2008–09 Memphis Tigers men's basketball
C-USA Regular Season Champions
C-USA Tournament Champions
NCAA, #2, West Region
Sweet Sixteen
ConferenceConference USA
Record33–4 (16–0 C-USA)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaFedExForum
Seasons
2008–09 Conference USA men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 3 Memphis160 1.000334  .892
Tulsa124 .7502511  .694
UAB115 .6882212  .647
Houston106 .6252112  .636
UTEP106 .6252314  .622
Marshall79 .4381517  .469
Tulane79 .4381417  .452
East Carolina511 .3131317  .433
Southern Miss412 .2501517  .469
Rice412 .2501022  .313
SMU313 .188921  .300
UCF09 .000014  .000
2009 CUSA Tournament winner
As of April 1, 2009
Rankings from AP Poll
*UCF vacated its wins from the 2008–09 season after it was discovered that there was an ineligible player on the team.

The 2008–09 Memphis Tigers men's basketball team represented the University of Memphis in the 2008–09 college basketball season. The Tigers were coached by ninth-year head coach John Calipari, and they played their home games at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee.

Pre-Season

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The 2007–08 Memphis Tigers finished the season 38–2 (16–0), as Conference USA regular season and tournament champions. The Tigers started the season 26–0, the best start to a season in Memphis history. The record start ended with a 62–66 loss to the Tennessee Volunteers in a highly-anticipated #1 vs. #2 matchup. The Tigers ultimately advanced to the NCAA National Championship game for the second time ever. Unfortunately, the Tigers fell in overtime to the Kansas Jayhawks, 68–75. Memphis finished the season ranked 2nd in the final Coaches' Poll and 2nd in the AP Poll.[1] The Tigers' 38 wins set an NCAA record for most wins in a single season.

Recruiting

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College recruiting information
Name Hometown School Height Weight Commit date
Tyreke Evans
PG
Chester, PA American Christian 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Apr 16, 2008 
Recruit ratings: Scout: 5/5 stars   Rivals: 5/5 stars   (98)
Angel Garcia
PF
Toa Baja, Puerto Rico East Chicago Central 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Sep 2, 2007 
Recruit ratings: Scout: 4/5 stars   Rivals: 4/5 stars   (93)
C. J. Henry
SG
Oklahoma City, OK Putnam City 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Aug 26, 2008 
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 3/5 stars   (N/A)
Roburt Sallie
SG
Sacramento, CA City College of San Francisco 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Jun 16, 2008 
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 4/5 stars   (N/A)
Matt Simpkins
PF
Patterson, NC The Patterson School 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Jan 5, 2008 
Recruit ratings: Scout: 4/5 stars   Rivals: 4/5 stars   (80)
Wesley Witherspoon
SF
Atlanta, GA Berkmar 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 185 lb (84 kg) May 1, 2008 
Recruit ratings: Scout: 4/5 stars   Rivals: 4/5 stars   (96)
Overall recruit ranking:   Scout: 6    Rivals: 4    ESPN: 14
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, On3, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

