But my goodness. Memphis fans have been pouring in all evening, furious at me for this post. They are coming from a couple of different Memphis sites, but most of them are coming from here. Please note that I've deleted the most foul-languaged and nasty posts from this website. But if you click on the Memphis message board link be careful because the board is not moderated, and the attacks are pretty nasty.
So what did I do to cause this ire? Reports are still trickling in, but I think I've got a handle on what's going on. I had a post about Darnell Dodson signing with Kentucky and Shawn Taggart entering the NBA Draft process, and I mentioned that other Memphis players are considering transferring, either to Kentucky or other places. This isn't controversial, of course. A google search for "Wesley Witherspoon" AND transfer returns 2400 pages. I have made it clear that these are all just rumors floating around the internet, so my rating of Memphis in the BP65 still assumes that all of the non-Seniors are returning (other than Tyreke Evans, of course).
Now, I'm a bit sympathetic towards Memphis fans. They are in a pretty unprecedented situation. First, they were left out of the Big East. Then John Calipari abandoned them, and his recruiting class evaporated into thin air. If they disappear from the elite basketball world now, they will never return. I discussed this briefly in my 2009-10 Conference USA preview, but I didn't want to dwell on it too long. It's hard to imagine being a fan of a program going through a situation like this.
The lesson of all of this, of course, is that it's easy to see why a lot of bloggers do their best Skip Bayless impressions. I got more visits today just linking in from the Memphis websites than from all other websites combined over the last six days combined. And it was a fairly sympathetic post, where I tried to be pretty positive, and not come to any conclusions that couldn't be back up with fact. If I'd actually attempted to goad Memphis fans, they would have been in even more of a fury, and even more visitors would have showed up.
It's stuff like this that makes me understand why some bloggers are tempted to flame all the time. But I don't really have that temptation. It's not like I make enough money on this website for it to be worth the stress. So to my regular readers: have no fear. I won't be tempted to change my style.
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43 comments:
Memphis Fans, and I am one, are sensitive to the arrogant ignorance of many who speak on a subject which they know nothing about. I hope you don't censor this. Memphis Tigernation suffers all the time because the media doesn't know what's what and then writes a story. True your story didn't goad us directly, but it is merely another example of talking about Memphis basketball based on rumors (which you acknowledged) that leads to the world thinking we are not the powerhouse we are. We have no desire to step down and be an Xavier or Butler or Gonzaga. We are the winningest team for the last 4 years.
BTW, it is the same ignorance that has underrated CUSA and hurt Tulsa, UAB, Houston, and UTEP.
Unfortunately, your problem is that people are accurately rating Memphis. They won the most games over the last four years because they were a major conference team in a mid major conference. You really think that Virginia Tech wouldn't win 30 games a year playing out of Conference USA?
And actually, Memphis has a ways to go to be Gonzaga, Butler and Xavier. I picked those schools for a reason, which is that their success has come with multiple coaches. A number of mid-majors had a brief run of success because of a great class of players or because of a great coach. The difficult part is maintaining it after those players graduate or after the coach leaves.
Before you jump down that paragraph, I am well aware that Memphis had a ton of success back in the 1970s and 1980s under other coaches, but that was in a bigger conference. If Conference USA still had the likes of Louisville, Cincinnati and Marquette then I'd have a lot more faith in the future of Memphis basketball. But for the first time in their modern history, Memphis is in a conference where it is extremely difficult to get top talent.
For Memphis to be considered the same type of program as Gonzaga, Butler or Xavier they've got to continue to have consistent Top 25 seasons without Calipari. Time will tell, but I'm pessimistic. It's going to be extremely difficult to attract top recruits to Conference USA. Just look at the trouble that big time coaches like Mike Davis and Tom Penders have had getting elite recruits.
Maybe Memphis will surprise us and collect a big recruit or two before this summer is out. Maybe they'll hang onto that 2010 recruiting class and build quality classes in 2011 and 2012. It's certainly possible, since the C-USA-minus-Memphis isn't any worse than the Horizon-minus-Butler or the WCC-minus-Gonzaga (Xavier has more of an advantage being in the A-10, however).
