifinals set up the championship game that Memphis fans -- and even Havens -- wanted. For what could be the last time in this long and storied rivalry, the Tigers and the Cardinals will meet in today's 10:35 a.m. title game.
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For Memphis, a victory gives the Tigers an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament, an unlikely scenario after the UofM ended the season on a four-game losing streak and with a 16-14 record.
But three wins in three days have moved the Tigers (19-14) one win from a coveted NCAA invitation. That it will require a victory over sixth-ranked Louisville makes it that much more appealing for both sides and a national television audience that will be watching on CBS.
''I think this will be the apex of Memphis tournament basketball,'' said state Sen. Steve Cohen, D-Memphis, a lifelong Tiger basketball fan. ''I hate to say it but I don't know if we'll ever reach it again. It's Memphis vs. Louisville probably for the last time in a championship event, in this city. You can't ask for more. It's what every fan should look forward to and be here for because it won't happen again.''
Havens, 50, said he was among a contingent of Louisville fans that wanted it to be a Memphis-Louisville final, even if it meant battling a Tiger team on their home court.
''We wanted to play them from the very start,'' Havens said. ''For a rivalry that has been this good for so long, this is the way it should end. The Cincinnati rivalry has gotten stronger in recent years, but this is the rivalry.''
Memphis will be playing Louisville for the third time this season. The Tigers beat Louisville, 85-68, Feb. 9 at Louisville and the Cardinals retaliated with a 53-44 win Feb. 26 at FedExForum. Both games were on ESPN.
Memphian Paul Chambers, 44, said he believed the Tigers could make a run to the finals after an impressive, 79-59, first-round win over Saint Louis. Memphis followed with wins over No. 25 Charlotte in the quarterfinals and surprise semifinalist South Florida.
''You could not have expected us to be in the finals after the up-and-down season we've had and all of the off-the-court shenanigans and the loss of Sean Banks,'' Chambers said. ''But it's come down to this. This is what all Tiger fans live for.''
Louisville leaves C-USA after this season for the Big East Conference, ending a rivalry that has been built through several league affiliations, including the Missouri Valley and Metro conferences.
''There's an awful lot of things that make this special,'' Tiger athletic director R. C. Johnson said. ''I'm so proud of the team and the coaches, the way the players are playing and the coaches are coaching. And you can see by the response of the fans that Tiger pride is huge.''
Memphis will be playing in the C-USA final for the first time in the league's 10-year history.
''It's going to be a great game,'' Tiger senior Arthur Barclay said. "We'll be fine.''
Odds and ends
The biggest concern for the UofM, after the game, was not so much getting ready for Louisville as it was getting ready for some sleep.
Coach John Calipari said the Tigers would go back to his room for dinner and to watch some Louisville tape. Wakeup call was to be at 6:30 this morning.
"We'll have a team meeting in the morning and get over here and play," Calipari said. "My comment will be from 12:30 on, you can sleep for two days if you want. From 10:30 to 12:30, no one is tired.
"I think we will be fine because the adrenaline is flowing."
One stat to note: The Tigers are 2-4 this season in games that tip off during the daylight hours.
You might not have been able to get into The Peabody on Thursday night. But if you were loud enough and close enough, President Bush still heard you.
In fact, you woke him up at 4:30 in the morning.
"Evidently there's a basketball tournament in town," the President said at the beginning of his conversation on Social Security reform Friday morning at the Cannon Center. "Some of the victorious fans were pleased with the results."
No Tiger was called for a personal foul against USF until Jeremy Hunt was whistled for blocking nearly 14 minutes into the game. At the half, Memphis only had two team fouls. USF had five. The Bulls didn't shoot a free throw until only 1:19 remained in the first half.
What's next
Memphis advanced to meet Louisville in this morning's championship game scheduled to tip at 10:35.
The Cards are the top seed of the tournament, and the sixth-ranked team in the nation. If the Tigers win, they will earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. If they lose, it's the NIT.
From his perch in the upper section of FedExForum's lower bowl, Louisville basketball fan Steve Havens watched as University of Memphis fans, players and officials celebrated the Tigers' 81-68 victory over South Florida.
