GETTING INSIDE

   The signature program in Conference USA underwent a major makeover after dealing with a tumultuous off-season. Josh Pastner takes over as coach after John Calipari bolted for Kentucky.

   Calipari is credited for building Memphis back into a national powerhouse, but his tenure wasn’t without issues. The Tigers dealt with an NCAA ruling this off-season that the 38 wins and trip to the 2008 national championship game had to be vacated after using an ineligible player, who was identified as former NBA top pick Derrick Rose.

   Pastner came to Memphis as an assistant coach before the 2008-09 campaign after a six-year stint as an assistant at his alma mater on Hall of Famer Lute Olson’s staff at the University of Arizona (2003-08). During Pastner’s time in Tucson, the Wildcats averaged 23 wins per season (137-60 record), captured two Pac-10 regular-season titles, advanced to two NCAA Tournament regional finals and made six straight NCAA Tournament appearances.

   In his one year in Memphis, Pastner helped lead the Tigers to a 33-4 overall record, a sweep of the C-USA regular season and tournament titles and an NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 appearance. The 31-year-old Pastner will be the second-youngest head coach in NCAA Division I when the 2009-10 season starts.

   Pastner doesn’t expect his league counterparts to take it easy on him or the Tigers.

   “Conference USA is a league that is getting better every year, and 2009-10 is no different,” he said. “I believe this is the year that Conference USA will be a multiple-bid NCAA Tournament league, and there’s going to be a lot of exciting games in the conference this season.

   “We realize that, because of our recent success in the conference, we have a bull’s-eye on our back.”  

 

NOTES, QUOTES

 

  —Senior G Doneal Mack is the only player returning with more than 10 starts under his belt. Mack opened the game 32 times last season and his 8.7 scoring average was good for fifth on the team.   

• The Tigers have had at least a 25-game win streak for three straight years (25 in 2006-07; 26 in 2007-08; 27 in 2008-09) and are the only program in NCAA Division I history to accomplish that feat. The 61-game conference winning streak (regular-season and tournament games) is the second-longest in NCAA history.  

  —Senior G Willie Kemp is third on the school’s all-time list for 3-pointers made with 176. Kemp hit 21 last season despite starting just two games.   

Last Year:   33-4 overall, 16-0 in C-USA; Lost in third round of NCAA Tournament.  

Head Coach:   Josh Pastner (0-0 overall); First season at Memphis.  

Quote To Note:   “I know the fans were looking forward to seeing Angel on the court this year, and we were as well. But we’ll rally around Angel, and our players and coaching staff will be there for him throughout his rehab.”—Coach Josh Pastner on injured sophomore forward Angel Garcia, who also missed all of last season with an injury and while awaiting clearance from the NCAA.  

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

  

Scouting The Newcomers:   Four freshmen swingmen—Drew Barham, Tyler Foster, D.J, Stephens and Malik Thomas—are being counted on to replenish the depth lost by four departing starters. The program also received a boost when Duke transfer G Elliot Williams was given immediate eligibility by the NCAA.  

Key Early-season Games:   The non-conference schedule is highlighted by visits from in-state rival Tennessee (Dec. 31) and Gonzaga (Feb. 6). The only true non-conference road game is a Jan. 6 meeting at Syracuse at the Carrier Dome.  

Program Direction:   Memphis has reached at least the NCAA Sweet 16 for the last four seasons.

Memphis was eliminated by No. 3 seed Missouri, 102-91, in the 2009 Sweet 16. The Tigers are also working on a nine-year streak of postseason appearances and at least 20 victories. The 267 wins over the last decade rank only behind Duke (291) and Kansas (282).    

Probable Starting Lineup:   G Doneal Mack, G Elliot Williams, G Roburt Sallie, F Wesley Witherspoon, F Pierre Niles-Henderson.   

Roster Report:     

• F Martin Ngaloro won’t be with the program after suffering a knee injury. The native of France had signed with the Tigers but has decided to stay home and rehabilitate.   

• Transfer G Elliot Williams (6-4, 180) has been granted his transfer waiver request by the NCAA and is eligible to play the 2009-10 season for the Tigers. The combo guard played his freshman season at Duke in 2008-09.  

• Sophomore F Angel Garcia suffered an ACL tear in his right knee and is expected to miss the entire season. Garcia’s injury occurred during a non-contact drill in individual workouts at the Larry O. Finch Center.