Conference USA Basketball

In the heart of the athletics zone of the University of Houston campus, Hofheinz Pavilion seems to hover over its hill on Cullen Blvd.  Named after the man who got the Astrodome built, it has provided a permanent home to UH basketball since 1969.

While the men's basketball team hasn't quite reclaimed its summit marked by the Phi Slama Jama years of the early 1980's, the arena still provides the cozy atmosphere and thunderous amplification that fans have always enjoyed there.  Both attributes are derived from the ceiling, low and flat, with plastering and light fixture installations more akin to a living room than the trussed, dark, obscure roof-undersides found in most newer buildings.  It is also of the old mode of building a dirt hill, then digging the arena bowl out of it, so that fans enter from the top of the sections, and there are no broken places where an access tunnel connects from the concourse.

Those sensations of cozyness and amplification are regularly evident in games.  While the reasons for UH's struggles with attendance are another story, the intimate atmosphere of the low ceiling rarely leaves the fans feeling lonely, and the student section, often the most densely populated and vocal section, can usually get the effect of triple their numbers the way their sound bounces off the hard planes above and below.  When all fans get loud, the roar is reminiscent of an SEC football game.

The students, by C-USA rule, are kept in sections 117 to 119, which takes them from behind the south goal to the free-throw line, counterclockwise.  Most chants are basic, from the endless drone inspired by Duke, to "Let's go Cougars" x x xxx (x's being claps) and "Go, Coogs Go" x  x  x.  There are original ones that depend on the band's play, from their position behind the same goal, but those can only be illustrated by sound, or watching a game on TV.

The Cougars often entertain special guests, from the charismatic new UH president and the head football coach, to business and political leaders of Houston and members of the Houston Rockets and Texans.  The most common sight among these is Clyde Drexler, former player and coach of the team and current Rockets color commentator.  They will usually be found in the courtside seats at the north baseline, in front of the players' tunnel.

The food is catered by Aramark, and is generally edible, though a small three-dollar hotdog doesn't seem worthwhile to college students.  Even though the professional stadiums in town are slightly more expensive, a seven-dollar beer definitely takes itself off the menu, especially when Shiner Bock is not a choice.  The smell of the popcorn used to fill the arena wonderfully, the way the smell of dirt fills a baseball stadium on a sunny day, but it has been sadly absent the last two-and-a-half seasons.

The Cougars play entertaining basketball, and have generally been improving since Tom Penders arrived.  In a reader poll by the Houston Chronicle, University of Houston sports were rated the best entertainment value in the city.  This arena is worth at least one visit, and with the Cougars' home record higher than 75% there, the show should go well beginning to end.

Was Penders Right?

When basketball fanatics use the phrase "getting the boot", they normally speak of getting ejected from further competition. Last night, in a college basketball game between the Houston Cougars and Arizona Wildcats, the phrase held true but was taken to new heights.

Controversy began as mixed emotions erupted at the McKale Center. With tension high, 9:51 left in regulation and the visiting Houston Cougars up by 12, Arizona Wildcats forward Chase Budinger fell to the floor after taking a routine charge. The end results were something beyond normality.

Houston's leading scorer and rebounder, Aubrey Coleman, the recipient of the charging foul, took some normal steps towards Budinger, who was on the ground. About eight feet from where the foul took place, Budinger laid on the floor with his eyes closed, uncertain of the event about to occur.

Aubrey Coleman had been taking a few stops towards Budinger and didn't intend to stop. He planted his foot right into the face of the Wildcats star player, stepping right on him like nothing had happened. Budinger sprung up and appeared to throw a punch. Budinger received a technical foul for his retaliation, and Coleman was ejected from the contest.

Reminiscent of the 1992 Regional Final game between the Kentucky Wildcats and Duke Blue Devils, the one in which Christian Laettner sunk the Wildcats at the buzzer to advance and later win it all, provides further recollection on an event like this one.

In a similar situation, Duke's Christian Laettner drove towards the basket and knocked over Kentucky's Aminu Timberlake. While Timberlake was still on the ground, Laettner stumbled backwards, re-gained his balance, and then stepped right on the chest of Timberlake.

