COACH: Josh Pastner, two years at Memphis, first year in NCAA tournament.
HOW THEY GOT IN: Automatic bid (Conference USA tournament champion).
GO-TO GUYS: Freshman guard Will Barton is the most obvious one. He leads the Tigers in scoring and ranks second in rebounding despite standing 6-foot-6. As far as scoring goes, Memphis' offense isn't dominated by any single player. Barton averages 12 points per game, followed by three players that each averaged nine entering the NCAA tournament. Perhaps the most important is Wesley Witherspoon, as he's the most experienced post player for Memphis and can be a double-double threat when healthy. Freshman Chris Crawford might be the most balanced guard. He leads the team in steals, assists and 3-point shooting.
X FACTOR: Joe Jackson is a reserve, but he played like a seasoned starter in the Conference USA tournament. Perhaps no player was more important to Memphis winning the tournament title. Jackson punctuated a memorable week with 17-point, seven-assist performance in the final against UTEP and was named MVP. He led the team in scoring and hit two clutch free throws to lift Memphis in that final game. Coming into the tournament, Jackson averaged eight points per game. He averaged 18 in the tournament. He also gets to the line more than any other Tiger.
STRENGTHS:Perimeter-oriented Memphis is best when it uses aggression and athleticism. Several Tigers can attack the basket and finish or find open teammates. Memphis was second in Conference USA in assists. The Tigers can also apply that aggression effectively at the defensive end where they led the league in steals.
WEAKNESSES: This is not a team of shooters. Memphis ranks low in 3-point shooting and from the free throw line. They can be inconsistent on defense and when rebounding the ball, but Memphis does have ability in those areas. Like other young teams, the Tigers don't always seem to value the ball. They ranked among the bottom of Conference USA in turnover margin.
