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December 2004

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12/31/04		Early drought sinks Lady Tigers -- Nebraska 82, Memphis 50 (Commercial Appeal)
		LINCOLN, Neb. -- The University of Memphis women's basketball team was outrebounded 55-25 and shot just 19.2 percent in the first half Thursday in an 82-50 loss at Nebraska Thursday. Memphis (7-5) falls to 1-4 when playing away from the Elma Roane Fieldhouse with three more road games left to play on a four-game road stretch. Memphis led early in the game, 5-3, but Nebraska (8-4) went on a 24-2 run that stretched the lead to 34-12 with 2:06 in the half. Nebraska's zone and some poor shot selection as Memphis proceeded to settle for outside shots dug a hole the Lady Tigers could never escape. Senior Victoria Crawford had nine of Memphis's first half 14 points, but the remainder of the team was 2-for-22 from the field in the opening half. "The frustrating thing about it was the discipline and the want-to just wasn't there," Lady Tiger head coach Blair Savage said. "Getting outrebounded like that is want to, it's a mentality." The second half featured another big Nebraska run as the Cornhuskers stretched the lead to as many as 41 before Jennifer Sullivan and Gresh Gorman tried to get the Lady Tigers going. Sullivan scored four points and Gorman forced a pair of steals and made four points of her own, but the duo got no help from their teammates. "Nebraska got every loose ball, every second chance rebound, they were on the floor and coming up with plays and we didn't match it," Savage said.

12/31/04		'Everybody is pleased' in Tigerland -- Tigers 87, Bucs 56 (Commercial Appeal)
		By Gary Parrish Contact December 31, 2004 They created shots, and made them. They spotted rebounds, and grabbed them. They played well. They won big. Now isn't that more like what everybody's been expecting from the Tigers? "I'm really proud of these guys," John Calipari said following the University of Memphis men's basketball team's 87-56 victory over East Tennessee State. "That was a terrific effort." In a season that has featured few pleasant moments, Thursday night offered plenty. It was the first time in about a month that the Tigers (7-6) looked like the talented team people labeled them in early November, and they snapped a two-game losing streak to send the announced crowd of 8,800 home from FedExForum with a sense of satisfaction. There were four reasons for the dominance. Shooting: The Tigers made 53.4 percent of their field-goal attempts, including an 11-of-21 effort from 3-point range. Dishing: Memphis had 20 assists, the most since its season-opening route of Savannah State, and just 15 turnovers. That performance broke a streak of eight games in which the UofM had failed to accumulate more assists than turnovers. Rebounding: The Tigers got 47 boards, 20 more than ETSU (4-7) and six more than their season average. Defending: Memphis held the Bucs to 34.9 percent shooting, and ETSU only managed six fast break points. Throw it all together, and that's most of the necessary ingredients for a blowout. By no coincidence, a blowout is exactly what the Tigers produced in giving Calipari his 100th career victory at Memphis in a span of four-plus years. "This was the best we've played as a team all season," Anthony Rice said. "I think everybody is pleased." A 6-4 guard, Rice led the Tigers with a career-high 20 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two blocks in his finest outing this year. Fifteen of those points came on 3-pointers thanks to the Atlanta native making 5-of-9 shots from behind the arc. Sophomore forward Sean Banks added 19 points, 12 rebounds and six assists in his third game post suspension, and freshman point guard Darius Washington put his recent struggles aside to get 17 points, seven rebounds and six assists. "It's a lot more fun to win," said Washington, who sank all four 3-pointers he attempted and committed three turnovers. "Our team chemistry was there." Tim Smith, ETSU's ultra-quick point guard, led the Bucs with 18 points and three steals, but he made just 7-of-19 shots. Former White Station High standout Travis Strong had six points and four assists. "(Memphis) just busted out," said East Tennessee State coach Murry Bartow, son of legendary Tiger coach Gene Bartow. "John is a good coach, and he has very good players and you knew at some point they would bust out." Calipari wasn't about to proclaim all that is bad is in the past. Not yet, at least, especially with a game at 15th-ranked Texas teed up for next Thursday. "It's not over," Calipari said. "Now it's about trying to get better each week so that by the end of the year we are playing as well as we can play. "But, everybody could see tonight that this team is coming together." -- Gary Parrish: 529-2365

12/30/04		Nebraska Runs By Lady Tigers -- Memphis falls to 1-4 away from the Elma Roane Fieldhouse (GoTigersGo.com)
		Memphis (7-5) was outrebounded 55-25 and shot just 19.2 percent in the first half in a 82-50 loss at Nebraska (8-4), Friday. With the loss, Memphis falls to 1-4 when playing away from the Elma Roane Fieldhouse with three more road games left to play on a four-game road stretch. Memphis led early in the game 5-3, but Nebraska went on a 24-2 run that stretched the lead to 22 at 34-12 with 2:06 in the half. Nebraska's zone and some poor shot selection as Memphis proceeded to settle for outside shots dug a hole the Lady Tigers could never get out of. Senior Victoria Crawford had nine of Memphis' first half 14 points, but the remainder of the team 2-for-22 from the field in the opening half as Memphis shot just 19.2 percent in the first half. "The frustrating thing about it was the discipline and the want-to just wasn't there," Lady Tiger head coach Blair Savage said. "Getting outrebounded like that is want to, it's a mentality. Not playing defense, not rebounding, that's just want-to." The second half featured another big Nebraska run as the Cornhuskers stretched the lead to as many as 41 before Jennifer Sullivan and Gresh Gorman tried to get the Lady Tigers going. Sullivan scored four points and Gorman forced a pair of steals and sunk four points of her own while trying to get Memphis going, but the duo got no help from their teammates in the spurt. "Nebraska got every loose ball, every second chance rebound, they were on the floor and coming up with plays and we didn't match it," Savage said. "For a while Jennifer Sullivan did and Gresh did, but unfortunately, nobody joined either of their intensity." Memphis will continue its four-game road swing at Ole Miss, Jan. 3rd. That will be the Lady Tigers' last non-conference game of the regular season.

12/30/04		Tigers Claw Up E. Tennessee State, 87-56 -- Anthony Rice scores career-high 20 points (GoTigersGo.com)
		MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -Sean Banks scored 19 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, and Anthony Rice added a career-high 20 points as Memphis snapped a two-game losing streak with an 87-56 victory over East Tennessee State on Thursday night. Memphis (7-6) built the lead in the first half and continued to push the advantage after the break, as coach John Calipari won his 100th game at Memphis. The rout turned the tide for the Tigers, who entered the game after a pair of losses at home. Compared to previous defeats to Providence and Louisiana Tech, Memphis shot better, eventually building the lead to as many as 33. The Tigers held a lead of at least 20 points, except for one possession, during the final 16 minutes. Darius Washington added 17 for Memphis, and, along with Banks, had six assists. Tim Smith led the Buccaneers (4-7) with 18 points, while Andrew Reed scored 10. East Tennessee State suffered from poor shooting, hitting only 35 percent for the game. Smith and fellow guard Travis Strong were a combined 9-of-31 for the night, including 3-of-15 from 3-point range. Memphis connected on 53 percent of its shots from the field and was 11-of-21 from long range. Memphis used 14 points from Washington in the first half to take a 39-25 lead at the break. The point guard hit all five of his shots from the field, including three from outside the arc. Memphis led by as many as 18 in the half, thanks primarily to a 10-0 run midway through the period as East Tennessee State went six minutes without scoring. The Buccaneers failed to cut the Tiger advantage under double digits in the final nine minutes of the half. By the time Memphis opened the second half with an 18-6 run, building the advantage to 57-31, the Tigers were ready to coast home.

12/30/04		Memphis Basketball Postgame Quotes (GoTigersGo.com)
		Memphis Head Coach John Calipari "I think that tonight everyone could see that this team is coming together and working on the things that we are trying to get better in. We had 20 assists tonight. We created shots for each other. We made the game easy for each other. We swarmed defensively. We made open shots because we created for each other." "They (ETSU) were a small team. When you have a 6-9 and a 6-7 guy going against a 6-4 and a 6-2 guy, you better rebound the ball. I thought we did a much better job of rebounding tonight." "We have to go now and get incrementally better. We went and lost way too much stuff, and it hurt this team. I think we had to hit rock bottom. But it's not over. Now, it's trying to get better each week, so that by the end of the year -- like the other teams here -- we are playing as well as we can play." "We didn't fold tonight. They got it together. We went with the high-energy guys, and they just got it together and made plays." East Tennessee Head Coach Murry Bartow "This was a frustrating game. We knew coming in that it was going to be a tough game, and that we were going to be out-manned, but Memphis was struggling some. They just busted out. Number one, John (Calipari) is a good coach and he has very good players, and you knew at some point they would bust out. They had not been scoring the ball very easily and tonight they made 11 threes, and we went 5-of-23 from behind the arch." "When (Ben) Rhoda went down tonight, it feels like when it rains it pours. That makes it very difficult right now. A lot of tonight, we were playing with four guards on the floor, trying to guard a Memphis team that may have two or three guys play in the NBA. We have to try to get healthy, but more than anything, we just have to play better." "When you don't have an inside game, which we really don't, you shoot a lot of perimeter shots. When you shoot a lot of perimeter shots, if those shots are going in, you look like a pretty good team. But if they aren't, you don't look like a very good basketball team, or even a very well coached team."

12/30/04		Memphis Basketball Boxscore -- Memphis 87, East Tennessee State 56 (GoTigersGo.com)
		Official Basketball Box Score -- GAME TOTALS -- FINAL STATISTICS East Tennessee State vs MEMPHIS 12/30/04 7:00 pm at Memphis, Tenn. (FedExForum) --------------------------------------------------- VISITORS: East Tennessee State 4-7 TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS ## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN 35 REED, Andrew........ f 5-8 0-0 0-0 3 4 7 4 10 1 4 0 3 27 02 OATMAN, Sam......... g 3-5 1-3 0-0 1 2 3 2 7 5 0 0 2 28 04 RHODA, Ben.......... g 1-2 0-1 0-0 0 2 2 0 2 0 0 0 1 11 05 SMITH, Tim.......... g 7-19 2-7 2-4 1 1 2 2 18 2 2 0 3 38 25 STRONG, Travis...... g 2-12 1-8 1-2 0 2 2 3 6 4 2 0 0 33 01 SNEED, Dillion...... 1-3 0-0 2-2 1 2 3 3 4 0 0 1 0 14 03 SCOTT, Aaron........ 0-1 0-0 0-0 1 1 2 3 0 1 3 1 0 10 20 ANTHONY, James...... 2-9 1-3 2-2 2 1 3 2 7 2 3 0 1 29 45 SURMACZ, Greg....... 1-4 0-1 0-0 0 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 1 10 TEAM................ 1 1 2 Totals.............. 22-63 5-23 7-10 10 17 27 20 56 15 14 2 11 200 TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 10-29 34.5% 2nd Half: 12-34 35.3% Game: 34.9% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 2-11 18.2% 2nd Half: 3-12 25.0% Game: 21.7% REBS F Throw % 1st Half: 3-6 50.0% 2nd Half: 4-4 100 % Game: 70.0% 4,2 ----------------------------------------------- HOME TEAM: MEMPHIS 7-6 TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS ## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN 11 Erwin, Duane........ f 0-3 0-0 3-4 3 3 6 3 3 2 1 0 0 19 32 Banks, Sean......... f 5-7 2-2 7-9 2 10 12 1 19 6 3 0 0 34 55 Barclay, Arthur..... f 0-0 0-0 0-0 1 1 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 12 23 Rice, Anthony....... g 7-13 5-9 1-2 5 3 8 1 20 3 4 2 1 32 35 WASHINGTON, Darius.. g 6-7 4-4 1-3 1 6 7 2 17 6 3 0 1 39 01 Williams, Waki...... 3-4 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 7 02 Beavers, Tank....... 3-7 0-2 0-2 1 1 2 0 6 1 1 0 2 17 10 Carney, Rodney...... 3-11 0-4 2-4 1 1 2 0 8 2 2 1 2 18 14 Njoya, Simplice..... 2-4 0-0 0-1 2 2 4 3 4 0 0 1 1 18 15 Dorsey, Joey........ 2-2 0-0 0-0 1 1 2 0 4 0 0 0 0 4 TEAM................ 2 2 Totals.............. 31-58 11-21 14-25 17 30 47 11 87 20 15 4 7 200 TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 14-27 51.9% 2nd Half: 17-31 54.8% Game: 53.4% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 6-12 50.0% 2nd Half: 5-9 55.6% Game: 52.4% REBS F Throw % 1st Half: 5-13 38.5% 2nd Half: 9-12 75.0% Game: 56.0% 2 ---------------------------------------------------------- Officials: Mike Thibodeaux, Danny Hooker, Terry Moore Technical fouls: East Tennessee State-None. MEMPHIS-None. Attendance: 8800 Score by Periods 1st 2nd Total East Tennessee State.......... 25 31 - 56 MEMPHIS....................... 39 48 - 87 Head coach John Calipari's 100th victory at Memphis

