Although they’ve won nine of their past 10 games while jumping out to a perfect 5-0 start to begin conference play, The University of Memphis basketball Tigers rank a lackluster 34th in this week’s Associated Press college basketball poll.
The Tigers (15-4, 5-0 in Conference USA), which battle conference foe Alabama-Birmingham tonight at 7 at The Pyramid, haven’t lost since dropping a 90-73 decision to Arkansas Jan. 2.
Since beating Tennessee Dec. 15, senior forward Kelly Wise has averaged a double-double with 12.9 points and 11.7 rebounds per game while freshman guard Dajuan Wagner has poured in 19.5 points per game.
Head coach John Calipari has also seen steady scoring from sophomore guard Scooter McFadgon (11.4 ppg) as well as improved inside play from junior college transfer Chris Massie (9.6 rpg) over that 10-game stretch.
Despite his team’s improvements, Calipari said Tuesday the Tigers lack the national attention they deserve.
“I told the team, ‘We’re not getting much respect,’” Calipari said. “‘We’re not getting the respect we deserve nationally and we’re not getting respect in the region.’”
Calipari said Memphis’ 34th-place ranking in the AP poll and a 48th-place spot in the Ratings Percentage Index may stem from playing a mediocre regional schedule and the perception that C-USA is a weak basketball conference, as evidenced by the league’s eighth-place RPI ranking.
“Look at Marquette, they’re 15-3, and they are not ranked,” Calipari said. “They say our schedule is weak because we play local teams. I guess we have to go out there and play Kansas and Florida.”
The Tigers have yet to beat a team ranked higher than 47th (South Florida) in the RPI and don’t figure to see another until 43rd-ranked Charlotte on Feb. 13. However, the team isn’t overlooking the Blazers (8-10, 1-4 in Conference USA) tonight.
According to guard Nathaniel Root, being in first place in the National Division means withstanding every team’s best shot.
“We are sitting at the top of our division undefeated and every game we come out, people are looking to knock us off,” Root said.
The Blazers, led by guards P.J. Arnold and Morris Finley, will serve as Memphis’ next test. Arnold comes into tonight’s contest averaging 13.5 points while Finley contributes 12.1 per game.
UAB also boasts a strong interior force in forward Will Campbell, who averages 10.7 points and 7.7 rebounds per game.
Root said the key for Memphis will be stopping the Blazers’ stars while controlling game tempo.
“We have to go out and play like we have been playing and we have to jump out to a big run against them.”
