Memphis Tigers News Archives

March 2004

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03/31/04		Tiger Football To Hold Spring Game -- Game Will Be Held At Rhodes College This Saturday (GoTigersGo.com)
		MEMPHIS, TENN. - The Tiger Football Team will hold its Spring scrimmage on Saturday at Rhodes College. Kick off is set for 11:45 a.m. The game will be held at Rhodes because of ongoing construction at the Liberty Bowl. Rhodes College is located on University St., which is off North Parkway. Fans are asked to park on University or Jackson as there is not extensive parking at the stadium.

03/31/04		Two Tiger All-Americans Take Different Paths (Daily Helmsman)
		By Ben Cowens March 31, 2004 If you've walked around campus long enough, it is likely that you've run into two All-American athletes. It's even more likely that when it happened, you didn't even turn your head. In the high-profile world of collegiate sports, most All-Americans would be spotted from across campus, but sophomore Beth Tidmore and freshman Katie Benjamin have achieved their success in the publicity-starved sport of rifle. Without any fanfare, Tidmore and Benjamin have led The University of Memphis to national prominence. This winter, the two led The U of M to national rankings in both smallbore and air rifle for the first time. With the aid of scholarships, which were unavailable even two years ago, rifle coach Butch Woolbright has quietly built a nationally-recognized program. His first scholarship went to Tidmore, and this season, he's added Benjamin and Sarah Carr, another freshman shooter, to the roster. But Woolbright said it is his two standouts that have really made The U of M an attractive option for future collegiate shooters. "Everybody (in rifle) knows who they are," Woolbright said. "The kids in high school, they see Beth and Katie and they know they shoot for Memphis. They don't even have to say anything. They are ambassadors for our program." *** Rifle consists of two events, smallbore and air. In the smallbore event, the shooter must hit targets 50 feet away from standing, kneeling and prone positions. Air rifle participants must hit the targets from 33 feet from a standing position. The target sizes are adjusted relative to distance, so that the targets appear the same size in the sight, despite the varying distances. In the air event, the participants shoot at white targets the size of a silver dollar. The outer levels of the target are worth between one and three points. Inside the white target is a black area the size of a quarter, which is the smallest area the competitors can see through their sight. By hitting that target, shooters can gain four to ten points, depending on how close to the bull's eye. To gain 10 points, the shooters must pierce a bull's eye the size of the period at the end of this sentence. "To give you an idea of the accuracy at this level, we rarely score less than eights," Tidmore said. *** It is a sport where a matter of millimeters can make a difference. For example, this season, The U of M rifle squad missed a spot in the eight-team air rifle national championships by just three points. If each member had been a few millimeters closer to one target, Memphis would have advanced. Next year, Tidmore said she expects even better team results. "We were within three points of going to nationals," Tidmore said. "It's not like we didn't try, but I'm not sure we were ready to get there. That really lit a fire under this team. We know now that we're not just a joke anymore." While team success is relatively new here, Tidmore and Benjamin have been performing at a high level for years. At the NCAA nationals, Tidmore qualified individually for both events, finishing 14th in smallbore and 16th in air. Benjamin, Tidmore and Carr all qualified for the Junior Olympic Rifle event, which was held last week in Colorado Springs, Colo. Although Carr was unable to attend, Tidmore and Benjamin did, making The U of M the only school with two representatives at the prestigious event. Not only did they qualify, each made the final eight in air rifle. Tidmore took the bronze while Benjamin placed eighth. Benjamin, who also qualified in small bore, made the finals and finished sixth in that event. *** Despite all their success in the sport, the two are quite different with their approaches to rifle. Tidmore, a sophomore, has been in rifle just four years. The freshman Benjamin has spent eight years perfecting the trade. Tidmore is superior in the air rifle competition. Benjamin is better in smallbore. Tidmore would talk rifle with a stranger "all day," as she put it. Benjamin conceded that she doesn't really like interviews. They also have different philosophies about where their rifle careers might take them. Tidmore is quick to point out that her ultimate ambition is the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China, if not sooner. As a member of the national team, an honor she received for winning a Junior Olympic competition last year, she can compete for a spot in Athens this summer at the Olympic trials in May. Benjamin is more inclined to let rifle take a back seat, preferring to let her career in nursing take shape and let rifle fill in the blanks. "I'll never make any money in rifle," Benjamin said. She would certainly take the opportunity for the Olympics in 2008, but takes a very levelheaded approach. "At rifle, if it's your day (at the trials), then you're going to go (to the Olympics)," Benjamin said. Despite the different approaches, the two are determined to make themselves better, and each is happy the other is at The U of M to help. "(Tidmore) pushes me in air rifle, and I push her in smallbore," Benjamin said, "It helps having somebody at your level." Tidmore agreed. "Our scores are very close, and we push each other," she said. "It's important to have somebody who can do that." And Woolbright is happy to have them both. "My mailbox is filling up with mail from kids that otherwise wouldn't give Memphis a second look," he said. It looks as if some people have noticed after all.

03/31/04		Darius Flies One Last Time As Prep (Commercial Appeal)
		By Gary Parrish Contact March 31, 2004 Darius Washington won the 3-point contest the other day in Oklahoma City. So there. Add that to the list. In addition to drive and dish and dunk, the kid can shoot, too. Which should make him a nice fit at the University of Memphis next season. But first, the Orlando Edgewater High star will shine one last time as a prep, in tonight's 27th-annual McDonald's All American game that will be broadcast live at 8 on ESPN. ''Darius is doing great up here,'' said Travis Jones, Washington's high school coach who accompanied his star prospect to Oklahoma City. ''He's having a good time.'' Remember the way people talked about Dajuan Wagner that summer before he enrolled at Memphis? How they were amazed by the way he could score at will on anybody? Well, the same scouting report fits Washington, the 6-foot combo guard who built his lofty reputation on the AAU circuit, backed it with a state championship at Edgewater this season, then backed that with a 30-point performance in last week's adidas/EA Sports SuperStars Game in Knoxville. Told that someone who watched that prep showcase labeled Washington the best player on the floor not named Dwight Howard, Jones didn't hesitate responding. ''I would agree with that,'' he said, noting that Howard could be the top pick in June's NBA Draft. ''Darius is going to have a big impact at Memphis. He'll do as much as Dajuan did, maybe more.'' Speaking of Wagner, the one-year Tiger wonder showed up at one of Washington's games last month. His Cavs were in town to play the Magic the next night, so Wagner dropped by the gym, watched Washington dispose of an opponent and then talked to him at length. The conversation ranged from off-the-court stuff to John Calipari. But mostly, Wagner's message was clear: Enjoy college. Don't rush it. ''Dajuan told Darius that he should really enjoy the situation he's in,'' Jones said. ''He told him that in the NBA, it's just like your job, so he should enjoy what he's doing now and have a good time.'' Though nobody doubts Washington's talent - he scored close to 3,000 points at Edgewater and averaged 32 per game as a senior - the question on most Tiger fans' minds is whether he can play point guard next season and fill the void left by Antonio Burks. That means running a team instead of trying to get 30. That means making other people better instead of making yourself the go-to guy. As for Jones, he has no doubts. ''Darius can play point guard,'' Jones said. ''I wouldn't have told you that last year, but this year I can. It's just going to depend on what Memphis wants him to do. Do they want him to be a scoring point guard like Allen Iverson was early in his career or do they want him to be more of a true point guard? But he can do either. Darius is kind of a player who is just indescribable. He's just a scoring machine.'' - Gary Parrish: 529-2365

03/31/04		Arkansas State Scores Late To Down Tigers (Commercial Appeal)
		By From Our Press Services March 31, 2004 The Arkansas State baseball team ran its home winning streak to eight games as it defeated the University of Memphis 8-2 on Tuesday night at Tomlinson Stadium in Jonesboro. The Indians scored six runs in the final two innings to break open the tight game. Four Indian pitchers combined to hold the Tigers just four hits on the game. The Tribe pitching staff tied a season-high with 15 strikeouts. Junior Ryan Hamilton (4-3) picked up the win as he pitched 22/3 innings of scoreless relief. Memphis (12-10) struck first in the third inning with third baseman Michael Lewis's solo homer. The Tribe (14-12) outhit the Tigers 13-4 en route to its third straight win over Memphis.

03/30/04		Men's Soccer Blanks Colaiste Ide, 2-0, In Spring Finale (GoTigersGo.com)
		MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- - Andy Metcalf and Daniel Dobson scored second half goals to lead Memphis to a 2-0 shutout of Colaiste Ide in the spring finale for the men's soccer team. After the two teams battled to a 0-0 tie at the half, Metcalf put the Tigers ahead just five minutes into the second period after he settled a crossing pass from defender Cormac McArdle to knock home the eventual game-winner. Dobson put the Tigers on the board again with just five minutes left in regulation on a sequence in which he played a ball to Dayton O'Brien who then passed to Metcalf. Metcalf was able to slip a pass in to Dobson for the score and the 2-0 advantage. "I thought we moved the ball better in the second half," said Grant. "Andy (Metcalf) was exceptional and a continuous threat to their back four. He really stepped up to the challenge tonight." Notable Tiger performers included Metcalf, O'Brien, McArdle, defenders Gary Connolly and Justin Dyer. "Colaiste Ide's work rate was tremendous," Grant said. "They battled well for a full 90 minutes and made a great game out of it. It is always exciting to play someone different in the spring and tonight was no exception. They (Colaiste Ide) brought a great game." Memphis is now 3-0-1 in the four-year series against the Irish school.

03/30/04		Baseball Drops Third Consecutive Game In 8-2 Loss At Arkansas State (GoTigersGo.com)
		JONESBORO, Ark. -- - Four Arkansas State pitchers combined to strikeout 15 Memphis hitters and allowed just four hits as the Tigers lost their third straight game in an 8-2 decision Tuesday night in non-conference action at Tomlinson Stadium. The Tigers fall to 12-10 on the year, while the Indians improve to 14-12. Memphis took a 1-0 lead in the third inning on a Michael Lewis solo shot to left centerfield, but Arkansas State answered with the tying in the home half of the frame. Brad Burkhead drew a walk to lead off the inning and Mike Sirianni followed with a single. Brad Hayes' RBI single to right centerfield scored Burkhead to knot the game at 1-1. After the Indians gained the lead with a single run in the bottom of the fifth, the Tigers rallied to tie the contest at two. Jordan Hart beat out a bunt to reach base and Brent Dlugach was hit by a pitch. Hart came around to score the tying run on a wild pitch after advancing to third on a Kurt Welch fielder's choice groundball. The Tribe, who has now won eight straight at home, took advantage of a Memphis error to score a pair of runs in the seventh and then put the game out of reach, 8-2, with four runs in the eighth. Reliever Ryan Hamilton (4-3) earned the win for the Tribe and struck out five and held the Tigers hitless in two-and-two-thirds innings. Brandon Rowan (1-1) was saddled with the loss for Memphis. Dlugach was the only Tiger with multiple hits in the contest, going 2-for-4, while Lewis' homer and Hart's bunt single were the only other Tiger hits. The Tigers travel to Louisville, Ky. for their next three contests as they battle Louisville in a three-game C-USA series, April 2-4.

03/30/04		Myklebust Named C-USA Track & Field Athlete Of The Week (GoTigersGo.com)
		CHICAGO-Memphis Senior Gaute Myklebust was named C-USA Male Track & Field Athlete of the Week for the week of March 30; as announced by the conference offices Tuesday. Myklebust won the discus competition at the Bulldog Invitational Saturday hosted by Mississippi State with a school record breaking toss of 59.33m (194-08.00). Myklebust broke his own record that he set in 2003 at the Sea Ray Relays (4/12/03) with a throw of 58.31m. His mark of 59.33m currently ranks third in the nation this year. The mark in the discus throw qualified Mylebust for the NCAA Mid-Eastern Regional in Baton Rouge, La. on May 27-29. The regional meet is one of four nationally in which track athletes will compete for the right to advance to the NCAA Championships in Austin, Texas on June 10-13. Myklebust was one of three Tigers that qualified for the NCAA Regional Saturday as Senior Adam Martin earned a mark in the shot put with a throw of 16.96m and Senior Ivan Williams qualified in the 200m with a time of 21.05. As a junior, Myklebust was named the 2003 C-USA Male Outdoor Athlete of the Year after winning both the discus and shot put at the 2003 C-USA Outdoor Championships in Charlotte. He qualified for the NCAA Regional and eventually advanced to the NCAA Championships where he placed 14th in the discus.

03/30/04		Memphis Tiger Basketball Banquet Set For April 18 At 6:00 p.m. (CT) (GoTigersGo.com)
		MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The 2004 University of Memphis Tiger Basketball Banquet is slated for Sunday, Apr. 18 at the Holiday Inn on the university's campus. The reception begins at 6:00 p.m. (CT), followed by dinner and awards ceremonies at 7:00 p.m. (CT). The cost for the banquet is $50 per person and $500 for a table of 10. Tiger fans can make their reservations by check or credit card (Visa/MasterCard/Discover) and send the reservation form to the Men's Basketball Office, 230 Athletic Office Building, Memphis, TN 38152. For more information or to have a reservation form mailed or faxed to you, call the Tiger basketball office at 901-678-2346. The deadline for reservations is April 13. The banquet will be a celebration of the 2003-04 Tiger basketball season. Memphis finished the year with a 22-8 overall record and earned a second-straight NCAA Tournament berth. The Tigers posted a 12-4 Conference USA mark and won a share of the league's regular-season crown, the program's first conference title since 1995-96. Memphis was ranked No. 24 in the final Associated Press (AP) poll, marking the first time the Tigers finished a campaign with a national ranking in consecutive seasons since 1985 and 1986. Memphis was ranked No. 19 in the 2003 final AP poll.

03/30/04		Men's Soccer Set For Final Spring Test Against Colaiste Ide Tonight (GoTigersGo.com)
		MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- - The University of Memphis men's soccer team will wrap up spring competition tonight when they host Colaiste Ide of Ireland at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex. This year's meeting will mark the fourth consecutive year that the Irish Soccer School has traveled to the U.S. to play the Tigers. Kickoff was originally set for 7:30 p.m., but has now been changed to 6 p.m. Current Tigers, John Reilly and Gary Connolly are former Colaiste Ide players. Head coach Richie Grant, former Tiger assistant and Tennessee U-23 Olympic Development coach Paul Conway and 2004 senior Graham Gibbs are also alumni of Colaiste Ide. The men's team holds a 2-0-1 record against the Irish school. In the first contest in 2001, Memphis was triumphant in a 4-2 win, but the two teams battled to a 1-1 draw in 2002. The Tigers routed Colaiste Ide, 4-1, last year as Dayton O'Brien had two assists and four Tigers scored goals.

03/30/04		Just Thinking About You (Daily Helmsman)
		from our press services March 30, 2004 In her last games as a Lady Tiger, Princess Swilley was fighting through significant pain in her right shoulder. University of Memphis senior guard injured her shoulder on Feb. 29, and will have surgery on April 1, to repair the damage. Swilley is no stranger to shoulder surgery. During the last off-season, she had to have her left shoulder repaired after a similar injury. Although playing with intense pain, Swilley managed two points against Western Kentucky in the second round of the WNIT. Those two points put her career tally at 1,000, as she became the second Lady Tiger in as many years to join The U of M 1,000 point club. "I was so happy with the fact that Princess got her 1,000 points," said. Memphis coach Joye Lee-McNelis following the WKU loss last week. "It would have broken my heart if she wouldn't have gotten it. She has been a joy to coach these last four years, and she is the type of player that coaches wish they had 10 of. My hat is off to her family because they have raised a quality woman who I am proud of." McNelis said Swilley never made a big deal about her injury, even though it seriously hampered her play. "Not too many people know that Princess has been playing with a lot of pain and has had to receive a shot before the last couple of games," said McNelis. "She has battled these last few weeks and has never complained. I am truly proud of her and will miss her greatly."

03/29/04		Baseball Set For Mid-Week Matchup Against Arkansas State (GoTigersGo.com)
		MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- - The University of Memphis baseball will take to the road for the first of a five-game road swing when they take on Arkansas State Tuesday evening at Tomlinson Stadium in Jonesboro, Ark. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. The Tigers are coming off of their second straight C-USA series loss and looks to avenge last season's series sweep suffered at the hands of the Indians. Memphis dropped an 8-4 decision at ASU before being routed 14-1 at Nat Buring Stadium in mid-April. Memphis (12-9) has lost seven of its last nine contests, while Arkansas State (13-12) has dropped six of its last nine, including being swept by New Orleans in their Sun Belt Conference season-opening series. Along with the Ole Miss rivalry, the series with A-State is Memphis' oldest, dating back 88 years to the 1915 season. The Tigers have faced ASU 154 times and have defeated the Indians 103 times, both of which are tops against any school in the program's history. Memphis will remain on the road for a weekend conference series with Louisville, April 2-4.

03/29/04		Women's Soccer Goes Undefeated At Huntsville College Classic (GoTigersGo.com)
		Memphis, Tenn. - The University of Memphis women's soccer team continued its successful spring season by going undefeated in two matches at the Huntsville College Classic in Huntsville, Ala. The Lady Tigers tied Vanderbilt 1-1 in their first match then shutout Tennessee Tech 3-0 in their second contest. Walk-on Heather Wilson scored for Memphis in the Vanderbilt match as Isabel Briones earned the tie in goal for the Lady Tigers. Senior Yuiko Konno, who led Conference USA in goals last season, added a pair of goals and senior Annika Moller also scored in the Tennessee Tech match. Sophomore Amy Clunie recorded the shutout against the Golden Eagles. "I was impressed with how our team improved from the first game to the second game," Head Coach Brooks Monaghan said. "I was not pleased with the overall effort in the Vanderbilt match, but we played much better against Tennessee Tech and it showed by the results. We were much more team-oriented and that is important for us to be successful." The Lady Tigers continue their spring schedule with a match against Arkansas Tuesday, March 30th at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex. The match between the Lady Tigers and Razorbacks starts at 2 p.m. and will be on Field 10 at the complex.

03/29/04		Twins Lead ECU To Defeat Tigers (Commercial Appeal)
		By Phil Stukenborg Contact March 29, 2004 If it's any consolation to the University of Memphis, it has seen two of Conference USA's better baseball teams the first two league weekends. And Sunday, the Tigers no doubt saw the league's best set of twins. East Carolina's Darryl Lawhorn and Trevor Law horn, struggling at the plate entering the three-game series at AutoZone Park, went 6-for-9 with three home runs and five runs batted in to lead the Pirates to an 8-4 victory before about 150 people. Darryl Lawhorn, a power-hitting left-hander and C-USA's Preseason Player of the Year, homered twice Sunday and Trevor Lawhorn went 4-for-5, including a solo homer in the fifth. It marked the second time this season the twins had homered in the same game and the first time they'd accomplished the feat in the same inning. For the weekend, the twins went 13-for-27 with three doubles, four homers and 10 RBI to help the Pirates (21-6, 3-3 in C-USA) win the series, 2-1. Trevor raised his average 42 percentage points to .316 and Darryl boosted his 21 points to .258, while increasing his home-run total from two to five. ECU coach Randy Mazey said he dropped Trevor several spots in the batting order Saturday to help him break out of a slump. Trevor went 3-for-4 in ECU's 7-1 victory. ''Trevor hadn't been swinging the bat real well as of the last three or four weeks, so we moved him down to the No. 7 spot,'' Mazey said. ''We tried to make him mad. I think it worked.'' Darryl, an all-America candidate, said his struggles have been more the result of teams not pitching to him, or pitching to him in unorthodox fashion. ''Teams are pitching backwards to me,'' Darryl said. ''In fast-ball counts, they are throwing breaking balls. In breaking ball counts, they are throwing fast balls. So I just have to sit on a pitch and if I get it, I'm going to have to hit it. It might be the only pitch I see in the whole at-bat.'' Darryl Lawhorn hit a deep, two-run shot to right off Stephen Gostkowski (1-2) in the fifth and blasted another homer off reliever Bill Edwards in the ninth. ''Both (home run) pitches (to Darryl) were on the inner half of the plate,'' said Memphis coach Dave Anderson. ''And he's a good hitter. You can't make mistakes on good hitters.'' The twins are in their first season of playing college baseball together. While Darryl signed with ECU out of high school in Wilmington, N.C., his brother was not offered a scholarship and went to Barton College, a small school 30 miles from ECU. Fortunately for the Tigers (12-9, 1-5), they won't be seeing double again until the C-USA Tournament, providing the U of M qualifies. Memphis had its chances Sunday, but failed to capitalize. The Tigers blew an opportunity in the first inning. Their first three hitters - Chad House, Patrick Hope and Jordan Hart - reached via an error, a walk and a single. But House was picked off first and the Tigers did not score. After rallying with a four-run sixth - highlighted by Brent Dlugach's two-run triple - Memphis cut ECU's lead to 6-4. The Pirates added a two-out RBI single in the seventh and Darryl Lawhorn's solo homer in the ninth to extend their lead to 8-4. Once again, the Tigers attempted a rally, loading the bases with two out in the ninth. But Hope fouled out to end the game. - Phil Stukenborg: 529-2543

03/29/04		Editorial 03/29: Don't Spend Much On Liberty Bowl Fixes (Commercial Appeal)
		A BRAND NEW football arena to replace the aging Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium would be an exciting new addition to the growing array of Memphis sports venues, but the timing is not right. Unless the Liberty Bowl is too unstable structurally to ensure public safety, taxpayers shouldn't be expected to pay for another sports facility at a time of tight dollars and pressing public needs. The stadium could benefit from a substantial fix-up, but the money and political support may not be present for anything beyond basic repairs. The stadium is home to the University of Memphis Tigers, the Liberty Bowl and the Southern Heritage Classic football games. But the facility that opened in 1965 has lost its glow. Fans sit on seats without backs, locker rooms are small and, without a press room, post-game interviews sometimes are held in a tent. Sky boxes, concession stands and the field need work. Limited renovations in recent years produced new bench seats, a better scoreboard and new paint. But more comfortable seating would mean a costly restructuring of the seating area. A $50,000 consulting engineers' study on stadium options should be released in the next few days, but officials are guarded. Pete Aviotti, special assistant to Mayor Willie Herenton, said last week that it may make better financial sense to demolish and rebuild than to renovate. A major overhaul could cost $50 million, while a new arena could push the cost to $125 million or more. Aviotti didn't endorse either option. Neither did City Council members, though some warned that inaction would lead to more decay. Councilman Rickey Peete suggested spending $4 million to $5 million for minimal repairs if the work would buy a few more years of use. Others await the engineering report. It should be noted that the University of Tennessee's Neyland Stadium, one of the largest stadiums in the country, has seen 16 renovations since 1921, according to the school's web site. Renovations apparently have served UT well, since there are enough seats for 104,079 fans. By comparison, the 62,380-seat Liberty Bowl has been twice renovated since it was built, according to the university. Major costs for a renovated or new stadium seem to be out of step with public sympathies. Public funds built The Pyramid, now only 13 years old and begging for new tenants. Public money is paying most of the $250 million cost of the FedEx Forum, and public money, through sales-tax rebates, has helped finance AutoZone Park, the Memphis Redbirds' home. The city has a general obligation bond debt of more than $900 million, and city property taxes are likely to be increased this year to meet government costs. More money is needed to improve schools, fight crime and fix roads and streets. The city announced late last week that almost $14 million will be required for necessary lighting and landscaping improvements around the FedExForum. Taxpayer pockets in Memphis seem to be about empty. The third option for the Liberty Bowl looks like the most reasonable at this time: Fix the most glaring health and safety needs and press on.

03/28/04		Baker sets new school record in the 800m, Russell and Bowen run personal best (GoTigersGo.com)
		STARKVILLE, Miss.-Gaute Myklebust set a new school record and earned an NCAA Regional Qualifying mark in the discus throw with a toss of 59.33m at the Bulldog Invitational Saturday hosted by Mississippi State University. Myklebust broke his own record in the event that he set in 2003. Three Tigers qualified for the NCAA Mid-Eastern Regionals Saturday. The University of Memphis Men's track team placed fifth at the Bulldog Invitational while the University of Memphis Women's team placed 10th. The Tigers did well in the distance events Saturday. Michael Mentz placed second in the 1500m run with a time of 4:01.12. Teammate Szilard Toth placed 4th in the event with a time of 4:03.92. Istvan Kerekjarto placed fourth in the 800m run with a time of 1:52.79. Abraham Shaposhnik placed seventh in the 800m with a time of 1:54.26. Szaboles Karadi placed third in the 5000m run with a time of 15.10.60. Jumper Janon Busby placed fourth in both the high jump (1.95m) and the triple jump (14.56m). Sprinter Ivan Williams placed fourth in the 200m with a time of 21.05. Williams earned a qualifying spot at the NCAA Mid-Eastern Regional with his time in the 200m. Adam Martin placed second in the shot put with a mark of 16.96m. Martin's mark qualifies him for the NCAA Regionals. The Tigers scored 65.50 points in the meet to finish fifth. Mississippi State won the meet with 178 points while Indiana State scored 111.50 points to finish second. Southwest Missouri State won the women's competition with 180 points and Mississippi State finished second with 149 points. The Lady Tigers scored 16 points to place 10th. Sue-Ann Bowen ran a personal best 55.62 in the 400m to place second. Ali Baker also ran a personal best 2:14.34 in the 800m to place third. Her time set a new Memphis school record breaking Julie Wright's record that was set in 2000. Tabitha Russell ran a 1:08.69 in the 400m hurdles placing seventh. Women - Team Rankings - 19 Events Scored ======================================== 1) Southwest Missouri State U 180 2) Mississippi State Univers 149 3) Indiana State University 129.50 4) University of Southern Mi 82 5) Lindenwood University 58 6) Middle Tennessee State Un 46 7) Arkansas State University 22.50 8) Jacksonville State Univer 20 9) Albany State University 16.50 10) University of Memphis 16 11) Mississippi College 8 12) Rhodes College 7 13) U-Memphis 5.50 Men - Team Rankings - 19 Events Scored ====================================== 1) Mississippi State Universi 178 2) Indiana State University 111.50 3) University of Southern Mis 80.50 4) Southwest Missouri State 67 5) University of Memphis 65.50 6) Lindenwood University 59.50 7) Arkansas State University 50 7) Albany State University 50 9) Middle Tennessee State Uni 36 10) U-Mid. Tenn. State 20 11) U-Indiana State 10 12) University of Alabama 4 13) Rhodes College 3 13) Hinds Community College 3 13) U-Jacksonville State 3

03/28/04		East Carolina Takes C-USA Baseball Series From Memphis With 8-4 Victory (GoTigersGo.com)
		Memphis, Tenn. - No. 18 East Carolina used a pair of fifth-inning home runs by the Lawhorn twins Darryl and Trevor to earn a series win over Memphis with an 8-4 victory in Conference-USA baseball action Sunday at AutoZone Park. The Pirates (21-6, 3-3 C-USA) took games two and three from the Tigers (12-9, 1-5 C-USA) to win their first C-USA series of the season. Trevor had a season-high four hits in the contest while Darryl added a pair of home runs as the Pirates outhit the Tigers 14-7. Rightfielder Jordan Hart was the only Tiger with two hits as he had a pair of singles. ECU first baseman Ryan Norwood drove in runs with a single in the second and a double in the fourth to help give the Pirates a 3-0 lead. The Lawhorns then knocked in the Pirate's three runs in the fifth as Darryl hit a two-run homer and Trevor added a solo blast off Memphis starter Stephen Gostkowski. The Tigers rallied to score four runs in the sixth inning, but that would be as close as Memphis would get. Centerfielder Josh Payne and first baseman Adam Amar had RBI singles in the frame while shortstop Brent Dlugach added a two-run triple. ECU added a pair of insurance runs with one in the seventh on a RBI-single by Trevor and one in the ninth on Darryl's second home run of the game and third of the series. Memphis loaded the bases in the ninth on a trio of walks, but left the bases loaded as Phillip Powell picked up his first save of the season by getting Patrick Hope to foul out to Norwood at first to end the game. Pirate starter Shane Matthews (3-0) allowed three runs on five hits while Gostkowski (1-2) took the loss after allowing six runs and nine hits in 4.1 innings of work. The Tigers return to Tuesday on the road at Arkansas State with first pitch in Jonesboro set for Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.

03/28/04		Women's Tennis Battles Back To .500 Mark -- Lady Tigers Win Three Straight On The Road (GoTigersGo.com)
		CONWAY, S.C. - The University of Memphis women's tennis team evened its overall record at 9-9 with a 4-3 win over Coastal Carolina (11-4), in non-conference play, Saturday. The Lady Tigers jumped up early, winning the doubles point with victories from the No. 1 and 3 doubles squads. In the singles portion of the match, Marlene Dirnstorfer, Andrea Feichtinger and Alex Tjioe nailed down the 4-3 win by winning their respective singles matches. The Lady Tigers will return to Memphis only to depart again for the final regular season road trip of the year when they face UAB, Cincinnati and DePaul in a C-USA tournament preview next weekend in Birmingham, Ala. Memphis 4, Coastal 3 Singles 1 - Marlene Dirnstorfer (UM) def. Medina Bajrambasic, 6-3, 6-4 2 - Marie Matrka def. Viktoria Gruber (UM), 6-2, 7-6 3 - Andrea Feichtinger (UM) def. Virginie Dinh, 1-6, 6-2, 6-2 4 - Petra Jantti def. Yesica Ares (UM), 7-5, 6-2 5 - Nicole Lemmerer def. Kristin Noble (UM), 6-0, 6-1 6 - Alex Tjioe (UM) def. Jessica Cleland, 6-0, 6-1 Doubles 1 - Dirnstorfer/Gruber(UM) def. Bajrambasic/Matrka, 9-8 (5) 2 - Dinh/Jantti def. Feichtinger/Tjioe (UM), 8-3 3 - Noble/Christina Wieser (UM) def. Lemmerer/Cleland, 8-3

03/28/04		Calipari Basketball Camp (Commercial Appeal)
		It's common to find the Finch Center filled on any summer day. Professionals. Collegians. High Schoolers. The place is typically packed with basketball players from dawn to dusk. Now, anybody with a check can get involved because the University of Memphis is taking registration forms for the John Calipari Basketball School. ''It's a way of giving back, and that's one of the things I like about it,'' said Tiger assistant Ed Schilling. ''We just try to put together a great camp that is cost efficient.'' The first camp runs June 14-18 with a cost of $175. Each session goes from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and all campers will receive a T-shirt and be eligible for various awards. There also will be two overnight weekend camps (June 18-20 and Aug. 6-8) and another day camp (Aug. 2-6). The least expensive route is a shooting camp from June 23-25 that will feature Grizzlies star Mike Miller. That costs $125, which includes a T-shirt and taped analysis of every player's jump shot. All camps are for players ages 7 to 18. For more information call the Tiger basketball office at 678-2346.

03/28/04		Pirates' Starter Tames Tigers (Commercial Appeal)
		By Phil Stukenborg Contact March 28, 2004 East Carolina righthander Greg Bunn shrugged his broad shoulders and said it wasn't really anything he couldn't handle. Before the start of this season, Bunn made the transition from the bullpen, where he was ECU's closer his freshman and sophomore years, to weekend starter. To him, it's the same approach . . . with maybe an additional 80 or so pitches. In Saturday's Conference USA baseball game at AutoZone Park, he displayed that quiet confidence, along with an impressive curveball, to lead the Pirates to a 7-1 victory against the University of Memphis before about 250. Bunn held the Tigers to five hits and struck out a career-high 11 in a career-best eight innings. Bunn (4-0) helped the 18th-ranked Pirates (20-6, 2-3 in C-USA) even the three-game series at one game apiece heading into today's 12:30 p.m. fi-nale, also at AutoZone Park. "The last couple of games I've pitched I've had a hard time getting ahead of guys," Bunn said. "Today, everything seemed to be working. And when they did hit the ball, guys behind me caught the ball. I didn't have that much to worry about. "It's easy to pitch on a day where the guys are fielding behind you." Bunn was helped by a 16-hit attack that saw the Pirates get at least one hit in every inning. Drew Costanzo, Ryan Norwood and Trevor Lawhorn had three hits each to lead ECU. Lawhorn's twin brother, Darryl, drove in two runs, including one with a deep homer to right. Memphis (12-8, 1-4) got its run in the third inning when Chad House's single brought home Kyle Scott to tie the game at one. Tigers coach Dave Anderson said his team helped Bunn by showing a lack of discipline at the plate and misplaying several balls that led to three ECU runs. "When you are facing good pitching, you've got to do some things right and we didn't do them," Anderson said. "Today we ran into a guy with some pretty good stuff, and we swung at some bad pitches and got ourselves into a hole." Trailing 2-1 in the fifth inning, the Tigers gave ECU a gift run when catcher Kurt Welch threw wide past first on a sacrifice bunt by Jamie Paige. In the sixth, ECU turned a bloop single by Costanzo - on a ball that could have been caught in short right field - into another run. And in the seventh, Norwood got credit for a two-run triple when Payne was unable to catch a line-drive in center. "If we don't throw the bunt away and we catch the fly ball, it's a 4-1 game," Anderson said. "You make a couple of mistakes, and good teams always make you pay." - Phil Stukenborg: 529-2543

03/27/04		Myklebust Sets New School Record In Discus Throw, Qualifies For NCAA Regionals At Bulldog Invitational (GoTigersGo.com)
		STARKVILLE, Miss.-Gaute Myklebust set a new school record and earned an NCAA Regional Qualifying mark in the discus throw with a toss of 59.33m at the Bulldog Invitational Saturday hosted by Mississippi State University. Myklebust broke his own record in the event that he set in 2003. Three Tigers qualified for the NCAA Mid-Eastern Regionals Saturday. The University of Memphis Men's track team placed fifth at the Bulldog Invitational while the University of Memphis Women's team placed 10th. The Tigers did well in the distance events Saturday. Michael Mentz placed second in the 1500m run with a time of 4:01.12. Teammate Szilard Toth placed 4th in the event with a time of 4:03.92. Istvan Kerekjarto placed fourth in the 800m run with a time of 1:52.79. Abraham Shaposhnik placed seventh in the 800m with a time of 1:54.26. Szaboles Karadi placed third in the 5000m run with a time of 15.10.60. Jumper Janon Busby placed fourth in both the high jump (1.95m) and the triple jump (14.56m). Sprinter Ivan Williams placed fourth in the 200m with a time of 21.05. Williams earned a qualifying spot at the NCAA Mid-Eastern Regional with his time in the 200m. Adam Martin placed second in the shot put with a mark of 16.96m. Martin's mark qualifies him for the NCAA Regionals. The Tigers scored 65.50 points in the meet to finish fifth. Mississippi State won the meet with 178 points while Indiana State scored 111.50 points to finish second. Southwest Missouri State won the women's competition with 180 points and Mississippi State finished second with 149 points. The Lady Tigers scored 16 points to place 10th. Sue-Ann Bowen ran a personal best 55.62 in the 400m to place second. Ali Baker also ran a personal best 2:14.34 in the 800m to place third. Her time set a new Memphis school record breaking Julie Wright's record that was set in 2000. Tabitha Russell ran a 1:08.69 in the 400m hurdles placing seventh. Women - Team Rankings - 19 Events Scored ================================== 1) Southwest Missouri State U 180 2) Mississippi State Univers 149 3) Indiana State University 129.50 4) University of Southern Mi 82 5) Lindenwood University 58 6) Middle Tennessee State Un 46 7) Arkansas State University 22.50 8) Jacksonville State Univer 20 9) Albany State University 16.50 10) University of Memphis 16 11) Mississippi College 8 12) Rhodes College 7 13) U-Memphis 5.50 Men - Team Rankings - 19 Events Scored ================================ 1) Mississippi State Universi 178 2) Indiana State University 111.50 3) University of Southern Mis 80.50 4) Southwest Missouri State 67 5) University of Memphis 65.50 6) Lindenwood University 59.50 7) Arkansas State University 50 7) Albany State University 50 9) Middle Tennessee State Uni 36 10) U-Mid. Tenn. State 20 11) U-Indiana State 10 12) University of Alabama 4 13) Rhodes College 3 13) Hinds Community College 3 13) U-Jacksonville State 3

03/27/04		No. 18 East Carolina Defeats Memphis 7-1 In C-USA Baseball Action (GoTigersGo.com)
		Memphis, Tenn. -- - East Carolina starter Greg Bunn struck out 11 in eight innings of work as the 18th-ranked Pirates defeated Memphis 7-1 in Conference-USA baseball action Saturday at AutoZone Park. The Pirates (20-6, 2-3 C-USA) evened the series with the Tigers (12-8, 1-4 C-USA) at a win apiece and set up a rubber match in game three. A trio of Pirates each had three hits in the contest as ECU pounded out 16 in the game. First baseman Ryan Norwood was a home run shy of the cycle and second baseman Trevor Lawhorn added a pair of RBIs on a double and two singles. The Pirates grabbed a 1-0 lead off Memphis starter Derek Hankins in the first after Jamie Paige, who led off the game with a double, scored on a RBI-groundout by Darryl Lawhorn. The Tigers tied the game at one in the third on a RBI-single by Chad House. That would be the only run the Tigers could muster off Bunn (4-0) who struck out the side in the first and fifth innings and allowed only five hits and walked only one. The ECU offense tallied six unanswered runs scoring single runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings before posting a three-spot in the seventh on Darryl Lawhorn's third home run of the season and a two-run triple by Norwood. Hankins (2-3) took the loss for Memphis allowing four runs, three earned, on 10 hits in six innings of work. Zach Cook tossed a scoreless ninth for the Tigers. Leftfielder Drew Costanzo posted three singles and scored two runs for the Pirates while leadoff hitter Jamie Paige and shortstop Billy Richardson each added two hits. Tiger shortstop Brent Dlugach went 2-for-4 at the plate to increase his average in league games to .421. Game three of the series has been moved up to a 12:30 p.m. start Sunday to accommodate East Carolina's travel plans.

03/27/04		Future Tiger Shines In All-Star Showcase -- Washington Scores 30 In Loss (Commercial Appeal)
		By From Our Press Services March 27, 2004 University of Memphis basketball fans wondering how the departure of senior Antonio Burks will affect the team's point guard situation can rest a little easier. Tennessee fans, though, may have to sweat out the next few months. Tiger signee Darius Washington, a 6-1 floor general from Orlando playing for the T-Mac (Tracy McGrady) Superstars, scored 30 points on 12-of-22 shooting as his team fell 149-127 to the KG (Kevin Garnett) Superstars at the adidas/EA Sports Superstars game at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville. Jackie Butler, a 6-10 Volunteer signee, made his first appearance on his home court, but it could also be his last. Two roadblocks could prevent the former McDonald's All-American from ever suiting up in orange. One, he would prefer to skip college and go to the NBA if his draft profile improves in the next two months. Two, if the NBA isn't a viable alternative, he has work yet to do to get qualified academically. After scoring 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting for the winning team, Butler made it clear his priority is the NBA. He has made himself eligible for the June draft, but still retains his college eligibility because he hasn't signed with an agent. Asked if he could see himself coming to college at UT, Butler took a long pause, looked as if he'd bit into a ripe lemon and said, "If I have to come to college, I'll come to college, but if I can go to the NBA, I'm going to go. "It's 50-50. I'm still deciding what I'm going to do." Butler and fellow UT signee Damion Harris both started for their respective teams. Harris' first move to the basket was stuffed by Butler. Butler then blocked two more Harris attempts in the second quarter. Harris scored two baskets, one on a goal-tending call against Dwight Howard By reputation, the best player on the floor was the 6-foot-10 Howard of Atlanta. Projected as the first pick in this summer's NBA draft, Howard was excellent in an understated way. He showed quick moves in the paint and a knack for running the floor and handling the ball, adding up 19 points on 9-of-9 shooting, 14 rebounds and 10 assists. The "little" guys had their way. Virginia signee Sean Singletary scored 24 points and Duke-bound DeMarcus Nelson had 20. Harris, the 6-9 center from Greenville, S.C., said he's looking forward to coming to Tennessee, but added he's willing to go to prep school for a year of additional seasoning if he comes up short of qualifying academically. "Prep school, it's like another step,'' he said, "and it's going to help me out even more. "But I think I'm going to be in good shape as far as getting here. I've got another attempt at the (standardized) test and I think I'll be OK.''

03/27/04		Means Earns Early Exit -- West Singles Out Defensive End For Impressive Scrimmage Play (Commercial Appeal)
		By Phil Stukenborg Contact March 27, 2004 Tigers coach Tommy West had called his University of Memphis football team together once during Friday's scrimmage to admonish them for periods of lackluster play. So when he summoned the offense and defense to mid-field for a second time late in the scrimmage, several players wondered what they had done wrong. Instead, West wanted to recognize someone who had been doing everything right. West asked defensive lineman Albert Means to step forward. Means had made several stops during the previous series, a continuation not only of his play during the afternoon, but the spring. "What I told our team when I stopped the scrimmage is that I don't know in my coaching career that I've had somebody put their heart and soul into this like he has this spring. And it's been every day, every play. "You could see he was making every play. We'd run a reverse and he'd make the play. We'd throw the ball, and he'd be hitting the quarterback. We'd run the ball up inside, and he'd make the tackle." West said it was the first time in his 11 years as a head coach that he'd stopped a scrimmage to recognize such an effort. After he praised the 6-4, 330-pound Means for his hustle, he told him he had earned the rest of the afternoon off. The rest of the Tigers applauded. "They knew what he'd been doing," West said. "To me, that showed the respect they had for him." Means, a nosetackle who has spent a productive spring at defensive end, wasn't the only Tiger making plays Friday in a workout that went 110 plays, about 38 fewer than the previous week's. Running back DeAngelo Williams rushed four times for 117 yards and two touchdowns, including a 71-yard sprint around left end to complete an afternoon shorter than Means's. Quarterback Danny Wimprine had a near-perfect scrimmage, completing 11-of-13 passes for 190 yards and a touchdown. He completed his final nine passes. And receiver Maurice Avery, who missed last week's first full-scale scrimmage while playing for the men's basketball team, returned and looked as comfortable running routes as he did last fall. Avery, the team's leading receiver a year ago, had four receptions for 124 yards and two one-handed touchdown catches, including a spectacular grab from Wimprine that resulted in a 36-yard score. "Everyone was talking about was I trying to show off (on the one-handed reception)," Avery said. "I wasn't. They were holding my other arm, so I had only the one left." Avery, who had a team-leading eight touchdown catches last year, said playing for the men's basketball team kept him in shape. "I never felt like I was away (while with the basketball team), but it's always a at-home feeling to be back on the field," Avery said. Wimprine enjoyed having Avery has an option, even though the Tigers have a surplus of standout receivers, a group that includes Tavares Gideon and Mario Pratcher. "When a guy like (Avery) can come back and start practicing, it brings the whole level of practice back up," Wimprine said. "We're excited to see him back out here, and he's done a good job." Pratcher, who had 190 receiving yards in last week's scrimmage, had six catches for 83 yards. Tavarious Davis had three receptions for 74 yards and a 45-yard TD. Defensively, Lane Garcia had two tackles for lost yardage, Cameron Essex had a diving interception of a Robison pass intended for Gideon and linebackers Quinton McCrary and Carlton Baker had back-to-back sacks. "As a defense we ran to the ball better and we tackled better," Means said. "Since we've been going over our plays and our defense, we've been going into our gaps better. "But the offense has been doing a good job of catching the ball and running and block ing." - Phil Stukenborg: 529-2543

03/26/04		Memphis Earns 6-5 Decision Over No. 18 East Carolina In C-USA Baseball Action (GoTigersGo.com)
		Memphis, Tenn. - Memphis rightfielder Jordan Hart had three hits and scored three runs and centerfielder Josh Payne added a three-run homer as the Tigers defeated East Carolina 6-5 in Conference-USA baseball action Friday at AutoZone Park. Memphis improved to 12-7 overall and 1-3 in C-USA play while the 18th-ranked Pirates dropped to 19-6 overall and 1-3 in league play. Payne sent the first pitch he saw from ECU starter BrodyTaylor deep over the leftfield wall to give the Tigers a quick 3-0 lead in the first inning. Patrick Hope and Hart each singled ahead of Payne to set up the three-run homer. East Carolina loaded the bases in the second on a single and a pair of walks, but Memphis starter Jarrett Grube was able to induce Jamie Paige to fly out to end the threat. The Pirates did convert on their next chance to score rallying to tie the game with a trio of runs in the third. Darryl Lawhorn drove in a run with a single and he scored on a bloop double by Ryan Norwood. Hart gave Memphis the lead back in the sixth when he scored on a RBI-single by Brent Dlugach. Hart singled and put himself in scoring position with his fourth steal of the season. The Pirates tied it up again in the eighth as the Lawhorn twins came through for the visitors. Trevor led off the inning with a double and scored on a single by his brother Darryl. Hart led off the Memphis eighth with a double and moved to third on an infield single by catcher Kurt Welch. Hart then scored on a wild pitch by ECU reliever Mike Flye. Welch scored the game-winning when second baseman Trevor Lawhorn could not handle a grounder off the bat of Kyle Scott. East Carolina plated a run in the ninth, but Memphis reliever Bill Edwards (1-2) was able to retire the side when he forced Trevor Lawhorn into a game-ending double play. Edwards logged two innings of relieft work allowing a run on two hits. Payne's first-inning homer was his team-leading fourth of the season. Grube retired the last 12 batters he faced and equaled his season high for strikeouts with nine in seven innings of work. Dustin Sasser (1-1) took the loss for the Pirates after allowing an unearned run in the eighth. Memphis and East Carolina continue their series Saturday with a 2 p.m. contest at AutoZone.

03/26/04		Men's Soccer Defeats Tennessee Under-23 Squad, 1-0, In Spring Action (GoTigersGo.com)
		MEMPHIS, Tenn.-- - Andy Metcalf scored the game's lone goal, assisted by Dayton O'Brien, in the 70th minute to give the University of Memphis men's soccer team a 1-0 win over the Tennessee Under-23 Olympic Development team Friday night at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex. The Tigers are now 2-2-1 in spring competition. Players of notable performances, along with Metcalf and O'Brien, include Harrison Kiser, Gary Connolly, Cormac McArdle and Justin Dyer. "Harrison had his hardest working display on the pitch tonight." said Tiger head coach Richie Grant. "It was an excellent game for us," Grant said. "There was great tempo and commitment from all players. This is the type of game we needed to play. It was tough and physical and we had to defend well to keep the win. Overall it was a great team performance." Memphis will return to action on Tues., March 30 when they play host Colaiste Ide from Ireland in their annual spring matchup. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at the MRSC.

03/26/04		Offense Is Explosive In Spring's 2nd Scrimmage (GoTigersGo.com)
		The Tiger coaching staff took another look at tailback DeAngelo Williams during Friday's scrimmage at Murphy Athletic Complex, but it was not a long look. The record-setting back from Arkansas had just four carries on the afternoon and that was enough for Tommy West to send Williams to the sidelines for the remainder of the scrimmage. Working with the first offensive unit, Williams reeled off 117 yards on four attempts and scored touchdowns on runs of 34 and 71 yards. Backup tailback LaKendus Cole, who received a game ball for his play in the New Orleans Bowl, totaled 81 yards on six carries and had a 62-yard run called back on offsetting penalties. "I liked what I saw out there today," said West. "Don't get me wrong, we still have to turn it up a notch or two before next fall but I like the way we are working with intensity." Quarterback Danny Wimprine completed 11 of 13 pass attempts, including his last nine consecutive attempts, for 190 yards and one touchdown. Lefthander Bobby Robison hit on 8 of 18 passes for 159 yards and two scores in helping the offense amass 378 yards in the air. Maurice Avery, who has spent the past two months with the Tiger basketball team, led all receivers with four catches for 124 yards and two touchdowns. He his two, one-handed, touchdown catches came on passes of 55 and 36 yards. Mario Pratcher caught six passes for 83 yards and Tavarious Davis had three receptions for 74 yards and one score. Defensively, West singled out the play of defensive end Albert Means. The former Parade All-American made play after play throughout the scrimmage which prompted West to stop the action and send Means to the sidelines to take the remainder of the afternoon off. "I am very proud of Albert Means," West continued. "He never says a word but just goes about his business. He has become a leader for this team both on and off the field and I just can't say enough about what he has accomplished." The Tigers will practice on Saturday morning at Murphy Complex. The team will have two more practice sessions before the April 3rd Blue-Gray Scrimmage, slated for 11:45 AM at Rhodes College.

03/26/04		Princess Swilley Scheduled For Surgery -- Senior Guard To Repair Right Shoulder, A Year After Repairing Her Left Shoulder (GoTigersGo.com)
		MEMPHIS, TENN. - University of Memphis senior guard Princess Swilley will have surgery on April 1 to repair her shoulder. Swilley injured her right shoulder on Feb. 29, and played with pain for the remainder of the season. She is all too familiar with this type of shoulder injury, as she had her left shoulder repaired immediately following her junior year. Dr. Barry Phillips of the Campbell Clinic will perform her surgery. Swilley etched her name in the career record books with her two points against Western Kentucky in the second round of the WNIT. Swilley ended her career with 1,000 points and is the second Lady Tiger in two years to join the U of M 1,000 Point Club. "I was so happy with the fact that Princess got her 1,000 points," said McNelis following the WKU loss last week. "It would have broken my heart if she wouldn't have gotten it. She has been a joy to coach these last four years, and she is the type of player that coaches wish they had 10 of. My hat is off to her family because they have raised a quality woman who I am proud of. "Not too many people know that Princess has been playing with a lot of pain, and has had to receive a shot before the last couple of game" added McNelis. "She has battled these last few weeks, and has never complained. I am truly proud of her, and will miss her greatly."

