An hour after UAB toppled Kentucky 76-75 on Sunday, Wildcatsstar Gerald Fitch was still noticeably upset at his team's demise.During a press conference, he answered few questions.
When he did answer, it was with the tone of a man trying toreorient himself after waking from a deep sleep.
Fitch was still shaken from his team's unlikely fall. It was thedisappointment of a team that had fallen woefully short ofexpectations.
When the final horn sounded after Oklahoma State trounced theMemphis Tigers 70-53 Sunday, there was a bit of frustration andsadness evident on the faces of all the Tigers players, but no oneseemed unnerved. It was disappointment of a team that had alreadymet expectations and had only hoped to exceed them.
Anyone who has filled out a bracket this March knows thatexpectations don't always translate into victories. In fact, theyreally only translate into one thing: pressure.
The Tigers had modest expectations to begin the season, butinjuries and other subtractions from the team's roster may havetempered them somewhat.
The Tigers road to the NCAA tournament second round was filledwith potholes and roadblocks, yet Memphis continued to win.
In October, the Tigers depth at the guard position includedBilly Richmond, Jeremy Hunt, Anthony Rice and Antonio Burks. Inlate February, quarterback-turned-receiver-turned --point-guardMaurice Avery was forced into running the point against heavypressure at Louisville.
In October, Rice and Hunt were feared three-point shooters whobecame the focal point of defenses. By March, Hunt was injured,Rice was in a season-long shooting slump, and Burks, who had onlysix 3s in his first three seasons as a Tiger, led the team inthree-point percentage.
Using only these descriptions, anyone who knew basketball wouldthink Memphis finished far below their fourth place preseasontab.
Instead, Burks was the unexpected conference player of the year,freshman Sean Banks joined him on the all-conference team and theTigers tied for first in C-USA.
Even with the smashing at the hands of Oklahoma State, theseason can be considered a smashing success.
Just minutes after this season ended, however, thoughts towardthe next begin.
John Calipari was on the recruiting trail just hours after histeam was ousted. Fans and media began to evaluate what next seasonmight bring.
In the world of preseason polls and recruiting rankings, whereteams and players are evaluated long before playing their firstgame, expectations get much higher.
As it stands now, Memphis loses only one vital cog. While MobidoDiarra played sparingly as part of Calipari's merry-go-round in themiddle, Memphis won't miss his on court production. The huge holeis obviously at point guard, vacated by Burks' graduation.
The Tigers have reinforcements for its talented returningcore.
Memphis' highly-touted recruiting class includes small forwardShawne Williams and guard Darius Washington. Both players areranked as top 25 prospects by theinsiders.com, and Williams isconsidered by many sources the best small forward in thecountry.
The loss of Burks means Washington will have to come in and makean immediate impact, if he does indeed play the point.
Williams, a Memphis product, left Hamilton High School earlierthis year and transferred to Laurinbug Prep in North Carolina inhopes of getting his academics in order.
If he becomes eligible, Williams will join Rodney Carney insolidifying the small forward position.
Booker T. Washington's Andre Allen may spend some time at thepoint guard position if Washington is left at shooting guard.
The talented quintet will join seven tournament-tested playerswho saw considerable minutes this year.
Even if they avoid injuries and everyone qualifies, nextseason's team will have questions.
Without Burks, how well will Memphis take care of the ball? Cananyone provide the Tigers an inside scoring presence?
With the mix of talent and experience, combined with thecontinual rise of the program since Calipari took over, Memphisfans could be dancing in the streets prior to next season.
Whether or not they're dancing afterward remains to be seen.
