So, It Was About Free Throws Afterall

[xudash]

Memphis had this game in the bag, and lost it at the line.

It was a lot about the FT's afterall.

[X Factor]

Memphis missed 4 of 5 free throws in the final minute of the game.

[AviatorX]

I wanted to root for Memphis, but found myself rooting for the Jayhawk comeback when it was all said and done.

[D-West & PO-Z]

I'm very happy. Calipari just comes across as such a scumbag. I cant help but think he has one of the dirtiest programs in the country. I have always like Kansas' program and the players they had there. I'm also happy for Bill Self, always though he was unfairly scrutinized to a degree.

[LA Muskie]

I've never really understood why people think ill of John C. He seems like a pretty straight-shooter to me. I especially liked how, despite everyone else's inclination to put the loss on FT shooting, he said postgame that he takes full responsibility for the loss.

[Snipe]

I like coach Cal and I was rooting for him. That loss has to be as tough as it gets. When Majerus lost in overtime to Kentucky he went into a fit of depression. You can't come that close and blow it without it being a tramatic event.

[PM Thor]

Well finally the free throw bug bites Memphis in the butt. I knew that it had to finally happen, but man, that was devastating.

I wonder how much heat Cal will get for not fouling the guy at the end of the game up 3 (like Miller took last year).

Once it hit OT, everyone knew that the game was over. Memphis just looked done.

[D-West & PO-Z]

I've never really understood why people think ill of John C. He seems like a pretty straight-shooter to me. I especially liked how, despite everyone else's inclination to put the loss on FT shooting, he said postgame that he takes full responsibility for the loss.

Probably because of the Final 4 run by Memphis being struck out of the record books because of Camby accepting money from an agent. Also he has had at least 4 different players this year in trouble with the law. He just reminds me of Bob Huggins.

Here is a quote from Kevin Blackistone about how Calipari carried himself when he first started out:

"Time was when John Calipari seemed like one of the slickest cats in this slick game we call college basketball. It wasn’t just that he was young, 29 when he took over UMass. It was the way he carried himself, the way he talked, the suits he wore, the way he combed his dark thick mane, and the recruits he got that overnight turned a moribund program into a Final Four team. It was enough to drive the elder statesmen then of the Atlantic-10 Conference, Calipari’s nemesis John Chaney, into that infamous rage in which he threatened Calipari with bodily harm."

[LA Muskie]

First, today is probably not the day to be dogging coaches for recruiting people with run-ins with the law... This wasn't Drew's first foray into the booking station.

Second, I hear what you're saying about Camby, but I think you have to draw a TON of conclusions to get to the point where Calipari knew of and/or approved Camby's improper acceptance of money from an agent. I've never heard even an allegation that such was the case.

Personally, I think Calipari gets a bad rap because he dresses well and carries himself with confidence. In other words, like Pat Riley and Rick Pitino.

[D-West & PO-Z]

First, today is probably not the day to be dogging coaches for recruiting people with run-ins with the law... This wasn't Drew's first foray into the booking station.

Second, I hear what you're saying about Camby, but I think you have to draw a TON of conclusions to get to the point where Calipari knew of and/or approved Camby's improper acceptance of money from an agent. I've never heard even an allegation that such was the case.

Personally, I think Calipari gets a bad rap because he dresses well and carries himself with confidence. In other words, like Pat Riley and Rick Pitino.

Calipari has a history of multiple players getting trouble in many different ways and during the season. XU may have some players who have been in trouble but its usually never during the season and it is not a reoccurring issue.

[LA Muskie]

Calipari has a history of multiple players getting trouble in many different ways and during the season. XU may have some players who have been in trouble but its usually never during the season and it is not a reoccurring issue.
Let's get a grip here. We're talking basketball players, not priests-in-training. Every program has its issues. I certainly wouldn't put him in the category of Huggins. And for what it's worth, Cal is probably Coach Miller's best friend from what I've heard...

[waggy]

Any friend of Coach Millers is a friend of mine.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Let's get a grip here. We're talking basketball players, not priests-in-training. Every program has its issues. I certainly wouldn't put him in the category of Huggins. And for what it's worth, Cal is probably Coach Miller's best friend from what I've heard...

Thats really not worth that much to me. I have friends who are pretty good guys and I like a lot that cheat in school. I have a particular friend who cheats a lot. I think its dumb, and wrong and irresponsible, but I dont disassociate with him because besides that he is a good guy and doesnt do anything that hurts anyone but himself.

[D-West & PO-Z]

I know full well these guys are college bball players and all college students do stupid things, but look up some of the run-ins with the law some of his players had this year, a lot of the offenses are very UC-like.

[LA Muskie]

Any friend of Coach Millers is a friend of mine.
Huh??? Uh...sorry...too busy looking at your avatar. Yeah...what you said...

[Xman95]

I like coach Cal and I was rooting for him. That loss has to be as tough as it gets. When Majerus lost in overtime to Kentucky he went into a fit of depression. You can't come that close and blow it without it being a tramatic event.

Snipe, I would have put money on it that you were a fan of Calipari, a close friend of Coach Miller. But I have to agree, I do like Coach Cal.

Yes, there's part of me that wonders if there's something sketchy going on that allows him to go to UMass and make a Final Four run, then off to Memphis (after his NBA flop) for a Championship Game appearance. Neither spot being considered a big player on the national scene when he got there. Then, rather quickly, they're an annual power.

But, in all the interviews I have seen with him, I tend to like the guy. Sure, maybe I'm falling for the act. If so, my bad.

[jdm2000]

What were the Memphis players' run-ins with the law this year? I don't really recall seeing anything about them. And unfortunately, each program has those types of incidents scattered throughout its history, including X....

[Frank D.]

When everyone kept asking Calipari about the free throw shooting earlier in the tournament and he kept blowing it off like it absolutely was not important, I just kept thinking that it was going to come back and bite him. It's called karma. He just kept saying that of all the concerns about his team, that was waaaay down the list. I realize what someone says doesn't determine what happens in the future, but you could see it coming. When asked about the team's lousy free throw shooting, why not just say that it is a concern, and the team needs to improve (whether you believe it or not)? It seems like Calipari went out of his way to downplay it and argue with everyone who kept bringing it up.

[XUglow]

This game was a near replay of the second round game with Mississippi State. The difference is that the MSU guard dribbled the ball a bit off his foot, lost a bit of control, and missed the game-tying shot at the buzzer. All of the analysts looked at MSU's hack-a-tiger defense down the stretch and said that the strategy would work against Memphis later in the tournament. All of the analysts were right.

[D-West & PO-Z]

What were the Memphis players' run-ins with the law this year? I don't really recall seeing anything about them. And unfortunately, each program has those types of incidents scattered throughout its history, including X....

Xavier has them scattered throughout its history, Memphis has multiple this year, DURING the season, unlike the majority of XU incidents I can think of, like Finn after leaving XU, besides the dog thing was that during the season? Price after leaving XU, Drew after the season. XU is perfect by any means, but they arent in trouble very often.

Memphis this year:

Robert Dozier: Suspended 1 game for allegedly hitting his girlfriend in the face during an argument, I dont know wha became of it.

Taggert and Jeff Robinson: Arrested in September for inciting a riot outside a club reported to be off limits to the team. Reportedly Joey Dorsey started the whole thing. None of the players were suspended by Calipari.

There are other incidents with Memphis in the past years as well.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Muskie posted this article in the Around the NCAA Forum but I thought I would post it in this thread also since it points out even more arrests and such that I didnt include.

http://cornellsun.com/node/29581