12/30/04		Washington learns about finer points -- Computer program brings all new meaning to setting screen (Commercial Appeal)
		By Gary Parrish Contact December 30, 2004 The game actually looks more like Space Invaders than basketball. But it makes you think better. That's the guarantee. So Darius Washington gladly spent part of Wednesday staring at a computer screen displaying a program designed to enhance decision-making. An afternoon of IntelliGym? Why not, especially at this point? "My decision-making isn't that great all the time, but this should help," said Washington, the University of Memphis freshman. "And anything that helps is good as the learning process goes on." The Tigers (6-6) will take the court for the first time in a week at 7 tonight when they meet East Tennessee State (4-6) at the FedExForum. To snap a two-game losing streak, Memphis must show more effort and intensity, play better defense and rebound. A healthy Rodney Carney would also be a plus, though a stomach ailment held the junior out of Wednesday's practice and has him questionable for tonight. But mostly, and more than anything else, to ensure a win the Tigers just need their offense to operate more fluently. Put another way, they need Washington to perform at a higher level, and make better choices. "This is all new for him," Memphis coach John Calipari said. "Everything his whole life has been easy. But this is hard. He's a freshman trying to learn a new position; the hardest position to learn. It's almost like Eli Manning playing in New York right now." For the past couple of weeks the Tigers' struggles have been analyzed by everybody. Fans have theories. Coaches have theories. Talk show hosts have theories, reasonable or not. And though chemistry and jealousy and selfishness are all issues that have been addressed, the one tangible difference from last season's successful team to this season's disappointing team is the starting point guard. Antonio Burks is gone. Darius Washington has replaced him. Anybody who spent the summer convincing themselves the transition would be smooth now knows otherwise. Last season Burks averaged 16.0 points, 5.5 assists and 2.5 turnovers. This season Washington is averaging 11.9 points, 3.0 assists and 3.6 turnovers. Memphis has struggled to get even a decent shot on most offensive possessions. The Tigers shot 33.9 percent from the field in the loss to Louisiana Tech. They backed that by shooting 32.8 percent from the field in the loss to Providence. Whose fault is it? That's up for debate, and tough to pinpoint exactly. But when an offense isn't clicking it's natural to look at the point guard. Washington knows this. So he accepts the bulk of the blame. "But you can't just hang your head when you're down," the former McDonald's All-American said. "You've got to keep going. You've got to keep trying to get better." Which brings us back to Wednesday, and Washington and that computer program. It was originally designed to train Israeli fighter pilots, but has since been adapted for NASA, and now basketball. Memphis and Kentucky are the only college teams using it this season, and Washington is one of four Tigers required to sit down with it three times a week. "Darius is doing well," said Gilad Shoham, a coach from Israel who is monitoring the progress. "This is going to make him better. In just another week, by the Texas game, he will be a lot better. I can guarantee that you will notice a difference." Washington can't wait for that. "Things are not going my way right now," he acknowledged. "But with each practice I'm getting more confidence. So now I just need to start making easy plays for myself and my teammates, and go out and get a win." -- Gary Parrish: 529-2365

12/29/04		Lady Tigers stymie Radford -- Associate head coach leaves for WNBA (Commercial Appeal)
		By Todd Vinyard Contact December 29, 2004 U of M women 62, Radford 37 Nothing could shake the focus of the University of Memphis women's basketball team Tuesday night against Radford. Not the news that associate head coach Tom Cross had left for a position in the WNBA. And not the team having to wear gray uniforms instead of the usual white ones that are still in airline transit back from Mexico. The Lady Tigers put all that behind them and thought only about pressure defense. The result was a 62-37 victory in which Radford shot just 19.3 percent from field making 11 of 57 shots. "We put a lot of pressure that rattled them out of the gate," said Lady Tiger Kaneshi Hart. "The Christmas break is the midpoint of the season and where a lot of teams come together. We worked in practice on defensive pressure and I think that rattled them and they didn't know what to do with the ball. We were extremely intense on defense and pressured every pass. That is what we wanted to do from the start." It worked with the visiting Highlanders missing their first seven shots and not scoring until Jesse Brunjak's jumper at 13:32 in the first half cut Memphis's lead to 11-2 at Elma Roane Field House. Radford (1-7) got within six points at 17-11 with 8:30 remaining in the first half before Jennifer Sullivan made back-to-back baskets to push the advantage to 21-11, as the UofM (7-4) never looked back. Memphis led by double digits throughout the second half. Victoria Crawford led the way in scoring for the Lady Tigers with 16 points followed by Sullivan's 14. Tamika Butler scored 11. Butler provided plenty of spark off the bench with eight rebounds to go along with her points. Memphis snapped a two-game losing streak from a trip to Mexico in the Fun in the Sun Shootout before Christmas. "It is good to see that we can handle adversity, but on the flip side we need to get to the point that we don't need adversity to play well," said Lady Tiger coach Blair Savage. "We need to work on consistency in our shooting and defense." The Lady Tigers have won six of seven games at home this season. "The win was important for us to get the confidence after Cancun," Sullivan said. "We wanted to get back to the way we were playing and be ready for the road trip and conference season coming up." Memphis has four straight games on the road starting with Nebraska Thursday. The Lady Tigers will hit the road without Cross. He has left to join the Houston Comets as the director of player personnel. Cross, who is from Dallas, had previously coached in the WNBA with the Detroit Shock 1998-2002. "It's unfortunate that he left in the middle of the season, but the WNBA season and the college season are kind of on opposite calendars," Savage said. "It was a great opportunity for him. We will miss him but we understand." A search for Cross's replacement will not take place until after the season. Memphis has four seniors on the team and they know they will be counted on for leadership even more than before now. "I think it is important for us as seniors to show the team that we will be OK and we need to keep on ticking and not let us that stop us from accomplishing our goals," Sullivan said. Former Collierville standout Taryn Causey led Radford with 13 points. -- Todd Vinyard: 529-2343

12/28/04		Lady Tigers Level Radford, 62-37 -- Butler adds 11 points and eight rebounds off the bench (GoTigersGo.com)
		MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Using a stifling defense and then going to their own end and firing away at a 47.3 percent clip from the field, the Lady Tiger basketball team (7-4) downed Radford, 62-37, in the final home non-conference game of the season, Tuesday night. Memphis jumped out to an 11-0 lead before Radford (1-7) finally got on the board at the 13:32 mark in the first half. Radford would cut the lead to single digits, as Serena White hit a three with 8:30 remaining in the half to pull the Highlanders within 17-11, but that six point lead was the last Radford would see of the Lady Tigers. "We felt in looking at tape if we gave them open looks, that played into their strengths," Head Coach Blair Savage said. "So in practice, we preached getting ball pressure and making them earn every shot. They still hit some tough ones, but that's OK, we had really good ball pressure tonight." Radford shot 19.3 percent from the field, hitting just 11 field goals for the game. The 19.3 percent was a Radford school record low. The last time Memphis held a team to 37 or fewer points was in a 116-32 win over Alabama State during the 1995-96 season. "If was important to come back and play well after the Cancun trip," Savage said. "But we need to learn we don't need adversity to play this well." "The Christmas break is the midpoint of the season and where a lot of teams come together," senior Kaneshi Hart said. "We worked in practice on defensive pressure, and I think that rattled them and they didn't know what to do with the ball." Memphis will need to keep its composure for the next swing of games, as the Lady Tigers will play four straight road games before returning to the Elma Roane Fieldhouse on Jan. 14th. Memphis leaves Wednesday morning to travel to Lincoln, Nebraska, where Memphis will face the Cornhuskers, Thursday, at 7:05 p.m. The Lady Tigers return home on New Year's Eve, then will travel to Oxford, Mississippi, to face Ole Miss, Jan. 2nd to round out the non-conference schedule. "I'm looking for consistency out of us during this road trip," Savage said. "The floor is still 94 feet, the goal is the same height, the lanes are the same, we need to keep putting pressure on the ball and our consistency and defense will help us." Prior to the game, the Lady Tigers awarded senior Victoria Crawford with a game ball after she hit her 1,000th career point in Mexico. Crawford would respond with another double-digit night, scoring 16 points, including 2-for-3 from three-point range. Jennifer Sullivan would add 14 points, and Tamika Butler would come off the bench to add 11 points, including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc, and eight rebounds. Raven Rogers came ever nearer the 500 career rebound mark, finishing with nine. Rogers now needs three more rebounds for her 500th career board. Collierville's Taryn Causey would be the lone Highlander in double-digit points, scoring 13 in her return home. Sarah Stephens led the team with seven rebounds in the Highlanders' third straight loss.

12/28/04		Reeling Tigers reconvene with hopes of righting ship (Commercial Appeal)
		By Gary Parrish Contact December 28, 2004 With his hands in his pockets and eyes aimed at the ground, John Calipari paced around the court in black warm-ups and posed one question after another. Do you love this? Are you tough enough? How badly do you want to win? So on and so forth, this kind of talk went on for hours at the University of Memphis. It was a constant peppering of the players with each inquiry designed to get some sort of reaction or response. Still, one question remains. Will any of it work? "I hope so," said Calipari, the fifth-year Memphis coach. "All I'm saying to them is that adversity and how you deal with it shows true character. Adversity reveals more than anything else, including in me. And I'm telling you right now that I'm not cracking. I am not cracking. I'm going to keep coaching." Amid the ice, slush and freezing temperatures, the Tigers reconvened Monday night at the Finch Center for a practice, their first since Santa bounced from rooftop to rooftop. For the Memphis players, the jolly old man brought clothes, video games, CDs and everything else college kids dig. But what he forgot was a mulligan for this disappointing season. Thus, the current situation remains as it was following last Thursday's loss to Providence. It breakdowns like this: The record? 6-6. The RPI ranking? 154. Consequently, the Tigers find themselves in an unexpected situation as the New Year approaches. They are no longer fighting for an Associated Press ranking. Now, they're just fighting for respectability, and to avoid being a punch line in every national writer's weekly notebook, like the following from Sportsline.com. Memphis lost 64-55 to visiting Louisiana Tech, getting outscored 48-27 in the second half by the Lady Techsters. This was women's basketball, right? Had to be. No way does Louisiana Tech manhandle Memphis in men's hoops. "That kind of stuff does bother me; that's why I try not to watch it or read it," said U of M junior Rodney Carney. "Coming into the season we were supposed to have one of the best seasons we've ever had. We were supposed to have so much potential, and so much talent. But one thing hit. Then another thing hit. Some people got hurt and everything went down the drain." With this as the backdrop, the Tigers practiced for nearly three hours Monday night and worked on everything from offense to defense to energy and effort. At times, intensity was so high that players hunched over in pain and nearly vomited. At other times, it looked very much like the first practice post Christmas. Either way, the next step seems obvious to avoid losing for the fifth time in six games when East Tennessee State visits FedExForum on Thursday. "We have to buy into what Cal wants us to do," Carney said. "We still haven't. But if we all buy in, we can get turned around."

12/28/04		Lady Tigers happy to be back at home (Commercial Appeal)
		By Todd Vinyard Contact December 28, 2004 -------------------- Lady Tigers vs. Radford When, where: Today, 7 p.m., at Elma Roane Field House. Radio: WUMR-FM (91.7) . -------------------- After a rough road trip south of the border, the University of Memphis Lady Tigers find themselves back in what have been very friendly confines this year. The UofM (6-4) lost both games in the Fun in the Sun Shootout women's basketball tournament near Cancun, Mexico, before the Christmas break. Oral Roberts beat Memphis 87-79 in the first round before an 84-64 loss to Western Kentucky the next night. However, Memphis is 5-1 at home in Elma Roane Field House this season. That is where they meet Radford (1-6) tonight at 7. One Highlander who will probably be looking forward to this meeting is Taryn Causey. The former four-year standout at Collierville High is a starting guard for Radford. The senior is averaging 12.5 points in a team-high 36.7 minutes per game. Tonight's game is Tiger Pride night, with all fans wearing blue receiving free admission.

