Month: December 2017

Categories
Beyond the Arc Sports

The Hustle Dispatch: Week 4

CREDIT: Memphis Grizzlies

Memphis Grizzlies

Let’s be real: a four game losing streak isn’t comparable to the Grizzlies much longer streak, which will likely reach ten games by the end of the weekend after a doubleheader against the Spurs (why did it have to be that matchup?). However, after a decent start to the season, it’s not ideal that all of professional Memphis basketball is mired in a slump. The Hustle, however, finally have a win on the board after four straight losses.

Last Friday, the Hustle got to play their first game at the FedExForum. Unfortunately, in front of a larger audience, Memphis dropped the game to give the Stars their first victory of the season. True to form, however, was the whiplash nature of the game. The two teams consistently traded baskets, leading to 12 ties and an overwhelming 14 different lead changes. While it’s good that the Hustle are always hustling and keeping the game close, the statistics showed pretty clear daylight between them and their opponent. The Stars outrebounded Memphis 44-37, put back 21 second chance points to the Hustle’s eight, and even forced 18 turnovers. With the Hustle usually dominant on boards, an inability to compete with the Stars on that front was ultimately reflected in the final score. In what emerged as a pattern over the course of the week, however, was Marquis Teague stepping up to the plate, posting 19 points in the 100-96 loss.

Back at the Landers Center, the Hustle installed a new defibrillator set for fans to combat any heart problems in another loss that this time featured 15 ties and 19 (!) lead changes. The Hustle could count on a huge contribution from their bench, but were let down by poor free throw shooting and defense, with the Erie Bayhawks shooting 53.7%, just .1% short of their season best. For the Hustle, Kobi Simmons led the scoring with 16 points; the bench, featuring standout performances by Trahson Burrell, Ivan Rabb, and an in-from-the-cold Dusty Hannahs, contributed over half of the team’s score with 61 points. The real nadir for the Hustle, however, came in the next game in Ontario, California.

There are few things a Memphis fan hates more than losing to the Clippers. Sure, it wasn’t Grizzlies vs. Los Angeles, but the Hustle vs. Agua Caliente Clippers is the next best thing, and a hard-fought performance came up just short. The teams played even until the third quarter; with the score tied at 81-81, the Clippers went on a 10-2 run that gave them enough breathing space to hold off the Hustle. Once again, Memphis found it hard to shut down their opponent’s best performers. The Clippers’ Tyrone Wallace put up 30 points on 13-19 shooting, and the rest of his team outshot the Hustle by 20 percent. However, Memphis’ depth did show itself again, with seven players scoring in double digits, and Marquis Teague in particular continuing his good form during the rough patch with another 19 point game and eight rebounds.

After the skid, something had to change. The Hustle channeled the Ghosts of Grizzlies past and harnessed the power of Zach Randolph to overpower the Clippers in their second matchup and emerge with (surprise!) yet another down-to-the-wire victory. With the score at 93-92 in favor of Agua Caliente, Hustle player of the week Marquis Teague hit two free throws with 3 seconds remaining and held on for their first victory in five games.The final 94-93 scoreline, however, could have been avoidable after a stellar opening quarter. The Hustle opened with a 12-0 lead and led 38-17 after the first quarter without committing a single turnover. However, they hit an almost seven-minute scoring drought in the second quarter, allowing the Clippers to close the gap to 51-44. The third quarter saw an exchange of runs between the two teams, with the Hustle holding true to their penchant for intense, unnecessary drama. In an effort to give their opponent a sporting chance, the Hustle graciously shepherded their opponents through a 20-4 run which left the score at 93-91. But, the ending worked out in our favor to seal the victory.

So what’s up with the Hustle? Other than a 14 point loss to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the Hustle have kept all their contests close. An inability to shut down an opponent’s lead contributor has played a factor, but the Hustle need to work on solidifying their defense and not throwing away big leads. As of now, the Hustle are at 2-6. Next up are the Iowa Wolves again. Eventually, I’m going to run out of nails to chew on.

Categories
Sports Tiger Blue

Tigers 83, Mercer 81 (2 OT)

CREDIT: Larry Kuzniewski

Two overtime periods at the AAC football championship this afternoon in Orlando were not enough for those who wear University of Memphis colors. The Tigers and Mercer Bears needed two extra sessions to decide things at FedExForum, with Memphis hitting 16 of 18 free throws over the ten bonus minutes to earn another comeback win in what’s been a staggering start to the 2017-18 season.

Down for much of the game — nine points at halftime and and eight with six minutes to play — the Tigers tied the game (63-63) at the end of regulation on a three-pointer by freshman Jamal Johnson well beyond the arc. It was the fourth (and last) three-pointer Johnson hit on 12 attempts.