Only time will tell.
You overlook the fact that Memphis would have gone undefeated in Gonzaga's pathetic conference for the past four years. Same for Butler or Xavier. These teams couldn't go undefeated in their conferences but I'm pretty sure Memphis would have the same undefeated conference record if Memphis were in their conferences. It is hard to win every conference game against teams gunning for you and who know you.
I don't follow your reasoning that Memphis hasn't won under different coaches. They have for example been to the Final 4 under Bartow, Kirk, and some other coach. Finch's teams advanced deep in the tournament several times. Indeed as you point out Memphis was winning even in a tougher conference against Louisville, Cincinnati, and Marquette so how does that make the Gonzagas, Butlers, etc. comparable?
Please don't tell me my problem if I can't tell you yours. Now I know this will be censored because you can dish it out but you censor what you can't take.
Memphis had high RPI everyone of the last four years. There were wins over Arizona, Tennessee, Michigan State, Texas, UCLA (twice), Gonzaga (repeatedly), Cincinnati (repeatedly), Texas A&M, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Connecticut, Southern Cal. just to name a few of the many victories. You can't find ten other teams that can approach that many quality wins and at the same time not losing to a weaker team like UNC to Maryland or Louisville getting clobbered by Notre Dame.
I asked you to read my post before attacking me - I already addressed this. The reason is because Memphis fans seem to be in denial that they are in a small conference for the first time. As I said, they had success in the past in larger conferences. John Calipari came to Memphis when it was in a larger conference. C-USA, if you go by the unbiased computer ratings, is actually not any better minus Memphis than the Horizon is minus Butler or the WCC minus Gonzaga. It just isn't, and hasn't been since all of its best teams left for the Big East. I'll take the unbiased computer ratings on Memphis over the beliefs of biased Memphis fans.
It just really is naive for Memphis fans to think that they can suddenly have the quality of their conference taken away, their once-in-a-program's-history coach taken away, and their once-in-a-lifetime recruiting class taken away... and not take a step backwards.
You think that VaTech would win 30. Last year non-conference, they were 12-6. If they win every game in the C-USA they still don't reach 30. Year before 12-7 (not 30). Year before 12-6 (not 30). Year before 10-4 (not 30).
They also were not playing tough non conference teams because the ACC is strong.
This is just and example of why you are receiving criticism. You write based on your thoughts and only your thoughts, not facts and thoughts.
Also where do you find you information?
you're hilarious dude.
the truth is that most Memphis fans are clowning on your unique combination of ignorance and arrogance. You come off like you know everything and the opposite is true.
For example, in the other post you go on and on about Taggert, in the post and in the comments. At least in this post you actually spelled his name right. How can you be taken seriously if you can't even spell the name of the player right, for crying out loud?
No that's not trivial, it reveals just how little attention you've actually paid to the situation.
By the way, since you shut off comments in the other post, I'll educate you here - a graduating senior with 1 year of eligibility cannot JUST transfer and play. He has to apply, be accepted, and enroll in a graduate program at the destination school which is not offered at the current school, and THEN the transfer has to be approved by the NCAA. It is not automatic.
But in any case, Taggart has repeatedly said in public and private that he would explore the NBA and if it didn't work out would come back.
As for thinking you're being sympathetic to Memphis fans, and not understanding our rejection of your projection - we are just on a different trajectory at this point, and you are behind the curve.
We assumed the worst might be in store a few weeks ago, now we know it might still be a little bumpy (certainly not what we thought we'd have) but it's a lot better than it could have been. The things you posted were what we feared then, now we know those things are NOT going to happen. Trust us, we have multiple ways of knowing, much better than the internet speculation you've read and that you've concocted in your mind about what seems reasonable.
A few Memphis posters might be mad at you, but for most it's just entertainment.
None of your other postings got anywhere near the number of comments that both Memphis postings got. Either Memphis fans are sensitive or perhaps they follow everything on college basketball because unknown to the conventional "wisdom" of readers of Sports Illustrated or viewers of Espn or CBS, Memphis actually has the greatest college basketball fans in the world.