Although the moment didn't escalate like that of Budinger's and Coleman's, Laettner was charged with a technical foul. Laettner later admitted to the incident, claiming that Timberlake had "pushed him down earlier in the game, maybe one or two minutes before" and that he had made a mental note to get back at him and be physical with him.

Timberlake sprung up quickly, much like Budinger had done in the comparable incident last night, but didn't attempt to retaliate. Instead, he just clapped and smiled, and watched as Laettner had received a technical foul.

Kentucky fans still wonder to this day why Christian Laettner was not ejected from further competition. Had he been ejected, the end result might have been different. Laettner later beat Kentucky at the buzzer in overtime.

While Laettner later admitted to his wrongdoings, Coleman has shown no signs of sympathy towards Chase Budinger. In fact, Houston head coach Tom Penders didn't even feel as though his player, Aubrey Coleman, should have been ejected. Penders said, "Aubrey said that he turned around to see what the refs called, and he stumbled over a prone Budinger".

Penders also added "Aubrey's not that kind of player. Had he kicked [Budinger] or thrown a punch, then I could understand [the ejection]."

In the case of Laettner, who before confessing the truth behind his incident, noted at the fact that he was losing his balance and barely stepped on Timberlake's chest. While the video evidence disproves this fact, it is more believable than what Houston head coach Tom Pender's is trying to sell.

As they say, "revenge is a dish best served cold." Arizona definitely delivered what Houston had coming their way, as the Wildcats rallied to send the game into overtime at the buzzer, and ultimately won it in the extended time frame, 96-90.

Chase Budinger felt as though this incident was intentional, saying, "He stepped on a part of my face, and my arm right here. You can see some footprints on my jersey here."

Although the media found it funny, there are many Wildcat fans, Cougar fans, and basketball fans in general that does not approve of something like this.

What put the icing on the cake, so to speak, was Coleman's appreciation of the "accidental" stepping on the face of Budinger. The cameras caught Coleman giving high fives to his teammates after the incident occurred, and smiling.

This is simply something that should not happen at any level of basketball. It is a sign of disrespect, poor sportsmanship, and an event that goes off the court. I'm one fan that will be very surprised if some type of penalty, a suspension at the least, is not imposed.

I am sickened at what I witnessed yesterday in the match-up between the Houston Cougars and the Arizona Wildcats.  When you view this clip (courtesy of YouTube and Rivals.com), I imagine you might feel the same. My stomach literally churns when I see it.

In the second half of a game that Houston was dominating, the Cougars' Aubrey Coleman was called for a charge after shoving Arizona's Chase Budinger to the floor while dribbling past the half-court line.

After the whistle, Coleman continued to walk forward and proceeded to intentionally stomp directly on the face of Budinger. It wasn't an accident; the video clearly shows Coleman walking straight over to Budinger and using force to plant his red and white Nike right into Budinger's craw.

As if that wasn't enough, Coleman then strolled away with a grin the Cheshire Cat would be envious of and received several accolades and high-fives from his teammates. Apparently, in Houston, you are to be congratulated for intentionally leaving an imprint of your shoe size on an opponent's face. Very classy, Cougars.

This incident is perhaps the most unsportsmanlike conduct I have ever witnessed on the court of a college basketball game.

Though Coleman was ejected for the "flagrant foul," that punishment is not nearly enough. He deserves a minimum ten-game suspension, but my recommendation is that his season ends today. The NCAA must send a clear, strong signal that this type of behavior will not be tolerated and will be met with the harshest of sanctions.

Houston's coach Tom Penders surely would take the time to apologize after the game, right? Not a chance. 

Here's Penders' response: "I'm just sorry the official interpreted it that way. The way I saw it, Aubrey got tangled and his momentum carried him forward and I think it was a mistake."

It was a mistake for sure, but not one that had anything to do with entanglement or momentum.

I'll give Penders the benefit of the doubt and assume he hadn't yet seen the video.  If he has seen the video and still has the same sentiments, then he is just as classless as Coleman. In fact, maybe he should be suspended for a game too since he could be held accountable for creating an environment where this type of play is acceptable.

Not that they need any further motivation, but the NCAA may also wish to nip this incident in the bud due to the possibility of racial undertones surfacing.

I am not at all insinuating that Coleman stomped Budinger because he was white, but "foot-stomping" has culturally had racial implications in America, and the incident has the possibility of being interpreted in that manner. There will also be the inevitable arguments that start with, "If Coleman had been white and Budinger had been black..."