12/27/04		Lady Tigers Back in Action, Tuesday -- Memphis to host Radford in final non-conference home game at 7 p.m. (GoTigersGo.com)
		MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The Toby Keith song says what happens in Mexico stays in Mexico. The Lady Tigers hope that's the case when they take to the Elma Roane Fieldhouse floor, Tuesday night, for a 7 p.m. match-up against Big South member Radford (1-6), in the final non-conference game that will be played in the Fieldhouse this season. All fans wearing blue to the game will receive free admission. In Mexico, Memphis dropped two games, falling to eventual champion Oral Roberts in the opening round of the Fun in the Sun Tournament, 87-79, and falling to Western Kentucky, the same nemesis who downed the Lady Tigers in last year's WNIT, 84-64. Senior Victoria Crawford (Birmingham, Ala./Woodlawn) did manage to make it to the 1,000 career point mark before the holiday break, but not before fouling out against Oral Roberts in just eight minutes of play. Two Lady Tiger starters did not play 10 minutes in that game, battling foul problems, as Kaneshi Hart finished with four fouls in eight minutes. In all, Memphis was whistled for 29 fouls compared to just nine in the entire game for Oral Roberts. The Lady Tigers did not attempt a free-throw in the entire second half and still managed to score 37 in the half without Crawford and Hart. Unfortunately, ORU converted 28-of-35 free-throws to keep Memphis at bay and pull off the first of two upsets on the night. Western Kentucky, a team that beat No. 11 Vanderbilt just days earlier, fell to an eight-player UMKC roster in another foul-fest that featured both coaches getting technical fouls on the first day. Memphis was unable to put the first round game behind them against Western Kentucky, as WKU seemed to hit every shot from the floor in the second half and gave Memphis just one-and-done looks at the basket, holding Memphis to just 64 points on the night, while hitting 52.3 percent to pick up the win. Senior Jennifer Sullivan and Crawford had some of the lone bright spots from the Mexico trip, as Sullivan was named to the All-Tournament team after scoring 20 in the ORU loss and 10 against WKU. The other bright spot was that the Lady Tigers may have found their outside shooting, assuming it wasn't lost with luggage during the holiday travels. Against Oral Roberts, Memphis hit eight shots from beyond the arc, shooting 47.1 percent from three-point range for the game. That streak continued against WKU, as Memphis hit seven more treys in the loss. Sophomore guard Devin Necaise, who wowed the Mexican fans with two shots from well beyond the arc while trying to close the gap in the winding seconds, would hit six threes over the two games, while senior Raven Rogers added four. Freshman Jessica Hall got into the act against ORU, hitting four three-pointers of her own and posted her first career double-digit scoring outing, finishing with 14. Radford comes into the game off of back-to-back losses, including an overtime loss to Gardner-Webb (of the Atlantic Sun Conference), 60-58, and a 66-57 loss to Kent State before the holiday break. Three Highlanders are averaging double-digits, led by senior guard Taryn Casey, a Collierville, Tenn., native, who transferred to Radford from North Alabama. Casey averages 12.4 points a night and leads the team with 21 steals. She is also tied for second on the squad with seven three-point field goals in the first seven games and shoots 85.7 percent from the free-throw line. Casey is joined in double-digit scoring by sophomore Shavon Earp, also a transfer to Radford. Earp, a 5-11 forward, averages 12 points and six rebounds a night and while she's only attempted six shots from beyond the three-point line, she has hit two, so she can stretch the defense. Senior guard Jesse Brunjak, an Ooltewah, Tenn. Native, rounds out the Radford double-digit scorers, with 10 points a night while starting all seven games. Brunjak also averages 3.9 rebounds and is tied with Causey with seven treys on the season. Freshman Serena White is the team's most successful three-point shooter to date, hitting nine shots on 30 tries for a 30 percent completion rate. In all, Radford has held its opponent's under 60 points just twice, but no Highland opponent has yet scored more than 65 points on the RU defense. Freshman Corrie Fertitta has made a bit of an impact inside, leading the team with four blocks and adding seven steals while playing in all seven games. Six Highlanders have played in all seven games, with three more playing in six of the seven, so expect to see Radford rotate a lot of players in the game in an effort to keep fresh legs on the court, especially since it will be the first game back for both teams following the holiday break. Following the Radford game, Memphis will embark on a four-game road trip that includes contests at Nebraska, Ole Miss, East Carolina and Charlotte.

12/27/04		Tom Cross to Return to the WNBA -- Will return to home state of Texas as a director of player personnel (GoTigersGo.com)
		MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Lady Tiger associate head coach Tom Cross will return to the WNBA, joining the staff of the Houston Comets as the Director of Player Personnel Lady Tiger head coach Blair Savage announced, Monday. Cross was in his second season as a member of the Lady Tiger staff when he received a phone call from the Comets gauging his interest in returning to the WNBA as a director of player personnel. Cross decided to join the Comets in his home state of Texas, and completed his coaching duties with Memphis over the Christmas holiday. "We talk to the team all the time about taking advantage of opportunities that are presented to you," Savage said. "This is a great opportunity for Coach Cross to return both to his home state and to the WNBA. Unfortunately for us, the way the college and the WNBA seasons are set up, he needs to start his WNBA duties now to prepare for the upcoming season. We will miss him, but we know he will do well in Houston." A search for Cross' replacement will be put on hold until the end of the season.

12/26/04		Sports department's annual Top 10 stories of the year -- 3: Tiger football roars again (Commercial Appeal)
		Quarterback Danny Wimprine finished his career having broken just about every passing mark in the University of Memphis record book. Running back DeAngelo Williams shared Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year honors and was a third-team All-American. And head coach Tommy West got a nice contract extension. Success brought rewards. But none bigger than the football program going to a bowl game in back-to-back seasons for the first time in school history. With their 52-35 loss to Bowling Green in the GMAC Bowl in Mobile, Ala., the Tigers finished 8-4. West called it "a great year for us, eight wins and a bowl game again," but he knows that with losing 28 seniors and possibly junior Williams to an early departure in search of NFL riches, "we've got a lot of work to do."

12/26/04		Sports department's annual Top 10 stories of the year -- 4: A win in the NCAAs, and a season on the verge of being lost (Commercial Appeal)
		The Tigers were goin' to Kansas City with the hope of winning an NCAA Tournament game for the first time since 1995. Their first-round 59-43 win over South Carolina solved that nine-year riddle and in a most unusual way: Antonio Burks and Sean Banks, who together averaged 34 points, scored a combined 13 in the game. But it didn't matter because Rodney Carney scored 26 and everyone was playing tenacious defense and everyone was together. "They double-teamed me, he was open, and he was drilling them," Banks said of Carney. "That's the Rodney we need," Burks said. "He was great." All for one and one for all. That was the spirit. And it helped last season's Tigers win 22 games and restore blue madness to the city's college basketball landscape. But when a struggling Ole Miss team handed the Tigers a 65-53 defeat at FedExForum on Dec. 11, it left coach John Calipari and players to search for answers. "I'm a little dumbfounded," the coach said after saying his team had not played with a "competitive fire." Later, Calipari would suspend Banks for one game for an unspecified violation of team rules. Last Monday at home, the Tigers lost by 9 points to Louisiana Tech, which dropped them to 6-5 after they began the season ranked in the top 25. "We're not a very good team right now," the coach said. "I'm disappointed, but I'm not giving up." After all, previous Calipari teams have gone on long winning streaks in the second half of the season. Maybe this one will, too. Thursday, the competitive fire was more in evidence, but the Tigers dropped a 72-59 decision to Providence at FedExForum.

12/26/04		Sports department's annual Top 10 stories of the year -- 7: Bravo, Antonio! (Commercial Appeal)
		Antonio Burks had just played his last home game for the University of Memphis. The Tigers had thumped TCU and the near future would hold a first-round NCAA Tournament game. So, Tigers coach John Calipari needed to say something about his spectacularly solid and solidly spectacular point guard. "He's dragged this team to where it is right now," Calipari said. But then Burks had to do the same with himself. He had some tough times growing up in Memphis. When he left Booker T. Washington High School, he had to go to Hiwassee (junior) College before he got his shot at the UofM. As a senior, he averaged 16 points and 5.5 assists and was the Conference USA Player of the Year, the first Tiger to win Conference Player of the Year honors since Penny Hardaway. It would have been a happy hometown story had it stopped there. Only, the Grizzlies acquired his draft rights (he was the 36th overall pick) from Orlando and now Antonio wears No. 1 for Memphis again. In his first NBA game, he scored four points and passed for six assists in 19 minutes. "It's nice to add local flavor to your team," Jerry West said after making the deal for Burks. "We did not do it for that reason. "We did it because he's a fine player."

12/26/04		Sports department's annual Top 10 stories of the year -- 10: The leaving of a legend (Commercial Appeal)
		More than 30 years ago, Ronnie Robinson had a hand in helping the two Memphises -- black and white -- come together in the name of basketball. Robinson was a hometown hero, like teammate Larry Finch, and smack in the middle of the 1972-73 Tigers season that culminated in Memphis State -- as it was then known -- reaching the NCAA championship game against Bill Walton and UCLA. Last May, at age 53, Robinson, a high school teacher in Somerville, died. "He will be remembered not only for his sweet, left-handed jump shot and his court demeanor," the CA said in an editorial, "but also because he came along at a critical time in Memphis history and helped raise the community's spirits." Robinson scored more than 1,000 points in his three-year Tigers career, but was best known for his good work under the basket. Which was why former teammate John Washington said, "God needed a rebounder, I guess."

12/24/04		Editorial 12/24: Remember the good (Commercial Appeal)
		CHEER UP, Tiger fans. No, Wednesday night's GMAC Bowl didn't turn out quite the way the University of Memphis football faithful had hoped. The Bowling Green Falcons blitzed our Tigers, 52-35, in a game played at times in monsoon-like conditions. Yet that doesn't take away from what head coach Tommy West's team accomplished this year. The Tigers won eight games and qualified for a bowl for the second consecutive year. They were an exciting bunch to watch, thanks to an offense led by star running back DeAngelo Williams and quarterback Danny Wimprine. Yes, it stings to end the season on a losing note. But remember this: Prior to last year's New Orleans Bowl appearance, the Tiger football team hadn't played in the postseason for 32 years. Viewed in that light, doesn't losing a bowl game feel better than not making it to one at all?

12/24/04		Tigers fall to Friars for fourth loss in five games (Commercial Appeal)
		By Gary Parrish Contact December 24, 2004 John Calipari is stuck on 99 wins. His team is mired in a funk. Nothing got better for the University of Memphis on Thursday. So the Tigers lost again, this time to Providence by a 72-59 score. "At least we battled," Calipari said as the final seconds ticked off the clock. "At least we fought." On a frigid night in the city where icy roads prevented anybody but fanatics from making it to FedExForum, the Tigers lost for the fourth time in their past five games before a thin yet lively crowd. The estimated 2,400 people in the stands did all they could to will Memphis (6-6) to a victory. UofM officials even allowed anybody who wanted to sit in the lower-level to sit in the lower-level, Tiger Club member or no Tiger Club member. But in the end, Providence's clutch shooting and knack for coming up with nearly every loose ball proved too much to overcome. Not long after Memphis cut the deficit to 55-52 on a Duane Erwin dunk with 8:02 left, the Friars countered with an 11-0 run and won going away. Senior All-American Ryan Gomes led Providence (7-4) with 24 points and eight rebounds, and looked like somebody worthy of all the accolades bestowed upon him. A 6-7 forward, Gomes worked around the basket some, then drifted away at other times. He dominated from both places, and was 3-of-6 from 3-point range to help him finish 9-of-18 from the field. Rodney Carney, a junior, paced the Memphis effort with 22 points and seven rebounds despite a sprained ankle that kept him out of the starting lineup. Sophomore forward Sean Banks added 17 points and nine rebounds, but was just 5-of-18 from the field for the Tigers, who only shot 32.8 percent for the game. The loss means Calipari again was denied his 100th victory at Memphis, but that doesn't seem important right now. Instead, the more immediate and bigger issue is that the Tigers have almost certainly played themselves out of an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament unless they put together a run in Conference USA that seems unlikely on all levels. Memphis returns to the court Dec. 30 when it closes a five-game homestand against East Tennessee State. -- Gary Parrish; 529-2365

