The Memphis Tigers are making national headlines for losing the exact kind of game you never want to lose: an exhibition to a Division II school when you've got hopes on making the NCAA Tournament.
This one won't have the same reaction as Syracuse dropping that random exhibition to Le Moyne five years ago, but it's pretty bad.
The Tigers dropped a 74-70 overtime decision to Christian Brothers on Tuesday night. The D-II school is based in Memphis, so it makes sense for Josh Pastner to schedule this kind of a game as a tuneup for the season. It's an annual game.
It doesn't make sense for Memphis to lose, though, not with its talent -- or ever to a D-II program. Pastner's group is seen, at worst, as No. 3 in the American Athletic Conference this season. Memphis Commercial-Appeal beat writer Jason Smith transcribed some quotes from Pastner after the game.
Pastner: "There is no good news out of it, other than the fact that it doesn't go in the record books."
— L. Jason Smith (@TheCAJasonSmith) November 13, 2014
CJP: "Full credit goes to Christian Brothers. 100 percent. I know we're gonna be a good team. We've got some things we've got to clean up."
— L. Jason Smith (@TheCAJasonSmith) November 13, 2014
Pastner: "Kedren Johnson was not good whatsoever. I was trying to let him play through some things so he could get his rhythm back."
— L. Jason Smith (@TheCAJasonSmith) November 13, 2014
Pastner is right in that it doesn't count against his record, but Tigers fans who care about the program will probably never forget this loss. They'll be calling into radio shows tomorrow, and they're already flaring up Twitter and team message boards now.
It's set up to be a brutal 24 hours for Pastner. On the heels of this loss he'll be critiqued in the local and (as you can see here) national press. Then there's the late-Thursday announcement of five-star prospect Skal Labissiere, which will be broadcast on national television. Despite having lived the past four years in Memphis, multiple national recruiting reporters believe Labissiere is bound to select Kentucky when he makes his choice public.
Whether Labissiere ever actually ends up getting to college is another matter, but on the surface and in the immediacy of the decision -- if Labissiere does not select Memphis -- it will be another bad loss for Pastner in less than 24 hours.
That city is one of the most passionate about its team and its coach. Don't believe me? Picture this:
There is a Memphis fan behind me trying to pull his hair out. Like, literally.
— L. Jason Smith (@TheCAJasonSmith) November 13, 2014
