Memphis-Tulane Preview

2/20/2008 11:13 AM

By JEFF MEZYDLO
STATS Writer

Memphis has one last obstacle to clear before focusing on its most highly anticipated game of the season.

After rallying for a victory last time out, the top-ranked Tigers look to remain unbeaten by continuing their domination of host Tulane in a Conference USA matchup Wednesday night.

Memphis (25-0, 11-0) has had time to catch its breath after a thrilling 79-78 victory at UAB on Saturday. That result set up this Saturday's showdown with No. 2 Tennessee in Memphis, which will be the first 1-2 meeting since No. 2 Ohio State beat No. 1 Wisconsin 49-48 on Feb. 25.

However, before the Tigers can worry about facing their in-state rival in a marquee matchup, they must focus on winning their 14th straight over Tulane (15-9, 5-5) and sixth in a row on the road versus the Green Wave.

The Tigers will also be looking to extend their regular season winning streak to 45 games, while trying for a 35th consecutive victory over C-USA opponents.

Though Memphis has dominated Tulane and has the Tennessee game looming, it likely won't take the Green Wave for granted after surviving the scare in Birmingham.

Chris Douglas-Roberts converted a 3-point play with 6.5 seconds left as the Tigers outscored UAB 9-1 in the final 1:23.

"The winning streak wasn't in my mind at all,'' said Douglas-Roberts, who scored 32 points. "It was just winning the game. That's all I was thinking about.''

The Blazers had a chance to win, but Lawrence Kinnard's last-second basket was ruled to have come after time expired, prompting the UAB student section to throw cups and water bottles at the Memphis players as they left the court.

"What, do you expect the students to be happy? They were into it, and all I told our guys was just get off the floor," Memphis coach John Calipari said. "You don't deal with it. You think they're going to kiss you on the lips? You just beat them in a tough, hard game.

"Every team we play comes out with a special level of inspiration."

That should be the case again Wednesday, and the Tigers can't afford to allow Tulane to shoot 51.0 percent like UAB did.

Douglas-Roberts is averaging a team-leading 17.5 points per game and 27.0 in his last two contests. He had 17 in Memphis' 71-49 win over Tulane on March 9 in the C-USA tournament.

The Green Wave look to avoid losing a season-high fourth straight after falling 68-54 at Marshall on Saturday.

Robert Gomez had 15 points for Tulane, which shot 40.5 percent and was outrebounded 42-29 by the Thundering Herd.

Gomez averages a team-leading 14.5 points, but he's averaging just 5.2 in five games versus Memphis.

Tulane is 0-9 when facing the No. 1 team in the nation. The Green Wave have lost their last 19 games versus ranked opponents.