Number Two

Although their team was not awarded a No. 1 seed, Tiger fans can take heart that their team is still a top-two seed in the 2009 NCAA Tournament, the NCAA selection committee announced Sunday.  Memphis (31-3) is the No. 2 seed in the West Region and opens tournament play on Thursday, Mar. 19 at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo.

 

     The Tigers will face the No. 15 seed Cal State-Northridge (17-13). CBS Sports will announce Thursday’s game time by no later than mid-day on Monday. The first and second rounds are scheduled for the Sprint Center in Kansas City. If the Tigers win their first-round game Thursday, they would play a second-round game on Saturday against either No. 7 seed California or No. 10 seed Maryland.  Game time for Saturday's contest will be announced late Thursday after the first round is completed.

 

     It is the fourth-consecutive year the Tigers have been a No. 1 or No. 2 seed, and Memphis is the only school to be a No. 1 or No. 2 seed the past four NCAA Tournaments (2006-09). Memphis was a No. 1 seed in 2006 and 2008 and a No. 2 in 2007 and 2009. The 2005-06 and 2006-07 squads advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight, while the 2007-08 team made it to the NCAA championship contest.

 

     Memphis, ranked No. 4 in the Associated Press poll and No. 3 in the ESPN/USA Today coaches poll, is 31-3 overall entering the NCAA Tournament. The 31 victories are tied for the fourth-most wins in a single season in school history. The Tigers are also the only squad in NCAA Division I history to enter the NCAA Tournament with 30 or more wins four-straight years.

 

     This is Memphis' 22^nd overall NCAA Tournament appearance. The Tigers have a 30-21 record in NCAA Tournament play. In its history, Memphis has made three Final Four appearances (1973, 1985, 2008), six Elite Eights and 10 Sweet Sixteens.

Selection Sunday Party

Please come & enjoy the Selection Sunday excitement with Rebounders and Tiger Fans at Cal’s Championship Steakhouse at a $16 “ALL YOU CAN EAT BUFFET” starting at 2:30 p.m. followed by a live radio show at 6 p.m. to project, pontificate, and analyze the pairings.

 

Due to a NCAA ruling, teams and coaches can no longer participate and appear at pairings parties.  Let’s enjoy our team’s success and hope the NCAA Committee places our Tigers in a deserved #1 seed.  Regardless, we’ve got weeks of fun basketball left.

Memphis Nearly Sweeps C-USA Specialty Awards

The University of Memphis men’s basketball team may need an additional trophy case after the 2008-09 season is complete as the Tigers nearly swept the Conference USA specialty awards, the league office announced Tuesday.  Senior Antonio Anderson was named the C-USA Defensive Player of the Year, freshman Tyreke Evans the league’s Freshman of the Year and freshman Wesley Witherspoon the C-USA Sixth Man of the Year.

     Anderson also made his third-straight appearance on the Conference USA All-Defensive Team, and fellow senior Robert Dozier joined him on the league’s All-Defensive squad. Evans was selected to the C-USA All-Freshman Team.

     The C-USA awards and All-Defensive and All-Freshmen teams were voted on by the league’s coaches and selected media members.

     Anderson made it a three-year Memphis sweep for the C-USA Defensive Player of the Year honor, as the Tigers’ Joey Dorsey earned the award the previous two years (2007, 2008). Evans is the sixth Memphis freshman to receive the C-USA Freshman of the Year honor, with all six honorees coming in the John Calipari era. Other Tiger freshmen to earn the honor were Dajuan Wagner (2002), Sean Banks (2004), Darius Washington Jr. (2005), Shawne Williams (2006) and Derrick Rose (2008). Witherspoon is the second Tiger to take home the league’s Sixth Man of the Year award, as Jeremy Hunt did so in 2007.

     It is the third-straight season that two Tigers appeared on the C-USA All-Defensive Team. Anderson and Dorsey both made the squad in the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons.