12/24/04		Tigers' focus turns to next year -- Defense, DeAngelo at heart of U of M's 2004 season hopes (Commercial Appeal)
		By Phil Stukenborg Contact December 24, 2004 The endearing images, and final scenes from the 2004 University of Memphis football season, were played out in separate areas underneath Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Twenty minutes after Memphis had ended its second consecutive bowl season with a 52-35 loss to Bowling Green in the rain-soaked GMAC Bowl, All-America running back DeAngelo Williams fought, unsuccessfully, to hold back tears in the media room. Outside the Tiger locker room, UofM defensive coordinator Joe Lee Dunn explained, as he had to do throughout the season, why his pass defense failed him, even though it was against one of the nation's most prolific pass offenses. If the Tigers are to return to the postseason for a third consecutive year, much will need to transpire before the UofM kicks off the season against Ole Miss. The Tigers likely need to have Williams returning for his senior season, instead of opting for the NFL Draft, and they'll need a pass defense that ranked 111th nationally to find playmaking cover corners and an effective pass rush. Williams, a junior from Wynne, Ark., who rushed for 1,948 yards and 22 touchdowns, is expected to announce his decision over the Christmas holidays. He broke down in the media room Wednesday night while describing the injury -- a fractured right fibula -- that knocked him out of the game in the third quarter and prematurely ended his first bowl participation. A torn knee ligament late last season kept him from the New Orleans Bowl. Dunn, who fielded one of the nation's premier defenses in 2003, had a difficult time approaching those numbers in 2004, as three linebackers, two defensive linemen and the team's best cover corner did not return. The Tigers allowed Bowling Green to throw for 365 yards -- almost 100 yards more than the UofM's average. ''We went back to the same way we'd been playing,'' Dunn said. ''We were there to knock the ball down and we didn't do it.'' Williams, who some NFL Draft experts predict would go by at least the second round if he leaves, rushed for 120 yards before the injury sidelined him. ''We've won games without DeAngelo before, but the difference is the difference between last year's defense and this year's defense,'' senior receiver Darron White said. ''Last year's defense wouldn't have given up that many points.'' Dunn likely will make changes, perhaps in an attempt to put more pressure on the quarterback. ''We can hang our heads and be disappointed about the loss (to Bowling Green),'' said senior safety Scott Vogel. ''But when you look back at it we've had a great two-year run. I'm proud of everything we've accomplished here." The Tigers have built a foundation, one that has resulted in back-to-back seasons with at least eight wins and successive bowl trips for the first time in the program's history. Players, coaches and athletic administration officials are confident there will be more December invitations in the future. ''When you win a game, you like to focus on the game,'' said athletic director R.C. Johnson. ''When you lose a game, you like to focus on the whole season. The fact is we're 8-4, we won nine games last year and we've won 17 games in two years. We've also got our coach in place and we've got our recruiting in place. ''I hate to see the season end this way, but what we've done the past two years is a tribute to the seniors. They've really brought us along and now we've got to regroup.'' Twenty-eight seniors completed their careers Wednesday night, including record-setting quarterback Danny Wimprine, who surpassed 10,000 career passing yards in the game. Like Williams, he couldn't hold back tears in the postgame press conference as he reflected on his career. ''Losing is unacceptable to me,'' Wimprine said. ''I wanted nothing more than to go out a winner. (Still), I think we've raised the bar at Memphis.'' Tiger coach Tommy West, whose contract was extended through 2009 and whose total package was bumped to $800,000 annually earlier this week, called it ''a great year for us, eight wins and a bowl game again.'' But with so many seniors departing -- and possibly a junior running back -- he knows the rebuilding project begins soon. ''We've got a lot of work to do,'' he said. White, who ended his career second on the school's receptions list, said the seniors are leaving the program ''in good hands ... as long as DeAngelo stays.'' -- Phil Stukenborg: 529-2543

12/23/04		Memphis Falls To Providence, 72-59 -- Tigers' second-half rallies weren't enough to win (GoTigersGo.com)
		MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Ryan Gomes scored 24 points and grabbed eight rebounds Thursday night to lead Providence to a 72-59 victory over Memphis. Gomes, the preseason Big East Player of the Year, shot 50 percent from the floor, including three 3-pointers, as the Friars (7-4) won their second straight and third in the past four games. Meanwhile, Memphis' woes continued as the Tigers (6-6) lost their fourth game in five attempts. It was the Tigers' third home loss of the season, the first time since the 2000-01 season - coach John Calipari's first year - that Memphis has lost three at home in a season. Dwight Brewington added 15 for the Friars, and Donnie McGrath finished with 14 points and six assists. Rodney Carney led Memphis with 22 points, despite being hampered by an ankle injury suffered in practice Wednesday. Sean Banks, who started for Carney, finished with 17, but was 5-of-18 from the floor, part of a 33 percent shooting night for the Tigers, including 21 percent in the second half. The game was played before a sparse crowd due to a winter storm that hit the area Wednesday. Memphis officials, who estimated the crowd at 2,500, invited all the fans to sit in the lower level of the arena. Memphis had a couple of second-half rallies, including a 9-0 run early in the half, but could never overcome Providence. They cut it to 46-45 at the end of the run and got within three twice. But the Friars turned back the Tigers with their own flurries. The final one came with Gomes sparking an 11-0 streak, running the advantage back to 66-52 with 4:18 left. Memphis never got the Providence lead under double digits the rest of the way.

12/23/04		Memphis Basketball Postgame Quotes -- Providence 72, Memphis 59 (GoTigersGo.com)
		Memphis Head Coach John Calipari "For three-quarters of the game I was very happy. We just have to be tough. We don't have three of the physical guys we had last year. We aren't physical enough right now. We only shot 21 percent in the second half and you aren't winning any games we play shooting 21 percent. Other than Sean getting his shots blocked they were all good shots. We need to make shots." "We did make strides and I feel better going into Christmas right now. When we come back, I need to do things to make us tougher. They were tougher than us and we can't accept that." "It's a long road out now. It's not like we're winning 30 games this year. We know that. Now, we need to play toward the end of the year. We've got the tournament here, we've got a lot of stuff to play for. We've got to get players playing the right way and if we do that we are going to be ok." Providence Head Coach Tim Welsh "For the game overall we got the loose balls, we got the loose shots. It was really a grit type game. Neither team was that impressive offensively, so we had to go make plays." "Our defense tightened up on the second half. I was concerned at halftime when they were shooting 48 percent because they shoot under 40 percent for the year. We were shooting the three very well in the first half, and I knew we couldn't live on that the whole game, so the focus at halftime was to really tighten the defense up, and we did that the second half." "Randall (Hanke) really made a difference inside with nine blocks. When you extend out as far as we had to to cover Carney, Rice and Banks, they are going to get inside some and you have to have somebody to block the lane. Our zone looked a lot like last year because we had good quickness outside and a basket protecter. You can really guard the three point line well if you have someone who can guard the middle."

12/23/04		Memphis Basketball Boxscore -- Providence 72, Memphis 59 (GoTigersGo.com)
		Official Basketball Box Score -- GAME TOTALS -- FINAL STATISTICS Providence vs MEMPHIS 12/23/04 8:00 pm at Memphis, Tenn. (FedExForum) -------------------------------------------------- VISITORS: Providence 7-4 TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS ## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN 03 GOMES, Ryan......... f 9-18 3-6 3-3 4 4 8 3 24 2 2 0 0 34 11 KOTTI, Tuukka....... f 2-10 0-0 4-4 4 1 5 2 8 3 4 0 1 34 15 HILL, Herbert....... f 2-4 0-0 0-1 3 1 4 3 4 1 1 1 1 19 01 MCGRATH, Donnie..... g 5-9 4-7 0-0 0 4 4 2 14 6 2 0 1 38 24 BREWINGTON, Dwight.. g 6-13 3-7 0-2 3 1 4 3 15 1 3 0 2 32 02 WHITE, DeSean....... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 04 MCKIVER, Rob........ 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 05 BROWN, Gerald....... 2-8 0-2 1-2 2 1 3 3 5 2 2 0 2 19 32 HANKE, Randall...... 1-1 0-0 0-0 0 7 7 3 2 0 0 9 0 19 33 BURCH, Charlie...... 0-2 0-1 0-0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 TEAM................ 2 2 Totals.............. 27-65 10-23 8-12 19 21 40 21 72 16 15 10 7 200 TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 15-37 40.5% 2nd Half: 12-28 42.9% Game: 41.5% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 8-15 53.3% 2nd Half: 2-8 25.0% Game: 43.5% REBS F Throw % 1st Half: 4-6 66.7% 2nd Half: 4-6 66.7% Game: 66.7% 1,1 -------------------------------------------------------- HOME TEAM: MEMPHIS 6-6 TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS ## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN 11 Erwin, Duane........ f 2-5 0-0 0-0 4 3 7 3 4 3 4 1 3 22 15 Dorsey, Joey........ f 1-1 0-0 0-0 1 2 3 0 2 0 1 0 0 8 32 Banks, Sean......... f 5-18 1-6 6-9 8 1 9 1 17 1 0 1 0 38 23 Rice, Anthony....... g 2-8 1-4 1-2 1 2 3 4 6 4 3 0 1 35 35 WASHINGTON, Darius.. g 2-13 0-4 4-8 0 4 4 1 8 2 4 0 4 35 02 Beavers, Tank....... 0-1 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 9 10 Carney, Rodney...... 7-12 4-8 4-5 2 5 7 4 22 0 1 2 2 29 14 Njoya, Simplice..... 0-0 0-0 0-0 1 2 3 2 0 0 0 2 1 12 55 Barclay, Arthur..... 0-0 0-0 0-0 2 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 TEAM................ 2 1 3 2 Totals.............. 19-58 6-23 15-24 21 21 42 17 59 10 16 6 11 200 TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 12-25 48.0% 2nd Half: 7-33 21.2% Game: 32.8% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 3-10 30.0% 2nd Half: 3-13 23.1% Game: 26.1% REBS F Throw % 1st Half: 7-10 70.0% 2nd Half: 8-14 57.1% Game: 62.5% 5,1 ------------------------------------------------- Officials: Steve Welmer, Tim Higgins, Ted Hillary Technical fouls: Providence-None. MEMPHIS-None. Attendance: 2400 Score by Periods 1st 2nd Total Providence.................... 42 30 - 72 MEMPHIS....................... 34 25 - 59

12/23/04		Tigers need win tonight -- At-large bid to Big Dance at stake (Commercial Appeal)
		By Gary Parrish Contact December 23, 2004 There is no such thing as a must-win game in December. John Calipari has explained this theory many times. He believes in it as strongly as a child does Santa. But perhaps, just for tonight, the University of Memphis coach should reconsider. Because here's the hard reality surrounding the Tigers' 8 p.m. game against Providence at FedExForum: Memphis enters with a 6-5 record. So a loss would obviously give the Tigers their sixth nonconference loss. Now guess how many schools earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament last season with six nonconference losses? One. Michigan State. That's it. Thus if Memphis wants to make the Big Dance for the third straight season, the margin of error is slim. So to borrow and adjust a line from "The Shawshank Redemption," the Tigers had better get busy winning or get busy printing another NIT banner. "We've just got to ride this thing out," Calipari said. "We've got to get this thing going." And the sooner, the better, especially considering the Tigers will be heavy underdogs when they close their nonconference schedule at 15th-ranked Texas on Jan. 6. That means another home loss to either Providence (5-4) tonight or East Tennessee State (4-6) on Dec. 30 would be devastating to the UofM's postseason hopes. Why? Because though Michigan State did earn a seven-seed in the NCAA Tournament last March with six nonleague defeats, it took a 12-4 mark in the Big Ten to make that possible. It's also worth noting that the Spartans' six nonleague losses all came away from home and to the likes of Kansas, Duke, Kentucky, Syracuse, Oklahoma and UCLA. Notice the lack of a Louisiana Tech or Ole Miss, two bottom-tier programs within their respective leagues that already beat Memphis inside FedExForum this month. "We've just got to get five guys who want to play," said UofM senior Duane Erwin, who has averaged 8.5 points, nine rebounds and four blocks in his past two outings. "We've just got to get everybody going at one time. We've got to get guys striving on defense, and we've got to grind it out on offense because we're going to be a grind-it-out team." At this point, it certainly appears that way. Though some love to talk about defense and Memphis's problems there, the real issue of late has been on the offensive end. The Tigers have scored less than 30 points in the first half of the past six games and are averaging just 57.5 points in their past four contests while shooting only 34.9 percent. Last season, Memphis averaged 72.4 points per game and shot 42.0 percent from the field. The one noticeable difference from then to now is the lack of Antonio Burks, the Tigers' old point guard and Conference USA Player of the Year. "I told all you guys we were going to miss him," Calipari said. "You watched him. You know how good he was." But now Burks is gone, off to the NBA's Grizzlies. So the Tigers must make the offense work without him, and any grace period to learn how is quickly expiring. "We've just got to figure out how to play better offensively," Calipari acknowledged. "We've got to figure out how to be more specific in what we do. We're still not making shots we need to make. We've got to figure out how to get guys to make shots they should make, avoid simple turnovers, execute better and set screens where they're supposed to be set. "We've just got to figure it out." -- Gary Parrish: 529-2365