2008–09 Memphis Tigers basketball team

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2008–09 Roster
NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownHigh School/Last College
Anderson, Antonio5G6' 6"215SeniorMassachusetts Lynn, MassachusettsLaurinburg Prep (N.C.)
Dozier, Robert2F6' 9"220SeniorGeorgia (U.S. state) Lithonia, GeorgiaLaurinburg Prep (N.C.)
Evans, Tyreke12G6' 6"195FreshmanPennsylvania Chester, PennsylvaniaAmerican Christian
Garcia, Angel41F6' 11"200FreshmanPuerto Rico Toa Baja, Puerto RicoEast Chicago Central
Henderson-Niles, Pierre4F6' 8"300JuniorTennessee Memphis, TennesseeRidgeway
Henry, C.J.14G6' 3"195FreshmanOklahoma Oklahoma City, OklahomaPutnam City
Kemp, Willie1G6' 2"184JuniorTennessee Bolivar, TennesseeBolivar Central
Laird, Preston31G6' 2"182FreshmanTennessee Memphis, TennesseeGermantown
Mack, Doneal20G6' 5"187JuniorNorth Carolina Charlotte, North CarolinaStatesville Christian
McGrady, Chance10G6' 2"183SeniorFlorida Auburndale, FloridaDr. Phillips
Robinson, Jeff32G6' 6"230SophomoreNew Jersey Trenton, New JerseySt. Patrick
Sallie, Roburt3G6' 5"186SophomoreCalifornia Sacremento, CaliforniaLaurinburg Prep (N.C.); City College of San Francisco
Simpkins, Matt15F6' 9"215FreshmanCalifornia Sacramento, CaliforniaThe Patterson School
Taggart, Shawn0F6' 10"238JuniorVirginia Richmond, VirginiaMount Zion Christian Academy; Iowa State
Witherspoon, Wesley11F/G6' 9"210FreshmanGeorgia (U.S. state) Atlanta, GeorgiaBerkmar
Coaching Staff
NamePositionYear at MemphisHometownAlma Mater (Year)
John CalipariHead Coach9thPennsylvania Moon Township, PennsylvaniaClarion (1982)
John RobicAssistant Coach4thPennsylvania Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaDenison (1986)
Orlando AntiguaAssistant Coach1stNew York (state) New York, New YorkPittsburgh (1995)
Josh PastnerAssistant Coach1stTexas Kingwood, TexasArizona (1998)
Richard HogansDirector of Performance Enhancement5thGeorgia (U.S. state) Columbus, GeorgiaMemphis (1999)
Rod StricklandDirector of Operations3rdNew York (state) New York, New YorkDePaul (1988)