     Evans, who is an Oscar Robertson Trophy finalist for National Player of the Year, leads the Tigers in scoring (16.9 ppg) and steals (65). He is averaging 5.5 rebounds and 3.7 assists, while shooting 45.2 percent from the field and 69.6 percent from the free throw line. The eight-time Conference USA Rookie of the Week is ranked among the league leaders in scoring (7^th), rebounding (12^th), field goal percentage (10^th), assists (9^th) and steals (2^nd).

     The Chester, Pa., native is ranked third on the Memphis all-time freshmen steals list with 65 swipes. He is also closing in on the top five on the Tiger all-time freshman scoring chart.

     Dozier, who was named to the All-C-USA third team a year ago, is second on the squad in scoring (12.9 ppg) and rebounding (6.9 rpg), and leads the Tigers with 53 blocks. He is shooting 52 percent from the field, 41.7 percent from the arc and 71.2 percent from the free throw line. He is ranked among the Conference USA leaders in scoring (18^th), rebounding (9^th), field goal percentage (5^th) and blocks (4^th).

     Earlier in 2008-09, the Lithonia, Ga., native became the 44^th member of the Tiger 1,000-point club. He now has 1,302 career points and is in the No. 17 spot on the Memphis all-time scoring chart. The 6-foot-9 forward also has 898 rebounds and is one of seven players in Tiger hoops history to have 1,000 points and 750 rebounds.

     Anderson, the 2008 C-USA Tournament MVP, is the Tigers’ third-leading scorer (10.5 ppg) and leads the squad with 129 assists (4.2 apg). The 6-foot-6 guard is second on the team with 46 steals, while shooting 43.1 percent from the floor and 75.8 percent from the charity stripe. He is ranked among the Conference USA leaders in scoring (30^th), assists (6^th), steals (11^th) and assist-to-turnover ratio (7^th).

     In late December, Anderson reached the 1,000-point milestone for his career, becoming the 45^th Tiger in school history to do so. The Lynn, Mass., native now has 1,222 career point and is in the No. 23 spot on the Memphis all-time scoring chart. In the Mar. 7 win over Tulane, Anderson reached the 500-assists milestone for his career, becoming the first player in Memphis history to have 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 500 assists.

     Witherspoon, who saw action in 25 games, averaged 4.4 points and 2.2 rebounds coming off the bench for the Tigers. The Atlanta, Ga., native missed six games from Jan. 28-Feb. 14 after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus.

     Memphis (28-3, 16-0 C-USA), ranked No. 4 in the Associated Press poll and No. 3 in the ESPN/USA Today coaches poll, returns to action in the quarterfinal round of the Conference USA Tournament on Thursday, Mar. 12. The Tigers will meet the East Carolina-Tulane first round winner in the 6 p.m. (CT) quarterfinal game on Thursday.

     Memphis clinched the 2008-09 Conference USA regular season title with a perfect 16-0 record. It was the fourth-straight C-USA regular season title for the Tigers, and also the third-consecutive year that Memphis won the crown with a perfect 16-0 league mark.

     The following are the 2008-09 Conference USA specialty award winners:

 

CONFERENCE USA ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM

Tyreke Evans, Memphis, G, 6-6, 219, Fr., Chester, Pa.

Paul McCoy, SMU, G, 5-11, 175, Fr., Portland, Ore.

Darrius Morrow, East Carolina, F, 6-8, 250, Fr., Atlanta, Ga.

Arnett Moultrie, UTEP, F, 6-11, 210, Fr., Memphis, Tenn.

Damier Pitts, Marshall, G, 5-10, 165, Fr., Charlotte, N.C.

A.J. Rompza, UCF, G, 5-9, 160, Fr., Chicago, Ill.

 

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR

Tyreke Evans, Memphis, G, 6-6, 219, Fr., Chester, Pa.

 

CONFERENCE USA ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM

Antonio Anderson, Memphis, G, 6-6, 214, Sr., Lynn, Mass.

Paul Delaney III, UAB, G, 6-2, 202, Sr., Decatur, Ga.

Robert Dozier, Memphis, F, 6-9, 220, Sr., Lithonia, Ga.

Bamba Fall, SMU, C, 7-1, 210, Sr., St. Louis, Senegal

Jerome Jordan, Tulsa, C, 7-0, 235, Jr., Kingston, Jamaica

Kelvin Lewis, Houston, G, 6-4, 190, Jr., Fort Worth, Texas

 

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Antonio Anderson, Memphis, G, 6-6, 214, Sr., Lynn, Mass.

