NEW YORK ””mdash; When Memphis coach John Calipari took the
microphone in his NIT Season Tip-Off press conference, he rattled
off a list of reasons to suggest his team wasn’t yet worthy
of its No. 11 ranking. He specifically mentioned his team’s
inexperience playing together, that eight of the Tigers’ main
nine players are underclassmen, and that his playbook is quite
thin, only featuring a few diagrammed sets. Sitting next to him was
UCLA coach Ben Howland, who wasn’t buying a word of it.
“It’s great to hear John sandbag,” Howland said.
“They’re a very, very good team. Believe me, they have
our complete attention.” And they should, as the Tigers will
provide No. 16 UCLA in tonight’s semifinal of the NIT Season
Tip-Off in Madison Square Garden with something that earlier games
against New Mexico State, Temple and Delaware State couldn’t
““ a true test. In Memphis (2-0), Howland sees a team similar
to his own once UCLA (3-0) fully recovers from a slew of
early-season injuries, though point guard Jordan Farmar (ankle) and
center Michael Fey (shoulder) will return tonight after missing
Saturday’s game. The Tigers are young, starting two freshmen
and quickly ushering in three more off the bench. The Tigers are
long, as seven of their eight players leading in minutes played
stand 6-foot-6 or taller. And the Tigers are quick, forcing an
up-tempo style of play that was on display when they ran No. 19
Alabama out of its own gym in an 87-76 Memphis victory to advance
to New York. “They’re vastly different (than what
we’ve seen so far),” said Howland, whose team has
scored 56 and 54 points respectively in its last two victories in
sluggishly paced games. “Memphis is a top-10 team. All you
have to do is watch tape to see that. But this will help us grow as
a team.” So will the fact that this game is more than just
another game, but also an opportunity. The NIT Season Tip-Off is
regarded as one of the most prestigious of college
basketball’s early-season tournaments, annually played in
college basketball’s most recognizable setting ““
Madison Square Garden in the heart of New York City. “This is
the mecca of basketball,” senior Cedric Bozeman said.
“This is where it begins, and this is where it ends.”
The Bruins are hoping to write a new beginning and ending to their
Madison Square Garden experience. The last time UCLA was here, on
Jan. 31, 2004, a hapless St. John’s team embarrassed the
Bruins in a 71-55 Red Storm victory. But that was then, and this is
now. “It’s a different situation and a different
team,” Bozeman said. “The last time we came here, it
was tough. We were struggling at the time, but now we’re on a
positive swing and we’re going to keep it going. It’s a
new year.” For many of the Bruins, tonight’s game will
mark their first-ever experience playing in the Garden, the
significance of which was not lost on Farmar. “Playing at the
Garden is going to be something special,” Farmar said.
“All the lights are on, everyone’s watching, and people
take notice. “On the West Coast, we get left out in a lot of
talk, basketball-wise. But this is what we wanted. We want to show
we can play ball and that we should be among the top teams in the
country. And if we do well out here, on center stage, UCLA will be
on the map again.” And then perhaps Farmar won’t be
mistaken for Bozeman, as he was by one of the reporters at
Tuesday’s press conference.
DRIBBLERS: Farmar, who sprained his right ankle against Temple
last Thursday, returned to full practice Monday. Fey, who sprained
his left shoulder also against Temple, returned to practice
Tuesday. … Both Memphis and UCLA have participated in the NIT
Season Tip-Off three times before, with neither team having made it
to the finals. … The winner of tonight’s game will face the
winner of No. 1 Duke vs. Drexel at 4 p.m. on Friday, with the loser
of both semifinal match-ups meeting in a consolation game at 1:30
p.m. on Friday. Both games are to be televised by ESPN2.