STF Super Awesome Team Previews: #2 Memphis Tigers

#2 Memphis Tigers




Team: Memphis Tigers

Conference: Conference USA

Last Season Recap: 33-4, Lost to Ohio State in the Elite Eight

Key Players Returning: Most teams would be happy with with two, maybe three, key players coming back. The Tigers have seven, yes, seven players returning who played a significant role in the last two trips to the Elite Eight. G Chris Douglas-Roberts is the leading scorer for the Tigers and is a D Wade type slasher who has no regard for his body. Guards Antonio Anderson , Willie Kemp, Andre Allen and Donteal Mack will rotate guard positions, each providing a certain role while adding to the extreme depth of this team. In the post, Joey Dorsey and Robert Doizer are the best post defensive combo in the country. They are quick, athletics big mean who can run floor, block shots, rebound and shut down anyone… as long as they aren't named Greg Oden.

What's to Love: Hands down, this is the fastest and most athletic team in America. Along with Rose, Douglas-Roberts and Anderson, the Tigers have extreme depth with Willie Kemp Doneal Mack and Jeff Robinson coming off the bench. This team could press you the entire game and still remain fresh with the number of bodies they throw at you. Memphis can sub seamlessly without skipping a beat. Even if Memphis is trailing teams at halftime, look for many of their opponents to simply run out of gas by by the end of the game.

What's Not to Love: The low post scoring and weak conference schedule are issues, but we are more concerned about how this team will handle expectations. Calipari’s teams were slight surprises in making the Elite Eight the past the past two seasons, despite their superb records. But no more, if this team doesn’t make it to San Antonio, the season is a bust.

Key Player: Derrick Rose - Depending on what you hear, Rose may actually be Superman. If not, he's at least superhuman. We knew going into the season that Rose had all the tools to run the athletic, fast breaking style that the Tigers like to play. But wow, after the first two games, who knew that Rose had that kind of offensive game? And the dunks? Rose may have that Carmelo specialness to lead Memphis to National Championship.

Best Case: The speed and athleticism simply wears teams down, Rose’s playmaking ability has a Nash like effect on a talented Tiger team, Dorsey improves the post scoring, the nine-man rotation doesn’t cause any chemistry issues, defense and athleticism lead to the Tigers cutting down the nets in San Antonio.

Worst Case: The weak conference schedule leaves this team primed for an upset in March, playing time leads to severe chemistry issues, the team is put on probation for whatever the hell Calipari is doing in China.

STF Prediction: All the ingredients are in place for the Tigers year to do something special. Anything short of the Final Four will be a disappointment. National Runner-Up.