Coming off a tough road loss to a stingy UAB squad, the Tigers return home tonight to face the high-powered offense of DePaul.
The Blue Demons (12-4, 4-1 C-USA) have won seven of their last eight games, including a win over then #25 Marquette and feature the conference's leading scorer in Quemont Greer at 21.0 PPG. The Tigers will stick with their big man rotation of Duane Erwin, Joey Dorsey, and Arthur Barclay to match-up against Greer.
"We can just try to contain him (Greer)," Erwin said. "When you've got the ultimate green light, he's going to get his points."
Greer is not the only Blue Demon capable of putting up big numbers night in and night out. Guard Sammy Mejia has averaged 20 points in his last three games.
"We won't zone in on one player," Erwin said. "They are a team of scorers. Anyone can score 20 on any given night."
DePaul ranks third in the conference in field goal percentage, with Greer shooting 52.1 percent from the field and Mejia shooting 48.6 percent.
Offensively, the Tigers plan on doing what they've done all season."If we stick to our plays, we'll be fine," Erwin said.
If The U of M wants to come away with a win tonight, they will need freshman point guard Darius Washington, Jr. to continue his new found role as a scoring threat. Washington has led the team in their last two games with 20 points at USF and 26 points at UAB.
"I'm not looking to score," Washington said. "My opportunities are just there."
Washington has been focused on developing in coach Calipari's system and doing what he can to quarterback the team.
"I'm listening to coach Cal to learn how to lead first," Washington said. "He shows me and teaches me how to lead. He's like a big brother on the court."
Despite The U of M's record (10-9, 3-2 C-USA), Calipari does not feel the pressure for tonight's game.
"It will be our last five or six games that determine where we go," Calipari said. "There is no sense of urgency."
The Tigers' struggles on and off the court have been highly publicized this season, but Calipari is not making excuses.
"We've done this to ourselves," he said. "The team is coming together, though. They knew it was time."
The Tigers have struggled shooting the ball and rank second to last in C-USA in field goal percentage. Though they want to improve this beginning in tonight's game, Calipari says it's not the key to winning."If you defend and rebound, you always have a chance," he said.
The Tigers and Blue Demons take the court tonight at the FedEx Forum at 8:05 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPN2.
