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| Memphis Tigers | |
 |
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| University | University of Memphis |
|---|---|
| Conference | C-USA |
| Location | Memphis, TN |
| Head Coach | John Calipari (7th year) |
| Arena | FedExForum (Capacity: 19,000) |
| Nickname | Tigers |
| Colors | Blue and Gray
|
| NCAA Tournament Final Four | |
| 1973, 1985 | |
The Memphis Tigers basketball team represents the University of Memphis in NCAA Division I men's college basketball.[1] The Tigers compete in Conference USA, where they have won the last two regular season and conference tournament championships. The team is currently coached by John Calipari.
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[edit] History
The predecessor of the University of Memphis, West Tennessee State Normal School, first fielded a basketball team in 1920. Zach Curlin, who remains the winningest coach in Tiger history, 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 YMCA, 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.[2]
Curlin's last season coaching the Tigers was in 1948. 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 player to be drafted by the NBA. Forrest 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.[2]
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.[2]
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 won the Missouri Valley Conference titles in 1971 and 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 Metropolitan Collegiate Athletic Conference in 1976.[3]
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. 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 season 24-0.[3]
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 and left the Coliseum to make the Pyramid Arena its new home. On February 6, 1993, the school achieved its 1,000 all-time basketball victory. Memphis joined Conference USA in 1995. Finch stepped down as head coach in 1997 and Tic Price took over thereafter.[3]
[edit] Calipari era
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 after the school had failed to do so for several years. 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. In the 2006 NCCA tournament, the Tigers received a number one seed after a season capped by a Conference USA championship. The Tigers advanced to the Elite Eight before falling to eventual tournament runner-up UCLA.
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.
[edit] Retired jerseys
The University of Memphis has retired eight jerseys.
- Win Wilfong
- John Gunn
- Larry Finch
- Ronnie Robinson
- Keith Lee
- Elliot Perry
- Anfernee Hardaway
- Forest Arnold
[edit] Notes and references
- ^ This article is about the men's basketball team only; women's teams and athletes at the University of Memphis are known as "Lady Tigers."
- ^ a b c http://gotigersgo.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/archive/101899aaa.html
- ^ a b c http://gotigersgo.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/archive/101899aab.html
| Conference USA |
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| East Division: East Carolina • Marshall • Memphis • Southern Miss • UAB • UCF West Division: Houston • Rice • SMU • Tulane • Tulsa • UTEP |
[[Category:College men's basketball]] [[Category:Conference USA]] [[Category:University of Memphis]]