Larry Kuzniewski

Jamal Johnson

Junior point guard Jeremiah Martin converted a three-point play and later hit three free throws after being fouled on a long-distance attempt to give the Tigers a 75-73 lead with five seconds left in the first overtime. But Mercer guard Jordan Strawberry drove the length of the floor and drew a foul on Tiger forward Mike Parks with 1.2 seconds left. Strawberry hit both free throws to force the second OT session. (Strawberry’s father, Darryl — the former baseball star — watched the game from a courtside seat near the Bears’ bench. His son hit a pair of three-pointers in the first overtime after scoring only three points in regulation.)

All eight of the Tigers’ points in the second overtime came from the foul line. Martin hit four (the final two with 2.8 seconds left), Parks two, and Kareem Brewton two more to provide the margin of victory. Martin deflected the Bears’ inbounds pass with just over a second to play to seal the win.

“I thought our kids showed a lot of courage, a lot of toughness,” said Tiger coach Tubby Smith. “We weren’t shooting the ball well at all, especially from three, but we found a way to win.”

More than half the Tigers’ field-goal attempts came from long range, but they only connected on seven of 34 (21 percent). Martin and Brewton combined to miss 10 of 12 shots beyond the arc. “We took threes we shouldn’t have taken,” acknowledged Smith. “They were in a zone. But there were entirely too many threes. We haven’t been shooting it well. Luckily, we scored off turnovers, and got the ball into the paint. Second-chance points were big. Guys aren’t shooting the ball in rhythm. Often, guys are shooting after a bad pass, instead of making an extra pass.”

Martin led the Tigers with 19 points and dished out six assists with only two turnovers in 45 minutes of play. Senior forward Jimario Rivers also played more than 40 minutes (42) and scored 18 after being held scoreless at UAB Thursday night. Junior Kyvon Davenport scored 10 points and led Memphis with 11 rebounds before fouling out. Johnson finished with 12 points and Brewton 10. Johnson played 39 minutes off the Tiger bench.

Stephon Jelks led the Bears — minus their leading scorer, Ria’n Holland — with 17 points. Mercer falls to 5-4 with the loss.

“We need to look at our offense and see how we can get more movement,” said Smith. “More cuts to the basket. It’s early yet. This was our sixth game and their ninth. It makes a difference when you have games under your belt. We’re still learning.”

Now 4-2, the Tigers will host Samford Tuesday night, then Bryant next Saturday afternoon.

Categories
Sports Tiger Blue

AAC Championship: #12 UCF 62, #16 Memphis 55 (OT)

The two highest-scoring teams in college football this season played the highest-scoring game in the history of conference championships Saturday afternoon in Orlando.

And one of them had to lose.

UCF junior Tre Neal intercepted Memphis quarterback Riley Ferguson on a third-down play in the second overtime to clinch the American Athletic Conference championship and keep the Knights undefeated (12-0). The victory will send UCF to the Peach Bowl on New Year’s Day, even as its coach, Scott Frost, is headed to Nebraska according to reports by ESPN. (The report was released during overtime of Saturday’s telecast on ABC.) The loss drops Memphis to 10-2 on the season and means the Tigers will play in a second-tier bowl game, though it could well be the AutoZone Liberty Bowl on December 30th.

The game featured four lead changes, with the Tigers twice erasing double-digit deficits. Down 24-14 in the second quarter, Memphis forced turnovers on three consecutive Knight possessions and scored after each to take a 31-24 lead into halftime.

UCF scored touchdowns on its first three possessions of the second half, then added a field early in the fourth quarter to take a 48-34 lead with just under 14 minutes to play. But sophomore tailback Tony Pollard scampered 66 yards for one touchdown and Ferguson hit senior wideout Anthony Miller for a 10-yard score (Miller’s second of the game and 38th of his brilliant career) to tie the game at 48 with 4:13 to play.

Freshman kicker Riley Patterson missed a 51-yard field goal attempt with less than a minute left that could have won the championship for Memphis. (A previous 46-yard attempt was blocked but nullified by a delay-of-game penalty against the Tigers.)

Memphis scored on the first possession of overtime, Ferguson connecting with Miller from 15 yards. UCF answered with a two-yard run by Adrian Killins.

The Knights found the end zone again on the first possession of the second overtime period, this time a one-yard run by Otis Anderson that proved to be the game-winner when Neal picked off Ferguson.

The offensive numbers were eye-popping, even for these two explosive teams. UCF gained 726 yards, the most allowed by Memphis all season, while the Tigers gained 753, their most all season. UCF quarterback McKenzie Milton — the AAC Offensive Player of the Year — passed for 494 yards and five touchdowns (but tossed three interceptions). Ferguson — along with Milton, named first-team All-AAC — passed for 471 yards and four touchdowns, extending his record for touchdowns in a season to 36. Miller caught 14 passes for 195 yards and three touchdowns (giving him 92 catches and 1,407 yards for the season). Sophomore tight end Sean Dykes caught three passes for 161 yards, while a pair of Tiger sophomores had 100 yards on the ground: Darrell Henderson with 109 and Patrick Taylor with 107. Tony Pollard rushed for 71 yards on just three carries and had 72 more yards on six receptions.

