Tigers’ abysmal season ends much as it began

Football finale falls flat with 44-7 drubbing by C-USA rival Southern Miss

By Adam Douglas

  

Sports Editor

 

The game, dubbed "The Black and Blue Bowl," went one way – in favor of the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles, as they crushed The University of Memphis (2-10, 1-7 in Conference USA) 44-7 on Saturday in Hattiesburg, Miss., the conclusion to the Tigers' 2011 season.

"I'm very disappointed in the way that we played," said head coach Larry Porter. "I thought with the preparation we had this week, I thought we'd come to play a much better game than we did."

The Golden Eagles dominated from the start, finishing with 540 yards (255 rushing, 285 passing) and 25 first downs while averaging more than seven yards per play. The Tigers averted a shutout when safety Mitch Huelsing recovered a Southern Miss fumble in the end zone with 6:54 left to play.

Memphis, ranked last in most C-USA offensive categories, played without starting freshman quarterback Taylor Reed, who suffered a fractured fibula in the team's Nov. 17 home loss to Marshall. The U of M managed only 181 yards of total offense, including seven yards rushing.

"First and foremost, (Southern Miss) dominated the line of scrimmage," Porter said. "I don't think we had much positive (yards) rushing. We can't afford to have three turnovers, especially pick sixes. That's negligent when it comes to football and that's something we kind of avoided for most of the season. It got us tonight."

Summerlin, making his second start, was 21-of-45 for 174 yards and threw two interceptions. Both interceptions were returned for touchdowns by the Golden Eagles, including a 100-yard return.

"We didn't play up to what we are capable of doing and that starts with me," Summerlin said. "It's frustrating. It hurts a lot to have this taste in your mouth. Unfortunately, I won't get to get rid of it until early September."

The loss marks the 19th defeat in the last 21 games for the Tigers. After two seasons in his first head coaching position, Porter has a 3-21 career record. The Tigers finished with double-digit losses for the third consecutive season.

 

Tigers can’t outsnarl Wolverines

By Adam Douglas

Sports Editor

 

This one went the way it was supposed to — for the Michigan Wolverines, that is. Michigan beat the Tigers at their own game and dictated their own pace, defeating Memphis with a brilliant game-plan 73-61 in the quarterfinals of the 2011 EA Sports Maui Invitational.

The Tigers (1-1) couldn't get anything going offensively and defensively. They opened the game cold, going 3-for-10 in the first minutes. Sophomore Tarik Black also got into foul trouble, picking up two personal fouls in the first 90 seconds of the game, forcing head coach Josh Pastner to go to the bench early and often. The experts had the Tigers winning this one big, but the No. 15 Wolverines played within themselves and kept the Tigers at bay by limiting Memphis' transition game.

The first half was a game full of runs. The Wolverines opened the game on a 10-4 run, followed by an 18-9 lead. But the Tigers, sparked off the bench by Chris Crawford and a hot-shooting Charles Carmouche, went on a 10-0 run to take an early 29-27 lead. Then Michigan, responding with a 10-0 run of their own, took a 37-31 lead into halftime. The Tigers would get no closer than that for the rest of the game.

The Tigers' defense had no answer for the Wolverines' attack. Sophomore guard Tim Hardaway, Jr., who finished the game with 21 points, seven rebounds and five assists, led a team that shot 54 percent from the field, 6-20 from the arc (30 percent) and over 70 percent from the free throw line. The Tigers were led by senior guard Charles Carmouche's 14 points and five rebounds. Sophomore guard Will Barton had a game he would like to forget. The Wooden Watch list player had nine points on 3-of-12 shooting, while forcing ill-advised shots and going 1 for 5 from the arc with four rebounds and one turnover

The Tigers shot poorly from the field, going 19-of-57 (33.3 percent) and shooting only 19 percent (4 of 21) from the arc. They're rebounding wasn't much better. The Wolverines outhustled the Tigers on the boards 35-29, but committed more turnovers with 16, compared to just six for The U of M. The Tigers didn't do a good job of sharing the ball, having just six assists on 19 made baskets.

The Tigers will return to action today at 1 p.m. when they play rival Tennessee in the consolation bracket.

Deja vu: Tigers collapse again in 4th quarter, lose to Marshall 23-22 in final home game

By Adam Douglas

Sports Editor

David Minkin

Freshman running back Artaves Gibson goes airborn while being tackled by Marshall defenders.

 

Both teams traded touchdowns in the first quarter, with the Tigers taking yet another lead into halftime, 13-10, and for the second consecutive game led going into the fourth quarter. And also like last game, The University of Memphis Tigers football team (2-9, 1-6 in Conference USA) couldn't hold the lead when it counted most, falling to Marshall 23-22 after dominating for much of the game.

