Tag: basketball

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Grizzlies Maul Hawks 131 – 117

CREDIT: Larry Kuzniewski

Larry Kuzniewski

Everybody poops. Just ask my 8-month-old daughter. Or the Grizzlies when they shat the bed in a 111-83 loss at the Pacers to start the season. It’s a part of life. Poop is smelly and gross, but it can also be funny and heartwarming. Need proof?

Grizzlies Maul Hawks 131 – 117

As far as Grizzlies gamebreak entertainment goes, this one is immediately in my top ten. The premise is perfect for Conley and Gasol, both fathers with young children. The video says so much about them, even though the two men barely utter a word. You see them as humans and fathers. You see their personalities. You see how they’re able to have a conversation without words.

Conley and Gasol scored 11 and 13 points, respectively, with heavy minutes in the season-opening blowout loss against the Indianapolis Pacers. The Grizzlies’ overall team offense looked flat and dysfunctional. Nobody could break down the Pacers’ defense. Grizzlies fans were quick to hit the panic button on Twitter, with some calling Gasol washed up.

That foul mood changed Friday night, when Conley and Gasol revived their high-level two-man play, proving they can still be the engine of a successful team. Conley sped all over the court, breaking down defenders off the dribble, swishing two threes, and setting up his teammates with 11 assists. Gasol didn’t appear to be limited by the back spasms he experienced earlier that morning, running the floor normally and whipping crisp passes to his teammates to the tune of 5 assists.
Larry Kuzniewski

Although they didn’t lead the way in scoring, Conley and Gasol’s two-man game set the table for the rest of the team. The Grizzlies would hope to see this pattern repeated throughout the regular season, as Conley and Gasol are aging veterans with lots of mileage, and they should conserve their energy and health as much as they’re able before the Grizzlies are (hopefully) wrestling for playoff seeding.
Larry Kuzniewski


In his first regular season game with the Grizzlies at FedExForum, Garrett Temple quickly caught fire, and that blaze raged for the rest of the night. He lit up the Grindhouse with 30 points on 10-11 shooting, and was nearly flawless from deep, hitting 5-6. He also defended and handled the ball well.

Grizzlies Maul Hawks 131 – 117 (2)

Was he 100 percent happy with his performance? In the locker room after the game, Temple said “I was actually real upset at myself for giving up that three to Taurean Prince — the first three he got.” When asked about Temple in his postgame presser, Coach J.B. Bickerstaff was quick to laud his defense, saying that there will be some nights where Temple won’t hit as many shots, but he’ll lock down the opponent’s best player.

Grizzlies Maul Hawks 131 – 117 (3)


Larry Kuzniewski

How did the Grizzlies’ top draft pick do in his first home game of his first NBA season? Let’s just say he’s doing a pretty good job at endearing himself to the fanbase.

Grizzlies Maul Hawks 131 – 117 (4)

Triple-J poured in 24 points off the bench, shooting 8-12 and going 2-4 from deep. His length and quickness transformed the defense. His shooting and defensive impact come as no surprise. What does surprise me, however, is how good he looks in the post and attacking the paint. Consistently, he was able to use his size, strength, and athleticism to work his way into the paint and finished over defenders like 7’1″ Alex Len. His touch around the rim has been impressive.

Grizzlies Maul Hawks 131 – 117 (5)

Grizzlies Maul Hawks 131 – 117 (7)

Chandler Parsons got the start over Kyle Anderson, but played fewer minutes than Anderson. Parsons shot 3-6 from deep and contributed 11 points in the game. One sequence stood out to me in particular: Conley beep-beeped through the defense and jumped beneath the rim, and slung a pass to Gasol at the top of the arc. Gasol immediately swung the ball to a wide-open Parsons for a made triple. It was a rare glimpse at the power of what the three highest-paid Grizzlies can do to a defense when they’re healthy and in sync.

