Darius Washington said the Tigers game against the University of Tennessee Wednesday was not "like a national championship game." Everyone else must have missed the memo.
When the University of Tennessee came (11-3) to town to face the Tigers (16-2) Wednesday, a tournament type game was what a crown of 18,144 got.
"It was a high level basketball game," said John Calipari, University of Memphis coach. "Tennessee never went away but we are a deep and skilled team and we defended well."
It made sense that in a game that featured 12 lead changes and so much pre-game jabber about the city that the two best players would call Memphis home.
One would be none other that Tennessee forward Dane Bradshaw, a Memphis native who off handedly referred to people in the Memphis area as 'gangbangers.'
Despite being booed at almost every touch, Bradshaw poured in 13 points in the first half including a last-second trey that silenced the crowd and gave Tennessee a four point lead at the half.
"I wanted to have a good game at home," Bradshaw said. "But it is not that hard to have a career high when you only average six points a night."
While Bradshaw may have only averaged six points a night coming into the game, he would finish with a team-leading 21 along 10 rebounds.
"Dane Bradshaw, maybe for the game, but definitely in the first half was the best player," Calipari said. "He is a great kid and he really didn't mean the things he said."
Another remarkable game performance came from Memphis native and U of M forward Shawne Williams, whose 21 points and 14 rebounds helped seal a 88-79 victory for the Tigers.
"Shawne Williams was phenomenal," Calipari said. "He gave us a presence down there. The guys have a ton of respect for him because he is not playing for numbers he is playing to win."
Williams shot 50 percent for the game and helped Memphis to a 10-0 run at the six-minute mark in the second half that helped the Tigers hold off a late Tennessee surge.
"The team put it on my back and I tried to go inside," Williams said.
Williams sealed the game when he finished a three-point play on a Bradshaw foul at the 4:04 mark.
Even though his stellar performance left Tennessee nine points short of a win, his post game comments aimed to score a few points with Memphis fans.
"It really was a joke and I wish Memphis the best," Bradshaw said. "I couldn't wait to talk (to the media) to clear up everything. I am still the biggest Memphis fan."
Bradshaw said after he was introduced and received loud boos from the crowd that included Calipari's wife, he knew his comments had been taken too far.
"He obviously didn't mean the things he said," Calipari said. "He goes over and tells my wife (after the game) 'Mrs. Cal I really apologize'."
Even with all the comments and apologies, Wednesday's game was still a great showcase of Memphis talent, Calipari said.
"The three of those guys, including Andre Allen, with what they are doing on the court is pretty good for the city of Memphis," Calipari said.
