One for 23.
The stat popped off the box score like Memphis shots were bouncing off the rim.
Memphis made just one of its 23 three-point attempts. The 4.3-percent clip was the worst shooting performance in the modern era for the Tigers who dropped their rematch with No. 11 Louisville 53-44. And of all games, coach John Calipari had to be asking himself, "Why this one?"
Why against Louisville? Why with a crowd of 18,000, a raucous student section, Rick Pitino, Dick Vitale, ESPN cameras, the GameDay hype and just about the last hope for an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament?
Why now?
Arthur Barclay saw plenty of three-point attempts sail over his head, only to see far too many carom back.
"We just couldn't buy a bucket out there," he said.
To put the 1-of-23 effort into perspective, according to odds-makers the Buffalo Bills, at 21-to-1, are more likely to win the next Super Bowl than the Tigers were to hit a three.
Anthony Rice was 1-of-7 from beyond the arc, Jeremy Hunt was 0-of-7, Darius Washington 0-4, Rodney Carney 0-of-4 and Waki Williams was 0-of-1.
Carney was also held scoreless for the first time in his career. Memphis' leading scorer was 0-for-9 from the field.
The 44 points and 19.6-percent shooting from the field were the lowest totals of the season for the Tigers.
"We drew a line in the sand and did not let the three-point shot beat us," Pitino said. "We were going to make the three-point shot a brick wall. We were going to make them beat us in other areas."
The Cardinals (24-4, 12-2 in Conference USA) employed a 2-3 zone that kept the Tigers (16-12, 9-5) waiting around the perimeter for open shots.
"They didn't think they could guard us in man (defense), and they were probably right," Calipari said. "(Zone defense) hasn't bothered us like that all year. I'll tell you what usually happens, we make threes."
The Cards were able to extend their zone further and further with every miss. Louisville's high-energy defense held Memphis without a field goal for the final 14:26 of the game. Washington was the only Tiger with more than seven points, totaling 14.
With the loss, Memphis has painted itself in the tightest of postseason corners. If the Tigers were to win their final two home games against Saint Louis and Cincinnati and make it to the finals of the C-USA Tournament, they would be 21-13.
That might be enough for an at-large bid, but with an RPI that looks more like a phone number, with each loss, the Tigers only option may be winning the tournament and taking the automatic bid to avoid their third trip in five years to the NIT.
So, do you have to win the C-USA tournament now?
"We know what we've got to do," Barclay said.
And Hunt?
"Like I said, we know what we've got to do."