Once again the Tigers won the turnover battle, 5-0, and once again they let a lead slip away. But in a game where the Tigers returned a blocked punt and a fumble for a touchdown, and had a punt blocked but managed to recover the ball for a first down, it would look like it would be your night to win. Somehow, though, the Tigers found a way to give another win to a reeling team in C-USA.

 "I thought our team played hard and played well in spurts," said head coach Larry Porter. "But the inability to finish just frustrates you. And I will not allow the players to hold their heads low for the effort they gave out there."

The effort was there in Thursday night's game. The Tigers intercepted Marshall backup quarterback Rakeem Cato twice, as well forcing to him to fumble, which led to a touchdown. Memphis had a touchdown on special teams, and when the Thundering Herd went up 7-0 out of the gate, the Tigers responded with their own 10-play, 69-yard touchdown drive. Initially, the Tigers didn't show any letdown from last week's debacle against UAB.

"The resolve in this team is one thing you can enjoy," Porter said. "We were trying to play this game to the bitter end. We wasn't taking our foot off the gas – we're in no position for that."

Unlike last week against the Blazers, the Tigers had chances to win down the stretch. After going down 23-22 with 6:02 left to play, The U of M punted, only to see another fumble fall their way with 2:00 left on the clock. Sophomore quarterback Andy Summerlin, who took over for freshman Taylor Reed midway through the third quarter after Reed was injured, marched the team down the field only to see them start dropping the ball once they crossed their side of the 50. Three straight dropped passes by Marcus Rucker, Tanner Rehrer and Reggie Travis turned the ball over on downs and gave Marshall a come-from-behind win in the fourth quarter.

"We didn't capitalize offensively," Summerlin said. "It's very unfortunate that it ended this way; our defense played great tonight and as an offense you've got to score points."

The Tigers wrap up the 2011 season next Saturday when they travel to Hattisburg, Miss. to play the Southern Miss. Golden Eagles. Kickoff is slated for 3 p.m.

 

 

Tigers all business in Maui

By Adam Douglas

Sports Editor

 

The University of Memphis Tigers basketball team was hard at work on Thursday preparing for their next opponent, Michigan, in the Maui Invitational. And while the players practiced, third-year head coach Josh Pastner was working to make sure Memphis doesn't have any letdowns on their three-day Hawaiian "business trip," as he called it.

"Obviously that was a good win the other day, but we've got to get a lot better," Pastner said, referring to the Tigers win against Belmont on Tuesday. "Going into Maui, we've got to clean some things up. There's no doubt about that, because we're playing a good Michigan team."

Pastner and the Tigers know there are a lot of things that need improvement. And with just one day remaining before their 9 a.m. flight, coaches and players alike are echoing the same serious sentiments about the three-game stretch.

"This is a business trip," Pastner said. "We're there to do a job. If you want to take a vacation, do it on your own time – I'm not in a vacation mood."

The Tigers know that they will be tested by a tough Michigan team that they feel will likely be better than its No. 17 ranking.

Beating the Wolverines is the first step in solidifying the Tigers' status as a top 10-team, said sophomore guard Will Barton.

"Winning the Maui Invitational will be real big for us," he said. "I think we will gain a lot of respect, because that's something that we're lacking as a team around the country."

Michigan will feature one of the best pound-for-pound guards in the country in Tim Hardaway, Jr. The 6-foot-6 sophomore combo guard is great at slashing and pulling up for jumpers.

But he does have weaknesses, some of which will be addressed defensively by sophomore Tigers guard Joe Jackson, who played with Hardaway on the Team USA Under-19 team over the summer.

"He can shoot it from anywhere; he's good at pulling up and can go left and right with the ball," Jackson said. "He plays like a prototypical two-guard in the NBA. His weakness is probably beating somebody off the dribble. He's not one of the quickest guards – but he's one of the biggest."

The Tigers and Wolverines open the Maui Invitational on Monday at 2 p.m. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN2.

 

Another top hoops recruit signs with UM

By Adam Douglas

Sports Editor

 

Right before their upcoming trip to the Maui Invitational, The University of Memphis Tigers basketball team got some great news.

As expected, class of 2012 Southwest Dekalb High senior forward Shaq Goodwin officially signed his letter of intent to play for the Tigers on Wednesday. The announcement comes 8 days after he verbally committed to the Tigers last Tuesday.

Goodwin, a 6-foot-8, 245-pound five-star prospect from Decatur, Ga., had also considered Arizona, Florida, Georgia and UCLA. He is the second commitment for Memphis during the early-signing period, joining his former Atlanta Celtics AAU teammate and Oak Hill Academy senior wing Damien Wilson (Va.). Wilson, a 6-foot-6, 190-pound wing from Mouth of Wilson, Va., signed with the Tigers last Wednesday.

Goodwin's mother told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution this week that her son was going to wait until the end of the season to sign, adding that he would take "a couple" more official visits.

