Memphis Tigers basketball
Encyclopedia
The Memphis Tigers
men's basketball team represents the University of Memphis
in NCAA
Division I men's college basketball
. The Tigers compete in Conference USA
, in which they have won six regular season and four conference tournament championships. As of 2011, the Tigers have the 29th highest winning percentage in NCAA history. They play home games at FedExForum
.
, and in a room on campus called the "Normal Cage" which allowed only six inches from the court lines to the walls. In 1929, a $100,000 facility on campus named Memorial Gym became the Tigers' home.
Curlin's last season coaching the Tigers was in 1948, by which time the school had been renamed Memphis State College; it would become Memphis State University in 1957. His successor was McCoy Tarry. In 1951, the new $700,000 Field House gym
was opened for Tiger home games. In 1952, John Wallisa became the first Memphis State player to be drafted by the NBA
. Forest Arnold became the school's first All-American in 1954. The Tigers made the NCAA tournament
for the first time in 1955 under coach Eugene Lambert
. Bob Vanatta
became the team's coach in 1956 and took the Tigers to the NIT
final. Win Wilfong became the team's second All-American in 1957.
In 1962, Dean Ehlers took over coaching duties. The Tigers began playing its home games at the Mid-South Coliseum
in 1964. Moe Iba became the team's coach in 1966, the same year the team joined the Missouri Valley Conference
.
Larry Finch
played in his first game as a Tiger in 1970, the same year that Gene Bartow
took over as head coach. The Tigers shared the Missouri Valley Conference title in 1972 with Louisville (Louisville won a playoff to represent the MVC in the NCAA Tournament), and won the MVC outright in 1973. During the 1972–73 season, All-American Finch led the Tigers to the NCAA tournament championship game
, which the Tigers lost to the UCLA Bruins
. Bartow also won the NABC National Coach of the Year award that season. Wayne Yates took over for Bartow in 1974. The Tigers left the Missouri Valley Conference to become one of the inaugural members of the Metro Conference
in 1976.
Dana Kirk
became head coach in 1979. During the 1980s, the Tigers made seven NCAA tournaments and won multiple Metro Conference titles. Keith Lee
began playing for the Tigers in 1982, and Memphis was ranked number one in both major national polls for the first time the same year. Lee eventually led the team to its second Final Four appearance
in 1985. Only a year later, however, Kirk was forced out after becoming the subject of a criminal investigation. He was also found to have committed many NCAA violations as well; the Tigers were forced to sit out the 1987 NCAA Tournament
and were stripped of their Final Four appearance from 1985, as well as all of their NCAA tournament appearances from 1982-86.
Former player Larry Finch took over head coaching duties in 1986. One of Finch's first recruits, Elliot Perry
, began playing for the team in 1987. In the 1988-89 season, the Tigers set a school record by starting the game against Louisville
with a 24–0 run.
In the early 1990s, Anfernee Hardaway and David Vaughn began their careers at Memphis. Other notable Memphis players from the 90s include Cedric Henderson
, Michael Wilson
and Lorenzen Wright
. The 1991–92 season marked a number of changes for the Tigers. The team left the Metro Conference to become part of the Great Midwest Conference
in 1990 and left the Coliseum to make the Pyramid Arena
its new home in 1991. On February 6, 1993, the school achieved its 1,000 all-time basketball victory. Memphis joined Conference USA
in 1995, one year after the school adopted its current name of the University of Memphis. Finch stepped down as head coach in 1997 and Tic Price
took over thereafter.
John Calipari
was named Memphis' head coach in 2000. Under his leadership, the Tigers won the 2002
NIT
championship then made the NCAA tournament in 2003
and 2004
. The Tigers left The Pyramid
to play home games in the FedExForum
in 2004. The 2005–06 Tigers were led by Darius Washington, Shawne Williams
and Rodney Carney
and set a school record by going 30–3 during the regular season that was capped by a Conference USA championship. In the 2006 NCAA tournament
, the Tigers received a number one seed, and they advanced to the Elite Eight before falling to eventual tournament runner-up UCLA
.
Despite losing their top three scorers from the prior season to the NBA and graduation, the 2006–07 Tigers duplicated the previous year's regular season record of 30–3 and again won the Conference USA championship
, going undefeated in conference play. The Tigers earned a number two seed in the 2007 NCAA tournament
. The Tigers defeated 15 seed North Texas
in the first round, 7 seed Nevada
in the second round, 3 seed Texas A&M
in the Sweet Sixteen, and lost to 1 seed and eventual tournament runner-up Ohio State
in the Elite Eight.
The 2007–08 Memphis Tigers men's basketball team achieved a No. 1 ranking in the Associated Press basketball poll
in January 2008, the school's first No. 1 ranking in the poll in twenty-five years, and went on to win their third straight Conference USA
title on March 15, 2008. Led by First-Team All-American Chris Douglas-Roberts
and future No. 1 overall lottery pick Derrick Rose
, the team received a No. 1 seed in the 2008 NCAA tournament
and defeated No. 16 seed Texas-Arlington in round one, No. 8 seed Mississippi State in round two, and No. 5 seed Michigan State in the Sweet Sixteen. Memphis convincingly defeated No. 2 seed Texas
in the Elite Eight round to advance to the school's first Final Four since 1985. Following this win, Memphis went on to beat No. 1 seed UCLA
on April 5, 2008, advancing to the National Championship game on April 7, 2008. With this win, Memphis became the first team in NCAA history to achieve 38 wins in a single season. After holding a nine point lead with two minutes and twelve seconds left in regulation, the Tigers lost to Kansas
in the National Championship in overtime by the final score of 75–68, becoming the second NCAA runner-up team in Memphis history.
