Battle at the Alamo: Memphis Prepares to Face Texas A&M in Sweet 16

Thursday, March 22, 2007

SAN ANTONIO—One would think it would be difficult to doubt a team that had won 24 straight games in route to a 32-3 record. However, there are still plenty of people who question how good Memphis really is.

After defeating North Texas and Nevada in the first two rounds to advance to the Sweet 16, John Calipari’s fifth-ranked Tigers will meet Texas A&M on Thursday night in San Antonio. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:27 p.m. (CT) and the game will be televised on CBS.

Memphis, who lost to UCLA in last year’s regional final, hopes to earn a return trip to the Elite Eight by garnering a win over perhaps the most challenging opponent it will have faced all season.

As if beating the third-seeded Aggies while playing with a full deck wouldn’t be difficult enough, the Tigers may have to do it without the services of leading scorer Chris Douglas-Roberts. He sprained his ankle early on in the game with Nevada. His status remains unclear, but “Coach Cal” is optimistic about his chances of playing.

“But I think he will,” the Memphis coach said following his weekly radio show on Monday night.

If Douglas-Roberts isn’t at Calipari’s disposal, the Tigers’ depth can help them hide the loss. Their line-up features nine players who play more than ten minutes per contest, which allows Memphis to accentuate their athleticism by incorporating an up-tempo style. The Tigers’ pressure defense smothers opponents, limiting them to slightly more than 60 points per game while holding them to less than 40 percent shooting. Their defense feeds an offense that produces nearly 80 points per contest, which in turn allows them to set-up their press.

Memphis’ high-scoring attack is led by “CDR”, who scores 15.4 points per game. Senior Jeremy Hunt has stepped up big, averaging 13.6 points off the bench while being the team’s best threat from deep. Antonio Anderson has been the Tigers’ high-assist man.

On the interior, Joey Dorsey (6’9”, 250) and Robert Dozier are Memphis’ prime threats. Dorsey pulls down nearly ten rebounds (9.7) per contest while also contributing 8.7 points. He is the Tigers’ leading shot blocker. Dozier scores 9.8 per game.

Texas A&M (27-6) is favored to win this game despite being the lower seed. The Aggies, who have executed a remarkable turnaround under third-year head coach Billy Gillispie, finished second in the Big 12 after compiling a 13-3 mark. Gillispie was lured to College Station following a two-year stint at current CUSA member UTEP. He was nominated for this year’s Naismith Award, which is presented to the nation’s top coach.

Gillispie has the luxury of coaching a very consistent, sharp-shooting team. The Aggies’ style of play is similar to the Tigers, as they play fast-paced offense as a result of shutdown defense. A&M is in the nation’s top five in both field goal percentage (49.9%) and three-point shooting (42.4%).

First-team All-American Acie Law leads Texas A&M. The senior guard, who is a finalist for this year’s Wooden Award and Naismith Award as the nation’s top player, pours in 18.3 points per game. Law’s top scoring night was a 33-point outing versus rival Texas. He made clutch shot after clutch shot for the Aggies, which is shown by the fact that he averaged 6.9 points in the final four minutes of Big 12 games. The Dallas-native also distributes the ball well, accumulating slightly over five assists per game.

The Aggies have the nation’s top three-point shooter in 6’7” sophomore Josh Carter, who is connecting on an amazing 50.3 of his attempts from long range. The honorable mention All-Big 12 selection is the most accurate career three-point shooter in conference history with a mark of 45.7 percent.

As good as A&M is offensively, they are just as strong on the defensive end. Gillispie’s clubs are known for playing demoralizing defense and this club is certainly no exception. The Aggies rank 15 th nationally in scoring defense, as they limit opponents to 59.3 points per game. Their “D” has been so stout that the opposition has only shot above 50 percent in eight of their 66 halves this season.

Junior guard Dominique Kirk is one of the nation’s top defenders and he was named to the Big 12 All-Defense team. The 6’3”, 180-pound guard has started all 94 games in his A&M career and is also averaging 18.5 points per contest in his team’s two NCAA tournament games.

A pair of quality 6’9”, 250-pounders anchors the Aggies’ post play, as Joseph Jones and Antanas Kavaliauskas each won second team All-Big 12 accolades. Jones, who was also named the league’s All-Defense team, tallies 13.4 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. Kavaliauskas leads the team in field goal percentage, as he shoots 55.5 percent from the floor. The Lithuania-native has recorded 11.8 points while pulling down 6.2 boards per contest.

Texas A&M will need to receive a very good effort from its bench so that it can match the depth that Memphis brings to the table. The Aggies are the only team in the Big 12 to start the same line-up in every game this season and they don’t benefit from much scoring production off the bench.

Something is going to have to give in this one, as both teams are strong on both ends of the court.

KEYS TO THE GAME

Texas A&M Keys

• Lay Down the Law— The Aggies are at their best when senior Acie Law is at his best. In order for A&M to advance they will need to receive a typical performance from their all-star guard.
• Offset Memphis’ Depth with Intensity— The Tigers are the deeper of the two teams; therefore, Texas A&M must counter this deficiency with the intensity that Billy Gillispie’s teams are known for.
• Stay Out of Foul Trouble— This is due to the aforementioned depth concern.

Memphis Keys

• Create Offense with Its Defense— The Tigers usually excel in this area. They will need to again, as they will face a solid Aggie defense.
• Remain “The Hunter”—Senior Jeremy Hunt has come through in the clutch this year and will need to do so again, especially if Chris Douglas-Roberts can’t go.
• Take What’s Free— Memphis has struggled from the line this season, but it will need to alter that trend if it is going win what has the makings of a close game.

What’s Next?
The winner of this match-up will earn the right to face the No.1 Ohio State-No.5 Tennessee winner in the Elite Eight on Saturday to play for a berth in this year’s Final Four.

Other Notes of Interest:

TAKING IT WITH TEXANS
The tremendous turnaround that Billy Gillispie has produced has been with homegrown products. When he took over the A&M program, there were only four home state kids present. Now, nearly the entire roster is composed of kids from the State of Texas.

OVER A QUARTER CENTURY
That is how long it has been since the Aggies last appeared in the Sweet 16, as their last trip was in 1980 when they suffered a 66-55 overtime loss to eventual national champion Louisville.

EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS
Billy Gillispie and his clubs have done so in each of his three seasons in College Station.

GOING DANCIN’ AGAIN
This is the first time in the program’s history that it has made back-to-back NCAA appearances.

RECORD BREAKERS
This 2006-2007 Texas A&M team set school records for the highest seed ever earned in the NCAA Tournament (3) and most wins (27).

20-WIN CLUB
The Aggies have 20 or more games in each of Gillispie’s three seasons, which is the only time in school history that that feat has been accomplished.

PROTECTING THE HOMECOURT
Texas A&M has won 23 of its last 24 games at Reed Arena.