Conference USA Championship Recap
by Ryan Westin
No. 1 Memphis 71, No. 3 Houston 59
Day four from the FedEx Forum in Memphis brought a solid effort from Houston against the heavily-favored Memphis Tigers. The Cougars were able to play toe-to-toe with the Tigers for 38 minutes, but it was the last two minutes of the first half that they faltered that lost the game.
In the first half, it looked as though Houston was actually going to be able end the first twenty minutes with a chance of making it a game in the second half. Memphis was down for most of the first half after the Cougars were able to shoot the lights out to start the game. Memphis struggled from the field and the crowd drew restless with Memphis’ struggle. Where was their potent run that had put away so many foes on that court?
Well with two minutes left in the first stanza, Memphis showed the nation and the crowd what Memphis basketball is all about, causing three turnovers on Houston’s last three possessions and converted all four of their shots to put yet another contender away before they went to the lockers at the break. Memphis took a one-point lead and turned it into an 11-point cushion, one they were able to rest on the final twenty minutes.
Notes
- Memphis is hottest team coming into the tournament winning with nation’s longest winning-streak at 22 wins. They are the first squad to run the table in the conference and win the title in Conference USA’s 12-year history. It was the Tigers’ second consecutive conference tournament championship.
- What does it take to be number one? Well, John Calipari believes his squad has done what it takes to be a No. 1 seed for the big dance. Only time will tell if the Tigers pick up a one seed or if they passed and given a two or three. Memphis is 30-3 on the season, but has lacked the big wins and attention that other squads have picked up during this season.
- Houston head coach Tom Penders, a household name of the NCAA Tournament, will be like the rest of America this March in watching the big dance on TV.
- Robert McKiver, who led the Cougars to the championship game with his amazing game from beyond the perimeter, was held to seven points in the loss. McKiver was at a little bit of a disadvantage as Chris Douglas-Roberts, who is 6 inches taller, held him scoreless from beyond the perimeter with a season-low three attempts from downtown.