03/26/04		Track & Field Opens Outdoor Season At Bulldog Invitational (GoTigersGo.com)
		MEMPHIS-The University of Memphis Men's and Women's Track & Field teams will open up the outdoor season at the Bulldog Invitational hosted by Mississippi State University at the W.O. Spencer Stadium / Carl Maddox Track. The meet begins at 9:00 a.m. Saturday. Memphis Men's Track & Field Preview The Tigers enter the 2004 outdoor season with high expectations. Memphis returns both NCAA Championship competitors including double-medlaist Mate Nemeth and 2003 C-USA Male Outdoor Athlete of the Year Gaute Myklebust. The Tigers are very strong in the throwing events and have capable athletes in the sprints, distance and jumping events as well. Sprints Traditionally Memphis has produced elite sprinters. The Tigers lost last year's top sprinter Gary Nemeth to the 2004 Olympic Games. Nemeth, a native of Hungary, has temporarily left the university to train for the Olympics as part of the Hungarian 4x100m Relay team. Nemeth's father is the coach of that team in Hungary. Still the Tigers have talent in this area. Senior Ivan Williams has had a tremendous offseason of training and appears poised to become a top sprinter in the conference and bid for an NCAA Regional Qualifying spot in the 200m dash. As a true freshman, Willie Green proved why he was a prized recruit from the Peach State when he placed third in the 60m dash at the C-USA Indoor Championships. A hamstring injury prevented him from competing in the outdoor season, but a healthy Green has all the tools to be an impact sprinter for the Tigers in 2004. Adding depth to the men's sprint corps is senior Michael Woods. Woods is a capable sprinter that has improved with every year of training. He could be a pleasant surprise for the Tigers this year. In the hurdle events, Preston Taylor returns for the Tigers. Taylor ranked in top 10 of C-USA as a sophomore in the 100m hurdles. Taylor, standing at 6'4", possesses the tools of a good hurdler. Newcomer Daniel Kiss is expected to make a big impact for the Tigers. A former Hungarian national Champion in the 110m hurdles, Kiss competed in the European Championships and his best time in the 60m hurdles compares very favorably to the best times posted in C-USA last year. Freshman Larry Harris joins the team this year. A local high school standout at Cordova HS Memphis, Harris may be the future for the Tigers in that event. Austin Hunter, a former college soccer player has developed into a solid 400m man for the Tigers. Now entering his sophomore year, Hunter is experienced and should climb the rankings in C-USA in 2004. Distance The strength of the Tigers team in 2003 was their distance corps. That group may be even stronger in 2004. Led by C-USA Double-Medalist Mate Nemeth (3000m steeplechase, 5000m Champion), the Tigers will be a force in the distance events. Nemeth returns for his senior campaign and sets his sights not on only repeating as a conference champion, but perhaps advancing to the finals of the NCAA Championships in the steeplechase which he just missed in 2003. Sophomore Istvan Kerekjarto qualified for the NCAA Regionals in the 800m and 1500m run in 2003 as a freshman. The coaching staff loves his potential and believes Kerekjarto can accomplish a lot before his career is over at Memphis. Newcomers Michael Mentz, Szabi Karadi, Abraham Shaposhnik and Szilard Toth all have strong credentials as distance runners. Mentz won his first race as a Tiger winning the 800m with an impressive time and may be the strongest of the newcomers. Collectively, the Tigers can potentially accumulate a lot of points in the distance events at the conference championship meets. Throws NCAA rules allow a team to enter four competitors in each event. The Tigers look to take advantage of that rule in the throwing events this spring. Coach Kevin Robinson has assembled a very talented group of throwers that may be as a good as any group in the country. Returning Double-Medalist and NCAA Championship Qualifier and 2003 C-USA Male Outdoor Athlete of the Year Senior Gaute Myklebust looks to add to his trophy case in 2004. Competing overseas this past summer in amateur competition, the native Norwegian produced marks in the shot put and discus that rival the top marks posted last year at the NCAA Championships. The C-USA 2003 Indoor Shot Put Champion and NCAA Regional Qualifier Adam Martin is back for his senior season. Martin competes in all four events (shot put, discus, weight throw and hammer) with the hammer throw being his strongest, as he is a top five thrower in C-USA. Senior transfer Stein Syverson is a former Norwegian Junior Champion in the discus and shot put. In his first meet as a Tiger, he matched Myklebust's performance in both events and challenges his teammate in those events. Freshmen Darius Frye and Norbert Guylas will jockey for the final spot as a thrower. Although young, both have shown ability as throwers. Jumps After an absence of competitors in the jumping events in 2003, the Memphis brought in two athletes to compete in these events in 2004. Junior College Transfer Janon Busby was a top-five finisher in the high jump and National Champion in the triple jump at the NJCAA Championships in 2003 while competing at Wallace State in Alabama. Busby gives the Tigers an instant boost in those two events. Freshman Cody Rushing was the Tennessee High School State Runner-up in the pole vault in 2003. He is the first pole vaulter to compete for Memphis since 1999 C-USA Champion Christos Adamides. Memphis Women's Track & Field Preview The University of Memphis Women's track team opens its season this weekend at the Bulldog Invitational this weekend. The Lady Tigers enter the 2004 Outdoor Track campaign looking to build on last year's success which saw the Lady Tigers send their first ever competitor to the NCAA Championships and place sixth overall as a team in C-USA. The Lady Tigers are very young this year with 22 of 29 roster members being underclassmen. Memphis has only two seniors on the 2004 roster. Sprints With the loss of NCAA Qualifier Keenan Gibson, the Lady Tigers are looking for a candidate to compete with the top sprinters in C-USA. Junior Chanel Dunn may be that aspirant. In 2003, Dunn qualified for the 100m dash finals at the C-USA Outdoor Championships, but did not compete in the finals due to an injury. She finished in the C-USA top 10 rankings in both the 100m and 200m dashes in 2003. Dunn qualified for the NCAA Regionals in the 100m. She has gotten stronger heading into her junior season and looks to fill the shoes of Gibson and establish herself as the Lady Tigers top sprinter in 2004. Sophomores Josetta Brooks and Sue-Ann Bowen are both capable sprinters. As true freshman, they improved with every meet and are better conditioned entering their sophomore years. Brooks, a strong, powerful runner, is a hurdle specialist. She placed seventh at the 2003 C-USA Outdoor Championships in the 100m hurdles. She also competes in the 100m. Bowen is a tall long strider that specializes in the 400m. She ranked in the top 10 of C-USA in the 400m in 2003. Junior Sheena Ohlig is a veteran sprinter for the Lady Tigers. A multi-talented athlete, she has competed in several events for the Lady Tigers. Ohlig placed sixth in the 100m hurdles at the C-USA Championships. Her experience and versatility as sprinter and hurdler is a valuable asset for the Lady Tigers. The young Lady Tigers have strength in numbers in the sprints. Sophomores Tabitha Russell and Zsofia Nagy and freshmen Ashley Harris, LaShunda Flake, Alicia Marner and Franicia Barnett will all compete for the Lady Tigers. Coach Cash hopes that multiple sprinters in this young group will surface this spring as sound runners. Distance The Lady Tigers had four distance runners on the roster last spring for the outdoor season and two of those runners were true freshmen. Memphis failed to score a point in an event over 400m at the 2003 C-USA Championships, but Coach Cash and Coach Jonas Holdeman believe they have solved this problem by signing nine new distance runners within the last year. With 12 distance runners on the roster for 2004, including a stable of 10 able sophomores and freshmen, the Lady Tigers future in distance events appears bright. Leading the way is former standout Memphis soccer player senior Ali Baker. Baker, known for her endurance as a soccer player, joined the Memphis cross country program last fall and became the Lady Tigers top runner. She could be a top ten competitor in the conference in the 800m and 1500m. Freshmen Kara Cassel, Becca McMahon, Mary Claire Dake, Michel Wilson and Daniele Riendeau separated themselves from the group in cross country this fall and finished as the Lady Tigers top scorers. Track is a different type of running, but the confidence is there that their progression will carry over to the track. As true freshmen, these runners have ability, and are lacking only experience before they begin competing with the top runners in C-USA. Junior Nora Nemere has trained well and hopes to give the Lady Tigers a boost on the long distance events. She competed in the 5000m at the C-USA Championships in 2003 and looks to climb into the top 10 in 2004. Adding depth to the squad sophomores Heather Woolls, Karin Brooks and Shermekia Plez along with Freshmen Brittany Pieraccini, Sarah Janecek and Kimberly McVeigh. Jumps The Lady Tigers strength in 2004 will be in the jumping events. Three-Time C-USA Triple Jump Champion, Lisa-Marie Hyman returns for her senior year. Hyman won her third triple jump crown in 2003, set school records in both the indoor and outdoor triple jump and her personal best 12.67m was good enough to qualify her for NCAA Regionals. Hyman may have to be her best as a senior in order to defend her triple jump titles. Besides competition from other jumpers around the conference, Hyman's teammate, freshman Cassandra Harding may be tough to fend off in the triple jump. Harding was a highly touted prep star in Texas and one of the top athletes to ever sign with the Memphis women's track program. Her top marks in high school rivaled Hyman's mark that won the conference. Two-sport star Victoria Crawford will join the Lady Tigers for the outdoor season. A member of the Lady Tiger basketball team, her natural jumping ability is evident in the field events where she excels. Crawford ranked in the top-five in C-USA in the triple jump and long jump in 2003 and also competed in the high jump and shot put. Sophomore Lindsay Cade is a high jump specialist. A tall slender jumper, Cade has an opportunity to surpass her best marks as a freshman and climb up the rankings in C-USA. Freshman Shelly Alexin joins the team this spring. A successful prep jumper, Alexin is versatile and will compete in the long jump, high jump and triple jump and competed in the pentathlon in high school. Sophomores Josetta Brooks and Tabitha Russell have both competed in the long jump at Memphis, as did Junior Sheena Ohlig. It's probable each will see action in jumping events this spring. Memphis Track & Field Notes Hungarian Pipeline Plentiful for Memphis Track The Tigers and Lady Tigers currently have nine Hungarians, five hailing from the City of Budapest, on their respective rosters including some of Memphis's best athletes. Distance runners Mate Nemeth (Szekszard, Hungary) and Szilard Toth (Pecs, Hungary) are top runners in C-USA. Nemeth is a three time conference champion and Toth enters this weekend's C-USA Indoor Championships as the league's top-ranked mile runner. Gary Nemeth (Sopron, Hungary), although absent this spring as he prepares for the Olympics, was the Tigers top sprinter in 2003. Nora Nemere (Budapest, Hungary) is the Lady Tigers top long distance runner and Zsofia Nagy (Budapest, Hungary) is an active sprinter for the Lady Tigers. Daniel Kiss (Budapest, Hungary), a newcomer on the squad is a top contender in the 60m hurdles and Istvan Kerekjarto (Biatorbagy, Hungary) is a top middle distance runner for the Tigers. As a freshman he qualified for the NCAA Regionals in the 1500m and 800m. Norbert Gulyas (Budapest, Hungary) is a freshman thrower on the team with a bright future and Szaboles Karadi (Budapest, Hungary) is a distance runner on the squad. Tiger Throwers a Force Memphis has a collection of top throwers that arguably rivals that of any in the country. Led by 2003 C-USA Male Outdoor Athlete of the Year, senior Gaute Myklebust; Memphis has the potential to score many points in the shot put and weight throw competitions. Myklebust advanced to the NCAA Outdoor Championships after winning the 2003 C-USA Outdoor Championship in the shot put. Last Year's 2003 C-USA Indoor shot put champion was senior Adam Martin. Martin enters this year's competition as the highest ranked thrower among Memphis competitors with a season best mark of 16.19m which he threw at the ASU Kickoff Klassic (12/7). Martin also competes in the weight throw and is a contender in that event. Senior transfer Stein Syverson has the ability to challenge both Myklebust and Martin in the shot put. Syverson is a former Norwegian Youth Champion in that event. Freshmen Darius Frye and Norbert Gulyas are also talented throwers and present a bright future for the Tigers after the three seniors graduate. Like 2003, Distance Runners are Tigers strength in 2004 Led by NCAA Championships Qualifier Mate Nemeth, Memphis has a solid group of distance runners in 2004 that could amass numerous points at the C-USA Outdoor Championships. Nemeth is the defending 3000m steeplechase and 5000m run champion. He holds the school record in the indoor 5000m run at 14:52.78. Newcomer Szilard Toth is a league leader in the mile run. Teammate Istvan Kerekjarto ranked second in the mile run with a time of 4:11.77 durong the indoor season. Michael Mentz could push to be a top runner in the conference in the 800m run. Abraham Shaposhnik and Szaboles Karadi are both capable distance runners that provide a bonus for the Tigers. Hyman Sets School Record in the Triple Jump at C-USA Indoor Meet Lisa-Marie Hyman has won three of the last four C-USA Triple Jump Championships. Winning the 2002 Outdoor, 2003 Indoor and 2003 Outdoor Titles, Hyman is trying to become the first Lady Tiger to win four conference championships in one event. Already the first Lady Tiger to win three conference championships in one event, Hyman looks to add to her legacy. Despite earning a personal best mark and new school record of 12.98m at the C-USA Indoor Championships, Charlotte's Sharonda Johnson won the competition with a leap of 13.08m Lady Tigers are young kittens in 2004 On the Women's team, 22 of the 29 athletes are underclassmen with 15 freshmen and seven sophomores on the squad. Lisa-Marie Hyman and Ali Baker are the lone seniors on the team. Though Baker is a senior, it is her first year running track for the Lady Tigers. Freshmen and Sophomores that competed at the C-USA Indoor Championships are: Lindsay Cade (High Jump), Cassandra Harding (Triple Jump, Pentathlon), Kara Cassel (3000m), Josetta Brooks (60m hurdles), Daniele Riendeau (800m), Michel Wilson (800m), Sue-Ann Bowen (400m), Zsofia Nagy (200m), and Mary Claire Dake (Mile Run). Memphis's Top Sprinters Not Available for 2004 Season Junior sprinter Gary Nemeth has left the team this spring to train for the 2004 Olympic Games where he will compete for his native Hungary as a member of the 4x100m Relay team in Athens this summer. Nemeth's father is the coach of that team and they began training for the Olympics in December 2003. Nemeth qualified for the NCAA Regionals in the 200m and was the anchor of the Tigers 4x100m Relay Team. The Lady Tigers top returning sprinter is not academically eligible for 2004. Junior Chanel Dunn, who qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Regionals in the 100m, will not be available for competition this spring. She continues to train with the team and anticipates regaining eligibility for the 2005 season. Tigers Top Hurdler Out with Stress Fracture Daniel Kiss, the Tigers top hurdler and potentially one of the top hurdlers in C-USA will miss 4-6 weeks with a stress fracture in his right leg. Kiss suffered the injury training just before the C-USA Indoor Championships. He competed at the meet with the injury, but did not perform to his potential with the injury. Kiss is questionable to return in time for the C-USA Outdoor Championships on May 13-15. Former Soccer Star, now Lady Tigers top Distance Runner Ali Baker, a former soccer standout at the U of M joined the Memphis track team as a senior in 2003. She has asserted herself as the top distance runner on the Lady Tigers squad. Her time of 2:20.82 ranks in the Top-20 of C-USA. Green Returns to the Track for the Tigers Willie Green who missed all of last year's (2003) outdoor season and this year's (2004) indoor season with a left hamstring injury has returned to full-training in anticipation of the 2004 outdoor season. A sophomore from Augusta, Ga., Green is a former high school state champion and as a true freshmen he placed third in the 60m at the 2003 C-USA Indoor Championships. Green is potentially one of the top sprinters in C-USA when healthy. Injuries a Big Problem for the Tigers The Tigers lost sprinter Willie Green (hamstring) for the indoor season. Hurdler Danile Kiss (leg stress fracture), jumper Janon Busby (ankle), distance runners Mate Nemeth (achilles), Szaboles Karadi (back) and thrower Gaute Myklebust (shoulder) were all hampered by injuries during the indoor season. All but Kiss are near 100 percent now and hope to put the injuries behind them for the outdoor season. Kiss is expected to miss 4-6 weeks. Tigers place Fifth at C-USA Indoor Championships The Tigers were shooting for a top-three finish this year, but injuries and luck weren't on the Tigers side as they placed fifth scoring 74 points. Houston won the Men's championship with 181 points. The Cougars blew away the competition with TCU finishing a distant second scoring 99 points and Marquette placed third with 89 points. Charlotte scored 76 points to edge the Tigers for fourth place. Myklebust Wins Shot Put, Four Tigers Place in the Event The Tigers scored 22 points in the shot put with four competitors placing. Gaute Myklebust won the event (17.42m), while Stein Syverson (17.00m) placed third, Adam Martin (16.22m) placed fifth and Norbert Gulyas (15.30m) placed seventh. Myklebust qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the shot put in 2003. He holds the school record at 18.33m. Martin won the 2003 C-USA Indoor Shot Put Championship, but was unable to defend his title in 2004. Lady Tigers place 13th at C-USA Indoor Championships The Lady Tigers knew at times this year they would take their lumps with such a young team in 2004. In a disappointing showing at the C-USA Indoor Meet, the Lady Tigers only had two competitors place in an event. Lisa-Marie Hyman placed second in the triple jump (12.98m) and freshmen Cassandra Harding placed eighth in the triple jump (11.70m). The two combined to score the Lady Tigers lone nine points at the meet. TCU won the C-USA Indoor Championship scoring 125 points. They were followed by USF (97.50) and Houston (92).

03/26/04		Women's Tennis Comes Back Again To Down UNC Wilmington, 5-2 (GoTigersGo.com)
		WILMINGTON, N.C. - The University of Memphis women's tennis team (8- 9, 2-0 C-USA) again came back after dropping the doubles point to pick up a win, with a 5-2 victory at UNC Wilmington, Thursday. The Seahawks picked up wins at No. 1 and 3 doubles to go up early in the contest, but the Lady Tigers stormed back with victories at No. 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 singles to take the 5-2 victory. Memphis will have one day off before facing Coastal Carolina, Saturday, in Conway, S.C. Doubles 1. Lindsey Hess-Sallie Kiser (UNCW) def. Marlene Dirnstorfer-Viktoria Gruber (UM) 8-3 2. Andrea Feichtinger-Alexandra Tjioe (UM) def. Cary Wyeth-Lauren Filliettaz (UNCW) 8-6 3. Molly Molony-Kristin Mears (UNCW) Kristin Noble-Yessica Ares Singles 1. Marlene Dirnstorfer (UM) def. Lindsey Hess (UNCW) 7-5, 7-6 (4) 2. Viktoria Gruber (UM) def. Molly Molony (UNCW) 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 3. Andrea Feichtinger (UM) def. Sallie Kiser (UNCW) 6-2, 6-1 4. Kristin Mears (UNCW) def. Yessica Ares (UM) 6-2, 6-2 5. Kristin Noble (UM) def. Cary Wyeth (UNCW) 6-3, 7-5 6. Alexandra Tjioe (UM) def. Lauren Filliettaz (UNCW) 7-6 (5), 4-6 (10-1) Team Records: Memphis 8-9; UNC Wilmington 8-7

03/26/04		Tyson Helton Hired As Assistant Football Coach For Tigers -- Former Hawaii Assistant Will Handle UM Tight Ends And Special Teams (GoTigersGo.com)
		Memphis, TN - Tyson Helton, who has coached the Hawaii special teams for the past four years, has been hired by Tommy West as an assistant coach for the Tigers. He will coach the Tiger special teams and tight ends. "I am pleased to announce that Tyson Helton will join our football staff," said West. "He has proven over the past few years to be one of the best young special teams coaches in the country and brings a wealth of knowledge about special teams play to our program." The 26-year-old offensive assistant, who is the brother of Memphis assistant head coach Clay Helton, just completed his fourth season as a member of June Jones' Hawaii staff. Helton arrived on the Manoa campus in 2000 as a graduate assistant after receiving his degree from Houston. The son of former Washington Redskins offensive line coach Kim Helton has been primarily responsible for the Warrior special teams during his tenure. In 2001, Helton's first season as a full-time coach, the Warriors led the nation in kickoff return yardage and broke the NCAA record for highest average gain per return (30.3). Under the direction of Helton, return specialist/wide receiver Chad Owens tied the NCAA record and became the seventh player in the nation, first in the Western Athletic Conference, to return two kicks for touchdowns in the same game, a kickoff and punt against Brigham Young on Dec. 8, 2001. In addition, Owens broke the NCAA record for most yards gained on kick returns with 342 (249 kickoff, 93 punt return) against the Cougars. The Warriors averaged 21.4 yards on kickoff returns in 2002 and were ranked fifth in the WAC and 36th in the nation. Punter Mat McBriar, who is now with the Denver Broncos, averaged 43.7 yards per punt and finished his career ranked second on UH's all-time punting list, averaging 42.22 yards. Although the Warriors were likely to gamble on fourth down in 2002, placekicker Justin Ayat ranked fourth in the WAC and 49th nationally in field goals, averaging 1.07 per game. As a group, the Warriors ranked fifth in the WAC, converting on 65 percent on field goal attempts. In three seasons as a full-time coach, Helton produced three all-WAC performers in Owens, Ayat and McBriar. Ayat also earned first- team Freshman All-America honors by Football News in 2001. Helton grew up surrounded by football in Gainesville, Fla. His father was a college coach at Florida, Miami and Houston, and also with several NFL teams including Tampa Bay, Miami and Houston when Warrior head coach June Jones was on staff. Helton's playing career began at an early age but contact was limited until he was a high school freshman. His talents landed him a scholarship at Houston where he played quarterback for his father. He enjoyed a four-year career as a backup quarterback at Houston where he studied and took notes to prepare for his coaching career. Helton and his wife, April, have one daughter, Shelby Grace, age one year. He enjoys golfing, fishing and hunting.

03/26/04		Dry The Tears -- U of M Basketball Took Some Strides This Season. And Aims For More (Memphis Flyer)
		FRANK MURTAUGH This is about winning basketball. If winning basketball, the way we play it right is not good enough, then we go to the next season. It's not life or death for me, folks. Won't ever be. I've won enough games, done enough good things, I've taken this program to another level -- completely -- from when I took over." It's time for the University of Memphis basketball program to "go to the next season," and a little sooner than Tiger fans would like. But having won 22 games, shared a regular-season conference title, and spanked an SEC foe in the first round of the NCAA tournament, Calipari would be right to dismiss any whining or finger-pointing in the aftermath of the Tigers' whipping at the hands of Oklahoma State last Sunday in Kansas City. Once the pain of a season-ending loss subsides -- and remember, such is the fate for 64 of the 65 teams in the Big Dance -- the time comes for self-evaluation, from head coach to third-stringer. There is more to feel positive about with Tiger basketball than there has been in years, but Calipari would be the first to emphasize that the mission has hardly been completed. So what to expect for 2004-05? · Be true to the ones you love. Calipari simply has to step up and declare his intentions for next season. The St. John's rumors have some legs (just like those at Pitt not so long ago), and Calipari is the only man who can summarily take them out. The Memphis coach is as savvy in his media relations as he is in his substitution patterns. And despite having already received a six-figure raise and contract extension, Coach Cal is going to drive his ticket price as high as the market will allow ... and leave every door open that may have a bidder behind it. As much good as he's brought the U of M program, this waffling every spring is damaging. Calipari demands fierce loyalty from his team, his fans, his student body. He bristles when the local media "turn" on him and his program. He had the chance to eliminate doubts in Kansas City and ducked. Our arms are extended, Coach. · Build around Banks. You want a silver lining to the second-round dismissal in the NCAAs? Look no further than Sean Banks falling out of the national spotlight (having scored all of 17 points in the two games). Banks will be the most talented returning Tiger since Lorenzen Wright in 1995. Conference USA's reigning Freshman of the Year will be a favorite for All-America honors next season, and his team's humbling this month may simply accelerate his development. Unlike his coach, Banks has said the right thing when asked about the possibility of his leaving the program for the NBA draft ("no"). He'll be desperately needed to offset the loss of Antonio Burks, more in terms of leadership and guts than in his role on the court. · Find strength from within, not from Conference USA. Isn't it ironic that not one of the celebrated C-USA programs on their way out after 2005 survived the tournament's first weekend, while little ol' UAB knocked off the top-ranked team in the country and will carry the conference flag into the Sweet 16? All of Tiger Nation -- particularly those of us in the media -- need to quit the nostalgic fretting over what the U of M will do without Louisville, Cincinnati, and Marquette. Little can be done to reverse the mass exodus, and the fact is, these aren't the programs against which Memphis should be measured. Calipari was somewhat prophetic on the eve of the Tigers' season opener last November at the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic in New York. Said Coach Cal, "The whole point of coaching college basketball -- aside from teaching life skills and getting these kids prepared for life after basketball and helping them develop their game for their pro aspirations -- is to get in the NCAA tournament and advance. To be in a great league, but be in the weakest situation ... it hurts you." Ask Nevada how important a great league is. · Help is on the way. Presuming Calipari's incoming recruits are academically eligible, the roster for 2004-05 may be a good deal more complete than the seven- or eight-man rotation of this past season. Kareem Cooper, a 6'11" center from Washington, D.C., should bring some offensive presence to the post that was sorely lacking this year. Hamilton High's Shawne Williams is a taller version of Banks, if not equipped with the same skills. As for the void at point guard, Darius Washington of Orlando will compete with Clyde Wade (assuming the latter can put his legal troubles behind him) for playing time. With so much new blood being introduced, the value of stalwarts Anthony Rice, Rodney Carney, and Jeremy Hunt can't be overvalued.

03/26/04		Beer Sales At U of M Games Up To Regents (Commercial Appeal)
		By Rick Locker and David Williams Contact March 26, 2004 Alcohol sales during University of Memphis basketball games at FedExForum wouldn't violate Tennessee Board of Regents policies or require a policy change because the arena isn't state-owned or controlled. But Board of Regents Chancellor Charles Manning, who must sign off on the school's FedExForum contract, is seeking the regents' opinions because alcohol sales at state university athletic events are "such a departure from normal practice," said board spokeswoman Mary Morgan. Alcohol has been sold at some state university events, including Tiger baseball games at AutoZone Park and select Tennessee State football games in Nashville at The Coliseum, which is owned by the city and controlled by the Tennessee Titans. "There's certainly some events, special kinds of events, at which that happens," Morgan said. "But the reason this is of particular interest to the board is because it would be the first of its kind in terms of a regular season of play in a facility that sells alcohol." The Grizzlies, who will operate the arena, say their agreement with the Tigers is off without alcohol sales. The U of M, in its only public comment on the issue, notes that the Grizzlies would control the alcohol sales and receive all revenue. Regents contacted Thursday generally withheld comment until they can get more information. They'll discuss the issue at their quarterly meeting next week in Johnson City. "I suppose that I would certainly want to be convinced (alcohol sales should be permitted), but I'm not going in with a strong opposition," said board member Edgar 'Buddy' Bowers. "I'd want to get more information." He added: "We have never exercised a lot of micromanagement of athletic activities of any of our universities." State Agriculture Commissioner Ken Givens, a member of the Board of Regents, said he will consult with Gov. Phil Bredesen on the alcohol issue before next week's meeting. "At this point, I don't have an opinion one way or the other," Givens said. "I've got to get the facts before I say anything. Because I serve on the board by virtue of my appointment as Agriculture commissioner by the governor, I will be consulting with the governor's office on this." State Education Commissioner Lana Seivers, also a board member, declined to comment because she's been out of town this week and hasn't been briefed on the issue, a spokesman said. Dr. Richard Rhoda, executive director of the Tennessee Higher Education Commission and a nonvoting member of the Board of Regents, said, "I have no insights or position on the matter. It should be an interesting discussion next week." Along with state approval, the Tigers' move to FedExForum from The Pyramid must be approved by the city. The county commission approved the move this week. Contact Nashville Bureau chief Richard Locker at (615) 255-4923. - David Williams: 529-2310

03/26/04		Editorial 03/26: A Game Plan For The Tigers - Move On (Commercial Appeal)
		THE UNIVERSITY of Memphis men's basketball team is on the verge of a move that could help keep the team interscholastically competitive. It has much to gain if, as the Shelby County Commission did this week, state and city authorities agree to release the university from its life-of-the-building lease at The Pyramid. The release would allow the school to play home games at the newer, better equipped and more prestigious FedExForum, a move that would help the team attract highly rated recruits, coaches and fans. It would also permit local officials to focus on the future of The Pyramid without the handicap of being forced to maintain it as a basketball venue. As Shelby County Mayor A C Wharton noted this week, without a major new tenant The Pyramid will continue to operate at a deficit whether the Tigers stay or go. More important, the move would help what is still, despite the resurgence of the school football team, the U of M's signature sports franchise. In intangible but important ways, the basketball Tigers are a valuable community institution. They're a source of pride for thousands of local sports fans and a rallying point for a diverse cross-section of the community. Their fan base may not be as strong as it was before big-time professional basketball came to town in 2001 in the form of the Memphis Grizzlies. The men's basketball team also must adjust to new conference alignments that will make it more difficult to schedule some of its traditional rivals such as Louisville and Cincinnati. But hopes still rise and fall with the fortunes of the team that has retired the numbers of legendary figures such as Larry Finch, Keith Lee and Penny Hardaway. The Shelby County Commission lent valuable support to the team's goals this week when it agreed to release the university from its 16-year-old contract at The Pyramid. The commission also voted to allow the school to use up to $350,000 in excess interest earnings from the FedExForum construction project to build a locker room for the team. The school still faces some challenges before it can pack its bags for the FedExForum. A steady source of funding must be found for a $125,000 annual payment that, according to the calculations of university officials, would guarantee the move's financial viability. Permission to abandon the lease also must come from the Memphis City Council and the Tennessee Board of Regents. Regents must also sign off on a requirement by the building's main tenant, the Memphis Grizzlies, to permit concession sales of alcoholic beverages at the new arena during Tiger games, but that should not present a serious stumbling block. All in all, the Tigers and the FedExForum should be a good fit. The Pyramid has produced some great memories for Tiger fans over the last 13 seasons, just as the Mid-South Coliseum did in its time. But it's time for the Tigers to move on.

03/26/04		Out Of Left Field -- Late Addition Provides Pop To Batting Order (Commercial Appeal)
		By Phil Stukenborg Contact March 26, 2004 Former major league lefthander Frank Viola, the 1988 Cy Young Award winner, hasn't made a pitch since retiring from baseball eight years ago. Unless, of course, you count the one he made to University of Memphis baseball coach Dave Anderson last year. Viola, a high school coach in the Orlando area, sent Anderson a 6-5 first baseman - Adam Amar - who wasn't highly recruited, but a player Viola knew had the background and work ethic to succeed. Viola said he didn't push Amar on Anderson as much as Amar and his parents campaigned for Memphis, where a friend of Amar's, receiver Bobby Good, had accepted a football scholarship. Anderson, trusting Viola's evaluation of talent and character, was willing to take a chance on the walk-on. As the Tigers enter a three-game Conference USA homestand against 18th-ranked East Carolina - beginning with today's 7 p.m. opener at AutoZone Park - Amar is an early candidate for C-USA Walk-on of the Year. In 16 games, Amar leads the team with a .368 average, a .596 slugging percentage and a .446 on-base percentage, and is tied with Josh Payne for the team lead in home runs (three). Amar has struck out only seven times in 57 at-bats. "He executes what we are trying to do offensively," said Anderson of his first baseman/designated hitter. "And he's done it pretty consistently." His start is impressive when one realizes Amar was projected to sit out his freshman season, honing his fundamentals under Anderson and acclimating himself to the college game. "I knew I wasn't going to get much playing time because I was a freshman," Amar said. "There were a lot of veterans on our team that were experienced and who could really play. "I was just hoping to get a couple of at-bats and maybe keep a redshirt (year)." But Amar's modest expectations were altered by several early-season injuries. Starting first baseman Kyle Scott injured his shoulder during the team's opening week at the Coca-Cola Classic in Houston. Third baseman Bill Moss broke his finger the following weekend during the Service Academies Spring Classic in Millington. Amar was inserted into the starting lineup during the Service Academies Spring Classic and debuted with two hits in a 5-2 victory over Navy. "I was nervous at the beginning in that first game, but I got my first hit and got real confident at the plate," said Amar, a righthanded hitter. Viola said Amar's emergence with the Tigers has some parallels to his career in high school. "In his junior year, I told my staff I loved (Amar's) work ethic, but we had a senior ahead of him," Viola said. "But a door opened, and he walked through it. That's just the way he is. He is a blue-collar worker." After the Service Academies Spring Classic, Amar hit in 11 of 12 games to keep his average hovering around the .400 mark. He also homered in back-to-back games at Murray State. "He's made some mistakes on the bases and he does some things (wrong) because he is a first-year player," Anderson said. "But once you tell him something, he goes out and does it." Anderson said Amar originally was interested in coming to Memphis because Good, who also attended Lake Highland Prep in Orlando, had signed a National Letter of Intent. Good, however, did not report last fall, opt ing out of his scholarship to play at East Carolina, where his uncle was an assistant. Amar stayed and has enjoyed the experience of going from one former major leaguer as a coach to another. "(Viola) was my coach my junior and senior year," Amar said. "He brought a knowledge of the game, and that's what Coach Anderson brings, too. He played in the majors for 10 years, and he knows what he's doing. I'm very fortunate to be able to play for two coaches like that. You can learn a lot from them." Amar said Viola "taught me to be confident, to be myself and not to pressure myself." He said Viola also embedded a basic knowledge of the game, from the proper way to handle cutoff throws to what to look for in certain pitch counts. Viola, 43, said Amar has earned his playing time and his opportunity. "You talk about a kid who has dedicated himself to baseball," Viola said. "Memphis has worked out for him, and I can't be more proud of him. I'm so thankful Dave gave him the opportunity. As a player, Dave got the most out of his ability. Adam gets the most out of his. That's why I think they are the perfect fit." - Phil Stukenborg: 529-2543

03/26/04		Five Questions With Dave Woloshin, Tigers Broadcaster (Commercial Appeal)
		Q: Talk about the situation you've been in this season, broadcasting the school's first bowl appearance in 32 years and its first NCAA Tournament win in nine years? A: I think on behalf of all the announcers that preceded me, I fully accept the honor of being able to do that. It was such a joy. It makes me think of guys like Paul Hartlage and Jack Eaton, who did this before me but didn't get that opportunity. Q: From your perspective, how did the two successful seasons mirror one another and how did they differ in terms of fan reaction? A: For football, it was overwhelming because these people were so hungry. They were the greatest people of all time. You think of these Highland Hundred (football booster) people that have given their hearts and souls to the program. In basketball, they had a nice roll in the NIT (National Invitation Tournament) two years ago, so those fans are used to traveling and winning and having fun. Q: Did you witness anything particularly endearing while you were in New Orleans? A: After the postgame show (on WMC-AM 790), I went back to the hotel with (color analyst) Bob Rush and we were relaxing and having a cocktail in the lobby when all of a sudden (football coach) Tommy (West) and his wife and son walked in, and the place went nuts. It was like a 30-minute standing ovation when they walked through the lobby. It was like a coronation. The fans, they couldn't get enough that night. Q: What kind of relationship have you fostered on air with each of the coaches, West and John Calipari. Describe how they handle their call-in shows. A: Each is different, but it's a lot of fun doing their shows. Tommy is more folksy and open, Cal likes it to be dramatic. Q: Did you have any particular saying that you were waiting to unleash at the New Orleans Bowl, something along the lines of 'Do you believe in miracles?' A: No, I really didn't. The only thing I did do was on the first Memphis touchdown I tried to recreate it like (the late) Paul Hartlage would have described it - you remember, Tigerrrrrr touchdown - to honor him. - Phil Stukenborg

03/26/04		Where Are They Now: Jonathan Lyons, Baseball 1994-96 (Commercial Appeal)
		Jonathan Lyons remembers being part of something special 10 years ago. Lyons was in his first season as a pitcher for the University of Memphis baseball team, which was putting together a rarity for the program, a 50-win season and a trip to the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers went 52-11 that season and Lyons, a freshman who had attended Christian Brothers High, was enjoying the run. "That was a special team," Lyons said. "The biggest thing that sticks out in my mind is learning so much that season." No Memphis team has won 40 or more games since 1994, a year the Tigers had former major league outfielder Mark Little in their lineup. Lyons, 29, a financial adviser at Morgan Keegan, played five years of minor league baseball in the Boston Red Sox system, spending most of his career in high Class A. He earned a shot at pro ball by having a remarkable summer league season in the Cape Cod League following his junior year. Hampered by back problems at the U of M, Lyons pitched relatively pain free in New England to attract interest from the Red Sox. "I had never thrown over 90 or 91 mph at Memphis, but I went to the Cape Cod League and starting throwing 95," Lyons said. "It was like I was in a different body." Lyons said his fondest memory of pro ball was following Red Sox ace Pedro Martinez in a 1999 spring training game. "Every one of my fastballs must have looked like a changeup to those guys," Lyons said. "But I did well. I pitched an inning and didn't give up any runs." - Phil Stukenborg

03/26/04		Tigers Look To Incoming Class -- 3 Recruits On Track To Become Eligible, Including All American (Commercial Appeal)
		By Gary Parrish Contact March 26, 2004 Darius Washington is in Knoxville today. But relax, University of Memphis fans, it's not for an official visit. Instead, the McDonald's All American, who has signed with the Tigers, will participate in the Adidas/EA Sports Superstar Games. If you can't get to Vol Country to watch the U of M's next point guard, here's what you'll miss: "When you watch him play, he has an uncanny ability to let more than one player cover him," Memphis assistant Derek Kellogg said of Washington, who averaged 32.5 points per game as a senior and led Orlando Edgewater to a state championship. "Darius should come into our program and be a nice fit." A 6-0 playmaker, Washington is the lone Tiger signee participating in tonight's 8:30 boys game at Thompson-Boling Arena. The others remain in school, focusing on academics and staying in shape. At no place is that more important for Memphis than Laurinburg, N.C., where three other Tiger recruits - Richard Dorsey, Shawne Williams and Kareem Cooper - reside. Of that trio, Dorsey seems primed to make the biggest impact next season. He will be given every opportunity to start in the middle, thanks to his 6-8, 255-pound frame that is solid muscle. "He just got better and better this season," said Laurinburg Prep coach Chris Chaney. "We don't keep official stats, but I bet he averaged about 15 points and 10 rebounds a game. "He just eats up a lot of space. He's something Memphis needs. He could've helped them this year." Washington, Dorsey and Cooper are all on track to be eligible as freshmen. The only question marks among the Tigers' five-player class are Williams and Booker T. Washington's Andre Allen, who plans to walk on at Memphis. Meanwhile, the U of M staff continues to recruit the Class of 2004, though no prospects are visiting campus this weekend. Waki Williams and Jesus Verdejo are possible targets. Williams is a 6-9 forward from Mt. San Jacinto (Calif.) Junior College. Verdejo is a 6-5 guard at Winchendon (Mass.) Prep who once played with current Tiger Ivan Lopez. - Gary Parrish: 529-2365

03/26/04		ARM Will Represent Tiger Star (Commercial Appeal)
		Antonio Burks didn't waste much time turning his attention to the business of basketball. This week, the University of Memphis senior signed with Athletic Resource Management, a locally based agency that will assist in preparation for June's NBA Draft. "If you look at most of the projections, he's a second-round pick," said ARM agent Jimmy Sexton. "I'll be disappointed if he's not drafted and playing somewhere (in the NBA) next year." A 6-0 point guard, Burks finished his career at Memphis last Sunday when the Tigers lost to Oklahoma State, 70-53, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. He averaged 16.0 points and 5.5 assists per game as a senior while earning Conference USA Player of the Year honors. According to Sexton, Burks will now focus on graduating in May and continue working-out with the U of M staff at the Finch Center. Once school is finished, the former Booker T. Washington High star may actually move to Houston and work out with ex-NBA coach John Lucas. "John will have eight to 10 first-round guys down there with him," Sexton said. "So we'll talk to Antonio and see if that's something he'd like to do."

03/26/04		More Honors For Banks, Burks (Commercial Appeal)
		University of Memphis forward Sean Banks was named Thursday to Basketball Times's national All-Freshman Team, while senior point guard Antonio Burks received All-South honors from the monthly magazine. Banks, who led the Tigers in scoring (17.4) and rebounding (6.5), had already been named ESPN.com's National Freshman of the Year and to national all-freshman teams by CollegeInsider.com, Rivals.com and The Sporting News. Burks, the Conference USA Player of the Year, was also named an Associated Press honorable mention All-American earlier this week.

03/26/04		FedEx Deal Halts Until Alcohol Approval By Board Of Regents (Daily Helmsman)
		By John Scruggs March 26, 2004 The agreement for The University of Memphis basketball team to play in the FedExForum now hinges on getting approval to sell alcohol at Tiger games, officials say. That decision is up to the Tennessee Board of Regents, which meets next week to discuss the Tigers' move, including the issue of alcohol sales. A recent contract between The U of M and the Memphis Grizzlies, which will operate the Forum, calls for the Tigers to play in the new arena starting next basketball season. Under terms of their deal with The U of M, the Grizzlies will pay The University $800,000 a year. In return, the NBA team will keep all concession revenue from Tiger games. The sale of alcohol at U of M games is important because it would significantly boost concession revenues. Without alcohol sales, the deal will be off, Grizzlies officials told The Commercial Appeal this week. Shelby County government has already agreed to let the Tigers out of a lease at The Pyramid to move to the Forum. Similar action is needed from the City of Memphis and the Board of Regents. "The University of Memphis plays no role in the sale of or profit from concessions," said U of M president Shirley Raines in a Wednesday press release. A 2001 Boston College survey reported that 88 percent of higher education institutions do not allow alcohol sales at athletic events. If alcohol sales are approved, The University would join C-USA schools Cincinnati, Louisville, and Tulane, in selling alcohol at some sporting events. "I don't see the big deal about it," said Jeremy Gratton, senior sports and leisure studies major. "There are already other schools in our conference that sell alcohol and they don't seem to have any problems." Though The U of M will not receive any revenues from concessions, alcohol sales would increase revenues for the Memphis Grizzlies. "Money is a big issue for the entire structure," said Trent Davis, undecided freshman. "Anyway they can make more money, I say go ahead." Telephone calls to Raines and U of M Athletic Director R. C. Johnson were directed to Curt Guenther, The university's communications director. He, in turn, referred all questions to the March 24 press release. Daily Helmsman calls to the Memphis Grizzlies business office were not returned.

03/26/04		Women's Soccer Preseason Starting Well (Daily Helmsman)
		By Ben Cowens March 26, 2004 The University of Memphis women's soccer team is doing everything it can this spring to erase the memories of a difficult 2003 season and for good reason. The Tigers concluded their 2003 campaign with a discouraging 5-10-3 record. Junior midfielder Heather Wilson said the team played much better than the record indicated. "(Last season) we had (opposing) coaches say we were one of the most difficult teams they had to play," said Wilson. "We could dominate for 75 minutes and struggle for the last 15." Wilson cited youth as part of the reason her team struggled to be consistent, and sophomore forward Robyn Smart agrees. "Last season, we all played as individuals," Smart said. "This spring we've seen it come together." Although spring contests don't count statistically, Memphis players are encouraged by their performance so far. On Feb. 28, the Tigers went 2-0-1 at the College Classic Cup at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex. They earned 1-0 victories over Alabama and NSA Club, while playing Auburn to a 2-2 draw. This weekend in Huntsville, Ala., the Tigers have two more chances to build confidence. Memphis will face Tennessee Tech and Vanderbilt and will also host Tennessee Tech during the regular season. "Spring is a time when most teams play everybody," U of M coach Brooks Monaghan said. "It's really a time for individuals to improve." Monaghan said Smart is among those making the biggest strides. After appearing in every Memphis game last season as a midfielder, Smart is making the switch to defender for 2004. Smart isn't the only player leaving a vacancy in midfield. Standout junior midfielder Nikki McLeod tore her ACL last week. McLeod started every game for the Tigers last season. Her eight points (two goals, four assists) ranked third on the team. The injury could sideline McLeod well into the season, but Monaghan said he is optimistic she will return by September to help her team during the conference schedule. While it's too early to tell who will replace McLeod if she is unable to start the season, Monaghan said the improvement of his players, combined with a good recruiting class, will help ease the loss. But he concedes McLeod is irreplaceable. "Those shoes can't really be filled," Monaghan said. "She's a very special player." Even with the loss of McLeod, the Lady Tigers say their newfound chemistry will carry them through the injury. "(Spring practice) tends to be tiring, but in the end, you develop a sense of camaraderie," Wilson said. "It's neat to see how we've come together as a team."

03/25/04		Banks Named To Basketball Times National All-Freshman Team (GoTigersGo.com)
		MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - Memphis' Sean Banks has been named to Basketball Times' (BT) National All-Freshman Team, the publication announced Thursday. Antonio Burks received All-South honors from the monthly basketball magazine. Wake Forest's Chris Paul, Duke's Luol Deng, Minnesota's Kris Humphries and Iowa State's Curtis Stinson joined on the BT National All-Freshman Team. Banks has also received several other honors since the postseason began in early March, including ESPN.com's National Freshman of the Year, CollegeInsider.com National All-Freshman Team, Conference USA Freshman of the Year and All-Conference USA first team. Banks led the Tigers in scoring (17.4 ppg) and rebounding (6.5 rpg), and is ranked among the Conference USA statistical leaders in scoring (2nd), rebounding (11th), three-point field goal percentage (12th) and blocked shots (13th). The 6-foot-8 forward led all league freshmen in scoring and rebounding. Banks scored 20 or more points 12 times in 2003-04, including the final six games of the regular season. He scored a career-high 29 points against Charlotte Jan. 17. Banks is the only player in Memphis basketball history to hit at least six three-pointers in a game on four different occasions. Burks was named to the BT's All-South Team. This is the second honor this week for Burks as he was selected an Associated Press All-America honorable mention Tuesday. The Memphis, Tenn., native has also been piling up the hardware since the beginning of March. Burks has received several accolades, including Conference USA Player of the Year, ESPN.com Conference USA Player of the Year, All-Conference USA first team, CollegeInsider.com All-America team and National Association of Basketball Coach (NABC) All-District 7 second team. He was also a finalist for the inaugural Bob Cousy Award. The 6-foot guard finished his career with 1,028 points (11.3 ppg), 487 assists (5.4 apg) and 177 steals (1.9 spg). He is only the fourth player in Tiger history to have 1,000 points, 450 assists and 170 steals. Andre Turner, Elliot Perry and Otis Jackson are the other three Tigers to accomplish that feat. Burks completed his career on the Memphis career charts for scoring (No. 34), assists (No. 6) and steals (No. 5). Burks was second on the 2003-04 squad in scoring (16.0 ppg) and led the team with 165 assists. He is ranked among C-USA leaders in scoring (8th), assists (2nd), steals (1st), three-point field goal percentage (6th) and assist-to-turnover ratio (3rd). The Tigers finished 2003-04 with a 22-8 overall record and advanced to the NCAA Tournament second round. Memphis was ranked No. 24 in the final Associated Press (AP) poll, marking the first time the Tigers finished with a national ranking in consecutive seasons since 1985 and 1986. Memphis was ranked No. 19 in the 2003 final AP poll.

03/25/04		Calipari Is Definitive: No Interest In St. John's (Commercial Appeal)
		By Gary Parrish Contact March 25, 2004 Those University of Memphis fans who spent the Tigers' NCAA Tournament appearance worrying about the future of John Calipari can relax. "I am not interested in the St. John's job," Calipari told The Commercial Appeal on Wednesday. The statement comes after the Memphis coach twice in the past week refused to rule out a possible move to St. John's, once saying only that he wasn't interested "at this moment." Another time, Calipari called the situation "irrelevant" despite a national publication writing that he had been "targeted" by the Red Storm. Now, most New York papers have the top guy as Georgia Tech's Paul Hewitt, whose Yellow Jackets are still in the NCAA Tournament. That might explain why Rev. Donald J. Harrington, the St. John's president, left Wednesday for a weeklong trip to Rome, apparently in no hurry to name a new coach. Others reportedly drawing consideration for the St. John's opening are Manhattan's Bobby Gonzalez, Providence's Tim Welsh, Ohio State's Jim O'Brien and former North Carolina coach Matt Doherty. According to the U of M, St. John's (6-21 last season) never asked for permission to speak with Calipari, though the New York Daily News reported that the Big East school did have an outside agency do a background check on him recently. Either way, it's business as usual around these parts. The St. John's job joins South Carolina and Pittsburgh as possible moves for Calipari that got significant media attention since he came to Memphis prior to the 2000-01 season. "Every year coach Cal is going to be a wanted commodity," explained Tiger assistant Ed Schilling. "You just learn to not even take it seriously. "Coach is really happy here," Schilling added. "It would take something really special to take him away." Calipari led the Tigers last season to a 22-8 record, a tie for first place in Conference USA and a second-round NCAA Tournament appearance. - Gary Parrish: 529-2365

03/25/04		Tiger Shift May Hinge On Alcohol -- Griz Say Forum Deal Off If Sales Not Allowed (Commercial Appeal)
		By From Staff and Wire Reports March 25, 2004 The University of Memphis is asking the state to allow alcohol sales at the school's men's basketball games next season at FedExForum, a request that, if rejected, could break the deal between the university and the Grizzlies. The U of M and the Grizzlies recently agreed to a contract that would allow the Tigers to move from The Pyramid into the new arena, which is operated by the NBA team. Included in the deal, which will pay the university $800,000 annually, is a stipulation that allows the Grizzlies to sell alcohol at Tiger games. Approval for the move, already granted by the Shelby County Commission, is also required from the City of Memphis and the state. The Tennessee Board of Regents has not signed off on the move, but will meet next week to discuss it. Regents vice chairman Stanley Rogers said no other school in the state is allowed to sell alcohol at regular-season games. Asked about the consequences of the regents voting against the sale, Grizzlies senior vice president of business operations Mike Golub said Wednesday, "Then the deal is off. "Our deal with the Tigers is subject to approval of necessary parties and approval of the deal we negotiated, not a revised deal." University of Memphis president Shirley Raines issued a statement clarifying that the tentative contract stipulates the arena is responsible for alcohol sales - not the school. "The University of Memphis plays no role in the sale of or profit from concessions," Raines said. Other regents are less concerned that alcohol would be served around underage students. "Students have been drinking beer for years, that's not going to change," said regent R. Jack Fishman. Conference USA said Memphis wouldn't be alone in allowing alcohol sales, since Cincinnati, Louisville and Tulane already do it. Even though a tentative contract has been signed, and the university says it doesn't have much room to negotiate with the operators of the FedExForum, the regents think the alcohol sales can be removed. "It's a service to the fans," Golub said, "Clearly there's a demand. . . . We looked at AutoZone Park (where beer was sold at Tiger baseball games). There was no problem. That was a good precedent for us. "When we hashed out the deal with the Tigers, revenue from the sale of alcohol was a consideration. It was an important part of the deal." Attempts to reach U of M athletic director R.C. Johnson were unsuccessful. The NCAA said it doesn't keep track of how many schools across the nation allow alcohol sales at college games, although the vast majority don't do it. "We certainly don't endorse it," said Monica Lunderman, an NCAA spokeswoman.