Unlikely as it is, the last thing college basketball needs is any type of "race war".

As to the final outcome of the game, score one for karma. Houston went on to lose 96-90 in overtime despite dominating the game up until the incident.

The NCAA needs to move immediately and forcefully to make it clear that this must never happen again.

Update 1: Since this article was written, an apology was issued by Aubrey Coleman.  The story with his statement can be read here. The apology, while certainly the right thing to do, does not change my mind on the punishment.

If he was truly "sorry from the bottom of his heart," then he should have apologized on the spot, after the game or that night. I am not in his heart or mind, so I can't say whether he is only sorry because he realizes he might be in for a big-time suspension. I can't help but wonder.

Update 2: In the last couple of hours (on the evening of Jan. 26), the University of Houston issued a statement that they were suspending Coleman for an additional one game, the upcoming game against UTEP, and that they now "consider the case closed."

We'll see. It appears that most people feel the punishment to be wholly inadequate, and the NCAA could still weigh in.

It is time to look at the next batch of conferences in this series that honors the true forces in NCAA basketball, the fruitcakes who like to play Jekyll and Hyde, and the frauds that have been exposed (or are in the process of being exposed) as overrated. 

This edition examines the Big Ten, Big XII, CAA, and Conference USA. The analysis continues to move in alphabetical order to avoid any charges of bias.

For complete definitions and a thorough look at the ACC, Atlantic 10, Big East, and Big South, click here. To quickly wrap up what has already been discussed, I've provided the following table, with a couple of sentences for the conferences not already examined in-depth.

America East: Vermont (FORCE), Binghamton (FRUITCAKE), Albany (FRAUD)

Oddly enough, Vermont has lost to both Albany and Binghamton, but remains the most talented team in the conference. Binghamton earned wins over Rutgers and Tulane, but also has losses to awful teams. Albany defeated both Vermont and Binghamton, but don't be fooled. They followed the wins up with losses to Maine and Stony Brook.

ACC: Duke (FORCE), Maryland (FRUITCAKE), Boston College (FRAUD)

Atlantic Sun: E. Tennessee St. (FORCE), Jacksonville (FRUITCAKE), Mercer (FRAUD)

Mercer opened the season with wins over Alabama and Auburn but has been sketchy ever since.

Atlantic 10: Xavier (FORCE), Massachusetts (FRUITCAKE), Dayton (FRAUD)

Big East: Connecticut (FORCE), Notre Dame (FRUITCAKE), Villanova (FRAUD)

Big Sky: Portland St. and Weber St. (both are 1/2 FORCE, 1/2 FRUITCAKE), Montana (FRAUD)

Portland St. scored one of the biggest upsets of the season (over Gonzaga), but will fight Weber St. (who have already beat the Vikings 80-66 on the road) for the conference title.

Big South: No FORCE, including VMI; Liberty (FRUITCAKE), Radford (FRAUD)

Moving on to today's analysis, first up is the (sigh) Big Ten. This should be fun.

Big Ten Conference

THE FORCE: Michigan State Spartans (15-3, 5-1)

Michigan State remains at the top of a conference literally full of fruitcakes. You can call them the banana bread, if you want. 

The Spartans didn't exactly cement their status with a loss to Northwestern, but don't forget that they rolled off 10 straight victories before the upset, including impressive wins over Illinois, Kansas, Ohio St., Minnesota, Penn St., and Texas.

THE FRUITCAKE(S): Penn State Nittany Lions (15-5, 4-3) and Northwestern Wildcats (10-6, 2-4)

Okay, I admit that I could have practically picked a name out of a hat. I simply couldn't write this article with only one Big Ten fruitcake; let's just say the papers from the hat stuck together. Of all the teams I could have chosen, these two truly befuddle me. 

While teams like Minnesota, Illinois, and Purdue were certainly candidates, their losses have been mostly understandable. The Nittany Lions, on the other hand, have losses to Rhode Island, Wisconsin and Temple to go with their win over Purdue.

Northwestern looked to be joining Iowa and Indiana in the cellar of the Big Ten, until they pulled off a win over Minnesota and a road stunner over Michigan State.  Good luck placing bets on any team in this conference.  Save your money.