The UofM's win in the Conference USA Tournament semifinals set up the championship game that Memphis fans -- and even Havens -- wanted. For what could be the last time in this long and storied rivalry, the Tigers and the Cardinals will meet in today's 10:35 a.m. title game.
Advertisement
For Memphis, a victory gives the Tigers an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament, an unlikely scenario after the UofM ended the season on a four-game losing streak and with a 16-14 record.
But three wins in three days have moved the Tigers (19-14) one win from a coveted NCAA invitation. That it will require a victory over sixth-ranked Louisville makes it that much more appealing for both sides and a national television audience that will be watching on CBS.
''I think this will be the apex of Memphis tournament basketball,'' said state Sen. Steve Cohen, D-Memphis, a lifelong Tiger basketball fan. ''I hate to say it but I don't know if we'll ever reach it again. It's Memphis vs. Louisville probably for the last time in a championship event, in this city. You can't ask for more. It's what every fan should look forward to and be here for because it won't happen again.''
Havens, 50, said he was among a contingent of Louisville fans that wanted it to be a Memphis-Louisville final, even if it meant battling a Tiger team on their home court.
''We wanted to play them from the very start,'' Havens said. ''For a rivalry that has been this good for so long, this is the way it should end. The Cincinnati rivalry has gotten stronger in recent years, but this is the rivalry.''
Memphis will be playing Louisville for the third time this season. The Tigers beat Louisville, 85-68, Feb. 9 at Louisville and the Cardinals retaliated with a 53-44 win Feb. 26 at FedExForum. Both games were on ESPN.
Memphian Paul Chambers, 44, said he believed the Tigers could make a run to the finals after an impressive, 79-59, first-round win over Saint Louis. Memphis followed with wins over No. 25 Charlotte in the quarterfinals and surprise semifinalist South Florida.
''You could not have expected us to be in the finals after the up-and-down season we've had and all of the off-the-court shenanigans and the loss of Sean Banks,'' Chambers said. ''But it's come down to this. This is what all Tiger fans live for.''
Louisville leaves C-USA after this season for the Big East Conference, ending a rivalry that has been built through several league affiliations, including the Missouri Valley and Metro conferences.
''There's an awful lot of things that make this special,'' Tiger athletic director R. C. Johnson said. ''I'm so proud of the team and the coaches, the way the players are playing and the coaches are coaching. And you can see by the response of the fans that Tiger pride is huge.''
Memphis will be playing in the C-USA final for the first time in the league's 10-year history.
''It's going to be a great game,'' Tiger senior Arthur Barclay said. "We'll be fine.''
Odds and ends
The biggest concern for the UofM, after the game, was not so much getting ready for Louisville as it was getting ready for some sleep.
Coach John Calipari said the Tigers would go back to his room for dinner and to watch some Louisville tape. Wakeup call was to be at 6:30 this morning.
"We'll have a team meeting in the morning and get over here and play," Calipari said. "My comment will be from 12:30 on, you can sleep for two days if you want. From 10:30 to 12:30, no one is tired.
"I think we will be fine because the adrenaline is flowing."
One stat to note: The Tigers are 2-4 this season in games that tip off during the daylight hours.
You might not have been able to get into The Peabody on Thursday night. But if you were loud enough and close enough, President Bush still heard you.
In fact, you woke him up at 4:30 in the morning.
"Evidently there's a basketball tournament in town," the President said at the beginning of his conversation on Social Security reform Friday morning at the Cannon Center. "Some of the victorious fans were pleased with the results."
No Tiger was called for a personal foul against USF until Jeremy Hunt was whistled for blocking nearly 14 minutes into the game. At the half, Memphis only had two team fouls. USF had five. The Bulls didn't shoot a free throw until only 1:19 remained in the first half.
What's next
Memphis advanced to meet Louisville in this morning's championship game scheduled to tip at 10:35.
The Cards are the top seed of the tournament, and the sixth-ranked team in the nation. If the Tigers win, they will earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. If they lose, it's the NIT.
