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TAKE A CROSS-COUNTRY ADVENTURE
New Season The Memphis Tigers took a big step with a victory over the Houston Cougars.
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arely does a single game right. Hardaway sent 11 players to the change a college basketfloor in the first half against Houston. (The ball season, much less one Cougars led by three points at halftime.) played in mid-February. But But over the game’s final 20 minutes, he this may well have happened last Saturstuck with his starting unit: the big three, day, when the Memphis Tigers upset the plus Alex Lomax and Lester Quinones. 6th-ranked Houston Cougars in Texas. Among reserves, only senior Tyler Harris In ending Houston’s 37-game(!) winning played as many as 11 minutes. Depth is streak at the Fertitta Center, Memphis overrated in college basketball. There are earned its first road win over a top-10 team four media time-outs every half. Players in 17 years and its second over the country’s get “breathers” every time someone takes 6th-ranked team this season. (Alabama a free throw. Hardaway has finally landed occupied that ranking when the Tigers on the starting five that appears capable of beat them at FedExForum in December.) winning big games in March. It’s the playFor a program that hadn’t beaten a top-10 ers’ responsibility to avoid foul trouble and team since 2014, the 2021-22 campaign has the coach’s responsibility to play them every gained a measure of significance, but a reminute he can. turn to the NCAA tournament remains the • Free throws win games. Memphis fans goal. Getting there would end an eight-year didn’t need Saturday’s win to learn this lesdrought and would change the trajectory son. It was delivered like a kick in the crotch of Penny Hardaway’s still-young college near the end of the 2008 NCAA championcoaching career. The Tigers ship. Memphis teams have took a significant stride not been known for hitting toward a Big Dance ticket free throws consistently, or by beating Houston. in big moments. This year’s Three truths we discovsquad entered the Houston ered in Saturday’s win: game shooting 66 percent • The Tigers have a “Big from the foul line … 321st Three.” NBA championships in the country. (Houston tend to be won by teams was 320th.) When Williams with headline trios. Think was fouled on a heave as recently of the Miami Heat the shot-clock expired with (LeBron James, Dwyane 1:35 left in Saturday’s game, Wade, and Chris Bosh) or the Tigers led by only three the Golden State Warriors points (56-53). Williams PHOTO: LARRY KUZNIEWSKI (Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, made his three free throws, Landers Nolley and Klay Thompson). The and the Tigers, as a team, Tigers’ victory at Houston connected on 10 more — established the team’s prime players, once without a miss — over the game’s final 90 and for all, as Landers Nolley, DeAndre seconds to make the final score (69-59) Williams, and Jalen Duren. After misslook like an easy victory. They’re called ing four recent games with a knee injury, “free” for a reason. Nolley returned to the starting lineup for Much remains to be gained in a season the first time since late December and led suddenly captivating for longtime Tiger Memphis with 20 points, hitting four of five fans. A pair of road games this week — at three-point attempts. (It’s a good time to Cincinnati Tuesday and at SMU Sunday remember Nolley was a first-team all-con— could go either way, and a pair of losses ference selection after the 2020-21 season.) would toss Memphis back on the infaAfter missing six recent games with a back mous “bubble” when it comes to NCAA injury, Williams looked healthy against tournament consideration. But a pair of Houston, scoring 13 points with four assists wins, then strong showings at home to end and three steals. Then there’s Duren, the the regular season could make the AAC team’s star freshman and the American tournament not so critical for the Tigers’ Athletic Conference’s top rebounder and chances at an at-large berth. A mercurial shot-blocker. Duren had 14 points and 11 team has won five games in a row. And on rebounds against the Cougars, his third a special Saturday afternoon in Houston, consecutive double-double. that team raised its ceiling for achievement • For the Tigers’ rotation, tight makes considerably.