12/23/04		Tigers can't slow down Bowling Green's MAC attack -- Bowling Green 52, University of Memphis 35 (Commercial Appeal)
		By Phil Stukenborg Contact December 23, 2004 MOBILE, Ala. -- He had led the University of Memphis to its second postseason appearance in as many years. And he had been responsible for the Tigers recovering from a 14-point deficit in the opening half of Wednesday night's GMAC Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium to force a tie. So when Tiger All-American running back DeAngelo Williams hobbled off the field with 2:41 remaining in the third quarter with a fractured right fibula, the UofM's comeback hopes were shattered, as well. Bowling Green, behind sensational sophomore quarterback Omar Jacobs, beat Memphis, 52-35, to continue the Mid-American Conference's dominance in this GMAC Bowl. The MAC is 4-0 in Mobile. The Tigers (8-4) won last year's New Orleans Bowl to snap a 32-year postseason drought and were hoping to remain unbeaten in four postseason appearances, but couldn't stop the nation's fourth-rated offense, one averaging more than 500 yards per game. And Memphis, the 10th-ranked offense, couldn't sustain its first-half momentum without its main offensive weapon. Williams, the junior from Wynne, Ark., gained 120 yards on 18 carries before ending what could be his final college season on a 2-yard run that saw him collapse as he made his cut. It was an emotional ending to a record-breaking season for Williams, whose torn knee ligament kept him from participating in last year's New Orleans Bowl. In a brief postgame press conference, Williams broke down when describing the run that forced him from the game. ''It hurts any time you lose,'' Williams said. ''The injury is nothing. Doc (Dr. Barry Phillips) said it's a little fracture. It takes four to six weeks (to heal). I'll be fine.'' Williams said he fractured the leg on an earlier play, but ''I told them to tape me back up.'' While Memphis's offensive phenom was sidelined, Bowling Green's played on en route to capturing the offensive MVP award. Jacobs completed 26-of-44 for 365 yards and five touchdowns. ''Our team was focused the whole week. It was like we were on a business trip, and we took care of business,'' Jacobs said. ''We felt we had to score every time we got the ball. We just kept putting points on the board.'' The Falcons' P.J. Pope added 151 yards on 28 carries and scored twice as BGSU amassed 558 yards. Memphis finished with 414 yards, including 324 passing yards from quarterback Danny Wimprine. Wimprine completed 26-of-39 passes and had four touchdowns in the final game of a record-setting career that carried the Tigers to consecutive bowl games. ''I just felt we were a little too inconsistent down the stretch,'' Wimprine said. ''The key all year has not been what people are doing to us, but how we've played. In the second half we didn't play like us.'' Bowling Green, which scored 41 or more points in its last seven games, relied on a solid second-half defensive effort that limited a high-scoring Memphis team to one, late meaningless touchdown. ''We told our defense at the half we needed some stops,'' BGSU coach Gregg Brandon said. ''We believed in them like we did all season. It wasn't a matter of effort, it was a matter of adjustments. To hold Memphis to seven points in the second half was a great job.'' Memphis trailed by only seven, 35-28, when Tiger safety Scott Vogel intercepted Jacobs midway through the third quarter. But the Tigers were unable to capitalize, self-destructing under the weight of back-to-back illegal substitution calls on fourth-and-1 from the Falcon 32. The Falcons (9-3) drove 89 yards in 10 plays for a 42-28 lead. ''That fourth-and-1 that turned into fourth-and-11, that killed us,'' said Tiger receiver Darron White. ''It was very frustrating because a lot of people on the field didn't know what was going on. People weren't paying attention on the sideline.'' Shaun Suisham added a 37-yard field goal and Pope his second TD run to close out BGSU's scoring. To no one's surprise, the game was an offensive slugfest from the outset. At the half, the teams had combined for 29 first downs, 63 points and 625 yards. Jacobs and Wimprine had combined for 484 passing yards and seven touchdowns. Bowling Green scored on four of its first five possessions to build an early 28-14 lead, but Memphis countered getting a 41-yard touchdown pass from Wimprine to Maurice Avery on a screen pass and a 31-yard run from Williams to tie the game at 28-all late in the second quarter. Bowling Green had rare back-to-back three and outs before recovering in the closing two minutes of the half. The Falcons drove 72 yards in the final 2:09, taking advantage of a controversial pass interference call on Scott Vogel early in the eight-play drive and scoring on a 17-yard pass from Jacobs to Steve Sanders. Sanders reached over Tiger defensive back Cameron Essex to pull the ball into his arms for the TD with 37 seconds to go and a 35-28 halftime lead. BGSU, the nation's No. 2 passing team, wasted no time in getting on what would be an overheated scoreboard. On the Falcons' opening possession, they drove 59 yards in nine plays, converting three times on third down and getting the TD on a 1-yard run by Pope. After Pope's TD, the Falcons pulled some trickery, using an onside kick to regain possession at their 48-yad line. Four plays later, Jacobs found Charles Sharon in the right corner of the end zone for a 14-0 cushion. -- Phil Stukenborg: 529-2543

12/23/04		Williams's bowl experience ends with broken heart, broken leg (Commercial Appeal)
		By Zack McMillin Contact December 23, 2004 MOBILE, Ala. -- They left crying, at least in the way football players cry: Danny Wimprine with a quiver in his lip and his eyes glistening, DeAngelo Williams with his head bowed and that strong jaw clenched, trying in vain to stifle the emotion. It wasn't the 52-35 loss to Bowling Green in Wednesday night's GMAC Bowl so much as it was the thought of another kind of loss -- saying goodbye to a program, to friends and teammates, to coaches and fans and everything else that makes players like Wimprine and Williams say they love this thing known as college football ''They mean a lot,'' Wimprine was saying about his teammates. ''I made some good relationships over the years. I just want to say that.'' He continued: ''A couple years ago, it wasn't easy ... I want to say thanks to all the Memphis people.'' And as Wimprine walked away from the assembled media -- he was practically sprinting, the way a proud, tough football player does when holding tears at bay -- up limped the other all-time great DW -- DeAngelo, the player so good the first name suffices for fans, teammates, media. Wearing all-black, which seemed fitting for the occasion, Williams even sported an all-black aircast -- evidence of the broken right fibula the junior running back suffered in the second half. ''I get all choked up every time Danny talks,'' Williams said. About the injury, DeAngelo? ''The injury,'' he said, ''is nothing. Four to six weeks. Just a little fracture.'' No, the substantial thing wearing on his emotions was the loss -- of Wimprine, of the bowl game. Unsaid by anyone was the fact that Williams may have played his final college football game, as well. Williams and UofM coach Tommy West have insisted a decision would not be announced until after the bowl game. That his effort on Wednesday somehow seemed less-than-brilliant says much about the kind of player Williams has become. In years past, a UofM running back going for 120 yards on 18 carries with an electrifying 31-yard touchdown run would be cause for wild jubilation. In this case, it was a ''disappointing'' effort, if by disappointing you include the fact that Williams was gaining yardage in the third quarter with that right fibula already fractured. Williams said he figures he hurt the leg on one of the second half's opening runs. ''I told them to just tape me up,'' Williams said. But with 2:14 left in the third quarter, Williams slipped toward left end, on a play he has turned into a home run many times, but this time went down like someone had shot him -- inexplicably, painfully and, if it turns out to be his final carry as a Tiger, perhaps unfairly. In three seasons, Williams has amassed 4,062 career rushing yards, and, considering that the NCAA is likely to add a 12th regular-season game, would have a chance -- a way outside chance -- at reaching the all-time NCAA rushing record of 6,397 yards rushing held by former Wisconsin running back Ron Dayne. He would seem almost a cinch to set the all-time all-purpose yardage record. Williams would carry 5,657 all-purpose yards into next season -- just 1,549 yards shy of former Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams's mark of 7,206 yards. When he went out, that was it, even with Wimprine doing his all to bring back the Tigers. ''When he got hurt, you could see their heads drop a bit,'' said Bowling Green defensive lineman Mike Thaler. ''I mean, he's been like their whole team all year. When that happens, naturally you are going to have a letdown. They became one dimensional. At the end they just went with off sets and threw the ball.'' After his 324 yards passing and four touchdowns against Bowling Green, Wimprine finishes his career with 10,215 yards passing and 81 touchdown passes. ''On the last play ...'' Williams said, looked down and tried to compose himself. And tried. Finally, his coach, Tommy West, stepped in, grabbed Williams by the arm and said, ''Let's go.'' As they walked away, West and associate athletic director Bob Winn slid into an adjacent office. West pulled Williams to him with his left arm, and the two stood, side-by-side, the player leaning on the coach. The question is: Will the coach be able to lean on his star player next season? -- Zack McMillin: 529-2564 -------------------- DeAngelo's final (?) numbers 2004 season 313 carries (school record) 1,948 yards (school record) 23 touchdowns (school record) Career 659 carries (school record) 4,062 yards (school record) 41 touchdowns (school record)

12/23/04		Rains can't keep Tiger fans away from big game (Commercial Appeal)
		By Ron Higgins Contact December 23, 2004 MOBILE, Ala. -- The monsoon started 45 minutes before kickoff on Wednesday night at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. But when you're playing in your second consecutive bowl game for the first time in history, nothing short of the return of Hurricane Ivan to this port city was going to drive University of Memphis football fans from watching their beloved Tigers take on Bowling Green in the GMAC Bowl. While a Santa Claus roamed the stands passing out blue Mardi Gras beads -- he should have been passing out rain ponchos -- the Tiger faithful stood tall and true. The rain eventually stopped for a while, but Rolling... er... Bowling Green didn't. Memphis fell behind early, then battled back to a 28-28 tie late in the second quarter. But a stagnant offensive third quarter, marred by poor U of M sideline management, allowed the Falcons to pull away for a 52-35 victory. "It was a great year for us, eight wins and a bowl," Memphis coach Tommy West said. "We had a great crowd here tonight that showed up and represented us. I wish we could have won the game." It was a bitter ending for 28 Tiger seniors, including quarterback Danny Wimprine, who threw for 324 yards and four touchdowns in his 46th and final game in a U of M uniform. Wimprine's performance, and 120 rushing yards and one TD from running back DeAngelo Williams, who left the game with 2:41 remaining in the third quarter with a fractured right fibula, wasn't enough to offset a relentless Bowling Green offense that churned for 558 yards. "I don't like losing, losing is not acceptable for me or my teammates," Wimprine said. "I wanted to go out a winner. I think we raised the bar in Memphis, and I was glad to be a part of it." Even the loss couldn't dampen the spirit of the Tiger fans who were delighted to be bowling once again. They stuck around to the final horn. "All I wanted for Christmas is to be at this game, this is our Christmas," said Annie Stewart of Memphis, who was at her seat an hour before kickoff with her husband, Barney, and best friends Janet and Bobby Wilbanks. "This team has really given our city something to be thankful for, especially in tough times. I think the city (of Mobile) has appreciated the Memphis people being here." Memphis sold at least 7,000 tickets, more than any other school in the six-year history of the bowl. While the rain resulted in large splotches of empty seats at the supposedly sold-out game, Tiger fans wouldn't be deterred. "I used to be a Tiger basketball fan," said Janice Hall of Bartlett, waiting under the Ladd-Peebles stands and hoping for the rain to slacken. "I'm still a basketball fan, but football is No. 1 now." Hall and her husband, Galen, have had Tigers' season football tickets for more than 25 years. They've seen more of their share of heartbreaking seasons, years where if the Tigers had any kind of offense to match their defense they wouldn't have been stuck on 6-5 seasons at best. That's why for fans like the Halls, the last two seasons ending in bowl trips to New Orleans and Mobile have been so gratifying. "I'm so tickled about the program, and we're having so much success that sometimes I don't know if we know how to handle it," said a smiling Galen Hall. "Tommy West has done a magnificent job." While West will be around for a few more years, speculation is that Williams who entered Wednesday's game with 1,828 yards and 21 TDs, will declare for the NFL and not return for his senior season. Whether he returns or not, Sandra Hill, Williams's mother, had a front-row seat to watch her son on Wednesday. She wasn't hard to miss -- she was wearing reindeer antlers -- and said she was trying to match her son posing in a jester's hat for The Commercial Appeal's Sportsman of the Year photo in last Sunday's paper. "I told him he looked like a hot mess in that jester's hat," Hill said. "So I'm looking like a hot mess in this. Now, we're even." -- Ron Higgins: 529-2525