The 2008–09 Tigers again went undefeated in Conference USA and earned a two seed in the 2009 NCAA tournament. The Tigers were defeated by the #3-seed University of Missouri Tigers
in the Sweet Sixteen. On March 31, 2009, Calipari resigned to become the head coach at the University of Kentucky
. Former Assistant Coach Josh Pastner has now taken the role of Head Coach to replace Calipari.
On May 28, 2009, the NCAA formally accused former Tiger star Derrick Rose
of knowingly allowing another person to take his SAT college entrance exam. The accusation was denied by Rose.
On August 20, 2009, the NCAA Committee on Infractions announced that Memphis must vacate all 38 wins for the 2007-2008 season as well as their appearance in the NCAA tournament. They must also return all money earned as result of playing in the Final Four and were placed on probation for three years. The penalties result from an investigation that alleged that Derrick Rose, a Chicago native, had obtained a fraudulent SAT score by allowing another person to take the test for him in Detroit, Michigan and because his brother Reggie Rose was provided nearly $1,700 in free travel and lodging with the team. Memphis appealed the penalty, but this appeal was rejected by the NCAA Committee on Infractions on March 22, 2010, forcing Memphis to take down its banner commemorating the season and adhere to all other penalties handed down.
was named the team's head coach. Pastner was hired as an assistant at Memphis in 2008 after serving as an assistant coach under Lute Olson
at Arizona
for six years. Pastner gained a reputation as a strong recruiter during his tenure at Arizona
. In his first year as coach at Memphis, Pastner recruited one of the top ranked recruiting classes in division one men's basketball for the class of 2010. In 2011 Pastner led the Tigers back to the NCAA tournament for the first time in his coaching career. Pastner's staff includes veteran assistant coach Jack Murphy
, former NBA player and Memphis Grizzlies
assistant Damon Stoudamire
, and Los Angeles Laker
Luke Walton
(hired during the 2011 NBA Lockout
).
* 38 victories from 2007–2008 vacated by NCAA
* 38 victories from 2007-2008 vacated by NCAA
Source:
* Denotes interim coach
** 38 victories from 2007-2008 vacated by NCAA
Source:
Source:
Memphis Tigers
The Memphis Tigers represent the University of Memphis in Division I of the NCAA. They are members of C-USA and currently feature nine women's sports and nine men's sports...
men's basketball team represents the University of Memphis
University of Memphis
The University of Memphis is an American public research university located in the Normal Station neighborhood of Memphis, Tennessee and is the flagship public research university of the Tennessee Board of Regents system....
in NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
Division I men's college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
. The Tigers compete in Conference USA
Conference USA
Conference USA, officially abbreviated C-USA, is a college athletic conference whose member institutions are located within the Southern United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I in all sports...
, in which they have won six regular season and four conference tournament championships. As of 2011, the Tigers have the 29th highest winning percentage in NCAA history. They play home games at FedExForum
FedExForum
The FedEx Forum is an arena located in downtown Memphis, Tennessee. It is the home of the Memphis Grizzlies of the NBA and the NCAA Division I men's basketball program of the University of Memphis, both of whom previously played home games at the Pyramid Arena...
.
History
The predecessor of the University of Memphis, West Tennessee State Normal School, first fielded a basketball team in 1920. Zach Curlin began coaching the team in 1924. The Tigers joined the Mississippi Valley Conference in 1928. The team played its early home games at a local high school gym, a local YMCAYMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
, and in a room on campus called the "Normal Cage" which allowed only six inches from the court lines to the walls. In 1929, a $100,000 facility on campus named Memorial Gym became the Tigers' home.
Curlin's last season coaching the Tigers was in 1948, by which time the school had been renamed Memphis State College; it would become Memphis State University in 1957. His successor was McCoy Tarry. In 1951, the new $700,000 Field House gym
Elma Roane Fieldhouse
The Elma Roane Fieldhouse is a 2,565 seat arena in Memphis, Tennessee. It is the home of the University of Memphis Tigers women's basketball and volleyball teams. Prior to the Mid-South Coliseum opening in 1966, it was also home to the men's basketball team as well...
was opened for Tiger home games. In 1952, John Wallisa became the first Memphis State player to be drafted by the NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
. Forest Arnold became the school's first All-American in 1954. The Tigers made the NCAA tournament
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
for the first time in 1955 under coach Eugene Lambert
Eugene Lambert
Eugene Lambert was an Irish puppeteer from County Sligo. He was owner of the Lambert Puppet Theatre in Monkstown, County Dublin....
. Bob Vanatta
Bob Vanatta
Bob Vanatta was head basketball coach for Memphis State from 1956-62. He compiled a 109-34 record, including making it to the 1957 NIT Championship game.-External links:** article from Palm Beach Post - April 26, 2007...
became the team's coach in 1956 and took the Tigers to the NIT
1956 National Invitation Tournament
The 1956 National Invitation Tournament was the 1956 edition of the annual NCAA college basketball competition.-Selected teams:Below is a list of the 12 teams selected for the tournament.-Brackets/Results:Below is the tournament bracket....
final. Win Wilfong became the team's second All-American in 1957.
In 1962, Dean Ehlers took over coaching duties. The Tigers began playing its home games at the Mid-South Coliseum
Mid-South Coliseum
The Mid-South Coliseum, also known as "The Entertainment Capital of the Mid-South", was a multi-purpose arena, that seated 10,085 people, in Memphis, Tennessee...
in 1964. Moe Iba became the team's coach in 1966, the same year the team joined the Missouri Valley Conference
Missouri Valley Conference
The Missouri Valley Conference is a college athletic conference whose members are located in the midwestern United States...