"I just think through the process, everything just got on the same page," said head coach Josh Pastner in a press release. "It's a big decision, you know? That's why the letter of intent allows you to have a week. It gives you time. In the end, this is where Shaq and his mother wanted him to be, and that's Memphis."

Tigers fall to Illini, 62-54

By Adam Douglas

Sports Reporter

Joe Murphy

Junior forward Nicole Dickson contributed 11 rebounds and 10 points, nine of which came from three-point goals, in the Tigers’ loss to Illinois on Tuesday.

 

After winning their first two games of the season, The University of Memphis women's basketball team (2-1) seemed poised to win another one. Instead, they came up eight points short against the Fighting Illini of Illinois, 62-54 on Tuesday.

"We got beat by emotions," head coach Melissa McFerrin said in a press release. "We got beat by our own emotions; our own negative emotions got us."

Memphis battled through a tough first half where the Tigers were outrebounded 28-23. But Memphis stayed close, down 30-29 after Illinois went 5-for-14 from the free-throw line and effectively opened the door for a Tiger comeback in the second half. The U of M took a five-point advantage with 15:05 left to play, but Illinois answered with a run sparked by three straight offensive rebounds and cut the Memphis lead to 38-37 with 12:17 to go. Memphis was then blocked twice, and gave up two defensive rebounds when Lana Rukavina hit a layup with 11:33 to play to push the Illini back in front.

Memphis would knot the score at 47 with 7:30 to play when Nicole Dickson knocked down her third three-point field goal of the night. A steal by guard Brittany Carter led to a quick layup by Ramses Lonlack that put the Tigers back up, 49-47, with 6:33 to play.

But fouls and turnovers would begin to add up for the Tigers.

The Tigers committed three straight turnovers in just over a minute, with Lonlack, Carter and Lee all losing possession.

Illinois took advantage of the Tigers missteps, draining a jumper with 1:14 to go that started a 5-0 run to close out the game. Memphis was outrebounded 52-49 in the game. Neither team shot above 40 percent for the game.

Jasmine Lee and Nicole Dickson each finished with a double-double. Lee finished with 13 points and 12 rebounds, while Dickson finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Carter added 13 points before fouling out of the game, and Lonlack finished with 10 points.

The Tigers return home for a five game home stand on Saturday beginning with a game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Tipoff is 2 p.m at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse.

 

Tigers bruise Bruins 97-81

By Adam Douglas

Sports Editor

   

David Minkin

 

 

In a game where many experts either thought the final score was going to be close or thought the away team would somehow win, the No. 10 University of Memphis Tigers basketball team (1-0) made quick work of the Belmont Bruins on Tuesday afternoon, winning 97-81 in front of 16,294 fans at the FedEx Forum.

The Bruins did at one point lead the game 2-1 very early after tipoff, but the Tigers quickly regained the lead and never relinquished it from that point on. The Tigers' biggest lead at one point was 18, and the closest Belmont ever got was within seven points of Memphis midway through the second half.

"That was a great win for us; that's a good basketball team," said head coach Josh Pastner. "They're extremely well coached. They'll probably win 30 games again this year."

Though the final score indicates The U of M seemed in control for much of the game, it doesn't quite tell the battle that went on between the two teams.  There were technical fouls, elbows being thrown and scrappy play on both sides. Some positives for the Tigers included 20 assists on 34 made field goals, and fewer turnovers than the opponent, 18-9.

"The number one thing on offense for me is that the open man is the go-to man," Pastner said. "And single-digit turnovers, we had seven in the first half and two in the second, so I'm very proud of our guys for that."

The game wasn't easy for the Tigers. They missed 12 free throws, shooting 64.7 percent from the line, hitting 22 of 34 attempts. They were outrebounded 42-29, and couldn't stay out of foul trouble early. But with senior forward Wesley Witherspoon going 8-for-8 from the field and scoring 22 points to go along with 5 rebounds – arguably his best overall performance as a Tiger – the Bruins would not leave Memphis victorious.

"Wesley was elite today," Pastner said. "There was no doubt about that."

Sophomores Joe Jackson and Will Barton also helped the Tigers, each scoring more than 20 points. Jackson again looked like a true point guard, with seven assists and just two turnovers. Barton grabbed five boards and dished out three assists.

"We've got a lot of weapons," Barton said. "I expect guys to score and put up a lot of points. On any given night, Chris (Crawford), my brother (Charles) Carmouche or even (Tarik) Black can go for 20 points or more. It's scary."

The Tigers wore throwback uniforms from the 1972-73 team that went to the Final Four, and also honored former player and head coach Larry Finch by wearing a No. 21 patch on the right shoulder of the uniform. Pastner said the team will wear throwbacks throughout the season in commemoration of The U of M's 100th anniversary.

The Tigers return to action on Monday when they play No. 20 Michigan in the Maui Invitational. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m.