 

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR

Aubrey Coleman, Houston, G, 6-4, 200, Jr., Houston, Texas

 

SIXTH MAN OF THE YEAR

Wesley Witherspoon, Memphis, F/G, 6-8, 200, Fr., Lilburn, Ga.

Kenny Ingram Elevated to Memphis Defensive Coordinator

University of Memphis football coach Tommy West announced today that Kenny Ingram has been promoted to Defensive Coordinator to replace Tim Walton, who accepted a job with the Detroit Lions.

 

Ingram has spent the last three seasons working with the Tiger linebackers.  He will continue in that role as the defensive coordinator.   West will begin the process of hiring an assistant to complete his staff.

 

“I interviewed all three of my defensive assistants (Ingram, Brent Pry & Lytrel Pollard) and I sincerely felt all three were capable and qualified,” said West.  “Over a two-week period of time, my decision was to figure out who out of those three I wanted to hire. I knew I wanted to stay inside because I knew what I wanted.

“The criteria for this job was to, first, stick with our system,” explained West.  “This will be the fifth defensive coordinator in five years and I thought it was imperative that we have some consistency. The second criteria was to make sure I had a guy who shares the same beliefs I do on and off the field.  All three of these guys do.  I have strong feelings about the defense.  I know what I want and know the level of expectation I want the players held to, and I am not willing to compromise that ever again.  I firmly believe any of the three guys could have done that.  Kenny has been with me the longest period of time and I feel that with him being at linebacker, he knows the front end and the back end.  I am excited about naming him the coordinator.”

 

A Memphis native, Ingram came to the U of M in 2006 and inherited a young group of linebackers.  His group responded and three of the five leading tacklers that season were linebackers.  In 2007, Ingram was battle-tested as his position was most hit by injuries to key players, including starters Greg Jackson and Winston Bowens.  Ingram used seven different combinations of linebackers that season, and Jake Kasser was named second team Conference USA by league coaches.  In 2008, Ingram had the services of Jackson and Bowens as well as young talent in Jeremy Longstreet and Jeremy Rockette.  Longstreet was second on the squad in tackles with 80 and also had two forced fumbles and three QB hurries.  Bowens and Jackson were fifth and sixth, respectively in tackles with 55 and 52 stops each.  Jackson also led the team in TFL with 11.5 and had an interception en route to being named the team’s defensive player of the year.

 

Ingram’s first collegiate coaching job was at Tennessee State in 2005.  He worked with the TSU defensive line and was responsible for recruiting his hometown of Memphis and west Tennessee.  His recruiting area was a natural fit as he had spent the previous four years at Melrose High School.  He was an assistant in 2001, and was the head coach from 2002-04.  He was a three-time regional coach of the year and was named the Commercial Appeal’s 2004 Coach of the Year for Metro Memphis.  In addition, he had served in 2003 as a defensive coordinator for the AutoZone Liberty Bowl All-Star Game and was a member of the Tennessee East-West Shrine All-Star Game coaching staff that same season.  In 2004, he was an assistant coach for the Tennessee-Kentucky All-Star game. 

 

A standout at Whitehaven High, Ingram was a four-year letterman at defensive end for Arkansas State.  He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science in 1999.  He and his wife, Carla, have five children.

 

 

Tiger Banquet Set for March 8

 The 2008-09 hoops regular season is winding to a close, and that’s a sign the University of Memphis men’s basketball annual banquet is approaching. The banquet is scheduled for Sunday, Mar. 8 at The Peabody in downtown Memphis. The registration/reception begins at 5 p.m. (CT), with the dinner/program to follow at 6 p.m. (CT).

     “This is a great event for our fans, and I know the coaches, staff and players enjoy it,” said head coach John Calipari. “This is a great way for everyone to celebrate what these players have accomplished during the regular season, and the banquet serves as a great send-off for the team as it heads into the postseason.