.
Larry Finch
Larry Finch
Larry Finch was a player and coach for the University of Memphis men's basketball team. He is perhaps most famous for leading the Memphis State Tigers to the NCAA men's basketball championship game in 1973 in a heroic loss to the UCLA Bruins, led by Bill Walton.- Playing career :Finch was born in...
played in his first game as a Tiger in 1970, the same year that Gene Bartow
Gene Bartow
Gene Bartow is a former men's college basketball coach. The Browning, Missouri, native coached 36 years at six universities after coaching two high schools in Missouri for six years.-High school:...
took over as head coach. The Tigers shared the Missouri Valley Conference title in 1972 with Louisville (Louisville won a playoff to represent the MVC in the NCAA Tournament), and won the MVC outright in 1973. During the 1972–73 season, All-American Finch led the Tigers to the NCAA tournament championship game
1973 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1973 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 25 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA University Division college basketball. It began on March 10, 1973, and ended with the championship game on March 26 in St. Louis, Missouri...
, which the Tigers lost to the UCLA Bruins
1972-73 UCLA Bruins men's basketball team
The 1972–73 UCLA Bruins men's basketball team won another National Championship for UCLA by beating the Memphis Tigers, 87–66 in the Final Four. In the NCAA Championship, Bill Walton led UCLA to an 87–66 win over Memphis State in which he made 21 of 22 field goal attempts and scored 44 points. Some...
. Bartow also won the NABC National Coach of the Year award that season. Wayne Yates took over for Bartow in 1974. The Tigers left the Missouri Valley Conference to become one of the inaugural members of the Metro Conference
Metro Conference
The Metropolitan Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, popularly known as the Metro Conference, was an NCAA Division I athletics conference, so named because all of its charter members were in urban metropolitan areas in, or at least on the fringes of, the Southern United States...
in 1976.
Dana Kirk
Dana Kirk (basketball)
Dana Grey Kirk was an American college basketball coach. He was the head coach for the Memphis State University men's team from 1979 to 1986. His coaching record was 158–58, including a Final Four appearance in 1985...
became head coach in 1979. During the 1980s, the Tigers made seven NCAA tournaments and won multiple Metro Conference titles. Keith Lee
Keith Lee
Keith Lee is a retired American professional basketball player who was selected by the Chicago Bulls in the 1st round of the 1985 NBA Draft later to be traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers...
began playing for the Tigers in 1982, and Memphis was ranked number one in both major national polls for the first time the same year. Lee eventually led the team to its second Final Four appearance
1985 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1985 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. This was the first year the field was expanded to 64 teams, from 53 in the previous year's tournament. It began...
in 1985. Only a year later, however, Kirk was forced out after becoming the subject of a criminal investigation. He was also found to have committed many NCAA violations as well; the Tigers were forced to sit out the 1987 NCAA Tournament
1987 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1987 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 12, 1987, and ended with the championship game on March 30 in New Orleans, Louisiana...
and were stripped of their Final Four appearance from 1985, as well as all of their NCAA tournament appearances from 1982-86.
Former player Larry Finch took over head coaching duties in 1986. One of Finch's first recruits, Elliot Perry
Elliot Perry
Elliot Lamonte Perry is a retired American professional basketball player in the NBA.The 6'0" point guard from Memphis State University , was selected with the tenth pick of the second round by the Los Angeles Clippers in the 1991 NBA Draft...
, began playing for the team in 1987. In the 1988-89 season, the Tigers set a school record by starting the game against Louisville
Louisville Cardinals men's basketball
The Louisville Cardinals men's basketball team is the 18th winningest college basketball team in NCAA Division I history and has the 10th best winning percentage in college basketball history. Currently coached by Rick Pitino, the Cardinals of the University of Louisville have been to 37 NCAA...
with a 24–0 run.
In the early 1990s, Anfernee Hardaway and David Vaughn began their careers at Memphis. Other notable Memphis players from the 90s include Cedric Henderson
Cedric Henderson
Cedric Earl Henderson is an American basketball player who played 5 seasons in the NBA.A 6'7" small forward, Henderson starred at the University of Memphis, and was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round of the 1997 NBA Draft...
, Michael Wilson
Michael Wilson (basketball)
Michael Wilson is a former player of the Harlem Globetrotters and the University of Memphis, also known as 'Wild Thing'.Wilson, 6'5, holds the world record for the highest dunk. On April 1, 2000, Wilson dunked a basketball on a goal set at 3.65m from the floor...
and Lorenzen Wright
Lorenzen Wright
Lorenzen Vern-Gagne Wright was an American professional basketball player.-Early life and college:Raised in Oxford, Mississippi, Wright played all levels of basketball in Memphis – high school, collegiate and professional...
. The 1991–92 season marked a number of changes for the Tigers. The team left the Metro Conference to become part of the Great Midwest Conference
Great Midwest Conference
The Great Midwest Conference was an NCAA Division I athletics conference which existed from 1991 to 1995.It was formed in 1990 with six members--Cincinnati and Memphis State from the Metro Conference; UAB from the Sun Belt Conference; Marquette and Saint Louis from the Midwestern Collegiate...
in 1990 and left the Coliseum to make the Pyramid Arena
Pyramid Arena
The Pyramid Arena is a 20,142-seat arena located in downtown Memphis at the banks of the Mississippi River. The facility was built in 1991 and was originally owned and operated jointly by the city of Memphis and Shelby County. Its unique structure plays on the city's namesake in Egypt, known for...
its new home in 1991. On February 6, 1993, the school achieved its 1,000 all-time basketball victory. Memphis joined Conference USA
Conference USA
Conference USA, officially abbreviated C-USA, is a college athletic conference whose member institutions are located within the Southern United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I in all sports...
in 1995, one year after the school adopted its current name of the University of Memphis. Finch stepped down as head coach in 1997 and Tic Price
Tic Price
Tic Price is an American college basketball coach. He currently serves as an assistant at Lamar University under Steve Roccaforte. From 2002 to 2007, he served as head coach at McNeese State University...
took over thereafter.
