Some sports seasons are winding down and some are heating up, but there are still a lot of sports to take in last four weeks of school.
Women's basketball
Memphis starts their season tonight against Winthrop at the University of Louisville Tournament in Kentucky. Winthrop finished third last season in the Big South with a 14-15 record. It's the first ever meeting between the two programs. The Lady Tigers will launch the three this year, which could make for some exciting games. Senior guard Devin Necaise is a dynamo and can fill it up. Winthrop is led by former Big South Freshman of the Year Ashley Fann. The six-foot forward averaged 12.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game last season. Winthrop is an extremely young team with six sophomores and six freshmen.
Football
Memphis and its fans desperately need a win and their best shot at their second of the season may be this weekend against UCF. Central Florida is also sporting a dismal record, 2-7 (one game better than Memphis' 1-8). UCF has an atrocious defense and so does Memphis so offense may be plentiful Saturday night at the Liberty Bowl. UCF wide receiver Mike Walker should be fun to watch for pure football fans. The 6-2 senior is a smooth receiver with NFL-level skills.
In other football news, deep snapper Rusty Clayton and defensive back Brandon Patterson were named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV team. Clayton has a 3.61 cumulative GPA and Patterson has a 3.73.
Men's soccer
Although the season ended on a disappointing note with a 3-1 loss to Kentucky in the Conference USA Tournament, academic honors are plenty for the Tigers. Junior Jared Britcher and sophomore Robert Sausaman were named to the first ever Conference-USA All-Academic Team. Britcher and Sausaman have cumulative GPAs of 3.77 and 3.78 respectively.
Memphis inks recruits in early signing period
Baseball - Head coach Daron Schoenrock signed his first player for 2008 this week in Marcus Barnes. Barnes, a pitcher and outfielder, played at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro where he pitched 49 innings as a junior and earned a 3.83 ERA and a 4-3 record.
Women's Basketball - Shae Seagraves, six-foot guard out of Georgetown High School in Texas, Alex Winchell, a point guard from South Gwinnett High School in Atlanta, and Savannah Ellis a six-foot post player from Kansas. Seagraves hit 45 percent of her three-pointers and grabbed eight rebounds a game.
Volleyball - Kelsey Labrum, is the first signee for Carrie Yerty's next recruiting class. Labrum is currently at Penn High School and will join the Tigers next fall. Labrum is a 5-10 outside hitter who gained All-State honors in Indiana with her 388 kills and 374 digs.