Either team could finish anywhere between third and ninth in this fruitcake conference.

THE FRAUD: Michigan Wolverines (13-6, 3-4)

The Wolverines edge out Wisconsin and Ohio State in this category, partially because they have lost to both teams. Even worse for Michigan fans, their hopes rose for a surprise season after an early-season upset of then No. 4 UCLA coupled with a shocker over No. 1-in-waiting Duke. 

That upset feels like years ago, and the UCLA win has lost some of its luster as the Bruins slip down the rankings.

The Wolverines are young, and it hasn't helped that DeShawn Sims seems to have lost his shooting touch. The defensive lapses and inability to hold leads against mediocre teams bode poorly for the immediate future.

Losses to Maryland and Wisconsin, in addition to three straight conference losses, exposed significant weaknesses.

Facing six more games against currently ranked teams, including a tilt with No. 3 Connecticut, means that Michigan may struggle to finish as anything more than a quintessential bubble team at best.

Big XII Conference

THE FORCE: Oklahoma Sooners (18-1, 4-0), featuring Blake Griffin

This may sound ridiculous, but Oklahoma has to be one of the most overrated 18-1 teams I have ever seen. The Sooners keep playing close contests against teams with far less talent, but fortunately for them, they just keep winning those games.

Depending on how things shake out, their rather weak non-conference slate may very well cost them a No. 1 seed in March.

Oklahoma struggled mightily with Nebraska, Texas A&M and Kansas State, but looked strong in dismantling Texas and is handled Baylor rather easily.

Blake Griffin is the true force here, more so than the Sooners as a team. He averages 22 points and 14 rebounds a game while shooting .635 from the field (including .500 from behind the arc), and he may be pulling away in the race for Player of the Year.

THE FRUITCAKE: Kansas Jayhawks (14-4, 3-0)

The Big XII has their share of fruitcakes much like the Big Ten, but Kansas edges out Texas, Texas A&M, and Missouri. 

It should be noted that Kansas has played much more like a "force" of late, but their youth and inexperience makes it likely that there will be more stunning losses like those the Jayhawks have already suffered to Massachusetts and Arizona.

The Jayhawks beat fellow fruitcake Tennessee in early January but were clearly outclassed at Michigan State in a 75-62 Jan. 10 loss.

Kansas has one of the easiest schedules in the Big XII, with just one matchup each against Baylor, Texas and Oklahoma. Expect a couple more surprising losses for the Jayhawks, though they should earn a decent seed in March.

Starting a freshman, two sophomores, and two juniors, Kansas is a prime candidate for a first or second-round tournament upset.

THE FRAUD: Nebraska Cornhuskers (12-5, 2-2)

Nebraska's highest-quality win is a 56-51 home victory over Missouri, which isn't saying much. The Huskers also have embarrassing losses against UMBC, Iowa State and Oregon State.

Really, they shouldn't be so embarrassed. Despite the bandwagon getting crowded after wins over Missouri and Kansas State and a hard-fought loss to Oklahoma, the Cornhuskers are more likely to finish very near (or below) Iowa State in the bottom half of the Big XII.

Texas A&M (15-4, 1-3) better get it together quickly, or they may be joining Nebraska in this category soon.

It is highly unlikely that Nebraska will reach beyond the NIT come March.

Colonial Athletic Association

THE FORCE: Virginia Commonwealth Rams (15-5, 8-1)

In a month, this team has moved from Fruitcake to Force. I originally had George Mason (14-5, 7-2) slotted here but the Rams held on in a head-to-head matchup Saturday to knock the Patriots from their perch atop the CAA.

VCU grabbed their seventh straight victory after an embarrassing two-point loss to Delaware.

As goes senior guard Eric Maynor, averaging 23 points and six assists, so go the Rams.  With some pretty bad losses (East Carolina, Delaware, at Rhode Island, at Vanderbilt), VCU will need to win the conference tournament to assure themselves a bid to the NCAA tournament in March.

George Mason, with losses to Hampton, Liberty and Northeastern, find themselves in exactly the same position.

THE FRUITCAKE: Northeastern Huskies (12-6, 7-1)

The Huskies play some of the best defense in the CAA and have scored upsets over George Mason and Providence. However, they could only manage 37 points in a loss to South Florida and just 48 in a blowout loss to Memphis.

