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Tulsa looks to unseat Memphis
Hurricane is preseason league favorite as Tigers undergo transitions.

Tulsa's Jerome Jordan was voted preseason player of the year and is the only Conference USA representative on the 50-man Naismith Award watch list. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World file
 
By ERIC BAILEY World Sports Writer
Published: 10/30/2009  2:21 AM
Last Modified: 10/30/2009  6:07 AM
The question fired up a hot topic during Thursday's Conference USA men's basketball teleconference call.

Will Memphis — which has won 61 consecutive games against league competition — fall back to the pack after undergoing a coaching and roster change during the offseason?

"I hope not," UTEP coach Tony Barbee said. "We want Memphis to maintain the level of success that they've had in recent years because then it's everyone else's job to reach them.

"No one should hope they come back to the pack. The pack should catch them. When you do that, it puts our league in a brighter light and that's when we get multiple teams in the NCAA."

Thursday's two-hour call served as a media day for the 12-school league. Coaches from each team participated, as well as Tulsa's Jerome Jordan, the preseason player of the year.

Many preseason publications have selected Tulsa to be the C-USA favorite, with the Tigers a close second. In Thursday's initial Associated Press and coaches' Top 25 polls, the Hurricane received more points than four-time defending champion Memphis.

TU coach Doug Wojcik was asked — given Memphis' perceived susceptibility — if his team was focused on dethroning Memphis.

"A championship is what they're looking for," said Wojcik, whose team has lost back-to-back league title games to the Tigers. "We are not putting a target on Memphis' back ... It's game-by-game and day-by-day."

Among those to watch: Jordan was named to the 50-man preseason watch list for the Naismith Award, which is given to college basketball's top player.

Jordan, a 7-foot center, is the only C-USA player on the watch list.

The senior was asked about his decision to return to school versus declaring for the NBA Draft last spring.

"I sat back and accessed my game and talked to (Wojcik) and other people," Jordan said. "I think I made a great decision in coming back for my senior year."

Jordan said he worked on getting stronger, changing his body and working on his offensive game.

About Memphis: New Tigers coach Josh Pastner is ready for the season to start.

It's not just about wins and losses, though. The coach wants to evaluate his team more deeply.

"I don't know how good we are because our margin of error is slim to none," Pastner said. "Practice-wise, we're trying to make things competitive as possible ... It's hard to tell where we're at. We can't put all of our top guys on one side to go against our bottom side."

The Tigers only have eight scholarship players, including one who signed in the last week of August. Depth will be a concern.

"No one wants to end the 61-game win streak, but the reality of it is that if we don't play a near-perfect game, especially in conference, that's when you can take an 'L,' " Pastner said. "Because of our lack of depth and issues ... we're going to have to be really good night in and night out."

Year of the Miner: UTEP may have the league's top overall talent this season.

The Miners have to replace Stefon Jackson, C-USA's all-time leading scorer. But returners Randy Culpepper, Arnett Moultrie and Julyan Stone will fill that void. Throw in transfers Derrick Caracter (Louisville) and Christian Polk (Arizona State), and UTEP will be a darkhorse for the conference championship.

"It's good finally to have a veteran group of players, so it's not like starting over every year," said Barbee, whose team lost in the College Basketball Invitational finals to Oregon State last season. "We have seven players that have started at least one game. (The transfers) all averaged at least eight points per game at their previous stops. They are experienced guys and have competed at a high level."

Heir Jordan: Marcus Jordan, son of legendary Michael Jordan, made news when he announced he would play basketball at UCF.

Earlier this month, the freshman made headlines when he said he would wear Air Jordans this season. That shoe is produced by Nike.

One problem — UCF is in the final year of a shoe agreement with adidas. A new contract also is in the works.

The university said that adidas was aware of the situation during renewal talks with UCF, and added the school was "led to believe that there would be a workable solution to a unique situation."

"The thing about Marcus that I really need to make perfectly clear is that he's an outstanding young man," UCF coach Kirk Speraw said. "He's been portrayed by some media and blogs ... and been portrayed absolutely dead wrong. He's grounded and unpretentious and unassuming. He's a thoughtful individual and a great teammate."

Preseason poll soon to be released: Since the league doesn't administer a C-USA preseason poll, the Orlando Sentinel is accepting media votes. The poll is expected to be released around Nov. 9.

Eric Bailey 581-8391
eric.bailey@tulsaworld.com
By ERIC BAILEY World Sports Writer

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3 comments have been made for this team so far. Tell us what you think below!
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zephyr, Tulsa (10/30/2009 5:21:09 AM)
Isn't Memphis on NCAA probation this year anyway?
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still_cant_beat_us, (10/30/2009 8:37:07 AM)
nope, you wish we were. this year is your best shot. when next year comes everyone will be playing for second again.
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tulsandn, out in the woods (10/30/2009 10:21:05 AM)
One game at a time Tulsa, because EVERY GAME COUNTS....
 

 
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