Monday, December 6, 2010
For the third time in four years, Kansas will face Memphis tonight when the two teams tip-off in one of the grandest basketball arenas in the world, Madison Square Garden in New York.
Of course, it was Memphis that Kansas defeated to win the National Championship in 2008. Although there are still players left who were on the roster for that game, no one who played in that game is left from either team.
Last year, the two teams faced off in the first 2008 National Championship rematch. The game featured a Memphis team that was almost completely different than the team that the Jayhawks had faced two years prior. Coach John Calipari was gone, replaced by his assistant coach Josh Pastner, and the majority of the stars who helped Memphis reach the title game in 2008 had also moved on.
Consequently, last year Memphis was a young team with a new, young coach. That didn’t stop the Tigers from looking to avenge their school’s title loss, showing up ready to compete. Cole Aldrich led the Jayhawks with 18 points and the 2008 National Champions were able to win a close game in St. Louis, 59-57. In fact, Kansas and Memphis have historically played close games. Kansas leads the all-time series 5-2 and every game but one has been decided by a score of five points or less, or has gone to overtime.
This year, a Memphis team that is more experienced and is currently undefeated at 7-0 and ranked in the top 15 in the country should again be able to compete and give Kansas a close game.
Six-foot-nine forward/guard Wesley Witherspoon averages 13.7 points per game, who leads the Tigers who as a team average 85.3 points per game. This type of player has given the Jayhawks trouble the last two games.
Six-foot-eight forwards Derrick Williams and Tyler Honeycutt both scored 33 and 27 points respectively, against the Jayhawks. Honeycutt, who made 11 of 15 field goals including five of six three-pointers, was held in check two nights ago by Montana. He scored 11 points on three of 12 shooting in a game at UCLA.
So in what could be the best team Kansas faces in the non-conference season this year, look for the Jayhawks to attempt to fend off the Tigers in what could be another close game between the two schools.
— Edited by Leslie Kinsman
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