INSIDE THE NUMBERS

2000-01 record: 27-9; 12-4 in C-USA (1st/National) Postseason: Beat South Carolina 72-62 to win NIT title. RETURNING LEADERS Points: Barron 14.1 Rebs: Barron 6.2 Assists: Burks 3.3 FG: Barron 46.8% 3pt: Rice 42.3% FT: Barron 78.3% 01-02 Stats: Memphis | C-USA KEY LOSSES Dajuan Wagner | 21.2 ppg Kelly Wise | 11.2 ppg Scooter McFadgon | 9.9 ppg PROJECTED STARTERS G | Anthony Rice | Soph G | Antonio Burks | Junior C | Earl Barron | Senior F | John Grice | Senior F | Rodney Carney | Fresh Player to Watch Earl Barron Senior Center His 25-point performance in NIT title game (9 for 9 from field) is why potential is so high. DATE TO REMEMBER Jan. 2 The annual rivalry battle with Arkansas should match up two programs trying to regain their juice. Last year the Razorbacks won by 17 points, an early signal that the Tigers' whole would never equal the sum of its parts. This year offers redemption.

 

MEMPHIS TIGERS

When do you win 27 games and feel unfulfilled? When the last five wins come in the NIT, and you began the season picked as high as the Top Ten nationally by some. Undone by a weak schedule and a failure to beat the few big names on it (Memphis was 0-4 against NCAA Tournament teams), the brief Dajuan Wagner Era ended with an NIT title. While there's certainly nothing wrong with that, it hardly measured up to expectations. A major talent evacuation leaves year three of the Calipari Experience beginning without his top four scorers and top two rebounders from a year ago. (That changes if power forward Chris Massie overachieves in the classroom and regains his eligibility for the second semester -- something the Tigers are counting on heavily.) Then again, the talent reduction might alleviate at least one problem on a team that never reached peak cohesion last season. This time around, without a superstar like Wagner skewing the offense, balance figures to be the theme. Seven-footer Earl Barron will have every opportunity to finally play to his potential, and guards Antonio Burks and Anthony Rice should for a dependable backcourt. After that it gets iffy, although Memphians like the potential of forwards John Grice and Rodney Carney. The powerful Massie will become a low-post focal point if he makes it back.

TOUGH ENOUGH..............................
John Calipari has done some tremendous work with less than overwhelming talent. His pre-Marcus Camby teams at Massachusetts were marvels of teamwork, role play and toughness. This team has some similarities to the '92 UMass team that somehow made the Sweet Sixteen. And the division is ripe for the taking.

TOUGH ENOUGH?..............................
The talent dropoff will force players into unfamiliar roles. Barron clearly is the guy who could put the team on his shoulders, but he has a history of disappearing and has frustrated Calipari with his reticence. Fellow big men Modibo Diarra (6-11) and Duane Erwin (6-9) have not developed as the coaches hoped.

BOTTOM LINE..............................
Look on the bright side: Calipari's keen disappointment over barely missing out on the NCAAs shouldn't be an issue this year. The man wasn't hired to go to three straight NITs, but that could be the case.