     “We all know that the economic times are tight, but if you can attend, it will be a great night of celebrating Tiger basketball. The Peabody did an outstanding job last year, and it will put together another tremendous event this time. This banquet is something the players and staff look forward to each season.”

     Tables or individual tickets can be purchased. There are a limited number of tables available to sit with a Tiger player or assistant coach for either $1,500 or $2,500. Individual tickets are available for $100, and tickets for University of Memphis students and children under 12 are $30 each.

     To order a table or tickets, contact Ellen Hudgens at 901-382-6658 or ehudgens@bankofbartlett.com.

Memphis Football Announces 2009 Signing Class

University of Memphis head football coach Tommy West announced today the signing of 23 players who will join the Tigers for the 2009 season.  Included in the talented class are eight junior college transfers and six local high school standouts.

 

“I think the last two years, the classes that we have signed have been excellent,” said West.  “This class has some impact-type of players who can help us move this program.  This class from top to bottom is solid.  We were able to secure some big-time guys and that is what it will take for us to try and move this program and be a championship team.”

 

Among the 23 signees are nine linemen, including the nation’s best defensive lineman Justin Thompson.  Thompson enrolled in school this January after transferring from El Camino College.  He was rated the top defensive lineman and the third-best junior college prospect according to Scout.com.  Joining Thompson on the defensive front are Ryan Attaway (Camden County (GA) HS), Mike McDonald (Lackawanna (PA) CC), and local standouts Dontari Poe of Wooddale High and Jimmy Robinson of Fairley High.

 

“We signed a talented group in the defensive line with guys like Justin Thompson and Jimmy Robinson,” said West.  “I think Jimmy is the steal of the class.  He is an outstanding football player, and has a chance to be an impact guy on defense along with Justin.

 

“Poe is just a massive guy that can play.  Ryan and Ricky Hart are both two-way guys, but right now we are going to leave Ryan on defense.  We also needed a pass rusher, a guy who can make something happen on third down and we found Mike McDonald.  He is a guy who had 30 sacks in two years, which is incredible.  I really think he can be the guy we need who can get to the quarterback.”

 

The offensive line, which loses four starters from the 2008 squad, will be bolstered by Hart (Charlton County (GA) HS), Jamie McCoy (Hattiesburg HS), Jordan Miller (Harrison HS) and Brad Paul (Blinn College).  Paul enrolled at Memphis in January and will join the Tigers on the field this spring.

 

West also added six receivers to the mix to continue Memphis’ deep receiving corps.  Dejarrius Adams (El Camino College), Billy Foster (College of Sequoias) and Michael Lindsey (Los Medanos College) join the squad from the junior college ranks, while Jermaine McKenzie enrolled at Memphis this spring after transferring from the University of Miami.  He joins his brother, Tremaine, who signed with Memphis in December  as a defensive back from College of Siskiyous. 

 

“The most pleasing thing is the speed of this class,” added West.  “We will go from being a group of wide receivers who are big and powerful to being really fast at wide receiver with the addition of Jermaine Mckenzie, Dejarrius Adams and Billy Foster.” 

 

In addition, two local prep standouts Marcus Hightower (Whitehaven) and Rod Davis (Wooddale) will add to the depth of the wideouts.

 

“Marcus Hightower is a guy who is outstanding  wherever we play him, whether it is on offense or defense,” said West.  “He is going to be on the field next year.”

 

The Tigers also signed highly-rated quarterback Will Gilchrist out of Hardin County High in Savannah, Tennessee.  Gilchrist threw for over 5,000 yards and 71 touchdowns at Hardin County.  He also rushed for over 1,400 yards and 15 touchdowns, en route to being rated the No. 22 dual-threat quarterback nationally by Rivals.com.

 

“Will is really solid,” said West.  “He is like Martin Hankins in type of arm and passing, but a lot faster.  He gives us more of a dual-threat than what Martin gave us.  I am really excited to get him here and see what he can bring to our offense with his throwing and running.”

 

“I have always said your quarterback has to be athletic enough in this system to help you with some of the run game, and Will can do that,” added West. “As our running game has improved, I want to now go back and be able to throw the ball over your head, similar to what we were when DeAngelo (Williams) was here with Danny (Wimprine) and we were a good running team that could go over your head when you put too many in there.  That’s what all this speed at wideout is all about.”