Also we find your failure to acknowledge ignorance quite entertaining. Actually TigerNation is jacked up to once again defy conventional wisdom.
First, I won't dispute any of your thoughts on Memphis basketball. You've got thoughts and ideas about what might happen like anyone else. That's fine. I'll even say thanks for sharing.
However, the "flying alligator" example is on the money. Posting a link to a google search result does not truly support a claim.
If you have hard evidence, provide it. Otherwise, your blog is just your thoughts and nothing more. For example, "I tried to be pretty positive, and not come to any conclusions that couldn't be back up with fact."
So, if Roburt Sallie and Wesley Witherspoon are transferring out, where's the evidence?
Finally, I completely understand that you will delete posts for those that call you names, but what's this from other day straight from you: "It's fine if you want to be an idiot in your own life, but don't ruin it for everybody else."
Pot meet kettle
GMoney, I have explained this about ten times. Please actually read my posts to see what I've actually said. This circus has been caused by some people on ncaabbs.com getting angry at me because they think I'm underrating Memphis, and they in turn accused me on those boards of saying things that I didn't say. That then led people to come onto those forums and actually believe those posts, and then come on here furious at me for saying something that I never said.
ALL I said is that there are rumors that Witherspoon and Sallie will transfer out. As you know, that's factual. You guys have provided quotes of Witherspoon and Sallie saying that they won't transfer... if there weren't rumors that they'd transfer, why would they have to say that? So my statement was factually correct.
As I said, I am still assuming that Witherspoon and Sallie will be on the roster next season. And I will not drop Memphis in my projections unless there is any OFFICIAL CONFIRMED NEWS that they are transferring out.
It really is that simple. I can't fathom being any more fair, and any more pro-Memphis than I'm being. The fact that this circus has gotten out of control is purely the fault of trolls and flamers on that Memphis message board.
Several times I have had message boards of teams get angry with me and cause several fans to come over and yell at me. But I have never witnessed such a group of rabid, angry people as this display from you Memphis fans. Definitely poor form all around. You all should be embarrasssed.
So, you feel sorry for Tiger fans. You stated that first we weren't excepted to the Big East. Well. sorry dude, first our conference (Metro at the time) was purged by the ACC. They took Va Tech, Georgia Tech, and Florida State. South Carolina then left for the SEC. We recovered. THEN, the Big East swooped in and carried off 5 of our best C-USA teams, including our oldest rival Louisville. Every decade since the 60's we have had some deep runs and very special teams. You mentioned 70's and 80's, but not the 90's when we were #3 and lost to John Calipari's #1 ranked Umass. In the new millinium the Tigers have been on fire! We have always recovered and will always recover because unless you are a Tiger fan and have more than a passing knowledge of our program's history , you wouldn't know how badly this city loves it's college b-ball team and wants to win. It may take some time to recooperate from what has happened, but it's nothing new. To say otherwise shows you have not done your homework, at all. I understand that you do this intentionally to get everyone to come on here and rage at you, but at least do it with accurate facts and a reasonable perspective. Our emotions have been messed with enough. Keep trying to spin the news in your little searches all you want, you just make yourself look uninformed. Will Coleman assured his commitment, Witherspoon definitively stated he is staying. Anyone with any sense knows that it is in Tagg's best interest to return, he won't be drafted. We are in the running for some really good recruits to go with our excellent returning core. CJP is making in-roads with all the wonderful local talent that historically grow up wanting to be a Tiger, aside from Calipari's era for reasons of ego on his part. Our program's money was used to recruit the #1 recruiting class arguably in history, that class was then dangled in front of us in an almost cruel way, only to be snatched away. If you really feel sorry for Tiger fans you would stop writing and catch up on some back story. If you did you might genuinely have some sympathy and find yourself rooting for a program that doesn't give up and doesn't stay knocked down for long. How many Championship games have Xavier, Butler, and Gonzaga ever participated in? How many Final Fours, Elite Eights, Sweet Sixteens? Compare all of them combined to the Tigers and they are nowhere even close to our level of prestige. Not to mention the records we have broken and the ones we are on the cusp of breaking. If Va Tech could just come win 61 straight games in C-USA why did they not do that when they were ion our conference, or the Missouri Valley. Why hasn;y Gonzaga, or Butler, or Xavier even come close if it is just that easy. You are the one making unfounded accusations and you are also the only one I see calling anyone an idiot of the original posts. Don't be a hypercrite, please. If you had any perspective about being a Tiger fan then you would know that you seem like an uninformed bully. Not making personal attacks just defending Tiger history and pride....and I did say SEEM like a bully. Tiger;s will be back, could be very quickly, could take some time. Either way, be careful what mud you sling at the Tigers or prepare to have some crow my friend. I've heard it is tasty with Rendevous BBQ sauce.
