Losing to a top 15 team in November is not exactly a season-ending event. Still, when Michigan defeated Memphis 73-61 in the EA Sports Maui Invitational Tournament, it became obvious that several questions still plague the Tigers.
Michigan employed a zone defense that forced Memphis into half court sets. The Tigers were unsuccessful penetrating the zone and, instead, settled for 3-pointers. More than a third of Memphis’ shots came from behind the arc. The fact that they went 4-of-20 didn’t help matters.
Rebounding continues to be an issue for Memphis. Part of the problem is with Tarik Black. This is the second game in a row in which Black picked up his second foul in under two minutes. He’s going to need to play much smarter if the Tigers are going to have the season they are hoping for.
The final problem is discipline. Memphis can out-athlete many opponents, but when they play a well-coached opponent with talent, they need to rely on fundamentals and proper execution. Will Barton is an excellent example of the Tigers lack of discipline. He might have been the most talented player on the court today, but he was also the most frustrating. He forces the issue and takes circus shots. When he learns to play within the offense, the Tigers will be a much more formidable opponent.
Losing to a team as highly ranked as Michigan does not mean Memphis will not put together a good season. Unfortunately, it will have major implications on seeding come tournament time in March. Losing to Michigan means Memphis will be playing Tennessee instead of Duke in the next round of the EA Sports Maui Invitational. The chances of the Tigers facing another ranked opponent in Maui is very slim.
