Record: 30-4, 16-0 C-USA
RPI: 12
Coach: Josh Pastner, 4th season, three NCAA tournament appearances
Last NCAA tournament appearance: Lost to St. Louis in the first round (2012)
Notable Wins: Tennessee, Harvard, Southern Miss (twice)
The most dangerous player for the Tigers isn’t in the starting lineup. Junior guard Chris Crawford assumed the sixth-man role late in the season, but became the most productive guard in Pastner’s lineup averaging 22.4 points in the month of March and hitting five three-pointers in the conference championship against Southern Miss.
No team enters the tournament with more confidence. The Tigers have lost one game this calendar year and only two since Thanksgiving. Pastner brings vibrant energy to the floor that permeates to everyone on his bench. And at age 35, he is young enough to believe that this team has a chance to go all the way.
Pastner and company won’t know who they play until late Tuesday night after Middle Tennessee takes on St. Mary’s. Either opponent will be the underdog against the faster and more disciplined Tigers.
The Tigers have not won an NCAA tournament game since John Calipari left Memphis for Kentucky. But this time they are one of only two teams in the tournament (along with Gonzaga) with 30 wins.