John Calipari era
John Calipari
John Calipari is an American basketball coach. Since April 2009, he has been the men's head coach at the University of Kentucky....
was named Memphis' head coach in 2000. Under his leadership, the Tigers won the 2002
2002 National Invitation Tournament
-Semifinals & Finals:*Third Place - Temple 65, Syracuse 64...
NIT
National Invitation Tournament
The National Invitation Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. There are two NIT events each season. The first, played in November and known as the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off , was founded in 1985...
championship then made the NCAA tournament in 2003
2003 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2003 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 18, 2003, and ended with the championship game on April 7 in New Orleans, Louisiana...
and 2004
2004 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2004 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 16, 2004, and ended with the championship game on April 5 at the Alamodome in San Antonio,...
. The Tigers left The Pyramid
Pyramid Arena
The Pyramid Arena is a 20,142-seat arena located in downtown Memphis at the banks of the Mississippi River. The facility was built in 1991 and was originally owned and operated jointly by the city of Memphis and Shelby County. Its unique structure plays on the city's namesake in Egypt, known for...
to play home games in the FedExForum
FedExForum
The FedEx Forum is an arena located in downtown Memphis, Tennessee. It is the home of the Memphis Grizzlies of the NBA and the NCAA Division I men's basketball program of the University of Memphis, both of whom previously played home games at the Pyramid Arena...
in 2004. The 2005–06 Tigers were led by Darius Washington, Shawne Williams
Shawne Williams
Shawne Brian Williams is an American professional basketball player who last played for the New York Knicks of the NBA...
and Rodney Carney
Rodney Carney
Rodney Dion Carney is an American professional basketball player. He played college basketball at the University of Memphis and was selected in the 2006 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls and shortly afterwards traded to the Philadelphia 76ers.-Early college career:Carney made the Conference USA...
and set a school record by going 30–3 during the regular season that was capped by a Conference USA championship. In the 2006 NCAA tournament
2006 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2006 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball as a culmination of the 2005–06 basketball season...
, the Tigers received a number one seed, and they advanced to the Elite Eight before falling to eventual tournament runner-up UCLA
2005-06 UCLA Bruins men's basketball team
The 2005–06 UCLA Bruins men's basketball team represented the University of California, Los Angeles in the 2005–06 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The UCLA Bruins finished the regular season with a 14–4 record in conference play. After winning the Pac-10 Tournament, the Bruins conference...
.
Despite losing their top three scorers from the prior season to the NBA and graduation, the 2006–07 Tigers duplicated the previous year's regular season record of 30–3 and again won the Conference USA championship
Conference USA Men's Basketball Tournament
The Conference USA Men's Basketball Tournament is held annually following the end of the regular season of NCAA Division I Men's Basketball.After the conference realignment, the tournament was held at the FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tennessee, for five seasons...
, going undefeated in conference play. The Tigers earned a number two seed in the 2007 NCAA tournament
2007 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2007 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 NCAA schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball as a culmination of the 2006–07 basketball season...
. The Tigers defeated 15 seed North Texas
North Texas Mean Green men's basketball
The North Texas Mean Green men's basketball team represents the University of North Texas in NCAA Division I college basketball, competing as a member of the Sun Belt Conference....
in the first round, 7 seed Nevada
Nevada Wolf Pack men's basketball
The Nevada Wolf Pack basketball program is a college basketball team that represents the University of Nevada, Reno. The team is currently a member of the Western Athletic Conference, which is a Division I conference in the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
in the second round, 3 seed Texas A&M
2006-07 Texas A&M Aggies men's basketball team
The 2006–07 Texas A&M Aggies men's basketball team represented Texas A&M University in the 2006–07 college basketball season. The team was led by third-year head coach Billy Gillispie, who afterward left the Aggies to coach at the University of Kentucky...
in the Sweet Sixteen, and lost to 1 seed and eventual tournament runner-up Ohio State
Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball
The Lucas Sapp men's basketball team represents The Ohio State University in NCAA Division I college basketball competition. The Buckeyes are a member of the Big Ten Conference. The Buckeyes won their only National Championship in 1960 and have made a total of 21 NCAA Tournament appearances...
in the Elite Eight.
The 2007–08 Memphis Tigers men's basketball team achieved a No. 1 ranking in the Associated Press basketball poll
AP Poll
The Associated Press College Poll refers to weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I college sports: football, men's basketball and women's basketball. The rankings are compiled by polling sportswriters across the nation...
in January 2008, the school's first No. 1 ranking in the poll in twenty-five years, and went on to win their third straight Conference USA
Conference USA
Conference USA, officially abbreviated C-USA, is a college athletic conference whose member institutions are located within the Southern United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I in all sports...
title on March 15, 2008. Led by First-Team All-American Chris Douglas-Roberts
Chris Douglas-Roberts
Chris Douglas-Roberts, also known as CDR is an American basketball player who plays for Virtus Bologna. He played college basketball for the Memphis Tigers.-High school:...
and future No. 1 overall lottery pick Derrick Rose
Derrick Rose
Derrick Martell Rose is an American professional basketball player for the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association ....