Hey Jeff,
That is my name too by the way.
I really thought that they were really hard on you with the first blog, but you have to have some kind of realization here of what you are doing. We are all reading your blog. We are actually reading the same language we all speak. None of us are having to get out the dictionary and translate words my friend. We can all read your stuff until the cows come home and it will always say the same thing.
I'll give you one example:
"If they disappear from the elite basketball world now, they will never return."
I will do my best to show you what we are talking about. This statement, I and probably everyone else from Memphis think that it is at best presumptuous. First you would have to assume that every coach in the USA would be less of a coach then our last coach. Then you would have to assume that even though Memphis has been a relevant team over the past 4 maybe even 5 decades would come to a complete stop simply because of a weak conference. The University of Memphis thrives with basketball. It helps the university and the city itself. If you think for a minute that Memphis is just going to let our team go by the wayside, I think you are mistaken. We always have some downtime as all colleges do but there isn't anyway any of us could stand here, looking at all the evidence and say that all our hopes are gone out the window because the basketball god has left the building. Elvis died but people are still singing and being successful at it.
Since we're just throwing statements out, let me say this:
We've heard it all before, Memphis is finished; it's over; no life left there; they'll never be the power house they were. I have one response...WE'RE STILL HERE AND WE AIN'T GOING NOWHERE!
At first I thought your blog was just your opinion and you are definitely welcome to it. I thought our guys were being a little tough on you and should have backed off. Now I think I owe some Memphis fans an apology; sorry.
If Memphis fans seem "sensitive," here's why. For the past few years, even though our team has proven itself in the NCAA tournament, the Tigers have often been dismissed by the media because of CUSA. During our run to the NC game, sports writers projected us to lose practically every game from the Sweet 16 on. We were predicted to be the weakest number one seed as well as the first one to be eliminated. The rest is history. Much the same the two prior years when we had our runs to the Elite Eight.
Memphis has been dissed because of our conference, told our former coach was a crooked snake (until his move to KU, upon which he instantly became a media darling and the best thing to ever happen to college bball), and told our winning records have asterisks next to them.
So if it seems that we Memphis fans are a little sensitive, it's probably because we are. But if you think that the reason we object to your blog's predictions is because we secretly believe all those bad things will come to fruition for our progam, you are dead wrong.
Reading your blog, it's obvious to me that you know very little or nothing about Memphis basketball or our fans and how much the Tigers have historically meant to the city.
You might want to go to the Commercial Appeal and see if you can find any of Geoff Calkin's columns that were written when the whole Calipari-to-KU move transpired and when Josh Pastner was announced as our new coach. They will give you insight into the psyche of Memphis fans and the phenomenom that is TigerNation. Geoff has an understanding and appreciation of the relationship between Tiger bball and its fans.
For factual information about what's happening, check out Dan Wolken's articles. For an informed opinion, check out Dan's blog. He's the best.
Surprise... Logic has been denied access once again.
Dude, I will try to keep it short and sweet. I can care less about what others think about the Memphis program per se. However, while it is old news, I find it hard to believe that all the guys who were throwing turds at Cal when he was at Memphis can't find one thing to complain about in the wake of departure. One (the ncaa perhaps or guys like yourself) has to really examine why and how he left Memphis. But, no one has. I suspect that this is the case because no one dare to. Especially not his friends, such as you. Especially not other coaches who have cashed in both literally and figuratively because of his departure. Especially not ESPN and what it means to them. But, as guy we all know once said, "karma has a funny way of making folks remember." Or, as my preacher would say, "God knows . . . what profits a man to gain the world but lose his soul." Or, as my mother would say, "What good is a man that looks a another woman and says I wish ... you had better let him go and wish him the BEST, BUT THAT DON'T MAKE IT RIGHT)"
You know, if you google "Wesley Witherspoon" and "staying", you get 4,300 results. Either way, it's not a very compelling argument.