03/24/04		Women's Tennis Comes Back to Down ECU, 4-3 (GoTigersGo.com)
		CONWAY, S.C. - The University of Memphis women's tennis team (7-9, 2-0) came back from dropping the doubles point to upend C-USA foe East Carolina, 4-3, in a neutral site match, Wednesday. ECU got on the board first with wins at No. 1 and 2 doubles, 8-4 and 8-2, before Memphis came back with straight set wins at No. 5 and 6 singles, and dropping No. 3 and 4 singles, to pull within one at 3-2. Seniors Marlene Dirnstorfer and Viktoria Gruber then sealed the league win with three-set victories at the top two singles spots. Dirnstorfer downed ECU's Raluca Baicu, 2-6, 6-3, 6-1, while Gruber downed Kirstin Buchanan, 7-5,1-6, 6-2. With the No. 1 singles win, Dirnstorfer becomes the first Lady Tiger to hit the 10-win mark in the spring season, and improves to 10-4 at No. 1 for the year. The Lady Tigers will travel up to Wilmington, N.C. to face the Seahawks, Thursday, before taking a break Friday. Memphis will round out its schedule back at Coastal Carolina, in a non-conference match, Sunday. Memphis 4, East Carolina 3 Doubles No. 1 - Raluca Baicu/Kirstin Buchanan (ECU) def. Marlene Dirnstorfer/Viktoria Gruber (UM), 8-4 No. 2 - Gillie Bailey/Cristina Meilicke (ECU) def. Andrea Feichtinger/Alex Tjioe (UM), 8-2 No.3 - Kristin Noble/Christina Wieser (UM) def. Sara Boseman/Ashley Perkinson (ECU), 8-2 Singles No. 1 - Marlene Dirnstorfer (UM) def. Raluca Baicu (ECU), 2-6, 6-3, 6-1 No. 2 - Viktoria Gruber (UM) def. Kirstin Buchanan (ECU), 7-5,1-6, 6-2 No. 3 - Gillie Bailey (ECU) def. Andrea Feichtinger (UM), 6-3, 6-4 No. 4 - Cristina Meilicke def. Kristin Noble (UM), 6-4, 6-2 No. 5 - Yesica Ares (UM) def. Sara Boseman (ECU), 6-1, 6-1 No. 6 - Alex Tjioe (UM) def. Ashley Perkinson (ECU), 6-1, 6-2

03/24/04		Women's Tennis Carolina-Bound For Three Matches (GoTigersGo.com)
		MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The University of Memphis women's tennis team (6-9, 1-0 C-USA) will travel to the Carolinas for a trio of matches this week, beginning with a non-conference match at UNC Wilmington, Friday. The Lady Tigers are being led by senior Marlene Dirnstorfer. After playing No. 5 singles last year, the senior has stepped up and is currently 9-4 at No. 1 singles and 9-4 at No. 1 doubles with fellow senior Viktoria Gruber. Dirnstorfer went 3-0 at No. 1 singles last week, picking up wins over opponents from Murray State, SIU Carbondale and UALR. Dirnstorfer and her teammates will open on the road at UNC Wilmington against C-USA foe East Carolina, Wednesday, before facing host UNCW at 2 p.m., Thursday. The Lady Tigers will then spend a day traveling from North Carolina down to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and after a day on the beach, will face Coastal Carolina, Saturday before departing for the drive back to Memphis. Memphis will travel to Birmingham, Ala, next weekend to face a trio of C-USA schools before the league tournament begins Apr. 15-18th at the University of Louisville. Memphis will play host UAB, April 2nd, before squaring off against Cincinnati on the 3rd and DePaul on the 4th. The Lady Tigers will then wrap up their home season against Arkansas State on Apr. 12th, the final home match for senior Viktoria Gruber.

03/24/04		Tigers Defeat Mississippi State In Dual Match Competition (GoTigersGo.com)
		West Point, MS - Memphis senior Alan Weant shot rounds of 69-71 during 36-holes of competition and led his Tiger team to a dual match victory over Mississippi State at Old Waverly Golf Club in West Point, Mississippi. Weant carded an opening round score of 69 to take a four shot lead after 18-holes of play and extended his lead to six shots at the end of play. It was the Memphian's first tournament victory since claiming medalist honors in the 2002 DePaul Blue Demon Invitational. The University of Memphis won the team competition with a two round score of 587. Mississippi State, the host school, was second with a score of 610, 23 shots behind the Tigers. The Tigers Richard Jones finished second in the one-day event with a two over par total of 146. Junior Allan Thomas tied for fourth at 150, while David Jeans tied for sixth at 151. Mississippi State's Daniel Boles placed third with a score of 149. The dual match between Memphis and Mississippi State was set up due to the rain out of the Beau Chene Collegiate Classic at Southeastern Louisiana in February. "Both schools were scheduled to play in Southeastern's tournament last month," said Memphis head coach Grant Robbins. "Because of the rain out we felt that we needed more competitive rounds before our next event. Since there were no tournaments available, we decided to have an old-fashion dual match." MEMPHIS INDIVIDUAL SCORES 1 Alan Weant 69-71--140 2 Richard Jones 73-73--146 T4 Allan Thomas 77-73--150 T6 David Jeans 76-75--151 T12 Mike Regenold 80-77--157 INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPANTS 8 Clayton Ellis 78-74--152 11 Art Lynch 80-75--155 15 Lewis Clarke 75-84--159 T16 Frederik Kolderup 84-77--161 TEAM SCORES 1. Memphis 587 2. Mississippi State 610

03/24/04		Tigers Notebook (Commercial Appeal)
		Standout DB ineligible Lee Hayes, a starting defensive back for the University of Memphis football team last year, will not return for his senior season. Hayes, who broke his ankle in a midseason game against UAB, has been declared ineligible due to a violation of NCAA and team policies. Tigers coach Tommy West would not elaborate on the exact nature of Hayes's dismissal. Hayes, a cornerback and a former Arkansas signee, played in five games and finished with 11 tackles, a pass breakup and a fumble recovery. West said Hayes, had he been eligible, likely would not have participated in spring workouts while recovering from his injury. Hayes came to Memphis last season after attending Northeast (Miss.) Community College. Tigers sign lineman Van Houston, a defensive lineman from Itawamba (Miss.) Community College, has signed a scholarship and will report to the U of M in August for preseason workouts. Houston, 6-6 and 300 pounds, was a starter at nose guard for Itawamba and played in the Mississippi Community College All-Star Game, where he earned defensive most valuable player honors. A part-time starter as a freshman, Houston is a cousin of former Ole Miss and NFL defensive lineman Tim Bowens. Houston, who runs a 5.1 40-yard dash, will add depth to a defensive line that lost starters Eric Taylor and Treveco Lucas after last season. - Phil Stukenborg

03/24/04		Means Is Justifying Time At End -- Lineman's Versatility Bolsters Tigers' Defense (Commercial Appeal)
		By Phil Stukenborg Contact March 24, 2004 At 6-4 and 330 pounds, Albert Means shouldn't be that hard to find. But don't look for the former Trezevant High standout at his familiar nose guard position this spring. Means, a senior-to-be, has been shifted to defensive end, a change defensive coordinator Joe Lee Dunn doesn't expect to be permanent, but one that will remain through the team's Blue-Gray Scrimmage April 3 at Rhodes College. "We played him at nose last year and we moved him out to end this spring just so we could play him in both spots in the fall if we need to," said Tiger defensive line coach Craig Boller. "He knows he'll play nose (in the fall), but he could take some snaps at end." Means, who'll begin his third year at the U of M after transferring from Alabama, had 51 tackles and two sacks last season, contributing to the program's 9-4 season and first bowl appearance in 32 years. He's enjoyed the new perspective on the line, especially since he played at end, and linebacker, in high school. In last week's 148-play scrimmage, Means impressed the defensive staff with seven tackles, two pressures and one sack in approximately 45 snaps. Helping stop Darron White on a reverse was a play that especially caught Boller's attention. "He made a heck of a play on the reverse," Boller said. "He forced the ball back inside and actually came back in and caught the guy on the foot for the tackle. "I'm happy with the way he's playing right now. I think he's a lot more comfortable out there at end. It just gives us a better chance. . . . It makes us a better defense to play him outside and LaVale (Washington) inside or him inside and Marcus West outside. It makes us pretty good." Means said he was simply doing his job on the play that tripped up White. "It's one of those plays where I had outside containment," Means said. "As long as I didn't let him go outside, I did my job." The U of M's three-man defensive front this spring lists Means at left end, Washington at nose tackle and David McNair at right end. The Tigers lost veteran ends Eric Taylor and Treveco Lucas after last season when the two completed their eligibility. West is listed as Means's backup at left end. But with the addition of several newcomers this fall, among them junior college defensive end Tyus Jackson, Means likely will move back to nose tackle. Until then, he's enjoying the switch. "I never thought I'd be playing defensive end," Means said. "When (Boller) told me, I thought he was joking at first. But when we went to our first practice, he put me there and I said, 'Are you for real?' "It's somewhat like playing nose, but you've got a few more responsibilities, like outside containment and things like that. But it's no problem." Means didn't balk when Boller approached him about the spring move. "As usual, he said OK," Boller said. "Albert is going to do whatever it takes to help us win. We got a taste of it last year; the kids liked it and Albert's a total team player. "I know he moves better (at defensive end) than I thought he would. And I think he's done a better job out there than I thought he would. He gives us a power pass rush off that outside. Let me tell you, he can bring it." West said he was somewhat skeptical of the move initially, but has been impressed by Means's versatility. "It shocked me at first," West said upon learning of the move. "But I think moving Albert gives our defensive front a lot more depth. "And Albert has moved a lot better than I thought he could. He has shown a lot of people he can move from side to side as well as he can move forward." Means said if he appears more comfortable, even at a new position, it's because he's had a year playing in Dunn's defense. "I know exactly what to do," Means said. "I'm a veteran on this defense, I know what we are running, so I know what I have to do on each play. Now, instead of thinking on each play, I'm reacting." - Phil Stukenborg: 529-2543

03/24/04		Tigers End Losing Streak (Commercial Appeal)
		The University of Memphis baseball team snapped a five-game losing streak with a 5-2 victory over Austin Peay on Tuesday at AutoZone Park. The Tigers (11-7) used a four-run third inning to secure the win against the Governors (11-6), who mustered just three hits off five Memphis pitchers. Right-hander Michael Novarese (1-0) picked up his first win of the season after holding the Governors hitless through the first four innings. First baseman Kyle Scott put the Tigers on the scoreboard after connecting on a two-out solo home run in the second. In the third, four Tigers combined to hit for the cycle to extend the team's lead to 5-0. Senior Jarrett Grube pitched out of a bases-loaded jam to get the final out in the eighth and tossed a scoreless ninth to record the first save of his career. - The Commercial Appeal

03/24/04		Tearing Down Liberty Bowl Might Be Cheaper (Commercial Appeal)
		By David Williams Contact March 24, 2004 Replacing Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium may be a better financial option for the city than renovating the 39-year-old facility, a special adviser to Mayor Willie Herenton said Tuesday. "Sometimes, it's a lot cheaper just to tear down and rebuild than it is to try and retrofit," said mayoral adviser Pete Aviotti, who also said the city has a third, no-cost option: Doing nothing. Last month, Park Services director Wayne Boyer downplayed a potential new stadium in favor of up to $50 million in renovations to the city-owned facility. Aviotti wasn't endorsing a new stadium, and didn't know the likely cost, other than to say it wouldn't have to meet NFL standards. Rather, he was speculating about the Liberty Bowl's future as the city awaits a report from national stadium architectural firm HOK, working with Memphis-based consulting engineers Ellers, Oakley, Chester & Rike. The study will outline possible stadium improvements, as well as the new facility option. The notion of a new, taxpayer-funded stadium found no initial support from City Council members Tuesday, although there was acknowledgment that something must be done about the home of University of Memphis football and the AutoZone Liberty Bowl and Southern Heritage Classic football games. "I think that doing nothing is not an option," said councilman Tom Marshall, an architect. The timing is "extremely unfortunate" for a sports-related financial request to the council, he said. The $250 million FedExForum project is nearing completion, and The Pyramid, on which the city and county owe more than $30 million, may soon be without a major tenant. But Marshall added, "As an architect, I can just say that buildings don't seem to care about political climates. They decay on their own natural forces." Councilman Rickey Peete said, "If in fact we put $4 million to $5 million into the stadium and that $4 million or $5 million would bring it up to standard and maintain it for the next five to seven years, I could see doing that." As for higher-dollar upgrades, he said, "I think we need to take a bite out of this apple . . . and not try to eat the whole apple." Councilman Brent Taylor said he's withholding comment until the HOK report is complete. U of M athletic director R. C. Johnson declined comment, saying that Aviotti is the spokesman on the issue for the tenants and the city. Last month, it appeared that the council would be asked to fund up to $50 million in stadium upgrades, based on Boyer's comments. He said areas for improvement could include the football field, locker rooms, media interview area, press box, luxury suites and concession areas. An attempt to reach Boyer late Tuesday afternoon was unsuccessful. But Aviotti said improving the Liberty Bowl could be cost-prohibitive, especially if the stadium needs significant structural work. He said a separate study on the stadium structure likely would be needed. "It's not anything in concrete," he said. "You put things together on a realistic, common-sense basis. You look back and you wonder, 'Should all this money be put into a stadium (that opened in 1965)? Or should you put a little bit more money into a brand new stadium?' "I think that's going to be a question that's going to be asked, going forward." Aviotti said he's hopeful the study will be complete by April 7, when he meets with tenants to discuss stadium issues. - David Williams: 529-2310

03/24/04		Lady Tigers Reach Postseason Goal (Daily Helmsman)
		By Ben Cowens March 24, 2004 At the beginning of every basketball season, hope springs eternal. Bad teams believe they can be good. Good teams dream of championships. Women's basketball coach Joye Lee-McNelis simply hoped her team would play a post-season game, anywhere. She wasn't going to be picky. The Lady Tigers realized that goal Thursday as the best Tula in the first round of the Women's National Invitational Tournament. But following two tough seasons, who could blame McNelis if she didn't see the WNIT berth coming? In 2001-2002, the Lady Tigers posted an 11-17 mark. Last season, they trudged through a 13-15 campaign. Coming into the 2003-2004 schedule, McNelis wasn't convinced this year would be any different. "We had no one who could score," McNelis said. "We were small. Going into the season, I'll be honest with you, I didn't know if we'd be .500." McNelis wasn't alone in her skepticism. The Conference USA coaches picked Memphis ninth in the 14-team league. After a poor performance and narrow victory in their first exhibition game against Henderson State, it looked as though ninth place might be a little high. "When we almost lost our first exhibition to Henderson State, I was really concerned," she said. "As a matter of fact, I didn't know if we had three (conference) wins on the schedule." The Tigers continued to improve, winning thefirst six games of the season. Two of those wins came against eventual NCAA tournament teams. McNelis said her team's road win over Austin Peay was the turning point. "I think winning at Austin Peay was huge for our team," McNelis said. "After that game, I thought we had a chance to win some games." The Tigers continued to win games, posting a 10-3 non-conference record. After losing three of their first four conference contests by a total of seven points, Memphis went on a six-game winning streak. Without a star to fall back on, the Lady Tigers relied on each other to play team defense and share the scoring duties. "I think team chemistry was a big part (of the turnaround)," said junior forward Jennifer Sullivan. "In past years, we had a younger team. This season, we had more of a junior- and senior-oriented team. Experience is a huge part of team chemistry." The Lady Tigers finished 21-10, 9-5 in C-USA play. Even more impressive, they were in every game. "We won the games we were supposed to win, and we were the only team in conference that didn't have a double-digit (conference) loss," McNelis said. Sullivan said all those tough losses were hard to handle, but two in particular hurt the most. "Overall, we can't be disappointed, but those (two) Louisville games we should have won," Sullivan said. The final loss to Louisville in the C-USA Tournament effectively ended any chance Memphis had to play in the NCAA tournament, but the team achieved its goal of post-season play. Memphis made the WNIT and went on to beat Tulsa in the first round before losing at Western Kentucky 104-87. "I didn't expect to play so far into the year," Crawford said. "Our goal this year was any post-season play. Next year it'll be the NCAAs." A tournament birth is possible. The Lady Tigers will return all but two players. While graduating seniors Princess Swilley and Jordie Soso will be tough to replace, a solid nucleus of players will return, along with higher expectations. "We know what to expect (next year)," Crawford said. "The schedule will be tougher, and teams will probably be gunning for us." With the loss of two important seniors, the return of expectations and an increased emphasis from opponents, the 2004-2005 Lady Tigers can do only one thing to prepare for next season. "I told this to the girls (Sunday), if they don't get better (in the off-season), we're not going to win," Lee-McNelis said. "We overachieved this year and now they're expected to be better. I think they're hungry, and I think they enjoyed the year, so hopefully they'll put in the work."

03/24/04		County Nixes Tigers' Contract (Daily Helmsman)
		By Daniel Ford March 24, 2004 The University of Memphis men's basketball team has taken the first step to get out of The Pyramid next season. The County Commission approved Monday the release of the team from its contract to play in The Pyramid. The contract, signed in 1988, required the Tigers to remain as tenants in the building for the life of the facility. In letting the Tigers out of their lease, the County Commission also agreed to allow The U of M to keep up to $350,000 in interest earnings from the FedExForum construction project. The cause for the move is the construction of the state-of-the-art arena for the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies. Shelby County Mayor A C Wharton told the Associated Press he saw the plan as the best alternative for Memphis and taxpayers. Wharton said the release was logical because even if the Tigers played in The Pyramid next season, the publicly owned building would still operate at a loss. The Mayor said there are some "substantial suitors" for The Pyramid after the Tigers leave, but negotiations with those potential suitors were limited due to the uncertainty of where Memphis would play next year. However, the release is not final. The city and state, which helped finance the construction of the riverfront facility, must both agree to the team's move. The decision to release the team came a month after both the city and county rejected a proposal to give The University $125,000 annually for the next 20 years for the Tigers to move to the Forum. U of M President Shirley Raines said The U of M will most likely recoup the lost monies through donations from school supporters and raised ticket prices.

03/23/04		Memphis Snaps Five-Game Losing Streak With 5-2 Win Over Austin Peay (GoTigersGo.com)
		Memphis, Tenn. - The University of Memphis baseball team snapped a five-game losing streak with a 5-2 victory over Austin Peay Tuesday at AutoZone Park. The Tigers (11-7-0) used a four-run third inning to secure the victory that ended a five-game winning streak by the Governors (11-6-0), who mustered just three hits off five Memphis hurlers. Righthander Michael Novarese (1-0) picked up his first win of the season after holding the Governors hitless through the first four innings. First baseman Kyle Scott put the Tigers on the scoreboard after connecting on a two-out solo home run in the second. In the third, four Tigers combined to hit for the cycle to extend the team's lead to 5-0. Michael Lewis led the inning off with a double and scored on a triple by Jordan Hart. Chad House, who singled in Hart, scored on a two-run homer by Payne. It was Payne's third home run of the season. The Govs cracked the hit column for the first time in the sixth and put two runs on the board off Memphis reliever Nick Bradshaw. Shortstop Matthew Ledbetter doubled down the leftfield line and leftfielder Alfredo Burkeen knocked in Ledbetter and Jacob Schroeder, who was hit by a pitch to leadoff the inning, with a single up the middle. Senior Jarrett Grube pitched out of a bases loaded jam to get the final out in the eighth and tossed a scoreless ninth to record the first save of his career. APSU righthander Shawn Kelley took the loss after allowing five earned runs in three innings of work. The Tigers return to action at AutoZone Park this weekend when they host No. 24 East Carolina in a three-game Conference USA series (Fri., 7 p.m.; Sat. 2 p.m.; and Sun., 1 p.m.).

03/23/04		Beth Tidmore And Katie Benjamin Advance To Finals At Junior Olympic Rifle Event (GoTigersGo.com)
		MEMPHIS, TENN. - At the Junior Olympic Rifle competition held at the U.S. Olympic Training Facility in Colorado Springs, Colo., University of Memphis' Beth Tidmore and Katie Benjamin advanced to the finals and Tidmore won a bronze medal in air rifle. The competition featured 87 shooters made up of the state champion and the runner up. Memphis is the only school to have placed two shooters in the event. In air rifle, Tidmore and Benjamin placed in the top eight to enter the finals. In the finals, Tidmore placed third for the bronze medal, and Benjamin finished eighth. In the smallbore event, Benjamin advanced to the finals after placing seventh in the preliminary round. Benjamin improved to sixth following the final competition. "I am very proud of how well Katie and Beth did at this event," said head coach Butch Woolbright. "This event features the best in the country, and for both of them to make it to the finals is a huge accomplishment."

03/23/04		County Breaks Tigers' Lease -- Also Allows Funds For Locker Room (Commercial Appeal)
		By Jacinthia Jones Contact March 23, 2004 The Shelby County Commission agreed Monday to release the University of Memphis from its contract to play basketball at The Pyramid - breaking a deal made 16 years ago. In a separate resolution, the commission also voted to allow the school to use up to $350,000 in excess interest earnings from the FedExForum construction project to build a locker room for the men's basketball team. County Mayor A C Wharton endorsed both plans as good for taxpayers and the university, adding that even if the Tigers stay put, The Pyramid still will operate at a deficit. Wharton said the county already has a number of "substantial suitors" for The Pyramid, but negotiations are hindered by the uncertainty of where the Tigers will play. "Are they in or are they out? I think it's in the best interest of taxpayers if we can begin entertaining possible alternative uses on The Pyramid," Wharton told the public service and tourism committee just prior to the vote by the full 13-member commission. As for the $350,000 one-time payout, Wharton said those funds are restricted and cannot be used to rebuild the county's general fund. "If I could get my hands on that $350,000, I would be opposed to this," he said. In all, about $800,000 in excess interest is expected to be earned above the cost of the arena project. The Memphis & Shelby County Sports Authority, which oversees that money, has called a special meeting for March 30 to discuss the $350,000 funding. Willie Gregory, chairman of the authority, told commissioners the authority needs about $250,000 of the interest money for its own operating costs. Commissioner Walter Bailey was the lone dissenter in the resolutions. Commissioner David Lillard recused himself from both matters. "I do tend to think that they've got an adequate facility at The Pyramid," Bailey said, adding that he would like to keep the money in case of cost overruns at the Forum. The Memphis basketball team is obligated to play at The Pyramid for the life of the building under a 1988 agreement. Monday's action came a month after both the commission and City Council rejected a proposal to give the university $125,000 annually over 20 years for the Tigers to relocate to the Forum. University officials said Monday they will raise the money from fans and supporters, and also possibly through higher ticket prices. The commission approval is the first hoop the university must jump through before it can move to the new arena next season. The city and state also must sign off on the deal. Gale Jones Carson, Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton's executive assistant, attended the commission meeting and said Herenton plans to submit the university's proposal to the City Council for consideration. The council's personnel, intergovernmental and annexation committee is scheduled to take up the university's request on April 13. Councilman Jack Sammons, said he's in favor of allowing the Tigers to move to the FedExForum. We're not paying the Tigers to move," Sammons said. "We're only investing in our own asset." Other council members said they would reserve judgment until it has actually been submitted to the council. "Once it's on the table for discussion, I can form an opinion on it," said Councilman Joe Brown, the council's chairman. - Jacinthia Jones: 529-2780 Reporter Blake Fontenay contributed to this story.

03/23/04		Editorial 03/23: Tiger Program Progresses (Commercial Appeal)
		ANOTHER season of University of Memphis Tigers basketball came to an end on the floor of Kemper Arena in Kansas City on Sunday. Yet, while the finale was disappointing for Tiger fans, the 2003-04 season was anything but a downer. The goal of a sports team - or any organization for that matter - is to improve from year to year. And by that measurement, the Tigers succeeded. They returned to the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season and bounced South Carolina in the first round for their first win in the Big Dance since 1995. The U of M finished the season with a 22-8 record. That's more than respectable when considering its league, Conference USA, sent six teams to the national tournament. Playing as a 7th seed, the Tigers were matched up against a determined and talented Oklahoma State team on Sunday and fell 70-53. If the Cowboys play that well the rest of the tournament, they could easily be cutting down the nets as national champions on April 5. Now it is time to look to the future for the Tigers. Point guard Antonio Burks, the inspirational team leader, and Modibo Diarra ended their careers on Sunday. But fans should expect a talented corps of Tigers to return for 2004-05, led by Sean Banks, Rodney Carney and a recruiting class that will be among the best in the country if every recruit shows up and is eligible. The biggest question mark for the U of M next season remains at the head coaching spot. Will John Calipari leave Memphis for St. John's, a program that has floundered in recent years? Calipari still has not put an end to the speculation that he may move on to the New York school, which plays in the Big East Conference, a high-profile league that also will be welcoming Louisville, Cincinnati, Marquette and DePaul from Conference USA after next season. Also still in the air, technically, is where the Tigers will be playing next season, The Pyramid or the new FedExForum. It is in the best interest of the U of M, the city, the county, and taxpayers for the Tigers to share the new arena with the Grizzlies next year. Despite the convincing loss to Oklahoma State, the Tigers can look back on this year with pride. They represented the city well. What's more, there is still a lot of basketball left for hoops-crazy fans throughout greater Memphis. The surprising Grizzlies are marching toward a near certain trip to the NBA playoffs for the first time in team history. That, along with the Tigers, the Lady Tigers, who finished their season Sunday with a 21-10 record after losing in the second round of the WNIT, and the state high school champion White Station Spartans, have given fans plenty of cheers and thrills.

03/23/04		Where Do Tigers Go From Here? If Things Go Right, Outlook Is Bright (Commercial Appeal)
		By Gary Parrish Contact March 23, 2004 Do you believe in patterns? Omens? Or whatever? Oklahoma State coach Eddie Sutton does. Which is why University of Memphis fans should be excited about that defeat Sunday in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Turns out it is actually a good sign. Because the last time John Calipari lost to OSU in an NCAA Tournament, guess what happened the following season, in 1996? "He went to the Final Four," Sutton reminded. "So I told John that next year, it's his turn because when you look at the makeup of their team . . . they should really have a terrific ballclub." The Tigers' 2003-04 season was an overwhelming, overachieving success. A 22-8 record. A Conference USA co-championship. A win over South Carolina in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Hand that on a contract to any Memphis fan back in November, and they would've signed it faster than Sean Banks can draw a double-team, offered thanks and ordered balloons. Throw in the wins over Louisville and Missouri - as well as dominating efforts against Charlotte, Marquette and UAB - and then it becomes a superb deal . . . but probably not better than what's on deck if everything goes as planned. Assuming the Tigers find someone to replace the heart, attitude, leadership and point guard skills of Antonio Burks - and that's not a given - then Memphis should be a legitimate contender for the Conference USA Championship, if not bigger things. A preseason Top 25 ranking is a guarantee, given that Memphis will return four starters, one of them an all-American candidate in Banks. But again, everything revolves around the point guard position, which will probably be handled by rising junior Jeremy Hunt and incoming freshman Darius Washington, a McDonald's All-American from Orlando. "Antonio Burks has meant so much to this team that if individual players don't improve, you'll see it," Calipari said. "It happened at Marquette this year. As (Dwyane) Wade left, other players were asked to do things that they weren't quite comfortable doing, and it all of a sudden showed that he had a bigger impact on that team and program than you really realized. "But now that that's said, if our players get better and our freshmen that we recruited have the kind of impact that I think they can have, we'll be fine." Among the questions going into this offseason: Can Banks add weight, get more physical and actually become that lottery pick Cincinnati coach Bob Huggins claimed he was? Can Hunt return from knee surgery, get back into shape and establish himself as a consistent threat? Can Washington shake his score-first mentality, be a team-running point guard and defer to the likes of Banks and Rodney Carney? Can Arthur Barclay, Ivan Lopez, Duane Erwin, transfer Simplice Njoya, freshmen Richard Dorsey and Kareem Cooper - anybody - become a significant post presence? All those answers will come later, but sooner than some might think. After all, individual workouts start in a few months, meaning the offseason will be short but, Calipari hopes, productive. "We've just got to come together and work," said Hunt. "We have to keep building on." - Gary Parrish: 529-2365

03/23/04		TIGERS' BEST, WORST FOR 2003-04 (Commercial Appeal)
		Best The 11 straight: In what has become a staple of John Calipari's teams, the Tigers breezed through the middle of the league schedule, stringing 11 wins to break into the national rankings. The streak included victories over Charlotte, Louisville, Marquette and UAB. At one point, the Tigers' record was 20-4. The awards: As the season progressed, this became a team of two stars, Antonio Burks and Sean Banks. Burks was brilliant from start to finish, and thus was named Conference USA's Player of the Year. Banks got better and better until he started drawing constant double-teams late. But by then, he had already done enough to earn the C-USA Freshman of the Year honor. The NCAA win: Though all involved insisted it would've been a good year regardless, the victory over South Carolina in the first round of the NCAA Tournament sure helped. It gave the Tigers their first second-round appearance since 1995 and validated everything a success. Worst Adversity: The problems started as soon as the team returned from a preseason trip to Cancun and seemed to never stop. Clyde Wade was suspended for the year because of a federal indictment. Almamy Thiero was lost for the year because of blood clots. Billy Richmond transferred. Jeremy Hunt tore his ACL. Rodney Carney fractured his orbital. Next season has to be smoother, right? The opening of C-USA: After finishing the nonconference schedule in good shape, Memphis stumbled in its first two C-USA games. First the Tigers were dominated by Southern Miss. Then they were dominated by DePaul. But to Calipari's credit, everything went fine from there. The end: For a season that went so well, it was not a fitting ending. Memphis was manhandled in the second round of the NCAA Tournament by Oklahoma State. The Tigers trailed by 22 at the half and never really had a chance to get within striking range. - Gary Parrish

03/23/04		Don't Get In A Tizzy Over Cal (Commercial Appeal)
		By Geoff Calkins Contact March 23, 2004 To all those who are fretting that John Calipari might leave the Memphis Tigers this offseason: Stop it. Just stop it, OK? Fret about the future of The Pyramid. Fret about the Redbirds pitching staff. Fret about straight-line winds. But Cal to Anywhere? Enough, already. Please. Yes, it's true, the guy doesn't make it easy. He refuses to rule out other jobs. What about St. John's, Coach? "It's irrelevant," he said, the other day. Uh, no, it's not. Calipari just signed another contract extension. Last year, he released a statement saying he wasn't a candidate for the Philadelphia 76ers job. So why can't he do that now? What's wrong with a simple "I ain't leaving." Considering everything Calipari has been given since he arrived, don't the fans deserve that much? But it's not worth worrying about. Not this year, not again. Calipari has been great for Memphis. Players are graduating and the team is winning games. But if you spend more than a nanosecond stewing about his possible departure, you're a dope. Here's why: There's no end to it. Ask Memphis athletic director R. C. Johnson. "It's going to happen every year," he said. The first year, it was South Carolina. Last year, it was Pittsburgh. This year, it's St. John's. It's one thing to consider other job offers; it's another thing to make it an annual event. But Calipari likes hearing his name tossed around. It makes him feel valuable, pretty. Why do you think the coach went on the biggest sports talk show in New York last week? To quell the St. John's rumors or to stir them up? Worrying about Calipari leaving is like worrying about dying. Sooner or later, you're going to be right. But think about the time you wasted along the way. Memphis will survive. Calipari can go or stay. Whichever, there's going to be a Memphis basketball team next year. It will even have a coach. No question, the program will be better off if Calipari is that coach. He's a national figure. He's building something memorable here. But this isn't Massachusetts, where Calipari conjured a program out of dust. Memphis has been to two Final Fours, both before Calipari arrived. Besides, there are other capable coaches, even if they don't have big names. Xavier is going to the Sweet 16 with a coach named Thad Matta. Mike Anderson has done OK at UAB in two short seasons. Think either of those guys might like to work for $1 million a year? Calipari isn't for everyone. Who's to say he's going to get a job he wants? Pittsburgh hired someone named Jamie Dixon, who had never before been a head coach. The 76ers hired Randy Ayers, who had been fired at Ohio State. Why would men like this get jobs over an accomplished coach like Calipari? Because Calipari is considered a risk. Fair or not, he comes with a reputation. And he makes a lot of jack. So in order to hire him, a place has to be willing to pay big money and to take some heat. Pittsburgh decided to go the safer, cheaper route. As for St. John's, well, who knows? Manhattan's Bobby Gonzalez would be a simpler hire. So would Providence's Tim Welsh. But St. John's might just be ambitious enough to go after Calipari. Like Memphis four years ago, it could be looking for an instant jolt. If that happens, Calipari might leave. In which case, everyone should be grateful for the work he's done. The program is in better shape than it was four years ago. It's poised to do great things. Why would anyone worry about that? Contact columnist Geoff Calkins at 529-2364.

03/23/04		Season Expectations Cast Shadow On Loss (Daily Helmsman)
		By Ben Cowens March 23, 2004 An hour after UAB toppled Kentucky 76-75 on Sunday, Wildcats star Gerald Fitch was still noticeably upset at his team's demise. During a press conference, he answered few questions. When he did answer, it was with the tone of a man trying to reorient himself after waking from a deep sleep. Fitch was still shaken from his team's unlikely fall. It was the disappointment of a team that had fallen woefully short of expectations. When the final horn sounded after Oklahoma State trounced the Memphis Tigers 70-53 Sunday, there was a bit of frustration and sadness evident on the faces of all the Tigers players, but no one seemed unnerved. It was disappointment of a team that had already met expectations and had only hoped to exceed them. Anyone who has filled out a bracket this March knows that expectations don't always translate into victories. In fact, they really only translate into one thing: pressure. The Tigers had modest expectations to begin the season, but injuries and other subtractions from the team's roster may have tempered them somewhat. The Tigers road to the NCAA tournament second round was filled with potholes and roadblocks, yet Memphis continued to win. In October, the Tigers depth at the guard position included Billy Richmond, Jeremy Hunt, Anthony Rice and Antonio Burks. In late February, quarterback-turned-receiver-turned --point-guard Maurice Avery was forced into running the point against heavy pressure at Louisville. In October, Rice and Hunt were feared three-point shooters who became the focal point of defenses. By March, Hunt was injured, Rice was in a season-long shooting slump, and Burks, who had only six 3s in his first three seasons as a Tiger, led the team in three-point percentage. Using only these descriptions, anyone who knew basketball would think Memphis finished far below their fourth place preseason tab. Instead, Burks was the unexpected conference player of the year, freshman Sean Banks joined him on the all-conference team and the Tigers tied for first in C-USA. Even with the smashing at the hands of Oklahoma State, the season can be considered a smashing success. Just minutes after this season ended, however, thoughts toward the next begin. John Calipari was on the recruiting trail just hours after his team was ousted. Fans and media began to evaluate what next season might bring. In the world of preseason polls and recruiting rankings, where teams and players are evaluated long before playing their first game, expectations get much higher. As it stands now, Memphis loses only one vital cog. While Mobido Diarra played sparingly as part of Calipari's merry-go-round in the middle, Memphis won't miss his on court production. The huge hole is obviously at point guard, vacated by Burks' graduation. The Tigers have reinforcements for its talented returning core. Memphis' highly-touted recruiting class includes small forward Shawne Williams and guard Darius Washington. Both players are ranked as top 25 prospects by theinsiders.com, and Williams is considered by many sources the best small forward in the country. The loss of Burks means Washington will have to come in and make an immediate impact, if he does indeed play the point. Williams, a Memphis product, left Hamilton High School earlier this year and transferred to Laurinbug Prep in North Carolina in hopes of getting his academics in order. If he becomes eligible, Williams will join Rodney Carney in solidifying the small forward position. Booker T. Washington's Andre Allen may spend some time at the point guard position if Washington is left at shooting guard. The talented quintet will join seven tournament-tested players who saw considerable minutes this year. Even if they avoid injuries and everyone qualifies, next season's team will have questions. Without Burks, how well will Memphis take care of the ball? Can anyone provide the Tigers an inside scoring presence? With the mix of talent and experience, combined with the continual rise of the program since Calipari took over, Memphis fans could be dancing in the streets prior to next season. Whether or not they're dancing afterward remains to be seen.

03/22/04		2004 Men's Outdoor Track & Field Preview -- Tigers Have High Expectations Entering The Outdoor Season (GoTigersGo.com)
		The Tigers enter the 2004 outdoor season with high expectations. Memphis returns both NCAA Championship competitors including double-medlaist Mate Nemeth and 2003 C-USA Male Outdoor Athlete of the Year Gaute Myklebust. The Tigers are very strong in the throwing events and have capable athletes in the sprints, distance and jumping events as well. The Tigers open up their season this Saturday at the Mississippi State Invite. Sprints Traditionally Memphis has produced elite sprinters. The Tigers lost last year's top sprinter Gary Nemeth to the 2004 Olympic Games. Nemeth, a native of Hungary, has temporarily left the university to train for the Olympics as part of the Hungarian 4x100m Relay team. Nemeth's father is the coach of that team in Hungary. Still the Tigers have talent in this area. Senior Ivan Williams has had a tremendous offseason of training and appears poised to become a top sprinter in the conference and bid for an NCAA Regional Qualifying spot in the 200m dash. As a true freshman, Willie Green proved why he was a prized recruit from the Peach State when he placed third in the 60m dash at the C-USA Indoor Championships. A hamstring injury prevented him from competing in the outdoor season, but a healthy Green has all the tools to be an impact sprinter for the Tigers in 2004. Adding depth to the men's sprint corps is senior Michael Woods. Woods is a capable sprinter that has improved with every year of training. He could be a pleasant surprise for the Tigers this year. In the hurdle events, Preston Taylor returns for the Tigers. Taylor ranked in top 10 of C-USA as a sophomore in the 100m hurdles. Taylor, standing at 6'4", possesses the tools of a good hurdler. Newcomer Daniel Kiss is expected to make a big impact for the Tigers. A former Hungarian national Champion in the 110m hurdles, Kiss competed in the European Championships and his best time in the 60m hurdles compares very favorably to the best times posted in C-USA last year. Freshman Larry Harris joins the team this year. A local high school standout at Cordova HS Memphis, Harris may be the future for the Tigers in that event. Austin Hunter, a former college soccer player has developed into a solid 400m man for the Tigers. Now entering his sophomore year, Hunter is experienced and should climb the rankings in C-USA in 2004. Distance The strength of the Tigers team in 2003 was their distance corps. That group may be even stronger in 2004. Led by C-USA Double-Medalist Mate Nemeth (3000m steeplechase, 5000m Champion), the Tigers will be a force in the distance events. Nemeth returns for his senior campaign and sets his sights not on only repeating as a conference champion, but perhaps advancing to the finals of the NCAA Championships in the steeplechase which he just missed in 2003. Sophomore Istvan Kerekjarto qualified for the NCAA Regionals in the 800m and 1500m run in 2003 as a freshman. The coaching staff loves his potential and believes Kerekjarto can accomplish a lot before his career is over at Memphis. Newcomers Michael Mentz, Szabi Karadi, Abraham Shaposhnik and Szilard Toth all have strong credentials as distance runners. Mentz won his first race as a Tiger winning the 800m with an impressive time and may be the strongest of the newcomers. Collectively, the Tigers can potentially accumulate a lot of points in the distance events at the conference championship meets. Throws NCAA rules allow a team to enter four competitors in each event. The Tigers look to take advantage of that rule in the throwing events this spring. Coach Kevin Robinson has assembled a very talented group of throwers that may be as a good as any group in the country. Returning Double-Medalist and NCAA Championship Qualifier and 2003 C-USA Male Outdoor Athlete of the Year Senior Gaute Myklebust looks to add to his trophy case in 2004. Competing overseas this past summer in amateur competition, the native Norwegian produced marks in the shot put and discus that rival the top marks posted last year at the NCAA Championships. The C-USA 2003 Indoor Shot Put Champion and NCAA Regional Qualifier Adam Martin is back for his senior season. Martin competes in all four events (shot put, discus, weight throw and hammer) with the hammer throw being his strongest, as he is a top five thrower in C-USA. Senior transfer Stein Syverson is a former Norwegian Junior Champion in the discus and shot put. In his first meet as a Tiger, he matched Myklebust's performance in both events and challenges his teammate in those events. Freshmen Darius Frye and Norbert Guylas will jockey for the final spot as a thrower. Although young, both have shown ability as throwers. Jumps After an absence of competitors in the jumping events in 2003, the Memphis brought in two athletes to compete in these events in 2004. Junior College Transfer Janon Busby was a top-five finisher in the high jump and National Champion in the triple jump at the NJCAA Championships in 2003 while competing at Wallace State in Alabama. Busby gives the Tigers an instant boost in those two events. Freshman Cody Rushing was the Tennessee High School State Runner-up in the pole vault in 2003. He is the first pole vaulter to compete for Memphis since 1999 C-USA Champion Christos Adamides.

03/22/04		Memphis-Austin Peay Baseball Game Moved To AutoZone Park, Time Changed To 2 P.M. (GoTigersGo.com)
		Memphis, Tenn. - The University of Memphis baseball contest with Austin Peay State Tuesday has been moved from Nat Buring Stadium to AutoZone Park and the first pitch is set for 2 p.m. The Tigers (10-7) will look to end their current five-game losing streak against the Governors (10-5) before returning to Conference-USA play this weekend with a three-game series against East Carolina also at AutoZone Park. APSU took a home-and-home series from the Tigers in 2003, but trail in the all-time series 24-13. The Governors beat Memphis 10-8 at Nat Buring last season then defeated the Tigers in Clarksville 9-6. Memphis had won the previous meeting 6-3 in 2002.

03/22/04		Men's Tennis Back In Action This Week (GoTigersGo.com)
		MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The University of Memphis men's tennis team (9-9, 2-3 C-USA) will resume match play on the road this weekend, traveling to Jacksonville, Alabama, to face the Gamecocks of Jacksonville State, Saturday, before continuing on to Atlanta, Ga., to play Georgia State, Sunday. Memphis is seeking to snap a three-match losing streak, all to nationally-ranked opponents, that it suffered in a tournament at No. 5 Rice University March 12-14th. In all, Memphis has faced nine ranked opponents, and owns one win over then-No. 65 Ball State, 4-2. Memphis is being paced by junior Alex Bucewicz, who leads the team with an 11-6 overall mark, and freshman James Spence, who is 10-5 on the season. Senior Lee Taylor Walker is seeking to become the next Tiger to hit the double-digit win mark with a 9-9 record at No. 1 singles heading into the weekend. Freshman Sam Withell was one of a number of Tigers who needed the off week to give some nagging injuries a rest, and Withell, with his 7-6 mark at No. 5 singles, will be looked to for additional points. Memphis is just 24-23 in the bottom three singles slots through the first 18 matches of the season and with the Conference USA Championships, which Memphis will host, looming just four weeks away. The Tigers will open their weekend road schedule at Jacksonville State, Saturday. The Gamecocks (8-4, 3-0 Ohio Valley Conference) got off to its best start in school history at the NCAA Division I level, going 7-3 through their first 10 matches before falling at Stetson, 6-1, Sunday. Jacksonville State has been led by Ruben Herrera at No. 1 singles in its last three matches (exact statistics are not available). Herrera is also teaming with junior Arturo Nieto at No. 1 doubles, while Nieto is playing No. 2 singles. Junior Vedran Sirola, sophomore Rodney Rapson, junior Kieran Ricci and sophomore Christian Rybertt round out the remainder of the JSU line-up for the Saturday match, which will begin at 11 a.m. Georgia State is 6-6 and 2-3 in the Atlantic Sun Conference heading into this week. Jamie Rodriguez (3-2) and Albano Franco (2-4) have split time at No. 1 and 2 singles. Rodriguez is 2-2 at No. 2, while Franco is 2-1. Senior Miha Lisac, a first-team A-Sun honoree from last year, has also played some time at No. 2, with a 3-0 mark. Lisac, Rodriguez and sophomore Matija Sulin have all spent time at No. 3 singles, with Lisac playing the most matches there and sporting a 2-4 record. Sulin has played a majority of his matches at No. 4 singles, with a 2-4 record, while a tandem of four different players have filled out the No. 5 and 6 spots in the line-up. Memphis will return home for a non-conference match against Murray State, Apr. 1st before its final road trip of the year to UALR, Apr. 8th. The Tigers will then round out the regular season against the University of New Orleans, Apr. 10th, before hosting the Conference USA Championships, Apr. 15-18th at the HPER Courts on the University of Memphis campus.

03/22/04		Calipari's Status Still Not Certain (Commercial Appeal)
		By Gary Parrish Contact March 22, 2004 KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Now that the University of Memphis's basketball season is done, let the silly season begin. Will they call? Will he listen? Will he leave? It's that time of the year again for Tiger fans, who, as always, are left to wonder if John Calipari will be their coach next season. ''It's an ongoing thing,'' said Memphis athletic director R.C. Johnson. ''But I'm comfortable that he's happy.'' Published reports throughout the nation have St. John's targeting Calipari as its next coach. After losing in the second round of the NCAA Tournament Sunday, Calipari again stopped short of ruling out a move or saying he's not interested in making one. Asked if he will talk to St. John's if they call, Calipari answered, ''it's irrelevant because they haven't called me.'' Then, as he went to join his team, Calipari added, ''right now, to be honest with you, I'm just thinking of these guys on this bus I'm about to go sit with.'' Either way, the coaching carousel will be a hot topic from Memphis to New York over the coming week. It certainly was in Kansas City on Sunday. ''I don't know why he won't close the door,'' said Joey Lucchesi, a Tiger fan from Cordova. ''You never know with him, and I don't know if we'll ever know with him. But I sure hope he doesn't leave.''

