Memphis Tigers NCAA Basketball News

Josh Pastner has spent his entire life preparing to be a head coach, but now that the big day is finally here, he's figuring out just how much he's got left to figure out.

News, observations and reader questions about the Sacramento Kings and the NBA. November 2, 2009 Gameday: Kings vs.

Based on the criteria Josh Pastner laid out last week, senior shooting guard Doneal Mack had earned a spot in the starting lineup for Tuesday's exhibition game against LeMoyne-Owen. Box score Instead, Mack came off the bench after he showed up late to a team meeting.

Willie Kemp battles LeMoyne-Owen teammates Jeremy Anderson and Maurice Mickens for a loose ball during the first half of their exhibition.

OUTLOOK: John Calipari is gone and the Memphis Tigers are no longer the team to beat, as Conference USA is wide open for the first time in several years.

Kevin Martin set a record for scoring in a Kings home opener, pouring in 48 points as Sacramento beat the Memphis Grizzlies, 127-116, to capture its first win of the season.

Former University of Memphis star Tyreke Evans rebounded from a rough debut, scoring 22 points for Sacramento, but Chris Paul scored 31 to help the host Hornets beat the Kings, 97-92, on Friday night.

Former U of M guard Tyreke Evans of the Sacramento Kings defends as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook goes up for a shot in the fourth quarter Wednesday.

Memphis' tumultuous offseason, which left new coach Josh Pastner with just eight healthy scholarship players, including guard Doneal Mack, has given the rest of the league hope.

HATTIESBURG - John Calipari will no longer be courtside when Memphis begins its Conference USA schedule this season, but the coaching legend leaves quite a legacy in a 61-game winning streak against league foes.

There may still be some issues for John Wall to work through off the court. On it, the University of Kentucky freshman is making an early impression.

Tigers Elliot Williams and Doneal Mack spoke with Fox13 today about their upcoming season.

Walk-on freshman guard Preston Laird was perfect from behind the 3-point arc last season, but that's not the reason new Tiger coach Josh Pastner gave him a scholarship recently.

Travelling around Western Canada on buses and planes during his first season with the University of Regina Cougars men's basketball team should seem just like old times for Darius Mole.

Shawn Taggart, 24, the former University of Memphis standout who decided to forego his final year of college eligibility to pursue his dream of playing professional basketball, has been signed to a contract to play for Ironi Nahariya of the Israeli Premier League.

I decided to leave Terrico White off the "point guards and combo guards" list and include him on the "shooting guards and wings" list.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - New Kentucky coach John Calipari says the Wildcats could open his first season with three freshman starters.

There were 217 teams in college basketball last season that shot 3-pointers better than the University of Memphis.

The signature program in Conference USA underwent a major makeover after dealing with a tumultuous off-season. Josh Pastner takes over as coach after John Calipari bolted for Kentucky .

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: Four freshmen swingmen -- Drew Barham, Tyler Foster, D.J, Stephens and Malik Thomas -- are being counted on to replenish the depth lost by four departing starters.