 

The secondary will get a boost with this class as five of the signees are defensive backs.  In addition to McKenzie, Torenzo Quinn out of Mississippi Delta Community College will also work out with the Tigers this spring.  Derek Smith (Hillcrest HS), Mohammed Seisay (Fork Union Military Academy) and Randy Powell of Kingsbury High in Memphis will add depth to the Tiger secondary.

 

“Defensively, we always want to improve our speed, but we also wanted to increase our size in the secondary,” said West.  “We were able to do that with Randy Powell, Mohammed Seisay  and Derek Smith.  They give us some 6-1, 6-2 types of guys.”

 

“We have improved our speed defensively to a point where we are getting pretty solid on defense now,” added West.

 

Rounding out the 2009 class are tight end Brooks Johnson from Decatur (AL) High , and kicker Paulo Henriques from nearby West Memphis (AR) High.  Johnson played tight end at DHS and totaled 359 yards and three touchdowns on 34 receptions in 2008.  Henriques, who is originally from South Africa, has a strong leg and has handled kicking and punting duties for WMHS.  He set a school record with a 53-yard field goal as a junior and was 77 of 80 on PATs in the last two seasons.

Dejarrius Adams               WR          6-2        205     Miami, FL/Miami Killian HS/El Camino College

Ryan Attaway                    DL           6-5        270     Jacksonville, FL/Camden County HS

Rod Davis                           WR          6-0        205     Memphis, TN/Wooddale HS

Billy Foster                        WR          5-10      175     Ft. Lauderdale, FL/Stranahan HS/College of the Sequoias

Will Gilchrist                     QB           6-2        200     Savannah, TN/Hardin County HS

Ricky Hart                          OL/DL     6-3        310     Folkston, GA/Charlton County HS

Paulo Henriques              K              5-10      200     West Memphis, AR/West Memphis HS

Marcus Hightower           WR          6-2        205     Memphis, TN/Whitehaven HS
Brooks Johnson                TE            6-2        235     Decatur, AL/Decatur HS

Michael Lindsey               WR          6-3        200     St. Petersburg, FL/Boca Ciega HS/Los Medanos College

Jamie McCoy                     OL           6-3        275     Hattiesburg, MS/Hattiesburg HS

Mike McDonald                DL           6-3        220     Wilmington, NC/Eugene Ashley HS/Lackawanna CC (PA)

Jermaine McKenzie         WR          6-3        180     Bradenton, FL/Bradenton Prep/Univ. of Miami

Tremaine McKenzie        DB           6-0        200     Bradenton, FL/Bradenton Prep/College of Siskiyous

Jordan Miller                    OL           6-8        280     Kennesaw, GA/Harrison HS

Brad Paul                           OL           6-3        290     Clear Lake, TX/Clear Lake HS/Blinn College

Dontari Poe                       DL           6-3        335     Memphis, TN/Wooddale HS
Randy Powell                    DB           6-0        200     Memphis, TN/Kingsbury HS

Torenzo Quinn                 DB           5-11      183     Ruleville, MS/Ruleville HS/Mississippi Delta CC

Jimmy Robinson               DL           6-1        280     Memphis, TN/Fairley HS

Mohammed Seisay          DB           6-2        200     Springfield, VA/W. Springfield HS/Fork Union Military

Derek Smith                      DB           6-2        195     Evergreen, AL/Hillcrest HS

Justin Thompson              DL           6-4        290     Inglewood, CA/Westchester HS/El Camino College

Football Signing Day Party

Signing Day is Wednesday and your Tigers look forward to seeing everyone at the Signing Day Party at Silky’s on Beale Street.  Invite your friends, and coworkers to come join the festivities with food and drink specials beginning at 4:00 pm and lasting until 7:00 pm.  It is always a fun and well attended event.  Get there early!

Monster Class for Tiger B-Ball?

Caught this question on Rivals.com this morning....

"What are the odds of Memphis landing DeMarcus Cousins, John Wall AND Latavious Williams? -- Sam from Germantown, Tenn. 