Are they the team that beat Hofstra by 23 at home or the team that lost to Hofstra by seven on the road?

Good luck figuring that out. Their next three games (at Old Dominion, at VCU, Delaware) will help sort out whether Northeastern is more Jekyll or Hyde. 

Keep your greenbacks in your wallet if you're thinking about a wager.

THE FRAUD: Old Dominion Monarchs (11-7, 4-4)

I really thought ODU would challenge for the CAA title yet again this year, but I was wrong, and it is only going to get worse for the Monarchs. They are the only team that plays the current top-four teams in the CAA twice each, meaning several more losses are on the horizon.

They will likely continue to beat CAA bottom-feeders like UNC-Wilmington and William & Mary, but don't have the depth or talent to compete with VCU and George Mason.

Wins over Charlotte, Richmond, and Duquesne, along with a seven-game winning streak in December, have proven fraudulent, with losses to Georgia State, Bucknell, Marshall, and James Madison now on the record.

The once-mighty Monarchs are not likely to earn even an NIT bid, but hopefully, this program won't stay down long.

With only one senior on the team (none who start), coach Blaine Taylor will continue rebuilding this program until it returns to the perennial contender status it enjoyed from 2004-2008. 

The 2008-09 season could mark the first time ODU fails to make a postseason tournament (they made the CBI quarterfinals last season) since 2003-04.

Conference USA

THE FORCE: Memphis Tigers (16-3, 5-0)

Perhaps the weakest of all "forces," Memphis pulled out a victory over Tennessee on Saturday to maintain this designation in a generally weak conference. Still, Memphis has zero bad losses (Xavier, Syracuse, at Georgetown), a 10-game winning streak, and a stunning 47 consecutive conference win streak.

This year, that streak says more about Conference USA than it does Memphis.

Memphis recently returned to the top-25, but nail-biters against Tulsa (a game they should have lost) and Central Florida show how vulnerable the Tigers really are.

Their defense remains stout, but the offense is questionable, led by Tyreke Evans, who is shooting a mediocre .453 from the field. In fact, no starter averages even close to .500 from the field and only two reserves (including Preston Laird, who averages less than half a shot per game) have hit that mark.

With games remaining against Tulsa, Tulane, UAB, UTEP, and second-place Houston (twice), Memphis is bound to have their streak ended soon.

THE FRUITCAKE: Tulsa Golden Hurricane (12-7, 2-2)

This is one of the most confounding teams in the nations and for that, they edge out UTEP and UAB for the fruitcake designation.

I picked them to upset Memphis a couple of weeks ago and they did. That is, until the final seconds when Tulsa allowed a Tiger opponent to slice through them like a hot knife through butter and lay in the game-winning bucket.

The Golden Hurricane play the best defense in Conference USA, but two one-point losses to Memphis and Tulane keep them from having a perfect 4-0 record.

They successfully shut down Illinois' offense in a four-point November loss, gutted Charlotte and impressively defeated Texas A&M, but also own an inexplicable 12-point loss to Ohio University.

Tulsa is dangerous but unless they find more offensive production from someone other than Ben Uzoh, they won't be able to challenge Houston and Memphis for the CUSA title.

Tulsa's next two games are tonight's matchup at UTEP and a home game with UAB. In true fruitcake style, the Golden Hurricane will likely earn a 1-1 split.

THE FRAUD: UTEP Miners (11-7, 2-2)

Although UTEP handed WCC power St. Mary's their only loss of the year back in November and lost by just three to current No. 1 Wake Forest, the Miners have since proven to be very mediocre.

Disappointing losses to Houston and UAB indicate they are not yet ready to compete for a conference title. Worse yet, their resume includes losses to New Mexico State and Santa Clara.

The team that was once thought to be second-best in CUSA (after UAB lost several players to academic suspension) now appears headed for a mid-tier finish that at best will send them to the NIT.

Looking ahead to the next edition of FF&F, it will be time to examine several mid-majors of interest. Included will be the Horizon League, the MAAC, the Missouri Valley, and the surprising Mountain West Conference. I look forward to hearing your opinions, as always!