Memphis will learn its bowl destination Sunday and this year’s seniors will become the first class of Tigers to play in four bowl games. That destination could be Birmingham or Hawaii (where the AAC has bowl affiliations) or it could mean a return home to the Liberty Bowl, as the SEC is short on bowl-eligible teams, opening what could be a welcome slot for the highest-scoring team the U of M has ever produced.

Categories
News News Blog

UTHSC To Go Smoke Free Next Year

CREDIT: UTHSC

UTHSC

Smokers, vapers, dippers, chewers, and more won’t be able to light up, get a pinch, or a chaw (even in cars) over 55 acres of Memphis after New Year’s Eve.

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) will prohibit the “use of, advertising, sale, or free sampling of tobacco products on university property, facilities, grounds, and controlled venues will be prohibited, effective 24 hours a day, year round,” in a decision announced Friday.

“We understand the health consequences of smoking,” said Ken Brown, executive vice chancellor and chief operations officer at UTHSC. “We believe this decision supports our other efforts to have a healthy environment for our students, faculty, and staff at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.”

The new policy will include sidewalks, parking lots adjacent to university buildings, and other university property as outlined by the city of Memphis. Also, “smoking and tobacco use, along with the use of e-cigarettes, will be prohibited in personal vehicles while on university property.”

The medical school will comply with the Tennessee Non-Smokers Protection Act and other state laws to enforce the new initiative. Once the new policy is in effect, UTHSC will be one of 13 colleges or universities in the state designated as a tobacco-free and smoke-free campus by complying as well as encouraging compliance with the wellness initiative.

However, tobacco products will be allowed under controlled circumstances for “research purposes with prior approval from the dean or director of the facility where the research is conducted.”

The school will offer offer cessation programs, support groups, and nicotine replacement therapy for those on campus who smoke or use tobacco products.

Categories
News News Blog

MLGW Considers ‘Community Solar’

CREDIT: MLGW

MLGW

A solar panel array at Agricenter International.

You’d love to off-grid your house but going solar seems, like, really hard and expensive.

Memphis Light, Gas, & Water (MLGW) is working now to, perhaps, make solar more approachable in the future. The utility launched a survey this week, asking its customers if they’d be interested in community solar, or sharing a solar array with a group of other customers.

In community solar projects, a bunch of energy users all chip in to buy a solar array. Imagine something like the field of dark panels aimed skyward at the Solar Farm on I-40 but much smaller. The arrays are not on people’s individual homes or businesses. Instead, they’re installed together on a different site but the community members all draw their power from them.

Community solar is pretty new. The first project in the country was installed in 2006. But it’s growing rapidly.

In 2014, 66 megawatts of power were generated through community solar projects, enough to power about 43,000 homes, according to the Solar Energy Industry Association. Projects underway now in 29 states could boost that figure to 3 gigawatts of electricity by 2021, according to GTM Research, which said, community solar “is on the cusp of becoming a mainstream driver of U.S. solar market growth.”

Solar is still pretty small in Shelby County. Becky Williamson, strategic marketing coordinator for MLGW, said just more than 90 customers have installed small-to-mid-sized solar systems on their homes or businesses since its Green Power Providers program started in 2007. Many customers are still interested, she said. But here, the money has to be right and community solar could help.

“Small to midsize systems really don’t take advantage of economies of scale than a larger system would,” Williamson said. “So, they’re still more expensive to install than something that would be big.

“That’s one of the advantages of community solar. Instead of a bunch of individual people putting a bunch of small systems at a higher price per watt, you could get larger system at a lower price per watt and everyone could share in that collective, community aspect of it.”

MLGW’s survey is interested in how many people are interested in community solar, of course. But the utility also wants to know how customer would want to pay for it. Would you want to pay up front? Or, monthly? If so, how much would you be willing to pay for solar energy?

Community solar projects pay for themselves in about 12-15 years, Williamson said, and the arrays have a shelf life of up to 25 years. So, it wouldn’t be a short-term, on-again-off-again commitment.

But you have some time to make up your mind. The utility is still very much in the exploratory phase of community power and a program would not be available for at least another couple of years, Williamson said.

MLGW is working closely on the project with the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA), which helps the electric power sector transition to a clean-energy future. In its latest market snapshot, SEPA noted that “community solar continues to boom,” and outside of traditional markets like California, Hawaii, and Arizona.

“We now have thriving solar markets in the Southeast, and we’re seeing growth in states such as Utah and Arkansas — another sign that solar really is a competitive, mainstream power,” said SEPA research analyst Brenda Chew.