Two days after Memphis beat Richmond to advance to last night’s semifinals of the 2K Sports College Hoops Classic at the Garden, coach John Calipari invited his players to his house.
Memphis is the Tigers but on this night, they were Ghostbusters.
“I had picked the newspaper the day after the Richmond game and Andre Allen, who had played so well, we wouldn’t have won without him, and his name wasn’t even mentioned in the story,” Calipari said.
“And Chris Douglas-Roberts, who we thought was the MVP, it went to Derrick Rose who gave it to a team manager because he didn’t think he deserved it, wasn’t in the story,” Calipari said. “So I started seeing bogeymen. You know, you worry about that stuff. Guys look at draft boards just like you and I. I saw bogeymen.”
Cal’s players didn’t go room-room with a Dematerialization gun. They just told their coach there was no petty jealousy, no personal agendas.
The Tigers certainly spread the wealth in a 63-53 win over Oklahoma that sends them into tonight’s championship game against Connecticut. The Huskies beat Gardner-Webb, 78-66.
Rose scored 17. Douglas-Roberts had 12. Joey Dorsey just missed a triple double with nine points, 13 rebounds and five blocked shots.
“The thing I like best about this team is that they really like and respect each other on and off the court,” said Calipari, the former UMass and Nets coach. “We may have some issues but what I told them is, ‘Unpack your bags. Worry about being a good college player now, a great college player later in the season, and one of the best players in college at your position at the end of the season.”
The Tigers have several players that could be the best at their position. Rose is a phenomenal freshman talent at guard. Douglas-Roberts was last season’s Conference USA’s Player of the Year. Dorsey played his first game after sitting out with a shoulder injury.
Memphis certainly is the most athletic team in the nation. Calipari’s concerned about their toughness and the Sooners are one team that will bang.
“I’ve told to relax and enjoy the journey,” Calipari said. “At this point in the season they’re going to make mistakes 30 to 40 percent of the time anyway. This is not the time to be tense.”
Hey, he’s the one seeing bogeymen.
2K SPORTS CLASSIC Memphis 63 Oklahoma 53
