Memphis Reloads with Commitment from Top BB Recruit

[Stallion]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/s ... id=3347574

so far Memphis has the No. 6, 8 and 47th best players in the Country for 2008 according to Rivals. Upcoming visits from prospects 13 and 56th in the Country.

[LA_Mustang]

C-USA was all Memphis, and only Memphis this year, but they should see a serious upgrade in competetion over the next few years:

Tulsa: finished the season very strong at 16-4 with their only losses to Memphis twice, @ UAB and @ UH. Their two best players (PG Ben Uzoh and C Jerome Jordan) are sophomores and they have a very talented incoming freshman (SF Armond Battle) who should be a starter next season.

UAB: return first-team C-USA player Robert Vaden who averaged 22 a game this season....in addition to Vaden they return their three other leading scorers. In recruiting, they landed the #5 player overall in the 09 class, DeMarcus Cousins...and with much less hoopla they also got a verbal from Tamir Jackson, a SG out of St. Benedict's in Newark who had an offer from Arizona.

UH: although they lose their top two scorers, they will have a very good backcourt in Brockeith Pane and Kelvin Lewis (both Metroplex guys) for several more years. They will also have a very good JUCO PF in Horace Dixon....and Penders has developed a NY/NJ pipeline of good, tough players. They will have three next season.

So Miss: they return their seven best players from a team that went 9-7 in C-USA this season and they have five incoming freshmen, including a solid SG out of Philly.

UTEP: return four of their five top players from this season, including Stefon Jackson who averaged 24 pts per game and Randy Culpepper, one of the better FR in C-USA this year.

Bottom line, C-USA will be a better conference next season and a much better conference the following year. There’s a reason Doherty is out there offering twenty different guys a scholarship……we have to get a serious upgrade in talent on our roster, or the futility will continue.

[jimhagle]

It's baffling to me how any coach could build a power in Memphis. I wonder if the NCAA is starting to think likewise.

[smu diamond m]

It's baffling to me how any coach could build a power in Memphis. I wonder if the NCAA is starting to think likewise.

That place is kinda blarg

[Charleston Pony]

It's baffling to me how any coach could build a power in Memphis. I wonder if the NCAA is starting to think likewise.

I assume you are young and don't know much about Memphis' bball history. Probably never heard of Gene Bartow or Larry Finch and probably not aware that program has probably been ranked in top 25 polls close to 20 years since I 1st became aware of "Memphis State". Many moons ago MSU and Keith Lee played one of the all-time classic NCAA Tourney games against John Wooden's UCLA dynasty...a game where Bill Walton hit something like 22 of 23 shots to survive and win yet another championship.

Several coaches have built strong programs ion Memphis. Calipari has set the bar for the rest of CUSA...and most of the country, for that matter.

[LA_Mustang]

I remember Penny Hardaway leading Memphis St to the Elite Eight in 92. He was a helluva college player.

[mustangxc]

Elliot Perry did some damage while he was there too!

[ThadFilms]

I remember Penny Hardaway leading Memphis St to the Elite Eight in 92. He was a helluva college player.

I really wanted the Mavs to draft him, I loved that "kid"... I say "kid" with a bit of a wink and a smile to my age now... I was in 7th grade for his run in '92... and just about to enter high school a year later when he was drafted by Golden State (and traded to the Orlando Magic).

[ponyboy]

Plus have you seen the facilities at Memphis? Holy smokes.

[jimhagle]

It's baffling to me how any coach could build a power in Memphis. I wonder if the NCAA is starting to think likewise.

I assume you are young and don't know much about Memphis' bball history. Probably never heard of Gene Bartow or Larry Finch and probably not aware that program has probably been ranked in top 25 polls close to 20 years since I 1st became aware of "Memphis State". Many moons ago MSU and Keith Lee played one of the all-time classic NCAA Tourney games against John Wooden's UCLA dynasty...a game where Bill Walton hit something like 22 of 23 shots to survive and win yet another championship.

Several coaches have built strong programs ion Memphis. Calipari has set the bar for the rest of CUSA...and most of the country, for that matter.


I'm very aware of all those people but they were never as good or deep as they have become under Calipari. Calipari has set the bar but at what expense?

[PonyPride]

Playing in an NBA facility ... probably getting to play pickup games with NBA players in the offseason ... fun city to live in ... not exactly Ivy League-esque academic/admission requirements ... better talent than the local NBA team, making Tigers the biggest show in town ... no pro football (don't the Titans play in Nashville?), hockey (ditto), baseball to distract ticket-buying public...