, the team received a No. 1 seed in the 2008 NCAA tournament
2008 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2008 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball as a culmination of the 2007–08 basketball season...
and defeated No. 16 seed Texas-Arlington in round one, No. 8 seed Mississippi State in round two, and No. 5 seed Michigan State in the Sweet Sixteen. Memphis convincingly defeated No. 2 seed Texas
Texas Longhorns men's basketball
The Texas Longhorns men's basketball team represents The University of Texas at Austin in NCAA Division I men's basketball competition. The Longhorns currently compete in the Big 12 Conference....
in the Elite Eight round to advance to the school's first Final Four since 1985. Following this win, Memphis went on to beat No. 1 seed UCLA
2007-08 UCLA Bruins men's basketball team
The 2007–08 UCLA Bruins men's basketball team was a college sports team representing the University of California, Los Angeles in the Pacific-10 Conference for the 2007–08 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. In his fifth year as head coach, Ben Howland led the team to its third straight Final...
on April 5, 2008, advancing to the National Championship game on April 7, 2008. With this win, Memphis became the first team in NCAA history to achieve 38 wins in a single season. After holding a nine point lead with two minutes and twelve seconds left in regulation, the Tigers lost to Kansas
2007-08 Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team
The 2007–08 Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team represented the University of Kansas for the NCAA Division I men's intercollegiate basketball season of 2007–2008. The team was led by Bill Self in his fifth season as head coach. The team played its home games in Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence,...
in the National Championship in overtime by the final score of 75–68, becoming the second NCAA runner-up team in Memphis history.
The 2008–09 Tigers again went undefeated in Conference USA and earned a two seed in the 2009 NCAA tournament. The Tigers were defeated by the #3-seed University of Missouri Tigers
Missouri Tigers
The Missouri Tigers athletics programs include the extramural and intramural sports teams of the University of Missouri, located in Columbia, Missouri, United States...
in the Sweet Sixteen. On March 31, 2009, Calipari resigned to become the head coach at the University of Kentucky
Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball
The Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team, representing the University of Kentucky, is the winningest in the history of college basketball, both in all-time wins and all-time winning percentage. Kentucky's all-time record currently stands at 2058–647...
. Former Assistant Coach Josh Pastner has now taken the role of Head Coach to replace Calipari.
On May 28, 2009, the NCAA formally accused former Tiger star Derrick Rose
Derrick Rose
Derrick Martell Rose is an American professional basketball player for the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association ....
of knowingly allowing another person to take his SAT college entrance exam. The accusation was denied by Rose.
On August 20, 2009, the NCAA Committee on Infractions announced that Memphis must vacate all 38 wins for the 2007-2008 season as well as their appearance in the NCAA tournament. They must also return all money earned as result of playing in the Final Four and were placed on probation for three years. The penalties result from an investigation that alleged that Derrick Rose, a Chicago native, had obtained a fraudulent SAT score by allowing another person to take the test for him in Detroit, Michigan and because his brother Reggie Rose was provided nearly $1,700 in free travel and lodging with the team. Memphis appealed the penalty, but this appeal was rejected by the NCAA Committee on Infractions on March 22, 2010, forcing Memphis to take down its banner commemorating the season and adhere to all other penalties handed down.
Josh Pastner era
On April 7, 2009, Josh PastnerJosh Pastner
-References:...
was named the team's head coach. Pastner was hired as an assistant at Memphis in 2008 after serving as an assistant coach under Lute Olson
Lute Olson
Robert Luther "Lute" Olson is a retired American men's basketball coach. He was most recently head coach at the University of Arizona for a period of 25 years. He was also head coach at the University of Iowa for 9 years and California State University, Long Beach for one season...
at Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
for six years. Pastner gained a reputation as a strong recruiter during his tenure at Arizona
Arizona Wildcats men's basketball
The Arizona Wildcats basketball team is the intercollegiate men's basketball program representing the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The team competes in the Pacific-12 Conference of NCAA Division I. They are currently coached by Sean Miller.Arizona has a long and rich...
. In his first year as coach at Memphis, Pastner recruited one of the top ranked recruiting classes in division one men's basketball for the class of 2010. In 2011 Pastner led the Tigers back to the NCAA tournament for the first time in his coaching career. Pastner's staff includes veteran assistant coach Jack Murphy
Jack Murphy (basketball)
Jack Murphy is an assistant coach for the Memphis Tigers basketball team.Prior to serving on the Memphis staff, Murphy was an advance scout and video coordinator for the Denver Nuggets of the NBA. Murphy was an assistant and team manager at Arizona from 1998 to 2006, working with current Memphis...
, former NBA player and Memphis Grizzlies
Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies are a professional basketball team based in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. The team is part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Along with the Toronto Raptors, the Grizzlies were established in 1995 as part of the NBA's...
assistant Damon Stoudamire
Damon Stoudamire
Damon Lamon Stoudamire is a retired American professional basketball player who is currently an assistant coach for the Memphis Tigers men's basketball team. The , point guard was selected with the 7th overall pick by the Toronto Raptors in the 1995 NBA Draft and won the 1995–96 NBA Rookie of the...
, and Los Angeles Laker
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
Luke Walton
Luke Walton
Luke Theodore Walton is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . His primary position is at small forward. After the 2010 NBA Finals, Walton and his father Hall of Famer Bill Walton became the first and only father and son to...
(hired during the 2011 NBA Lockout
2011 NBA lockout
The 2011 NBA lockout is the fourth lockout in the history of the National Basketball Association . The owners began the work stoppage at 12:01 am EDT on July 1, 2011. The main issues dividing the owners and the players are revenue sharing and the structure of the salary cap...
).
