#2 Tigers fall to #1 Ohio State, 92-76

Tigers are unable to overcome 29-15 foul, 41-20 free throw differentials

SAN ANTONIO — Coming into the season, few outside of Memphis felt that the 2007 squad was as good as their 2006 team. Looking back, who can blame them? But John Calipari was able to get the most out of his team yet again in 2007 as they once again advanced to the Elite Eight. Unfortunately the Tigers, the owners of the nation's longest winning streak at 25 games, ran into the second-hottest team in the nation, the #1-seeded Ohio State Buckeyes. Memphis trailed at the half 41-38 and led by as many as four in the second half, but in the end fell to #1 Ohio State 92-76.

The Tigers were led by Jeremy Hunt who, despite just 6-16 shooting, scored 26 points and went 9-10 from the line. Sophomore guard Chris Douglas-Roberts added 14 points but was one of two Tigers who fouled out and was plagued by fouls throughout the second half. Willie Kemp scored 12 points, Antonio Anderson added 10 and Robert Dozier scored 9 points and pulled down 11 rebounds.

Matching the 2006 team's advance to the Elite Eight is quite an accomplishment, but whether you were rooting for Memphis or not, it's hard to look at this game, and the 29-15 foul differential, and not scratch your head. Don't get me wrong, the Tigers had their troubles and chances in this game. Shooting just 40% and allowing Ohio State to shoot 51% is a definite problem, but when one team shoots 41 free throws and the other team shoots 20 free throws I am left wondering why.

Some may say that the Memphis style of play creates more fouls than other teams' style of play. But this game was fast-paced on both ends throughout. I don't feel that excuse results in a 2:1 foul ratio. Others will say that the garbage fouls at the end of the game caused the inflated number of 29 fouls. I counted all of the fouls on Memphis with less than two minutes left as the Tigers were whistled for four fouls during that span. That still leaves us at 25-15, a 5:3 foul ratio. Needless to say I am still perplexed.

No matter what your thoughts are about this game, it was indeed a game between two very talented teams. For the Tigers, their season ends at 33-4 and their winning streak stops at 25 games. The big question now, and I know all of you Tiger fans will not want to hear this, but will coach Cal be a major candidate at Kentucky? It's not often that one of the "best" coaching jobs in the nation opens up, and Calipari's name has been mentioned in the past couple of offseasons for "bigger" programs. With all he has done at Memphis, and the appreication he has from the Tigers' fan base, it would indeed be a difficult place to leave. Let's all hope he sticks around as Conference USA basketball was much improved as a whole in 2007 and I honestly feel that it will only continue to get better in the years to come. Keeping John Calipari only helps ensure that the conference continues to improve as a whole as teams will place more emphasis on catching the Tigers at the top.