12/23/04		Calkins: Unfitting finish for the greatest Tiger (Commercial Appeal)
		By Geoff Calkins Contact December 23, 2004 MOBILE, Ala. -- Fifteen minutes left in the game, the rain-soaked throng in blue stood and applauded. Not for the score. For DeAngelo Williams, the greatest player ever to put on a Memphis uniform, slowly limping toward the locker room. He would play no more on this night. He may play no more for this team. "DeAngelo Williams, Memphis's fine running back, has a fractured right fibula," said the press box announcer. Nooooo. DeAngelo? A fractured fibula? Who screwed up the script on this one? The Tigers' glorious run came to a soggy end at the GMAC Bowl Wednesday night. It rained. It rained some more. The coaches couldn't count. The defense couldn't stop anyone. Oh, and Bowling Green sloshed past Memphis, 52-35. "We didn't play good enough," said Tommy West. That about covers it. We should have known things wouldn't go well when the exclamation point started to run before kickoff. Yes, the exclamation point. Otherwise known as Kyle Rogers, 18, a student at Memphis. Rogers and his buddies painted their chests to spell T-I-G-E-R-S-! Rogers was the exclamation point. But by kickoff, the paint was sliding into a question mark, then a comma. "It's wet," he said. You don't say. It rained, then it poured, then it really got going. Even Santa Claus was wet. Or Taylor Sargent, who came dressed as Santa. "I bought it for the New Orleans Bowl last year," Sargent said. "I thought I'd break it out for one more victory." Dear Santa. What Memphis fans would really like this year is a defense. Bowling Green scored the first time they got the ball, and the second, and the third. It was hard to figure who was having more fun with the Memphis defense: Bowling Green quarterback Omar Jacobs, or ESPN commentator Bob Davie. "These corners are on their own again and again and again," Davie said. He didn't mean it as a compliment. But give the Memphis offensive guys credit. They never stopped firing. Danny Wimprine hit John Doucette for 42 yards. He hit Chris Kelley for 60. He hit Maurice Avery for 38. All three were touchdowns. By halftime, Memphis trailed just 35-28. Wimprine turned to Albert Means as they walked on the field to start the third quarter. "We just need one stop," he said. They got it, too. With 7:59 left in the third quarter, Scott Vogel picked off a pass at the Bowling Green 41. The Tigers would tie the score. They would win the game. They would ... "Botch it," said West. You can say that again. The Tigers moved the ball to fourth-and-1 from the 32. Easy call, right? You go for it. Except the clock was running down. So Memphis called timeout. Long talk on the sidelines. Memphis settled on a play. Ooops. Penalty for illegal substitution. Memphis settled on another play. Ooops. Another penalty for illegal substitution. "This is what you call self-disintegration," said Davie. Who could really argue? The Tigers had squandered their chance. They punted. Bowling Green immediately scored to make it two touchdowns. Whatever chance Memphis had to get back into it ended three plays later, when Williams took a handoff, started around left end and fell -- untouched -- to the artificial turf. The rest was formality. The rest was a bittersweet countdown. Williams hobbled back onto the field with a walking cast. Barry Phillips, the team doctor, reassured everyone. "It's a small break halfway up," said Phillips. "He'll be fine." Williams and Wimprine both appeared at the postgame press conference. Neither one made it through it. Wimprine broke down when talking about his teammates. Williams broke down even sooner. "On the last play ...," he said. He couldn't finish the sentence. West went to the lectern to rescue him. And the best player ever to wear a Memphis uniform limped away, West's arm wrapped around his shoulder. To reach Geoff Calkins, call him at 529-2364

12/23/04		Lady Tigers Fall to Western Kentucky in Consolation Game -- Victoria Crawford hits 1,000th career point (GoTigersGo.com)
		PLAYA DEL CARMEN, MEXICO - Senior Victoria Crawford became the 17th Lady Tiger to reach the 1,000 career point mark, but was unfortunately the second in as many years to do so in a loss to Western Kentucky, 84-64. Princess Swilley hit the 1,000 career point mark last year in the loss at Western Kentucky in the WNIT. Crawford drove to the basket for her 1,001st career point with 4:53 remaining in the game, but the Lady Tigers were unable to slow down a hot-shooting Western Kentucky team. WKU hit 57.1 percent from the floor in the second half, and 52.3 percent for the game, wracking up 26 assists on 34 field goals as the Western Kentucky high-low game blistered the Lady Tiger defense. Jennifer Sullivan scored the game's first basket with a drive to the goal from the left block, but that 2-0 lead would be the only Lady Tiger lead in the game as the Lady Toppers answered with a 9-0 run to go up 9-2 with 16:11 to play. Krystal Gardner would hit a layup off a feed from Crystal Kelly to push the WKU lead to double-digits at 15-4 with 12:36 in the first half. It wasn't until there was 8:31 remaining in the opening half that Memphis got into double-digits, when Sullivan again drove for a layup, scoring four of her 10 points in the opening half. The Lady Toppers would push the lead to as high as 15 before Memphis mounted a comeback on the strength of the Lady Tigers' outside shooting. With WKU clogging the lane, Memphis rotated the ball around the perimeter and hit four consecutive three-point field goals, with Devin Necaise and Raven Rogers each hitting two in the run that cut the lead to 28-24 with 4:34 remaining. But WKU adjusted to the perimeter shooting and strung together a run of their own, 10-4, to go into the half up 38-28. Crawford scored four quick points in the second half to cut the lead to 38-32, but a Crystal Kelly jumper with 14:51 remaining put WKU up 47-36 and the lead would stay in the double-digits, except one stretch where Rogers and Necaise again hit back-to- back threes to cut the lead to nine at two different points. But it would be one shot and done for the Lady Tigers for the remainder of the second half, while WKU hit 57.1 percent of their shots from the field to pull away to the final 84-64 final score. Memphis would commit 11 second half turnovers, compared to just five for WKU, effectively breaking momentum as the team tried to string together points. Crawford scored her 1,001st career point with 4:48 remaining in the game, driving the left baseline and converting a lay-up. She would finish with 13 points on 5-of-10 shooting from the field and now ranks 16th on the Memphis all-time scoring list. Raven Rogers led all Memphis players with 18 points, also leading the team with 10 rebounds, seven of them in the opening half, to pick up her second double-double of the season. Necaise added 13 points, including a 3-for-8 mark from three-point range. For the game, Memphis would go 9-for-15 from three-point land, at one point having a better shooting percentage from beyond the arc than in the overall field goal percentage. Sullivan was the fourth Lady Tiger in double digits with 10 points. Five Lady Toppers hit double-digits in an offensive explosion. Crystal Kelly led WKU with 25 points, while Krystal Gardner caem off the bench to add 25. Cacie Pope was too much for Memphis inside, finishing with a double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds. Camryn Whitaker and Tiffany Porter-Talbert each added 12 points in the win. The Lady Tigers will break for the holiday season and will return to the friendly confines of the Elma Roane Fieldhouse to face Radford, Dec. 28th at 7 p.m. That game will be a Tiger Pride night, as all fans wearing blue will receive free admission.

12/22/04		Tigers Fall In GMAC Bowl -- Not surprisingly, it was a night for offensive records (GoTigersGo.com)
		By JOHN ZENOR AP Sports Writer MOBILE, Ala. - Omar Jacobs went from Bowling Green's question mark to the Mid-American Conference's latest star quarterback. Jacobs capped a marvelous sophomore season by passing for 365 yards and five touchdowns to lead the Falcons to a 52-35 victory over Memphis on Wednesday night in the GMAC Bowl. "This is just a sign of things to come," Bowling Green coach Gregg Brandon said in what could have been a compliment or a warning. "When we first talked about what we needed him to do, we needed him to manage the offense and don't turn it over, and if you get a chance make a play every once in a while. "Well ... he took it to the next level." The Falcons (9-3) turned a shootout into a blowout after leading 35-28 at halftime to win their fourth consecutive bowl game. Jacobs got them started with four first-half touchdown passes - two apiece to Charles Sharon and Steve Sanders - and P.J. Pope helped carry them the rest of the way. Pope ran 28 times for 151 yards and a pair of 1-yard touchdowns. He also caught a 13-yard pass for the only score of the third quarter. The Tigers (8-4), playing in back-to-back bowl games for the first time, couldn't keep up with the nation's No. 4 offense, which totaled 558 total yards. "That first half, we felt like we got in a rhythm with our run-pass mix, but we're not good enough to be one or the other," Memphis coach Tommy West said. "No team is." Memphis' DeAngelo Williams rushed for 120 yards on 18 carries before limping to the locker room at the end of the third quarter with a broken right leg. He hurt it earlier in the game but went back in and couldn't get through a tearful postgame press conference. "He had been their weapon all year, and with him being hurt and out of the game we knew they're just a one-dimensional team," Bowling Green linebacker Jovon Burks said. Danny Wimprine nearly matched Jacobs' performance, going 26-of-39 for 324 yards and four touchdowns but passing for just 11 yards in the third quarter and losing a fumble. Jacobs, whose 41 touchdown passes led the nation and set a Mid-American Conference record, completed 26 of 44 passes with an interception to earn Most Valuable Player honors. If his first season as a starter is an indication, he's in line for the kind of prolific career of former MAC quarterbacks such as Byron Leftwich and Ben Roethlisberger. He used a number of rollout passes to counter a blitzing Memphis defense - a la Roethlisberger in last year's GMAC Bowl. "We knew their (modus operandi) was blitzing," Jacobs said. "They got to me a couple of times, but we came out and made plays." At halftime, the teams seemed poised to take aim at the 2001 GMAC Bowl, the highest scoring bowl game in history with 125 combined points for Marshall and East Carolina. The offenses stopped themselves early in the third quarter. Jacobs threw only his fourth interception of the season to give the Tigers the ball at Bowling Green's 41. Memphis tried to go for it on fourth down but was twice penalized for having 12 men on the field. Bowling Green made it 42-28 on the ensuing possession with Pope slipping underneath for a 13-yard touchdown catch on third-and-7. The Tigers then squandered another trip across midfield when a scrambling Wimprine fumbled the ball and Bowling Green's Mike Thaler recovered 31 yards behind the line of scrimmage to set up a field goal. Even the weather worked in the offenses' favor, however, with a driving rainstorm subsiding a few minutes before kickoff to clear the way for Jacobs and Wimprine to go to work. They took full advantage. Jacobs capped his four-touchdown half with a 17-yarder to Sanders, who reached over defensive back Cameron Essex in the end zone with 37 seconds left. "We knew if we just kept putting it to them and didn't (mess) up, we knew we had them," offensive lineman Andrew Hart said. Not surprisingly, it was a night for offensive records. Jacobs set the MAC record with his 41st overall touchdown rushing or passing in the first quarter, adding four more. He also joined Roethlisberger and Leftwich as the league's only 4,000-yard passers. The Falcons also set the MAC record for scoring average in a season. Wimprine, meanwhile, went over 10,000 career passing yards.

12/22/04		Post Game Notes -- Notes from GMAC Bowl - Memphis vs. Bowling Green (GoTigersGo.com)
		Tight end John Doucette caught his third career touchdown pass off a 42-yard pass from Danny Wimprine midway through the first quarter. It was the longest TD catch of his career, but he does own a 53-yard reception during the 2003 Ole Miss game. Doucette came back late in the fourth quarter to catch his fourth career TD pass. The 42-yard touchdown pass to Doucette, marked the 78th career TD strike for quarterback Danny Wimprine. It was also his 19th TD pass of the season as Wimprine now ranks third in season touchdown passes after surpassing Steve Matthews. Matthews totaled 18 touchdown passes in 1992. Wimprine also holds the top two spots with 22 in 2003, and 23 in 2002. Receiver Chris Kelley recorded his second touchdown reception of the season off a 60-yard pass from Danny Wimprine in the second quarter. It was the longest reception of the season for Kelley. He now totals four career touchdown receptions. The 60-yard pass also marked the eighth pass of the season over 50 yards for Wimprine. He now totals 23 career passes over 50 yards. The pass was the longest TD pass play in a GMAC Bowl game. With the 60-yard touchdown pass to Chris Kelley, quarterback Danny Wimprine surpassed the 10,000-yard mark in career passing yards. He entered the game with 9,891yards passing, and with his 324 yards tonight, ends his collegiate career with 10,215 yards. The 324 yards rank as his eighth career game over 300 yards. Wimprine's career totals read: 10,215 yards, 1,469 attempts, 808 completions, 14 interceptions and 81 touchdowns. Receiver Maurice Avery snagged his first touchdown reception of the season off a 41-yard pass from Danny Wimprine in the second quarter. Avery, who led the Tiger receivers in touchdowns last season with eight, now totals nine TD receptions for his career. C-USA Offensive Player of the Year DeAngelo Williams rolled off a 31-yard touchdown run to enable Memphis to tie the game at 28-28 late in the second quarter. It was his 37th rushing touchdown of his career, and his 22nd of the season. Williams has rushed for a touchdown in the last five consecutive games. With the touchdown, Williams tied the Conference USA record which was 37 rushing touchdowns by DeMarco McClesky of Cincinnati (1998, 2000-02). With his 120 yards today, DeAngelo Williams edged over the 4,000-yard mark in career rushing with 4,062 yards. With his first eight yards in tonight's game, Williams also set a new season record in all-purpose yards. He entered the game with 2,106 yards through 11 games, and with his 120 yards tonight, he ends the season with 2,226 all-purpose yards. Williams previously held the record with 2,113 yards in 2003. With his four PATs today, Stephen Gostkowski set a new single season record with 47 PATs. He held the record in 2003 after he hit 44 of 44 PATs. Gostkowski ended his junior season with a 47 of 48 mark for PATs. His only miss was on a kick that was moved back because of penalty against Southern Miss. He had hit 87 consecutive PATs prior to that miss. The four PATs in tonight's game also helped kicker Stephen Gostkowski surpass Joe Allison (1990-93) for a new school record in career points. Gostkowski entered the game tied with Allison with 263 points. Through three seasons, Gostkowski now totals 267 points. Tailback DeAngelo Williams moved from No. 4 to a tie for No. 3 with 248 points following his second quarter touchdown. He is tied with kicker Ryan White who totaled 248 points from 1998-2001. Senior cat safety Scott Vogel picked off the eighth pass of his career in the third quarter. It was his third pick of the season as he also totaled interceptions against Arkansas State and East Carolina in 2004. Tailback DeAngelo Williams rushed for 120 yards today prior to fracturing his right fibula in the third quarter, marking his 24th career game over 100 yards. He has rushed for more than 100 yards in the last five games. Williams ends the season with 1,948 yards on 313 carries and 22 touchdowns. Through three years, Williams totals 4,062 yards on 761 carries and 37 touchdowns.