I wrote about this in-depth for the Flyer‘s cover story this week, but the Grizzlies basically haven’t seen and don’t know the capabilities of a healthy version of this team. I’m betting that those unknowns play out as unexpected positives. Did you know that the Grizzlies set a franchise record last night by scoring 77 points in the first half?

Larry Kuzniewski

The one down note from the home-opening win was JaMychal Green’s injury. He broke his jaw colliding with a player’s elbow while contesting a fast break dunk attempt. He hit the ground, pounded the court with his hand, hopped up, and ran straight to the locker room. He underwent a “surgical stabilization procedure” this morning.

J.B. Bickerstaff said the injury shows how selfless Green is — that he was the only one contesting a difficult play. And how tough do you have to be to leap up off the floor and jog to the locker room with a broken jaw?

Dillon Brooks saw limited minutes, logging just two in the first half, but got more run in the second. Even though he was (conspicuously, for Grizzlies fans) on the bench for most of the first half, Brooks was highly engaged, celebrating when Shelvin Mack hit a buzzer-beating floater, and jumping up and cheering harder than anyone else when Jackson slammed home a lob.

Andrew Harrison didn’t play at all in the home opener. And unlike Brooks, he seems disengaged, seclusive, and dissatisfied sitting on the bench. I don’t know how much to read into that, though, since their personalities are so different and perhaps that’s just how Harrison is in general. In any case, people forget how good Andrew Harrison was at the end of last season, and he’s by far the best defender among Grizzlies point guards. I hope Memphis manages to work him into the rotation again, because he brings a lot to the table when he’s playing well.

The Grizzlies de-escalated an anxious fanbase on Friday. They’ll look to build some momentum when they take on one of the West’s scariest teams, the Utah Jazz, on Monday on the road.

Burn of the night:

Grizzlies Maul Hawks 131 – 117 (6)

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Watanabe, Conley, Gasol, Jackson Speak Out at Grizzlies Media Day

Memphis inched closer to the return of Grizzlies basketball with media day on Monday. There were a couple of themes that ran throughout, including youth meshing with veteran leadership in the locker room, and the international media’s infatuation with Japanese basketball star and two-way signee Yuta Watanabe. Here are some major takeaways (both basketball-related and not) from some key players.

Dillon Brooks seemed relaxed and focused. He cracked a couple good jokes while saying everything you’d want to hear from a dynamic young guard looking to take the next step as a player.

Watanabe, Conley, Gasol, Jackson Speak Out at Grizzlies Media Day (4)

Asked about Marc and Mike getting older, Dillon Brooks said the Grizzlies have a lot of youth. “It’s like when grandma and grandpa get a new grandbaby: it gives them new life.” Despite literally calling them grandparents, Brooks expressed gratitude for Conley and Gasol. From Gasol getting drafted by the Lakers and traded to Memphis, and how he’s changed his bod, to Mike Conley getting drafted 4th overall and experiencing a slow start to his career (where often he’d only play in home games), Dillon said they’ve been like mentors, sharing the wisdom they’ve gained from their adversities.

Jaren Jackson Jr. opened his inaugural media day appearance by saying he’s excited for the new Young Thug album, and that casual ebullience characterized much of his interview and presence. When asked about his first post-contract luxury purchase, Jaren answered without hesitation: “Scorpion,” by Drake. He followed that up by saying he’s actually going to take it easy on luxury purchases.
Matt Preston

One thing that frequently bothers me in the NBA world is the lack of representation for Memphis in the league’s TV promos, League Pass commercials, etc. I know Memphis is a small market, but the Grizzlies just drafted a theoretical unicorn with the fourth pick, and he had an amazing Summer League outing. So why is Jaren Jackson conspicuously absent from promos that tease the incoming rookie class? When I asked Jaren about this, he was at a loss for words, and said he doesn’t pay much attention to sports on TV, lauding Netflix instead.