2008–09 Schedule

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Date
time, TV
Rank# Opponent# Result Record Site (attendance)
city, state
Regular Season
Sat, Nov 15*
7:00 p.m.
No. 13 Fairfield W 90–63  1–0
FedExForum (17,741)
Memphis, TN
Mon, Nov 17*
11:00 p.m., ESPN
No. 13 Massachusetts W 80–58  2–0
FedExForum (18,254)
Memphis, TN
Thu, Nov 20*
3:30 p.m.
No. 13 vs. Chattanooga
O'Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tip-Off
W 83–71  3–0
Coliseo de Puerto Rico (3,207)
Hato Rey, PR
Fri, Nov 21*
6:00 p.m.
No. 13 vs. Seton Hall
O'Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tip-Off
W 84–70  4–0
Coliseo de Puerto Rico (6,733)
Hato Rey, PR
Sun, Nov 23*
6:30 p.m.
No. 13 vs. Xavier
O'Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tip-Off
L 58–63  4–1
Coliseo de Puerto Rico (8,242)
Hato Rey, PR
Tue, Dec 2*
7:00 p.m.
No. 18 Marist W 100–61  5–1
FedExForum (17,329)
Memphis, TN
Sat, Dec 13*
1:00 p.m., CBS
No. 17 at No. 19 Georgetown L 70–79 OT 5–2
Verizon Center (15,238)
Washington, D.C.
Wed, Dec 17*
7:00 p.m.
No. 23 Arkansas-Little Rock W 59–51  6–2
FedExForum (17,220)
Memphis, TN
Sat, Dec 20*
5:00 p.m., ESPN
No. 23 No. 17 Syracuse L 65–72  6–3
FedExForum (17,091)
Memphis, TN
Mon, Dec 22*
12:00 p.m.
Drexel W 87–49  7–3
FedExForum (16,715)
Memphis, TN
Mon, Dec 29*
8:00 p.m., ESPN2
Cincinnati W 60–45  8–3
FedExForum (18,071)
Memphis, TN
Wed, Dec 31*
1:00 p.m.
Northeastern W 80–48  9–3
FedExForum (17,1643)
Memphis, TN
Sat, Jan 3*
7:00 p.m.
Lamar W 108–75  10–3
FedExForum (16,386)
Memphis, TN
Wed, Jan 7
8:00 p.m.
Marshall W 80–57  11–3
(1–0)
FedExForum (17,606)
Memphis, TN
Sat, Jan 10
4:00 p.m.
at UCF W 73–66  12–3
(2–0)
UCF Arena (9,825)
Orlando, FL
Tue, Jan 13
6:30 p.m., ESPN2
at Tulsa W 55–54  13–3
(3–0)
Reynolds Center (5,936)
Tulsa, OK
Sat, Jan 17
7:00 p.m.
UAB W 81–68  14–3
(4–0)
FedExForum (18,456)
Memphis, TN
Wed, Jan 21
8:00 p.m.
No. 22 Rice W 80–52  15–3
(5–0)
FedExForum (17,589)
Memphis, TN
Sat, Jan 24*
2:30 p.m., CBS
No. 22 at Tennessee W 54–52  16–3
(5–0)
Thompson-Boling Arena (21,905)
Knoxville, TN
Wed, Jan 28
6:00 p.m.
No. 18 at Marshall W 85–64  17–3
(6–0)
Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum (5,705)
Greenville, NC
Sat, Jan 31
12:00 p.m.
No. 18 Houston W 83–68  18–3
(7–0)
FedExForum (17,687)
Memphis, TN
Wed, Feb 4
8:00 p.m.
No. 14 at SMU W 79–66  19–3
(8–0)
Moody Coliseum (5,056)
Dallas, TX
Sat, Feb 7*
8:00 p.m., ESPN
No. 14 at No. 18 Gonzaga W 68–50  20–3
(8–0)
Spokane Arena (11,339)
Spokane, WA
Wed, Feb 11
7:00 p.m.
No. 8 Tulsa W 63–37  21–3
(9–0)
FedExForum (17,941)
Memphis, TN
Sat, Feb 14
4:00 p.m.
No. 8 at Southern Miss W 72–47  22–3
(10–3)
Reed Green Coliseum (5,431)
Hattiesburg, MS
Wed, Feb 18
7:00 p.m.
No. 5 SMU W 90–47  23–3
(11–0)
FedExForum (17,497)
Memphis, TN
Sat, Feb 21
3:00 p.m., ESPN
No. 5 at UTEP W 70–63  24–3
(12–0)
Don Haskins Center (11,659)
El Paso, TX
Thu, Feb 26
8:00 p.m., ESPN2
No. 5 at UAB W 71–60  25–3
(13–0)
Bartow Arena (9,153)
Birmingham, AL
Sat, Feb 28
12:00 p.m.
No. 5 Southern Miss W 58–42  26–3
(14–0)
FedExForum (18,454)
Memphis, TN
Wed, Mar 3
6:00 p.m.
No. 5 at Houston W 69–60  27–3
(15–0)
Hofheinz Pavilion (6,049)
Houston, TX
Sat, Mar 7
12:00 p.m.
No. 5 Tulane W 74–47  28–3
(16–0)
FedExForum (18,466)
Memphis, TN
2009 Conference USA Men's Basketball Tournament
Thu, Mar 12
6:00 p.m.
No. 4 vs. Tulane W 51–41  29–3
FedExForum 
Memphis, TN
Fri, Mar 13
3:00 p.m.
No. 4 vs. Houston W 74–49  30–3
FedExForum 
Memphis, TN
Sat, Mar 14
10:35 a.m., CBS
No. 4 vs. Tulsa W 64–39  31–3
FedExForum (14,058)
Memphis, TN
2009 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
Thu, Mar 19*
11:25 a.m., CBS
No. 3 (#2 seed) vs. (#15 seed) Cal State Northridge W 81–70  32–3
Sprint Center 
Kansas City, MO
Sat, Mar 21*
2:20 p.m., CBS
No. 3 (#2 seed) vs. (#10 seed) Maryland W 89–70  33–3
Sprint Center 
Kansas City, MO
Thu, Mar 26*
8:37 p.m., CBS
No. 3 (#2 seed) vs. No. 9 (#3 seed) Missouri L 91–102  33–4
University of Phoenix Stadium (20,101)
Glendale, AZ
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Central Time.

[2]

Rankings

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PollPreWk 1Wk 2Wk 3Wk 4Wk 5Wk 6Wk 7Wk 8Wk 9Wk 10Wk 11Wk 12Wk 13Wk 14Wk 15Wk 16Wk 17Wk 18Final
AP 13 13 18 18 17 23 22 18 14 8 5 5 5 4 3
Coaches 12 12 17 15 15 21 24 25 19 15 10 6 4 3 3 2 9


See also

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Notes

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  1. "." Final Rankings Retrieved on 17-02-2010.
  2. "." 2008–09 Schedule Retrieved on 17-02-2010.