Stunned Tigers recieve No. 8 seed in NCAA Tournament

Leroy Watson Jr.

A somber Ferrakohn Hall stares in disbelief as Memphis is announced as a number 8 seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament

 

 

 

     

The University of Memphis Tigers basketball team (26-8), winners of seven straight games, as well as being the regular season and Conference USA Championship, drew a No. 8 seed in the West Region in this year's 2012 NCAA tournament and will play the No. 9 seed St. Louis Billikens in Columbus, OH.

Tigers supporters, friends, family, players and coaches were all on hand with the media in Southeast Shelby County at the Clubhouse at Southwind to watch the unveiling of the tournament brackets. Though everyone knew Memphis was guaranteed to be in the tourney, thanks to winning the 2012 C-USA tournament, but no one expected what came next. The Tigers were surprised by--and disappointed with--the draw that they got.

"The chip on our shoulder just got a little bigger," said Will Barton, sophomore guard for the Tigers and reigning Conference USA Player of the Year. "When I first saw our name, I thought they were going to say somebody else. And then when they said Memphis and then the other team, I thought they made a mistake - it's just a slap in the face and that makes us just go out and play harder."

Barton's sentiments were not not exactly echoed by everyone on the team. C-USA's back-to-back tournament MVP, sophomore point guard Joe Jackson thinks Memphis should have nothing to worry about.

"I look at it as if we got a gift," Jackson said. "Who does Saint Louis have? Who does Michigan State (the No. 1 seed in the West Region) have? So the way I look at it, we got a gift."

The Tigers shouldn't overlook a Saint Louis team that went 25-7 in the Atlantic-10 Conference and is coached by former Utah head coach Rick Majerus. Rather they should focus on the task at hand and try to make a deep run in the tournament.

"No matter what seed you are, everybody's good," Pastner said. "I've watch Saint Louis a few times and they're a good team. Rick Majerus is one of the best coaches out there - they're well coached."

Memphis is set to play St. Louis on Friday in Columbus, Ohio at approximately 5:50 (CDT). The game will be televised on TBS.