Top 5 coaches (by winning percentage)
| Top 5 coaches by winning percentage | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coach | Years | Winning Pct. (Overall Record) |
| Bob Vanatta Bob Vanatta Bob Vanatta was head basketball coach for Memphis State from 1956-62. He compiled a 109-34 record, including making it to the 1957 NIT Championship game.-External links:** article from Palm Beach Post - April 26, 2007... |
1956–1962 | 76.22% (109–34) |
| John Calipari John Calipari John Calipari is an American basketball coach. Since April 2009, he has been the men's head coach at the University of Kentucky.... * |
2000–2009 | 75.6% (214–69) |
| Fred Grantham | 1920–1921 | 75.0% (22–7–1) |
| Dana Kirk Dana Kirk (basketball) Dana Grey Kirk was an American college basketball coach. He was the head coach for the Memphis State University men's team from 1979 to 1986. His coaching record was 158–58, including a Final Four appearance in 1985... |
1979-1986 | 73.1% (158-58) |
| Gene Bartow Gene Bartow Gene Bartow is a former men's college basketball coach. The Browning, Missouri, native coached 36 years at six universities after coaching two high schools in Missouri for six years.-High school:... |
1970-1974 | 72.2% (83–32) |
* 38 victories from 2007–2008 vacated by NCAA
Top 5 coaches (by victories)
| Top 5 coaches by victories | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coach | Years | Overall Record |
| Larry Finch Larry Finch Larry Finch was a player and coach for the University of Memphis men's basketball team. He is perhaps most famous for leading the Memphis State Tigers to the NCAA men's basketball championship game in 1973 in a heroic loss to the UCLA Bruins, led by Bill Walton.- Playing career :Finch was born in... |
1986–1997 | 220–130 |
| John Calipari John Calipari John Calipari is an American basketball coach. Since April 2009, he has been the men's head coach at the University of Kentucky.... * |
2000–2009 | 214–69 |
| Zach Curlin | 1924–1948 | 173–184 |
| Dana Kirk Dana Kirk (basketball) Dana Grey Kirk was an American college basketball coach. He was the head coach for the Memphis State University men's team from 1979 to 1986. His coaching record was 158–58, including a Final Four appearance in 1985... |
1979–1986 | 158–58 |
| Bob Vanatta Bob Vanatta Bob Vanatta was head basketball coach for Memphis State from 1956-62. He compiled a 109-34 record, including making it to the 1957 NIT Championship game.-External links:** article from Palm Beach Post - April 26, 2007... |
1956–1962 | 109–34 |
* 38 victories from 2007-2008 vacated by NCAA
Overall Coaches List
| Overall Coaches List | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tenure | Coach | Seasons | Record | Pct. |
| 1920–1921 | Fredrick Grantham | 1 | 22–7–1 | |
| 1921–1922 | W. H. Depriest | 1 | 1–7 | |
| 1922–1924 | Lester Barhard | 2 | 10–13 | |
| 1924–1948 | Zach Curlin | 23 | 173–184 | |
| 1948–1951 | McCoy Tarry | 3 | 40–27 | |
| 1951–1956 | Eugene Lambert Eugene Lambert Eugene Lambert was an Irish puppeteer from County Sligo. He was owner of the Lambert Puppet Theatre in Monkstown, County Dublin.... |
5 | 87–45 | |
| 1956–1962 | Bob Vanatta Bob Vanatta Bob Vanatta was head basketball coach for Memphis State from 1956-62. He compiled a 109-34 record, including making it to the 1957 NIT Championship game.-External links:** article from Palm Beach Post - April 26, 2007... |
6 | 109–34 | |
| 1962–1966 | Dean Ehlers | 4 | 53–47 | |
| 1966–1970 | Moe Iba Moe Iba Henry "Moe" Iba Jr. is an American basketball coach. He coached the University of Memphis from 1966–1970, the University of Nebraska from 1980–1986 and Texas Christian University from 1987-1994.... |
4 | 37–65 | |
| 1970–1974 | Gene Bartow Gene Bartow Gene Bartow is a former men's college basketball coach. The Browning, Missouri, native coached 36 years at six universities after coaching two high schools in Missouri for six years.-High school:... |
4 | 83–32 | |
| 1974–1979 | Wayne Yates Wayne Yates Wayne Yates is a retired American basketball player and coach. He played for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association and later was a college coach, most notably at Memphis State University .-College playing career:Wayne Yates, a 6'8 center from North Little Rock High School in... |
5 | 93–49 | |
| 1979–1986 | Dana Kirk Dana Kirk (basketball) Dana Grey Kirk was an American college basketball coach. He was the head coach for the Memphis State University men's team from 1979 to 1986. His coaching record was 158–58, including a Final Four appearance in 1985... |
7 | 158–58 | |
| 1986–1997 | Larry Finch Larry Finch Larry Finch was a player and coach for the University of Memphis men's basketball team. He is perhaps most famous for leading the Memphis State Tigers to the NCAA men's basketball championship game in 1973 in a heroic loss to the UCLA Bruins, led by Bill Walton.- Playing career :Finch was born in... |
11 | 220–130 | |
| 1997–1999 | Tic Price Tic Price Tic Price is an American college basketball coach. He currently serves as an assistant at Lamar University under Steve Roccaforte. From 2002 to 2007, he served as head coach at McNeese State University... |
2 | 30–27 | |
| 1999–2000 | Johnny Jones Johnny Jones (coach) Johnny Jones is the head men's basketball coach at the University of North Texas. He previously served as the interim head coach at the University of Memphis... * |
1 | 15–16 | |
| 2000–2009 | John Calipari John Calipari John Calipari is an American basketball coach. Since April 2009, he has been the men's head coach at the University of Kentucky.... ** |
9 | 214–69 | |
| 2009–Present | Josh Pastner Josh Pastner -References:... |
3 | 52–22 |
Source:
* Denotes interim coach
** 38 victories from 2007-2008 vacated by NCAA
All-Americans
| All-Americans | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Player(s) | Year | Player(s) | |
| 1954 | Forest Arnold | 1982 | Keith Lee Keith Lee Keith Lee is a retired American professional basketball player who was selected by the Chicago Bulls in the 1st round of the 1985 NBA Draft later to be traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers... , Otis Jackson |