03/22/04		Cowboys Sink Tigers -- U of M Can't Dig Way Out Of First-Half's Huge Hole (Commercial Appeal)
		By Gary Parrish Contact March 22, 2004 KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Thanks to a totally dominant effort in every aspect of the game, the outcome had been determined way earlier. So Antonio Burks - body aching, dreams crashing - checked out for what would be the last time, put a towel on his head, put his hands on his knees and, with a frustrated face, watched the final moments of his college career tick away from the end of the University of Memphis bench. By then, Burks was confident that in Oklahoma State he'd just played and lost to the eventual national champions. Anybody who watched the pounding was in no position to argue. "I haven't seen a team out there who can beat them," Burks said. "I'll pick them to win it all." The Tigers' season came to an abrupt end Sunday afternoon with a 70-53 loss to Oklahoma State that - if this is possible - didn't seem as close as the 17-point margin might indicate. Thus, there will be no Sweet 16 for the ninth straight year. "But I'm not holding my head down," Burks said after a 22-point effort. "I'm walking away proud. We played hard this year. We did things people thought we couldn't do." Speaking of couldn't do, here's a list of things seventh-seeded Memphis (22-8) couldn't do against second-seeded Oklahoma State (29-3) in the first half, all of which led to the Tigers' 22-point deficit that proved too steep to overcome. Rebound: Oklahoma State dominated the boards by a 17-6 margin. Defend: Oklahoma State shot 68.0 percent from the field. Get into an offensive set: Memphis had 10 turnovers and four assists. Deal with Joey Graham: The junior forward made all eight shots he took, including three from beyond the arc and a nasty dunk that split the Tigers' defense. Add it all up, and here's what kind of halftime score it produced: OSU 41. Memphis 19. Or Graham 20. Memphis 19. "We had to jump on these guys from the get-go," said Graham, who finished with 21 points and four rebounds. "Tonight was just one of those nights where the rim felt like it was an ocean." Added Memphis coach John Calipari: "Graham looked like an NBA All-Star." Scrappy like always, the Tigers made a run in the second half and briefly looked like they might pull-off the comeback of all comebacks. Memphis got a couple of stops, sank a couple of shots and that once insurmountable deficit - it reached 26 - seemed manageable coming out of a time out with 7:40 remaining. So the crowd of blue stood and yelled and waved like crazy, pointing to a 56-43 score and claiming momentum. Then Oklahoma State's Daniel Bobik buried an uncontested 3 from the left corner that simultaneously sank Calipari into his seat and brought everybody back to reality. Just like that, order was restored. "It was real devastating," said Sean Banks, who again struggled at Kemper Arena, getting 11 points and five rebounds against OSU. "We just couldn't come up with a stop. We just couldn't come up with that key play." Then later, Banks summed-up the feeling from the rest of the returning Tigers. "We'll come back next year," he said. "And I want next year to be more successful because I'm not satisfied with only going to the second round." - Gary Parrish: 529-2365

03/22/04		Tigers Took A Shot With Banks And Hit All Net (Commercial Appeal)
		By Don Wade Contact March 22, 2004 KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The kid was a risk. There were a couple of arrests. One involved a car chase and another an accusation that Sean Banks had used a cigarette to burn a gang insignia onto a teenage girl's leg. Some people said John Calipari should leave this one alone. I said it. And I might say it again if there's another highly touted recruit with multiple arrests who shows up on the coach's wish list. But today, after the Tigers have taken their leave from the NCAA Tournament in a 70-53 second-round loss to No. 2 seed Oklahoma State, in a game in which a stronger, more mature player absolutely schooled Sean Banks, I also say this: I'm glad Sean Banks came to Memphis. Sean Banks, as far as I know, has been guilty of nothing more sinister than occasionally talking back to his coach and, frankly, knowing Calipari, you can't blame the kid for that. So, yes, I'm glad Banks is here. Not just because he was a fabulous freshman, the best in Conference USA, but because there are two irrefutable truths about him: He wants to win and he wants to get better. I believe that even after watching OSU's Joey Graham "play him" for 20 first-half points. I believe it even after seeing Banks play true matador defense, which had Calipari so exasperated that he rooted for Graham to have his way, yelling, "Score on him! Score on him!" See, two key questions were put to Banks after Sunday's loss and they brought just the answers you'd want to hear. Are you definitely coming back for your sophomore year? "Yes." Did you ever consider leaving for the NBA? "No." Sean Banks gets it. Not all of it, of course, because he's still young, still learning, still has a powerful on-court pout when things aren't going well. And they weren't going well Sunday when Graham, 6-7 and 235 to Sean's 6-8 and 210, burned him for 20 points on 8-of-8 shooting from the floor, 3-of-3 from 3-point range. But Banks locked down in the second half; Graham was 0-for-3 and got his only point at the free-throw line. "I wasn't going to let him make a name off me," Banks said. He doesn't want anybody to make a name off him. "I know I have holes in my game," he said. "It makes no sense for me to be the same player (next year). Some people would be satisfied with what I did. I'm not." Calipari certainly wasn't satisfied with all that he saw Sunday, but neither was he surprised that his most gifted player, who has averaged about 18 points per game and scored 11 Sunday, suddenly found himself enrolled in an off-campus OSU basketball class. "He's had a great year," Calipari said. "This (Graham) was a physical, mature man. It was obvious he was going to struggle, but he had a great year." A great year that might never have been. "I'm happy coach Cal gave me a chance . . . even though the circumstances," Banks said. "He didn't have to. A lot of people who are fans of mine now, who claim they love me, didn't want him to take a risk." And a risk it was. One that so far has worked out beautifully. Which isn't to say the coach and the player don't have their moments. They do. They did Sunday, with Banks clearly upset that Calipari had screamed for Graham to score on him. "I am loyal to him," Banks said of Calipari in the quiet of an emptying locker room. "I get mad because I don't think he always understands." What both player and coach seem to understand is that as good as Banks is now, he can be even better. More weight. More strength. More intensity on defense. And yes, more maturity. Which brings up a good question: What kind of year can Memphis expect from Sean Banks next season? "I don't know," said the kid who was once a risk, who a moment later decided he did know. "Better," Sean Banks finally said. "A better year than this one." Contact reporter Don Wade at 529-2358

03/22/04		TIGERS POSTGAME (Oklahoma State) (Commercial Appeal)
		About five minutes in, Oklahoma State forward Joey Graham got the ball at the left elbow, dribbled right through the Memphis defense and threw down a ridiculous dunk that garnered wows throughout Kemper Arena. The play was so sick that Maurice Avery and Jeremy Hunt - sitting together on the Tiger bench - had to hide their faces to keep from laughing on national television. It gave OSU an 11-7 advantage, and from there the blowout was on. ''It gave us a lot of juice and momentum when he made that dunk,'' said Oklahoma State senior Ivan McFarlin. ''That's when I knew that he was ready to go.'' Stat of the game Everybody knew rebounding would be a concern for Memphis. Still, nobody expected this. In that devastating first half, OSU outrebounded the Tigers 17-6. Even worse, McFarlin outrebounded the Tigers 7-6. Things got better in the second half. But OSU still finished with a 34-22 rebounding edge, which included 14 offensive boards that produced 11 second-chance points. Trends Memphis's loss means the school's streak of no Sweet 16s moved to nine years. The last Sweet 16 appearance was in 1995 and ended with a loss to Arkansas. X's and O's From the opening tip it was clear that coach Eddie Sutton's game plan would be to slow down Antonio Burks and attack Sean Banks, which OSU relentlessly did. The Cowboys ran the Tigers' skinny freshman off screens and then went right at him. It led to that nice effort from Graham, who was 8-of-8 from the field in the first half while being guarded mostly by Banks. ''We felt like we could attack him, and we tried to take advantage of that because he is a young basketball player,'' acknowledged Sutton. ''There is a big difference between playing high school basketball and (the NCAA Tournament). ''I think he's a terrific offensive player, and he's going to become a lot better defensive player when he gets some experience.'' Odds and ends With OSU headed to the Sweet 16, Sutton did not embrace the chance to compare this team, now 29-3, to his last Final Four Cowboys team, which included one Bryant 'Big Country' Reeves. "Like I've said before, I'm always hesitant about comparing ball clubs," Sutton said. "This is a very good team. They certainly have surpassed the goal I thought they could have achieved, and we usually try to be pretty realistic. The way they played in the first half, they could have played with most teams in college basketball." Sutton, however, did take more confidence from this win than his team's Friday victory over No. 15 seed Eastern Washington. "Today we looked more like the team that won the Big 12 championship last week, except in the second half; we didn't play quite as well . . . you can't play that way against any team left in the tournament," Sutton said. Joey Graham got 20 of his 21 points in the first half, going 8-of-8 from the floor. "One of those nights when the rim felt like it was the ocean," he said. Well, we know what you mean, Joey. With the Cowboys moving on, McFarlin searched for a comparison as the Cowboys continue on the Road to San Antonio. "This is like that nicotine patch," he said. "You gotta go through that step process." In its wins over Eastern Washington and Memphis, OSU outscored its opponents in the paint, 81-50, and outrebounded them 71-49. The Cowboys shot 68 percent in the first half against the Tigers and 59.6 for the game. The Cowboys are now 19-1 when shooting better than 50 percent from the field. Sunday marked the 21st time this season OSU won by nine or more points. In his final game in college, Modibo Diarra made an impression. Desperate for any big man to rebound, Calipari inserted the senior from Mali, who promptly sank a little hook-shot for two points. As a reward, Calipari started Diarra in the second half, and he got a dunk, a tip, drew two charges and pounced on a couple of loose balls before finishing with six points and two rebounds in 18 minutes. ''He played well,'' Calipari said. ''I thought he was terrific. I was so proud of him.'' What's next For Burks and Diarra, college basketball is done, though both will keep working out in hopes of a professional career. Everybody else - except for Garrick Green and possibly Maurice Avery - should return next season and be joined by a recruiting class that will be one of the nation's best if everybody enrolls and is eligible. Consequently, the Tigers should make everybody's preseason Top 25 and be a favorite in Conference USA. - By Gary Parrish and Don Wade

03/22/04		Memphis On Road To Bigger And Best (Commercial Appeal)
		By Geoff Calkins Contact March 22, 2004 KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The kid has it all figured out, see. Adam Libby is 11. He's a sixth grader at Riverdale Elementary School. He was at Kemper Arena with his family Sunday, watching the Tigers get bounced out of the NCAA Tournament by Oklahoma State, 70-53. Did it bother him? A little. Did it surprise him? Nope. "He told us this is what would happen," said his father, Steve Libby, 40. "Every season under John Calipari we've gotten one game better. First, we got to the NIT. Then, we won the NIT. Then, we got to the NCAAs. This year, we won an NCAA game. "In five years, when Adam has his license to drive, he says he's driving us to the championship game.'' Sounds like a plan, kid. Better rent a really big van. "This program is in great shape," said Memphis athletic director R.C. Johnson. "We're absolutely on the right road." And that's important to keep in mind as we recount the horrors of Sunday afternoon. "We were manhandled," Calipari said. Later, he switched to mauled. Either worked just fine. Cattle get better treatment in this town. At least they're stunned before they're carved up. The Memphis players were awake and conscious for the whole thing. Presumably, at least. "I had to call a time out at 6-0 to tell my team they were OK," Calipari said. "I think they said, 'But you're not out here.' " Oklahoma State was bigger, stronger, smarter and tougher. Sometimes it's as simple as that. At one point, as Sean Banks dropped too far off Oklahoma State's torrid Joey Graham, Calipari started screaming at Graham. "Score on him, score on him," Calipari yelled. Graham dropped in a three. Whatever you say, coach. The idea was to teach Banks a lesson. Fact is, Oklahoma State schooled the Tigers all day long. Memphis trailed 41-19 at the half. The Tigers had just six rebounds and four assists. Calipari told the CBS interviewer he thought his team could make a run after intermission "if four of their players don't show up." Alas, the Cowboys were all present and accounted for, leaving Memphis fans everywhere a final 20 minutes to search for good news amid the bad. Like, say, Banks won't be a lottery pick. And Louisville didn't even win one game. And the loss won't help Calipari get another job. Unless, of course, the Washington Generals are looking for a head coach. On that front, Calipari once again wouldn't rule out the possibility of interviewing for the vacant St. John's position. "It's irrelevant," he said, because he hasn't yet been asked. It's a disappointing response from a guy who signed another contract extension not long ago, who has been given everything he's wanted since he arrived in town. But you know what? That's Calipari. To borrow his phrase, he is what he is. Besides, Calipari is also the inspired coach who brought Memphis fans this season, who took a collection of jump shooters and turned them into the best, most cohesive team the city has seen in years. They won 22 games, thumped Marquette, beat Louisville and took one more step toward Adam Libby's 2009 championship game. It's in Detroit, by the way. If the Tigers really get there, someone buy that kid a car. Contact columnist Geoff Calkins at 529-2364

03/22/04		Still, A Great Season -- Okla. State Too Much For Tigers (Commercial Appeal)
		By Don Wade Contact March 22, 2004 KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Considering the score, the timing, and the ramifications Sunday afternoon, University of Memphis president Shirley Raines would have been within her rights to play the stoic, to sit on her hands. With less than 12 minutes left in the game - and the season, the Tigers trailed Oklahoma State by 20 points. They were about to be ushered off the floor of the Big Dance, but not before the Tigers pep band broke into a rendition of "I'm So Glad." That's when Raines rose to her feet, clapping, smiling, singing, waving her hand at Tigers fans, imploring them to join in too. To look at Raines, you wouldn't have guessed the Tigers were losing. You would have almost expected her to scream, "I've got spirit, yes I do, I've got spirit, how 'bout you!" "I always do that cheer with 'I'm So Glad,'" Raines said after the Tigers had lost, 70-53, at Kemper Arena in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. "It represents all of us - students, faculty, everybody. And we're proud of the team." Said the Tigers' Duane Erwin: "It was a great season; I can't say it was a great finish." And there you have it. The Tigers, who finished at 22-8, came into the NCAAs as a No. 7 seed. On Friday, they beat No. 10 seed South Carolina by 16 points to give them their first NCAA win in nine years. The Tigers and their fans, several hundred of whom made the trip to Kansas City, carried high hopes into Sunday's game against the No. 2 seed Cowboys, who in winning Sunday move on to the Sweet 16. But whatever chance the Tigers had to extend their season quickly melted under the heat of a relentless OSU defense that made it difficult for the Tigers to pass the ball or find their way to the goal for easy baskets. "It was too physical for us," said Tigers guard Anthony Rice. "We ran our offense, but we couldn't get any shots." That theme was established early as the large section of Memphis fans in the lower bowl fell strangely quiet with several minutes still left in the first half. By halftime, the Tigers trailed 41-19 and OSU's Joey Graham had 20 of his 21 points. Janice Kolb, 52, a season ticket holder who lives in Olive Branch, wore a Memphis sweatshirt and a stunned expression with 20 minutes still to play, 22 points to make up. "We just don't have what it takes to compete with a team like that," Kolb said, mentioning, as many fans did, the Tigers' season-long struggle to develop a legitimate inside game. "That hurt us big-time. We gotta get some recruits here that can play inside." Troy Traylor, 38, of Germantown said, "It's been an awesome year. "We've done a whole lot more than I thought." It is that thought that senior guard Antonio Burks, who grew up in Memphis, will take with him as he leaves Tiger basketball behind. "I'm happy for my teammates and myself," said Burks, who scored 22 points. "I'm not holding my head down. I'm walking away proud." - Don Wade: 529-2358

03/22/04		TCU Finishes Sweep With A One-Run Win; Tiger Rally Falls Short (Commercial Appeal)
		By Our Press Services March 22, 2004 TCU finished off its sweep of the University of Memphis baseball team with an 8-7 victory Sunday at Lipton Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas. The Horned Frogs held off a late rally by the Tigers (10-7, 0-3 C-USA) as TCU designated hitter Chad Huffman went 4-for-4 with two home runs and seven RBI. TCU scored six runs in the first two innings off Memphis starter Stephen Gostkowski via seven singles and a home run. Huffman had an RBI single in the first and delivered the big blow in the second with his first career grand slam. A pair of two-out doubles by the Tigers cut the Horned Frogs' lead to 6-4 in the third. Shortstop Brent Dlugach drove in two runs with his third double of the season and second baseman Michael Lewis drove in Dlugach with his third double. Memphis reliever Corey Kines kept the Frogs off the scoreboard from the third through the fifth innings before surrendering a two-run homer to Huffman in the sixth that gave TCU (15-8, 3-0) an 8-4 advantage. TCU rightfielder Austin Adams made a run-saving catch in the eighth inning when he robbed Josh Payne of extra bases with a diving grab at the wall. Memphis pulled to within a run after Adam Amar hit a solo home run in the ninth. The Tigers return to action Tuesday vs. Austin Peay at AutoZone Park. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.

03/21/04		Lady Tigers Lose To Western Kentucky, 104-87 (GoTigersGo.com)
		Bowling Green, Ky. - In the WNIT, it's all about the home court advantage. Western Kentucky proved that today with a 104-87 victory over the University of Memphis in the second round of the WNIT here Sunday in front of over 1,000 Hilltopper fans. Memphis ends the year at 21-10, while Western Kentucky takes a 20-13 record into the next round of the WNIT. "I was very disappointed in the way we started the game," said coach Joye Lee-McNelis. "You have to give Western Kentucky a lot of credit for the way they came out and took a 15-0 lead. They shot the ball very well in the first three minutes of the game." Despite the loss, senior Princess Swilley managed to enter the 1,000 Point Club after scoring just two points in today's game. Swilley became the second Lady Tiger in two straight years to enter the club, as Shannon Hamp reached the 1,000-point plateau last season. "I was so happy with the fact that Princess got her 1,000 points," said McNelis. "It would have broken my heart if she wouldn't have gotten it. She has been a joy to coach these last four years, and she is the type of player that coaches wish they had 10 of. My hat is off to her family because they have raised a quality woman who I am proud of. "Not too many people know that Princess has been playing with a lot of pain, and will have to have her other shoulder operated on after the season," added McNelis. "She has battled these last few weeks, and has never complained. I am truly proud of her, and will miss her greatly." Junior Victoria Crawford led Memphis' efforts with a career-high 38 points off an 11-of-22 effort from the field, and a 16-of-17 mark from the charity stripe. Crawford hit 14 straight free throws before recording her only miss. Crawford also hauled in 12 rebounds for her second career double-double. Earlier this season against Maryland-Eastern Shore, Crawford was 10-of-10 from the line. The Lady Tigers have been to the WNIT four years (1999, 2000, 2001, 2004) and have not won a road game in that tournament. In 1999 and 2001, Memphis exited the tournament with losses to Wisconsin and Alabama, respectively. Sophomore Tamika Butler scored 15 points, and also dished out a game-high four assists. Juniors Jennifer Sullivan and Raven Rogers also scored in double digits with 12 points apiece. Rogers added 10 rebounds for her seventh career double-double effort. The Lady Tigers shot 46 percent from the field, and were outrebounded by WKU, 42-31. Memphis was 19-of-21 from the line, while WKU hit 26 of their 36 charity shots. "I am very proud of how hard this team played," added McNelis. "This team never gave up and played with a lot of fight. There were a few times where we were down by 10 or 15 points, and they could have folded up and given up, but this team never did that. We hustled all the way to the very end, and for that I am very proud. "I also am very appreciative to all of the fans that have supported this team all season, but I am truly thankful for all the people who drove here to support the Lady Tigers," said McNelis. "This program is very lucky to have the support of so many people." The Hilltoppers jumped all over Memphis in the first half, running the score to 15-0 with 16:53 left in the half before Victoria Crawford was sent to the line for her first of 12 free throws. Following Crawford's two free-throw points, Memphis used an 11-0 run to cut the lead to 28-19 with just under 12 minutes left. WKU used a 10-of-12 effort from the field by Carla Bartee to run their lead to as many as 18 points with just over five minutes remaining before the break. Bartee had 20 points at the half, while Leslie Logsdon chipped in 18 points. Memphis' Crawford also had 18 points at the half, as she took all 12 of Memphis' free-throw shots, hitting all 12 of the charity shots. The Lady Tigers were forced into 15 turnovers, of which WKU managed to score 19 points. WKU hit 62 percent of their shots from the field, and held Memphis to 42 percent shooting. WKU also outrebounded Memphis, 18-15, at the half. Bartee finished the game with a career-high 32 points and 15 rebounds. She was 13-of-20 from the field and 6-of-6 from the free-throw line. Three other WKU starters scored in double figures as Logsdon totaled 27 points, Tiffany Porter-Talbert scored 22 points, and Krystal Gardner added 16 points. Porter-Talbert also grabbed 10 rebounds for a double-double. WKU is the first team to score 100 points against Memphis, since Tennessee defeated Memphis, 113-39, in 1999.

03/21/04		TCU Edges Memphis 8-7 In Series Finale (GoTigersGo.com)
		Fort Worth, Texas - TCU finished off its sweep of the University of Memphis baseball team with an 8-7 victory Sunday at Lipton Stadium. The Horned Frogs held off a late rally by the Tigers as their designated hitter Chad Huffman went 4-for-4 with two home runs and seven RBIs. TCU put six runs on the board in the first two innings off Memphis starter Stephen Gostkowski via seven singles and a home run. Huffman had a RBI single in the first and delivered the big blow in the second with his first-career grand slam. Ramon Moses also had a RBI single in the first. A pair of two-out doubles by the Tigers cut the Horned Frogs' lead to 6-4 in the third. Shortstop Brent Dlugach drove in two runs with his third double of the season to left and second baseman Michael Lewis drove in Dlugach with his third double. Memphis reliever Corey Kines kept the Frogs off the scoreboard from the third through fifth innings before surrendering a two-run homer to Huffman in the sixth that gave TCU an 8-4 advantage. The Tigers got those two runs back in the seventh in part to a trio of TCU errors. Dlugach had the only RBI in the frame with an infield single. TCU rightfielder Austin Adams made a run-saving catch in the eighth inning when he robbed Josh Payne of extra bases with a diving grab at the wall. Memphis pulled to within one after Adam Amar hit a solo home run in the ninth. The home run was Amar's third of the season and extended his hitting streak to six games. Dlugach led the 11-hit Memphis offensive attack going 3-for-5 at the plate with three RBIs. Gostkowksi (1-1) suffered his first loss in four starts while Chad Underwood allowed two runs in four innings to pick up the win. TCU reliever Robbie Findlay earned the save after allowing a run in the ninth. The Tigers return to action Tuesday versus Austin Peay in their first of four games in the upcoming week at AutoZone Park. First pitch Tuesday is set for 2 p.m. Memphis will host East Carolina this weekend at the downtown ballpark in a Conference-USA series.

03/21/04		Memphis Falls To Hot-Shooting Cowboys, 70-53 (GoTigersGo.com)
		By STEVE BRISENDINE AP Sports Writer KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - A big first half by Joey Graham was all Oklahoma State needed to reach the regional semifinals. Graham got 20 of his 21 points before the break, single-handedly outscoring Memphis' entire team over that span in a 70-53 win Sunday. In the opening round Friday, Oklahoma State played sluggish defense and was tied 36-all with 15th-seeded Eastern Washington at the half before going on to win 75-56. Graham scored only four points in that game, eight under his average. "I felt a lot better today than I did after we beat Eastern Washington. Today, we looked more like the team that won the Big 12 championship last week," coach Eddie Sutton said. "There are not too many teams that we couldn't play with if we play like that." Oklahoma State, the second seed in the East Rutherford Regional, led 41-19 after a first half in which it shot 68 percent (17-for-23) and outrebounded the Tigers 17-6. "They manhandled us physically," Memphis coach John Calipari said. "Instead of coming together, we all said, 'I'll just do it myself.' They lulled us into that, and then we had turnover after turnover after turnover." Memphis actually had only 12 turnovers to Oklahoma State's 17, but four of those came in the game's critical opening minutes. It was the most lopsided loss this season for the Tigers (22-8), and it could have been worse. The Cowboys led 54-27 with 14 minutes left before Memphis responded with a 10-0 run. That started a 23-9 surge, capped by Rodney Carney's free throw with 3:38 left, that got Memphis within 63-50. The Tigers only managed Antonio Burks' 3 after that as Oklahoma State clinched its first regional semifinal berth since 2000. Daniel Bobik went 3-for-4 from the line down the stretch for Oklahoma State, which made a woeful 53 percent (9-for-17) of its free throws. Rodney Carney gets position on teammate Modibo Diarra, top left, and Oklahoma State forward Ivan McFarlin for a defensive rebound. Memphis, which has not advanced past the second round since 1995, managed just two offensive boards in the first half and 11 for the game, compared to 20 defensive rebounds for the Cowboys. Ivan McFarlin and John Lucas each scored 13 points for the Cowboys, and McFarlin had 10 rebounds. Bobik added 11 points for Oklahoma State. Lucas led the Cowboys with five assists - only four fewer than Memphis had as a team. Meanwhile, Oklahoma State's perimeter defense kept Memphis' shooters in check for most of the game. Burks was 3-for-5 from 3-point range and led the Tigers with 21 points, but two of those came in the final four minutes with the game all but out of reach. Sean Banks had two 3s and 11 points. But Carney, whose six 3-pointers in a first-round win over South Carolina were a tournament record for the Tigers, was 1-for-5 from long range and scored eight points Sunday under intense defensive pressure from the Cowboys' Tony Allen. "It was too physical a game for us," said Anthony Rice, who had three 3s and 12 points in the first round but was 0-for-3 from outside the arc and scored four points Sunday. "We ran our offense, but we just couldn't get off any shots." A 12-1 run, capped by Graham's dunk, gave Oklahoma State a 21-8 lead eight minutes into the first half. "It gave us a lot of juice and momentum when he made that dunk," McFarlin said. "That's when I knew he was ready to go." Graham went 3-for-3 from outside the arc in the last six minutes of the half and added a dunk at the buzzer.

03/21/04		OSU Poses Tough Test For Tigers Today (Commercial Appeal)
		By Gary Parrish Contact March 21, 2004 KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The TV was on. The door was shut. The University of Memphis assistants were focused and in their office back home last week, up to their whistles in film of Oklahoma State. The mission? It was two-fold, really. One: Figure out how to beat the Cowboys. Two: Don't let John Calipari get a glimpse. "My staff wouldn't let me watch any of them for fear that I would be scared to death coming to Kansas City," Calipari said. "So every time I walked in, if anybody was watching tape they'd turn the TV off." Calipari was joking when he told this story, exaggerating like he often does. Still, he had a point, as the coach's version made it clear just how impressive Oklahoma State is - on film or otherwise. At 1:20 this afternoon, the seventh-seeded Tigers (22-7) get an up-close look when they meet second-seeded OSU (28-3) in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Kemper Arena. An upset and Memphis goes to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1995. "Oklahoma State is a real physical team," U of M freshman Sean Banks said, well aware that the Cowboys are ranked fourth in the final Associated Press poll. "They certainly had a case to be a No. 1 seed." A Big 12 regular-season championship. A Big 12 Tournament championship. The Cowboys' resume is good. They beat Texas three times, by an average of 10 points. They beat Oklahoma twice and Kansas by 20. When Billy Packer goes on CBS and talks about how Saint Joseph's shouldn't be a No. 1, what he's really saying is that Oklahoma State should. A lot of people agree, those at OSU included. "We thought we were going to be a No. 1 because we deserved a No. 1 seed," said Oklahoma State's Joey Graham. "But the committee made their decision." But that was last Sunday. The question today is the one those Memphis assistants were trying to answer last week: Can the Tigers beat Oklahoma State? Is it possible for Memphis to mess up most everybody's bracket and play in East Rutherford, N.J., next week? In a word, yes. But to do so, the Tigers will probably need a special performance from somebody, which is the common denominator of OSU's losses to BYU, Texas Tech and Missouri. For BYU, it was Rafael Araujo. The big center went for 32 points and 17 rebounds. For Texas Tech, it was Andre Emmett, an explosive forward who got 32 points and two assists. For Missouri, it was Rickey Paulding, a versatile wing who tallied 31 points and six rebounds. Who will it be for Memphis? The favorite is Banks, which Calipari acknowledged Saturday. "He's had games where he went for 25 points, 13 rebounds, five blocked shots and four assists, and I called him Leon," Calipari said in reference to the Budweiser commercial featuring a star athlete complaining that he can't do it all. "My comment to my team was, 'Hey, Leon can't do everything. What do you want, the freshman to do everything?' "But against Oklahoma State, we need Leon," Calipari concluded. "We don't need Sean Banks. We need Leon." - Gary Parrish: 529-2365

03/21/04		OSU Straddles Tigers' Path (Commercial Appeal)
		By Don Wade Contact March 21, 2004 KANSAS CITY, Mo. - On Friday, the University of Memphis was the favorite, a No. 7 seed matched against No. 10 seed South Carolina. Which meant the Tigers got to wear their home whites. Which meant the Memphis pep band got to play the national anthem before Friday's 59-43 first-round NCAA Tournament win over the Gamecocks. "I guess that's one of the perks," said Christopher Jones, 23, who plays the saxophone. Today, however, the tune changes. The 22-7 Tigers are an underdog to 28-3 Oklahoma State, a No. 2 seed. The Tigers and OSU tip off at 1:20 p.m. today at Kemper Arena in the second round, and the crowd largely will be Cowboy orange. "Just like a road game," said Tigers guard Anthony Rice. "But we've played in that kind of environment before. I think we'll handle it." By winning Friday, the Tigers won an NCAA Tournament game for the first time since 1995. Winning today also would put them in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1995 and for the eighth time in school history. "As far as the '95 team, I'm sure everybody remembers that team," Rice said of a team that included Mingo Johnson, Lorenzen Wright and Cedric Henderson. "Now we have our chance to make history." It's a chance that Tigers will have to seize, because as Tigers coach John Calipari said Saturday of the Cowboys, "They don't participate in their own demise. If you want it, you gotta go get it." That is exactly how the Tigers played in the win over South Carolina, starting fast and looking nothing like the team that fell flat in a first-round defeat last season to Arizona State. "To say I was disappointed last year is an understatement," said David Toombs, 30, who literally may be the Tigers' biggest fan. "But the way they came out this time, it was obvious they were into it this year." Oklahoma State held a No. 4 ranking in the final Associated Press poll (the Tigers were 24th), and the Cowboys won both the Big 12 regular-season and tournament titles. They've won seven in a row, and their last loss was in overtime at Missouri, a team Memphis beat by two points in December when Missouri was ranked 11th in the country. "You have to admit, they were as good as any of the '1' seeds," said Calipari. Which means winning today won't be easy. But the Tigers already seem to have sated a good segment of Memphis fans by getting through the first round. This year, March Madness is also Memphis Madness. "I think most fans would say to win one game is success," said Dudley Crowder, 51, of Lakeland, who went to Friday's game with his son, Desi, who now lives in Kansas City. "Anything after that is gravy - or barbecue sauce." - Don Wade: 529-2358

03/21/04		All Calipari, Sutton Want Is One More Game (Commercial Appeal)
		By Don Wade Contact March 21, 2004 KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Tigers' John Calipari has been at this coaching thing a long time. Oklahoma State's Eddie Sutton has been at it longer. "This is a great profession to be in if you win," Sutton, a.k.a. The Human Scowl, said Saturday with the slightest of smiles. "Now, it's not worth a damn if you lose." Well now, that's quite a statement on the eve of the second round of the NCAA Tournament, isn't it? Gee, are we really still just happy to be here? Actually, Calipari and Sutton are happy. But Sutton's No. 2 seed Oklahoma State Cowboys and Calipari's No. 7 seed Tigers represent each other's most immediate roadblocks to the Sweet 16. So now, the stakes get higher. Now, winning means even more. Now, the losing hurts even more. Used to be, a college basketball coach could make his legend with year-to-year consistency. People would appreciate each and every win, celebrate every conference championship banner that was raised to the rafters of good old State U. But like everything else in our culture, college basketball success must be supersized too. That means the NCAA Tournament. That means survive, advance and conquer. Calipari, 45, had his big moment eight years ago at Umass, when the Minutemen reached the Final Four. Unfortunately, star player Marcus Camby later admitted accepting gifts from an agent and the NCAA got out a big eraser: In the official record books, Calipari's Final Four was just a dream. In the unofficial court of public opinion, Calipari is seen as the coach obsessed - a good quality when we see the Tigers playing their most ferocious defense - but sometimes viewed as, well, a bit critical. "I'm used to coach Cal by now," said the Tigers' Duane Erwin, who has been the most frequent target. "I got to my boiling point (once), but there's no bad blood." And, according to freshman Sean Banks, there's also a soft, cuddly Cal. "He's a funny guy, he's cool, he cares," Banks said. "Back home (in New Jersey), there was an article written about how he's what's wrong with college basketball, a bad dude. "So I didn't know what to expect coming here, whether or not to trust him. But I feel safer with him than anybody else. He's like family." Sutton, 68, has taken Arkansas to a Final Four, been run out of Kentucky - NCAA probation left in his wake - emerged clean and sober from a 1987 stay at Betty Ford, and taken OSU to a Final Four. He also understands the real meaning of survive and advance: Since the 2001 plane crash that killed several members of the OSU basketball family, Sutton's mellowed enough that he's put more focus on family and friends, less on the fury he sometimes directs at his team. "He always smiles," said OSU guard John Lucas, disputing the notion that the coach only scowls. "He smiles in the huddle. You just don't see it. Coach will get upset, and that's when the camera is on him. "He's not chewing you out; he's getting you motivated." "I'm always blown away because he's such a teacher of the game," added OSU's Ivan McFarlin. Calipari knows. One of his UMass teams lost an NCAA regional final to a Sutton-coached OSU team. "But the great thing," Calipari said with a grin, "is that by losing that game, Marcus Camby decided to stay another year, and we went to the Final Four." Yes, it was a happy memory, the kind of memory that makes a coach believe that as long as there is another game to play, there is another dream to claim. Survive, advance, ascend. Or as someone once said, refuse to lose. Contact reporter Don Wade at 529-2358 or send an e-mail.

03/21/04		The Cowboys' Three Losses (Commercial Appeal)
		BYU 76, Oklahoma State 71 Dec. 6 at Salt Lake City What BYU did in this game - pound the ball in post - Memphis can't do. Still, Rafael Araujo's 32 points and 17 rebounds showed that the Cowboys are susceptible inside if caught on the right day. BYU outrebounded Oklahoma State, 44-18. The Cowboys only got one offensive board. ''We didn't rebound at all in that game,'' said OSU forward Ivan McFarlin. ''We didn't do anything on the glass.'' Texas Tech 83, Oklahoma State 62 Jan. 10, at Lubbock, Texas This was OSU's worst performance of the season, a blowout defeat in the Big 12 opener. This time, it was Andre Emmett who blistered the Cowboys. He had 32 points and helped Texas Tech shoot 52.8 percent from the field. ''We just had some jitters in that game,'' said OSU's Joey Graham. ''It was the first Big 12 game, and I just don't think we knew what to expect. But we learned from that and grew from that.'' Missouri 93, Oklahoma State 92 (2 OT) Feb. 24, at Columbia, Mo. This is the defeat Memphis should most try to copy because it featured two guys carrying Missouri to a win. Rickey Paulding had 31 points. Arthur Johnson had 29. Add that to a 47-44 rebounding advantage, and the Tigers sent OSU to its third defeat. If Sean Banks and Antonio Burks can pull a Paulding-Johnson, Memphis can pull an upset. ''In that Missouri game, those guys just had a good game,'' Graham said.

03/21/04		Burks And Lucas Finally On One Court (Commercial Appeal)
		By Geoff Calkins Contact March 21, 2004 KANSAS CITY, Mo. - It didn't have to be like this, you know. It didn't have to be blur vs. blur, pinball vs. pinball. Antonio Burks and John Lucas could have been on the same team today. Burks and Lucas would have been on the same team today. "I was going to Memphis," Lucas said. "I had pretty much decided." This was after three days at the Finch Center last summer. Lucas had a chance to transfer from Baylor. He came to Memphis, played pickup games at the Finch, ate at Wendy's, felt utterly at home. Then Oklahoma State called offering something Memphis couldn't: a gaping hole at point guard. "It was the right fit," Lucas said. "But, yeah, I could have played with Antonio. We're both warriors. You put the two of us in the same backcourt?" Here, Lucas shakes his head. "Honestly, without bragging or anything, I don't know if anyone could have stopped us." -------------------------------------------------------------- The University of Memphis Tigers are 40 minutes from the Sweet 16. It is tantalizing just to type it. Yes, the Tigers have had a fine season so far. But the Sweet 16? It's the difference between contentment and delirium, between another step forward and a joyous leap into history. The key to that leap could be Burks vs. Lucas, Lucas vs. Burks, two friends who could have been teammates. People talk all the time about the Road to the Final Four. As if there is only one road, one way to get there. Burks and Lucas are living proof it's not so. The destination may be the same, but the twists and challenges are different. You know about Burks. How he raised himself at times. How he forged hope out of hopelessness. Lucas grew up in a different world, the son of John Lucas Jr., the first pick in the 1976 NBA draft, a basketball celebrity. The kid hung with stars. He shot hoops with Jordan. It might have been bliss, if his father hadn't been an addict. Here's the son's clearest memory of those days: "I remember crawling into bed with him, hugging him, and telling him everything would be OK." The boy was 4 at the time. He saw his father shake, spasm, curl into a ball. The only thing he understood was that his daddy needed him. "What was I going to do?" he said. "He was my idol." The older Lucas cleaned up. The younger Lucas grew up. He picked Baylor as his college. That set up another challenge, when teammate Patrick Dennehy disappeared and former teammate Carlton Dotson was charged in his murder. How do you make sense of that? A teammate killing another teammate? "You can't believe it," Lucas said. "I still can't believe it. At the same time, you have to keep going. It was a second chance for me, and I wanted to make the most of it." ------------------------------------- Memphis seemed perfect. His dad and John Calipari are pals. Last year, the older Lucas sat on the Memphis bench during the Houston game. This year, he flew in and gave the Memphis team a pep talk. "I watched the game against Illinois, then I called Cal and I asked if I could come in and talk to the team," the former Cavaliers coach said. Lucas walked into the Finch Center on Dec. 16. He delivered a basketball stemwinder. "He watched us practice for two hours and then talked to them," Calipari said. "He put people on their heels. He saw some guys that better change, and he told them. I hugged him and said, 'Thank you.' " It was this relationship that put the younger Lucas at the Finch last summer, that had the Memphis coaching staff starting to wonder how they'd fit two point guards in the same backcourt. Burks and Lucas had a long talk. They became buds. "I know that I always have a place to stay in Memphis," Lucas said, "and he knows he always has a place to stay in Houston." Which is sweet, and all. Except Oklahoma State ruined the perfect pairing. Oklahoma State coach Eddie Sutton invited Lucas in for a visit. Lucas decided he needed the quiet of Stillwater. "Memphis is more of a big city like Houston," Lucas said. "Coming to Oklahoma State, I knew I'd stay focused." As it happens, the decision worked out for everyone. Burks was Player of the Year in Conference USA. Lucas was Player of the Year in the Big 12. Today, the summer's pickup matchup could decide which team goes to the Sweet 16. "He's stronger," said Lucas. "He's quicker," said Burks. "Man, I'm getting pumped just talking about it," said Lucas. And if you can understand Lucas's enthusiasm for the day, you can also understand why Burks didn't hesitate when asked whether he wished Lucas had picked Memphis, after all. "Oh, yeah," he said. "Right now I do." Contact columnist Geoff Calkins at 529-2364 or send an e-mail. You can hear his radio show, "SportsTime with George Lapides and Geoff Calkins," from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Monday through Friday on WHBQ-AM (560).

03/21/04		Burks Planning To Play Through Pain (Commercial Appeal)
		By The Commercial Appeal March 21, 2004 KANSAS CITY, Mo. - If you think Antonio Burks hasn't looked like himself lately, it's because he hasn't felt like himself lately. Again today, the University of Memphis senior will play injured. He has a bad groin and a painful condition on the heel of his foot, both of which will hamper him when the Tigers meet Oklahoma State. ''My groin is around 90 percent, but the back of my heel has been giving me the most problems,'' Burks said. ''I just can't do what I want to do.'' As for how this effects this second-round match-up remains to be seen. But if it does, don't expect to hear any excuses from Burks. ''There are no excuses,'' he said. ''It hurts. But once I get on the court I don't really think about it.'' Burks has scored just 13 points in the Tigers' past two games. Simulated Sweet 16 Back by popular demand, we went to whatifsports.com again and matched-up this year's Memphis and Oklahoma State teams. Cancel the real game. Memphis won the simulated version, 80-78, by hitting 10 3-pointers. Burks and John Lucas played to a virtual - and we do mean virtual - standstill. Sean Banks had 19 points to lead the Tigers while Rodney Carney had 15 points. The bad news is when we simulated the game 1,000 times, Oklahoma State won 714 of them. Of course today, they only play once. Cocky, huh? Somebody asked Oklahoma State's Tony Allen about his match-up today with Rodney Carney. Here's the response: ''I watched a little bit of film (Friday) night,'' Allen said. ''He is a real good player. He is very athletic. I am looking forward to the match-up.'' Then - and take this however you want - Allen winked. Tattoo you As if Burks hasn't received enough awards this season, he got another one this week. The local paper in K.C. gave the Memphis point the guard the ''Fresh Ink Award,'' which goes to the player at this site with the best tattoos. Asked if he thought he deserved it, Burks wasn't sure. ''I don't look at other people's tattoos,'' he said. Do people look at yours? ''Yeah,'' Burks answered. ''Because mine are probably sexier.'' Depth charge As the Tigers closed out their first-round 59-43 win over South Carolina Friday, coach John Calipari emptied his bench, sending in senior center Modibo Diarra, wide receiver/emergency point guard Maurice Avery, and U of M office worker/walk-on Garrick Green. But if the Tigers are to beat No. 2 seed OSU today, it's hard to imagine it will be by a wide margin. Which means it's hard to imagine Calipari playing more than the seven players who got the bulk of the minutes Friday. Avery, considering the ramifications of him being in the game before its very end, said: "It'd probably be a bad sign. It'd mean somebody's either in foul trouble or has fouled out." Green was happy to get in on Friday, get his name in an NCAA box score, but said he wouldn't be restricted to the bench today, either. "I'm getting off the bench regardless," he said. "I'm getting off the bench cheering." Impatient Friday's press conferences were full of questions trying to get players to go into analysis of individual matchups. OSU's Tony Allen gets the award for quickest and punchiest brush-off answer: "We're just ready for it to go down." Gunslingers Calipari, noting that he didn't set out to have a team that shoots this many 3-pointers and gets so few points from its post players, said: "I've never coached this way . . . last year (when the Tigers had Chris Massie), we'd throw it into the post every time. Now we throw it into the post, oh, every half or so." - By Gary Parrish and Don Wade

03/21/04		Lady Tigers Take Calipari's Words To Heart, Court (Commercial Appeal)
		By Phil Stukenborg Contact March 21, 2004 It wasn't unlike a speech they had heard before, but the University of Memphis Lady Tigers were receiving it from a different perspective. Before the Lady Tigers opened play in the Women's National Invitation Tournament Thursday - and before the men's basketball team traveled to Kansas City to play its first-round game in the NCAA Tournament Friday - men's coach John Calipari dropped in on a Lady Tigers workout. He joined the team's pre-practice huddle at midcourt at the Elma Roane Field House - at the invitation of Lady Tiger coach Joye Lee-McNelis - and began an animated, motivational talk about what it takes to be successful in the postseason. The Lady Tigers, snubbed by the NCAA Tournament and playing in the postseason for the first time in three years, were about to face Tulsa. "Basically he was telling us to have fun," said Lady Tiger guard Tamika Butler, who had a game-high 18 points in the 66-64 win over Tulsa at the Field House. "And he said if there were people that didn't want to be here (in the WNIT), then our season would be over in 40 minutes. We all didn't want our season to end." Memphis (21-9) will extend its season at least another day when it plays at Western Kentucky today at 1:30. Western Kentucky (19-13) beat Conference USA member Cincinnati, 80-78 in overtime, Friday night at Bowling Green, Ky., to advance to the second round. "Everything coach Calipari told us is what coach McNelis and (assistant) coach (Tom) Cross have said about having 40 bad minutes and your season is over," Butler said. "But it was nice that he took the time." Lee-McNelis said Calipari's speech, which lasted about 10 to 15 minutes, made an impact because it was coming from a different perspective and from someone other than a member of the Lady Tiger coaching staff. "He told them to prove to people that you are good enough to be in the Big Dance," Lee-McNelis said. "And he talked about looking in the mirror and evaluating yourself. He said there's usually one player at this time of the year that wants it to end. He said everyone has to give everything they have." Calipari's team won the NIT two years ago before starting a two-year run in the NCAA Tournament that continues today in Kansas City with a second-round game against Oklahoma State. The Lady Tigers beat Tulsa by getting 45 points from their bench, including 35 from Butler and Victoria Crawford. Butler injured her knee in the Tulsa game and sat out Friday's practice, but is expected to play today. The winner of today's game advances to the quarterfinals to play the Rice-UNLV winner. Memphis reached the WNIT semifinals in 2000.

03/21/04		Gideon's Return Should Amp Up Tigers Even More (Commercial Appeal)
		By Phil Stukenborg Contact March 21, 2004 It was a midweek spring practice session for the University of Memphis football team, and Tavares Gideon was in a pass-catching drill with fellow receivers at the Murphy Athletic Complex. Gideon, who'll be a senior, was making difficult catches - in somewhat unorthodox fashion - from a Jugs machine that was zipping spirals from point-blank range. Tigers receivers coach Clay Helton, while shaking his head in amazement at Gideon's skills, couldn't suppress his laughter. He couldn't hide his enthusiasm, either. Helton and the Tigers offense are celebrating Gideon's return this spring after the lanky receiver, who had a team-high seven touchdown receptions two years ago, missed last fall with a knee injury. Gideon, 6-4 and 210 pounds, is one of two veteran receivers expected back this fall to give a formidable passing attack, one of Conference USA's best, additional weapons. Gideon, who transferred from Mississippi Delta Junior College in 2002, had the same injury that sidelined Von Webb, a speedster from Athens, Ala. While Gideon is participating in spring workouts, Webb has been limited. Still, the sight of the two on the practice field has made record-setting quarterback Danny Wimprine anxious to begin his senior season. "We could be good, we should be a good offensive squad," Wimprine said. "We have all the weapons to go as far as we want. "We've got (receivers) who can win one-on-one matchups, and I have a running back (DeAngelo Williams) who can get the tough yards and break the long runs. And the offensive line is all back and continuing to grow every day." But it is at the receiver position that the Tigers should have considerable depth. The team's top three wide receivers - Maurice Avery, Darron White and Tavarious Davis - are back, along with Gideon and Webb. Also, senior Chris Kelley is having a solid spring along with former Trezevant star Mario Pratcher, who had 190 yards on seven receptions in Friday's scrimmage. Avery, who is spending the spring as a reserve for the Tigers basketball team, finished with 49 catches for 742 yards and eight touchdowns. White had 37 receptions for 525 yards and five TDs, and Davis had 27 catches for 407 yards and three TDs, including a 92-yard pass reception that helped beat Ole Miss. In Gideon's only season two years ago, he had 42 catches for 466 yards and was a favorite target of Wimprine's inside opponents' 20-yard line. In Friday's scrimmage, Gideon was impressive, catching 10 passes for 175 yards and a touchdown. "Tavares is coming along," Wimprine said. "I don't think he is 100 percent yet, but I'll take his 90 percent any day of the week. He has come out and done a good job for us. We still have to get our timing down, but so far, he has done well. He has come out with a good attitude and has been ready to work." Gideon tore his anterior cruciate ligament during a summer workout and missed a magical season in which the Tigers ended a 32-year bowl drought by finishing 9-4 with a victory against North Texas in the New Orleans Bowl. "It feels great being back out there," Gideon said. "I love being out there. I'm trying to make the best of this (injury) and help the team move on further. I'm ready, but I'm just a little bit rusty on some routes." And on some fundamentals. Gideon said he was angry at himself after a recent workout because he dropped an easy ball. "I was mad all day," he said. But the Tigers hope that repetition will return Gideon to the form that made him an all-conference candidate. "You notice with someone like Gideon that in our first three or four small scrimmages he made a play or two in each of them," said Tigers offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner. "You can't coach that. He has great confidence when you throw the ball his way. He has a big body, and he understands route running." Helton said Gideon's priority after spring practice would be "making progress in the weight room and improving his speed." "When we (break spring camp), he'd better be in the hip pocket of (strength and conditioning coach) Mike Stark," Helton said. "He needs to become bigger, faster and stronger." Webb appeared in each of the team's 12 games in 2002 and had 10 receptions for 166 yards. He had four catches against South Florida and a career-long 50-yard reception against Army. "It's nice to have Gideon and Von Webb out there," Helton said. "They have a lot of work to do before the fall, but at least they are in pads and they are getting those new knees some work." - Phil Stukenborg: 529-2543

03/21/04		TCU Batters Tiger Pitching (Commercial Appeal)
		By From Our Press Services March 21, 2004 Nothing went right for the University of Memphis baseball team Saturday in Fort Worth, Texas, as Texas Christian handed the Tigers a 22-2 defeat. It was the worst Conference USA loss ever for Memphis (10-6, 0-2). Tiger pitchers have allowed 33 runs in the two games against the Horned Frogs (14-8, 2-0) and gave up 19 more in a loss against Ole Miss last week. TCU had 23 hits and hit five homers, with Ramon Moses connecting twice. Chad Huffman had an inside-the-park homer for the Horned Frogs and Austin Adams had a pinch-hit homer in TCU's 10-run eighth inning. Derek Hankins (2-2) took the loss for the Tigers. The teams conclude their series with a 2 p.m. game today.

03/20/04		Women's Tennis Splits Pair Of 4-3 Decisions (GoTigersGo.com)
		MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The University of Memphis women's tennis team (6-9, 1-0 C-USA) split a pair of 4-3 matches, in non-conference action, Saturday. To open the morning, the Lady Tigers came back from dropping the doubles point to win singles matches at No. 1, 2, 5 and 6 to complete a come-from-behind victory over Southern Illinois-Carbondale. Memphis got straight set wins from Marlene Dirnstorfer, Viktoria Gruber, Yesica Ares and Alex Tjioe in their sixth win of the season. In hopes of beating the oncoming rains, the Lady Tigers and UALR played singles first, but the two teams split the six singles matches and were forced indoors at The Racquet Club of Memphis to play the doubles point. UALR swept all three doubles matches to pick up the deciding point, 4-3. Memphis 4, SIU Carbondale 3 Doubles No. 1 -- Marlene Dirnstorfer/Viktoria Gruber (UM) def. Maria Blanco/Jessica Knitter, 8-6 No. 2 -- Alejandra Blanco/Tana Trapani def. Andrea Feichtinger/Alex Tjioe, 8-3 No. 3 -- Zoya Honarmand/Zuzana Palovic def. Kristin Noble/Christina Wieser (UM), 8-3 Singles No. 1 -- Marlene Dirnstorfer (UM) def. Alejandra Blanco, 6-1, 6-1 No. 2 -- Viktoria Gruber (UM) def. Maria Blanco, 7-5, 6-4 No. 3 -- Jessica Knitter def. Andrea Feichtinger (UM), 7-6 (3), 7-5 No. 4 -- Tana Trapani def. Kristin Noble (UM), score not available No. 5 -- Yesica Ares (UM) def. Zuzana Palovic, 6-4, 6->3 No. 6 -- Alex Tjioe (UM) def. Zoya Honarmand, 6-4, 6-1 UALR 4, Memphis 3 Doubles No. 1 -- Cecilia Poveda/Katie Prokop def. Marlene Dirnstorfer/Viktoria Gruber (UM), 8-6 No. 2 -- Bindiya Parekh/Jenna Hirdle def. Andrea Feichtinger/Alex Tjioe (UM), 8-2 No. 3 -- Vanessa Nieto/Ellie Vicary def. Kristin Noble/Christina Wieser (UM), 8-3 Singles No. 1 -- Marlene Dirnstorfer (UM) def. Cecilia Poveda, 6-1, 7-6 (3) No. 2 -- Viktoria Gruber (UM) def. Jenna Hirdle, 6-4, 6-4 No. 3 -- Bindiya Parekh def. Andrea Feichtinger (UM), 6-0, 6-4 No. 4 -- Ellie Vicary def. Kristin Noble (UM), 6-3, 7-5 No. 5 -- Yesica Ares (UM) def. Vanessa Nieto, 6-2, 6-1 No. 6 -- Rosario Negrete def. Alex Tjioe (UM), 6-3, 7-5

03/20/04		TCU Defeats Memphis Baseball 22-2 (GoTigersGo.com)
		Fort Worth, Texas - TCU handed Memphis its worst Conference-USA baseball loss in school history as the Horned Frogs defeated the Tigers 22-2 Saturday at Lupton Stadium. TCU (14-8, 2-0 C-USA) clinched the series win over Memphis (10-6, 0-2 C-USA) as the Horned Frogs hit five home runs and pounded out 23 hits. TCU won game one Friday 11-5. TCU second baseman Ramon Moses had a pair of home runs and Chad Huffman hit an inside-the-parker. Third baseman Shelby Ford connected on his team-leading seventh home run in the first and pinch-hitter Austin Adams added a two-run shot as TCU scored 10 runs in the eighth inning. Huffman and shortstop Herman Duran each had a team-high four RBIs while Moses added three. Duran led the team with a 4-for-7 effort at the plate after being retired in his first three plate appearances. Memphis starter Derek Hankins (2-2) took the loss while TCU starter Eugene Espineli (3-1) posted the win after striking out six in five innings of work. Hankins also had six strikeouts. The Tigers had nine hits as Kurt Welch, Adam Amar and Brent Dlugach each had two hits a piece. Amar and Dlugach also had a RBI. The Tigers conclude their opening C-USA series with TCU Sunday with first pitch set for 2 p.m.

03/20/04		Slam Dunk -- U of M Smothers South Carolina (Commercial Appeal)
		By Gary Parrish Contact March 20, 2004 KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The chant came from behind the University of Memphis bench, started low, then picked up, and before long everybody wearing blue was in unison, in rhythm and in a state of euphoria unlike anything Tiger fans had experienced in nine long years. RODNEY! RODNEY! RODNEY! "I almost started laughing on national TV because I heard them in the background," said Rodney Carney, the provider of the bliss and recipient of the chant. "It was a good feeling." So there you have it. Good feelings all around, the result of a 59-43 victory against South Carolina on Friday that gave Memphis its first NCAA Tournament win since 1995. Now, the seventhseeded Tigers (22-7) are a step from the Sweet 16, with that physical, football-gear wearing bunch from Oklahoma State in the way. And with the way Carney played against USC (23-11), the Tigers' chances aren't too bad. "If Rodney brings that every day, we're going to be a real contender to make a run," Antonio Burks said after watching his usually overshadowed teammate go for 26 points and 10 rebounds. Both numbers nearly doubled Carney's season averages. "That's the Rodney we need," Burks added. "He was great." Great. Incredible. Terrific. Fantastic. Insert any similar adjective before Carney's name, put an exclamation point behind it, and the sentence might show why John Calipari sat in the Kemper Arena interview room and compared his sophomore forward to Michael Jordan. The coach's declaration was an exaggeration, of course. But on this afternoon, it was hard to argue with the observation, especially considering Carney had just finished the best outing of his life, complete with dunks and dives and 3-pointers - six of them - and blocks. And defense. Oh, yeah, he played defense, too. Just like the rest of the Tigers, which was the difference. Memphis held the Gamecocks to 35.7 percent shooting, including a 2-of-13 effort (15.4 percent) from behind the arc. USC star guard Mike Boynton, suffocated by Anthony Rice, took just two shots and did not score. Josh Gonner, who faced Burks, USC's other guard, missed seven of the eight shots he took and scored only five points. By the time it was over, South Carolina had been held to its lowest point total since it scored 40 in a 1999 loss to Kentucky. The Gamecocks went 10:49 without a field goal against Memphis. "They played very aggressive," Boynton said. "They denied the passing lanes. They made it hard for us to cut through the lane. They played very physical. They made it hard for us to make shots." That statement from Boynton summed up the afternoon. It didn't matter that Sean Banks scored just six points and two rebounds and Burks missed nine of 12 shots. Things like that - stars not shining so bright - are small problems when a team outrebounds its opponent, 36-25, and makes getting points an exhausting chore. "We won the game by defending and rebounding," Calipari confirmed. "And when this team plays defense like that, we're pretty good." - Gary Parrish: 529-2365

03/20/04		Stand Up And Cheer, Tiger Fans (Commercial Appeal)
		By Geoff Calkins Contact March 20, 2004 KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The bright blue splash of Memphis fans stood for the last two minutes - stood and stomped and hollered and never even thought about sitting down. It made a lot of sense, really. They'd been resting up for nine solid years. The Memphis Tigers won their first NCAA Tournament game since 1995, thumping South Carolina Friday at Kemper Arena, 59-43. And if Memphis coach John Calipari didn't quite appreciate the meaning of the moment - "Huh? Is that the last time?" - it wasn't lost on any one else. "I'm just so proud," said Memphis athletic director R. C. Johnson. "I'm thrilled," said Memphis president Shirley Raines. "We're back," said Memphis fan Richard McBryde. "Back in the NCAAs." It is the only tournament that matters, after all, and the Tigers can admit that now that they're successful participants again. They have always fancied themselves a national program. A national program with a national schedule and national recruits. But national programs win national games. And as nice as it was to win the thanks-for-playing NIT consolation prize two years ago, that doesn't really count. So Johnson, the athletic director, found himself uncharacteristically nervous Friday. He had sat through the Drexel debacle. He had sat through the Arizona State debacle. He was hoping that debacles don't come in threes. "I don't normally get nervous," he said. "But this time I asked Antonio Burks if I should suit up." Antonio's response? "He said they wouldn't need me." Another smart Memphis kid! The Tigers didn't need Johnson because they had defense and rebounds and Michael Jordan in blue and gray. That's what Calipari said Rodney Carney looked like in practice all week. "You laugh," he said. "But he did." If you squinted you could actually see the resemblance Friday. And not just looking up at the soles of his shoes. At one point the score was South Carolina 22, Carney 21. He finished with 26 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks. One can only wonder how this confused the scouts from the Magic, Hawks, Clippers and Bobcats who were in town specifically to see Sean Banks. Updated scouting reports: "Change all Bankses to Carneys!" But this wasn't a one-man deal, as brilliantly as the one man played. Anthony Rice was ferocious on defense. Burks had just two turnovers to go with his seven assists. Plus, after he was done with the postgame press conference, Burks said to the organizers, "Thanks for the water!" Manners, too! The only glitch might have been in the radio broadcast. At one point the signal went out and someone back in the Memphis studio was left to describe the action off TV. He probably did fine. How hard is it to say yippee! So with two minutes left the Memphis faithful stood and stomped and cheered like they hadn't cheered in nearly 10 years. So what if dreaded Oklahoma State is next? "The next game will be even easier," said Richard McBryde, the fan. And then he laughed out loud. Contact columnist Geoff Calkins at 529-2364 or send an e-mail.

