Enter Your Kansas-Memphis Prediction Here
College Basketball April 7th. 2008, 2:20pm
Anyone feeling remotely melancholy about the end of the college hoops season tonight? We certainly are. A somewhat lackluster tournament (too many blowouts) culminates tonight with Memphis (getting major love from the public) going against Kansas. There’s no room on the Derrick Rose bandwagon, but you can still waste your time climbing aboard the CDR train. For reasons you will soon learn, we like Kansas. This lame, but brief, Q&A we had with ourself this morning sums it all up. Everyone guess the score in the comments, and then we can salute the winner tomorrow. Also of note – just like this weekend, when we had a strong turnout, we’ll be chatting in the comments section, having a blast.
Q: When Brandon Rush shuts down CDR (UCLA had nobody with the speed/height combo to do so), and Russell Robinson contains D Rose (just like he did Scottie Reynolds and Ty Lawson; notice we didn’t say ’stops’), who steps up as the 3rd scorer for Memphis? Answer: Nobody. This is why they lose. Offensively, the rest of that team is incredibly poor (we may give a pass to Anderson, though only he’s not taking anyone off the dribble), regardless of what the Conference USA stats say.
Q: Rose and Anderson are such great defenders! They shut down MSU and Texas and UCLA … doesn’t this mean the Kansas backcourt is in trouble? Answer: Nope. The guards on those teams made those teams go. Robinson and Chalmers? Complimentary players. MSU and Texas and UCLA needed their guards to dominate to win; not the case with Kansas. The Jayhawks are at their best working inside-out, getting shots for Arthur and Jackson early, which forces double teams, and then leaves the perimeter open for the gunners. The interesting scenario is if Anderson tries to defend Rush, and CDR is put on one of the guards (he won’t be able to keep up).
Q: Joey Dorsey is totally the new Ben Wallace! If Superhuman Kevin Love couldn’t score inside, how will the Kansas bigs? Answer: Dorsey got plenty of defensive help from Taggart/Dozier, who didn’t have to worry about anyone else scoring. Problem is, Kaun, Jackson and Arthur are all more than capable from 10 feet, so expect plenty of 1 on 1 action in the post, which should favor Kansas significantly.
It’s probably dangerous to feel this confident about a game, but we hit the Final Four games correctly, so let it ride, right? Kansas 73, Memphis 67.
Photo: Icon Sports Media
81 Responses to “Enter Your Kansas-Memphis Prediction Here”
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April 7th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Tigers 81, Hawks 77
April 7th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Memphis 86
Kansas 78
MOP D Rose
April 7th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Memphis 93, Kansas 71
I was wrong about Memphis. Very wrong.
April 7th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
Memphis.
Remember this, Self always pisses the bed in the tournament. He has all the talent in the world and seems to find a way to lose when it comes tournament time. Just ask an Illini fan.
April 7th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
TBL- Anderson is going to be all over B rush tonight. Chalmers is going to have to deal with Rose, LOL Robinson will guard CDR, lol
April 7th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
ill go memphis 87-79
April 7th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
KU 74, Memphis 69.
April 7th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
I predict the TBL server will allow me to post 1 comment during the entire game due to it’s Wisconsin-like slow down offense.
J’Hawks 71, Tigers 68
April 7th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
Memphis 85
Kansas 73
Chris Douglas-Roberts posterizes Joey Dorsey
April 7th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
Memphis – 85
Kansas – 73
And just to put a little lemon juice on the paper cut, Memphis hits 29-33 FT’s
April 7th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
Except when he gets to the championship game?
April 7th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
Memphis 75 KU 73
April 7th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
spongeworthy and IU Grad – jinx!
April 7th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Memphis 78
Kansas 70
April 7th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
I predict this server crashes before the day’s done.
April 7th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Memphis.
And I will find out if I am right about 6 hours after it is over. I can honestly say that I won’t be staying up to watch this one. Neither team really interests me and I think that most of America agrees with me on this one.
April 7th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
@Mike: My theory will hold true if he loses tonight. If not, well, statistical anomaly. I expect a reversion to the mean next year.
April 7th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
@sponge-worth- CDR and Dorsey are on the same team
April 7th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
TBL –
I’m on the same path you are with your Q&A. Put a bigger guy on CDR and he doesn’t get the same easy looks. (Howland should have had Mbah-Mouta on CDR from the start). Kansas has the depth and athletes to make someone else from Memphis have to step up to the plate. Problem is that they really don’t have anyone else when they play teams of this caliber.
The 4 Kansas bigs will give Memphis fits inside on offense, especially on the glass. Aldrich looks like a beast unleashed. Chalmers and Russell need to play under control and limit their turnovers. If that happens, look for a KU win… comfortably.
April 7th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
84-66, Memphis. I’ve had them since the beginning of the year.
Go big or look like an idiot, right?