Memphis Tigers at Tennessee Volunteers
Saturday 3PM
TV: CBS

The Memphis Tigers travel to Knoxville Saturday to face in state rival Tennessee in a rematch of a hotly contested game last season. Although neither team is as strong as they were last year, both teams are once again in the running for the NCAA Tournament.

Reasons why I think Memphis wins:

1. Memphis plays good defense. The Tigers are holding opponents to just 37 percent shooting from the field. And that is against the No. 18 ranked scheduled.

2. They force turnovers. John Calipari's club forces 17.7 turnovers per game.

3. Tennessee does not play good defense. The Vols are allowing 43.8 percent shooting from the field which is better than what Memphis' shoots.

Reasons why I think Tennessee wins:

1. The Vols are battle tested. Tennessee has played one of the toughest schedules in the country thus far and will not be fazed by Memphis' talent.

2. Memphis has failed against stiff competition this year. The Tigers are just 1-3 vs the RPI 1-50 and 0-2 vs the top 25.

3. Better defense as of late. Tennessee has struggled on defense this season, but has played better as of late allowing Vanderbilt to shoot just 34 percent in their last game.

Prediction

With each of the Tennessee reasons, I felt like I am stretching to find something positive for the Vols. In Memphis' three losses they have shot the ball very poorly, but UT's stats don't lend it self to their recent defensive performance holding up. I like Memphis and their improved free throw shooting to clinch this one at the end.

Memphis wins by 1-7 points

Other SEC Games This Weekend...
Arkansas over Auburn
Kentucky over Alabama
South Carolina over Ole Miss
Xavier over LSU

Florida vs Vanderbilt Preview a little later

My Home Page

Every since his freshman year, UTEP fans knew that Stefon Jackson was a special player.

When given the chance to play significant minutes (which happened a lot more towards the end of the season), Jackson put up a healthy heap of points, despite not doing much else to fill up the stat sheet.

But since then, his playing time has gone up, and as a result, point totals have drastically increased along with his rebounding and passing numbers.

Jackson is not your typical three-point bomber though (like most guards who score over 20 ppg). In fact, in 18 games this season, he has only shot a total of 54 threes, demonstrating that he prefers to take it to the hoop and get fouled.

But, his stunning mid-range shot and quick release certainly make up for the absense of a three-point threat. And on a team that scores over 78 ppg, it certainly is not hard to bury teams with fast break points.

This 2007-08 C-USA First Team member has seen his team struggle through a number of games.

UTEP’s conference is MUCH more talented and certainly deeper than last season—all but three teams have overall records at .500 or above. Memphis is still ahead of the pack, but Houston and UAB could make for some tough games, and UTEP won’t have it easy this year.

A loss to Santa Clara as well as a 12-point beat down to New Mexico St. definitely doesn't help their case for a tournament bid, and even though Arizona State has been impressive this season, a 30-point loss on a neutral floor is simply inexcusable.

Yet the Miners really don't have a glaring weakness. Sophomore guard Randy Culpepper has assisted Jackson in scoring (19.8 ppg) and they have above average marks in defensive and offensive efficiency. However, the efforts of Jackson and Culpepper might not be enough to power them through this tough conference.

Despite what could be a rough year, Jackson’s ability to flat out score is what makes him one of the best shooting guards in the country. He is currently 9th in the nation in scoring (23.3 ppg) on a remarkable 1.38 points per shot and pulls down close to six rebounds per game.

Anyone who has not seen him play gets one last chance to on Feb.21 (Bracket Busters weekend!) against Memphis on ESPN.

Even if we don’t get to see UTEP in the tournament this season, we will surely see Jackson’s name called in the 09 NBA Draft. He is one of the most capable scoring guards in this draft, and with a three-point shot, could become a huge problem for defenders.

Keep an eye on him for the remainder of the season because his scoring is critical to UTEP’s success.

The beginning of the 2008-2009 college basketball season brought many unanswered questions to the forefront for the reigning national runners-up, the University of Memphis Tigers.

How would they fare after losing Derrick Rose, Chris Douglas-Roberts, and Joey Dorsey to the NBA draft? How good would Tyreke Evans actually be? Would the Tigers be able to compete with the perennial powerhouse programs? How good can Memphis be without a true point guard?

Some of these questions have been answered in the first 15 games of the season, but some still remain uncertain. At 12-3 (2-0), the Tigers are obviously not as good as they have been in the past three years, but that's like comparing apples and oranges.