Watanabe, Conley, Gasol, Jackson Speak Out at Grizzlies Media Day (3)

I asked Jackson what he’s currently into on Netflix, and that kick started a lengthy aside about Ozark, and trying to remember a particular episode with another reporter. In some small way, I feel partly responsible for 40 percent of JJJ’s appearance being Ozark-related, but it was a fun glimpse into Jackson’s easygoing and easy-to-talk-to personality. But don’t let Jackson’s amiable spirit mislead you.

Leading up to training camp, Jackson says he’s focused on conditioning, improving his shot, and being aggressive and explosive. While he amicably interrupted a couple other player interviews to bust chops or crack a joke, you get the sense that he’s an open, positive, and constructive communicator, and the Grizzlies hope to see that translate into being a vocal leader and defender on the court. For what it’s worth, Conley said Jackson’s already a pretty good leader in his appearance. Speaking of…

Matt Preston

Conley appeared to be in good spirits, and there’s plenty of positive buzz about his health. Responding to questions about the Grizzlies’ dismal year last season, Conley said “last year was an anomaly,” remarking on the all the consecutive playoff appearances in years prior. Conley also talked about helping younger players in the locker room, giving them advice on staying out of trouble, and the importance of nutrition and adequate sleep

Gasol spent a decent amount of his time fielding questions about saving lives and helping refugees stranded in the Mediterranean Sea. He said his love for his young daughter motivated him to get involved with helping refugee children in the off-season, and truly seems to have experienced something that was bigger than basketball and bigger than himself. Gasol said he wants to sit down with someone in the media and have a longer conversation about the issue.
Matt Preston

Gasol also mentioned he’s heard the criticism that he’s too harsh on his teammates when they make mistakes, and plans to adjust his leadership to be more supportive in that regard. Just don’t ask him to be even slightly okay with lapses on defense.

Matt Preston

Kyle Anderson said he’s ready to take on more pressure and responsibility in Memphis, and showed the old grit-n-grind Grizzlies a lot of love and respect (having played against Memphis as a San Antonio Spur). He believes that playing with Pau taught him how to move off the ball, and prepared him to play with Marc. Maybe they’ll have quick chemistry?

Matt Preston

On an unsurprising note, Garrett Temple confirmed that he found out about his move to Memphis from NBA writer Adrian Wojnarowski, with his agent calling to confirm minutes afterward. Temple said he’s excited to join a team that wants to win now, and expects the Grizzlies to make the playoffs. Temple came across every bit the well-composed veteran, which is interesting, because his locker borders Jackson’s. “Most of the time he’s smiling and laughing and telling us about rappers he likes,” Temple said of Jackson.

Matt Preston

Monday was JB Bickerstaff’s first Grizzlies media day as head coach, and he was dialed-in heading into his first training camp. He pushed back harder than anyone at notions of Gasol and Conley beginning their decline. It’ll be interesting to see how this team looks out of the gate and into the mid-season, especially if the Grizzlies manage to avoid the Injury Vortex.

Watanabe, Conley, Gasol, Jackson Speak Out at Grizzlies Media Day (2)

And finally, the one, the only, Yuta Watanabe. His presence was felt long before he even entered the room. It felt like half the media present at media day were reporters from Japan, solely there because of the 6’9″ international sensation. His name bled into almost every player interview, as the international reporters asked everyone on the team about their thoughts on Watanabe.
Watanabe went out of his way to thank his family and friends for their support. One of his favorite players to watch growing up was Shaq, he said, and while he hasn’t had any BBQ in Memphis, he has been to Sekisui.

Watanabe, Conley, Gasol, Jackson Speak Out at Grizzlies Media Day

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Sing All Kinds We Recommend

Phish and D Wash Sr. on “The Line”

A follow up to our post on Phish’s song about Darius Washington Jr.

“Darius Washington Jr.’s story was incredibly moving to all of us in Phish,” Trey Anastasio wrote in an email to the Flyer. Anastasio is the lead singer of the jam band Phish, which should in all probability have exactly nothing to do with Tiger hoops. But this is Memphis. Things get weird.