12/22/04		Box Score -- Bowling Green 52, Memphis 35 (GoTigersGo.com)
		Bowling Green 21 14 7 10 - 52 Memphis 7 21 0 7 - 35 First Quarter BG-Pope 1 run (Suisham kick), 10:24. BG-Sharon 18 pass from Jacobs (Suisham kick), 9:37. Mem-Doucette 42 pass from Wimprine (Gostkowski kick), 6:51. BG-Sharon 36 pass from Jacobs (Suisham kick), 4:39. Second Quarter Mem-Kelley 60 pass from Wimprine (Gostkowski kick), 14:43. BG-Sanders 31 pass from Jacobs (Suisham kick), 9:54. Mem-Avery 38 pass from Wimprine (Gostkowski kick), 6:41. Mem-Williams 31 run (Gostkowski kick), 3:37. BG-Sanders 17 pass from Jacobs (Suisham kick), :37. Third Quarter BG-Pope 13 pass from Jacobs (Suisham kick), 3:18. Fourth Quarter BG-FG Suisham 37, 14:09. BG-Pope 1 run (Suisham kick), 8:01. Mem-Doucette 14 pass from Wimrine (Gostkowski kick), 3:48. A-NA. --- BG Mem First downs 29 21 Rushes-yards 43-193 27-90 Passing 365 324 Comp-Att-Int 26-44-1 26-39-1 Return Yards 26 68 Punts-Avg. 4-31.8 6-32.8 Fumbles-Lost 1-1 2-1 Penalties-Yards 2-14 4-28 Time of Possession 33:23 26:37 --- INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING-Bowling Green, Pope 28-151, Lane 5-36, Jacobs 7-9, Magner 1-3, Team 1-(minus 1), Macon 1-(minus 5). Memphis, Williams 18-120, Doss 5-7, Wimprine 4-(minus 37). PASSING-Bowling Green, Jacobs 26-44-1-365. Memphis, Wimprine 26-39-1-324. RECEIVING-Bowling Green, Sanders 7-123, Sharon 5-117, Magner 9-68, Hawkins 2-25, McGrady 2-19, Pope 1-13. Memphis, Gideon 6-38, Kelley 4-108, Avery 3-51, Doss 3-(minus 1), Doucette 2-56, White 2-32, Davis 2-16, Pratcher 2-5, Scott 1-15, Williams 1-4.

12/22/04		Everyone wins at bowls -- Tigers' West sees GMAC as reward, recruiting tool (Commercial Appeal)
		By Ron Higgins Contact December 22, 2004 MOBILE, Ala. -- It took one bowl win by the University of Memphis for Tigers' coach Tommy West to change his tune about bowls. "I was a strong advocate of creating a playoff system until the New Orleans Bowl last year," said West of his team's 27-17 victory over North Texas. "To see our players and fans after that game ... well, you can't take away that. "LSU stood in that same locker room we were in two weeks later when it won the national championship, and I guarantee you nobody in that LSU locker room was happier than we were. I realized that with 28 bowls, there's nothing wrong with 28 teams being happy at the end of the year." Tonight at 7 in Ladd-Peebles Stadium, the UofM plays in back-to-back bowl games for the first time in the history of the program when it takes on Bowling Green in the GMAC Bowl. On the radar screen of the bowl schedule that stretches for 22 days from Pasadena to Miami, from Boise to El Paso, the six-year old GMAC Bowl might not register a blip to most of the nation. In fact, in the current atmosphere, where many fans and media and some coaches are demanding a playoff system, there are many critics saying the only bowl that matters is a national championship game, and the rest of the bowls are a waste of space and TV time. Tell that to a program like Memphis, which has aspirations of continuing to climb the bowl food chain after the Tigers last year ended a 32-year absence from the bowls. Tell that to the GMAC Bowl officials, who tonight will see their bowl's fourth sellout in the last five years. Memphis fans have already bought 7,000 tickets (with 3,000 more fans expected), more than any other participating school in the bowl's history. "A bowl is a privilege that you've earned," said Memphis senior quarterback Danny Wimprine, who's playing the final game of his college career. "It's fun to be able to travel with your team and spend one more week with the guys you've been with for four or five years." And make no mistake, the Tigers have had fun. They ate dinner on the USS Alabama battleship on Saturday, and had plenty of laughs at a team bowling function on Sunday. They attended a Fellowship of Christian Athletes breakfast on Monday and a team luncheon and parade on Tuesday. The values of bowls are two-fold. First, they make teams feel special for the year-round sacrifice of weight and running workouts, practices and finally games. It's nice to be welcomed, wanted and entertained by a bowl. It also means the world to most players to get bowl gifts, such as watches, rings and warmup suits. "I look forward to getting that watch and wearing it until the next season starts," Tigers' defensive end Marcus West said. "Then I put it away and start working toward getting to the next bowl game." Also, when you're building a program like Memphis, playing in bowl after bowl is a necessity. New South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier, who went to 10 straight bowls when he coached at Florida from 1990-2001, remembered taking Duke to its first bowl in 27 years. "It was huge," said Spurrier, who spoke at Tuesday's luncheon. "If you can go to a bowl on a consistent basis, it certainly helps recruiting and helps build your program." Ultimately, though many recruits talk about getting a good education being a factor in their college decision, most want two consistent things -- playing on TV and playing in bowls. "Since we are now a bowl team, I've seen a huge difference in recruiting," Tommy West said. "We now get in doors that maybe before we couldn't get into, especially with the blue chip-type players to visit." However, West admits, "We're still young in this thing. "When we started four years ago, we wanted to consistently play in bowl games. Now, we want to try and move the bar, and try to become a top 25 program." -- Ron Higgins: 529-2525

12/22/04		Memphis, Bowling Green expect touchdowns aplenty (Commercial Appeal)
		By Phil Stukenborg Contact December 22, 2004 MOBILE, Ala. -- Jerry Silverstein, president of the GMAC Bowl, wasn't kidding. He has spent the past three weeks successfully promoting tonight's game between Memphis and Bowling Green, two high-scoring, pass-happy teams that have the potential to post offensive numbers that have characterized this bowl in its short history. Silverstein predicted Memphis and Bowling Green could go five hours plus -- or into the wee hours of Thursday morning -- if Memphis quarterback Danny Wimprine, Memphis running back DeAngelo Williams and Bowling Green quarterback Omar Jacobs aren't too rusty from a nearly month-long layoff. Wimprine is a fifth-year senior who holds virtually every school passing record and is 110 yards shy of surpassing 10,000 passing yards in his career. Williams is an all-American who leads the nation in scoring and is the program's career rushing leader. Jacobs is a redshirt sophomore who has thrown for 40 touchdowns in his career and has been intercepted only three times. His 36 TD passes this season lead the nation, and his 3,637 passing yards rank second nationally. Could this be another Marshall 64, East Carolina 61? That was the final in the 2001 GMAC Bowl. There are those who think the Memphis and Bowling Green offenses could approach those numbers if their leaders are given time to throw and room to run. Memphis ranks 10th nationally in total offense (464.5 yards per game) and scoring (35.9 points per game). Bowling Green is better. It ranks second nationally in pass offense (335.6 yards per game) and fourth in total offense (501.6 yards per game) and scoring offense (43.6 points per game). ''I love (the potential of a high-scoring game) because an offensive shootout means the crowd is going to be in the game,'' Williams said. ''And everybody is having fun.'' Williams, a junior who could be playing in his final college game, has been enjoying the second half of the Tiger season. He has rushed for at least 199 yards in each of the team's last four games, including a school-record 263 in the regular-season finale at South Florida. Eligible to leave school and enter the NFL Draft as a junior, Williams has scored nine touchdowns in the team's last four games and is averaging 221.7 yards during the stretch. Bowling Green (8-3) of the Mid-American Conference counters with Jacobs and running back P.J. Pope before an expected sellout of 40,160. ''Bowling Green is a really explosive offensive team and an aggressive defensive team,'' Tiger coach Tommy West said. ''Philosophy-wise they are a lot like Louisville.'' And Tiger fans, who could number more than 7,000 tonight, understand the comparison to Louisville. In a high-scoring, entertaining affair at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium earlier this season, the Cardinals won, 56-49. The Falcons enter the game confident that behind Jacobs, the MAC offensive player of the year, they can score on anyone. ''I'm sure Memphis has a good game plan,'' Jacobs said. ''But no one has stopped us this year.'' It's difficult to argue with Jacobs. Since Oct. 2 the Falcons have scored at least 41 points in eight consecutive games, including a season-high 70 in a victory at Temple. Memphis (8-3) has struggled against teams like Bowling Green and quarterbacks like Jacobs, a threat to run or pass. The Tigers rank 111th nationally in pass defense, allowing 267.8 yards per game. As much as it could be high-scoring -- even if predicted rain interferes -- there are those who'd welcome the opposite. ''A lot of people like a high-scoring game like this could be, but I'd like for us to get a lot of points and them not too many,'' said Wimprine, the MVP of the 2003 New Orleans Bowl. ''Their offense is good, but I'd like to see our defense step up in a big way.'' It's been a theme the Tiger defense has carried throughout the bowl workouts. They've been accosted at every media opportuntity, asked how they'll possibly be able to stop an offense when they've struggled against the pass. ''Nobody we've played does what they do,'' said Tiger defensive coordinator Joe Lee Dunn. ''They basically do a lot of things that our offense does. There's gonna be one or two guys that get the ball. Ninety-five percent of the time they're in the shotgun and either the quarterback is going to keep it or the tailback is gonna run the ball. ''And what we'll have to watch out for is their tailback catching the ball out of the backfield. He's one of their best receivers. They'll use him as the quarterback like we use DeAngelo sometimes on direct snaps.'' -- Phil Stukenborg: 529-2543