03/20/04		Tigers Postgame (South Carolina) (Commercial Appeal)
		Play of the game Never mind second-chance points. Memphis actually had two fifth-chance points, which was the moment that seemed to put the Tigers in control. Anthony Rice grabbed the first and second missed shots. Then Arthur Barclay got the third and Ivan Lopez the fourth, which gave Memphis a fifth shot on its final possession of the first half. Finally, the Tigers got one to fall - a Rodney Carney 3-pointer - to give them a 30-18 lead. But more important, the basket seemed to break the hopes of the Gamecocks, who never again got closer than 10 points. Stat of the game Memphis held South Carolina to a dismal shooting performance and did not allow a Gamecocks field goal in the final 9:38 of the first half. USC made just 15-of-42 shots - 2-of-13 from beyond the arc - and had only one player (Carlos Powell) reach double-figures. "We ran into a well-drilled, well-coached, together basketball team in Memphis," South Carolina coach Dave Odom said. "They played terrific basketball and followed to the letter the game plan dictated to them." USC's 18 points in the first half was a record low by a Gamecock team in the NCAA Tournament. X's and O's Give Tiger assistant Derek Kellogg credit for scouting South Carolina perfectly. All week Memphis prepared to do anything except let guards Mike Boynton and Josh Gonner shoot, with John Calipari telling Rice and Antonio Burks to crowd the South Carolina guards and dare them to drive. The strategy worked brilliantly. Boynton and Gonner combined to go 1-of-10 from the field for just five points. Neither made a 3-pointer. Odds and ends With his first really explosive move in a couple of games, Burks blew by Boynton and made a left-handed layup to give the Tigers a 21-15 advantage with 8:35 remaining in the first half. The basket was even more significant because it pushed Burks past the 1,000-point barrier for his career. Burks became just the fourth Tiger in school history to get 1,000 points, 450 assists and 170 steals in a career, joining Andre Turner, Elliot Perry and Otis Jackson. During Thursday's open practice Sean Banks was on Calipari's phone for a good five minutes. It turns out he was talking with Dallas Cowboys coach Bill Parcells, who spoke to the Tigers' star freshman at the request of Calipari. "We're from the same neighborhood and we even used to play at the same park," Banks said of himself and Parcells. "He told me that when he played at McKay Park that if you lost at 7:30 in the morning you wouldn't get back on until 7:30 at night. And I just told him that I never lost, so I never had that problem." Calipari knows Parcells from their days with the Nets and Jets, respectively. Also on Thursday the football coach put the pressure on the basketball coach. "(Parcells) isn't one to throw around compliments," Calipari said. "So when I told him that this was going to be a tough game, he just said, 'Well, if you can't win this one you should be fired.' " The Tigers cruised through the second half of their win over South Carolina Friday afternoon, but finishing wasn't as easy for the WMC-AM (790) radio broadcast team of Dave Woloshin and Matt Dillon. Because of technical difficulties - "Somebody pulled a plug outside the arena," said Dillon - they spent much of the second half broadcasting over a cell phone they passed back and forth on press row. "It sounded terrible," said Dillon. "I've done a postgame over a cell phone before, but never a game," Woloshin said. What's next With the victory the Tigers get Oklahoma State (28-3) at 1:20 Sunday afternoon. If Memphis wins there it will advance to the Sweet 16 in East Rutherford, N.J. - By Gary Parrish and Don Wade

03/20/04		Addition By Subtraction -- Some Of The Numbers Were Scary But Tigers Make Them All Count (Commercial Appeal)
		By Don Wade Contact March 20, 2004 KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The numbers don't make any sense. Sean Banks scores six points. Antonio Burks scores seven. That equals 13. And that should equal trouble and an early dinner reservation back in Memphis. Instead, 13 points from two guys who together average 34 contorted into an unimaginable 59-43 equation and Friday afternoon's first-round NCAA Tournament Tiger victory over South Carolina. What is this, a new-age math where less equals more? "Holding them to 13 points, I'd have said we had a good shot at winning," said South Carolina's Carlos Powell. "Some day those two guys, Burks and Banks, will make some money playing basketball." On this day the 13 points Burks and Banks scored added up to half of Rodney Carney's career-high 26 points. In the City of Fountains, the sophomore let it flow. Carney hit 10-of-17 from the floor, 6-of-12 from 3-point range and, if asked, probably could have tossed in a medicine ball from behind the 3-point line. Here's Banks with the technical explanation: "They double-teamed me, he was open and he was drilling them." Said South Carolina coach Dave Odom: "Rodney Carney delivered the game for them today." Actually, Odom himself set up for this delivery route by doubling up on Banks and making harassment of Burks a point of emphasis. It was as, Odom said after the strategy had failed, "a risk that Carney and (Anthony) Rice might come to life." But for the No. 7 seed Tigers, who won an NCAA game for this first time since 1995, who now face No. 2 seed Oklahoma State here Sunday, the "wow" from this game wasn't what Carney and Rice did - we already knew they could shoot - but that the Tigers could win when Banks and Burks scored so little. "It's easy for me to have a bad game when we win," Banks said. "If I have a bad game and we lose, psychologically I'd be messed up." As it was, the Tigers embraced a new psychology to go with the new math: There is more than one way to survive and advance. "Every game doesn't have to be the same players. Others players can (lead the way)," said the U of M's Ivan Lopez. And everybody can do something to help the cause. Carney also had 10 rebounds, almost double his 5.5 average. Arthur Barclay had five of the Tigers' 14 offensive rebounds. Burks, though misfiring with his shot, had seven assists to just two turnovers in playing all 40 minutes. "He ran the game," coach John Calipari said. And just about everybody contributed to a smothering defense that held South Carolina to 35.7 percent shooting as it took 17 fewer shots than the Tigers did. "We held them to 43 points," Banks said. "That's phenomenal." So was the way they won, with their top two scorers tied behind their back. But now that they've pulled if off once, we feel obligated to offer a little advice for Sunday: In the name of the Sweet 16, please don't try it again. Contact reporter Don Wade at 529-2358 or send an e-mail.

03/20/04		Tigers Face Team With 'No Weakness' (Commercial Appeal)
		By Gary Parrish Contact March 20, 2004 KANSAS CITY, Mo. - After they finally disposed of the no-name, midmajor like everybody thought they should, the Oklahoma State Cowboys acknowledged they struggled with Eastern Washington on Friday because they didn't respect the Big Sky Conference school. Eddie Sutton promised that won't be a problem against the University of Memphis. ''Memphis is a very, very good basketball team,'' said the coach of the second-seeded Cowboys. ''I don't think that we'll have to say too much or give a Knute Rockne speech to the guys to get their attention.'' Next up for Memphis (22-7) is Oklahoma State (28-3) at 1:20 Sunday afternoon before what should be a mostly orange-loving crowd at Kemper Arena. The Cowboys might not be the top seed in this region. But it's difficult to find anybody who doesn't think they're the best team, made evident by how they stormed through the season en route to a Big 12 Championship. OSU has lost just once since Jan. 10. But if you're looking for hope, consider that defeat came in double-overtime to Missouri, a team Memphis beat in December. ''(Oklahoma State) is tremendous,'' said Memphis coach John Calipari. ''They have no weakness.''

03/20/04		Carney's 3's Bring Tiger Win (Commercial Appeal)
		By Don Wade Contact March 20, 2004 KANSAS CITY, Mo. - It was halftime of Friday's first-round NCAA Tournament game and the Tigers had a 12-point lead. They were 20 minutes from advancing to the second round for the first time in nine years. In the Tigers' locker room coach John Calipari plotted strategy to stay this winning course. In the South Carolina locker room coach Dave Odom schemed to change the game's direction. Down a long hallway in a makeshift locker room at Kansas City's Kemper Arena sat two two young men who had literally lost their heads: the team mascots, who also happened to capture the spirit of the moment. "Y'all on fire," said Cocky, the South Carolina Gamecocks' mascot. "But I never give up on the boys." To which Pouncer, the Memphis mascot, smiled and said: "Tigers handle their own business." This year it was true. This time the No. 7 seed Tigers took care of business, beating No. 10 South Carolina, 59-43, to advance to Sunday's second-round game against No. 2 seed Oklahoma State. The game starts at 1:20 p.m. and will be televised by CBS. A year removed from a first-round upset to another No. 10 seed, Arizona State, Friday's victory was both a sigh of relief and a cue to rejoice. On this day the Memphis Blues would be a happy song. "We've been at this for the last 25 years," said Janice Hall of Bartlett, who was wearing Tiger-print pants, a Tiger belt buckle, Tiger socks and, like her husband Gaylon Hall, a stuffed Tiger affixed to a ballcap. "This one feels good," said Gaylon, 70. "Once we took that first 12-point lead, and with Rodney Carney knocking down his shots, I knew we had it locked up." Although collectively it wasn't quite true the Tigers were "on fire" with their shooting, Carney's hand was hot to the touch: a career-high 26 points that included 6-of-12 shooting from 3-point range. Carney's six 3-pointers are a Memphis NCAA Tournament record; Penny Hardaway and Mingo Johnson had shared the record with five. Johnson, of course, played on the 1995 Tiger team that not only was the last to win an NCAA game but a team that advanced to the Sweet 16 before losing at Kemper Arena in overtime to Arkansas. "I remember, I remember," said Tigers point guard Antonio Burks, who grew up in Memphis. "I'm just real happy right now for the program, the students, the fans, everybody." The victory did not necessarily come in the expected way, especially given that the Tigers came into this game having lost three of their past four, including an uninspired effort in an 11-point loss to Saint Louis in the Conference USA Tournament. "I'm sort of glad it happened," said Carney. "It woke us up." Still, if the Tigers, now 22-7, were to beat South Carolina, then surely fabulous freshman Sean Banks and Burks would clear the way. Banks, after all, leads the team with 18 points per game and Burks is second with 16.1. On Friday they got 13 points combined. Harold Byrd, 53, a past president of the Tigers Club and Alumni Association, stood among the blue faithful as fans chanted "Rod-ney, Rod-ney, Rod-ney!" moments after the win. Byrd considered Banks's and Burks's numbers. "You would think we would be very lucky to win," Byrd said with a big grin. But there was no luck involved here. Memphis outshot, outrebounded and outhustled South Carolina, which seemed to give up long before its plucky mascot. "A good day to be a Tiger fan," said 47-year-old Lynne Crawford of Germantown. Of course, if winning one NCAA game is fun, imagine how fun winning two would be. Or as giddy U of M athletic director R. C. Johnson said: "I want to keep on keepin' on." - Don Wade: 529-2358

03/20/04		Tigers Will Ask To End Arena Lease -- Commissioners May Vote On Pyramid Deal Monday (Commercial Appeal)
		By Michael Erskine Contact March 20, 2004 The University of Memphis will ask the Shelby County Commission on Monday to let the school out of its life-of-the-building contract to play basketball in The Pyramid. The approval would be the first needed to clear the way for a move to FedExForum next season. Approval for the move is also required from the city and state. The university also seeks support from the county for use of up to $350,000 in excess interest from the arena project to build a locker room in the forum for the U of M men's basketball team. Two resolutions voicing county support for the plans will be discussed and may be voted on by the commission Monday. Both have the backing of County Mayor A C Wharton, who said Friday he had been working with U of M president Shirley Raines to bring resolution to the lingering question of where the Tigers will play next season. "In the present status, we cannot even begin to think of alternate uses for The Pyramid," Wharton said, adding that $32 million is still owed on the building. "When you stop to consider that even if we chained the Tigers to The Pyramid we'd still end up with an operating deficit that would go on forever." Officials have reported that The Pyramid would have an annual operating deficit of $1.3 million if it remains the home of the Tigers, with most other major events playing the new arena. Wharton said he was "reasonably" hopeful commissioners will support plans for the move by the Tigers. Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton said Friday he "strongly" supported the two measures as well. Herenton said he was unsure whether both resolutions would require City Council approval or just his consent. The two county resolutions will come before the public service and tourism committee Monday morning. Commissioner John Willingham, chairman of that committee, said he hoped to hold a vote Monday and forward the resolutions to the full commission. "I hope for the Tigers' sake it will be in the affirmative. . . . And I hope that that will set the precedents for the City Council to be able to look at the same thing," he said. "In fact, we're inviting the City Council to the committee meeting, so that they won't have to hear it second-hand exactly what we're doing." Willingham said it was important to approve the measures because the community needs to move forward in planning uses for The Pyramid. The Tigers are obligated to play in The Pyramid for the life of the building under a 1988 agreement. R. C. Johnson, U of M athletic director, said he was pleased Wharton has stepped forward to help the Tigers move to FedExForum. Johnson said he would appear Monday before the commission. About $800,000 in excess interest is expected to be earned above the cost of the new arena project and will be designated as surplus funds. Wharton said he supported using part of those funds for the locker room because they will improve the value of the FedExForum. "This is not a subsidy to the University of Memphis. It's not a subsidy to (the Grizzlies). It goes to the property," he said. The Memphis & Shelby County Sports Authority controls that interest money, and Tiffany Brown, managing director of the authority, said the board had not discussed how the money will be spent. Brown said she also hadn't heard from the city and county about how the money should be spent. Asked whether the authority would keep the funds for its own operations, Brown said, "We haven't looked at it like that.... Now, obviously, we're not going to go bankrupt ourselves and be taking care of everybody else." - Michael Erskine: 529-5857 Staff reporters David Williams and Geoff Calkins contributed to this story.

03/19/04		TCU Takes C-USA Opener From Memphis 11-5 (GoTigersGo.com)
		Fort Worth, Texas - The University of Memphis baseball team dropped its Conference-USA opener to TCU 11-5 Friday at Lupton Stadium. The Horned Frogs (13-8, 1-0 C-USA) took advantage of eight Memphis (10-5, 0-1 C-USA) errors as they only out hit the Tigers 11-9. TCU righthander Clayton Jerome (5-1) picked up the win while Tiger righthander Jarrett Grube (4-1) lost for the first time in his last eight decisions dating back to last season. Memphis led 2-0 after the top of the first inning, but TCU scored the next seven runs to claim a five-run lead entering the fifth inning. TCU designated hitter Chris Neuman had a RBI-single in the first and a RBI-triple in the third. Horned Frog leftfielder Bo Cogbill led the team with three hits and also drove in a pair of runs with RBI singles in the first and third. The Tigers chipped away at the lead with two runs in the top of the fifth on a pair of RBI singles by Kurt Welch and Adam Amar. TCU put the game away in its half of the fifth plating four runs without getting a hit as the Tigers made four errors in the frame. The eight errors were the most ever by a Memphis team in a C-USA game. Memphis centerfielder Josh Payne had a pair of RBIs on a double in the first and a sacrifice fly in the ninth. Leftfielder Chad House scored three runs and had a pair of hits and rightfielder Jordan Hart doubled twice and had a sacrifice bunt. Tiger relievers Zach Cook, Corey Kines and Michael Novarese did not allow an earned run in 4.2 innings of relief work. The trio did surrender four unearned runs in the fifth. Novarese logged two scoreless innings for the second-straight appearance. The Tigers will resume their three-game series with TCU Saturday at 3 p.m.

03/19/04		Memphis To Face Western Kentucky In The WNIT (GoTigersGo.com)
		MEMPHIS, TENN. - Western Kentucky defeated Cincinnati, 80-78, in overtime Friday night to advance to the second round of the WNIT. Memphis will now play its second round of the post-season tournament at Western Kentucky on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. Ticket prices at WKU are: Red Towel seats - $12; chair seats - $10; and reserve bench seats - $7 for adults and $5 for children (ages 3-12). The Lady Tigers enter the game with a 21-9 record after defeating Tulsa, 66-64, in the first round of the WNIT Thursday evening. The Lady Tigers have played in the WNIT three of the past five years, but have not won a road game in the tournament. Memphis won three home games in the 1999 WNIT, but lost in the Final Four on the road at Wisconsin. Memphis was sent on the road in the first round of the 2000 WNIT, and fell to Alabama, 77-67. Junior Victoria Crawford leads Memphis in scoring with an average of 15.5 points per game. Junior Jennifer Sullivan also averages double digits in scoring with 11.3 points per game. One of the most consistent shooters in the league, Sullivan hit 61 percent of her shots in league play, ranking her second in just C-USA games. Another junior, Raven Rogers, leads Memphis in rebounding with an average of 8.3 boards per game. Rogers, who has grabbed 10 or more rebounds in eight of the last 11 games, recorded a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds in the loss to Louisville in the C-USA Tournament. Freshman Devin Necaise is one of Memphis' biggest outside shooting threats, hitting 42 three pointers this season. She has hit the most treys for a Lady Tiger since Kelly Herron hit 47 in 1998-99. The Lady Tigers as a squad average 70.7 ppg., and have limited their foes to 62.9 ppg. They are also 11-3 at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse this season. The Lady Tiger have not faced Western Kentucky since big hair was in style. WKU owns the series advantage at 3-2, dating back to the first meeting in 1976-77. Memphis won the first two meetings, but the Hilltoppers won three straight games from 1985-88. Memphis is also 0-2 in games played in Bowling Green. Western Kentucky, a member of the Sun Belt Conference, ended the regular season with an 18-13 record after defeating New Mexico State and losing to MTSU in the SBC championship. Sophomore Tiffany Porter-Talbert leads WKU in scoring with 16.3 points per game, and is a 50-percent shooter from the field. She also leads her team in steals with 66, and averages 8.2 rebounds a game. Senior Leslie Logsdon also averages double digits in scoring with 14.2 points per game. She has hit a team-high 69 three pointers this season, and has dished out 88 assists. Freshman Carla Bartee leads the Hilltoppers in rebounding, averaging 8.6 boards per contest. She rounds out the WKU double digit scorers with 10.9 points per game. Memphis and WKU share a few common opponents this season. WKU and Memphis both lost to Arkansas and Louisville by less than five points, and both squads defeated Ole Miss and Arkansas-Little Rock. Memphis managed a 71-50 victory over Tennessee Tech on the road, while WKU lost to Tech, 81-76, in Bowling Green. The Hilltoppers are 13-5 at home this season, and 5-7 on the road. The Lady Tigers are 12-3 at home and 7-5 on the road. The winner of Sunday's second round game will face the winner of the Rice-UNLV game which will be played on Sunday in Las Vegas. Rice defeated Arkansas State on the road (59-52) to advance, while UNLV defeated Arizona State (50-47) at home. A game date and time for the quarterfinals will not be determined until the conclusion of Sunday's game.

03/19/04		Tigers Slam South Carolina In NCAA First Round -- Rodney Carney Hits Six 3-Pointers And Scores 26 Points (GoTigersGo.com)
		By STEVE BRISENDINE AP Sports Writer KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Memphis forward Rodney Carey had one of the best games of his career Friday. But coach John Calipari said it was not even the sophomore forward's best effort this week. Carney hit six 3-pointers and scored 26 points, both career highs, and added 10 rebounds to help Memphis beat South Carolina 59-43 in the first round, giving the Tigers their first NCAA tournament win since 1995. Next up is the Oklahoma State-Eastern Washington winner Sunday. "He was like Michael Jordan in practice this week," Calipari said. "I can hear the guys laughing, but he was. He was stopping practice while we were saying, 'Oh, my goodness.' Believe me, he played better in practice than he did today." His performance in the game was enough to get fans chanting his name. "I had never experienced that," he said. "I wasn't supposed to laugh because I was on national TV, but I heard it in the background. It was a really good feeling." Anthony Rice added three 3s and 12 points for the Tigers (22-7), seeded seventh in the East Rutherford Regional. Memphis reached the third round in 1995 but was eliminated in the first round in 1996 and 2003. "Did you know that?" Calipari asked Carney and guard Antonio Burks in the postgame news conference. "I didn't either. This is 2004. This is where we live now." Tenth-seeded South Carolina (23-11) has not won an NCAA tournament game since 1973, having lost first-round games in 1974, 1989, 1997 and 1998. Memphis has beaten South Carolina eight straight times, including the 2002 NIT title game in their last previous meeting. Three-point shooting and rebounding made the difference Friday. The Tigers were 9-for-27 from long range - to South Carolina's 2-for-13 - and outrebounded the Gamecocks 37-25. "We knew they could shoot the ball," Gamecocks guard Josh Gonner said. "If you give anybody open looks, they're going to knock down the shot." South Carolina shot just 35 percent (15-for-42) from the field and went without a field goal over a stretch that covered more than one-fourth of the game. "The story of the game was that we were inept offensively," coach Dave Odom said. "We had opportunities in transition that we didn't complete, and when you don't take advantage of the opportunities you earn, it becomes difficult." The Gamecocks, who had averaged 70.9 points, didn't have a scorer reach double figures until just over six minutes remained in the game, when Carlos Powell hit a layup that gave him 11 points. He didn't score after that, but was still the Gamecocks' only double-digit scorer. John Calipari reacts on the sidelines during the first half. Mike Boynton, who came in averaging 10.2 points for South Carolina, was held scoreless on 0-for-2 shooting in his final game. He took only one shot in each half, both from 3-point range. "It didn't matter," Gonner said. "We've won games when he doesn't score. We have other players. We just didn't do it." Carney was 4-for-6 from long range and scored 16 points in the first half, his fourth 3 putting Memphis up 30-18 at the break. The first three came in a 13-2 run that gave the Tigers a 27-15 lead with six minutes left in the half. Memphis went scoreless for nearly 5½ minutes after that before Carney's next 3. The Gamecocks scored only five points - three of those on free throws - between the midpoint of the first half and the break. They went almost 11 minutes without a field goal between Tre Kelley's layup with 9:40 to go in the first half and Tarence Kinsey's jumper with 18:49 left in the game. South Carolina also went scoreless for the last 3:56. "You can only play defense for so long before something has to feed it - usually offense," Odom said. "We never got the jolt of energy from our offense." South Carolina got within 10 only once after the break, when Kelley hit two free throws with 12:32 left to make it 38-28.

03/19/04		Women's Tennis Falls, 6-1 (GoTigersGo.com)
		MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The University of Memphis women's tennis team picked up a 6-1, 6-1 win at No. 1 singles, but could not muster any other singles victories in a 6-1 loss to Murray State, Friday, on the HPER Courts. Senior Marlene Dirnstorfer went 2-0 on the day, teaming with Viktoria Gruber to down the No. 1 doubles team of Anna and Rachael Lask, 8-6, before Dirnstorfer picked up the 6-1, 6-1 win at No. 1 over Melissa Spencer. Gruber fought off six match points at 5-3 and broke Jaclyn Leeper's serve to pull back to 5-4 in the second set, but Leeper answered back with a break of her own to win the No. 2 singles match 6-2, 6-4. Sophomore Andrea Feichtinger came back from a first set 6-3 loss to win the second set 6-4, but fell in the tiebreak, 10-2. It was the eighth three-set match of the year for Feichtinger, who is now 4-4 in three-set matches. Murray State used straight set wins in the bottom half of the line-up to secure the win, its second of the day following an 8-0 victory over SIU-Carbondale earlier this morning. Murray State 6, Memphis 1 Doubles No. 1 - Marlene Dirnstorfer/Viktoria Gruber (UM) def. Anna Lask/Rachael Lask, 8-6 No. 2 - Jaclyn Leeper/Melissa Spencer def. Andrea Feichtinger/Alex Tjioe, 8-1 No. 3 - Jennifer Ward/Casady Pruitt def. Yesica Ares/Kristin Noble, 8-2 Singles No. 1 - Marlene Dirnstorfer (UM) def. Melissa Spencer, 6-1, 6-1 No. 2 - Jaclyn Leeper def. Viktoria Gruber (UM), 6-2, 6-4 No. 3 - Anna Lask def. Andrea Feichtinger (UM), 6-3, 4-6, 10-2 No. 4 - Jennifer Ward def. Kristin Noble (UM), 6-1, 6-1 No. 5 - Rachael Lask def. Alex Tjioe (UM), 6-2, 6-4 No. 6 - Casady Pruitt def. Christina Wieser (UM), 6-0, 6-1

03/19/04		Tiger Football Runs Extensive Scrimmage (GoTigersGo.com)
		MEMPHIS, TENN. - The Tiger Football team was in full pads today for what turned out to be a scrimmage of more than 130 plays. The Tigers enjoyed the 70-degree weather and ran drills for the first hour before beginning the two-hour scrimmage. DeAngelo Williams was the leading rusher for the Tigers, rolling off 108 yards and two touchdowns in just nine carries. In the first series of the game, he carried the ball four times before logging a 14-yard run for a score. Later in the scrimmage, Williams busted loose for a 53-yard score. Jamarcus Gaither carried the ball 21 times and logged 57 yards and a two-yard touchdown run. Darron White also covered extended area, totaling 54 yards on five carries. Daniel Byram had 35 yards on two carries, while Brian Davis totaled 31 yards on 12 carries. The Tigers rushed for 76 plays, and totaled 54 passing plays. Derron Parquet also scored on a one-yard carry. He totaled 23 yards on 10 total carries. Quarterback Danny Wimprine completed 18 of his 34 passes for 292 yards and one touchdown. His lone TD pass was a six-yard score to Tavares Gideon. Wimprine threw one interception late in the scrimmage. His long pass to Robert Douglas sailed right into Douglas' hands, but he was hit immediately by Jamal Rufus and the ball was tipped into the air and picked off by Jermaine Chambers. Chambers ran the ball 24 yards before he was stopped. Quarterback Bobby Robison was 5-of-10 for 124 yards, while Patrick Byrne completed five of his nine passes for 28 yards. Both Robison and Byrne had some exchange troubles with center Stephen Schuh, which resulted in six dropped snaps. Tim Goodwell recovered one of the loose balls and ran it 21 yards for a touchdown. Byrne was also whistled for four sacks, three of which were in the same series. In that series, he was sacked by Albert Means, Carlton Baker and Trey Friend. Means also picked up another sack later in the scrimmage, while Carson Hunter also totaled two sacks. The Tiger defense tallied 50 yards off sacks in the game. Hunter led the defense with 11 tackles, eight of which were unassisted. Goodwell and Means totaled 10 and nine tackles, respectively. Lionel Pieh was credited with three pass break ups. Mario Pratcher and Tavares Gideon led the receiving corps with more than 150 yards apiece. Pratcher totaled 190 yards on seven receptions, and Gideon totaled 175 yards on 10 receptions. Darron White also totaled 65 yards on five catches.

03/19/04		This Time, They're Ready -- Tigers Practice Hard For Cal (Commercial Appeal)
		By Gary Parrish Contact March 19, 2004 KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Ivan Lopez stood under the goal, braced himself, took a charge, jumped up and then sprinted towards midcourt before diving on a ball that had been rolled the other direction. Next was Anthony Rice. Next was Rodney Carney. Whoever said these public workouts were supposed to be all show and no substance forgot to inform the University of Memphis staff. ''We had a lot of intensity, and I don't remember that from last year's practice,'' said point guard Antonio Burks. ''Last year, we mostly just had a shooting practice. But this time we did all the little things we have to do to win this game.'' The Tigers (21-7) will open NCAA Tournament play this morning against South Carolina (23-10). The game tips at 11:30, so the players were already expecting an early wakeup call. But a day early? Twenty-one hours early? That was the surprising part about Thursday, when John Calipari marched his seventh-seeded Tigers into Kemper Arena and conducted a workout for media and fans that isn't indicative of what these things typically are. Guys drew charges. Guys lowered shoulders. Guys dove on the floor. Sean Banks even dunked on Modibo Diarra in a big-man drill, then came down and let the 7-footer know exactly what had just happened. It was all part of a workout unlike anything anybody else - Oklahoma State, Kansas, anybody - did during their 50-minute open practice. Then afterward, Calipari explained how it wasn't something he would normally do either. ''I've only done that one other time with one other team, but I didn't want to practice twice today with this team,'' he said. ''We've had enough work this week, so I said that we would go hard for 50 minutes, and that would be it.'' The bigger message the practice sent to those paying attention was that unlike last year, these Tigers don't seem content with just getting here again. With that 2003 appearance, Memphis snapped a six-year streak of no NCAA Tournaments. So when the Tigers got to Oklahoma City for their opener against Arizona State, they were wide-eyed with excitment and wowed by the bright lights . . . not to mention Wildcats big man Ike Diogu. This time, only three Memphis scholarship players are experiencing firsts. But such isn't the case for South Carolina, which hasn't been to the NCAA Tournament since 1998. So is that a disadvantage? ''It's a little bit of a disadvantage,'' acknowledged South Carolina's Dave Odom, who has coached in eight NCAA Tournaments, all at Wake Forest, but has no players with Big Dance experience. ''What you would like to do is go in with a hardened, grizzled group, but we don't have that. So what you do is make the best of this and the most of this and you challenge them in the ways that you can. ''We have a bunch of guys that are inexperienced in terms of NCAA play and the national hoopla that goes with that,'' Odom added. ''They've been spectators since they were born, so to see them dive into this deep water is kind of fun.'' But ultimately - as Memphis emphasized - it's only really fun if you start swimming. Otherwise, it's more like drowning, and the Tigers have no desire to go through that for the second straight season. ''I don't think it is enough to just get here again,'' Burks said. ''This year, we're on a mission because we're trying to make this more special. So we just have to keep winning ballgames.'' - Gary Parrish: 529-2365

03/19/04		U of M Facing Kansas City Jinx (Commercial Appeal)
		By Geoff Calkins Contact March 19, 2004 KANSAS CITY, Mo. - "It happened right there, not five feet from where John Calipari is standing," said Bob Winn, assistant athletic director at the University of Memphis, pointing to the other side of Kemper Arena. "And Chris Garner didn't touch the guy." The guy was Arkansas guard Corey Beck, of course. Garner was called for a phantom handcheck. Arkansas won, Memphis lost and, gee, what is it about this old barn? "Do I have any good memories here?" said Lou Strasberg, who is in charge of travel for Memphis. "We haven't had any bad injuries." Rally around that one, boys. No blown Achilles! But the day is young, you know? Memphis starts its NCAA Tournament run at Kemper Arena, which is something like Elizabeth Berkeley starting out her comeback with Showgirls II. Nothing against Kansas City, mind you. It has more fountains than any other city in the country. It sure can cut up a cow. But Memphis is to Kemper Arena as Napolean is to Waterloo, as Mike Price is to strip clubs, as Howard Dean is to arrrrgggggggggggh! You know that old song about Kansas City, the one that says "they've gone about as fur as they can go?" For too many Tigers, this has been about as fur as they can go. The team has a 2-5 record at Kemper. Three of those five losses - two were from an early-season tournament two years ago - are among the more painful any Memphis fan could conjure up. In 1983, the Tigers lost to Houston in the Sweet 16. Clyde Drexler dunked over Andre Turner and may not yet have come down. "Right there," said Tiger broadcaster Matt Dillon, gesturing to the hardwood runway. "Drexler took off from the foul line." In 1992, the Tigers lost to Cincinnati in the Elite Eight. It was the fourth time Memphis lost to the Bearcats that year. "Nick Van Exel killed us," said Dillon. "Each game was worse than the game before." And in 1995, Memphis lost that handcheck game to Arkansas in the Sweet 16. It was the last time the Tigers made it to the Sweet 16. The last time they won a tournament game, too. "I guess it's fitting that we're back," said Dillon. "It's about time we play well here." So the players bumped, hollered and smashed their way through practice Thursday. Onlookers were happily stunned by the calculated ferocity of it all. The Memphis coach was slammed by a South Carolina columnist - "Calipari's presence on the opposite bench is enough to spark some hope on my part for the Gamecocks," wrote Bart Wright, of the Greenville paper - but it's hard to imagine why. The team has responded to Calipari's prodding all year long. They care about each other. They see obstacles as challenges. They reflect the take-no-prisoners spirit of their coach. Antonio Burks is the personification of that, of course. He will doubtlessly take a shot of painkiller this morning so he can play against South Carolina. Asked Thursday about his injuries, Burks shook his head. "There's no excuses," he said. "If I lose this game, it's over." Note the phrasing: "If I lose this game." It's not because Burks thinks he's the team. It's because he takes losses as personal slights. So the Tigers will try again in Kansas City, try where others have failed. "I'm ready to change that," said Burks. If not now, when? Contact columnist Geoff Calkins at 529-2364 or send an e-mail.

03/19/04		In 'Show-Me' State, Tigers Eager To Shine (Commercial Appeal)
		By Don Wade Contact March 19, 2004 KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Not so long ago Monte Jones was a basketball player at Kirby High School. So, now that he lives in Kansas City but still bleeds Tiger Blue, he did what any good self-respecting college basketball fan would do with the NCAA Tournament - and his Tigers coming to town. He took his best shot. Unfortunately, it rimmed out. "I took off from work Friday (today), hoping I'd find me a ticket for this game," Jones, 24, said of today's 11:30 a.m. first-round University of Memphis-South Carolina game. "It (stinks)," Jones said Thursday afternoon, sitting in a mostly empty Kemper Arena, but nonetheless enjoying the Tigers' 50-minute practice open to the public. "It's sold-out because of all the KU (Kansas) and Oklahoma State fans." No, it's not easy being a University of Memphis fan in Jayhawk land or in Tiger country, when you're the wrong Tiger. But with Memphis in the "Show-Me" state of Missouri, it's worth taking a trip back in time to recall the events of last Dec. 27: The unranked Memphis Tigers 61, then-No. 11 Missouri Tigers 59. "That was a good game," said Mark Ewing, 47, an alum of Christian Brothers High School and, as he called it, "Memphis State," and now living in Kansas City and taking in Thursday's practice. "I like to stir it up in the office between Kansas and Missouri fans." And all that sounds like good fun - no doubt these misplaced Memphians engage in some smokin' barbecue debates, too - but as the Tigers come up to today's game, it's true that "Show Me" looms as a heartfelt request of the loyalists back home. These Memphis Tigers are a No. 7 seed, just as they were a year ago when they were upset by No. 10 seed Arizona State, 84-71, in Oklahoma City. Memphis hasn't won an NCAA Tournament game since 1995, when it advanced to the Sweet 16 - in Kansas City - and lost to Arkansas in overtime in a regional semifinal; Arkansas went on to reach the NCAA title game. "That was a great game. I was here for that," said Ewing, a commercial printing salesman who has tickets for today's game. "That was intense." Intensely painful at the time, but immediate goals are more modest if no less significant. "It's very important to win," said sophomore Rodney Carney. "Just to know we've progressed from last year." The Tigers are 21-7 coming into today's game. South Carolina is 23-10 and looking for its first NCAA Tournament win since 1973, the year Memphis lost to UCLA in the NCAA championship game. Two years ago, the Tigers beat South Carolina at New York's Madison Square Garden for the National Invitation Tournament championship. But that, and every other game of this season, is just so much ancient history now. This Tiger team has persevered through injuries on the court and distractions off the court. These Tigers now come face to face with their best chance to show themselves - never mind anybody else - what they are made of. "Basically, I just try to block out all negative thoughts of losing," said guard Anthony Rice. "You can think too much, really." As for coach John Calipari's thoughts less than 24 hours before current biggest game of the season . . . "I've had a ball coaching them. We've laid a couple of eggs. . . . We've had some adversity . . . (but) this team is in a great frame of mind. "This is why you coach," Calipari added, his game face already locked in place. "This is what your whole season is geared to." - Don Wade: 529-2358

03/19/04		From 3's To D, These Teams Play Same Way (Commercial Appeal)
		By Don Wade Contact March 19, 2004 KANSAS CITY, Mo. - South Carolina basketball coach Dave Odom had the microphone at Thursday's NCAA Tournament press conference. But for just a moment, you couldn't be sure. It was Dave Odom's face and Dave Odom's voice, but the words were pure propaganda, pure poor-mouth, words that could have been snatched from South Carolina football coach Lou Holtz and then reconfigured to fit into a roundball discussion. "Let me say this about Memphis," Odom said. "We come out of a league (the SEC) where the very best teams have great shooters. But we don't have a team in the league that has shooters as deep in their lineup as Memphis. "They put four genuine 3-point shooters on the court at one time. They shoot 3's naturally. . . . Their offense doesn't generate it. They just fall into it. They just do it naturally. "We don't have natural 3-point shooters," the coach said, as though pleading his case. "We kind of developed it as we've gone along (and because of a lack of inside presence) . . . we have to try to screen for 3's." Well now, he makes it sound like real work for his guys, a day at the playground for the Tigers, doesn't he? John Calipari has a different take. Which is to say he looks at his own team and the team that stands between the Tigers and the second round, and he sees a void stretching from the free-throw line to the rim. Or as Calipari put it: "You hope their undersized big guys don't do better than our undersized big guys." Truth is, when No. 7 seed Memphis meets No. 10 seed South Carolina at 11:30 a.m. today - basketball brunch anyone? - you can focus on the teams' comparative strengths, comparative weaknesses, or even comparative inferiority complexes. "I want to go as far as we can," said the Tigers' Sean Banks. "People doubted us, had us going to the NIT." No one remembers exactly who, when or where the Tigers were reported to be going to the NIT, but if it's an effective motivational tool, by all means use it. South Carolina, though 23-10, still clings to a preseason dis that had the Gamecocks pegged for last place in the SEC East. "I thought it was a joke, to be honest," said point guard Mike Boynton. As for the actual basketball, each team likes to shoot the 3-pointer - naturally or not - and each needs an intense defense to spark its offense. "This team plays fast, just like we play," said the Tigers' Antonio Burks. "Both of us are scrappy on defense," said Boynton. Mirror, mirror on the wall, which is the fairest basketball team of them all? "They are like us," said Calipari. "That's what is going to hurt us the most. You're talking about two teams where their guards are really making things happen. "Dave does a great job of changing defenses, from press to half-court trap to zone. By doing that he is trying to make them the aggressor, trying to put you on your heels. We are trying to do the same thing." Each team is also trying to convince itself it can win a game like this. The Tigers lost as a No. 7 seed, to Arizona State, last year. South Carolina, which lost to Memphis in the NIT championship game two seasons ago, hasn't been to the NCAA since 1998, or when Odom was coaching at Wake Forest and Calipari was walking the sideline for the New Jersey Nets. "To see them dive into this deep water for the first time is kinda fun," Odom said. Deep water it is. For these are two good - not great - teams in search of one lifeboat that each hopes to ride to that distant shore known as the second round. Contact reporter Don Wade at 529-2358 or send an e-mail.

03/19/04		Calipari Doesn't Quell St. John's Rumor -- TIGER NOTES (Commercial Appeal)
		By Gary Parrish and Don Wade Contact March 19, 2004 KANSAS CITY, Mo. - John Calipari to St. John's is a hot topic in Kansas City. Pressed on the matter by a reporter from a New York paper at Thursday's media session, the University of Memphis coach played down the possibility that he would take the job, but declined to put the rumor to rest. ''Every year I coach I'm rumored to get different jobs from junior college, AAU, college and pro . . . there's some high school jobs in the city of Memphis I'm involved in right now,'' Calipari joked. ''So I just let people talk and go do my job.'' Seconds later, Calipari was given the opportunity to end the rumor, but declined to do so. Asked if he was interested in St. John's, Calipari offered only a qualified statement. ''Not at this point, no,'' he answered. ''I'm interested in just coaching my basketball team and advancing in this NCAA Tournament.'' Burks still not 100 percent Memphis point guard Antonio Burks went through Thursday's practice fine but acknowledged he still isn't at full strength. A 6-0 senior, Burks is still bothered by a groin injury, as well as ankle discomfort. ''I've still got some nagging injuries, but there's no excuses right now,'' Burks said. ''If I lose this game, I go home. It's over with. So I'm just going to come out and play hard.'' Wakeup call The 11:30 a.m. tipoff is early, but not the earliest the Tigers have started a game this season. Memphis beat Missouri on Dec. 27 in a contest that tipped at 11 in the morning However, South Carolina isn't used to this, nor excited about it. ''I haven't played an a.m. game since I was about 12 years old,'' said junior guard Mike Boynton. ''It will be a lot different. But at least we won't have to sit around in the hotel room and wait.'' Banks to the NBA? Though Memphis freshman Sean Banks has said that there is no way he's turning pro after this season, that hasn't stopped people from talking about it . . . even his own coach. Calipari was asked about the chances of Banks returning for his sophomore season and insisted well all have to wait and see. ''Sean Banks is kind of like Dajuan Wagner,'' Calipari said. ''Sean Banks wants to come back to school and wants to do his thing, but he can't make that decision until the season's over. My whole thing to Sean Banks is, 'If you come into this tournament and go crazy, you and I will sit down and I'm going to help you do right thing just like I did Dajuan.' '' Simulated bad news Uh-oh, Tiger fans. This is not a good sign. Bored at Kemper Arena Thursday, incapable of waiting for the actual game we went to the fabulous Web site whatifsports.com and decided to figure this thing out. So we picked the University of Memphis from one list, picked South Carolina from the other and simulated today's NCAA Tournament matchup between the Tigers and Gamecocks. The result (hide your eyes)? South Carolina 77, Memphis 74. Unsatisfied with the first loss, we decided to keep simulating single games until Memphis won. In our second try, Memphis also lost, 82-74. Then finally, the Tigers won, 70-69, behind a pair of 16-point performances from Banks and Burks. The only scary part is that Jeremy Hunt - still on crutches in real life because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament - had 10 of those points. Also on the Web site is an option to simulate 1,000 games, which is supposed to give a more accurate reflection. Under that format, South Carolina and Memphis each won 500 games, with 66.9 percent of them finishing within five points. No secrets Thursday's practices were open to the public, which meant no team was showing top-secret strategy, and no coach was, well, entirely himself. "Coach doesn't scream as much in front of you guys as he does in a closed practice," South Carolina guard Mike Boynton said of coach Dave Odom. Still, there were fans who came precisely because of the chance to watch run what were essentially mock practices. Randy Van Ness, 31, of Maryville, Mo., coaches AAU girls basketball 14-and-under, 13-and-under, and 12-and-under teams. He said he's long been a follower of Tigers coach John Calipari - from UMass to the NBA to Memphis. "We like to see coaches at work and we've read a lot of stuff he has in books and stuff like that," Van Ness said. "Our biggest thing is we want defense and a transition game." What could have been Oklahoma State guard John Lucas was one of several players - Mississippi State's Lawrence Roberts being another - who left a troubled Baylor program and has found immediate happiness. But he might have been a Memphis Tiger, to hear him tell it. "I was kinda shaky, just going through everything," Lucas said. "I'm a very spiritual person, so I always prayed about it, knowing God would put me in the right situation, which He has. I was looking towards going to Memphis or Georgia, but after I took a visit and coach (Eddie) Sutton called me, it was a wrap." What's for dinner? As of late Thursday afternoon, the Tigers' dinner plans had not been disclosed, but guard/wide receiver Maurice Avery - ever the football player - had enough information to be reassured. "They just said we're gonna eat good," Avery said. "And I'm always down for a good meal." High marks South Carolina's 23 wins are the most for the school since 1997-98, when USC also had 23. The Gamecocks' 678 3-point attempts this season are the second-most in school history, as are their 295 steals.

03/19/04		The Tigers In Kansas City (Commercial Appeal)
		Today's game against South Carolina will be the Tigers' fifth NCAA Tournament contest and eighth game overall at Kansas City's Kemper Arena. Here are the others: 1983 Midwest Regional Semifinal Houston 70, Memphis 63 Akeem Olajuwon scored 21 points for a Cougar team that went on to lose the championship game to Jim Valvano and North Carolina State. 1992 Midwest Regional Semifinal Memphis 83, Georgia Tech 79 (OT) Billy Smith's running one-hander with 11 seconds left sent the game to overtime, where Penny Hardaway (24 points) and the Tigers prevailed. 1992 Midwest Regional Final Cincinnati 88, Memphis 57 The Tigers were routed in the Elite Eight, their fourth loss to the Bearcats that season. 1995 Midwest Regional Semifinal Arkansas 96,Memphis 91 (OT) Mingo Johnson scored 32 points and canned seven 3-pointers to help the Tigers erase a nine-point halftime deficit, but Corliss Williamson's 27 points led the Hogs to the OT win. Regular-season games 1995: Memphis 91, Purdue 76 2001: Iowa 75, Memphis 71 2001: Alabama 81, Memphis 70

03/19/04		Lady Tigers Beat Back Tulsa -- Pressure Defense Deflects Hurricane's Last-Try Shot (Commercial Appeal)
		By Phil Stukenborg Contact March 19, 2004 Twelve seconds remained in the Women's National Invitation Tournament game Thursday night at the Elma Roane Field House. Most in the crowd of 707 knew what was coming next. Tulsa, trailing by two points, needed a shot in the final seconds to tie or win the first-round game and Golden Hurricane guard Kara Pongonis - with five 3-pointers among her 21 points - seemed the likely candidate. So Tulsa inbounded the ball to Pongonis, who dribbled past several screens in an attempt to get a clean look at the basket or find an open post player. Neither option presented itself. As a result, Pongonis had to force a last-second 3-pointer, which fell short and into the arms of University of Memphis forward Victoria Crawford, who broke free from the crowd underneath the basket and began celebrating the Lady Tigers' 66-64 victory. It was Memphis's first postseason win in four years and their first postseason appearance since 2001. The Lady Tigers (21-9) advance to the second round, where they'll play the winner of tonight's Cincinnati-Western Kentucky game Sunday at a site to be determined. ''A win's a win, we'll take it,'' said Lady Tiger coach Joye Lee-McNelis. ''I think probably the smartest play of the game was the one at the end where we switched on all screens. We did a great job and Raven (Rogers) switched off and got a (partial block) of Pongonis on that shot there. That was probably the play of the game to get the defensive stop.'' Tulsa's inability to get off an uncontested shot ended its season at 19-12. The Golden Hurricane, a future Conference USA member, was participating in the first postseason game in the program's history. ''I'm so proud of them,'' said Tulsa coach Kathy McConnell-Miller of her players. ''I'm happy they had this opportunity to go to the postseason . . . it was just a great game, the best I've seen in a while.'' McConnell-Miller was entertained by the up-tempo play of both teams, the constant strategic moves by both staffs and the job done by the officiating crew. She praised the crew for ''allowing the players to battle.'' But in the end the game, which featured 10 lead changes, came down to a clutch 3-pointer by Tamika Butler, five points in the final six minutes by Victoria Crawford and several hustle plays by Lady Tiger reserve post player Megan Gooch. Butler, who led the U of M with 18 points, nailed a line-drive 3-pointer with 3:38 left to give the Lady Tigers a 64-59 lead. Crawford, who finished with 17 points, added three free throws and a straightaway banked jumper in the closing minutes and Gooch took a charge, blocked a Megan Moody shot and grabbed one of her seven rebounds in the final two minutes. Another reserve post player, seldom-used Charity Egenti, also was a factor, adding six points and five rebounds in eight minutes. The U of M bench outscored Tulsa's, 45-4. Their contributions allowed the Lady Tigers to overcome a sluggish first half, one in which they trailed by as many as 10 points because of being beaten on the boards and not keeping a hand in the face of Pongonis. Pongonis, a 5-5 point guard, entered the game averaging 8.5 points. ''We just didn't guard her,'' Lee-McNelis said. ''She had three 3-pointers in a row and then (Moody) hit a three there early in the game also. ''That's what we had talked about. Against those kids we had to get over the top of screens, whether they were away from the ball or on the ball because of their shooting ability. We were too far off on the screens away from the ball . . . (you) can't be that way against a shooter. (You) got to know their toothpaste.'' Lee-McNelis went to Butler off the bench early to rattle Pongonis, a former AAU teammate of hers in Arkansas. Pongonis, who had 14 points at the half, was 2-of-6 from the field in the second half. She wasn't the only Golden Hurricane struggling after the half. In the final eight minutes, Tulsa managed but one field goal, missing 9-of-10 shots and getting only a layup by Emily Jaskowiak and five free throws. Jillian Robbins (20 points, 10 rebounds) and Jaskowiak (12 points, 11 rebounds) had double-doubles to aid Pongonis's long-range game, which Butler eventually stifled. ''I knew when she hit that first three that she was feeling it,'' Butler said. ''Coach McNelis put me in to play defense and I didn't give (Pongonis) any open looks. All I was doing was focusing on defense. I wasn't going to let her come into my house and think she could get me.'' - Phil Stukenborg: 529-2543

03/19/04		Tigers Hope To Repeat Win Over S.C. (Daily Helmsman)
		By Ben Cowens March 19, 2004 History has a habit of repeating itself, at least that's what Tiger basketball coach John Calipari is hoping. Calipari and the Tigers might get deja vu when they take the court against South Carolina in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at 11:30 this morning in Kansas City, Mo. The two teams met two years ago in the NIT championship game, which Memphis won. Unlike many tournament games, where teams have a contrast in styles, Calipari said the Gamecocks (23-10, 8-8 in the Southeastern Conference) and the Tigers are very similar. "They're just like us," he said. "They're more guard-oriented, and their big guys are out on the floor. They trap in a zone and they try to scramble their defense to make you turn it over. It's like two mirror teams going at each other." The similarities are striking. Without senior Rolando Howell, who broke his wrist on Feb. 28 against Georgia, South Carolina plays a seven or eight man rotation. Like Memphis, the Gamecocks play tough defense and shoot the deep ball effectively. They primarily rely on two guards and shuttle players at the forward positions. Given the similarities, Calipari expects the game to be tight. He said how well his Tigers defend the three-point line could easily be the difference. "They're a great three-point shooting team," Calipari said. "Their two guards can really shoot the ball." The guards Calipari referred to are Michael Boynton and Josh Gonner. Boynton shoots over 41 percent from three-point range and, if hot, can take over a game. In the SEC tournament, Boynton scored 32 points against Arkansas and averaged 19.7 points per game. Since Howell's injury, Gonner has stepped up his production averaging 13.6 points per game during his last five. Gonner also can shoot the three, hitting 34.2 percent of the time. The Gamecocks, who lost seven of their last 11 games, have no true center and shift five players at three different forward positions. Carlos Powell is an inside-outside player who can step out and hit shots and is also the team's leading rebounder. The 6-7 senior averages 12.4 points and 6.3 rebounds and is an all-SEC third team selection. The other forwards together average 26.5 points and 13.8 rebounds a game. South Carolina presents some problems on offense but present even more on defense. USC led the SEC in six major defensive categories, including points per game (62.2) and opponent field goal percentage (.394). One interesting stat to watch is turnovers. South Carolina leads the SEC in forcing them, while Memphis has the third fewest in C-USA. The Tigers' primary ball handlers, Antonio Burks and Anthony Rice, will have to take care of the ball. You can bet USC coach Dave Odom will employ some of the strategy Saint Louis featured against Memphis. The Billikens consistently packed three defenders around the lane, stopping penetration and forcing Burks and Sean Banks into contested outside shots. The Tigers never solved that defense. One area in which South Carolina is vulnerable is rebounding, their biggest weakness. For the season, opponents are slightly out-rebounding them. The Gamecocks are 11-2 when they grab more boards than their opponent and just 12-8 when they don't. USC is especially vulnerable to offensive rebounding, giving up 12.7 a game. That should be enough incentive for Memphis forwards Arthur Barclay, Ivan Lopez, Duane Erwin and Banks to hit the glass hard. "They're a physical team," Barclay said. "We've just got to box out and make sure they don't get to the ball." While the teams are similar, the Tigers have a slight edge in athleticism and have a more explosive offense. As usual, Memphis will need big performances from Banks and Burks. When Burks is energized, distributing the ball and causing turnovers, the Tigers are at their best. "I'm going to try to be real aggressive on defense," Burks said. "(On offense) I'll try to stay poised, stay under control and try to run my team." The Tigers would also benefit greatly from a big game by Rodney Carney or Rice. Ultimately, the difference between winning and losing could be effort. Another performance like they displayed against Saint Louis and the Tigers tournament stay will be a short one. "If we play harder than them," Barclay said, "we've got no choice but to win." If they don't, their season will end tonight.