The smart money says that Tyreke Evans will stay in the draft, Taggart will come back and WW & Sallie will stay put. With Will Coleman signing on and a couple of other recruits, the Tigers will be just fine next season.
I agree with another comment someone made a little earlier. A far more compelling story than Memphis' supposed demise would be about John Calipari's lack of principles and ethics when he left Memphis.
He sat there on Dan Patrick's show and said he hoped everyone who signed with Memphis would stay there, but yet jumped at the chance to sign Dodson and recruited Xavier Henry and Nolan Dennis.
Why doesn't someone write about that?
the reason for the sensitivity, what is said out here can have an effect on future recruiting!!! So, don't go trashing our school with rumors to try to steer 5-stars elsewhere!!! Why not ask this question...name the ONLY D1 basketball team that plays all their home games in an NBA arena? MEMPHIS TIGERS!! NBA scouts at every home game....that's what big time players want.
If the conference is why Memphis won 30+ games x4 seasons then why didn't Xavier do it, or Butler, or Gonzaga. And it is easy to say all the teams that COULD have done it, but they DIDN'T. Now take your rumors and your suppositions and post them in stone so that we can see how this actually turns out. And one more thing...before Louisville, Cincy, Marquette bolted to the big east, Conference USA had no more respect than it has today. It is bashed now and was bashed then.
If the conference is why Memphis won 30+ games x4 seasons then why didn't Xavier do it, or Butler, or Gonzaga. And it is easy to say all the teams that COULD have done it, but they DIDN'T. Now take your rumors and your suppositions and post them in stone so that we can see how this actually turns out. And one more thing...before Louisville, Cincy, Marquette bolted to the big east, Conference USA had no more respect than it has today. It is bashed now and was bashed then.
"And actually, Memphis has a ways to go to be Gonzaga, Butler and Xavier". Are you kidding me? Memphis plays in a NBA arena and has a top notch practice facility. I've been on the Gonzaga campus and the facilities are not as nice. The Tigers had success in the 90s too. Do you remember Penny Hardaway? Anyway, it sounds like you have an axe to grind. By the way, adding Butler to the comparison made it ridiculous.
You know, I laugh at all these folks and self acclaimed 'x?perts' that think Memphis fans shouldn't be fanatics about their team because it's only a cause for the so called "big boys" of college basketball. I laugh at the fact that a blogger would call others homers and idiots because they're questioning his obvious ineptitude to deliver a fact when it's obviously fabrication to get a hit on a blog.
No, dude, Memphis are no more sensitive about their Tigers than any other fanatic would be his beloved program. The problem with a lot of you 'x?perts' is that you can't continue to make misinformed statements about a program and not expect informed fans to call you out on your mishaps. Next time you're thinking of making bogus statements try fabricating them about a program that garners no support nor care from its fan base. Oh...I'm sorry because if you did it that way then you wouldn't get any hits on your blogs.
"It also appears that Roburt Sallie and Wesley Witherspoon are going to head to Kentucky, although that's not certain. It's extremely unlikely that either player will return to Memphis for another season, though." Jeff
That doesn't sound like a "rumor" to me. It sounds like you have gathered information that would lead you to believe they are either headed to Kentucky or not returning to Memphis. FACT: You don't have any information these are just your own speculative ramblings. There's nothing wrong with that, just be more clear next time distinguishing between speculation and information.
I type many thousands and thousands of sentences per month. Occasionally a few of them end up being incorrect. If any of your Memphis fans were regular readers you would understand the normal way to deal with this.
