The March Through The Madness: Arizona Survives And Advances

((HT: NCAA/CBS/youtube))

And they got Marv Albert to call it...

Memphis clawed their way back into the game with Arizona late with a steal, but a defensive play in a one-point game gave the Wildcats the chance to move on.

Josh Pastner was not happy at the end...

Kansas Survives Against Memphis

((HT: MyFoxMemphis))

Survive and advance already...???
First, Cal State-Fullerton takes out UCLA. Miami of Ohio almost got Kentucky.
Now, it takes a contested shot at the buzzer for Kansas to leave a game with the Tigers with a win...

See what happens when you play hoops around the clock...???
Here's your highlights...

NCAA Finished Talking With Memphis

((HT: Memphis Commercial Appeal/Wolken))

The University of Memphis’ meeting with the NCAA committee on infractions lasted less than four hours here today -- a surprisingly short time for a hearing of this magnitude -- and wrapped up before 11:20 a.m. ((One of the hot button issues in the investigation, former head coach John Calipari is pictured, thanks Commercial Appeal file))

University president Dr. Shirley Raines issued the following written statement as Memphis’ representatives at the hearing left the Sheraton Indianapolis hotel:

“Today, the University of Memphis responded to the NCAA allegations concerning our men’s basketball and women’s golf teams. Although we cannot comment on the specifics of what occurred during the hearing, I can say that, as President, I reiterated the University’s commitment to NCAA rules compliance.

As a member institution with several of our staff participating in NCAA leadership positions, I expect the University to live up to its commitment. We believe we were able to fully answer the Committee’s questions and present the actions that we have already taken based upon our internal investigations. Throughout this process, we have had a cooperative relationship with the NCAA Enforcement Staff, and we want to thank the NCAA for that.

“We are hopeful that we will receive a favorable decision on behalf of the University in this matter. We appreciate your interest and we look forward to having more to say after the committee has released its decision.”

Memphis officials, including Raines, athletic director R.C. Johnson and university counsel Sheri Lipman all declined comment before leaving quickly in a black Ford Expedition.

Former Tigers React To Memphis Scandal

((HT: MyFoxMemphis))

On the heels of a student-athlete SAT scandal, controversy surrounds another former Memphis tiger. ESPN is reporting a stand-in may have taken Robert Dozier's first SAT test. The NCAA will meet with University officials Saturday regarding the test of another tiger, Derrick Rose.

Former Tiger Basketball players and local celebrities hit the hardwood to support the Larry Finch Scholarship Fund, although the lines in the Elma Roan Fieldhouse these days resemble the sometimes blurry lines between right and wrong.

"I hope that everybody gets it behind us and continues on," former player Jeremy Hunt said.

Robert Dozier is the second tiger name involved in testing controversy. ESPN reports the former forward may have had a stand-in for his first SAT. Dozier scored 540 fewer points the second time he took the test.

All this comes to light right before the University's meeting with the NCAA Saturday regarding another former Tiger's SAT score. The investigation points to Derrick Rose as the player. The U of M's internal investigation revealed no proof that he cheated.

Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton tipped-off Friday night's charity game, still thinking highly of the Tigers.

"I hope we are in a real positive situation, such that our program is not negatively impacted, so I wish the Tigers all the best and I think there's a lot of honesty and integrity in the program and I hope there are no NCAA violations," Herenton said.

The NCAA could take away Memphis' victories from the 2007-08 season, when Rose played. Anything regarding Dozier is still in limbo while it finishes the first investigation. Until then, former Tigers are looking forward.

"More than anything, Josh Pastner has a job in front of him and hopefully he can start afresh, have an opportunity to recruit locally and continuing to recruit nationally," former player Elliot Perry said.

"I'm an optimist. I hope things turn out for the better. I just wish the University the best possible outcome through it all," former player Andre Turner said.

Coach Pastner will not be attending Saturday's meeting. Former Tiger's head coach, John Calipari, will listen via phone from China.

FoxMemphis' Melissa Scheffler caught up with them Friday...

Source: Memphis Knew About Ineligible Player

((HT: ESPN/Andy Katz))

One month after Memphis lost to Kansas in overtime on April 7, 2008, in one of the most thrilling national championship games in recent memory, the Tigers were rocked by an e-mail from the NCAA.

It was then that Memphis was first notified that star freshman point guard Derrick Rose, who helped the Tigers to an NCAA-record 38 wins and was soon going to become the No. 1 pick in the 2008 NBA draft by his hometown Bulls, had an invalidated standardized test score the previous year at Chicago's Simeon High School, according to multiple sources with direct knowledge of the e-mail.

The University of Memphis' legal counsel, Sheri Lipman, would not identify the student-athlete as Rose, but said Monday, "for the student-athlete, whoever that was, the first indication that we got was in early May [2008] that his score was being invalidated."

Memphis' administration knew that if this were indeed true, then coach John Calipari's ((pictured, thanks Memphis Commercial Appeal file)) team rode the superstar exploits of an ineligible player to an extraordinary season that was stopped just short of the program's first national title.

