Tigers set for 11 a.m. tip off

By Adam Douglas

Sports Editor

 

David Minkin

Sophomore guard Joe Jackson sends home a one-handed slam dunk in Friday’s exhibition game against Christian Brothers University.

Today marks the start of the 2011-2012 basketball season for The University of Memphis Tigers. And their first opponent on the season will be Belmont University, a team that narrowly lost to Duke on Friday night, 77-76. But third-year head coach Josh Pastner sees no reason that this game won't be as competitive as the Bruins' last.

"This Belmont game will be a very good game, and I've been saying it since the schedule came out," Pastner said. "We'll know a lot about our team after the game. We're excited about this game because we will be tested."

The Tigers come into the game expected to be one of the best teams in college basketball, ranked No. 10 in both ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll and AP Poll, but the ranking doesn't matter to a team like Belmont, according to Pastner.

"We know Belmont's a good team," Pastner said. "You don't win 30 games, go to the NCAA tournament and bring back the same team and not be good. Our guys know that they're good, but our focus has got to be about us – Memphis."

The U of M's plan is to put full-court pressure on teams this season. And with the length, quickness and athleticism the Tigers possess, it shouldn't be hard to do. Belmont presents a difficult task for the young and talented Tigers. They usually like to slow it down and play a half-court game, like Christian Brothers. But Pastner sees a team that likes to mix it up, even playing to the Tigers' strengths.

"Belmont likes to pressure and play up-tempo too," he said. "I don't know if that's what they're going to do against us, but they like to full-court press and run up and down the floor as well."

 After the Tigers' game with the Bruins, it's off to Hawaii for the Maui Invitational. Memphis will play No. 18-ranked Michigan on Monday, Nov. 21, at 2 p.m.