|
| 1955 | Forest Arnold | 1983 | Keith Lee Keith Lee Keith Lee is a retired American professional basketball player who was selected by the Chicago Bulls in the 1st round of the 1985 NBA Draft later to be traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers... , Andre Turner Andre Turner Andre Devalle Turner is an American professional basketball player, formerly in the NBA. A 5'11", . point guard, he played collegiately at Memphis State University... , Bobby Parks Bobby Parks Bobby Ray Parks is an American professional basketball player from Grand Junction, Tennessee. He played for Memphis State University during the 1980s and played internationally in France and the Philippines... |
|
| 1956 | Forest Arnold, Win Wilfong Win Wilfong Alva Winfred Wilfong was an American professional basketball player.A 6'2" guard/forward from the University of Memphis, Wilfong played four seasons in the National Basketball Association as a member of the St. Louis Hawks and Cincinnati Royals. He averaged 6.8 points per game and won a league... |
1984 | Keith Lee Keith Lee Keith Lee is a retired American professional basketball player who was selected by the Chicago Bulls in the 1st round of the 1985 NBA Draft later to be traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers... |
|
| 1957 | Win Wilfong Win Wilfong Alva Winfred Wilfong was an American professional basketball player.A 6'2" guard/forward from the University of Memphis, Wilfong played four seasons in the National Basketball Association as a member of the St. Louis Hawks and Cincinnati Royals. He averaged 6.8 points per game and won a league... |
1985 | Keith Lee Keith Lee Keith Lee is a retired American professional basketball player who was selected by the Chicago Bulls in the 1st round of the 1985 NBA Draft later to be traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers... |
|
| 1958 | Orby Arnold | 1986 | William Bedford William Bedford William Bedford is a retired American professional basketball player who was selected by the Phoenix Suns in the 1st round of the 1986 NBA Draft after playing at Memphis State University... , Andre Turner Andre Turner Andre Devalle Turner is an American professional basketball player, formerly in the NBA. A 5'11", . point guard, he played collegiately at Memphis State University... |
|
| 1961 | Wayne Yates Wayne Yates Wayne Yates is a retired American basketball player and coach. He played for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association and later was a college coach, most notably at Memphis State University .-College playing career:Wayne Yates, a 6'8 center from North Little Rock High School in... |
1987 | Sylvester Gray Sylvester Gray Sylvester "Sly" Gray is an American former professional basketball player who was selected by the Miami Heat in the 2nd round of the 1988 NBA Draft. A 6'6" forward from Memphis State University, Gray played in only one NBA season.As a member of the Heat during the 1988-89 season, he appeared in... |
|
| 1962 | Hunter Beckman | 1988 | Elliot Perry Elliot Perry Elliot Lamonte Perry is a retired American professional basketball player in the NBA.The 6'0" point guard from Memphis State University , was selected with the tenth pick of the second round by the Los Angeles Clippers in the 1991 NBA Draft... |
|
| 1963 | George Kirk | 1989 | Elliot Perry Elliot Perry Elliot Lamonte Perry is a retired American professional basketball player in the NBA.The 6'0" point guard from Memphis State University , was selected with the tenth pick of the second round by the Los Angeles Clippers in the 1991 NBA Draft... |
|
| 1964 | George Kirk | 1990 | Elliot Perry Elliot Perry Elliot Lamonte Perry is a retired American professional basketball player in the NBA.The 6'0" point guard from Memphis State University , was selected with the tenth pick of the second round by the Los Angeles Clippers in the 1991 NBA Draft... , Todd Mundt Todd Mundt Todd Mundt is a retired American professional National Basketball Association player. He played college basketball at Delta State University and University of Memphis. He was a 7'0" center.... |
|
| 1968 | Mike Butler | 1992 | Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway Penny Hardaway Anfernee Deon "Penny" Hardaway is a former American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association , specializing as a small forward, shooting guard, and point guard. His most productive years came in his days as a member of the Orlando Magic as well as the early... , David Vaughn |
|
| 1969 | Rich Jones Rich Jones (basketball) Richard Wesley "House" Jones is a retired American professional basketball player.A 6'6" forward from the University of Memphis, Jones played seven seasons in the American Basketball Association as a member of the Dallas/Texas Chaparrals, the San Antonio Spurs, and the New York Nets... |
1993 | Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway Penny Hardaway Anfernee Deon "Penny" Hardaway is a former American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association , specializing as a small forward, shooting guard, and point guard. His most productive years came in his days as a member of the Orlando Magic as well as the early... |
|
| 1971 | James Douglas | 1994 | Cedric Henderson Cedric Henderson Cedric Earl Henderson is an American basketball player who played 5 seasons in the NBA.A 6'7" small forward, Henderson starred at the University of Memphis, and was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round of the 1997 NBA Draft... |
|
| 1972 | Larry Finch Larry Finch Larry Finch was a player and coach for the University of Memphis men's basketball team. He is perhaps most famous for leading the Memphis State Tigers to the NCAA men's basketball championship game in 1973 in a heroic loss to the UCLA Bruins, led by Bill Walton.- Playing career :Finch was born in... , Ronnie Robinson Ronnie Robinson (basketball) Ronnie Robinson was an American basketball player.Robinson played high school basketball at Memphis Melrose High School, where one of his teammates was his future college and professional teammate, Larry Finch.... |
