Tigers’ exhibition opener provides fans with a look into what may be a magical season

By Adam Douglas

Sports Editor

  

David Minkin

 

Two years ago, he almost lost his first ever game as a head coach in an exhibition match against Christian Brothers University. One year ago, he said that he almost had an ulcer on the sidelines at the Tigers exhibition season-opener.

 

But this year, his Tigers won by more than 50 points on Wednesday against Lemoyne-Owen.

Is this year's Tigers team finally going to live up to the hype? Judging from third-year head coach Josh Pastner's impressions of the team, the answer could be "yes."

"I just think we have some really good players," he said after Memphis defeated LeMoyne-Owen 119-67 on Wednesday. "We are at our best when we are playing up-tempo. But our whole identity has got to be on the defensive end – we've got to make stops."

Memphis did some good things during Wednesday's game. They committed fewer turnovers than their opponent (11 to 25), they had more assists than turnovers (26 to 11) and they got out on the fast break and scored points. This was something that Pastner and his staff have been looking for from the Tigers throughout his short tenure as head coach. Wednesday seemed to be an indication that The U of M finally has all its pieces together, albeit they faced a team far less talented than them.

"The good thing about this game is that we can take this film and break it down and show our guys a lot of things we need to work on," Pastner said. "We have to get better pressing, get up and down the floor quicker. There are some positives, but there are some things to work on."

The Tigers ended the night with seven players scoring in double figures. Sophomore point guard Joe Jackson looking like a true offensive leader, dishing out seven assists and turning the ball over just once. Senior forward Wesley Witherspoon showed no ill effects from two prior knee surgeries.

"I think all of our guys played well," Pastner said. "Antonio (Barton) played well. Will (Barton) kept it simple. Wesley gave us some good minutes, and I was really proud of Joe. But I keep telling guys, Wesley and Joe are our X-factors for us. They both don't need to be Superman, they just need to play to their abilities and that's what they did tonight."

The debut of freshman forward Adonis Thomas and junior forward Stan Simpson wasn't bad either. Thomas finished the game with 11 points, two rebounds and two steals. Simpson, carving up the paint, blocked three shots, grabbed seven boards and added 14 tough points. If those two can contribute like this for the rest of the season, a deep run in the NCAA Tournament may be in the future.