Reading Too Much Into a Loss - The Memphis Tiger Dilemma

The dilemma facing John Calipari and the Memphis Tigers right now is how to deal with Saturday's loss at home to the Tennessee Vols. It was a devastating loss for the Tigers. Perfect season - gone. #1 ranking - gone. Best team in state - gone.

What now? Does Memphis reevaluate its offensive system after being exposed as a team that cannot shoot the basketball? Does it make line-up changes after getting so little from Robert Dozier? Does it shift its defensive focus to something more conservative in the hopes of keeping Joey Dorsey out of foul trouble?

Or does Memphis look at this game and say, "We barely lost to a great team...it happens"?

It is far too easy to be fat and happy after victories and Chicken Little after defeats. From the Tennessee end, it would be easy to bask in Saturday's victory rather than address the sloppy turnovers throughout, the inability to get into their press (which they did try a few times), the poor shooting from key perimeter players like Chris Lofton and Jordan Howell and the continued inability to convert free throws.

From the Memphis end, it would be easy to forget that the Tigers led the game in the final minutes. Based on the post-game commentary, the Tigers were thoroughly exposed on Saturday. They cannot shoot. Their offense does not work down the stretch of close games. They were out-hustled and out-coached.

I heard ESPN's Doug Gottlieb question the Memphis offensive philosophy (which used to be called the Drive & Kick, now it is the Dribble Drive Motion) because it did not work in the game's final possessions. Sounds pretty good until you watch the game's final possessions. With Memphis down one point, the Tigers used the DDM to get a 3 footer from post-man Robert Dozier. He missed the shot, got his own rebound but wrestled teammate Joey Dorsey for it and traveled.

According to Gottlieb, the Tigers ought to rethink their offense after Saturday's finish. Really? They got a high percentage look in the paint. They even got the rebound. Is that a philosophy or coaching problem or just a kid missing a shot?

Coach Cal is too good to fall into the Chicken Little trap. He will challenge his guys to be more scrappy after the Vols got to so many 50/50 balls. He will continue to focus on free throws. He might even push Derrick Rose to take more of a scoring role after lighting up the Vols.

He won't panic.

Memphis is good. Really good. Losing one game to a talented rival does not change that.