Defense will be Tigers' mantra Heading to Houston

Leading up to tonight's Conference USA road game for the Tigers, as they take on the Houston Cougars (9-7, 1-2 in C-USA) all talk was about how Memphis (11-5, 2-0 in C-USA) has improved their defense over the last five contests - all wins for the Tigers. And all of a sudden, ranking 22nd among the Division-I college basketball programs for defensive field-goal percentage (38.1), Memphis may have found an identity heading to Houston.

"Anytime you're on the road in conference, you're going to get everyone's best shot," said Josh Pastner, head coach for the Tigers. "They're better than their record, and I know people get tired of me saying that, but they have good players. They beat Arkansas, almost beat Oklahoma and had a chance to beat LSU at the very end."

Well another team who has sweated it out at the end of games lately, Memphis, has beaten the teams that they have faced. But that's in part because the Tigers have managed to play a lot of zone, mixing it in with man-to-man, seemed to have frustrated opponents with their back and forth style.

"Most teams think we're a man-to-man team, but we switch it up every now to play zone, said Adonis Thomas, freshman forward for the Tigers. "We have a long athletic team, so it can hurt other teams because we get into the passing lanes and take up a lot more space on the defensive end."

The Tigers have now been playing a 1-3-1 zone, going away from the ineffective 2-3 zone they employed earlier during the season. But with all things considered, they have been rebounding the ball better in the zone rather than man-to-man. And with that, it helps keep sophomore big man Tarik Black on the court longer and out of foul trouble.

"It does help a lot," Black said. "Being in man, you always playing the split-line help side, and that's how I get a lot of my fouls - either trying to front or trying to block a shot. But with zone, I'm just playing my area and keeping my man from getting the ball that's in my area - it's definitely a lot easier."

The Tigers look to extend their winning streak to six on Saturday night in Houston against the Cougars. The game will be televised by CBS College Sports and tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m.