April 7th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
Derrick Rose isn’t getting slowed down by anyone. I picked Kansas to win in my bracket, but F it, I’m rolling with Memphis tonight.
Mem 81 – Kansas 72
April 7th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
@Wally- did you forget about Kemp who comes off the bench for Memphis draining nothing but threes.
Darnell Jackson sucks people. Dozier who is one of the softest big mans out there, is going to make him look like a bitch tonight
April 7th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
Kansas 77
Memphis 71
April 7th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
UNC 88
UCLA 80
Wait… What?
April 7th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
I think we’ll know in the first 5 mins who is going to win. If Memphis starts like they did against Tennessee, Kansas is going to win. If Memphis can just weather the storm (or even put pressure on KU to keep up), then they have the be the favorites. I have the agree with CRM – I’m not picking against Memphis again. And +1 to theasusundevil – KU barely escaped Davidson and barely survived UNC.
On another point – does anyone else think Bill Self would be the new coach at OSU if they lost to Davidson? I think it was that close. KU fans would have run him out of town if Stephen Curry made it to San Antonio.
April 7th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
yea my bad irish i meant darnell jackson
April 7th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
@412 – here here. what is up with the server today? Did Cowherd order another attack?
April 7th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
Memphis 76
Kansas 69
Coach Cal redemption!!! Then, NCAA takes the win off the books within 2 years.
April 7th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Memphis 69
Kansas 66
April 7th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
Has anyone checked out the Tournament Challenge standings? TBL, are you going to do anything for the winner?
I need Kansas to win, but I’m not putting a score because I don’t want to be a jinx. My Derby trip will be paid for if the Jayhawks pull out a victory!
April 7th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Kansas 77, Memphis 62
Rock. Chalk.
April 7th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
Vegas, you making a wager on that tonight?
April 7th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
When I actually think about the game and what might happen, my rudimentary analysis is almost exactly like TBL’s. I see Kansas winning a relatively close game. So, judging by how the rest of the tournament has gone:
Memphis 78
Kansas 64
April 7th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
Memphis 74 KU 63
Taggert comes off the bench and fills in your offensive hole, TBL.
April 7th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Vegas, you making a wager on that tonight?
I win one pool of Memphis wins, and win another plus a large futures bet if KU wins. So the only actual bet I’m making is a hedge with the Memphis ML that I just put in.
If I didn’t have anything riding on it coming in I’d be on Kansas, for sure.
April 7th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
John Feinstein probably thinks all of you who are picking Kansas are racist. So I’ll go:
Memphis 80
Kansas 76
April 7th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
i also find it amusing that Media outlets are giving Memphis respect now. Took awhile, but its finally here. Take this site for example, maybe 6-7 posts on Memphis all year. 50 on Duke, 30 on Georgetown etc
Talk all year about what a dirty coach CAL is and how the program is dirty. All negative shit, and after they win tonight i will laugh to the bank to cash my winnings
April 7th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
@irish –
Kemp got exposed the other night as a one-trick pony. He can’t defend or put the ball on the floor. If I’m Kansas, I want guys like Kemp and Taggert to beat me. If they do, good for them. CDR and Rose are unreal, but I would do EVERYTHING in my power to make everyone else beat me…
April 7th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
Have they not been ranked in the Top 5 all year long?
April 7th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
@mike NYC- i meant talking good about them. Its been mostly negative stuff about them and questioning the program
catch my drift Mike NYC
April 7th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Tennessee-Stanford will be a more entertaining game.
April 7th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
saprissa: Memphis came out absolutely on fire against Tennessee. They hit like 9 of 10 threes or something ridiculous. You mean that would be a bad start against KU? Not sure I see your point.
April 7th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Kansas 78
Memphis 75
Brandon Rush MOP
April 7th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
im late, didnt read anything else so…
memphis 101, kansas 98 2 OT.
April 7th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Kansas 78 Memphis 72
April 7th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Memphis 91
Kansas 89
I see this much like an NBA All Star Game….No defense and some great highlights.
Which now means it will be 59-55 KU
April 7th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Kansas 74
Memphis 71
I miss the 80’s when virtually every championship game went to the wire.
April 7th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
Either I’m way, way, off, or everyone here is drinking the ESPN kool-aid. It’s probably 85-25 Memphis here.
Why? Because it soundly beat a UCLA team that had the easiest draw (which everyone agreed on) prior to the tourney?
April 7th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
its going to be high scoring, but not that high scoring. these teams were putting up huge numbers, large in part, because they were more athletic than anyone else they played, including NC and UCLA.
they match up well…it’s going to be bitter.
April 7th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
68-65 Tigers..
April 7th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
“Problem is, Kaun, Jackson and Arthur are all more than capable from 10 feet…”
Kaun should never be included in any comment about his range unless it is two feet from the hole and in.
