While University of Memphis students enjoyed the holidays and a break from classes over the past several weeks, the men’s basketball team was still hard at work on the court.
The Tigers won six of seven games (not including Saturday’s game at Tulane) over the break, including victories over Tennessee and Temple.
However, Memphis (12-4, 2-0 in Conference USA) dropped a tough, 90-73 decision to visiting Arkansas Jan. 2 in which Tiger assistant coach Tony Barbee pushed Razorback guard J. J. Sullinger after the player ran into the Memphis bench chasing a loose ball. Barbee, who Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson said should have been suspended for the incident, was issued a written letter of reprimand from athletic director R.C. Johnson and ordered to write letters of apology to both Richardson and Sullinger — an order Barbee complied with.
But the Tigers have put the loss and the ugly incident behind them and enter Conference USA play as one of the favorites in the National Division with wins already against Southern Mississippi and TCU.
Head coach John Calipari said it is important for Memphis to get off to a good start in conference play.
“When getting off to a good start, you don’t have pressure from game to game,” Calipari said.
According to Calipari, first-year players Antonio Burks, Chris Massie and Dajuan Wagner have improved their intensity and play since the beginning of the season.
“Burks is getting better and better,” Calipari said. “Wagner has lived up to all expectations and Massie has played well in the last few games.”
Junior center Earl Barron said Memphis’ early-season disappointments provided tough lessons for the team.
“We could have done better in some games, but we are learning from our early losses,” Barron said. “We have to learn how to finish off teams and pull away.”
Barron said conference games present a larger challenge.
“We know conference games are a lot tougher because every game counts even more,” Barron said. “We are going to treat every game the same, as if every team is top in the conference.”
According to Barron, the Tigers are still a Final Four contender.
“We can definitely make a run to the Final Four,” Barron said. “No team has as much talent as us.”
Calipari said Memphis has the potential to make some plenty of noise in the NCAA Tournament and strike fear in its competition.
“We are not where we need to be now,” Calipari said. “But I don’t think there is any team in the country that would want to play us.”
