Memphis (What's the big deal) ???

[jbragg10]

Someone please explain why people like Memphis in the final four. I don't see this team being an elite team. They have played no one. The only teams they have played are:
Xavier (loss)
G'Town (loss)
Syracuse (loss)
Tenn (won by 2)
Gonzaga (won)

I am not buying the whole Tyreke Evans at point guard switch. Since the switch, they have played terrible teams.
Am I missing something on this team?

 

[IrishTim]

I agree, jbragg. I made a small wager over who would get the 4th #1 seed with a friend of mine before the brackets came out. You can't ignore the schedule.

 

[jbragg10]

I still expect them to dominate and cover the first game, but I don't see how they will make it to the final four.

 

[IrishTim]

In reality, it doesn't really matter whether UConn or Memphis got the #1 seed because they're in the same part of the bracket. The path to the final four isn't really any different for the 1 or 2 seed.

 

[Jetplane]

This is what I wrote in my thread:

I know ppl think MEMPHIS is overrated but they are basically the USC football team in a basketball situation. They are surrounded by bad teams and can't do much about it--all they can do is play it out. I can say that if they played in the ACC or Big East they would probably lose an additional 4 or 5 games a season and not look like they have a padded record but they are still a pretty good team and they have an easy road (like USC football) except for a few tough bumps they run into. This tournament is no different for them.

If they slip, they slip... but they are still a talented and hardnosed team. A true seed for them is probably 2... but like someone said before, the road for 1 and 2 aren't that far apart. Uconn is deserving of a #1 over them. Think about if they were in the same conference... they would probably split or go 0-2 vs UCONN or something of that nature.

 

[jbragg10]

jetplane ... I agree with some of that BUT the difference is USC beats teams outside their conference. Memphis has not done that well outside their conference. <br/>
Pac-10 football is better than C-USA basketball </br>
</br> Don't get me wrong ... I thought Memphis was the real deal last year and had them playing in the championship game, but I just don't see the talent there like it was last year.

 

[JezWashington]

How does who they play have anything to do with how good/talented they are???

I agree, they are unproven because of their schedule, but they are still more talented than almost every team in the country.

They're beastly defensively.

 

[Jetplane]

jetplane ... I agree with some of that BUT the difference is USC beats teams outside their conference. Memphis has not done that well outside their conference.

Pac-10 football is better than C-USA basketball


Don't get me wrong ... I thought Memphis was the real deal last year and had them playing in the championship game, but I just don't see the talent there like it was last year.

The talent may be a little less than last year but I still think they have a lot of POTENTIAL. PAC-10 is better tha C-USA BBALL, okay... but what I meant was that MEM recruits better players than their conf. foes. IE: PAC-10 could be AMAZING if all the bench recruits for USC were dispersed to play for the other conference teams. You have 4 and 5 stars sitting and not being used for the most part while other conference teams are playing with 2 and 3 stars.

You give a kid a choice of USC football or Oregon St... obviously he wants to choose the better program and PT wouldn't matter as much because you KNOW you have a shot at the title (if that's what your prerogetive (sp) is)

 

[Mr.Cover123]

They haven't played a great schedule, but they have the best defense in the nation. All their starters are 6-5 or taller and will kill small teams especially with guards. If they face Maryland I will unload on Memphis anything under 10.

 

[ZJP6050]

How does who they play have anything to do with how good/talented they are???

I agree, they are unproven because of their schedule, but they are still more talented than almost every team in the country.

They're beastly defensively.

really? the big east shit on them. you're not making sense.

 

[EXTRACTOR]

"Someone please explain why people like Memphis in the final four. I don't see this team being an elite team. They have played no one. The only teams they have played are:
Xavier (loss)
G'Town (loss)
Syracuse (loss)
Tenn (won by 2)
Gonzaga (won)

I am not buying the whole Tyreke Evans at point guard switch. Since the switch, they have played terrible teams.
Am I missing something on this team?"

GREAT POINTS ! BOL! E! :toast:

 

[papicker]

im a little surprised hes not giving memphis more credit, they won at tennessee and destroyed gonzaga 2 teams i think are being badly overlooked in this tournament. they are much improved ft shooting and still have the same tough defense.

 

[papicker]

really? the big east shit on them. you're not making sense.

western kentucky minnesota and unlv (without their best player) all beat louisville i guess that means that they would win the big east.

 

[Mr.Cover123]

You can't say moving Evans to the point means nothing because of the schedule. UAB, Houston, and UTEP are decent teams and they won easily on the road against each team. Won at Tennessee and destroyed Gonzaga on the road. Since Evans has moved to the point there offense matches their defense. They are in a easy bracket too.

 

[homedawg]

totally agree. not even sure how memphis got a #2 seed? they were a 3 or 4 seed in my eyes. conference usa is trash. gonzaga used to get jobbed year in and year out because of their conf. however i would take wcc > conf usa any day , esp at the top

 

[JackPrice+]

This is what I wrote in my thread:

I know ppl think MEMPHIS is overrated but they are basically the USC football team in a basketball situation. They are surrounded by bad teams and can't do much about it--all they can do is play it out. I can say that if they played in the ACC or Big East they would probably lose an additional 4 or 5 games a season and not look like they have a padded record but they are still a pretty good team and they have an easy road (like USC football) except for a few tough bumps they run into. This tournament is no different for them.

If they slip, they slip... but they are still a talented and hardnosed team. A true seed for them is probably 2... but like someone said before, the road for 1 and 2 aren't that far apart. Uconn is deserving of a #1 over them. Think about if they were in the same conference... they would probably split or go 0-2 vs UCONN or something of that nature.

I get what you're trying to say (with your analogy), but the difference is when the USC football team plays out of conference.....they put a beat down on those teams (particularly teams from the slow and plodding Big 10 which don't even represent a speed bump for SC). Memphis on the other hand hasn't perfromed nearly as well out of conference.

P.S. The Pac 10 was 5-0 in bowl games this year. They are a MUCH better conference than most give them credit for.

 

[jbragg10]

I still am not seeing this and trust me ... I am trying hard to.
<br/> I am not bashing this team. I think they are good, but I don't see them being a top team.
<br/> The win against Tennessee doesn't mean much to me. I will agree about the Gonzaga game, but how can we go by 1-2 games.<br/>
<br/>They are great on defense because they play against crappy teams. Just not seeing them as a factor ... but everyone else seems to be, so maybe I am the odd man out here.

 

[krk1030]

Even their "good" wins are questionable. First of all, Gonaga and Tennessee are not that great this year, and beating a good team does not mean as much when its the highlight of your season. It's a lot harder for teams that are challenged night after night in conference. Would they have beat those teams if they had to play a tough game saturday and then come back monday and pkay them?

 

[Jetplane]

Even their "good" wins are questionable. First of all, Gonaga and Tennessee are not that great this year, and beating a good team does not mean as much when its the highlight of your season. It's a lot harder for teams that are challenged night after night in conference. Would they have beat those teams if they had to play a tough game saturday and then come back monday and pkay them?

I agree with TENN being a sub-par team as opposed to years past. But I still think MEM is a good team.

JB> I still think that MEM is overrated but they just have an easy road...

 

[Mr.Cover123]

I don't think Memphis will have a problem getting to the Elite 8. Not sold on UConn without Dyson.