1995 | Lorenzen Wright Lorenzen Wright Lorenzen Vern-Gagne Wright was an American professional basketball player.-Early life and college:Raised in Oxford, Mississippi, Wright played all levels of basketball in Memphis – high school, collegiate and professional... |
|
| 1973 | Larry Finch Larry Finch Larry Finch was a player and coach for the University of Memphis men's basketball team. He is perhaps most famous for leading the Memphis State Tigers to the NCAA men's basketball championship game in 1973 in a heroic loss to the UCLA Bruins, led by Bill Walton.- Playing career :Finch was born in... , Ronnie Robinson Ronnie Robinson (basketball) Ronnie Robinson was an American basketball player.Robinson played high school basketball at Memphis Melrose High School, where one of his teammates was his future college and professional teammate, Larry Finch.... , Larry Kenon Larry Kenon Larry Joe Kenon is an American former professional basketball player.A 6'9" forward who had a productive career in both the American Basketball Association and the National Basketball Association , Kenon played for the New York Nets, San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls, Golden State Warriors and... |
1996 | Lorenzen Wright Lorenzen Wright Lorenzen Vern-Gagne Wright was an American professional basketball player.-Early life and college:Raised in Oxford, Mississippi, Wright played all levels of basketball in Memphis – high school, collegiate and professional... |
|
| 1974 | Bill Cook | 2002 | Dajuan Wagner Dajuan Wagner Dajuan Marquett Wagner is an American former professional basketball player.Wagner is the son of former University of Louisville and NBA player Milt Wagner... |
|
| 1975 | Bill Cook, Marion Hillard | 2004 | Sean Banks Sean Banks Sean Anthony Banks is an American]] professional basketball player currently in the NBA Development League and playing for Idaho Stampede... , Antonio Burks Antonio Burks Antonio Cornell Burks is an American professional basketball player, formerly in NBA. He is 6'0" and 185 lb . Burks played at Booker T. Washington High School in Memphis, then one year at Hiwassee Junior College in Madisonville, Tennessee before joining the University of Memphis as an... |
|
| 1976 | Bill Cook, Marion Hillard | 2005 | Darius Washington Jr. Darius Washington Jr. Darius Myron Washington Jr. is an American and naturalized Macedonian professional basketball player currently playing in Turkey with Türk Telekom.... |
|
| 1977 | James Bradley, Dexter Reed | 2006 | Darius Washington Jr. Darius Washington Jr. Darius Myron Washington Jr. is an American and naturalized Macedonian professional basketball player currently playing in Turkey with Türk Telekom.... , Rodney Carney Rodney Carney Rodney Dion Carney is an American professional basketball player. He played college basketball at the University of Memphis and was selected in the 2006 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls and shortly afterwards traded to the Philadelphia 76ers.-Early college career:Carney made the Conference USA... , Shawne Williams Shawne Williams Shawne Brian Williams is an American professional basketball player who last played for the New York Knicks of the NBA... |
|
| 1978 | James Bradley | 2007 | Chris Douglas-Roberts Chris Douglas-Roberts Chris Douglas-Roberts, also known as CDR is an American basketball player who plays for Virtus Bologna. He played college basketball for the Memphis Tigers.-High school:... |
|
| 1979 | James Bradley | 2008 | Chris Douglas-Roberts Chris Douglas-Roberts Chris Douglas-Roberts, also known as CDR is an American basketball player who plays for Virtus Bologna. He played college basketball for the Memphis Tigers.-High school:... , Derrick Rose Derrick Rose Derrick Martell Rose is an American professional basketball player for the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association .... |
Source:
Retired jerseys
The University of Memphis has retired eight jerseys.| Retired basketball jerseys | ||
|---|---|---|
| Number | Player | Years played |
| 13 | Forest Arnold | 1952–56 |
| 22 | Win Wilfong Win Wilfong Alva Winfred Wilfong was an American professional basketball player.A 6'2" guard/forward from the University of Memphis, Wilfong played four seasons in the National Basketball Association as a member of the St. Louis Hawks and Cincinnati Royals. He averaged 6.8 points per game and won a league... |
1955–57 |
| 44 | John Gunn | 1974–76 |
| 21 | Larry Finch Larry Finch Larry Finch was a player and coach for the University of Memphis men's basketball team. He is perhaps most famous for leading the Memphis State Tigers to the NCAA men's basketball championship game in 1973 in a heroic loss to the UCLA Bruins, led by Bill Walton.- Playing career :Finch was born in... |
1970-73 |
| 33 | Ronnie Robinson Ronnie Robinson (basketball) Ronnie Robinson was an American basketball player.Robinson played high school basketball at Memphis Melrose High School, where one of his teammates was his future college and professional teammate, Larry Finch.... |
1970–73 |
| 24 | Keith Lee Keith Lee Keith Lee is a retired American professional basketball player who was selected by the Chicago Bulls in the 1st round of the 1985 NBA Draft later to be traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers... |
1981–85 |
| 34 | Elliot Perry Elliot Perry Elliot Lamonte Perry is a retired American professional basketball player in the NBA.The 6'0" point guard from Memphis State University , was selected with the tenth pick of the second round by the Los Angeles Clippers in the 1991 NBA Draft... |
1987-91 |
| 25 | Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway Penny Hardaway Anfernee Deon "Penny" Hardaway is a former American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association , specializing as a small forward, shooting guard, and point guard. His most productive years came in his days as a member of the Orlando Magic as well as the early... |
1991-93 |
Source: