2008 Woodie Awards
College basketball hits Nashville
Chris Martin
Issue date: 12/6/07 Section: Sports
Two Sun Belt Conference teams will square off against two top-10 opponents at the Sommet Center in Nashville in the first ever Sun Belt Classic on Dec. 15.
Middle Tennessee (2-5) will be taking on No. 2 Memphis (7-0) in a game that will be televised on ESPN2. Also featured on the docket will be a matchup between preseason Sun Belt favorite Western Kentucky (5-2) and No. 10 Tennessee (8-1). That game will be available to ESPNU subscribers.
"We are eagerly anticipating the national exposure two of our schools will receive on ESPN2 and ESPNU on Dec. 15," SBC Commissioner Wright Waters said in August when the matchups were announced. "It is an excellent opportunity for us to showcase two of our outstanding universities."
MT and Memphis are scheduled to begin the action. Memphis has absolutely ripped through its opponents this season on the way to building its so far unblemished record. The Tigers have defeated their opponents by an average of 18.7 points per game. In fact, aside a 62-58 overtime victory over USC on Tuesday, Memphis's closest call this season was a 63-53 victory against in the semifinals of the 2K Sports College Hoop Classic in Madison Square Garden.
The Tigers are led by their trio of superstars: Joey Dorsey, Derrick Rose and Chris Douglas-Roberts. Dorsey, a senior, is averaging 7 points and 9.2 rebounds a game on a team that features eight players who average at least 6.7 points. Rose, who was considered a top-5 recruit coming into the season, has lived up to his preseason hype. He is second on the team in scoring (15.9), tied for fourth in rebounding (5.7) and first in assists (4.3) per game. Douglas-Roberts shunned the NBA last year, to return to the Tigers and is their leading scorer (20.1) and third-leading rebounder (6.1).
While MT appears to be overmatched by the Tigers, the Blue Raiders will be able to walk out of the Sommet Center with some always-helpful national exposure.
"The SBC Classic will generate remarkable interest and the teams involved will gain valuable exposure early in the college basketball season," MT Director of Athletics Chris Massaro said. "Middle Tennessee is excited to be part of what we know is going to be a great night for college basketball in the middle Tennessee area."
Middle Tennessee (2-5) will be taking on No. 2 Memphis (7-0) in a game that will be televised on ESPN2. Also featured on the docket will be a matchup between preseason Sun Belt favorite Western Kentucky (5-2) and No. 10 Tennessee (8-1). That game will be available to ESPNU subscribers.
"We are eagerly anticipating the national exposure two of our schools will receive on ESPN2 and ESPNU on Dec. 15," SBC Commissioner Wright Waters said in August when the matchups were announced. "It is an excellent opportunity for us to showcase two of our outstanding universities."
MT and Memphis are scheduled to begin the action. Memphis has absolutely ripped through its opponents this season on the way to building its so far unblemished record. The Tigers have defeated their opponents by an average of 18.7 points per game. In fact, aside a 62-58 overtime victory over USC on Tuesday, Memphis's closest call this season was a 63-53 victory against in the semifinals of the 2K Sports College Hoop Classic in Madison Square Garden.
The Tigers are led by their trio of superstars: Joey Dorsey, Derrick Rose and Chris Douglas-Roberts. Dorsey, a senior, is averaging 7 points and 9.2 rebounds a game on a team that features eight players who average at least 6.7 points. Rose, who was considered a top-5 recruit coming into the season, has lived up to his preseason hype. He is second on the team in scoring (15.9), tied for fourth in rebounding (5.7) and first in assists (4.3) per game. Douglas-Roberts shunned the NBA last year, to return to the Tigers and is their leading scorer (20.1) and third-leading rebounder (6.1).
While MT appears to be overmatched by the Tigers, the Blue Raiders will be able to walk out of the Sommet Center with some always-helpful national exposure.
"The SBC Classic will generate remarkable interest and the teams involved will gain valuable exposure early in the college basketball season," MT Director of Athletics Chris Massaro said. "Middle Tennessee is excited to be part of what we know is going to be a great night for college basketball in the middle Tennessee area."
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casey brewer
posted 1/28/08 @ 8:48 AM CST
i love playing basketball i have played for eight years it is practically myy life i am 14 years old and already have picked out on what i am going to do for the rest of my life. (Continued…)
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