Memphis 97, Belmont 81

[homebre]

Memphis 97 Belmont 79

[J4Kop99]

Yeah I was just going to post this in the MSU game thread.

Who knows what this means though. I didn't get to watch much of the game... did Belmont look good at all?

[Wander]

Who knows what this means though.

Memphis is really good. Right now, Duke is ranked 6 and Memphis 10 - it's more accurate the other way around.

[Bluedog]

Memphis is really good. Right now, Duke is ranked 6 and Memphis 10 - it's more accurate the other way around.

Well, we'll find out soon enough (assuming Memphis gets by UMich and we get by TN). That's the beauty of college basketball! Rankings are meaningless and champions are determined by play on the court. The transitive property of winning also doesn't usually work out so well, so I don't think you can read too much into Belmont losing badly. They also couldn't buy a bucket from 3 against Memphis. I think Belmont is one of those teams that have potential for big upsets when hitting their long range buckets (like they did against us in the second half), but if they're cold from long range, it could get ugly. Having said that, obviously defense has a role in how well they shoot.

[basket1544]

It was an interesting game. Memphis' point guard was able to run away from Belmont. Belmont did get back into the game twice though. Memphis had a 12 point lead in the first half and Belmont came back to lead by 2. Then Memphis went on a run to get a 20 point lead and Belmont cut that to 7 before Memphis went on another run. Truly Belmont is a team to worry about in March with their ability to come back.

[pfrduke]

It was an interesting game. Memphis' point guard was able to run away from Belmont. Belmont did get back into the game twice though. Memphis had a 12 point lead in the first half and Belmont came back to lead by 2. Then Memphis went on a run to get a 20 point lead and Belmont cut that to 7 before Memphis went on another run. Truly Belmont is a team to worry about in March with their ability to come back.

Yeah, the game looked relatively similar to the Duke game through about the first 33 minutes. The difference was really in the last 7. Memphis did a much better job of executing down the stretch than we did (and Belmont missed some wide open threes), which allowed them to keep the Bruins at bay. The final score was a bit misleading (but, then, I'd say the final score of our game was a bit misleading, too, as we were in control for almost all but the last few minutes), but Memphis certainly looked very good.

[mkline09]

Don't think you can even compare. I don't think Belmont shot as well, Memphis is a different team than Duke and in college basketball anything can happen on a given day. The Tigers gave Belmont fits with there athleticism and length. Maybe more of the later. Belmont is still a good team. Duke is still a good team and by all accounts Memphis is a good team. No need to worry about it very much. Tigers played a good game.

[A-Tex Devil]

Just ask Texas Tech-OU-Texas in football.

While games can't be looked at in complete vacuums, using transitive theory to have concerns about a team 2-3 games into its season is the height of alarmism.

[superdave]

TobaccoRdBlues Shane Ryan
Memphis' effective field goal % was 64.7, which they topped just once last season. Higher than Arizona's 61.1 total vs. Duke last March.
14 minutes ago

[Underdog5]

Has been said but Memphis defended the perimeter much better than we did. Their length and athletes bothered them a lot more. Belmont was scrappy as expected but didn't have the horses to keep up. All credit should go to Memphis. Wouldn't argue that the eye test says Duke-Memphis rankings should swap but not that concerned this early in the season. Looking forward to seeing us continue to develop tonight in the Garden.

[juise]

Another possible consideration: How much time did Belmont have to specifically prepare for Duke versus how long they prepared for Memphis?

[Duke of Nashville]

I watched a bit of the game on my lunch break and Memphis's length appeared to really bother Belmonts outside shooting. Belmont was simply over matched. In such a large arena it was a good test for the Bruins. But the game in Cameron was probably a bit closer to home.

[oldnavy]

Hard to extrapolate in CBB, the game is so dependant on match ups.

[ikiru36]

While the transitive property in such situations is highly flawed to begin with, let's even keep a proper perspective on this 16 pt. win by Memphis, compared with Duke's 1 pt. (some say 4 pt.) victory.

1) Duke, I believe, was up by as many as 16 pts. in the 2nd half against Belmont
2) Belmont was only down 7 with less than 4 minutes remaining in this game against Memphis
3) Memphis had the benefit of being able to watch the Duke game in developing their game plan

Anyways, props to Memphis for handling an experienced and skilled Belmont team that remains a likely top mid-major this year.
Duke still showed a lot of heart overcoming a high-pressure end of game situation, and we're likely to be improving from there on out.

Go Duke!!!!!!!!!!!! Go Blue Devils!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GTHCGTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Duke4life92]

Yes,i felt it had the duke game feel all over again as belmont cut it to 7 and then missed numerous wide open 3's that they buried against duke late in that game.Had they hit them maybe the pressure would have affected the young memphis team the same way but woulda coulda shoulda,nice game at then end by memphis,congrats.Nothing to gain by comparing outcomes,jmo.

[mapei]

"using transitive theory to have concerns about a team 2-3 games into its season is the height of alarmism"

"While the transitive property in such situations is highly flawed to begin with"

This is a sports board?

[chrishoke]

Mephis played very good defense, inside and out. Belmont had great trouble finishing insiside. Mephis was much bedtter than I expected. Long and athletic all over the court. Props to them.