At a Halloween show in Atlantic City, Phish played a song called “The Line.” The song is about Washington’s infamous free throw attempts against Louisville in the 2005 C-USA tournament. The song is also about overcoming adversity. Darius Jr.’s Twitter handle is @Mr_Adversity. Following the emotional loss on national television, Washington’s father, Darius Sr., refused to let his son wallow in self-pity and led him on a walk up and down Beale Street to face the fans and to revel in their support.

We reached Darius Jr. by Twitter. He is playing basketball for Olin Edirne Basket, a Turkish team, and deferred questions to his dad. We spoke to Darius Sr. by phone yesterday.

Explaining Phish to Darius Sr. is not what one expects to do on a music-writing gig. But, again, this is Memphis. Initially confused by the news, the Washingtons have developed a sense of humor and perspective on the song, the event, and what it means to people.

“Is he a famous country singer?” Darius Sr. asked. “I don’t know them.”

Phish is somewhat famous for being a jam band, primarily a touring act that invests less time in the studio and in pursuing radio success than in playing live shows for its dedicated fans. It’s not for everybody.

“If the people that sit there and listen to this — if they don’t follow sports and don’t know that this took place — what are they thinking? What’s going through the fans minds?,” Washington Sr. wondered.

“It really spoke to me on a personal level, because I’ve gone through some difficult moments in public, too,” Anastasio wrote. “I’m sure most people have, in one way or another. Those tough moments can ultimately become gifts though.”

The Washingtons were not immediately sure of the musicians’ motives when they heard about the song on CBS Sports.

“We had to sort through and figure out which rout to take. I’ve got rap artists — people that could have just blasted him out,” Washington Sr. said. “I had a lot of scenarios going through my head about how I would respond if it was something that I felt that he was trying to pour salt on a wound or something like that. Maybe I can get one of my rap guys to rap something about it.”

But the awesome possibility of a musical standoff between Phish and the Washingtons was quashed as Darius’ Sr. again demonstrated the character that led him and his son out onto Beale to face the music.

“They show it on ESPN,” Washington said. “They talk about it on March Madness and at the beginning of the year. It’s been following us forever. But it’s not a bad thing, though. There’s something that people fail to realize. Yeah, that was a history making moment, but we got up off the floor and we’re still doing what we do.”

Anastasio was among those moved by the display of family, character, and civic goodwill that went on display.

“You learn a lot about what’s really important in life when
something like that happens,” Anastasio wrote.

“This is the question I pose to people,” Washington said. “If he would have just walked off the court after missing those free throws and sat on the bench like it was nothing, then people have said, damn that kid didn’t even care. But being that he is so passionate — and he hated to lose — that was the main issue. That wasn’t a national championship game. That was a freaking conference game to get into the big dance. That should show the world the passion he has for winning. The kid was always and still is a winner. He’s not a kid anymore, he’s a man. He did that in rec league. If he missed a shot, it bothered him. To this day, that’s how it stands,” Washington said.

In an even more conciliatory gesture, Washington laid the groundwork for what could become Phish’s masterpiece.

“If he decides to do a video, tell him to call us.”

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Sports Sports Feature

Grizzlies Beat the Heat, 101-94

CREDIT: theblog.es

(AP) – Pau Gasol had 28 points and 13 rebounds, Mike Miller added 25 points, and the Memphis Grizzlies sent the Miami Heat to their seventh straight loss with a 101-94 victory Sunday.

Memphis outscored Miami 9-2 in the final 2 minutes for its second win in the last three.

Rudy Gay finished with 22 points for Memphis, and Mike Conley scored 11. Miller was 12-of-13 from the free throw line.

Ricky Davis had a season-high 24 points to lead Miami. Dwyane Wade , coming off the bench, finished with 18 points, but was 7-of-20 from the field.

Chris Quinn scored 17 for the Heat, while Udonis Haslem added 14 points and grabbed 12 rebounds.