Go read here, where I made a mistake about a Baylor player who I believed had one year of eligibility left but who actually had graduated. A Baylor fan (presumably a Baylor fan) came on and corrected me politely. This is way this is supposed to work. We are all trying to learn from each other.
The vicious response from dozens of Memphis fans, coming on here and calling me all sorts of nasty names (the worst have all been deleted, for good reason) is preposterous.
The angriest response I've ever gotten from fans came back in 2006 when Wichita State was ranked 8th in the nation and I refused to give them anything higher than a 6 seed in my bracket. Wichita State fans were furious with me, and it was the only time I ever had to turn on comment moderation. But that was mostly just one deranged fan. As for a whole large group of people, this behavior out of you Memphis fans is worse.
Of course I will be proven right in this situation, as I was proven right when Wichita State fell apart in early 2007. But that's when fans get so mad - when I accidentally touch on an issue that they fear might be right but they're afraid to admit.
Memphis fans are really scared about the future, and this angry response to anybody who dares challenge anything about the program is indicative of this. You guys never would have flipped out about something like this last season, because you were confident in your program back then.
But don't take it out on me. I've been projecting Memphis to still win the conference - something that a lot of people around the country aren't doing. Don't alienate one of the bloggers who is actually more bullish than average about your program.
I can't believe any of you folks are even gracing this guy with a response. You all know this is just a blog board where anyone from a 10 year old school kid to my Grandma can come on here and throw something up and call it a story. I am sure this Jeff guy took a long time thinking up this entry, but it is no more a story than what I am writing now. It is just his opinion that was totally formed in his head (notice the lack of any sources or evidence) Everyone please stick to the legit news sources for your info If you are trying to get credible information. These blog boards are a total waste of time and all they do is get people worried about nothing.
The only reason I am responding to this is because it is pure conjecture and Dan Wolkens site provided a link to it or I wouldn't have ever read it. I typically go elsewhere for my sports news because anyone with the internet can blog. There are a couple of things that I wanted to share with you Jeff. First, you keep pointing out that you "have said it ten times" that if we had paid attention to your posts and not the posts of angry Memphis fans then we would somehow see the light, or whatever. Jeff, I've read everything that you've had to say and the premise of your "article" is invalid because it's entirely based on rumor. You need to swallow your pride and admit to the angry mob that you based everything on rumor and opinion. We are angry because we you fancy yourself an authority on the subject when you are so obviously uninformed. You have the right to post whatever you want to post but we also have the right to respond to you and it may not be pretty. It appears as though you wrote this article to infuriate tiger fans and get a response at this point. I can find no other reason other than pride as to why you haven't just admitted this was basically fiction. If you worked for the AP you would have to issue an apology at this point. Instead, you decide you are now a psychiatrist and Memphis fans are "just sensitve." No, you just wrote hopefully the dumbest blog of your blogging career and are getting quite the blowback from it and are making excuses. Let me ask you this; why would any player with a guaranteed starting role decide to sit out a year to transfer to another school? None of the players you mentioned with the exception of
Taggart and Mack were starters on last years team. Expecting them to leave and pass up this opportunity is a stretch. All players involved have said they are staying and it was totally unprompted, meaning they had no motive to tell anyone this via facebook or a press conference. So the calling of BS has very little to do with sensitivity and a lot to do with making false claims and then refusing to back them up. The Butler, Xavier, Gonzaga comparison was hilarious. What is your motive for writing this nonsense?
Thank you, anonymous from 12:16 am. I was trying to say the same thing yesterday to the Memphis fans who were going crazy trying to explain to Jeff that his facts were not only suspect, but utterly disprovable. And to make matters worse, Jeff was unwilling to back down in the face of irrefutable evidence provided by those "sensitive" fans.
Despite not using ANY foul language, nor personally attacking Jeff in any vicious way, my post was deleted by the moderator. I am stumped by that.
So, Jeff, I am appealing to you directly. Please call off your moderator dogs and let me be heard. We are not loonies down here. We are not a random Wichita State fan. The reason you have gotten such an angry response is because your facts so obviously wrong, and not just one mistake, but an entire article based on erroneous information, that yes, you DID step on our nerves. Quite a bit, obviously. We are a proud program that gets tired of having our every accomplishment belittled by the BCS homers, such as ESPN. We feel that we deserve a LOT more respect than we get. We REALLY do.