03/18/04		Lady Tigers Advance In WNIT With 66-64 Win Over Tulsa (GoTigersGo.com)
		MEMPHIS, TENN. - Tamika Bulter came off the bench to score a team-high 18 points and Victoria Crawford added 17, also off the bench, as Memphis (21-9) claimed a 66-64 victory over Tulsa (19-12) in the first round of the WNIT Thursday night at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse. With possession of the ball and 12 seconds left to play, Tulsa had a chance to tie or win the ballgame, but Kara Pongonis' three-point attempt was blocked by Raven Rogers and Crawford hauled in the rebound to seal the win. "A win is a win," said coach Joye Lee-McNelis. "Obviously getting that first win in post-season play takes a little pressure off of you. I am very proud of how we played with poise in the final minutes of the game." "I thought we did a good job at the end of the game of knowing what they were going to do in the final possession, and holding them," added McNelis. "All along, I have said that it is the team that executes their plays in the final four minutes of the game, and that was the case here." Memphis' depth played a vital role in the win as the Lady Tiger bench outscored Tulsa's 45-4. The swarming Lady Tiger defense was also key in forcing the Golden Hurricanes to turn the ball over 23 times in the game, as Memphis turned those 23 takeaways into 17 points. Memphis also narrowly outrebounded Tulsa, 43-42. "Memphis did a good job of guarding Kara (Pongonis) in the final possession of the game," said Tulsa coach Kathy McConnell-Miller. "I thought we should have gotten a better shot off. The play took too long to develop and we didn't get the look we wanted." "It was a great season and a great game," added Miller. "This was a big step for our program. I didn't want the season to end, but we lost to a good Memphis team. This will be a great rivalry in Conference USA in the future." Leading scorer Butler also led Memphis with five assists and four steals. She was 8-of-19 from the field, including a 2-of-6 effort from behind the arc. Raven Rogers led Memphis in rebounding with nine boards while also scoring seven points. Two Tulsa starters scored 20-plus points in the loss as Pongonis chipped in 21 points off a 7-of-14 effort from the field. She hit five treys and was 2-of-3 from the charity stripe. Jillian Robbins scored 20 points and hauled in 10 rebounds for one of two double-doubles registered by Tulsa. Emily Jaskowiak scored 12 points and hauled in 11 rebounds, while also blocking a game-high three shots. Memphis senior Princess Swilley scored just six points in the game, and is now just two points shy of 1,000 career points. With two points, she will become the second Lady Tiger in two years to enter the club. Shannon Hamp totaled her 1000th point early last season as a senior. Memphis will now face the winner of Friday night's contest between Western Kentucky and Cincinnati. The game site and date will not be determined until the completion of the UC-WKU matchup.

03/18/04		Baseball Set To Open Conference USA Action At TCU (GoTigersGo.com)
		FORT WORTH, Texas-- - The University of Memphis baseball team will open its Conference USA schedule this weekend with a three-game set against TCU in Fort Worth. The Tigers and Horned Frogs will face off Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 3 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Memphis, who is off to its best start since the 2001 season, enters the contest with a 10-4 mark after suffering a 19-0 defeat at the hands of No. 11 Ole Miss. The Tigers have won two of the last three league openers. The series is tied at 2-2 as Memphis took two of three contests from TCU in 2003 to claim its first C-USA series of the year last. Memphis won the series opener, 9-6, but was shutout 8-0 in the second matchup. However, the Tigers bounced back to win the series finale, 5-4, for the series win. TCU is off to a 12-8 start this year and comes into the series riding a four game winning streak after a 6-3 victory over Oklahoma on Tuesday. The Horned Frogs have won six of their last eight. C-USA Preseason Pitcher of the Year Clayton Jerome leads the Horned Frogs club that was picked to finish sixth in the C-USA Preseason Poll. Jerome has posted a 4-1 record with a 2.27 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 39.2 innings of work. Designated hitter Chad Huffman and third baseman Shelby Ford lead the team offensively, with .419 and .325 batting averages respectively. Memphis will return home following the TCU series to take on Austin Peay on Tues., March 23. The game was originally scheduled to be played at Nat Buring Stadium. Due to renovations to the Tigers' home stadium the game has been moved to AutoZone Park. First pitch has also been changed to 2 p.m.

03/18/04		Volleyball to Host Spring Tournament, Saturday (GoTigersGo.com)
		MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Coming off its first-ever appearance in the Conference USA championship finals and a 30-6 season, the University of Memphis volleyball team will begin preparing for the 2004 fall season with a spring tournament at the Finch Center on the U of M campus, Saturday. The Tigers will welcome Ole Miss, Birmingham Southern and cross-town rival Christian Brothers to the first tournament of the spring. The Tigers will be looking to see who will step up to replace seniors Brittany Barnett and Shella Neba. Barnett, a second-team all-conference honoree, finished second on the team in kills (520) and hitting percentage (.238) and Neba, an all-tournament honoree in the U of M Fall tournament who led the team in blocks (146) and hitting percentage (.298), have left sizeable holes for the Tigers to fill. Returning for Memphis will be outsides Tiara Gilkey, Kristen Hardee, Nancy Nellans and Jennie Toronto. Gilkey was a third-team all-conference honoree, In addition to replacing Barnett's offense, that quartet of players will also have to step up in the Tiger passing game, as Barnett was a four-year passer in the Tigers' serve-receive plan. In the middle, Fehi Tuivai and Melissa Nance will be looking to fill in where Neba left off. Both saw significant playing time in 2004 and this spring should help them prepare for more opportunities next fall. The Tigers will have the luxury of two returning setters and defensive specialists for 2004. Setter Heather Watts, a third-team all conference honoree, will be back to quarterback the offense, while setter Hristina Slancheva, who played a big role in the Tigers' serving game, will also be back with a year of game experience under her belt. On the defensive side, Christen Clayton and Emily Steckel will each have a year of collegiate experience in the books, and will be looked to for passing and defense to set up the offense. The tournament begins at 8 a.m. and the Tigers' first match will be at 9:30, Saturday. The Finch Center is located on the corner of Echles and Spottswood, across from the U of M tennis courts and attached to the University Recreation Center. Memphis will also play spring tournaments at Arkansas, April 10th, and at Tennessee, April 17th.

03/18/04		Is Banks This Season's Carmelo? (Commercial Appeal)
		By Zack McMillin Contact March 18, 2004 It was the Monday after the University of Memphis had received its NCAA Tournament bid, and Tiger coach John Calipari wanted to deliver a message to his star freshman, Sean Banks. "Give me that article," Calipari said to an assistant coach. Calipari sat down with Banks. Using the article as a prop, Calipari proceeded to lecture Banks, the nation's best freshman according to ESPN.com. What exactly Calipari said to Banks is between the coach and player, but it's not hard to surmise the gist of the conversation. Since last week's double-digit loss to Saint Louis in the Conference USA Tournament, Calipari has criticized his players for getting caught up in their "press clippings." Banks, for his part, said he's not concerned with what anyone is saying or writing about him, good or bad. "It's not an issue with me," Banks said. "I never really read press clippings. I don't read them mainly because when I first got here, my press clippings were not good at all. That's when I stopped reading all that stuff." But Calipari clearly is concerned enough to show the articles to Banks and make sure he's staying grounded. "When someone starts telling you you are a lottery pick, a first-round draft pick, the best player in the country, it's something you want to hear," Calipari said. "When you're 18 years old, I know I'd believe it and say, 'Yeah, he's right.' " When he had finished talking to Banks, Calipari ripped the article in half. Then he ripped it in half again. And again one more time for emphasis. "He just wants Sean not to get caught up in this hype," said U of M junior center Duane Erwin. "A lot of people are trying to blow his head up. Bobby Huggins makes a statement that he's a pro, and he's probably thinking about going pro after his first year. . . . That could really get to a player as far as them thinking they already made it and they can just pretty much half(way) everything else." Just a quick glance at what's being written around the country reveals that even if Banks isn't caught up in the hype, everyone else is. Here's Yahoo! national sports columnist Dan Wetzel: "The 6-foot-8-inch forward . . . just may be the nation's top freshman. . . . If Banks played in the ACC, he would have been national freshman of the year. That's how unstoppable he can be. Don't believe me? Just ask an NBA scout." Then there was the ESPN.com article that ran Monday, from NBA Insider Chad Ford, entitled, "Is Sean Banks the next Carmelo?" Ford wasn't talking about Tony Soprano's estranged wife, either. If Banks is indeed the best freshman in the nation, could he do for Memphis what Carmelo Anthony did in leading Syracuse to the national title last season? "If he can lead Memphis on a Cinderella run through the tournament, the Carmelo Anthony comparisons will start running out of control," Ford wrote. "Scouts believe Banks would be better off with another year of school to add strength but concede that a strong tournament would push his stock high enough to get him into the lottery." As much as that sort of talk aggravates Calipari, the volume is rising as the Tigers' first-round tournament game, Friday morning against South Carolina, draws closer. In his first season as a Tiger, Banks has averaged 18 points and 6.7 rebounds and has led the Tigers to a share of the C-USA title. Even a first-round loss would not diminish his fine freshman season. But if the Tigers are to make a run at the Final Four, it's not hard to envision the story line. And a freshman shall lead them Not even close For everyone making those comparisons with Anthony, Banks has his own message. He has seen Carmelo Anthony's game, and he's no Carmelo Anthony. "Carmelo is a way better player than I am," Banks said. "I wouldn't even compare myself to him. . . . I'm not even close now." Even with Anthony's better-than-expected rookie season with the Denver Nuggets, even after his dominant performance in last season's NCAA Tournament, people seem to forget how special he was as a freshman. At last year's Final Four, there was no real argument that he was the best player in the country, regardless of class. Before the championship game. Kansas coach Roy Williams was asked if Anthony was the best freshman he'd ever seen in the NCAA Tournament. He used the line former Houston Oilers coach Bum Phillips used when asked about his great running back, Earl Campbell. "He said he didn't know if he's the best, but if he's in a class, it doesn't take long to call the roll," Williams said. "That's the way you feel about Carmelo." Banks rooted for Syracuse and Anthony all the way through the tournament, so he knows exactly what's at stake when his tournament begins on Friday. "I followed them more or less to see how far he would take them," Banks said. "I was surprised he took them as far as he did." If the Tigers are going to make a run, Banks insists he'll just be one of many significant players. His role would be more like that played by Pervis Ellison on Louisville's 1986 championship team. Yes, Ellison was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, but he was surrounded by veterans like current U of M administrative aide Milt Wagner, a fifth-year senior on that team. "We carry each other," Banks said. "It's a team effort." Filling big sneakers If Banks does emerge as a freshman of influence in the 2004 tournament, he'll follow in the footsteps of some other Tiger players who made huge impacts as rookies. Penny Hardaway, as a sophomore playing his first season in Division 1, took the Tigers to the Elite Eight in 1992. Keith Lee was a freshman in 1982, when the Tigers advanced to the Sweet 16. And don't forget Larry Kenon, the junior-college transfer whose dominance helped guide the Tigers to the 1973 championship game. Banks may not know a lot of Tiger history, but he's a student of the college game who likes talking about past tournaments. He grew up a North Carolina fan. One of his favorite tournaments was 1999, when UConn upset Duke. "I remember I cheered for UConn because I liked Rip Hamilton's game," Banks said. If the 2004 tournament becomes a favorite for Tiger fans, it's likely to have the signature of Sean Banks on it. And if that creates the Catch-22 referred to in the ESPN Insider article - a great tournament by Banks making him even more attractive to NBA scouts - then so be it. Banks has said many times he will be back next season and would like to stay long enough to graduate after his junior season. "It's been exciting watching the NCAAs over the years, and I've always wanted to play in it," Banks said. "Now I get my chance." - Zack McMillin: 529-2564

03/18/04		Feast Of Food, Fun Awaits Fans Going To K.C. (Commercial Appeal)
		By Don Wade Contact March 18, 2004 So, you're goin' to Kansas City for a crazy little NCAA Tournament game, and you'd like to know if the Tigers will get a win there. Honestly? I have no idea. But I can help you have a good time in Kansas City, whatever the final score of Friday's Memphis-South Carolina game. Kansas City is my hometown. And though I haven't lived there in more than 15 years, one delicious truth remains: So many restaurants, so little time. Now obviously, any conversation about Memphians visiting Kansas City is going to be dripping with barbecue sauce. First suggestion: Keep an open palate. You might never decide you like K.C. barbecue better than Memphis barbecue - I'll always like K.C. barbecue better - but comparing and contrasting sure is fun. My personal favorite is Fiorella's Jack Stack Barbecue, which years ago was simply known as the Smokestack. I could go on and on about the meats and sauce - you can even get lamb and salmon here - but whatever you order be sure to include the coleslaw, which is good enough to stand as a meal on its own. There's a Jack Stack location downtown, not too far from Kemper Arena. Of course, once you start asking around about K.C.'s best barbecue, you'll get multiple answers. Gates Barbecue dates back to 1946. Employees train at - and I swear on a slab of ribs I'm not making this up - the Gates College of Bar-B-Q Knowledge. Or as locals call it, Rib Tech. Also, don't overlook Hayward's Pit Bar-B-Que, started by Hayward Spears of Hope, Ark. Like Gates, there are multiple locations around the city. Last but not least is Arthur Bryant, which has been a frequent stopping off point for Presidents. The sauce is as unique in flavor as it is in color - electric orange. I like this as a change-up, but the gastrointestinally challenged should stay with something smoother and lighter. Kansas City is a steak town and if you want to combine steak and shopping, then Plaza III The Steakhouse - on the Country Club Plaza south of downtown - is a good way to go. The Majestic Steakhouse on Broadway is a favorite with locals and, like Plaza III, offers live jazz most nights. Happily, it's hard to get a bad steak in this town. But if you just stick with steak and barbecue, you'll miss Kansas City's best-kept culinary secret: Southwest Blvd., which is home to many Mexican restaurants. When I come back for a visit, I always head to Southwest Boulevard. My top three picks here are Ponak's, which has awesome enchiladas; Manny's, the kind of place where you want to get a little taste of everything; and California Taqueria, a former hole-in-the-wall that has upscaled without sacrificing flavor. My favorite Italian eatery is admittedly biased and a little out of the way: V's Italiano Ristorante in Independence, Mo., which is about 15-20 minutes east of downtown. Before I was old enough to drive a car, I was a busboy at V's. I still return for their thin-crust pizza - the pastry is perfect - and veal Parmesan. If you're looking for a quick slice closer to downtown, Antonio's on Main is a favorite and is next to the Grand Emporium, which the Memphis-based Blues Foundation has twice labeled the "Best Blues Club in America." For a more, shall we say, fluid taste of authentic Kansas City, you need to hit Kelly's. It's in the Westport district - think Beale Street - and about 10 minutes south of downtown. Expect a large and loaded crowd at Kelly's, especially as St. Patrick's Day revelry spills into the weekend. Also expect large numbers of obnoxious Kansas Jayhawk fans, which is, of course, a redundancy. The Crown Center area, immediately south of downtown, also offers a variety of dining and shopping options. If you want to work off some of this fine food, Kansas City has a good zoo located at Swope Park. If the weather isn't so good, you can go to 1616 18th Street and check out both the American Jazz Museum and the Negro League Baseball Museum. They're both open on Saturday and Sunday. As for the basketball and whether the Tigers will "fill it up" on Friday, I don't know. But I do know this: If you don't get your fill while in K.C., you have only yourself to blame. Contact reporter Don Wade at 529-2358 or send an e-mail.

03/18/04		For Tigers To Win, Banks Needs Boards (Commercial Appeal)
		By Gary Parrish Contact March 18, 2004 KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Sean Banks might get 30, launching 3-pointers and fade-away jumpers in an incredible NCAA Tournament debut that furthers his reputation as one of the nation's top freshmen. Meanwhile, the University of Memphis will lose to South Carolina Friday morning unless the New Jersey native gets back to rebounding the way he once did. "What's happened to (him) in the last two weeks that's (made him) matriculate to the perimeter, versus rebounding and mixing it up and going in there and getting double-doubles?" asked Tiger coach John Calipari. "Well, it's hard for a 17-, 18-year-old kid reading that other guys are saying he's a lottery pick, and he should leave and all this stuff. Now he starts thinking he's a (shooting guard or small forward instead of a power forward). "It's a natural thing," Calipari added. "But he hasn't rebounded in two weeks." Try three weeks, going on four. And that, more than any thing, may be why the Tigers are 2-3 in their past five games. Banks has averaged just 2.2 rebounds per outing over that span, way off the 7.7 boards a contest he was getting through the U of M's first 23 games, which yielded 19 wins and just four defeats. Since a Feb. 21 victory over UAB, Banks's rebounding against the U of M's past five opponents breaks down like this: Southern Miss: 3. Louisville: 2. TCU: 0. Cincinnati: 5. Saint Louis: 1. And though he's averaged 23.6 points in those games, Banks needs to do more work on the boards and less on the perimeter for the Tigers to make any kind of serious postseason run. "I don't know why (my rebounding numbers have) gone down, but I know it has to change," Banks said. "I have to rebound. I just have to." - Gary Parrish: 529-2365

03/18/04		Calipari Named Top District 7 Coach, Takes To Airwaves (Commercial Appeal)
		By From Our Press Services March 18, 2004 University of Memphis coach John Calipari has been named the National Association of Basketball Coaches District 7 Coach of the Year, the organization announced Wednesday. The NABC District 7 covers all NCAA Division 1 institutions in Tennessee and Kentucky. Calipari is the first Memphis coach to receive the award. This is the second time that Calipari has earned the honor, as he also won the NABC District 1 award in 1996 with UMass. Calipari is scheduled to be a radio guest on The Jim Rome Show today. The show airs in Memphis on WMC-AM (790) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. In his four seasons at Memphis, Calipari has compiled a 92-38 overall record and is the only coach in Tiger history to post 20-win seasons in each of his first four years. Calipari has an overall record of 285-109. Memphis finished 2003 ranked No. 19 in the final AP poll, and with the No. 24 ranking this year, it is the first time since the final polls of 1985 and 1986 that the Tigers have been ranked in the final polls in consecutive seasons.

03/18/04		Freshman Sensations (Commercial Appeal)
		There's probably not a Carmelo Anthony in this season's NCAA Tournament, but there are freshmen who have enjoyed excellent debut seasons: SEAN BANKS Memphis, 6-8 F ESPN.com freshman of the year and first-team All-C-USA player averages 18 points, 6.7 rebounds. CHRIS PAUL Wake Forest, 6-0 G Sporting News freshman of the year shot nearly 50 percent while averaging 13.6 points, 5.7 assists. LUOL DENG Duke, 6-8 F-G ACC's other top freshman averages 14.7 points, 6.8 boards. CHRIS TAFT Pittsburgh, 6-10 F Scoring (11.2 points per game) and rebounding (7.5) made him Big East's top rookie. ADAM MORRISON Gonzaga, 6-8 F Averaged 11.3 points on 52 percent shooting for second-seeded Zags.

03/18/04		Arkansas Hoops Talent Links Lady Tigers, Tulsa (Commercial Appeal)
		By Phil Stukenborg Contact March 18, 2004 When University of Memphis women's basketball coach Joye Lee-McNelis found out late Sunday night that her team's first-round opponent in the Women's National Invitation Tournament was Tulsa, she admitted she knew little about the Golden Hurricane. She should have consulted several of her players. When the Lady Tigers (20-9) play host to the Golden Hurricane (19-11) at 7 tonight at the Elma Roane Field House, it will mark the first meeting between the programs, but not the players. Tulsa, with former University of Arkansas assistant Mike Neighbors on its staff, is laden with Arkansas players. Memphis also has its share of Arkansans, including assistant Sytia Messer, a former Lady Razorback. Several of the players are familiar with one another. Memphis guard Jennifer Sullivan was a Jonesboro High School teammate of Tulsa's LeAnn Upshaw, who is sitting out this season with an injury. Lady Tiger guards Tamika Butler and Ashley Dixon, Arkansas natives, played AAU basketball with Tulsa starting guard Kara Pongonis, a native of Springdale, Ark. "It was me, Pongonis and Ashley Dixon playing on a team called the Arkansas Belles (in the summer of 2001)," Butler said. "We finished fifth in the nation that year. "(Pongonis) is a great player and she can shoot the three. She can flat out put it up. You leave her open, and she'll break your back." Butler, averaging 6.8 points in mostly a reserve role, said she and Pongonis weren't "the best of friends," but were close while members of the Belles. She said she occasionally checked the Tulsa athletic Web site during the year to see how Pongonis was doing. "I kind of got excited Sunday when I found out we were playing Tulsa," Butler said. "I knew they had a lot of Arkansas players. "It will be fun because they'll have a lot of friends and family from Arkansas in the stands, and so will me and Jennifer and Ashley." Sullivan, Memphis's second-leading scorer and its defensive stopper, said while she fondly recalls her prep career with Upshaw, she has some not-so-pleasant memories of another Arkansas native on Tulsa's roster. Tulsa point guard Candice Brewer, daughter of former Arkansas all-American Ron Brewer, disrupted a dream sophomore season of Sullivan's several years ago. "I played against Candice my sophomore year in high school, and her team (Fayetteville High) knocked us out of the state tournament," Sullivan said. "I don't remember what round it was; all I remember was we lost to them, and she hit a big shot in that game. She dominated that game for them." Brewer, who played small forward or shooting guard her first three seasons at Tulsa, moved to point guard this season and helped the Golden Hurricane rebound from a 14-16 finish in 2002-03. She enters tonight's game with a team-high 139 assists and is averaging 10.1 points per game, which ranks second on the team. The Arkansas players on both teams won't be the only ones renewing acquaintances. Memphis reserve post player Jordie Soso and Tulsa's Megan Moody also are familiar with one another. Both are natives of Australia. Moody, also averaging 10.1 points per game, has been a steady performer for the Golden Hurricane, but Tulsa's biggest threat is freshman Jillian Robbins, a native of Spring, Texas. Robbins, the Western Athletic Conference Newcomer of the Year, leads the team with averages of 13.4 points and 8.8 rebounds. She is coming off a 23-point, 23-rebound performance against Rice and has grabbed 53 rebounds in the past three games. "She is a very athletic post player," Lee-McNelis said. "She's very explosive. Our concern will be limiting the amount of touches she gets. "And Brewer averages five rebounds a game. I don't think we've ever played against a point guard that averages five rebounds a game. She is athletic, she attacks the glass and is a great creator who can score off the dribble." Tonight's winner advances to the second round - at a site to be determined - against the winner of Friday's first-round game between Cincinnati and Western Kentucky. - Phil Stukenborg: 529-2543

03/18/04		Preview: Lady Tigers vs. Tulsa (Commercial Appeal)
		Matchup: Memphis (20-9) vs. Tulsa (19-11) in the first round of the Women's National Invitation Tournament. When, where: Today, 7 p.m. at the Elma Roane Field House. Records: Tulsa 19-11; Memphis 20-9. Series standing: First meeting. Radio: WUMR-FM (91.7). TEAM COMPARISONS U of M Tulsa FG percentage .443 .394 Opp. Percentage .389 .385 FT percentage .696 .650 3-point percentage .317 .324 Opp. Percentage .264 .318 Rebounds 38.0 41.6 Opp. Rebounds 37.6 39.9 Points for 70.9 66.7 Points against 62.9 64.6 PROBABLE STARTERS Memphis P Yr. Ht. Pts. Devin Necaise G Fr. 5-5 6.8 Jennifer Sullivan G Jr. 5-8 11.5 Princess Swilley G Sr. 5-7 7.9 Latrice Booker C So. 6-0 5.4 Raven Rogers F Jr. 5-11 9.2 Tulsa P Yr. Ht. Pts. Candice Brewer G Sr. 5-8 10.1 Kara Pongonis G So. 5-5 8.5 Megan Moody G So. 6-2 10.1 Jillian Robbins F Fr. 6-1 13.0 Emily Jaskowiak F So. 6-1 7.9 KEYS TO THE GAME Rebounding: For Memphis, a win likely will hinge on the Lady Tigers' ability to keep Tulsa from grabbing too many offensive rebounds. The Golden Hurricane is aggressive on the offensive glass, as shown by its 31 offensive rebounds in a loss to Rice in the Western Athletic Conference Tournament. Jillian Robbins, the WAC's Newcomer of the Year, has been a force on the boards in Tulsa's last three games. She had 23 rebounds - 16 offensive - against Rice and is averaging nearly 18 rebounds a game during the three-game span. Defense, defense: Memphis allows 63 points per game and was ranked in the top half of Conference USA in that category. If the Lady Tigers can keep Tulsa to 64 points or less, the numbers are in the U of M's favor. Tulsa is 3-7 in games in which it scores fewer than 65 points. - By Phil Stukenborg

03/18/04		Rebels Hammer Tigers As Bats, Staff Stay Hot (Commercial Appeal)
		By Todd Vinyard Contact March 18, 2004 The Ole Miss Rebels showed why they are ranked No. 11 in the country with a 19-0 victory over the Memphis Tigers in college baseball action Wednesday night at AutoZone Park. Twelve Rebels had hits in a 18-hit attack and the pitching staff extended the team's scoreless innings streak to 39. It is the type of all-around effort that has led Ole Miss, which is ranked in all four college baseball polls, to a 15-1 record, which is the best start in school history. "We just played a complete game with so many good things happening," Ole Miss coach Mike Bianco said. "It's hard to pick just one thing in this victory. Our hitting and pitching all did well tonight. It was a good night." Ole Miss won its third straight in meetings between the two schools at the home of the Memphis Redbirds in front of 3,822. The Rebels have scored 10 or more runs in seven games this season. "We only had two errors, but we had many more small ones that gave Ole Miss chances offensively," Memphis coach Dave Anderson said. "You can't do that against good teams like that. They have the best offensive team they've had in the four years I've been here." The Rebels scored in four of the first five innings, six coming in the first three innings against former Ole Miss pitcher Nick Bradshaw, who dropped to 0-1. Four runs in the third, highlighted by RBIs from Seth Smith's bases-loaded walk, Stephen Head's sacrifice fly and former Germantown High star Mark Wright's double, had Ole Miss on the way to the victory. Wright's two-run triple in the eighth along with Charlie Babineaux's three-run home run capped the scoring. Second baseman Cooper Osteen led the Rebels with four hits, and shortstop Matt Tolbert added three. "It was great to get this kind of win in front of a lot people I know," Wright said. "We're hitting the ball well right now." And pitching well, too. The Rebels had a school-record fourth straight shutout. Eric Fowler (2-0) started things off by going five innings, with five strikeouts and just two hits allowed. Jeremy Zick, Anthony Cupps and Taylor Fowler finished things off with 10 strikeouts over the final four innings. "We haven't talked about the streak until tonight right after the game and we want to keep it going," Fowler said. "I wanted to pitch well tonight. We have a lot of guys starting to pitch well, so it is important to go out and show what you can do when you get the chance." Memphis (10-4) lost for just the second time in the last nine games. The Tigers, who are ranked No. 32 in the Collegiate Baseball Writers Association poll, had three hits and second baseman Michael Lewis had the only extra base hit with a double. Lewis had two hits on the night. Both teams move into conference play starting Friday. Memphis visits Texas Christian, while Ole Miss hosts Vanderbilt. "We're going to be ready to play this weekend," Anderson said. "We've done a lot right so far this season and we didn't do those things tonight. But we will be ready to play when the weekend comes." - Todd Vinyard: 529-2343

03/18/04		Tigers Get Shelled By Ole Miss (Daily Helmsman)
		By Daniel Ford March 18, 2004 The wore green hats for St. Patrick's Day, but the Memphis baseball team still got pinched. The Tigers were unable to do much of anything at the plate, in the field or on the pitcher's mound as they were drummed 19-0 by No.11 Ole Miss in front of 3,822 at AutoZone Park Wednesday night. "They beat us. There's no way else to put it," said Memphis coach Dave Anderson. Memphis (10-4) only manufactured three hits in the game. Nick Bradshaw, who played his first three years at Ole Miss, go the start for the Tigers, but it was short-lived. Bradshaw wen three innings, giving up five hits and five earned runs. "We only made two errors tonight on the scoreboard, but we made a ton of mistakes." The shut out gives the Rebels (15-1) their fourth straight and extends a school-record for consecutive scoreless innings to 39. Eric Fowler took the mound for the Rebels, who are off to their best start in school history. Fowler gave up no runs and two hits in five innings of work. The win is the largest margin of victory for the Rebels in over a year. Ole Miss collected 18 hits in the game. "We swung the bat really well and all the way around it was a terrific game by us," said Rebel coach Mike Bianco. "We did it all tonight." Ole Miss shortstop Matt Tolbert went 3-for-5 at the plate and said everyone who stepped up to the plate felt comfortable. "We hit really well, that's about all you can say. Everybody who got an at-bat swung," he said. "If they didn't get a hit they were still swinging really well." Cooper Osteen led the Rebels with his 4-for-6, three-RBI performance. Memphis entered the game second in Conference USA with a team ERA of 2.37. Tolbert said he was a little uneasy at first about going against his former teammate Bradshaw. "I was kind of shaky," he said. "I just wanted a hit to bad I had to tell myself just to calm down and pretend like he was someone else so I wouldn't chase bad pitches." Despite the loss, Memphis is off to its best start in several years and Anderson said one bad game wouldn't derail his team's confidence. "We've done a lot of positive things, we're not going to throw it away on one game," Anderson said. "How you react after a game like this is important and believe me, we will be ready to play."

03/18/04		Lady Tigers Prep For WNIT (Daily Helmsman)
		By Kenny MacDonald March 18, 2004 During the past 13 years, the Lady Tigers have accumulated eight highly-coveted banners displaying their accomplishments. As they take to the court tonight at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse for the Women's National Invitational Tournament, the Lady Tigers will take the first step to hanging another banner from the rafters. "We've not had post play in two years," said head coach Joye-Lee McNelis. "It's exciting to continue our play and get that opportunity to further our success. It's a big plus just to be able to do that." Memphis enters the WNIT with a 20-9 record after posting losing seasons the past two years. This is their most successful season since the 1998-99 season, when the Lady Tigers made it to the WNIT Final Four and finished 22-10. Hwever, the invitation to the WNIT might taste a little bittersweet to the coach and players, who were passed over for the NCAA Tournament. The Lady Tigers' RPI of 41 fell just short of the cut off and their expectations. "We are disappointed," said McNelis. "We thought our RPI was high enough. It's obviously ridiculous that Louisville didn't get in, but if they didn't get in, we wouldn't get in." Louisville and Marquette were No. 36 and No. 34 in RPI respectively, with Marquette receiving the nod, leaving Memphis and Louisville high and dry. "There are two happy teams at the end of postseason play," McNelis told her players. "The winners of the NWIT and the winners of the NCAA." The first-round game for the Lady Tigers is against Tulsa, a future member of Conference USA that has a bit of mystery about them. The Golden Hurricanes (19-11) are surging, having won five of their last seven games and finishing 11-7 in the WAC. Memphis has never played Tulsa before. Memphis senior guard Princess Swilley is only eight points away from joining the 1,000-point club. "I hope she will be able to achieve that," said McNelis. "She's one of those players who has to practice and be good in practice to feel good about her playing, and that's been hard with her shoulder injury. She's been struggling with her injury, but should be able to do it." Attendance is a critical factor with the WNIT format. "It's crucial," said the coach. "When the men won a couple of years ago, they won three games at home. Obviously, the more people you have, the better the players are going to feel. We have to have a lot of student population. We've easily got to have 2,000 here or it's going to be a struggle." The Lady Tigers have never won a WNIT championship and aren't favored to change that this season, but McNelis has a simple plan to overcome the doubters. "You play with your heart, you play with your soul, and when you do that, you have the opportunity to make something special happen," she said.

03/17/04		No. 15 Ole Miss Blanks Memphis (GoTigersGo.com)
		Memphis, Tenn. - No. 15 Ole Miss blanked the University of Memphis baseball team 19-0 Wednesday at AutoZone Park. It was the Rebels (15-1) third-straight win over the Tigers (10-4) at the Downtown ballpark. Second baseman Cooper Osteen led an 18-hit Ole Miss attack with four hits and three RBIs. Osteen, Mark Wright and Charlie Babineaux each led the Rebels with three RBI. Ole Miss tallied a pair of runs in the first when shortstop Matt Tolbert scored on a sacrifice fly by Stephen Head and Seth Smith scored on a wild pitch by Memphis starter Nick Bradshaw. Tolbert and Smith had back-to-back singles in the first. The Rebels tacked on four more runs in the third to take a 6-0 lead. Memphis starter Bradshaw walked in the first run before Head followed with his second sacrifice fly of the game. Brian Pettway drove in a run with a fielder's choice and Mark Wright added a RBI double. Ole Miss extended its lead to 8-0 in the fourth on RBI singles by Cooper Osteen and Tolbert. Rebel starter Eric Fowler kept the Tigers hitless until the fourth when Adam Amar ripped a two-out single back up the box. The Rebels took advantage of a pair of Tiger errors in the fifth to score build their lead to 11-0. B Gunther had a RBI single in the frame and Chris Osteen had a two-run single. Ole Miss added five more runs in the eighth off Memphis reliever Matt Fry and Xan Babineaux hit a three-run homer in the ninth to cap off the scoring for the Rebels. Fowler (2-0) allowed just two hits and struck out five in five innings of work. Bradshaw (0-1) took the loss allowing six runs on five hits in three innings of work. Memphis second baseman Michael Lewis extended his hitting streak to seven games with a fifth-inning single. Lewis added a double in the eighth. Junior Michael Novarese struck out four in two scoreless innings of work. The Tigers return to action this weekend when they open Conference USA play with a three-game series at TCU.

03/17/04		Calipari Named NABC District 7 Coach Of The Year (GoTigersGo.com)
		OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - Memphis head coach John Calipari has been named the National Association of Basketball Coaches District 7 Coach of the Year, the organization announced Wednesday. The NABC District 7 covers all NCAA Division I institutions in Tennessee and Kentucky. Calipari is the first Memphis head coach to receive this award. This is the second time that Calipari has earned the honor, as he also won the NABC District 1 award in 1996 as head coach of the UMass Minutemen. Calipari was named NABC National Coach of the Year in 1996. In his four seasons at Memphis, Calipari has compiled a 92-38 overall record and is the only coach in Tiger history to post 20-win seasons in each of his first four years. He has guided Memphis to the postseason in each of his first four seasons, directing the Tigers to the NCAA Tournament the past two years. Calipari's 2001 and 2002 squads advanced to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) final four, and the 2002 team won the NIT crown. Calipari has an overall record of 285-109 and is ranked among the top 10 in coaching starts by victories in the first 12 seasons. The Tigers (21-7), ranked No. 24 in the final Associated Press (AP) poll, is seeded No. 7 in the East Rutherford Regional and will play the No. 10 seed South Carolina Friday, Mar. 19 in Kansas City, Mo. Game time for the match-up is 11:30 a.m. (CT). Memphis finished 2003 ranked No. 19 in the final AP poll, and with the No. 24 ranking this year, it is the first time since the final polls of 1985 and 1986 that the Tigers have been ranked in the final polls in consecutive seasons.

03/17/04		South Carolina-Memphis Preview (GoTigersGo.com)
		From the Associated Press GAME: No. 10 South Carolina (23-10) vs. No. 7 Memphis (21-7). REGIONAL: East Rutherford, First round. TIME: Friday, 12:30 p.m. EST. SITE: Kemper Arena; Kansas City. After an 11-game winning streak, Memphis limped into the NCAA tournament and ended up with a disappointing seed. Now, the Tigers are hoping to avoid another early round exit as they face a South Carolina team eager to reverse its own tournament fortunes. Memphis lost three of its last four games, including a 72-61 setback to Saint Louis in the quarterfinals of the Conference USA tournament Thursday. The defeat came just four days after Cincinnati beat the Tigers 83-79, ruining Memphis' chances of an outright C-USA regular-season title and creating an eventual five-way tie for first place. The Tigers weren't exactly thrilled when they were given a No. 7 seed in the East Rutherford Region. "I think they're still a little bit stunned over what happened," coach John Calipari said, referring to the C-USA tournament loss. "They're going into this with a little different light than they did a year ago. Even me, I was just wondering where it would fall, what seed we would get." However, the Tigers, who were knocked out in the first round of last season's tournament by Arizona State, know they have a chance to make up for their late-season slump. "We've got a chance to redeem ourselves," forward Rodney Carney said. "Hopefully we'll get together and do that." Sean Banks, the C-USA newcomer of the year, leads the Tigers with 18 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. "If we play like we did when we went on the winning streak, and not the last three out of four games, we'll be fine," said Banks, who managed a season-low six points on 2-for-11 shooting against Saint Louis. "The last three games have been like tournament-style games down to the wire. It's better to make mistakes then than in the next one." The Gamecocks are returning to the tournament for the first time in six years. South Carolina, picked to finish last in the Southeastern Conference following a 12-16 campaign last season, won 18 of its first 20 games and knocked off Arkansas and LSU in the SEC tournament. "If there's a team in this country that's come 180 degrees," coach Dave Odom said, "it's us." However, the Gamecocks have not fared well recently in the NCAAs. They've lost four straight tournament games, with their last win coming 31 years ago in the East Regional consolation game against Southwest Louisiana. South Carolina's losing streak includes some crushing upsets. In 1997, the Gamecocks won the regular-season SEC title and entered with a No. 2 seed, but fell 78-65 in the first round to No. 15 seed Coppin State - one of just four such upsets since the tournament expanded to 16 seeds in 1985. The following season, the third-seeded Gamecocks were upset 62-61 by Richmond. "There's no Chicken Curse here," Odom said. "I don't want to hear any of that here." Odom's team doesn't hold much stock in the team's rocky tournament past, either. "(The losing streak) has nothing to do with this team," said point guard Mike Boynton, named to the All-SEC tournament team after tying a tournament record with 14 3-pointers made. "You don't play against history, you don't play against legacy, you just play basketball." Memphis leads the all-time series 17-5, including a 72-62 win in the NIT championship game two years ago. PROBABLE STARTERS: South Carolina - F Carlos Powell (12.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg), F Tarence Kinsey (8.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg), F Kerbrell Brown (7.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg), G Boynton (10.2 ppg, 3.5 apg), G Josh Gonner (12.1 ppg, 2.2 apg). Memphis - F Carney (12.7 ppg, 5.5 rpg), F Banks (18 ppg, 6.7 rpg), F Arthur Barclay (2 ppg, 3.1 rpg), G Antonio Burks (16.1 ppg, 5.5 apg), G Anthony Rice (9.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg). HOW THEY GOT HERE: South Carolina - At-large berth. Memphis - At-large berth. ALL-TIME TOURNAMENT RECORD: South Carolina - 4-8, 8 years. Memphis - 18-17, 17 years.

03/17/04		Defense Wins Championships ... Usually (Daily Helmsman)
		By Ben Cowens March 17, 2004 Antonio Burks knows he has precious little time on a college basketball floor, so he wants to make the most of it. "I've been thinking about (the last game) really since before the season started," Burks said. "Lately, I've been thinking about it even more. All I can hope is that we come out and play hard. "If things go our way, we'll keep advancing, if they don't we'll go home." With the NCAA format, every possession has exaggerated importance. For the loser, there is no next game. One bad bounce can send a team home, a missed free throw, a defensive lapse or a questionable call can make the difference. The Tigers can't control all of the variables, but what they can control is defense. For Memphis -- and every other team -- keeping the opponents shooting percentage down will make their chances of success go up. Consider the last two national champions, Syracuse and Maryland. In 12 tournament games, the best opponent shooting percentage was Connecticut's 45.5 percent against Maryland. Four times those teams held opponents to under 40 percent, three times under 35 percent. Overall, Syracuse and Maryland held their foes to 40 percent shooting. "I don't think it's important to shoot well," Burks said. "It's all about defense. Defense wins championships. If we play good team defense we'll always be in every game." Statistics tend to back Burks up. In 2003, Syracuse shot just 43 percent on two occasions, but managed to eek out victories. Maryland struggled offensively against Indiana in the 2002 championship game, connecting just 43.8 percent of the time. However, Maryland was able to squeeze out a 64-52 victory because they held the Hoosiers to just 34.5 percent. Memphis Coach John Calipari knows how important defense is in The Big Dance. Since his team's lax performance against Saint Louis, he has been pleading with his team to play with more fire. It's a message that hasn't been lost on the players. "Coach isn't going to demand anything less (than defensive intensity) and if you don't play defense, you won't be playing," said guard Anthony Rice. The Tigers know the benefits of good defense. During their 11-game winning streak earlier this year, Memphis held opponents to under 40 percent seven times. Teams shot just over 38 percent overall. To contrast, in the conference tournament loss to Saint Louis, the Billikens shot 53.3 percent. In practice, Calipari has demanded intensity and urged his team to "play with an edge." "Most of the focus (in practice) is on us," Calipari said. "On our ability to get to their three-point shooters and our ability to play team defense." He doesn't know exactly how his team will respond to the poor outing against SLU, but he said it is always one of two ways. "You either kick it in and get mean and mad," Calipari said. "Or you get cool and act like this stuff doesn't matter and you just back it up and say 'I'm not trying today.' When you do that you lose ball games." No one knows exactly which Tigers team will show up on Friday, but Burks said he would do his part to make the defense better. "(I'm) going to play real aggressive this game and play real hard on defense," Burks said. "It's not about the offense, it's about defense." One thing is for sure, you can bet he'll play like it's his last college game.

03/17/04		Letter Indicates Grothe Took Money (Daily Helmsman)
		By Daniel Ford March 17, 2004 The early results of an internal audit by The University of Memphis seem to show that associate athletic director Kevin Grothe took no less than $75,000 from school boosters for himself. The early results of the internal audit were discovered in a letter written by Martha I. Stuart, director of internal audit at the Tennessee Board of Regents, obtained by the Commercial Appeal. According to the newspaper, the March 4 letter indicates that on at least two occasions Grothe approached a U of M booster and asked them to forward money to marketing contractors on behalf of The University, but it appears Grothe took the monies for his own personal use instead. U of M president Shirley Raines and athletic director R. C. Johnson said in a released statement that no U of M officials are allowed to comment on the subject, due to a pending FBI investigation. "The University has, and will, fully cooperate with the federal officials investigating this matter. At this point, it appears that this issue was isolated to one employee," the statement read. "The University will work with law enforcement to insure that any individuals involved are brought to justice. Once the investigation by the University's internal auditor is complete, we will disclose our conclusions and take all appropriate corrective action. This will be our only statement on this matter before the conclusion of our investigation." U of M officials said no further comment will be given on the matter until the FBI investigation is complete. Grothe acted as lead fundraiser for The U of M and had been at The University for eight years before resigning his position on Feb. 27. Former Shelby County mayor Bill Morris will oversee the U of M's athletic fund-raising until a permanent replacement can be found.