The teams were tied at 92 with 2 minutes left. Gasol scored inside with 1:57 remaining to give the Grizzlies the lead, which they maintained when Wade, a 75 percent free throw shooter, missed a pair from the line with 1:04 left.

From there, Memphis hit its free throws to hold on.

Wade, Shaquille O’Neal and point guard Jason Williams , who have been limited recently by a variety of injuries, dressed but did not start for the Heat. Wade and Williams entered the game in the first quarter, but O’Neal’s left hip bursitis kept him on the Miami bench all day.

Memphis led by as many as nine in the second half, but neither team could gain a double-digit lead in the game.

The rest of the stats were just as close, as Memphis controlled the boards 44-37, but 12 of the Heat’s were on the offensive glass. Memphis outscored Miami in the paint 42-36, while the Heat shot 46 percent from the field to 47 percent for Memphis.

Miami used a second-quarter rally to take a 46-43 lead into the break. Davis had 11 points to lead the Heat, hitting four of his first five shots.

Memphis missed seven straight shots at one point, contributing to a 13-2 Miami run and a 42-39 lead. Memphis missed 10 of its last 12 shots in the half.

Wade, who sat out Friday’s game against Dallas, missed seven of his nine first-half shots. His five points before the break were the only scoring off the Miami bench. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies’ reserves managed only two points, and missed eight of nine shots.

Wade was the only Miami play to score off the bench, while Memphis managed only seven points.

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Sports Sports Feature

Memphis Burns Siena

(AP) – Reserve Jeff Robinson scored 20 points and Chris Douglas-Roberts added 19, including 17 in the first half, to lead No. 2 Memphis to a 102-58 victory over Siena on Thursday night.

Joey Dorsey hit all five of his shots, scored 12 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and blocked four shots for Memphis. Robert Dozier had 13 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks as the Tigers (12-0) won their 39th straight home game.

Memphis connected on 11 shots from 3-point range in the first half and built a 25-point lead. The Saints (7-5) could not get any closer than 16 in the second half.

Kenny Hasbrouck led Siena with 18 points, while Edwin Ubiles and Tay Fisher added 14 each.

Siena couldn’t muster any offense after an early lead, shooting 32 percent for the game. Even with a short rally to open the second half that cut the deficit to 16, the Saints never threatened, primarily because Memphis answered the rally with a 25-3 run over the next 7 minutes.

The Tigers shot 50 percent outside the arc for the game with Douglas-Roberts missing only one of his six 3-pointers.

Memphis finished with 11 blocks and forced 15 turnovers.

The Tigers used a barrage of 3-point field goals to build a 49-24 halftime lead. They were 11-of-16 from outside the arc, led by Douglas-Roberts, who hit all five of his and had 17 points.

Siena led early as Memphis coach John Calipari was so dissatisfied with the way his starters were playing, he made wholesale substitutions a minute into the game.

The Tigers erased the early deficit with a 10-0 run with Douglas-Roberts recording half of the points. The Tigers added a handful of 3-pointers over the final 3:26 of the half.

Siena was unable to get much offense going outside of Hasbrouck, shooting 31 percent in the first half.

In the second half, Memphis would extend the lead to as many as 46 points with just under 3 minutes left as Calipari emptied his bench.

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Sports Sports Feature

Griz Lose Big to Hornets; Fans Boo Gasol

CREDIT: ESPN.com

(AP) – Chris Paul had 40 points and nine assists, and the New Orleans Hornets used a third-quarter spurt to beat the Memphis Grizzlies 116-98 on Wednesday night.

Paul shot 17-of-25 from the field, including 5-of-8 from 3-point range, as the Hornets won their third straight. It marked the second-highest point total in Paul’s career. Only his 43 points against the Grizzlies on Dec. 7 was better.

Peja Stojakovic finished with 21 points and David West added 20 for the Hornets, who shot 56 percent.

