AAC Preview: #4 Memphis Tigers

2013-14 Season Results: 24-10, 12-6 conference record. T-3rd in the AAC, 60-78 loss to Virginia in the Third Round of the NCAA Tournament.

Key Losses: Joe Jackson (graduation), Michael Dixon (graduation), Geron Johnson (graduation), Chris Crawford (graduation), David Pellom (graduation).

Key Returners: F Shaq Goodwin, F Austin Nichols, F Nick King.

2014 Recruiting Class: Dominic Magee (ESPN 4-star, #14 PG), Chris Hawkins (JuCo, SF), Trahson Burrell (JuCo, SF), Avery Woodson (JuCo, SG).

Please try and pay no mind that I am writing this preview the day after Memphis lost to a Division II team, Christian Brothers, by the score of 70-74. It was merely an exhibition game, one that, according to head coach Josh Pastner, “Doesn’t go in the record books.” And here I wanted to rank AAC newcomer Tulsa ahead of Memphis, but changed my mind at the last second.

So Memphis made the NCAA Tournament last year and even won a game. And they are losing their top two scorers to graduation. Why rank them as the fourth best team in the AAC, then? Because that’s just the nature of the AAC beast. Those at the top of the conference ranks – UConn, Cincinnati, SMU – will stay there while Memphis will continue to struggle and be an average, middling team at best. Last night’s exhibition loss to Christian Brothers proved all of that in no uncertain terms.

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That’s not to say, however, that Memphis won’t be without its moments of brilliance this season. The Tigers will have no problem replacing the offense they are losing in guards Joe Jackson and Michael Dixon. In steps 4-star recruit Dominic Magee, as well as senior transfer Calvin Godfrey, playing at his fourth school in as many years. Joining Magee and Godfrey is guard Kedren Johnson, a transfer from Vanderbilt, as well as a trio of talented junior college players SF Chris Hawkins, SF Trahson Burrell and SG Avery Woodson. Head coach Josh Pastner has the pieces put together in Memphis to keep the Tigers’ potent offense – 75.8 points per game last season, good for 2nd in the AAC – on the right track.

The Tigers can actually play some decent defense when need be – they were first and second in the AAC in total rebounds and steals, respectively. They have the raw athleticism on their roster to ensure that they continue to out-rebound and out-hustle opposing teams. Do the Tigers, however, have the discipline to make it through this upcoming AAC season without making mental mistakes and other errors that will ultimately earn them a handful conference losses? Time will tell, but they are going to need to shore whatever problems they have early in their season in time for their conference opener against Houston on Dec. 31.

Let’s hope that Memphis can put last night’s Christian Brothers loss behind them and learn from the myriad of mistakes that were made in the process. The Tigers’ season can go one of two ways after something as disappointing as last night, and popular opinion states that Memphis will undoubtedly get better in the coming weeks. They might just go out and dominate the AAC, wrestling away the top spot from UConn, SMU or even newcomer Tulsa. For something like that, only time will tell. For now, however, Memphis looks to be aiming for a respectable, middle-of-the-pack season that most likely will end up with them earning yet another at-large bid in the NCAA Tournament.

Projected Finish: 4th