12/22/04		U of M Notebook (Commercial Appeal)
		By Phil Stukenborg and Ron Higgins Contact December 22, 2004 The next best thing for University of Memphis quarterback Danny Wimprine to playing in his hometown of New Orleans, as he did in last year's New Orleans Bowl, is playing in Mobile, which is 90 minutes to the east. "I've got about 50 family members and friends coming, and about 15 tickets for them," said Wimprine, who is one of 28 seniors playing the final game of his career. "I want to finish as a winner because that's the last impression you leave people." West said Wimprine has worn a game face since arriving in Mobile on Saturday. "Danny has had his jaw set for a week," West said. "He's got a look on his face that he's ready to play. It's sunk in with Danny that this is it, that he's not going to play another game for Memphis. I think Danny is the backbone of this program, he learned how to play quarterback. I've had more fun watching the maturity of him as a quarterback than any player I can remember." Ballcoach approves New South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier, who spoke at Wednesday's luncheon honoring the participating teams, said there were many things that impressed him about the Memphis program, such as the high-scoring offense led by Wimprine and running back DeAngelo Williams. But what really caught Spurrier's eye was the Tigers' veterans. "For Tommy West to have 28 seniors is amazing," Spurrier said. "For players to stay there four and five years is a credit to his program and the University of Memphis. They are doing a good job of keeping their kids going to class, pursuing their degrees and not leaving school early." A coach can dream, can't he? When the Tigers worked out in 40,000-seat Ladd-Peebles Stadium for the first time on Monday night, it was love at first sight for West. "I'd like to take this stadium back to Memphis and put it on our campus somewhere, but I don't think they are going to let me do that." West said. "I'd like to see for us to have a stadium with just 40,000 seats because it would make our games a hard ticket, a sellout every game. If you always have tickets readily available, there might not be that desire to buy tickets. But if there's a limited amount of tickets, you want it a lot worse." The Tigers play their home games off campus at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, which seats more than 60,000. West likes everything about Ladd-Peebles Stadium, from its Fieldturf artificial surface (which West said will be installed at the Liberty Bowl next year), to the intimate atmosphere that he'd love to see his team have. It's the home-field advantage enjoyed by such C-USA schools as Louisville, Southern Miss and Cincinnati. "If we had a stadium like that, then coming to Memphis would be a real difficult place to come play," West said. "I'd like to see us move in that direction, but I don't know." Former UofM basketball coach Larry Finch had a similar dream to build an on-campus arena, instead of moving from the Mid-South Coliseum to The Pyramid in the early '90s. Finch's dream never got to the drawing board. And there are no plans for the Tigers to build an on-campus stadium. Rain, rain go away The weather in Mobile was absolutely glorious on Tuesday. Both teams practiced in weather that was in the 70s and sunny. But there's a 70 percent chance of rain today and tonight, and temperatures will start dipping into the 50s. The stadium's Fieldturf has the reputation of draining extremely well, but West still cast a wary eye skyward. "We played in the rain this year at Cincinnati and got killed," West said, shaking his head. Bowling Green coach Gregg Brandon, sitting next to West at Wednesday's press conference, quickly interjected with a laugh, "So it needs to RAIN! RAAAIIINNNN!" Finding entertainment In Mobile since Friday, the players have been relatively busy with planned events and practices, but there has been a significant amount of free time, too. Most players have walked the downtown area and frequented Dauphin Street's restaurants and shops, but without transportation they haven't been able to venture too far. As a result, the team's hotel's Blakely Ballroom has been a popular spot. The ballroom is equipped with an ice cream machine and a popcorn maker, in addition to an assortment of quaintly antique video games. ''Everybody comes down to the room every once in a while to snack,'' said Tiger linebacker Quinton McCrary. ''But most of the games are old school. They've got Pac Man and NBA Jam. NBA Jam has (former Warriors guard) Chris Mullin ... that goes way back.'' Walking through Memphis had a walk-through practice Tuesday at Ladd-Peebles, with the lighthearted affair lasting less than an hour. The Tigers got in one more practice than Bowling Green, which went to the stadium for the first time Tuesday. Memphis also worked out Monday night under the lights. As the Tigers walked off the field Tuesday, West said his team was upbeat. ''I feel good about where we are right now,'' he said. ''We've just got to carry it for 24 more hours. We're relaxed, comfortable and confident. And they are having fun.'' As for West, he said he was ready to play and ready to stop answering repeated questions about his team's preparations. ''I had forgotten the worst part of going to these bowl games,'' he said. ''It's answering all the (media's) questions.''

12/22/04		Calkins: For 'D-Dubs,' it's last game in Tiger blue; let's savor it (Commercial Appeal)
		By Geoff Calkins Contact December 22, 2004 MOBILE, Ala. -- The two moms stood in the raucous crowd, waiting for the parade. "This is becoming a tradition," said Barbara Wimprine, mother of Danny. "A great tradition," said Sandra Hill, mother of Deangelo Williams. They looked around at the vast, happy horde. At what their sons had wrought. You know what "mom" spells if you flip it upside down, don't you? Wow. Another year, another parade. Another year, another bowl game. The Memphis Tigers play Bowling Green in the GMAC Bowl tonight. One thing now seems certain: They'll play in front of some friends. Mobile's streets brimmed with blue Tuesday night, as Memphis fans streamed into the town. Alan Crayer wore a gaudy blue suit he bought at Burke's. "I have a thong to match," he said. Susan Russell and Amy Apple wore blue Santa hats. "We made them ourselves," said Russell. "I was making hats until the minute before we left." Wimprine and Hill waited for the parade and made plans to go bowling this morning. Really. They thought it fit with the theme. Someone asked how their sons compared, anyway. Were they alike? Different? "Danny's the one with the blond hair and blue eyes," said Barbara, deadpan. And then she laughed. But it's hard not to feel a little wistful about this night, despite the celebratory air. It's the last time Wimprine will play for the Tigers. It's likely the last time for Williams, too. Memphis coach Tommy West had his radio show at a bar across the street from the team hotel Tuesday night. Williams's future came up. "The pros don't want him," West said. "I got a letter from them to give to DeAngelo telling him to stay in school." And when did he plan to give the kid the letter? "After the game," he said. "I haven't written it yet." Then he laughed, too. So this could be a historic game for all kinds of reasons. The second straight bowl. The last time to watch the two players most responsible for recasting the image of Memphis football. Danny and DeAngelo. D.W. and D.W. "The D-Dubs," is what Sandra Hill called them. "Two little kids," countered Barbara Wimprine. She had a story as evidence. About the time Williams came to visit the Wimprines'. The Wimprine's have an electric collar to keep their dog off the porch. Williams took the collar off the dog to conduct a small experiment. "It's not going to hurt me," he said, approaching the porch. Barbara Wimprine shook her head. "You've never seen him jump so high," she said. "Like I said, two little kids." But the little kids were the big blocks. They were this program's Ronnie Robinson and Larry Finch. Can you imagine having the chance to watch Robinson and Finch again? In a small way, that's what you have tonight. The best quarterback in the history of the school and the best running back in the history of the school. "What do they mean to the program?" said Randy Fichtner, the Memphis offensive coordinator. "This." Fichtner held his hands out toward the crowd. You've never seen so much blue. Babies in blue, grandparents in blue, sisters and brothers in blue, too. Elizabeth Corder wore No. 18. Elizabeth is 9. Who's No. 18, Elizabeth? "Danny Wimprine," she said. Michael Corder wore No. 20. Michael is 4. Who's No. 20, Michael? "Me!" The parade came around the corner. The loot started to fly. People scrambled for beads and plastic cups and miniature moon pies. The two moms watched it all with pride and pleasure. Who'd have believed it? Memphis football. Really, who'd have believed? "It's a tradition," said Sandra Hill. "Yeah," said Barbara Wimprine. "And if they don't continue it next year, I'm going to be ticked." To reach Geoff Calkins, call him at 529-2364

12/21/04		Awful 2nd half dooms Tigers -- Louisiana Tech 64, Memphis 55 (Commercial Appeal)
		By Gary Parrish Contact December 21, 2004 The clock was winding down. Less than a minute remained. And there was Daevon Haskins, clapping his hands and giving orders to his Louisiana Tech teammates, who were way ahead and just moments from a victory that an hour earlier seemed like a sure-bet defeat. "Keep going!" the point guard yelled. "We're playing hard until the final horn blows!" If only the University of Memphis took such an approach. Then, perhaps, the Tigers could have avoided Monday night's 64-55 loss to Louisiana Tech that served as further proof of a season headed the wrong direction, and fast. "Obviously, we learned we're not there yet," said a noticeably distraught John Calipari. "We're not a very good team right now. I'm disappointed, but I'm not giving up." As far as Memphis losses go, this one may have been the strangest of the season. The Tigers (6-5) played well in the first half, then awful in the second. It was Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde on a basketball court, the kind of good/bad performance that made the announced crowd of 7,581 inside FedExForum cheer like maniacs after 20 minutes and boo like crazy post 40. How good was the first half? Good enough to where when Duane Erwin sank a 3-pointer near the buzzer, Memphis led 28-16 and seemed capable of blowing out Louisiana Tech (5-4). How bad was the second half? Bad enough to where the Bulldogs outscored Memphis, 48-27, and in the process made the Tigers appear as inept as they've ever looked. "We just got rattled," said Erwin, who finished with 11 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks. "You can't explain it. It takes character to respond to a challenge like that, and we couldn't." Memphis missed 20 of the first 22 shots it took in the second half and didn't get a field goal until only 13:48 remained. By then, Louisiana Tech had already put together a 17-0 run, and built a lead it would never relinquish in the process of handing the U of M its fifth defeat by nine or more points. The Tigers shot just 22.6 percent in the second half and missed 9-of-11 3-pointers. If not for Memphis going 13-of-15 from the free throw line, it would've really been a route. Meanwhile, Louisiana Tech was rolling right along, creating one easy basket after another to recover from a double-digit deficit and ultimately pull away. The Bulldogs were 4-of-31 from the field in the first half. That's 12.9 percent. They were 15-of-26 from the field in the second half. That's 57.7 percent. Halftime adjustments, anybody? "It was completely two different halves for us offensively," said Louisiana Tech coach Keith Richard. "Our struggles at the half were all on the offensive end, and that's what we talked about at halftime, was how we can play better offense. "I think the one, big thing we told our players was that to get the ball inside we needed to make one more pass," Richard added. "We were getting it in there in the first half, and getting a lot of contested shots or blocked shots. So we just wanted our players to make that extra pass, and I think that happened in the second half and really helped." Helped, and in a big way. The Bulldogs scored 20, mostly uncontested points in the paint in the final 20 minutes, 10 of which belonged to Paul Millsap. A 6-8 sophomore, Millsap finished with 19 points and 15 rebounds in 37 minutes. That was plenty good enough to ruin the return of Sean Banks, the Memphis standout who came back from a one-game suspension and scored 15 points in 30 minutes. "We'll be all right," said Tiger point guard Darius Washington, who struggled with 10 points, one assist and four turnovers. "Everybody has their ups and downs. We're just having our downs early." -- Gary Parrish: 529-2365

12/21/04		U of M postgame (Commercial Appeal)
		Play of the game When Duane Erwin nailed a 3-pointer near the horn indicating the end of the first half, he danced back down court and then went to the locker room with his Tigers ahead, 28-16. It was Erwin's first career 3-pointer, and a glorious moment filled with emotion. We'll call that the Play of the Game, because it was the last time Memphis looked excited, and it proved to be the Tigers' final meaningful basket. Stat of the game It was the second half that did Memphis in. Two statistics tell the story. Memphis shot 22.6 percent in the final 20 minutes. Louisiana Tech countered by making 57.7 percent of its shots in that same span. The Bulldogs' Paul Millsap had just one less field goal in the second half than the entire Memphis team, and the Tigers missed 20 of the first 22 shots they took after the intermission. Trends Memphis has now played six consecutive games in which it's scored less than 30 points in the first half. The Tigers haven't scored more than 32 points in a first half since the third game of the season. X's and O's Any hope that this Memphis offense might look smoother with the addition of Sean Banks was premature. For the Tigers, nothing is simple, especially in the halfcourt. It didn't matter whether the Tigers ran their motion offense or a side pick-and-roll with Darius Washington and Banks or anything else; nothing worked. And it all started with Washington, who is still struggling to get Memphis into any set because the freshman is finding it difficult to make the initial pass when there's pressure. Odds and ends Former Tiger basketball player Detric Golden is holding a holiday toy drive for his charity, Golden Child Ministries, which helps under-privileged youths in the city. For more information or to make a donation call 644-2646. UofM signee Robert Dozier arrived in town Monday afternoon and watched the Tigers' loss from just behind the Memphis bench. A standout at Laurinburg (N.C.) Prep, Dozier is awaiting his latest SAT score. If it's satisfactory, then the 6-8 wing could enroll at Memphis for the second semester. Dozier said he expects to learn his fate later this week. In a worst-case scenario, he'll simply return to Laurinburg and then probably enroll at Memphis in the summer. With five blocks against Louisiana Tech, Erwin, a senior, moved into sole position of 10th place in career blocked shots at the UofM. Erwin now has 119 blocks as a Tiger. Memphis freshman Joey Dorsey didn't come close to repeating his 14-point, 18-rebound effort from the Austin Peay victory. In 17 minutes, Dorsey had no points, three rebounds and about 46 "What are you doing?" yells from John Calipari. Dorsey played only five minutes in the second half, and it wasn't because of foul trouble. Arthur Barclay played for the first time since the Arkansas State game on Nov. 23. The senior who has been hobbled by bad knees was in for less than a minute and didn't score or get a rebound. What's next Memphis will play the third of three games in eight days Thursday when it hosts Providence at FedExForum. The Friars, coached by Tim Welsh, are 5-4 heading into tonight's game against Maine and have been a bit of a disappointment this year. They were a borderline Top 25 pick in the preseason, but they've lost four games already, two of whic