With a combined record of 104-10 and an unbeaten Conference USA record over the past three years, not to mention an NCAA record 38 wins last season, the Tigers have pretty much been in a league of their own. Therefore, comparing this season's team to past seasons simply isn't fair.

This year's Tigers had a lot to live up to, and although they have three losses to date, all to top 20-ranked teams mind you, they are doing a good job, and it will only get better from here.

With only two starters returning from last season's team, this team has had to make a lot of adjustments. These changes have obviously taken some time to get used to, but they are finally taking shape. The Tigers have now won six straight games following their tough home loss to Syracuse, and they are only improving.

Their most recent win over Central Florida displayed a lot of toughness by the Tigers who were able to overcome a late deficit on the road to win in a tough environment.

Now, I know all of the haters out there will claim that UCF isn't good and so on and so forth, but when Memphis goes on the road in Conference USA, every opponent that they face sells out their arena and gives the Tigers their best shot in a hostile environment.

This game could definitely be a turning point in the Tigers' season, as they face very tough upcoming games at Tennessee and at Gonzaga.

All of the players are finally playing better, and head coach John Calipari is figuring out how to win without a true point guard.

The nation should watch out for the Memphis Tigers, because they're on a trek to make it to their fourth Elite Eight in four years.

The Colorado Buffaloes lost their third straight game on Monday as they fell to the SMU Mustangs 70-67 in Dallas, Texas.

CU is now 1-4 this season away from the Coors Events Center.

“I wish I had confidence in our bench, but people don’t see what I see in practice,” said CU head coach Jeff Bzdelik after the game. “They need to step up and help because we run out of gas and get a step slow in parts of the game and that hurts us.”

The Buffs (7-6) fell down as much as nine in the first half, but came away ahead at halftime thanks to a two-point jumper by Casey Crawford as time expired, to give CU the 33-32 lead.

However, the Buffs couldn’t continue that momentum to start the second as the Mustangs (5-7) took control for most of the half.

CU would get the game down to within two with 4.8 seconds remaining as Nate Tomlinson was fouled on a two-point shot.

Tomlinson finished with 10 points, two rebounds, five assists, and one steal on the night.

Colorado would then foul SMU’s Bamba Fall hoping they would get one more chance to tie the game. They would as Fall would miss one of his two free throws to give the Buffs life.

However, a last minute three by Tomlinson would fall short as it hit the front of the rim to give SMU redemption after losing to the Buffs in Boulder last season.

CU had five players who finished in double-digits in points.

Dwight Thorne II led the Buffs in points with 18. He also had three rebounds and two assists.

Cory Higgins, CU’s leading scorer for the season, finished with 11 points, six rebounds, six assists, and four steals.

Higgins also went four-for-four from the free-throw line, with two of those shots being records as he hit his 39th and 40th straight free throw, a school and Big 12 record.

The previous Big 12 record holder was Joey Graham of Oklahoma State when he accomplished the feat in the 2004-05 season.

Other CU players who hit double-digits in points included senior Jermyl Jackson Wilson with 10 and freshman Austin Dufault with 13. Dufault also finished with a team-high seven rebounds.

SMU on the other hand had four players in double-digits in points, as Derek Williams led the Mustangs with 14. Williams also finished with two rebounds, four assists, and three steals.

Other notables for the Mustangs included Fall who finished with 13 points and a game high 11 rebounds, Paul McCoy with 11 points, and Mouhammad Faye with 10 points.

Colorado will have two days off before they host Western State College on Wednesday while SMU will host University of Texas at El Paso on Saturday.

Rainbow Classic Recap

On Dec. 28-30, CU traveled to Honolulu, Hi. to take part in the Rainbow Classic hosted by the University of Hawaii.

CU placed fourth with a 1-2 record. Their only win came on opening day as they beat Coppin State 80-63.

The Buffaloes would lose a heartbreaker the next night to keep them out of the Championship game, losing to Buffalo 62-60.

In the third place game, Colorado would lose 84-59 to a much better Vermont team as they settled with the fourth place finish.

Higgins was named to the All-Tournament Team leading the Buffs in scoring in all three games averaging 18 points.

Colorado plans on returning to the classic next season.