Rudy Gay and Mike Miller led Memphis with 19 points apiece, while Kyle Lowry finished with 15 on 6-of-8 from the field. Lowry also had eight assists.

Pau Gasol, the Grizzlies’ second-leading scorer, finished with eight points, ending a streak of 81 games in double figures. That was the third-highest in the league behind Carmelo Anthony and Ray Allen .

Paul helped the Hornets run the lead to as many as 18 in the third quarter, scoring 16 points and handing out four assists in the period.

The Hornets eventually extended the lead to 20 points in the fourth.

Gasol, who seemed to settle for outside shots most of the night rather than challenge Tyson Chandler, was booed on several occasions when he didn’t take the ball to the basket. Chandler finished with 13 rebounds and 12 points, while Gasol managed only six shots.

New Orleans led 52-50 at the break behind 15 points from Paul and 12 by West. Miller scored 15 in the tight half, when both teams shot 50 percent.

Paul helped the Hornets break away in the third period, scoring nine points and assisting on two more baskets before the midway point of the quarter, keying an early 15-5 run. Stojakovic added 10 points to help New Orleans carry a 86-73 lead into the final period.

Notes: Grizzlies G Mike Conley returned to full contact practice Tuesday night, meaning his return from injury is much closer. The rookie from Ohio State has been out of action since injuring his right shoulder against Dallas on Nov. 17. “You wouldn’t have thought he had a shoulder surgery,” Memphis coach Marc Iavaroni said before Wednesday’s game. “Moving around well. He was quick. He needs to get in better shape, but that will come with play.” Iavaroni wouldn’t give a specific time on the first-round pick’s return. … New Orleans won the two previous games in this year’s series with Memphis in overtime. … West was whistled for a technical late in the first half by Steve Javie after West argued a no-call. Then Iavaroni got called for a tech midway through the third period for arguing with official Marc Davis. The weirdest tech of the night, though, came with just under 3 minutes left when substitution confusion by the Hornets left New Orleans with only four players on the court.

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Sports Sports Feature

Pistons Rout Grizzlies, 92-67

(AP) – Tayshaun Prince scored 16 points and Antonio McDyess added 11 points and 11 rebounds to lead the streaking Detroit Pistons to a 92-67 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night.

The Pistons, who have won four straight and 11 of 13, got 14 points each from Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton. Rookie Arron Afflalo added a career-best 12.

Detroit’s more-heralded rookie, Rodney Stuckey , made his NBA debut in the fourth quarter. Stuckey, the 15th pick in June’s draft, missed the first 25 games with a broken hand.

Rudy Gay led the Grizzlies with 18 points, but added to Memphis’ offensive problems by missing a pair of wide-open dunks. Pau Gasol returned to the Memphis lineup after missing four games with a toe injury. He finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds in 31 minutes, but went 4-for-14 from the floor as Memphis shot 33.8 percent.

The Pistons led 42-38 at the half, missing seven of eight 3-point attempts. Hamilton had 12 points in the half.

Rasheed Wallace ‘s 3-pointer early in the third kicked off an 8-2 run that gave the Pistons a 52-45 lead, and they expanded the margin to 68-54 at quarter’s end.

The Grizzlies had seven turnovers in the third and six field goals. Gay didn’t help when he missed his second dunk, then was called for offensive goaltending while trying to hang on the rim and catch the bounce.

Detroit pulled away in the fourth while both teams emptied their benches.

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Sports Sports Feature

Grizzlies Edge Spurs With Last-Second Shot, 88-85

CREDIT: NBA.com

Rudy Gay made a buzzer-beating 3-pointer over Tim Duncan to lift the Memphis Grizzlies to an 88-85 victory over the San Antonio Spurs Wednesday night at FedExForum.

After trailing by as many as 23, the Spurs staged a fourth-quarter comeback to tie the game in the waning seconds on a dunk by Manu Ginobili, setting up Gay’s last-second heroics.

