A to-do list for the University of Memphis basketball Tigers heading into tonight’s second-round National Invitation Tournament contest against BYU at The Pyramid might look something like this:
• Overcome inexperience and play with the same desire of last year’s NIT team.
• Impress NBA scouts.
• Prepare for a battle with a Cougar team (18-11) that can light it up from the outside.
According to Tiger head coach John Calipari, his inexperienced players will have to play well in all areas because they don’t have the benefit of senior leadership as did the Tigers of last season, who made a run all the way to Madison Square Garden.
“There were four senior on that team — Marcus Moody, Shannon Forman, Shyrone Chatman, and Shamel Jones,” Calipari said. “We were a senior-oriented team and we were able to do some things and win some home games.
“This team is a young team, and I’m hoping they show their ability to sustain and their ability to play with some emotion and excitement because they are freshmen.”
Calipari said with two major postseason collegiate basketball tournaments going on, victories will give the Tigers more of a chance to be seen, and to impress NBA scouts.
“You won’t believe this, (but) the pro scouts are watching this tournament as much as they are watching the other tournament right now,” he said.
Calipari pointed out that national exposure has already improved the NBA chances of some players currently playing in the NCAA Tournament.
“(UCONN guard) Caron Butler helped himself maybe 10 spots in the draft,” he said. “That is why you want to keep playing.”
Like Butler, playing well with the extra exposure could improve the draft status of Memphis freshman guard Dajuan Wagner.
“Dajuan Wagner has some choices to make,” Calipari said. “Why not go and get this team to New York and play great and than have a true choice of what do I want to do? If I want to go, I can go easily, and if I want stay, I can stay easily.”
The draft status of senior forward Kelly Wise, who entered the season as one of the nation’s premier inside players, is also up in the air and could rest on his performance during the Tigers’ NIT run. Wise’s stock has dropped since the Conference USA first teamer went down with a strained right knee late in the regular season.
Calipari said Memphis is currently building for next season, though the team would like to see Wise play to improve his draft position.
“Our team has moved on to where we are working on next year’s team,” Calipari said. “Kelly’s playing is more or less to reclaim his position in the draft in the eyes of some of the NBA people. Let him get back out there and say, “Hey, this is what I am.’”
No matter who is on the court, the Tigers (23-9) will face a tough task in knocking off BYU, which is tied for 23rd in the nation in three-point shooting at 39 percent.
The Cougars advanced to tonight’s second-round game with a 78-55 win over UC-Irvine last week.
Sophomore guard Mark Bigelow and junior guard Travis Hansen are the leading scorers for the Cougars, averaging 14.8 and 15.4 points per game, respectively.
Calipari said the 6-7 Bigelow and the 6-6 Hansen could present major problems for Tiger defenders.
“Both guys have great size and rebound the ball. Hansen really drives the ball. They are exactly the same size, same build and have the same game.”
The Cougars, which have won just one road game in eleven tries this season, also boast the Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year in 6-9 center Jared Jensen, who averages 8.8 points and 3.6 rebounds per game in a reserve role.
Tonight’s game will be televised nationally on ESPN2 at 6:30 p.m.