For you to say wildy unsubstantiated things like possibly having only 5 guys left is irresponsible reporting to us, to put it mildly. And it's completely false. But you steadfastly refuse to back off and admit that, despite the overwhelming evidence that we have provided to you to refute that. That makes a lot of us otherwise staid and normal people very upset.
Sure, we are taking a step back in our program. That is a fact that we recognize. But we are not, nor have we ever been a Butler, Xavier, or Gonzaga level program...not that I belittle these programs- not at all. In fact, Gonzaga and Xavier are making huge strides to be labled in the same class as us, and Butler is showing signs of possibly becoming a program that may be comparable in the future, if they stick to their blueprint. As soon as these programs get multiple final four appearances, over a span of decades, then I will willingly admit that they are on our level.
Yes, Jeff, we are sensitive. Sensitive to being disrespected for our accomplishments. And we DO deserve that respect, despite what you, or any other "expert" thinks. That is how we feel- what we honestly believe. Sorry to upset you so much.
We have a delicate situation going on with our storied program right now. Our new coach is young and unproven, despite the incredibly positive vibes we feel about his potential, and a return to real ethics and honest recruiting practices in our program that we have conveniently turned the other cheek to the past 9 years...not that slick Cal ever made a mistake that would get him caught- he's far too smart for that. I hope for Kentucky's sake that he never makes a slip in the future with his "underworld" of connections.
But we are trying to pull in some decent recruits to shore up our depth behind a very good starting lineup, and your baseless ramblings not only do not help us in that regard, but show that you really do not respect our program in any way whatsoever, and honestly, we have earned that respect.
That makes us angry.
Have a nice day!
Jeff,
"It also appears that Roburt Sallie and Wesley Witherspoon are going to head to Kentucky, although that's not certain. It's extremely unlikely that either player will return to Memphis for another season, though. So who does that leave"
What part of that says you've seen rumors. You are stating an opinion that you are claiming as fact. Fact, it is extremely likely both players will be back.
Fact, the original article and your subsequent comments are based mostly on opinion.
Fact, you know very little about the current and historic basketball situation at Memphis.
Fact, CUSA teams beat BCS schools every year. Not sure how that happens since it's so easy for a mediocre BCS school (VT) to win 30 games in CUSA.
In the words of the great Charles, "you're a knucklehead jeff, a knucklehead."
Come on, is this Doug "Credit Card" Gottlieb?
Jeff,
I'm with you and this is my 2010 Final Four: Gonzaga, Xavier, Butler , and of course Baylor. I also plan to keep an eye on Creighton. But I think Xavier will win it all. I'm tired of being a Duke Vitale and picking Duke or North Carolina every year.
"You really think that Virginia Tech wouldn't win 30 games a year playing out of Conference USA?" Man, every time we start talking about Memphis basketball somebody goes and pulls a Virginia Tech out their a$$.
Just to be clear Jeff. Most of the mt.org types are mad b/c you didn't provide links/proof on your claims, but then wanted the comment writers to provide said links to refute.
Why should posters be held to a standard that the original blogger fails to recognize? A poster asked for your links and you had the audacity to tell him you didn't remember every link on the internet.
You don't get to ask for standards you don't yourself follow. That's hypocrisy...
As far as your predictions. I have no issue. These are obviously an opinion and one you are entitled to.
Pride goeth before a fall.
Just admitting you were overly presumptuous, OR ill-informed, OR that you got some bad info, OR even that you were wrong wouldn't have been the end of the world when a few people called you out.
Now you've dug your heels in pretty deep. That's rhetorically dangerous when purporting to have knowledge about a situation with which you have absolutely no real connection.
I guess we will see who is correct.
In any case, memphistigers.org is a moderated forum, despite the fact that you say "the board is not moderated." In fact, the moderators run a pretty tight ship over there. They just don't feel the need to protect the feelings of thin-skinned bloggers.
Just another factual inaccuracy to add to the pile. :)
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