"It certainly came as a surprise," Lipman said of the e-mail.

Was it odd to be notified of a test score after the "student-athlete" played his freshman season?

"Absolutely," Lipman said. "That's when we started with the NCAA, looking into the case."

Details of Memphis' investigation into the alleged fraudulent SAT are in the school's response to the NCAA's notice of allegations received January 16, Lipman said. Memphis' response, which was requested by various Tennessee media outlets through a Freedom of Information Act request, could be forthcoming as early as Monday night or Tuesday morning, according to Lipman. The NCAA committee on infractions has a hearing in Indianapolis on Saturday.

Lipman said the response would add more depth to the Rose report and "put more paint on this canvas."

Rose's attorney, Daniel E. Reidy, issued a statement last week that said, "Mr. Rose is aware of the allegations recently reported in the press. Mr. Rose cooperated fully with the University of Memphis athletic and legal departments' investigation of this issue when he was a student and that investigation uncovered no wrongdoing on his part. At this time, Mr. Rose sees no reason to engage in further discussion regarding this matter and will instead focus on his career as a professional basketball player."

According to multiple sources, Rose's camp did tell Memphis that he took the SAT in question.

The NCAA's notice of allegations states that "it is alleged that [redacted] prospective men's basketball student-athlete failed to deport himself in accordance with the generally recognized high standards of honesty and sportsmanship normally associated with the conduct and administration of intercollegiate athletics for his knowing fraudulence or misconduct and administration of intercollegiate examination. Specifically, on [redacted] an unknown individual completed [redacted] SAT, with [redacted] knowledge, which was used to obtain his admission into the institution and to certify his NCAA eligibility. [Redacted] subsequently competed for the men's basketball team through the 2007-08 season, which included his participation in the 2008 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship."

On Monday, Bulls executive vice president for business operations Steve Schanwald said the team stood by Rose.

"Where the truth lies, who knows?" Schanwald told Comcast SportsNet Chicago. "But Derrick says it didn't happen, and I take him at his word."

According to a source, Calipari was floored that Rose could have been ineligible as a freshman.

So, too, was the university's legal counsel, which is fighting the NCAA over finding out about the "student-athlete's" invalid test score, after the season concluded and after he had been cleared by the NCAA clearinghouse to compete the previous fall.

Memphis athletic director R.C. Johnson has said throughout the past week he doesn't anticipate the case will affect new coach Josh Pastner's program, either in scholarship reduction or any kind of postseason ban. There is a possibility that Memphis' 38 wins and its national championship appearance could be vacated by the committee on infractions if Memphis is not able to provide enough evidence to refute the charge that Rose was ineligible during the 2007-08 season.

Here's Katz explaining himself to Robert Flores...

RC And Josh Can't Get Facts Straight

((HT: WHBQ-TV))

Former Memphis Tiger Derrick Rose appears to be the key player in the NCAA investigation into the Tigers Basketball Program, and it turns out, this isn't the first time Rose's academic transcript has come under scrutiny.

The Chicago Sun Times is reporting that someone with access to Rose's records back at Simeon High School changed a "D" to a "C" on his transcript, and then changed the grade back after his transcript had been sent out to the schools rose was interested in, including the University of Memphis.

There's no telling how that news may influence the NCAA investigation, and whether it could turn out to be good news for the University of Memphis.

Kansas had a similar situation with Darrell Arthur's high school transcript last summer, and walked away clean-- maybe the Tigers will as well.

Also, there are some conflicting statements from Tigers Athletic Director R.C. Johnson and Tigers head coach Josh Pastner.

While Pastner told FOX13 he had no prior knowledge of the NCAA allegations, Johnson stated "we talked some about it."

Regardless of who told who, who told what, and when anything was said, the fate of the Tigers' 2007-2008 record and title could all be determined at the NCAA hearing June 6.

Here's the story from our friends at MyFoxMemphis with Matt Stark and Greg Gaston leading the way...


Here's the entire interviews with RC Johnson and Coach Pastner
In the biz, we call them "raw tape..."

Gaston then followed up his early piece with some talk from high-falootin' booster types...

Pastner Is The Present In Memphis

((HT: CBSSports))

Gary Parrish is reporting that former John Calipari assistant Josh Pastner is the new head coach at the University of Memphis.

The 31-year-old gets the top seat over Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton.

From Parrish:

A news conference is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday.

Pastner is known as an elite recruiter from his time at Arizona, where he played for and assisted Lute Olson before joining John Calipari's staff last offseason. This is his first head coaching job.

From Dan Wolken at the Commercial Appeal:

Two sources said that athletic director R.C. Johnson has sent an e-mail to members of the Ambassadors Club, telling them the process is nearing an end. The Ambassadors Club is for boosters who have donated $500,000.

Known as one of the rising stars in the business, Pastner would be one of the youngest head coaches in the country and his selection would be a surprise, given his age and the fact he has no head coaching experience.

It could also be a brilliant hire, given that Pastner has a deep network of connections on the AAU circuit, especially in the Houston area where his father, Hal Pastner, is a legendary youth basketball coach.