03/17/04		Road To Final Four Starts With A Focused First Step (Commercial Appeal)
		By Don Wade Contact March 17, 2004 Shane Battier, now of the Memphis Grizzlies and once of the Duke Blue Devils, retraces his steps from the 2001 National Championship Game all the way back to the journey's beginning, when it was just so much Vitale verbosity, so many Digger delusions. "I loved Selection Sunday," Battier says, grinning. "Just seeing your name go up there and where you were going. "The coaches frowned on looking down the road but you did any way. For us, at Duke, that's the main reason we were there - to win games in March." And in the case of a first-round Duke game in March, the mission was to win it decisively, to make a statement that would echo into the second round where a No. 8 or a No. 9 seed would be waiting with evil intent. "At Duke, you're supposed to blow the other team out in the first round," says former Battier teammate and current Los Angeles Clipper Corey Maggette. "It shouldn't even be a game." No, the road to the Final Four - even the road to the second round - is not paved evenly. And everyone must find his own way without the benefit of a team GPS - Global Positioning System. What we do know is that a No. 16 seed has never beaten a No. 1 seed. There is no reason to think that will change this year. "I don't know that there's any advantage," says Kentucky coach Tubby Smith. "When you look at it on paper, there's supposed to be an advantage." To look at it on paper, this is not a luxury afforded the University of Memphis, with its No. 7 seed and a first-round Friday game against No. 10 seed South Carolina in Kansas City. The Tigers paid a steep price for a quarterfinal flameout against Saint Louis in the Conference USA Tournament. Tigers coach John Calipari has described his team's performance in that game as everything from a "meltdown" to an effort totally devoid of emotion: "It was an empty body playing." A win over South Carolina likely would get the Tigers a date with 2 seed Oklahoma State, a team that easily could have been given a No. 1 seed. But first there is South Carolina - the first roadblock, if you will. "Very athletic . . . they come after you," Calipari says "They'll take chances. We're about the same. That's why this becomes a scary game. For both teams." Of course, there's no point in worrying about seed, opponent or venue because you can't change any of it. Alabama is a No. 8 seed and starts play Thursday in Seattle against Southern Illinois. If you're driving to that game from Tuscaloosa you'd have time to drink an entire Starbucks franchise. "They could have sent us to Antarctica," says Alabama coach Mark Gottfried. "Our guys wouldn't have cared." True enough, for the words of the week are - all together now - we're just happy to be here! Funny, though, everyone's a lot happier when they can win at least one game here. "If we lose (in the first round) I'm not gonna make the season out a failure," Florida coach Billy Donovan says of his No. 5 seed Gators. "Absolutely, we'd love to get back to a Sweet 16, Elite Eight, Final Four, win the national championship. But I also realize how hard it is. The big thing is getting in the tournament as much as you can. Because once you get in anything can happen." One and done Anything can happen. Those words mean something else when your last tournament experience was a bad tournament experience. The Tigers were also a 7 seed last season. They were upset by 10 seed Arizona State in the first round. This season Mississippi State is a No. 2 seed and a trendy Final Four pick in office pools filled out by folks who prefer their tea sweet. Last season the Bulldogs were a 5 seed when Butler's Bulldogs, a 12 seed, had enough bite to beat them, 47-46, in the opening round. Highlights of that game will show Butler's Brandon Miller driving for the winning basket with 6.2 seconds remaining. But MSU trailed 12-3 after 8:47 of play. That's where the game - and the opportunity - was really lost. "We were out of rhythm," says point guard Timmy Bowers. "They were running the shot clock down. We didn't have the energy we needed at the start of the game." Forward Branden Vincent offers another explanation/excuse. "Last year we were depending on one player (forward Mario Austin, who scored 18 points with 10 rebounds in the game). "This year we're depending on the whole team." Perhaps. But the Bulldogs of this season probably only run as far as Bowers and SEC Player of the Year Lawrence Roberts take them. Of course, if you believe having a proven point guard to drive the offense is the best way to navigate the road to the Final Four - or even the road to the second round - then Memphis, with C-USA Player of the Year Antonio Burks, and MSU, are in good hands. "The point guard has a lot to do with it," Bowers says. "He's the head of the snake out there." Only one ends on top The NCAA Tournament is full of stories about teams feeling snake-bit, even if they made it to the last game - before losing by 21 points. Former Tigers coach Gene Bartow can tell you about the 1973 NCAA title game against UCLA in St. Louis, about how the score was tied 39-39 at halftime. "And we had a lot of foul trouble," says Bartow, whose team went on to lose, 87-66, as Bill Walton scored 44 points on 21-of-22 shooting from the floor. "Over the years I think I've accused one official of some ticky-tac calls and letting Bill Walton dunk when dunking wasn't legal. "But that was a long time ago." Former Tiger play-by-play voice Jack Eaton has great memories of the '73 team but can't forget the 1985 team (coached by Dana Kirk) losing in the Final Four to Villanova, which went on to upset Georgetown for the national title. "It was very disappointing the way we played," Eaton recalls of that 52-45 loss by a Tiger team that included Keith Lee and Andre Turner. "It was just lackadaisical, as I remember it. "We probably had the best talent in the country. It just didn't happen." The Grizzlies' Lorenzen Wright is still pained by the U of M's 1995 regional semifinal overtime loss to Arkansas - a questionable foul call turned that game at the end of regulation - and still annoyed by the no-show the Tigers pulled the next season in a first-round upset loss to Drexel. "It was just wrong from the day before the game," Wright says. "A lot of guys with other agendas. Everybody thinking about going to the NBA, thinking about everything but the basketball game. "Teamwide overconfidence. We'd never even heard of Drexel." This year's Tigers definitely have heard of South Carolina. Memphis beat the Gamecocks two years ago in the NIT championship game. Calipari recalls that his '92 UMass team, which made the Sweet 16, succeeded with him taking a hands-off style. "I left them completely alone," Calipari says. But the UMass Elite Eight team of three years later was, as he puts it, "a little bit goofy." So Calipari kept a tighter leash and installed nightly curfews. But what of this year's Tigers, who roar one moment and yawn the next, who have shown tremendous defensive intensity and great shooting ability, but also an indifference toward rebounding and sometimes forget to pass the basketball? Says Calipari: "I'm still trying to get a read on this team." Hit 'em with best shot So if the road to the Final Four is paved unevenly - and it is - how does a team change the odds to its favor, or if playing from the role of favorite, not let those odds run away from it? Grizzlies guard Earl Watson, who played at UCLA, knew all about his school's tradition and was fully aware of the pressure that came with it. "My mindset was to change it from a negative to a positive - 'this is what you've always wanted; have fun,' " Watson says. "We had the same jerseys as in the (John) Wooden era. You think about all that tradition but then you also know the team you're playing, they're thinking about that too. "They see UCLA and they think of the 11 national championships, the greatness, all the things they shouldn't be thinking about." Says Battier: "We were lucky to play for Coach K. He was so confident and relaxed it rubbed off on us. That's why his teams played loose. You see so many teams playing uptight for a coach who's got veins popping out of his forehead." And yet let's not forget that another Coach K. (Bob Knight) has three national titles and is wound as tight as a home run derby baseball. So, no, there's no figuring a foolproof formula, no road map that always leads to the buried NCAA treasure. Nor is there a magical potion for pulling off the first-round stunner. Pete Carril's Princeton teams made 11 NCAA appearances but never got past the second round. In 1996, however, they upset defending national champion UCLA, 43-41, on - what else? - a backdoor layup with 3.8 seconds remaining. "We handled that game the way we handled every game," says Carril, now an assistant with the NBA's Sacramento Kings. "By preparing them mentally and technically to win the game. So it wasn't anything unusual." Not by his measure, but to folks who saw their office pools flushed, it was incredible. And that's why we watch. That's why coaches fret. That's why coaches hope. They know how good their teams can be and they know how bad their teams can be. "I've been a 3 seed (at Georgia) and lost to a 14 seed," Tubby Smith says. "You've got to come ready to play." Even if your bench includes a football player and an office receptionist, which Calipari's does. Which is why Burks and freshman Sean Banks and sophomore Rodney Carney all might be tempted to try and put the team on their shoulders, to try and do too much. "The issue's not been 'I have to carry us,' '' says Calipari, who took UMass to the Final Four eight years ago. "It's been 'I'm not getting mine.' We've had that a couple of times. "We've had an unbelievable season but (sometimes) we've embraced success a little bit . . . I would hope that we play like we have all year. What you hope is that you've trained them well enough all year they won't crack under that pressure." What you hope is that one week after Selection Sunday you're a part of Second-Round Sunday. - Don Wade: 529-2358

03/17/04		Tigers Work On 3-Point Defense -- Gunners Have Hurt U of M (Commercial Appeal)
		By Gary Parrish Contact March 17, 2004 It's been a problem all season. Against Belmont. Against DePaul. Against TCU. Against Louisville. Against Cincinnati. Against just about everybody. Find the shooter. Get a hand up. Those are two things that have been difficult for the University of Memphis from November to March. And if that trend continues against South Carolina (23-10) in Kansas City on Friday morning, then the Tigers (21-7) could find themselves bounced from the first round of the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year. "It's just a mental thing," said Memphis assistant Derek Kellogg, who works primarily with the guards and has handled the scouting of USC. "It's just subconsciously knowing that you have to close out and be near those 3-point shooters." When Kellogg said "those 3-point shooters," he was talking about South Carolina's backcourt of Josh Gonner and Mike Boynton, a couple of scrappy guards who love to shoot from beyond the arc. Gonner, a 6-2 junior, has used 155 of his 299 (51.8 percent) attempts on 3-pointers. Boynton, a 6-2 senior, has used 192 of his 224 (85.7 percent) attempts on 3-pointers. As a team, South Carolina shoots 20.5 threes per game and makes 33 percent of them. So the U of M's strategy toward ensuring its first NCAA Tournament victory since 1995 is simple. Play the shot, entice the drive and force the Gamecocks to do something they don't seem too comfortable doing. "That's pretty much the game plan," said U of M junior Anthony Rice, who has shown the ability to shut down opposing guards. "If they're going to beat us, they're going to have to beat us off the dribble." Though the Tigers have athletes capable of defending beyond the arc, for whatever reason they haven't done so with much success this season. Through 28 games, Memphis is allowing teams to shoot 36.3 percent from 3-point range - which ranks last in Conference USA - and 10 opponents shot 40 percent or better from out there, including Belmont (17-of-38), DePaul (9-of-16), Louisville (7-of-9) and Cincinnati (9-of-19). So what's the problem? "I don't really know," said Tiger point guard Antonio Burks. "But I think it's mostly because when the ball gets thrown into the post, we have to go trap and save our big men, and then the guards are open (if the ball's thrown back out). But for this game - just like the Charlotte game - we've decided to take the 3-point shooters away. "That's our goal for this game." In an attempt to put an emphasis on this aspect of defense, Memphis spent major parts of the past two practices focusing on finding shooters in transition. For instance, on a scout team simulating South Carolina, Kellogg and fellow assistant Ryan Miller playing the roles of Gonner and Boynton - wore yellow jerseys, making them easy to indentify. The message to the players from the coaches? Don't lose the shooters, and you won't lose the game. "We just have to play them before they get the ball," Rice said. "Because if we wait, they're going to get it off, and we can't let them do that. So we just have to keep working on it and get better." - Gary Parrish: 529-2365

03/17/04		Tigers, Rebels Square Off -- Pitching Good For Both Teams (Commercial Appeal)
		By Todd Vinyard Contact March 17, 2004 At 10-3, the Memphis Tigers are off to the best start in four years under coach Dave Anderson. At 14-1, the Ole Miss Rebels own the best record after 15 games of any team in school history. When the two teams meet tonight at 7 in AutoZone Park they will bring solid offensive teams along with strong pitching and defense. That might have sound ed strange in the high-octane run scoring world of college baseball of the 1990s, however, it is very true today. "Pitching keeps you in baseball games and gives you a chance to win," Anderson said. "Even a team that scores lots of runs is going to struggle if you run into a team with a good pitcher. Then you won't be able to win a game 15-10. Then you have to have pitching and defense to win." The Tigers have the second best ERA in Conference-USA at 2.37, and are holding opponents to a .192 batting average. Ole Miss is equally strong on the mound. The Rebel pitching staff posted three straight shutouts in this past weekend's sweep of Nicholls State, and has a streak of 30 straight scoreless innings. What really makes fourth-year Ole Miss coach Mike Bianco happy is the improvement on defense. Last season the Rebels were last in the Southeastern Conference in fielding percentage. The Rebels are fourth in the 12-team league this year at .975. Memphis also has been sure handed in the field with just 12 errors in 490 chances this season. "Defense is something you've got to emphasize if you are going to reach goals like getting to the College World Series," Bianco said. "Playing good defense is important. That is true at any level of baseball, including college baseball." Bianco said while there are 18-15 scores from time to time, last year college baseball had fewer runs per game scored than major league baseball. NCAA statistics show batting average and runs per game went from an all-time high of .306 and 7.12 in 1998 to .291 and 6.11 in 2003. "You do see more focus put on pitching, and more guys are thinking of going to college to develop skills instead of straight to the pros," said Rebel pitcher Mark Holliman, a former Germantown High standout. Pitching tonight for the Rebels is left-handed sophomore Eric Fowler, who is 1-0, 8.59 ERA this year. Ole Miss will face a familiar face in Nick Bradshaw, 0-0 2.00 ERA. The senior right-hander pitched three years for the Rebels before transferring back to Memphis, where he played prep baseball at Christian Brothers. He retired the first 14 batters he faced this season. "I'm going to approach it as another game we need to win and do my best," Bradshaw said. Ole Miss brings in a No. 11 ranking by Baseball America/Collegiate Baseball, while Memphis is No. 32 in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Top 35 poll. This is the fourth meeting at AutoZone between the two schools. Memphis won the first game, 3-1, in 2001, before Ole Miss won the last two, 12-0 in 2002 and 5-1 last year. Tickets are $8 and available at the AutoZone Park gate. - Todd Vinyard: 529-2343

03/17/04		Pair Of Big Guns Booming Promise (Commercial Appeal)
		Ask University of Memphis offensive line coach Rick Mallory how long he considered stealing Kenyun Glover from the defensive side of the ball and his response is preceded by a hearty laugh that gives away the answer. "For years, Mallory said. "Are you kidding? A big son-of-a-gun like that." As the Tigers participate in their second week of spring practice at the Murphy Athletic Complex, Mallory finds himself spending significant time with two "big son-of-a-guns" that could be factors on the U of M line this fall. Besides Glover, Mallory is charting the progress of 6-7, 345-pound guard Willie Henderson, who also began his Tiger career as a defensive lineman. Henderson, a highly regarded prep lineman from Ridgeway High, moved to the offensive side of the ball last spring, giving him a slight advantage over Glover, a former Overton High standout who made the switch late last season. Each played 20 snaps in the Tigers' regular-season finale against South Florida and 20 snaps in the team's 27-17 New Orleans Bowl victory over North Texas. "Big Willie is making a lot of progress every day," said Tiger center Gene Frederic. "And that's good. It adds depth. "Big Willie is understanding the game more. It's not just about hitting guys. It's about knowing what the concept of the play is and what we are trying to get done. He is starting to understand that and doing the small, little things right. Last year that wasn't one of his concerns. He was concerned about just knocking the (heck) out of someone." With starting guards Andrew Handy and Jason Matthews recovering from injuries - Handy from a broken ankle last season and Matthews from a stress fracture - Glover and Henderson have been working mostly with the No. 1 offense this spring. Glover has been working at right guard and Henderson at left guard. Glover, who will be a senior, said he's looking forward to spending a full season on the Tiger offensive line, a unit that sprung running back DeAngelo Williams for a school-record 1,430 rushing yards and ably protected quarterback Danny Wimprine - only 12 sacks in 12 games - en route to his throwing for a school-record 3,174 yards. "When they moved me it was something different," Glover said. "It was something I hadn't done since high school. But I was a better offensive lineman than a defensive lineman in high school." Glover, 6-3 and 294 pounds, started on the defensive line during the 2001 and '02 seasons and had six tackles for lost yardage and two sacks as a sophomore. He made his 14th, and final, career start on the defensive line in last year's opener against Tennessee Tech. But his playing time on defense diminished, allowing Mallory the opportunity to snatch him away. "I think he is a good athlete," Mallory said. "He is a big, strong kid who can move. And he has all the qualities that make him a good offensive lineman. "But the defense needed him for so long that there wasn't any way we could get our hands on him. As time went on he became less and less a factor on that side of the ball and we got him." Mallory said Glover's advantage is that he spent three years on the defensive side of the ball. That's also his drawback. "There are things he needs to learn," Mallory said. "There's proper footwork, striking and seeing the targets and understanding and learning how to fit in with the other four guys up front. Sometimes that's the hardest for these kids to understand." Henderson appears to have found a comfort zone on offense during the first two weeks of spring workouts, which end with the April 3 Blue-Gray Scrimmage at Rhodes College. "Things are going pretty fine right now," Henderson said. "We've got two starting guards out so guys like me have got to fill those roles and step. We've got to have a big impact so this team can keep going forward." Tiger coach Tommy West, who was not pleased with his team's overall effort Tuesday, said Henderson has been a pleasant surprise. "He has come in with a really good attitude and temperament about him," West said. "He has taken things personally on every play and done a really good job." - Phil Stukenborg: 529-2543

03/16/04		Tigers Have Top Five Finish At Palmetto Intercollegiate (GoTigersGo.com)
		Aiken, SC - Memphis junior Allan Thomas carded a final round score of 68 to tie for fifth place individually, while his University of Memphis Tiger golf team shot a team score of 293 to finish fifth in the 2004 Palmetto Intercollegiate in Aiken, SC. Memphis had entered the final round in fourth place. The University of South Carolina won the team competition with a three round score of 847. South Carolina-Aiken, the host school, was second with a score of 853, while Coastal Carolina dropped from second to third place with a team total of 857. Virginia Tech was fourth at 863 and Memphis rounded out the top five with a team total of 870. It was the Tigers' second top five finish of the spring season after winning the Matlock Collegiate Classic. Thomas had opening rounds of 73-71 before carding his 68 over the final 18-holes. He finished the tournament with a one-under par total of 212. Thomas' fifth place tie marked his best tournament outing since his second place finish at the 2002 DePaul Blue Demon Invitational. Erik Johansen of South Carolina won medalist honors with a score of nine under par 204. Following Thomas among the Tiger team was David Jeans, who fired rounds of 70-69-75 for an one over par score of 214. He tied for 12th. Mike Regenold tied for 33rd after posting a three round total of 223. Senior Alan Weant finish tied for 39th with a 224 and Clayton Ellis came in tied for 43rd at 225. MEMPHIS INDIVIDUAL SCORES T5 Allan Thomas 73-71-68--212 T12 David Jeans 70-69-75--214 T33 Mike Regenold 73-72-78--223 T39 Alan Weant 76-73-75--224 T43 Clayton Ellis 77-73-75--225 TEAM SCORES 1. South Carolina 847 2. South Carolina-Aiken 853 3. Coastal Carolina 857 4. Virginia Tech 863 5. Memphis 870 6. Purdue 872 7. Furman 873 8. Maryland 885 College of Charleston 885 10. South Florida 888 11. Florida State 905 12. VCU 910 Navy 910 14. Presbyterian College 921

03/16/04		MEMPHIS-OLE MISS READY FOR MID-SOUTH BASEBALL CLASH (GoTigersGo.com)
		Memphis, Tenn. - With both teams off to fast starts and receiving national attention, the Memphis-Ole Miss baseball game at AutoZone Park Wednesday will be one of the most highly anticipated match-ups between the two rivals in the 89-year history of the series. The Tigers are ranked 32nd in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association poll this week, while the Rebels are 15th. First pitch for the St. Patrick's Day contest is set for 7 p.m. at the Downtown ballpark. Memphis enters the contest with a 10-3 mark after having its seven-game winning streak snapped with a 3-2 loss to Missouri in the final game of the Easton/USA Challenge last Saturday. It was the second one-run loss sufferred by the Tigers this season. "Our guys look forward to this game each season," Head Coach Dave Anderson said. "Both teams are playing well right now and it should give the baseball fans around the area a great opportunity to come out and watch a highly competitive game." Ole Miss won its first 11 contests of the season before Arkansas State knocked them from the ranks of the unbeaten with an 11-7 victory March 10. The Rebels improved to 14-1 by keeping Nicholls State off the scoreboard in a three-game sweep last weekend. Memphis has relied on its deep and talented pitching staff to secure its best start since the 1994 squad went 11-3 to open the season. Memphis pitchers are holding opponents to a C-USA best .192 batting average and have a staff ERA of 2.37. The Memphis staff will have the task of shutting down one of the top offenses in the region as the Rebels are hitting .322 as a team and have outscored their opponents 137-66. Ole Miss is led offensively by preseason All-American Stephen Head. The Rebels' first baseman has hit seven home runs and driven in 29 runs through 15 games. Senior righthander Nick Bradshaw will get the start on the mound for the Tigers against his former team. Bradshaw, who is 0-0 with a 2.00 ERA in one start this season, spent three seasons with the Rebels before transferring to the U of M for his final season. The Rebels will counter with sophomore lefthander Eric Fowler, who is 1-0 with a 8.59 ERA. The Rebels will be the second-ranked opponent the Tigers have faced this season. Seventh-ranked Arizona State shutout the Tigers 7-0 in Houston at the Coca-Cola Classic hosted by Rice University. The teams split a home-and-home series last season with the visiting team coming out victorious in each contest. Memphis beat the Rebels 6-3 in Oxford and dropped a 5-1 decision at AutoZone. This game will be the final tune-ups for both squads before they begin their respective league play this weekend. Memphis travels to TCU for their Conference USA opening series while the Rebels open Southeastern Conference play at home versus Vanderbilt. The game will be broadcast live on WUMR 91.7 FM.

03/16/04		Lady Tigers To Host Future C-USA Member Tulsa In First Round Of WNIT -- Memphis Looking For Large Crowd In Post-Season Action (GoTigersGo.com)
		MEMPHIS, TENN. - This Week: The Lady Tigers have snapped a two-season losing streak and post-season drought, and this Thursday will host Tulsa in the first round of the Women's National Invitational Tournament. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse. The Lady Tigers enter the meeting with a 20-9 record after defeating UAB and losing to Louisville in the Conference USA Tournament two weeks ago. The 20 wins this season mark the most victories for a Lady Tiger squad since the 1998-99 squad ended the year with a 22-10 record. That same season, Memphis advanced to the WNIT Final Four and lost to Wisconsin on the road in the semifinals. That was also the first of three straight years that the Lady Tigers competed in the WNIT. The 20 wins this season also gives Coach Joye Lee-McNelis her sixth 20-win campaign, her eight post-season appearance, and her ninth winning season in 13 years at the helm of the program. McNelis, who is 228-155 overall, is only the second Lady Tiger Basketball coach in school history. Lady Tiger Leaders: Junior Victoria Crawford leads Memphis in scoring with an average of 15.4 points per game. Junior Jennifer Sullivan also averages double digits in scoring with 11.5 points per game. One of the most consistent shooters in the league, Sullivan hit 61 percent of her shots in league play, ranking her second in just C-USA games. Another junior, Raven Rogers, leads Memphis in rebounding with an average of 8.2 boards per game. Rogers, who has grabbed 10 or more rebounds in seven of the last 10 games, recorded a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds in the loss to Louisville in the C-USA Tournament. Freshman Devin Necaise is one of Memphis' biggest outside shooting threats, hitting 42 three pointers this season. She has hit the most treys for a Lady Tiger since Kelly Herron hit 47 in 1998-99. The Lady Tigers as a squad average 70.9 ppg., and have limited their foes to 62.9 ppg. They are also 10-3 at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse this season. About Tulsa: Future C-USA member Tulsa enters the WNIT with a 19-11 record after defeating Fresno State and losing to Rice in the WAC Championship last week. The Golden Hurricanes have won five of their last seven games, and were 11-7 in league play this season. They are also 7-5 in road games this year. Memphis and Tulsa only share two common opponents this season. Both squads defeated UAB and both squads suffered losses to Arkansas. Freshman Jillian Roberts leads Tulsa in scoring and rebounding with averages of 13.4 points and 8.8 rebounds a game. She also leads her squad in blocks with 45 and in steals with 82. In the meeting with Rice in the WAC Tournament, Robbins scored 23 points and hauled in 23 rebounds. She was 8-of-28 from the field, and 7-of-15 from the line. Senior Candice Brewer, who is the only player to start all 30 games, also averages double digit scoring with 10.1 points per game. Kara Pongonis and Megan Moody are outside shooting threats, having hit 62 and 45 treys, resectively. The Series: This will be the first meeting between the Lady Tigers and the Golden Hurricanes. Up Next: The winner of Thursday's first round game will face the winner of the Cincinnati-Western Kentucky game which will be played on Friday in Bowling Green, Ky. A game date and time for the second round will not be determined until the conclusion of Friday's game. A Few More Notes: Lady Tigers Have Post-Season Tournament History The Lady Tigers will take a 20-9 record into the first round of the WNIT, and this is a welcome change as Memphis has previously had back-to-back losing seasons. The Lady Tigers are 6-4 all-time in the WNIT, dating back to the 1982-83 season; and 2-7 in the NCAA Tournament, dating back to their first appearance in 1981-82. Memphis' two wins in the NCAA Tournament were against Southern Cal in 1995 and against Ole Miss in 1982. Memphis' best finish in the WNIT was in 1998-99 when they advanced to the Final Four. Memphis hosted the first three rounds and defeated Middle Tennessee, UT-Martin and Arkansas State, but was sent on the road for the Final Four. The Lady Tigers played in front of nearly 2,000 Badger fans and lost to Wisconsin, 92-73, in the semifinals. Wisconsin went on to lose ar Arkansas, 67-63, in the championship game. Current Memphis assistant coach Sytia Messer was named to the WNIT all-tournament team for Arkansas that year. Memphis Could Be Considered Over-Achiever Evident by the 2003-04 preseason C-USA coaches poll, the Lady Tigers were expected to be in the bottom of the pack, and surely not a post-season contender. It's no surprise why so many people are still talking about those Lady Tigers. Memphis was picked to finish ninth in the league, and managed to tie for fifth with Marquette with a 9-5 record. Four of Memphis' five C-USA losses were by three points or fewer. The Lady Tigers also are ranked tied for 13th in NCAA D-I Top Turnarounds. The Lady Tigers finished the 2003-04 season with a 13-15 record, and have now won 20 games, for a +7 turnaround. In C-USA, Houston ranks 3rd with a +12 and South Florida is 13th with a +7 turnaround. Memphis Was a Bubble Team Hoping For NCAA Berth With 20 wins and a 41 RPI (according to the March 13 WBCA/Summerville RPI report), the Lady Tigers were hoping that a trip to the Big Dance was not out of the question. Though a lock for the WNIT, a return to the NCAA Tournament would have snapped a five-year NCAA drought. Also sitting on the bubble with Memphis were Marquette (21-9) and Louisville (20-8), which were No. 34 and No. 36, respectively in RPI. While Memphis is 19-0 against teams ranked from 51 and higher, Marquette is 17-3 and Louisville is 17-3. The biggest decision maker to send Marquette to the Big Dance and UL and Memphis to the WNIT could have been that Marquette was 4-3 against teams ranked No. 26-50, while Memphis was 1-6 and Louisville was 2-3. Swilley Gets Extra Chance To Join 1,000-Point Club Senior Princess Swilley is just eight points away from becoming the second Lady Tiger in two years to join the 1,000-Point Club. Shannon Hamp became the 15th Lady Tiger to join the club last season, and currently ranks 13th with 1,427 total points. As a junior, Swilley scored 275 points while suffering from a shoulder injury that required surgery following the season. Swilley's best scoring year was as a sophomore when she racked up 359 points -- an average of 12.8 points per game. At this point in her career, Swilley has scored in the last 17 straight games, and has scored in double digits in 51 of her career games. Louisville Halts Crawford's Scoring Streak Junior Victoria Crawford scored in double digits in 12 straight games before Louisville snapped that streak in the second round of the Conference USA Tournament. UL held Crawford to eight points. The 12-game streak is the most for a Lady Tiger since Princess Swilley recorded 13 straight games of 10 or more points. Swilley scored double figures in the final 12 games of the 2001-02 season, and then scored 14 points against APSU in the 2002-03 season opener before UL-Lafayette held her to four points. Sullivan Has Started 43 Consecutive Games Junior Jennifer Sullivan has been a mainstay in the Lady Tiger starting lineup, and has started the last 43 staright games. She is the only Lady Tiger to start all 29 games this season. She joined the starting lineup for good midway through the 2002-03 season, logging 14 straight starts at the end of that season. Also as a career note, Sullivan has only been held scoreless in one game in which she did not play at least 10 minutes. Devin Necaise Is Tiger Outside Shooting Threat Freshman Devin Necaise has played a key role in the Lady Tigers' success this season. She has hit a team-high 42 three pointers, and recorded a streak of six straight games with a trey. Her 42 treys is the most for a Lady Tiger since Kelly Herron was 47 of 144 from behind the arc in 1998-99. This is only the seventh time in school history that a Lady Tiger has hit 40-plus three pointers in a season. McNelis Totals Sixth 20-Win Season For the sixth time in her 13-year tenure, Coach Joye Lee-McNelis has recorded a 20-win season. The Lady Tigers finished with 20-plus victories for five straight years (1995-1999) before the 1999-00 squad ended the year with an 18-12 record and a second-round showing in the WNIT. In her 13 years, McNelis also totals eight post-season appearances and nine winning seasons.

03/16/04		Women's Tennis To Host Three This Weekend (GoTigersGo.com)
		MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The University of Memphis women's tennis team (5-7, 1-0 C-USA) will host three non-conference opponents at the HPER Courts at the University of Memphis, beginning Friday. The Lady Tigers will welcome Murray State, the three-time conference champions in the Ohio Valley Conference, Friday, at 2:30 p.m. The Racers are currently 6-3 on the season and 1-0 in the Ohio Valley Conference. The Racers are currently on a four-match win streak, but will play at New Orleans and Louisiana-Lafayette, before venturing to Memphis to face SIU-Carbondale at 9 a.m. Friday, and the Lady Tigers at 2:30 p.m. that afternoon. Memphis is very familiar with Murray State, as the two faced one another in Memphis' fall tournament. Senior Melissa Spencer leads off at the No. 1 singles slot, carrying a 5-4 record. Junior Jaclyn Leeper is 4-4 at No. 2 singles, and the Racers' depth at No. 3 and 4 singles, where Anna Lask and Jennifer Ward play, respectively, consistently contributes points in Murray State's cause. Lask is 5-2 at No. 3 and Ward is 6-2, the best singles mark on the team among the regular line-up. Rachel Lask and Casady Pruitt have split time at No. 5 singles, and Rachel Lask is also 3-0 at No. 6 singles in addition to her 2-1 mark at No. 5. The No. 2 and 3 doubles teams have been highly successful for Murray State so far this season, with a 6-1 mark at No. 2 for the Lask sisters and a 7-1 mark at No. 3 for Pruitt and Ward. On Saturday, it will be the Lady Tigers playing two matches, beginning with a 9 a.m. match against SIU-Carbondale. The Salukis are 5-3 heading into this weekend's matches, and have won their last two times out, including a 4-3 win over Syracuse and a 7-0 win over Youngstown State. Senior Alejandra Blanco leads the SIUC line-up off at No. 1 singles, with a 5-2 mark, while Maria Blanco and Jessica Knitter are each 3-5 at No. 2 and 3 singles, respectively. Tana Trapani, a freshman, is 6-2 at No. 4 singles for the Salukis, while Zoya Honarmand and Zuzana Palovic have split time at No. 5 and 6 singles. Honarmand is 2-3 at No. 5 and 1-0 at No. 6, while Palovic is 2-0 at No. 6 and 4-1 at No. 6. Memphis will wrap up its day against UALR, beginning at 2:30 p.m. The Lady Trojans have been on a tear in 2004, with a 13-2 overall mark, including eight straight victories at one point, including a 7-0 win over Memphis in Little Rock back in February. Senior Ceclia Poveda leads UALR with an 8-5 mark at No. 1 singles, while freshman Jenna Hirdle is now 7-4 at No. 2 singles in her first collegiate year. Sophomore Bindiya Parekh is playing mostly at No. 3 singles, carrying a 7-3 mark, while Ellie Vicary is 6-1 at No. 4 singles in her second year of play. UALR is getting a lot of points from the bottom of the line-up, with Outi Jarvinen carrying a 7-1 record at No. 5, while Rosario Negrete is 9-1 at No. 6. UALR is also strong in the 2 and 3 spots of the doubles lineup, as the No. 2 duo of Parekh and Hirdle at 10-2, while the No. 3 team of Nieto and Vicary are 6-1. The No. 1 team of Poveda and Prokop are 6-5 at No. 1 doubles, while Poveda teamed with Negrete for a 1-0 mark at No. 1 doubles. Memphis is stepping back into match play after a week's break. The Lady Tigers are 5-7 through their first 12 matches, and will have two more big road trips following this weekend before closing out their home schedule, Apr. 12th against Arkansas State. Senior Marlene Dirnstorfer leads Memphis with a 7-3 mark at No .1 singles, and is teaming with fellow senior Viktoria Gruber for a 7-3 mark at No. 1 doubles. Gruber is 2-8 at No. 2 doubles and fellow Austrian Andrea Feichtinger is 3-7 at No. 3 singles after playing at No. 6 last year. Feichtinger is also teaming with freshman Alex Tjioe for a 4-1 mark at No. 2 doubles, and is 0-3 at No. 2 doubles with another freshman Yesica Ares. Memphis-area product Kristin Noble is 4-2 at No. 4 singles, a spot in the line-up she has shared with Ares, who is 1-5 at No. 4. Noble is 0-5 at No. 5, and Tjioe is 0-3 at the No. 5 spot. A pair of freshmen have split time at No. 6 singles this season, with both Tjioe and Christina Wieser posting a 3-2 mark so far this year. Wieser is 4-4 overall for the spring, while Tjioe is 3-5. Following this weekend's trio of matches, the Lady Tigers will travel to North Carolina to participate in three matches, including two in the Wilmington area and one in Hilton Head, South Carolina. Memphis will then get a look at a number of C-USA foes when they travel to Birmingham to face Cincinnati, UAB and DePaul in a pre-conference tune-up. The C-USA Championships will be held Apr. 15-18 at the University of Louisville.

03/16/04		Two Tigers Named Rifle All-Americans (GoTigersGo.com)
		MEMPHIS, TENN. - Sophomore Beth Tidmore placed 16th in air rifle and 14th in smallbore at the 2004 NCAA Individual Rifle Championship hosted by Murray State University. Tidmore shot a 387 in air and an 1144 in smallbore as she was selected to the competition according to the results of a series of qualifying matches prior to the championship event. This year 48 individual competitors and nine teams were selected, representing 14 colleges and universities. The course of fire for Smallbore Rifle shooters includes 40 shots in each of three positions, standing, kneeling, and prone, at a distance of 50 feet. Air rifle contestants fire 40 shots at targets that are 10 meters (approximately 33 feet) distant. Air rifle shooting is done from the standing position. NCAA has sponsored collegiate rifle championships since 1980. The NRA has selected Collegiate All-American shooters annually since 1936. Tidmore and freshman Katie Benjamin were both named to the NRA All-America second team as released by the association this week. This is the highest honor achieved by any Tiger Rifle individual to date. Last season, as a freshman, Tidmore was named an honorable mention selection.

03/16/04		Tigers Fourth After Rounds Of Palmetto Intercollegiate (GoTigersGo.com)
		Aiken, SC - Led by senior David Jeans, who carded a second round score of 69, the University of Memphis Tiger golf team shot a team scores of 292-285 in the first 36-holes of the Palmetto Intercollegiate in Aiken, SC, and are in fourth place entering Tuesday's final round of play. The University of South Carolina leads the team competition with a two round score of 559. Coastal Carolina climbed into second place with a team total of 571. South Carolina-Aiken, the host school, was third with a score of 572, while Memphis was fourth at 577 and Virginia Tech rounded out the top five with a team total of 578. Jeans had an opening round of two under par 70 but closed the day with a three under par 69. His five under par total of 139 has him tied for fourth. His two round score of 139 ties for the ninth lowest 36-hole score in Tiger history. Erik Johansen of South Carolina leads for medalist honors with a score of nine under par 135. Following Jeans among the Tiger team was Allan Thomas, who fired rounds of 73-71 for an even par score of 144. He is tied for 13th. Mike Regenold is tied for 19th after posting a one over par total of 145. Senior Alan Weant enters the final round tied for 35th with a 149 and Clayton Ellis stands at 150. MEMPHIS INDIVIDUAL SCORES T4 David Jeans 70-69--139 T13 Allan Thomas 73-71--144 T18 Mike Regenold 73-72--145 T35 Alan Weant 76-73--149 T42 Clayton Ellis 77-73--150 TEAM SCORES 1. South Carolina 559 2. Coastal Carolina 571 3. South Carolina-Aiken 572 4. Memphis 577 5. Virginia Tech 578 6. Purdue 579 7. Furman 584 8. Maryland 591 9. South Florida 594 10. College of Charleston 598 11. VCU 600 12. Navy 602 13. Florida State 606 14. Presbyterian College 610

03/16/04		Support System -- U of M Stars Need Help In NCAAs (Commercial Appeal)
		By Gary Parrish Contact March 16, 2004 So who else? Antonio Burks is good. Sean Banks is good. But who's going to be that other guy, the third guy, the guy who relieves pressure from the University of Memphis as it tries to make a run in the NCAA Tournament? Rodney Carney? With his reliable jumper and explosiveness around the basket, it's possible. Anthony Rice? With his three-point shooting and defensive prowess, maybe so. Duane Erwin? Arthur Barclay? Ivan Lopez? All three post players could be difference-makers, whether it be by defending, rebounding, elbow-throwing or whatever. But no matter who it is, it has to be somebody. That much is a given. Because though Burks and Banks are capable of carrying the seventh-seeded Tigers (21-7) to a victory over 10th-seeded South Carolina (23-10) at 11:30 Friday morning in Kansas City, a two-star show probably won't be good enough to get much further. "If me and Sean come and play every game, as long as somebody else steps up and plays real good defense or gets about 10 to 12 points, we can always win," Burks said. "But we do need that one other player." As the season unfolded from Cancun in October to Cincinnati in March, this Memphis team progressed right along with the months. There were ups. There were downs. There were more ups than downs. And by about mid-February it became overwhelmingly clear that these Tigers had developed into a group led by two, a senior point guard and freshman forward both capable of taking over games at practically any time. For the most part - i.e. during that 11-game winning streak - that was good enough. Burks would go for 25. Memphis would win. Banks would go for 25. Memphis would win. But on those days when the Tigers were at their best - against Charlotte, against Marquette, against UAB, etc. - it was much more of a team concept, with somebody outside the couple of All-Conference USA First Team performers rising to another level. For instance . . . In the U of - M's 91-69 rout of Charlotte on Jan. 17, Burks and Banks combined for 47 points and 12 assists. That was huge, but Rice adding 10 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals helped a ton. In the U of M's 89-71 victory at Marquette on Feb. 15, Burks and Banks combined for 42 points and 14 assists. That was big, but Erwin adding 13 rebounds, two assists and two blocks brought a new dynamic. In the U of M's 73-66 victory over UAB on Feb. 21, Burks and Banks combined for 40 points and 10 assists. That was gigantic, but Carney adding 15 points, eight rebounds and two assists made the difference. Granted, Burks and Banks were the stars of all those games. They got the highlights on television and the most mentions in this newspaper. But without the performances of first Rice, then Erwin and finally Carney, Memphis would not have been nearly as effective, nearly as solid, nearly as succesful. "Sean and Burks are going to do most of the scoring because we need them to score," Erwin said. "But when everybody is playing together - when Rodney's stepping up on the defensive end, getting rebounds and making big blocks or when I'm getting 13 rebounds - that's like a guaranteed victory." None of this is to imply that the Tigers are suddenly going to transform into a balanced attack during this postseason. After all, Burks and Banks average a combined 34.1 points per game. The rest of the roster averages 34.6. And in 20 of the past 23 outings, one of those two has led Memphis in scoring. There's a reason for that, and it's not changing. But if Carney can get going, or Rice can shut somebody down, or Erwin, Barclay or Lopez can be a presence in the middle, then Memphis's recent fortunes in the NCAA Tournament will change. In other words, the Tigers could advance to the second round for the first time since 1995 and move John Calipari's team one step closer to its goal of becoming a formidable, national program that expects Sweet 16s virtually every season. "Just getting here isn't any good; we did that last year," Rice explained. "This year we're looking to advance and keep going." - Gary Parrish: 529-2365

03/16/04		Tiger Support System (Commercial Appeal)
		ARTHUR BARCLAY 6-8 forward What's he got? Barclay is the energy guy on this roster, the consummate hard worker who sparks the Tigers with an offensive rebound that most on the roster won't get. RODNEY CARNEY 6-7 forward What's he got? Carney is the most capable of exploding for 20 points. When he's driving, pulling up and sinking jumpers, Memphis becomes incredibly hard to deal with. Even more so when he's dunking with force. DUANE ERWIN 6-9 forward What he's got? When the aggressive Erwin who goes after balls shows up, Memphis is good, and that frontcourt suddenly doesn't seem so weak. Trying to get that kind of effort every outing is the coaching staff's endless task. IVAN LOPEZ 6-8 forward What's he got? Lopez has the nasty attitude necessary to be a presence in the middle. If he is aggressive getting balls and guards without fouling, he can be an answer inside. ANTHONY RICE 6-4 guard What's he got? Rice is the player who can most change a game at both ends of the court. He can shut a guard down or be a spot-up shooter. When he sinks jumpers, it opens things for Burks.

03/16/04		Oliver Gets Job With Bengals -- TIGER NOTEBOOK (Commercial Appeal)
		By Gary Parrish Contact March 16, 2004 In the end, the opportunity to return to the National Football League and do so in his hometown was too much to turn away. So Ray 'Rock' Oliver is leaving the University of Memphis to become the Cincinnati Bengals' assistant strength and conditioning coach. "It's tough to leave Cal; I really don't even want to think about that part," Oliver said Monday via cell phone after completing his first day on the job. "But I have a family to consider. And, you know, I'm from here, so it's great." A native of Cincinnati, Oliver will finish the season with the Tigers and join the team in Kansas City on Thursday. He's been the director of performance enhancement on John Calipari's staff for four seasons. Burks practices Memphis point guard Antonio Burks practiced Monday for the first time since last Thursday's loss to Saint Louis. He went at full speed and appeared to be pain free, which is a good sign for the Tigers as they head to Kansas City on Wednesday night in preparation for Friday morning's NCAA Tournament opener against South Carolina. Burks had been bothered by a groin pull and an injured heel. "He didn't look 100 percent," said Memphis guard Anthony Rice. "But it was good to have him back out here practicing with us." Root sighting Just in time for the NCAA Tournament, former Tiger Nathaniel Root showed up at the Finch Center on Monday and worked out with his old teammates. He wore Memphis gear and ran drills, then told Rice he could still outshoot him before leaving. "Coach wanted Root to be a student-assistant, so it's good that he was out here," said Tiger forward Duane Erwin. In one poll, out the other In the final polls before the NCAA Tournament, Memphis was dropped from the coaches' rankings but came in at No. 24 in the Associated Press poll. Memphis was 23rd in the AP poll last week.

03/15/04		Pep Rally Scheduled For Friday In Kansas City -- Tiger Fans Welcome To 9:00 A.M. Pep Rally (GoTigersGo.com)
		Tiger fans traveling to Kansas City to cheer on the Tiger men's basketball team are welcomed to a 9:00 a.m. pep rally, set to take place Friday morning at the Kansas City Marriott-Downtown. Fans traveling to the Kansas City area area also welcome to book rooms at the Marriott-Downtown for a room rate of $133 plus tax. Call Tiger Clubs at (901) 678-2334 to make reservations.

03/15/04		Tigers To Play Blue-Gray Scrimmage At Rhodes College -- Renovation Of Liberty Bowl Will Keep Memphis Out This Spring (GoTigersGo.com)
		The Memphis Tiger football team will play its 2004 Blue-Gray Scrimmage at Rhodes College's Fargason Field on Saturday, April 3, at noon. The move to Rhodes was due to renovation work at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, which will keep the Tigers off Rex Dockery Field until mid-August 2004. "I can't thank Mike Clary (Director of Athletics) and Joe White (head football coach) enough for their help," said Memphis head coach Tommy West. "When we were told that we would not be able to practice at the Liberty Bowl this spring, we started to check out area facilities. That's when our friends at Rhodes stepped forward and allowed us to use their stadium. It is greatly appreciated." The Tigers will continue their practice sessions at Murphy Athletic Complex through April 2, before playing the Blue-Gray Scrimmage. As in the past, the final scrimmage of the spring is open to the public and there is no admission charge.

03/15/04		Long Passes Highlight Saturday's Scrimmage Action (GoTigersGo.com)
		Memphis wide receiver Maurice Avery, who has been playing guard for John Calipari's Memphis Tiger basketball team all winter, returned to the practice field on Saturday and appeared ready to play football as soon as the Tigers finish action in the 2004 NCAA Tournament. The junior receiver, who has been excused from spring practice by head coach Tommy West, decided to spend the morning catching passes with his teammates and showed no ill effects after missing part of spring drills. During pass skeleton drills, Avery hauled in three long scoring bombs from quarterback Danny Wimprine, including a one-handed grab over his shoulder for a touchdown. Head coach Tommy West ended the two-hour workout with a twenty-minute game type scrimmage, which also produced several long plays. Wimprine connected with fullback Robert Douglas for 75 yards on the opening play of scrimmage action and moments later, he tossed a touchdown pass to senior Darron White. Later, senior quarterback Bobby Robison connected with receiver Tavarious Davis for 75-yards and another score. The squad will take Sunday and Monday off before returning to practice on Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 PM.

03/15/04		WNIT Tickets Go On Sale Tuesday (GoTigersGo.com)
		MEMPHIS, TENN. - Tickets will go on sale Tuesday beginning at 8 a.m. for the first round of the Women's National Invitational Tournament which will be hosted by The University of Memphis. The Lady Tiger Basketball team will host future C-USA member Tulsa in the first round of the WNIT to be played on Thursday, March 18, at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. The winner will advance to the second round to face the winner of the Cincinnati and Western Kentucky match-up which will be played on March 19 at in Bowling Green, Ky. The site of the second round will be determined at a later date. Ticket prices are as follows: Reserved seating/Chairbacks - $7.00; General Admission - $5.00; and Students/Youths/Senior Citizens - $4.00. U of M students will also have to pay the $4.00 charge, even with a student ID. Current season ticket holders will have until Wednesday at noon to purchase their seat for the game. After that point, the tickets will be available to the general public. Memphis enters the WNIT with a 20-9 record, snapping a two-year losing streak, and marking coach Joye Lee-McNelis' sixth 20-win season in her 13-year tenure. The Lady Tigers are pleased to host the first round considering that they are 10-3 at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse this season. All three losses were to NCAA Tournament participants (Vanderbilt, TCU and Houston). Conference USA has produced an all-time high of 17 postseason basketball teams (6 NCAA Men, 4 NCAA Women, 2 NIT, 5 WNIT). Only the Big East with 19 (6 NCAA Men, 8 NCAA women, 4 NIT and 1 WNIT) and the Big 12 with 18 (4 NCAA Men, 7 NCAA Women, 5 NIT and 2 WNIT) have produced more postseason basketball teams this March. Tulsa has posted a 19-11 overall record this season and registered a third-place WAC finish with an 11-7 mark. The Golden Hurricane advanced to the WAC Tournament semifinals before falling to tournament runner-up Rice. This will be the first meeting ever between Tulsa and Memphis.

03/15/04		FROM MY SEAT -- DANCE TICKETS (Memphis Flyer)
		FRANK MURTAUGH This week’s challenge: spin something positive out of the Memphis Tigers’ dreadful showing at last week’s Conference USA tournament in Cincinnati. Well . . . if you’re going to play a clunker in March, better to do so in your conference tourney than the NCAAs. (How’s that?) The University of Memphis aims to win its first NCAA tournament game since 1995 this Friday. John Calipari’s squad limps into the Big Dance with precisely the seeding they deserve (7), having lost three of their last four, and with a losing record (6-7) on the road this season. It takes six wins to become national champion, so here are six keys for the Tigers as they head to Kansas City and a showdown with South Carolina. Hit the long ball. Memphis was 9-3 when they made at least 10 three-pointers this season. This is easy math. Ten made threes is an incremental leap of 10 points over the same number of conventional field goals. Most NCAA tournament Ägames are decided by fewer than 10 points. The Tigers have to capitalize on this strength, as their lack of size and bench strength will be targets for the opposition. Antonio Burks has to be a factor. The U of M’s senior point guard played his worst game of the season against Saint Louis last Thursday (2 for 11 from the field). Odds are he won’t have two duds in a row. Not since the days of Elliot Perry has a point guard’s role been more critical for the Memphis Tigers. Burks must distribute the ball to hot hands, he must slow the offensive pace of his playmaking counterpart, and yes, he must score. Win the rebounding battle. Ho-hum. This is a “key” for all 65 teams in the field. But for Memphis, it’s especially critical. Had the Tigers not given up 20(!) offensive rebounds to Cincinnati in their regular-season finale March 6th, they’d be outright champions of C-USA and more than likely a higher seed than the seventh they received. The burden i Ás on Duane Erwin, Ivan Lopez, and Arthur Barclay to provide the hard-hat work inside, particularly on the defensive side of the court. With Burks pushing the offense, the Tigers will have their share of runs. They simply can’t allow second-chance points to negate the offensive production. Don’t Bank on Sean for round one. The Tigers’ freshman star will be in the media spotlight from the opening tip. Don’t expect him to live up to the hype. Carmelo Anthony and the 1991-92 Michigan Wolverines aside, few freshmen do during their first exposure to March Madness. The opening round is a time for those Memphis players returning to the tournament -- Burks, Erwin, Anthony Rice, Rodney Carney -- to carry some extra weight for the rookies. Survive the opener . . . then strap yourself tightly to the gitter-free freshman stud. Start fast. For good or ill, the 2003-04 Tigers are a team that thrives on momentum . . . and they are not very good at swinging i “t. In two losses this season (Southern Miss in January, Saint Louis last week), the Tigers found themselves way behind before 10 minutes had been played. And despite outscoring each of those opponents over the last 30 minutes, they left the floor losers. When the Tigers have started fast -- even when a big lead is reduced -- they’ve shown themselves to be solid finishers. A new star to be born. Barclay? Erwin? Lopez? It seems one of the blue-collar big men Calipari has utilized will have to turn things up a notch for Memphis to reach the tournament’s second weekend. He may not need to score all that much, but some offensive presence (read: drawing fouls inside) would be invaluable for this team’s much-heralded perimeter shooting. A couple of wins in the Big Dance would allow Tiger Nation to forget last week’s debacle in Cincinnati. One and done? It’ll be a loooooong offseason for John Calipari.

03/15/04		NCAA-Bound -- No. 7 Seed Tigers To Face South Carolina (Commercial Appeal)
		By Gary Parrish Contact March 15, 2004 The University of Memphis is in the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year, opening Friday at 11:30 a.m. in Kansas City against South Carolina. "We're happy," said junior forward Arthur Barclay. "Now we just have to go take care of business." At about 5 Sunday afternoon the Tigers (21-7) gathered at coach John Calipari's house, turned on the television and watched with little emotion as the bracket unfolded. Then came their seven seed in the East Rutherford Regional. Then came South Carolina's 10. And just like that, we were set for a rematch of the 2002 NIT championship game, in which Memphis beat the Gamecocks, 72-62, behind a career-high 25-point effort from Earl Barron. Unfortunately for Memphis, the 7-footer has no eligibility remaining, meaning the Tigers will have to improve on their 17-5 all-time record against South Carolina (23-10) without him. If Memphis wins, it will likely meet second-seeded Oklahoma State (27-3) in the second round Sunday. As a whole, Conference USA received six bids. So did the the Southeastern Conference, among them Mississippi State, seeded second in the Atlanta Regional, and Vanderbilt, which is sixth in the Phoenix Regional. MSU (25-3) opens in Orlando, Fla., on Friday with 15th-seeded Monmouth (21-11), while Vanderbilt (21-9) also opens in Orlando on Friday against Western Michigan (26-4). - Gary Parrish: 529-2365

03/15/04		Tigers To Face S.C. In Kansas City (Commercial Appeal)
		By Gary Parrish Contact March 15, 2004 When the announcement came and the matchup was set, you could just see the thought drifting from John Calipari's head like one of those bubbles in a comic strip. Boy, it sure would be nice to have Earl Barron again. The University of Memphis is a seven-seed in the NCAA Tournament for the second-straight year, opening against 10th-seeded South Carolina at 11:30 a.m. on Friday in Kansas City, Mo. For the historians out there - even the ones who haven't been that way for long - it's a rematch of the 2002 NIT Championship in which the Tigers defeated USC, 72-62, at New York's Madison Square Garden behind a 25-point effort from Barron, who has since graduated and begun a professional career in Turkey. Asked jokingly if he had Barron's phone number and if he'd consider using it, Calipari smiled. "Yeah, I know," the coach answered. "They're hoping he's not on the team." In terms of momentum, neither Memphis (21-7) nor South Carolina (23-10) will enter this first-round game in the East Rutherford Regional on much of a positive. The Tigers have dropped three of four, including a 72-61 loss to Saint Louis in the quarterfinals of last week's Conference USA Tournament. Meanwhile, the Gamecocks have dropped eight of 13, among them losses to Ole Miss, Arkansas and Tennessee. And, oh yeah, both have key players out for the season with injuries - Jeremy Hunt for Memphis and Rolando Howell for USC - meaning neither school is playing at the level it was a few weeks back nor does it have the same personnel. "But now we're going to have that sense of urgency," said Memphis freshman Sean Banks. "We know that if we lose then the season will be over." If Memphis wins its first-round game, it would likely have the daunting task of dealing with Big 12-power Oklahoma State (27-3). But on Sunday, the Tigers seemed much too smart to look that far ahead, recognizing that that is exactly what got them into trouble last week in Cincinnati. Already juiced for a C-USA semifinal against one of its rivals, Memphis looked past Saint Louis, which it had already handled during the regular season at The Pyramid. Then Saint Louis eased past Memphis, dominating from opening tip to final horn while extending the Tigers' streak of no league tournament championships to 17 years. It was a poor performance, unlike any other the U of M had this season. Afterward, the Tigers seemed shocked . . . and actually still do to some degree. "We were looking forward to Cincinnati and Louisville and taking Saint Louis for granted," confirmed Memphis point guard Antonio Burks, who got only six points in that contest after being named C-USA's Player of the Year just one day prior. "They just shocked us." So you're not looking to Oklahoma State? "Nah," Burks answered. "Not now. Just South Carolina." Even prior to that 2002 NIT game that capped Dajuan Wagner's college career, Memphis and South Carolina have a significant amount of history dating to the days when the two were foes in the old Metro Conference. The Tigers hold a 17-5 edge all-time, including a 5-0 mark on neutral courts. Furthermore, Memphis has won seven straight in the series, five of which were by double-digits, and the first meeting came in the 1961-62 season. "We know South Carolina is going to play us hard, so we've just got to be prepared," said forward Arthur Barclay, a 6-8 junior who has started down the stretch for Memphis. "This is do-or-die, it's kill-or-be-killed. And we're not trying to be killed. We're trying to kill." - Gary Parrish: 529-2365

03/15/04		TIGERS A TOUGH TICKET (Commercial Appeal)
		The subregional games Friday and Sunday in Kansas City, Mo., are sold out. The University of Memphis will receive 550 tickets for the sessions. Of those, 200 will be held by the university, and the other 350 will be reserved for use by the Tiger Clubs. Platinum Tigers will be given from 8 to 10 a.m. Monday to call 678-2334 and place their order. Scholarship level Tiger Club members will have from 10 a.m. to noon, and Super Tiger level members are allowed to call from noon to 2 p.m. Other Tiger Club members can call after 2 p.m. to see if any tickets remain. There is a limit of two tickets per order.