I’ve been very wrong about Memphis as well. However, Memphis plays the style of balls the fuels KU and KU just has too many atheletes and they have a big bench advantage. Besides, Tigers are what Jayhawks love to eat.
KU 76
Memphis 68
A hitch… if Memphis gets someone hot from the outside ala Gerry in the ‘03 Final and KU seizes up like they did in the Davidson game.
April 7th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Same score i posted on Friday
Kansas 75
Memphis 71
April 7th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Also, I know nothing about Kansas, but even so, I see no reason Memphis shouldn’t win this game. I have seen nothing from Memphis all year that would lead me to believe they can’t match up with and beat anyone, sometimes easily. Even against UT when they lost they still played great. UT just played a little better. Here are the teams Memphis has spanked: Georgetown, Michigan St., Texas, UCLA. Not defeated, spanked. All of them. They’re good. I think they win by about 10.
April 7th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Memphis – 51
Kansas – 47
Someone has to bid a dollar.
April 7th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
Irish – I just assume Memphis is a dirty program because I lived through Coach Cal’s great (and extremely dirty) UMass run. UMass’ Final Four appearance in 96 is off the books now, but I’ll always remember it. Camby even dominated Duncan back then in two games versus Wake. Go Memphis!!
April 7th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
@TBL- people on this site have been saying they are weak all year because of the conference they play in. You have posted some bs about Coach Cal and his Umass days. Was it positive? nope
how many posts on D Rose and these guys all year? maybe 4 positive ones if that
They were the underdogs the past three meetings. MSU was supposed to win, Texas was clearly supposed to win because of who they beat all year, and UCLA. Memphis has been underdogs the past three games.
and now the media wants to talk good about them. A little late if you ask me
April 7th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Memphis – 82
Kansas – 69
April 7th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
@Sean Jean – I meant the overall way Mephis played against Tennessee back in March – out of control, lack of discipline on offense, etc. If anything, hitting those early 3s gave them a false sense of confidence behind the arc (they ended up 8-27 for the game). If they treat the KU game like another “open gym” setting, they’re done. If they keep their heads early and play like they did against UCLA, they are the ‘08 champs.
April 7th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Can we confirm this? Pretty sure they were favored by two over UCLA. And I would be shocked if they were underdogs against Michigan State.
April 7th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
in the media tag along, in the media
April 7th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Irish, I just think you’ve been drinking too much of the Calipari “disrespect” Kool-Aide. Memphis is a great team. Everyone knows. But they will lose tonight.
April 7th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
KU 84
Memphis 81
MOP—-Rush
April 7th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
84-65 Kansas.
April 7th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
My cousin was the trainer for the Memphis team until a couple years ago… so I should theoretically be rooting for them.
On the flip side, Memphis couldn’t cover against UTA, thereby costing me $80. Hmmmmmmm…
Oh yeah, I just remembered I hate the Kansas b-ball team.
Memphis 74, Kansas 67.
April 7th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Mike NYC- first and foremost thats not my nickname. Others who i get along with on here call me irish. You, me no like.
April 7th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
Mike -
UCLA was favored by 2.
April 7th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
Was there a 2nd or a 3rd part of this comment?
April 7th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
@mike NYC- listen man, you jumped on two of my comments on here when i was responding to TBL. thats my pet peeve on here. I comment on TBLs post and people like you comment on my comments. Thats all dood day to you sir. no more blow ups from me, TBL has me on probation
April 7th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Memphis 88
Kansas 82
My inability to pick a winner though will cause Kansas to win. Sorry Memphis.
April 7th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
82-70 Memphis.
April 7th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
One of my 10 ESPN brackets is still in play, so I’ll go with that:
Memphis 77-69
April 7th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
If I’m right: Kansas 96 – Memphis 90
If I’m wrong: Memphis 82 – Kansas 77
April 7th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
The reason Memphis has had a negative media spin (until they beat UCLA) had most to do with the character of some of their players and coach. Many of their players have had scrapes with the law in the past few years and while that may be OK for Pro teams, I think members of the media held it against Memphis.
KU 66 Memphis 88
April 7th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
Kansas 77
Memphis 73
April 7th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
Memphis 88 Kansas 70
April 7th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
memphis 82 kansas 74
April 7th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
Kansas 83
Memphis 79
April 7th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
Kansas 93
Memphis 89
April 7th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
http://awfulannouncing.blogspot.com/
listen to this shit…Lebatard and Bilas arguing about race/Hansbrough/Beasley
gets pretty heated
April 7th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
memphis 90
kansas 83
April 7th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
If Memphis starts like they did against Tennessee, Kansas is going to win.
Sorry saprissa, that’s what you said. Also, I don’t think they played out of control at all. No, they didn’t keep hitting the threes in the second half, but that’s because Pearl knew they would cool off, and they did. It was a closely contested game between the two best teams at the time, and the best game of the year. Tennessee just won the game. The only problem was Tennessee faltered from that point forward while Memphis only got better.