Gay finished with 23, none bigger than the final game-winner. Mike Miller led the Grizzlies with 31 points.

For stats and boxscore, check out CBS online.

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Sports Sports Feature

Memphis Beats Cincy, 79-69

(AP) – Freshman guard Derrick Rose scored a career-high 26 points Wednesday night, steadying No. 2 Memphis in a 79-69 victory over Cincinnati that left the Tigers frustrated but unbeaten.

Memphis improved to 9-0 for the first time since 1985-86, when the Tigers won their first 20 games, a school record. This one didn’t come so easily.

Struggling Cincinnati (4-6) kept it close by taking advantage of two second-half technical fouls and the Tigers’ inability to sustain anything for more than a few minutes.

Deonta Vaughn scored 20 points for the Bearcats, who are off to their worst start in 22 years.

Cincinnati was coming off its most inspired performance, a 64-59 loss to crosstown rival Xavier a week earlier. The Bearcats didn’t back down in that rough-and-tumble game, and came away convinced that they had grown up as a team.

Against another old rival, they initially went back into their shell.

Memphis got a lot of open shots on the perimeter early and took advantage, making seven of its first 12. The Tigers pulled ahead 26-14 and seemed to be ready to take control. Instead, they eased up, lost most of their lead and had to sweat it out.

The Tigers failed to score on their last five possessions of the first half, when they had two turnovers and missed three shots. Cincinnati’s confidence grew during an 11-1 run that culminated with Jamual Warren ‘s jumper at the buzzer that trimmed the lead to 33-32.

It was a significant development for the off-target Bearcats, who had shot 36 percent from the field in their last three games, all losses. They went 13-of-27 in the first half against a team that normally prides itself on pressure defense.

Rose got the Tigers back on solid footing, hitting a 3-pointer and making two free throws to open the second half. Cincinnati also slipped back into its shooting doldrums, missing its first eight attempts.

Still, Memphis struggled to put the Bearcats away.

John Williamson’s three-point play gave Cincinnati its first basket of the half and cut it to 44-40, getting the less-than-capacity crowd back into the game. Rose asserted himself again, making another 3-pointer, and Willie Kemp ‘s three-point play off a fastbreak rebuilt the lead to 50-40.

Andre Allen made a three-point play and two 3s that helped Memphis build its biggest lead, 65-50, with 6:49 left. Two technical fouls – one on forward Joey Dorsey , another on coach John Calipari – blunted the momentum. Memphis also missed four consecutive free throws, giving Cincinnati a final chance.

Vaughn’s 3-pointer cut it to 68-62 with 3:50 to go, but Williamson missed a dunk that could have increased the pressure. Finally, Rose hit a 3-pointer from the right wing that made it 73-64 with 1:52 to go.

Memphis has won its last three games against Cincinnati, with a freshman playing the leading role all three times. Two years ago, Antonio Anderson had career-high 32 points against Cincinnati. Last season, Willie Kemp scored 21 in an 88-55 win.

Box score, stats.

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Sports Sports Feature

Cincinnati “Ready” for Memphis Tonight

There’s a story that sounds like a bit of wishful thinking on the Cincinnati Enquirer website today. It’s all about how the University of Cincinnati is better prepared for the Memphis Tigers tonight than they were last year. Uh huh. Sure.

A sample: Things got so out of hand last season when the University of Cincinnati basketball team played Memphis that ESPN2 broke away to show another game.

The Bearcats, 4-5 and losers of three straight games – all on the road – hope to make a better showing tonight against the No. 2 Tigers.

Last year’s game at Memphis was one of the low points of the season for UC. The Tigers took an 11-0 lead on the way to an 88-55 victory.

“When we played Cincinnati, we started hitting our stride,” Memphis coach John Calipari said.

“That was when we went on a 25-game win streak. Cincy caught us at a bad time for them, a good time for us. We started realizing we were better than we thought.”

Read more from the Enquirer here.