03/15/04		Tigers Facing Long Odds, Tough Foes On NCAA Path (Commercial Appeal)
		By Zack McMillin Contact March 15, 2004 The road to the San Antonio's AlamoDome is clear for the University of Memphis basketball team. That doesn't mean it's an easy route. Making it to the program's third Final Four would take an unprecedented run. As the No. 7 seed in the East Rutherford region, the Tigers not only face a difficult first-round opponent in South Carolina and a potential beast in the second round in Oklahoma State, but there is the matter of the seed. In this case, seven is not a lucky number. Since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, no seven seed has ever made it to the Final Four. In those 18 tournaments, 72 No. 7 seeds have combined to make the Sweet 16 only 12 times, and only four have ever made the Final Eight. In summary, the historical odds of Memphis making a run to the Sweet 16 is 16.7 percent, to the Final Eight is 5.5 percent and to the Final Four is zero. Ah, but that's why they play the games, isn't it? The Tigers did not draw a region near as difficult as last season - when the top four seeds were Arizona, Kansas, Duke and Illinois - but its side of the East Rutherford draw is unforgiving. South Carolina is a team good enough to have won 19-of-21 games during one stretch, and the Gamecocks looked as if they'd rediscovered something in the SEC Tournament. Then there's Oklahoma State with its veteran coach, Eddie Sutton. The Cowboys, champs of the Big 12, sport a 29-3 record and have a splendid starting group that features John Lucas, Tony Allen and Ivan McFarlin. It was Sutton and Bryant 'Big Country' Reeves who upset Calipari and UMass in the 1995 East Regional Finals. Upset the Cowboys and the Tigers would likely face either Wisconsin, which just won the Big 10 tournament, or Pittsburgh, a swaggering physical team that could expose Memphis's obvious weakness, its frontline. While watching the NCAA Tournament Selection Show, Calipari made it obvious he would have preferred No. 8 seed Charlotte's spot in the East Rutherford bracket to his own, at No. 7. That's because if the 49ers can get past first-round opponent Texas Tech, they would face top-seed St. Joseph's. Though the Hawks are 27-1, they still have plenty of doubters because of their weak schedule and a recent blowout loss to Xavier in the Atlantic 10 Tournament. Plus, the other top seeds on that side, Florida and Wake Forest, each have a 10 and nine losses, respectively. The immediate goal for the Tigers, of course, is to just win one NCAA Tournament game, something they did not do last year as a seven seed and something the program hasn't accomplished since 1995. Final Four dreams all begin with that first victory. "In this tournament, with this field," said Calipari, "you start advancing and you're gonna look around and say, 'We're as good as anybody left.' "And that's not just us, there's 40 teams that can say that." - Zack McMillin: 529-2564

03/15/04		U of M-USC: A LOPSIDED SERIES (Commercial Appeal)
		Tigers own a 17-5 overall record against former Metro Conference "rival" South Carolina. Average score of those 17 wins is 78-64. Tigers are 5-0 in games on a neutral court. Average margin of victory in those games is 18 points. Tigers have won the last eight games in the series. BIG GAMES 1973 Midwest RegionalSemifinal in Houston Tigers 90, Gamecocks 76 Playing against a South Carolina team with five future NBA players, including Alex English and Mike Dunleavy, the Tigers cruised to a win over USC and legendary coach Frank McGuire. Larry Kenon scored 34 points and pulled down 20 rebounds for the Tigers, who also got 25 points from Larry Finch. Memphis would go on to lose to UCLA in the national championship game. 2002 NIT Finalsin New York Tigers 72, Gamecocks 62 John Calipari put it best: "It was pretty simple. Earl Barron went crazy, absolutely crazy." After a pregame pep talk from then Philadelphia 76ers coach Larry Brown, Barron scored a career-high 25 points to lead the Tigers, who also got 16 points from Dajuan Wagner, to an NIT crown.

03/15/04		Tiger Foe Happy To End 6-Year Drought -- Gamecocks Began Season With A Bang (Commercial Appeal)
		By Zack McMillin Contact March 15, 2004 Even though his basketball players tried to play cool about South Carolina's first NCAA Tournament bid in six seasons, Gamecocks coach Dave Odom confessed that his team reacted like it was Christmas morning. The present? A No. 10 seed in the East Rutherford Regional and a first-round matchup with seventh-seeded Memphis Friday in Kansas City, Mo. "They were more than a little enthusiastic," said Odom. "A couple of them even missed who we were paired with. I said, 'Memphis,' and they said, 'Oh, my goodness, they are a good team.' " Odom and some of his Gamecocks remember the Tigers well, or at least the Tigers of 2001-02, a.k.a. the Dajuan Wagner Era. The Tigers defeated USC in the 2002 NIT Championship game, but U of M senior point guard Antonio Burks and junior shooting guard Anthony Rice are the only two current players who played significant roles on that team. USC (23-10) is also a completely different squad. Led by junior forward Carlos Powell (12.4 points, 6.3 rebounds per game), the Gamecocks have eight players averaging 13 or more minutes a game. But they no longer have the services of versatile forward Rolando Howell, who broke his wrist on Feb. 28 in a loss to Georgia. That came during the Gamecocks' late-season swoon. After beginning the year 19-2, the Gamecocks lost seven of their final nine regular-season games to land on the NCAA Tournament bubble. But a strong SEC Tournament, where the Gamecocks beat Arkansas and LSU before losing to Kentucky in the semifinals, helped clinch the bid. "We were fighting more of a why-us mentality," Odom said. "Once we got that handled, you saw things begin to change." The challenge for U of M coach John Calipari will be to convince his players to pay more attention to the USC team that started strong than the one that faded fast and looks vulnerable on paper. In 16 regular-season SEC games: USC was outrebounded by 2.5 rebounds per game; USC had more turnovers (221) than assists (220); No, Calipari will need focus on the USC team that averaged 5.4 blocked shots and forced opponents into 17 turnovers per game. He'll need to draw their attention to a backcourt tandem of Josh Gonner and Mike Boynton that combined to hit 132 three-pointers. He'll certainly talk about a USC defense that held opponents below 40-percent shooting for the season. And although the Gamecock players have no NCAA Tournament experience, Calipari knows Odom and his staff have plenty. "It can help a lot if they are willing to listen, and this team is," Odom said of his experience coaching Wake Forest in the NCAAs. Near the end of his Sunday night conference call with the media, Odom asked if anyone remembered the name of the Memphis player who scored 19 first-half points against the Gamecocks in the 2002 NIT final. "Please tell me he's not eligible," Odom said. Told it was Earl Barron and that he recently returned from playing professionally in Turkey, Odom said: "With my luck, he'll be eligible. I had to face Lawrence Roberts, and he came from Waco, Texas." - Zack McMillin: 529-2564

03/15/04		They're In; All That's Left Now Is A Win (Commercial Appeal)
		By Geoff Calkins Contact March 15, 2004 Two commercial breaks in, the matchup appeared on John Calipari's big-screen TV. Memphis vs. South Carolina. Friday. In Kansas City. Through the miracle of modern newspaper technology, we will try to re-create the tumult, the passion, the explosion of excitement it triggered in the Calipari living room. W h a t e v e r. You have heard of the Big Dance? We give you the Big Yawn. "It is what it is," said Calipari. "It is what it is," said Arthur Barclay. "It is what it is," said Antonio Burks. It's unanimous, then. But you know what it is, don't you? Progress. Really. This year's seven seed is better than last year's seven seed because it's another one, because it's expected, because it didn't cause anyone to rush the coffee table. A year ago, Chez Calipari was brimming with boosters, all out to celebrate the team's triumphant return to the NCAA Tournament after seven years away. This year, there was just the team and the media. Oh, and Kevin Kane. Naturally. Five minutes before the Selection Show began, Jeremy Hunt and Sean Banks were using the big screen to play a college basketball video game. Hunt led, 32-15. "I was about to make my run," Banks said. "He was lucky we had to turn it off." So the team assembled in front of the tube. There was only one small glitch. "Anyone know how to get that TV on?" Calipari said. Someone did. Twenty minutes later, the Tigers knew their fate. Nobody said much of anything. There was neither a whoo nor a hoo. Calipari stood up and walked to another room. Someone asked Banks how it felt. "It feels OK, you know, I guess," Banks said. Get ahold of yourself, man! But this collective ennui really is a sign that Calipari is delivering on his promise, that the program is edging toward the place where Memphis fans insist it should be. The Tigers are in the tournament? Well, of course. "When I was recruited, I pretty much thought it was a sure thing," Banks said. "Now we need to win." Ahhh, to win. That would be the next step. The Tigers haven't won an NCAA Tournament game since 1995. South Carolina could be the elixir. The Gamecocks have lost eight of their last 13 games. They have lost at Arkansas, Tennessee and Ole Miss. Beyond all that, while the Memphis players were ho-humming their way through Selection Sunday, the South Carolina players were, well, here's their coach. "They wanted to act like they were very much under control from an emotions standpoint," said South Carolina coach Dave Odom. "But I can tell you from watching them, they were very, very excited." None of this means South Carolina can't win, of course. The Tigers were upset by Arizona State last year. They were upset by Saint Louis last week. Yee-haw can absolutely beat ho-hum. But if the Tigers do lose, it won't be because they're satisfied with what they've accomplished or because they've worn themselves out exchanging high fives. "It is what it is," said Calipari, again. Which could mean, just a start. Contact columnist Geoff Calkins at 529-2364

03/15/04		Lady Tigers Make NIT Field (Commercial Appeal)
		By Phil Stukenborg Contact March 15, 2004 Shortly before the start of Sunday's NCAA women's basketball selection show, University of Memphis coach Joye Lee-McNelis huddled the Lady Tigers together for a pre-show speech. She wanted to prepare her players for their likely omission from the 64-team tournament and to motivate them to seize an opportunity to Dance next year. "I told them if we didn't get in (the NCAA field), it had to be their passion to get us there next year," Lee-McNelis said. "And I told them they had to start preparing immediately. I told them this team can get in a NCAA Tournament." After a two-year absence, the Lady Tigers returned to the postseason Sunday, but not as a NCAA Tournament invitee. The Lady Tigers (20-9) earned a spot in the 32-team Women's National Invitation Tournament. The Lady Tigers will host Tulsa, a future Conference USA member, Thursday at 7 at the Elma Roane Field House. The Golden Hurricane (19-11) are led by freshman Jillian Robbins, who averaged 13.4 points. Lee-McNelis said she told her team, which assembled for a low-key gathering Sunday at Lee-McNelis's house, that it was satisfying to continue the team's first 20-win season since 1998-99. The Lady Tigers, coming off back-to-back losing seasons, haven't been to the postseason since dropping a first-round WNIT game at Alabama in 2001. They likely could have made the NCAA field had they not dropped consecutive home games to Houston and TCU in early January. Memphis lost by three to each of the nationally ranked programs, both of whom made the NCAA field. "But we're still fortunate," Lee-McNelis said. "We are one of the teams that gets to keep playing. I told our team there will only be two groups playing in the sweet 16, only two groups in the elite eight and only two playing in the final four. I told them there will only be two teams in the entire country happy when the season ends." Despite their inability to make a convincing run in the C-USA Tournament, the Lady Tigers felt as if they - and Louisville - deserved to be the fifth and six teams from C-USA in the NCAA field. Louisville, like Memphis, finished 20-9 and, like Memphis, is in the WNIT. Other C-USA teams in the WNIT are Cincinnati, Charlotte and South Florida. "I think we should have been in and I can't believe Louisville didn't get in," Lee-McNelis said. "Louisville was 20-9 with an RPI of 38 and teams like Missouri, Maryland and UCLA got in. Missouri had an RPI of 45 and was 8-10 in its league. Maryland got in at 17-12 and went 5-7 in its last 12 games. UCLA had a 49 RPI and had four losses to teams ranked between 51 and 100." She said although North Carolina State finished strong - it won eight of its last 12 - it had an RPI of 50 and went 2-9 against teams ranked in the top 50. Memphis, which won nine of its last 12, had an RPI of 41 and did not lose to an opponent with an RPI lower than 42. But among the Lady Tigers' drawbacks was their 1-9 record vs. top 50 foes. "Everybody has said this is the strongest our league has been, so I think it's ridiculous that we don't get but four teams in," Lee-McNelis said. "It was quite disappointing that the committee didn't look harder at a league that had three teams (Houston, TCU and DePaul) in the top 25 all year. - Phil Stukenborg: 529-2543

03/15/04		2004 Women's Outdoor Track & Field Preview -- Young Lady Tigers Look To Build On Last Year's Outdoor Success (GoTigersGo.com)
		The University of Memphis Women's track team opens its season this weekend at the Alabama Relays in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The Lady Tigers enter the 2004 Outdoor Track campaign looking to build on last year's success which saw the Lady Tigers send their first ever competitor to the NCAA Championships and place sixth overall as a team in C-USA. The Lady Tigers are very young this year with 22 of 29 roster members being underclassmen. Memphis has only two seniors on the 2004 roster. Sprints With the loss of NCAA Qualifier Keenan Gibson, the Lady Tigers are looking for a candidate to compete with the top sprinters in C-USA. Junior Chanel Dunn may be that aspirant. In 2003, Dunn qualified for the 100m dash finals at the C-USA Outdoor Championships, but did not compete in the finals due to an injury. She finished in the C-USA top 10 rankings in both the 100m and 200m dashes in 2003. Dunn qualified for the NCAA Regionals in the 100m. She has gotten stronger heading into her junior season and looks to fill the shoes of Gibson and establish herself as the Lady Tigers top sprinter in 2004. Sophomores Josetta Brooks and Sue-Ann Bowen are both capable sprinters. As true freshman, they improved with every meet and are better conditioned entering their sophomore years. Brooks, a strong, powerful runner, is a hurdle specialist. She placed seventh at the 2003 C-USA Outdoor Championships in the 100m hurdles. She also competes in the 100m. Bowen is a tall long strider that specializes in the 400m. She ranked in the top 10 of C-USA in the 400m in 2003. Junior Sheena Ohlig is a veteran sprinter for the Lady Tigers. A multi-talented athlete, she has competed in several events for the Lady Tigers. Ohlig placed sixth in the 100m hurdles at the C-USA Championships. Her experience and versatility as sprinter and hurdler is a valuable asset for the Lady Tigers. The young Lady Tigers have strength in numbers in the sprints. Sophomores Tabitha Russell and Zsofia Nagy and freshmen Ashley Harris, LaShunda Flake, Alicia Marner and Franicia Barnett will all compete for the Lady Tigers. Coach Cash hopes that multiple sprinters in this young group will surface this spring as sound runners. Distance The Lady Tigers had four distance runners on the roster last spring for the outdoor season and two of those runners were true freshmen. Memphis failed to score a point in an event over 400m at the 2003 C-USA Championships, but Coach Cash and Coach Jonas Holdeman believe they have solved this problem by signing nine new distance runners within the last year. With 12 distance runners on the roster for 2004, including a stable of 10 able sophomores and freshmen, the Lady Tigers future in distance events appears bright. Leading the way is former standout Memphis soccer player senior Ali Baker. Baker, known for her endurance as a soccer player, joined the Memphis cross country program last fall and became the Lady Tigers top runner. She could be a top ten competitor in the conference in the 800m and 1500m. Freshmen Kara Cassel, Becca McMahon, Mary Claire Dake, Michel Wilson and Daniele Riendeau separated themselves from the group in cross country this fall and finished as the Lady Tigers top scorers. Track is a different type of running, but the confidence is there that their progression will carry over to the track. As true freshmen, these runners have ability, and are lacking only experience before they begin competing with the top runners in C-USA. Junior Nora Nemere has trained well and hopes to give the Lady Tigers a boost on the long distance events. She competed in the 5000m at the C-USA Championships in 2003 and looks to climb into the top 10 in 2004. Adding depth to the squad sophomores Heather Woolls, Karin Brooks and Shermekia Plez along with Freshmen Brittany Pieraccini, Sarah Janecek and Kimberly McVeigh. Jumps The Lady Tigers strength in 2004 will be in the jumping events. Three-Time C-USA Triple Jump Champion, Lisa-Marie Hyman returns for her senior year. Hyman won her third triple jump crown in 2003, set school records in both the indoor and outdoor triple jump and her personal best 12.67m was good enough to qualify her for NCAA Regionals. Hyman may have to be her best as a senior in order to defend her triple jump titles. Besides competition from other jumpers around the conference, Hyman's teammate, freshman Cassandra Harding may be tough to fend off in the triple jump. Harding was a highly touted prep star in Texas and one of the top athletes to ever sign with the Memphis women's track program. Her top marks in high school rivaled Hyman's mark that won the conference. Two-sport star Victoria Crawford will join the Lady Tigers for the outdoor season. A member of the Lady Tiger basketball team, her natural jumping ability is evident in the field events where she excels. Crawford ranked in the top-five in C-USA in the triple jump and long jump in 2003 and also competed in the high jump and shot put. Sophomore Lindsay Cade is a high jump specialist. A tall slender jumper, Cade has an opportunity to surpass her best marks as a freshman and climb up the rankings in C-USA. Freshman Shelly Alexin joins the team this spring. A successful prep jumper, Alexin is versatile and will compete in the long jump, high jump and triple jump and competed in the pentathlon in high school. Sophomores Josetta Brooks and Tabitha Russell have both competed in the long jump at Memphis, as did Junior Sheena Ohlig. It's probable each will see action in jumping events this spring.

03/14/04		Lady Tigers Get Post-Season Bid To WNIT -- Memphis To Host Tulsa On Thursday At 7 P.M. (GoTigersGo.com)
		MEMPHIS, TENN. - March 14, 2004 - The Women's National Invitation Tournament will kick off the 2004 postseason action for women's basketball with a 32-team field, highlighted by Memphis, Louisville, Rice, Iowa State and Richmond. The field features five teams from Conference-USA, including Louisville, Cincinnati, Memphis, Charlotte and South Florida. A total of 14 conferences have teams in the WNIT. First-round games will be played beginning Wednesday, March 17 through Friday, March 19. All tournament games are played at participating schools. No seeds are designated. The following are the tournament pairings, teams and their records. Game times will be announced Monday, March 15, by the WNIT and host schools. For more information, visit the Web site at www.womensnit.com First-round games Pepperdine (17-12) at Washington (17-12), March 19 Creighton (19-9) at Colorado State (17-11), March 19 Drake (16-14) at Nebraska (17-11), March 18 Gonzaga (18-11) at Oregon State (15-14), March 19 Western Michigan (17-12) at Louisville (20-9), March 18 UNC Charlotte (16-13) at Clemson (17-10), March 17 South Florida (14-14) at Richmond (20-9), March 18 Florida State (14-14) at South Alabama (22-6), March 17 Idaho State (20-8) at Iowa State (15-14), March 17 Miami (Ohio) at Xavier (17-12), March 17 George Mason (18-10) at Seton Hall (14-14), March 18 Kent (19-9) at St. Joseph's (20-10), March 19 Cincinnati (15-15) at Western Kentucky (18-13), March 19 Tulsa (19-11) at Memphis (20-9), March 18 Rice (21-9) at Arkansas State (19-9), March 18 Arizona State (17-11) at UNLV (22-7), March 18

03/14/04		Head Coach John Calipari NCAA Tournament Quotes (GoTigersGo.com)
		(On the No. 7 seed) "When thinking about this year's field, a No. 7 seed isn't as important this year as it was last year. From seed No. 5 through No. 12, there's probably not a five-point difference between any of the teams. If you're a top-three seed, your second game is not going to be easy." (On Conference USA teams in the tournament) "I'm happy for the conference that we got six teams in. I think going to a one-division format really helped make that happen. I'm disappointed that we didn't get more respect in the seeding as a conference. We were the 25th team in the tournament as the first seven seed. After losing to Saint Louis, you can understand that. You lose that game and that's what happens." (On South Carolina) "They (South Carolina) are a good team that's obviously won a lot of games. They play in the SEC and they have a good coach. (South Carolina head coach) Dave (Odom) has done a great job with the program. He has revitalized that program and has got it going again. It should be an interesting match-up." (On Memphis entering the NCAA Tournament) "I think they (the players) are still in a little shock about what happened in Cincinnati (C-USA Tournament). We're still trying to get them to figure it out and to be truthful about what happened. You can't just say, 'I played awful' and know it. Everyone knows it. You have to say, 'Why did it happen? What happened between (the final regular season game at) Cincinnati and the conference tournament? Where was the fire? Where was the energy?" "We're worried about playing winning basketball. We want to get back that edge we had and play winning basketball. That may not be good enough against South Carolina. We need to be the best we can be, and that's the most important thing." (On Memphis playing to the level of its competition) "This team this year has done that. Sometimes playing at the other team's level is not good enough. Sometimes the other team is really good. The other team may be more physical, and maybe their inside post presence is stronger than us and that will affect us. I'll say it again. I like my team, and I like our chances. If we can get our winning edge back in practices over the next few days, we'll going to be a tough team to play. That's what we're looking to do as a team and a staff." (On the experience of last year's NCAA Tournament) "We all know we let one slip away last year (losing to Arizona State 84-71). We are up one at halftime, and we should have been up seven or eight points. We let them stay in the game, and they come out in the second half and shoot their brains out and we lose. We want to advance this year because we want every team here to say we expect to advance every year in the tournament. Right now it's about advancing. In this tournament everyone who advances is going to start looking around and saying 'We're as good as anyone left.' It's a wide-open field this year."

03/14/04		NCAA Bracket Has Tigers Playing In Kansas City -- Memphis Will Face South Carolina In Opening Round (GoTigersGo.com)
		The University of Memphis will receive 550 tickets, priced at $50 per session, for the East Rutherford Bracket of the NCAA Regional to be held in Kansas City, Missouri. The University will hold 200 tickets for Friday's Memphis-South Carolina game. These tickets are reserved for UM students, which include team, band, pom-pon squad and their sponsors, and for the U of M administration and athletic department officials. An additional 350 tickets will be reserved for use by the UM Tiger Clubs. The Platinum Tigers will be limited to two tickets each and will be given from 8 AM to 10 AM Monday to call and place their ticket orders. The Scholarship level Tiger Club members will have from 10 AM until 12 noon to place their ticket orders for two tickets and the Super Tiger level can call-in from noon to 2 PM. All other Tiger Club levels can place their telephone orders for two tickets each after 2 PM, if any tickets remain available. Telephone orders will be taken in the Tiger Clubs office, 678-2334, beginning Monday morning. The final deadline for ordering tickets will be noon Tuesday. Mastercard, Visa and Discover cards will be accepted. According to officials at the Big-12 office in Kansas City, the event in Kansas City is sold out.

03/14/04		Will 'RPI Guy' Be Kind? -- Tigers' Seeding Up In Air (Commercial Appeal)
		By Zack McMillin Contact March 14, 2004 When John Calipari talks about that mythical "RPI Guy," the University of Memphis basketball coach is not being complimentary. His tongue somewhat in cheek, Calipari is being derisive of a process he perceives to lean too heavily on a computer formula. The RPI (Rating Percent-age Index), which the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee will use to help determine the 65-team bracket it unveils today, uses math learned in elementary school. It combines a team's overall winning percentage (A), the winning percentage of its opponents (B), and the winning percentage of the opponents' opponents (C), to determine the final RPI. (A) is worth 25 percent, (B) 50 percent, and (C) 25 percent. This is how the most noted bracket expert, Jerry Palm, explains it on his Web site, collegerpi.com: "The RPI is a measure of strength of schedule and how a team does against that schedule. It does not consider things like margin of victory or where a game is played, only whether or not a team won. It is used by the NCAA as one of their factors in deciding which teams to invite to the NCAA tournament and where to seed them." We bring all this up because Selection Sunday is here, and the Tigers once again find themselves in something of an RPI quandary. Though ranked in the Top 25 of both the coaches' and writers' polls, the Tigers' loss to Saint Louis in the quarterfinals of the Conference USA Tournament knocked them to 31 in the RPI. Combine the RPI with the excellent 21-7 record, and the Tigers know they will make the tournament. Where they are seeded is another matter. Based solely on the RPI, the Tigers would merit a No. 8 seed in one of the NCAA's four regions, meaning a first-round matchup in the dreaded No. 8-No. 9 game, traditionally the most difficult of the tournament's first-round games. Where will the Tigers actually land? Who will they be playing? What other teams might stand in their Final Four path? That all depends on how the Committee evaluates the Tigers. Based on the committee's published criteria and past history, here are answers to frequently asked questions about how the 2004 bracket might be configured. So what does that "RPI guy" have against Calipari, anyway? It is true that in Calipari's four seasons at Memphis, that "RPI guy" hasn't been kind to the coach and his Tigers. In his first season, the Tigers were 0-12 against Top 100 opponents. In year two, with Dajuan Wagner and Kelly Wise on the roster, the Tigers went 0-5 against Top 50 opponents, and that year-ending RPI of 69 was one of the primary reasons for an NCAA Tournament snub. Then came last year, when the Tigers went 23-6 and finished the year by winning their final 12 regular-season games. The mediocre strength of schedule gave the Tigers a final RPI of 26. Though some "bracket olo gists" were predicting a seed as high as No. 4 or 5, the Tigers were slapped with a No. 7 seed in the West Region, where they lost in the opening round to Arizona State. It was not always thus. Back in the 1990s, when Calipari coached at UMass, the RPI was his friend. Despite playing in a conference perennially dominated by two teams, the Minutemen finished with a Top 5 RPI ranking in each of Calipari's final three seasons at the school. UMass earned seeds of No. 3 or higher five straight seasons. How important is the RPI, anyway? Actually, the RPI's significance is overblown by fans and media because it is so easily deciphered. "It is certainly an important tool for us, but I wouldn't say the most important," said Bob Bowlsby, the Iowa athletic director and this year's chair of the selection committee. "We take into account a lot of different data: nonconference records, nonconference opponents, road record, how teams did in their last 10 games, their record against the Top 50 (RPI ranked teams), against the Top 100, whether they have any real good wins or any real bad losses." How do the Tigers look in those other sets of data? It's a mixed bag. The six road wins and 7-3 record in the last 10 games are good. The 4-5 record against Top 50 opponents is respectable, though the 1-4 record against Top 25 (RPI) opponents reinforces the sense that the Tigers deserve no better than a No. 7 seed. Any way the Tigers get worse than eight or nine? Actually, yes. And that has to do with another factor - key injuries. The loss to Saint Louis was troubling for many reasons, and not just because the Billikens exposed the Tiger interior while solving the Burks-Banks conundrum. It meant the third loss in the last four games, and an argument can be made that the Tigers are finally feeling the effects of sophomore guard Jeremy Hunt's season-ending knee injury. "If a team has an injury to a player that causes him to miss the rest of the season, we are going to assess that team without that player in the lineup," Bowlsby said. The committee could decide that the 3-3 record without Hunt indicates Memphis, as it is currently configured, is more like a 10 seed. A close look at those games, however, reveals that without Hunt, the Tigers beat UAB, routed TCU and played valiantly in tight road losses to Louisville and Cincinnati. But the Saint Louis loss could loom large. Assuming the committee doesn't give the Tigers the shaft, what are some likely first- and second-round matchups for teams seeded Nos. 7-9? Using bracket projections by Palm and by ESPN, first-round opponents could include LSU, South Carolina, Vanderbilt, Southern Illinois, Notre Dame, Texas Tech, BYU, Alabama, Utah State, Michigan State, Dayton, Arizona, Seton Hall, Maryland and Nevada. As for the second round, this is probably the year in which there's not much difference facing a No. 1 or a No. 2 seed. The top eight teams are a jumble. If the Tigers pull a No. 8 or No. 9 seed, the likely No. 1 seeds are four from among this group of six - Stanford, Duke, Mississippi State, Kentucky, St. Joseph's, Pittsburgh. The two also-rans among that group are Gonzaga and Oklahoma State, who would project to play the winner of the No. 7 vs. No. 10 game. Any idea where the Tigers will play? That's anybody's guess, and it's why the pain from the tough loss to Cincinnati in the regular-season finale lingers. Had Memphis won that game and made a run at the C-USA Tournament title (they would've faced TCU in the first game, not stingy SLU), a No. 5 seed was possible. And the committee has made it clear that it tries to "protect" the top five seeds in each region against facing a home-crowd disadvantage. As a No. 7-9 seed, the Tigers won't have first dibs on geographical considerations. Which means the Tigers might have to travel far from Memphis and face the possibility of playing Duke in Raleigh, Kentucky or Pittsburgh in Columbus, Ohio, or Gonzaga in Seattle. Any of those would feel like road games. - Zack McMillin: 529-2564

03/14/04		Wingin' It On The Tourney (Commercial Appeal)
		By Geoff Calkins Contact March 14, 2004 It's Selection Sunday, that magical time when we learn that the Memphis Tigers are being sent to some glamorous basketball location such as Buffalo. Being an expert on Buffalo - if not the NCAA Tournament - I now open the floor for questions. In Buffalo, do they call them Buffalo Wings? No, they call them wings, silly. I mean, do the Chinese call it Chinese food? Of course not. They just call it food. But California rolls are California rolls in California. True, but that's California. In Greece, it was just My Big Fat Wedding. Any more technical basketball questions? I am 8 years old. My name is Virginia. Some of my little friends say there is no RPI guy. Papa says, "If you see it in the CA, it's so." Please tell me the truth, is there an RPI guy? Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except what they see. Yes, Virginia, there is an RPI guy. Alas! How dreary would be the world if there were no RPI guy. It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. Nobody sees the RPI guy, but that is no sign there is no RPI guy. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's not proof they're not there. Geoff, I do believe you've gone 'round the bend. It's the March madness. So, do you see Memphis as an eight seed? Probably. But anything from seven through nine is possible. If you think they're going to be higher that that, I've got an offshore account in the name of Kevin Grothe I'd like to refer you to. What's up with that, anyway? Why would Grothe risk his career and the credibility of the university by allegedly diverting tens of thousands of dollars to himself? He wanted to buy the naming rights to his own office? No, really. His house needed chairbacks? C'mon, really. Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? But it's a devastating blow for the university and athletic director R.C. Johnson. Grothe was Johnson's right-hand man, the lead fund-raiser for the athletic department. How in the world can the school now ask the city and county for any help in moving to FedExForum? They can't take care of the money they already have. Or at least that's the inevitable perception. Have you received any interesting E-mails on this issue? No, but I did get one the other day that asked, simply, "Could you name some of the top seventh-graders in Memphis?" Could you? There's Danny, Chrissie, Robert, Darlene, Jalen, Melissa . . . OK, basketball E-mails. Any interesting basketball E-mails? There was one from a woman named Ruth that said, "OK, enough of this panty-waist basketball stuff, where's the Iditarod news?" And? I see Lassie as a three seed. So, can the Tigers win a tournament game? Certainly. And the season will be a smashing success if they do. Every year John Calipari has made the Tigers a little bit better. First, they made the NIT. Then, they won the NIT. Next, they made the NCAA Tournament. This year, they'll win a game. You're guaranteeing that? No. But I guarantee they have a better shot than Ole Miss, Arkansas or Tennessee. Besides Buffalo, where would you, personally, like to go? To Seattle. Where - you guessed it - it's just Sleepless. Contact columnist Geoff Calkins at 529-2364 or send an e-mail. You can hear his radio show, "SportsTime with George Lapides and Geoff Calkins," from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Monday through Friday on WHBQ-AM (560).

03/14/04		Tigers Get Down, Dirty At Practice -- 'Old-School' Session Prior To NCAAs Has Cal Pleased (Commercial Appeal)
		By Gary Parrish Contact March 14, 2004 Who knows if the University of Memphis got that "edge" back during Saturday's workout? But one guy left with a busted face. Another guy tackled a teammate. And the pushing and shoving around the basket was so present that every loose ball produced a scramble reminiscent of a good Mike Tyson press conference. So yes, John Calipari was pleased. "That was old-school," the fourth-year Tiger coach said as he exited the Finch Center. "Everybody out there got better." How rough was the 2 1/2-hour workout? Simplice Njoya unintentionally struck Duane Erwin in the face, leaving the junior forward dizzy and sidelined for the last 45 minutes. Maurice Avery intentionally ankle-tackled Ivan Lopez while chasing a long rebound in what could only be described as a flashback to football season. Elbows were swung. Insults were yelled. Challenges were made. Meaning though the Tigers will relax and learn their NCAA Tournament seed and destination this afternoon, they may be a bit sore, but no doubt better for the experience. "I'm a little disappointed that we didn't do this earlier, but my fear was that if we practiced like this and had an injury then they could use it keep us out of the NCAA Tournament," Calipari said. "So my whole thing was that we had to stay healthy. But now, if we don't get that edge back we can't win anyway. And even if we get injured, well, we weren't winning anyway without that edge. So this was very good." As for where the Tigers will land today, that's still any body's guess, though a seven seed - just like last year - seems most likely. Regardless, seeds and first-round sites weren't a point of emphasis Saturday but instead just a backdrop to the top priority of making sure Memphis doesn't again perform like it did in that loss to Saint Louis. "We have a chance to redeem ourselves," is the way sophomore Rodney Carney put it. "So hopefully we're going to get together and do that." - Gary Parrish: 529-2365

03/14/04		Lady Tigers Await Call (Commercial Appeal)
		The University of Memphis women's basketball team should get the news late tonight regarding where and when they'll be playing this week in the Women's National Invitation Tournament. The postseason appearance will be the first for the Lady Tigers (20-9) since 2001, when they lost a WNIT first-round game at Alabama. They reached the WNIT final four in 1999. The U of M had a legitimate shot at the program's first NCAA Tournament berth since 1998 before a loss to fellow bubble team Louisville last Friday in the Conference USA Tournament quarterfinals. Though their RPI ranking is a respectable 44, the Lady Tigers have only one win over a Top 50 team and went 0-6 against the five C-USA teams (Houston, TCU, DePaul, Marquette and Louisville) projected to make the NCAA field. Since WNIT early-round matchups are usually heavily influenced by geography, the Lady Tigers should be matched up against a nearby foe. Possibilities include Arkansas State, Lipscomb and Tennessee Tech. - The Commercial Appeal

03/14/04		West's Tigers Enjoying Relaxed Atmosphere (Commercial Appeal)
		By Daniel Ford, Special to The Commercial Appeal March 14, 2004 There is something different about Tiger football's spring practice this year. It's not easy to see right away, but it becomes more apparent after you see assistant coach Clay Helton doing push-ups on the sideline because his receivers didn't drop a ball during a quick hands drill. The difference is they're having fun. "Everybody is a lot more relaxed out here," said safety Scott Vogel. "Everybody is working just as hard as they were before, but nobody is really pressing. They're just having more fun playing football." Before last season's 9-4 finish, which included a bowl victory, fun and football didn't always go hand-in-hand when talking about the Tigers. Last year's success might have relieved some pressure and made the mood at practice a little more light-hearted, but quarterback Danny Wimprine said not to mistake the jovial attitude for complacency. "The bottom line is that we are out here having fun," Wimprine said. "Everybody's glad to be back. We're proud of what we did last year, but we're not satisfied in the least bit." Wimprine wasn't too concerned about his team becoming content with last season's success, because he said there is still plenty to correct. "I'm not really worried about guys getting too cocky because we could've done better last year and everybody knows that," said Wimprine. "A few games I gave away myself with turnovers and things like that, so I think we can still do much better than we did." Wimprine threw 22 touchdowns and led Conference USA with 3,174 passing yards last year, but the senior quarterback also threw 13 interceptions. Memphis coach Tommy West has noticed a change in attitude as well. "I think our players are enjoying (spring practice) right now, it's been fun," said West. "I think the words would be more mature - we're a little bit more mature. We know when it's time to play and have fun, but we also know when it's time to turn it on." Wide receiver Maurice Avery suited up for the first time this spring. Avery had missed the first couple of practices to be with the men's basketball team. He led the team last year in receiving with 742 yards and eight touchdowns. On Saturday, Avery wasted no time in returning to his old form. During a five-wide passing drill he ran a 50-yard route to the end zone, looked over his left shoulder and made a one-handed catch in stride. "I got my buddy back today." Wimprine said. "Mo's a great player and he's going to do a good job for us again this year." The limited spring practices give West a chance to get back to the basics with some of the younger players. "It's great because you can spend more time on the fundamentals with them," said West. After losing six defensive starters from last season, the fourth-year coach said it is still too soon to tell which of the younger players will fill their shoes. "It's just early," he said. "It's only been a couple of days. I want to see how they look after about four or five days."

03/14/04		Missouri Halts Memphis Win Streak (Commercial Appeal)
		By From Our Press Services March 14, 2004 The University of Memphis baseball team split its two games at the Easton/USA Challenge at USA Stadium Saturday. The Tigers (10-3) opened the day with an easy 15-3 win over Wake Forest, but saw their seven-game winning streak end when Missouri scored all its runs in the eighth inning to eke out a 3-2 victory. The results mean Missouri (14-3-1) will finish first in the event and the Tigers will place second. Josh Payne, Kyle Scott and Brent Dlugach had the big bats for the Tigers against the Demon Deacons. Payne was 3-for-5, including a grand slam, and scored three runs. Scott scored twice and drove in two, while Dlugach had three RBI to back the pitching of starter Derek Hankins (2-1). In the late game, Missouri's Adam Garrett hit a sacrifice fly to deliver the game-winning RBI. Tiger reliever Bill Edwards (0-2) took the loss. In other games Saturday, Western Illinois defeated Tennessee-Martin, 10-7, despite two hits apiece from Skyhawks Bryant Jones and and Adam Salter, and Indiana State beat Western Illinois, 13-9. Memphis returns to action Wednesday with a game at AutoZone Park against Ole Miss.

03/13/04		Men's Tennis Falls 5-1 At No. 6 Rice (GoTigersGo.com)
		HOUSTON, Texas - The University of Memphis men's tennis team fell to No. 6 Rice, 5-1, on the second day of the Rice Invitational, Saturday. Memphis' Sam Withell picked up a three-set win at No. 5 singles to give Memphis its only point of the match. Memphis will play No. 59 Virginia Tech, Sunday, at 9 a.m. before returning home for a 13-day break from competition. #6 Rice 5, #75 Memphis 1 Doubles Not Played Singles 1) #65 William Barker (RU) def. Lee Walker (UM), 6-4, 6-3 2) Richard Barker (RU) def. James Spence (UM), 6-3, 6-2 3) Tony Haerle (RU) def. Alex Bucewicz (UM), 6-1, 7-5 4) Vuk Rajevac (RU) def. Marten Tamla (UM), 6-3, 6-4 5) Sam Withell (UM) def. Ben Harknett (RU), 6-3, 4-6, 7-5

03/13/04		Memphis Baseball Splits Doubleheader At Easton/USA Challenge -- Tigers Blast Wake Forest, Fall To Missouri (GoTigersGo.com)
		The University of Memphis baseball team split a doubleheader Saturday in its final round action of the Easton/USA Challenge blasting Wake Forest 15-3 in the first game before dropping a 3-2 decision to Missouri in the nightcap. The Tigers (10-3) had their seven-game winning streak snapped in game two as centerfielder Josh Payne drove in six runs and had four hits in the two contests. Game One vs. Wake Forest Payne went 3-for-3 with a grand slam as the Tigers cruised to a 15-3 victory over Wake Forest in eight innings Saturday in game one of their split doubleheader. The Tiger offense posted season highs in both hits (17) and runs (15). Shortstop Brent Dlugach also homered and went 3-for-5 at the plate with three RBIs and third baseman Kyle Scott added a trio of hits and a pair of RBIs. Wake Forest (8-7) grabbed a short-lived 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first when shortstop Ben Ingold hit a three-run shot after Memphis starter Derek Hankins (2-1) allowed a leadoff walk to Nick Blue and a single to Matt Antonelli. Hankins regrouped after yielding the 3-0 lead to strikeout the side in the first. Hankins allowed just two hits over the next six innings to pick up his second win of the season as he finished with four strikeouts. Wake starter Kyle Young (2-1) dropped his first decision of the season surrendering eight earned runs on eight hits in four innings of work. The Tigers erased the Deamon Deacons' three-run lead with a trio of their own runs in the second as they went on to score 15 unanswered runs in the contest. Michael Lewis drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly and Dlugach added the next two with his first home run of the season driving in Scott, who had singled. After a scoreless third inning by both teams, Memphis pushed its lead to 8-3 in the fourth following an RBI-single by Chad House and Payne's second grand slam of his career. Payne launched the ball just inside the leftfield foul pole to increase his team-leading RBI total to 16. The Tigers tacked on two more runs in the sixth with a trio of two-out hits. Kurt Welch and Adam Amar each had RBI singles scoring Jordan Hart and Payne, respectively. Memphis added five more runs on five hits in the eighth to take a commanding 15-3 lead. Amar had his second RBI-single of the contest and Scott added a two-run double before Dlugach capped off the scoring with a run-scoring single. Game Two vs. Missouri Payne had a single and two sacrifice flies in game two, but a three-run rally in the eighth inning cost the Tigers a win as Missouri secured the victory. Memphis manufactured a run in the bottom of the first to take a 1-0 lead. House singled, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Hart, took third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly by Payne. A pair of Gostkowski walks did not harm the Tiger starter as he got out of the jam unscathed in the second after inducing an inning-ending double play. The sophomore did not allow a hit until the fourth inning when James Boone lined a two-out single to center. Hart led off the fourth for Memphis with a triple to the rightfield gap and came across to score when Payne lofted his second sacrifice fly of the game to center. Gostkowski worked five-plus innings allowing just one hit before giving way to Zach Cook in the top of the sixth. Cook entered the contest after Gostkowski's fifth walk of the contest and forced Lee Laskowski to ground into a double play and got Boone to ground out to short to end the frame. Entering the eighth inning, Boone had Missouri's only two hits, but the MU Tiger bats got going as they took a 3-2 lead on a trio of hits and a sacrifice fly. Cody Ehlers and Laskowski drove in the first two runs with singles and pinchhitter Adam Garrett came through with a sacrifice fly to leftfield. Missouri starter Erik Dessau (3-1) gave way to the bullpen in the top of the eighth after allowing just two runs on six hits and striking out three Tigers. Taylor Parker pitched two scoreless innings to pick up his second save of the season. Bill Edwards (0-2) took the loss for Memphis after allowing a pair of runs on three hits in a third of an inning. The Tigers return to action with their first official home game when they will host Ole Miss at AutoZone Park on St. Patrick's Day, Wednesday.

03/13/04		Men's Soccer Battles Hard In 4-0 Loss To Dallas Burn Of The MLS (GoTigersGo.com)
		DALLAS, Texas-- - The University of Memphis held the Dallas Burn offense scoreless through a the first half of action, but the Dallas offense exploded for four second half goals to power the Burn to a 4-0 shutout of the Tigers in spring soccer action at the University of Texas at Dallas Saturday morning. "We defended very well in the first half," said head coach Richie Grant. "We got a tremendous team effort and it was a positive experience for our team. We are encouraged about what we got out of the game." Memphis put together a trio of scoring chances throughout the contest, with the best chance coming in the second half when Andy Metcalf outraced a Dallas defender to a ball played forward by Graham Gibbs. However, Metcalf then mishit the shot. Notable Tiger performers along with Metcalf were Daniel Dobson, Cormac McArdle and Gibbs. "Daniel Dobson was an outstanding performer for us today," said Grant. "He anchored the defense, was composed on the ball, excellent in the air and tough in the tackle. He proved that he can play at the professional level." "Cormac (McArdle) was good at left fullback. It was tough for them to defend him coming forward." Grant concluded. The Tigers continue spring workouts and competition when they face the Memphis Express of the PDL on Sat., March 20. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. at Echles Field.

03/13/04		Finding Lost Edge Goal For U of M -- Calipari Promises Team Will Sweat (Commercial Appeal)
		By Gary Parrish Contact March 13, 2004 CINCINNATI - John Calipari had spent the past few weeks preaching the importance of rest, insisting that at this time of the season it's best to give guys days off to ensure they remain fresh for an NCAA Tournament run. For a while, it worked. But after Thursday's loss to Saint Louis that bounced the University of Memphis from the Conference USA Tournament earlier than anybody expected, the fourth-year Tiger coach switched stances and promised to take a new approach. ''We need to practice and have everybody practice. . . . There's no more of guys staying out of practices,'' Calipari said. ''If we have to go two-a-days, we'll go two-a-days, but we've got to start practicing, and the main reason is because we had no edge (against Saint Louis). ''It's hard when guys aren't practicing,'' he added. ''You try to save it, and you lose it. And so we need to get back to practicing because we have time.'' Even if the Tigers (21-7) are put in a position to play on Thursday, the first day of the NCAA Tournament, they will have six days between games, leaving plenty of opportunity to get sweaty in the Finch Center. The first chance comes today, when Memphis conducts a long workout guaranteed to be, well, interesting. Among the areas of emphasis, presumably, will be getting back that edge Calipari talked about, the one that produced an 11-game winning streak this season and launched the Tigers into the national rankings. Other things to work on? Rebounding. Help-side defense. Creating off the dribble. The list of things Memphis must improve before it enters the NCAA Tournament is now longer than it should be. But the key will be getting Antonio Burks back to a high level after what was his worst performance of the season despite dishing 10 assists in the tournament quarterfinals. Just a day removed from being dubbed C-USA's Player of the Year, Burks was handled by the Billikens' Josh Fisher, and made no 3-pointers when attempting at least four for the first time this season. That would've been manageable had Burks abandoned his jumper and instead focused on getting into the lane for layups. But the Booker T. Washington graduate, for whatever reason, wasn't his usual aggressive self, made evident by how he only got to the free-throw line twice. Consequently, Memphis struggled, trailed throughout and was exposed down the stretch. ''Burks was not in attack-mode,'' Memphis forward Duane Erwin said. ''If you've seen him play all year, you know he was more passive (against Saint Louis) than he was on the attack. And I think that really hurt us because we need him to score as well as run the team.'' Which is a team that is now just 3-3 since Jeremy Hunt went down with a season-ending torn anterior cruciate ligament and badly in need of some fixing with Selection Sunday just a day away. ''Hopefully we'll work through this and get it back together in time for the tournament,'' sophomore wing Rodney Carney said. ''We're just going to practice and practice and try to get better.'' - Gary Parrish: 529-2365

03/13/04		Tiger Notes - baseball, football (Commercial Appeal)
		By From Our Press Services March 13, 2004 Tiger Ace Tames Western Illinois The University of Memphis baseball team extended its winning streak to six games, downing Western Illinois, 6-2, in the Easton/USA Challenge at USA Stadium in Millington Friday. After a shaky first inning Jarrett Grube (4-0) retired 12 consecutive Leathernecks before allowing a single to Jim Sanew in the fifth. He finished with nine strikeouts in winning his eight game in a row, dating back to last season. In other games Friday, Missouri improved its record to 13-3-1 with a pair of wins, 7-6 over Indiana State and 5-4 over Wake Forest in 12 innings. Today, the Tigers (9-2) are scheduled to face Wake Forest at 3 p.m. then take on Missouri at 6 p.m. Tigers don pads: The University of Memphis football team worked out in pads for the first time Friday. Standout running back DeAgelo Williams ran the ball well and showed no effects of last season's knee injury that kept him out of the New Orleans Bowl.

03/13/04		Audit Suggests Grothe Took Cash -- U of M Official Resigned Feb. 27 (Commercial Appeal)
		By Gary Parrish Contact March 13, 2004 The preliminary results of an internal audit conducted by the University of Memphis indicate that associate athletic director Kevin Grothe took at least $75,000 donated by boosters for his personal use. Documents obtained Friday by The Commercial Appeal revealed insight into Grothe's abrupt resignation Feb. 27 after eight years at the U of M. Grothe most recently acted as lead athletic fund-raiser. Memphis officials have consistently declined comment, citing an FBI investigation. However, school president Dr. Shirley Raines and athletic director R.C. Johnson released a statement Friday in response to the audit's findings. "The University has, and will, fully cooperate with the federal officials investigating this matter," the statement read. "At this point, it appears that this issue was isolated to one employee. The University will work with law enforcement to insure that any individuals involved are brought to justice." A letter obtained by The Commercial Appeal, written by Marla I. Stuart, director of internal audit, to Dr. Robert Adams, vice chancellor for business and finance of the Tennessee Board of Regents, detailed the school's initial findings. In the letter, dated March 4, Stuart wrote, "(Grothe) was responsible for managing donor relationships and also was the main point of contact for certain contractors who provided outside marketing services to the athletic department. Based on what (Grothe) has said and what the documents seem to indicate, it appears that on at least two occasions (Grothe) approached a donor directly, requesting them to forward money to one of these marketing contractors on behalf of the university. At this time it is not known exactly what transpired, but it now appears that these monies were somehow taken by (Grothe) for his personal use." Additionally, the letter reveals that the FBI began the investigation and brought it to the university. Sources have told The Commercial Appeal that some donors had been questioned as early as last June, eight months before Grothe's resignation. When the information was shared with Memphis officials, Grothe resigned. The university has asked former Shelby County mayor Bill Morris to oversee athletic department fund-raising until Grothe is replaced. - Gary Parrish: 529-2365

03/12/04		Memphis Extends Winning Streak To Six Games With 6-2 Defeat Of Western Illinois (GoTigersGo.com)
		Millington, Tenn. - The University of Memphis baseball team ran its winning streak to six games with a 6-2 win over Western Illinois Friday at the Easton/USA Challenge at USA Stadium. It is the first six-game winning streak for the Tigers since Dave Anderson opened his tenure as head coach by winning the first six games of the 2001 season. Righthander Jarrett Grube improved to 4-0 on the season after allowing two earned runs in seven innings of work. Seniors Kurt Welch and Kyle Scott each had a pair of RBIs to pace the offense. The Leathernecks grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Clint Buchen scored on a slow grounder to third that Kyle Scott could not field cleanly. Buch