Scarily enough, the odds aren't that bad.

	Playing time at Memphis could factor into John Wall's decision.

With four prospects already signed, Memphis would have to do some serious juggling with the roster and the scholarship situation to add three more players. But I have a strong feeling that coach John Calipari can figure out a way to fit in three five-star prospect, two of which are elite prospects.

There are also some concrete contingencies for each of these three to end up at Memphis.

For Williams, the No. 1 hurdle is qualifying academically. Memphis is his favorite at the present time, so if he qualifies the odds are strong that he ends up in Memphis. Baylor is the other school high on Williams' list.

For Cousins, the key is that Mike Davis doesn't land another college coaching job. If Davis lands another job, Cousins will follow. If Davis stays at UAB, Memphis needs to hold off North Carolina State and Kansas State in particular to land Cousins.

For Wall, the prerequisite for Memphis is that Tyreke Evansenters the 2009 NBA draft. If Evans sticks around for another year, it is highly doubtful that Wall would go to Memphis. Both prospects need the ball in their hands, and with the other options available to Wall it is hard to see him choosing Memphis if Evans is still there. And even if Evans does enter the draft, Wall to Memphis is certainly no sure thing.

So a lot would have to happen or not happen for Memphis to land a monster seven-man class, but it is certainly a possibility. The addition of one or two more players, however, is a lot stronger possibility."

University of Memphis Football Signing Day Celebration

 The Highland Hundred will host the 2009 Signing Day Celebration at Silky’s on Beale Street Wednesday, February 4, 2009. Everyone is invited. Food and drink specials are available from 4:00-7:00 pm.  Program begins at 6:00 pm.  Barbra Blue plays on the main stage at 7:00 pm.

 

The Signing Day Celebration provides an opportunity for fans to meet Coach Tommy West and to hear about the newest recruits to the Tiger Football program. 

 

The Highland Hundred was created in 1958 when Billy “Spook” Murphy asked local business leaders to unite in the support of Tiger football.  The name came into being because the group met near campus on Highland Street and the goal was to have 100 members.  Today the organization has grown to nearly 1000 members from more than 30 colleges and universities all with the common desire to support the University of Memphis football program. 

 

For more information visit www.highlandhundred.com or call the Football Office at 901-678-5119.

R.C. Johnson To Be Inducted Into Ottawa Township High Hall of Fame

University of Memphis Director of Athletics R.C. Johnson will travel to his hometown of Ottawa, Ill., this weekend to be inducted into the Ottawa Township High School Hall of Fame.

 

The ceremony for the 2009 induction class will take place on Saturday, January 24, at the high school.

 

“I am indeed honored to have been selected for induction into the Ottawa Township High Hall of Fame,” said Johnson.  “Any time you are honored by your peers it is special, but when it occurs in your own hometown, it is even more meaningful.”

 

A 1960 graduate, Johnson was the MVP and captain of the 1959 football squad coached by Bill Novak that finished 8-0-1.  He was also a starter on the 1960 basketball team coached by Gil Love that went to the Elite Eight and finished 31-2, the best record still to date in the history of OTHS basketball.  Johnson competed in five sports at OTHS, was the freshman class president and served as vice president during his senior year. 

 

Johnson entered football coaching as an assistant at the University of Iowa, Northern Iowa, and Mankato State University, then moved on to coach at Youngstown State University before continuing his career as Director of Athletics at the collegiate level – first at Northern Iowa, then Eastern Illinois University, Miami University, Temple University, and the University of Memphis.  At Temple, he directed a program with more than 500 student-athletes competing in 20 men’s and women’s sports, including nationally visible programs in men’s basketball and football. 

 

At the University of Memphis, Johnson has brought the athletic program into national prominence.  He has led very successful capital campaigns for the University of Memphis, bringing the programs in excess of $20 million, as well as negotiating lucrative multimedia rights and apparel contracts to benefit the school.  A strong believer in academic excellence, under his guidance Memphis boasts an 89 percent graduation rate of all student-athletes completing their eligibility, and ranks in the top 30 percent nationally for the NCAA’s Annual Progress Rates measurement of academic performance.