The reputation was formed long ago, almost as soon as this version of the University of Memphis basketball team took the court.
From the raucous season-opener against Fairfield to the pain of Puerto Rico, it was clear the Tigers would be superior defensively. Yet as Memphis threw up one brick after another for the first nine games, its offense became the subject of ridicule, and the Tigers have still not shaken the rap.
"Last year, it was the free throws," coach John Calipari said. "This year, it's the offense. 'That's why they can't do it. They'll go four minutes without scoring.' Are we the only team in the country that may go four minutes without scoring? We must be."
Of all the reasons given this week for Memphis, seeded No. 2 in the NCAA Tournament West Regional, to fall short of the Final Four -- beginning with Thursday's first-round game against No. 15 seed Cal State Northridge -- the most popular is its offense, which ranks 39th in efficiency according to ratings compiled by statistician Ken Pomeroy.
Though Pomeroy ranks the Tigers as the most-efficient defensive team in the country, that hasn't quelled concerns about whether they have enough firepower to go the distance.
"Some games we've had good offense, but some games we haven't had good games shooting-wise," freshman guard Tyreke Evans said. "We've been on and off for a minute, but hopefully in the tournament, we'll be on the right track."
The Tigers' status as a poor offensive team was well-earned early in the season. They shot 39.7 percent against Seton Hall, but it didn't matter as they cruised to an 84-70 win. The next night, however, they made 18-of-55 field goals against Xavier (32.7 percent) and lost in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off championship game, setting the tone for the next month.
Calipari tried three different point guards before Memphis' offense bottomed out Dec. 20 against Syracuse in a 72-65 loss at FedExForum. The Tigers were so out of whack against Syracuse's zone defense, they could barely get a good shot off and settled for 7-of-33 from the 3-point line, missing 18 in a row at one point.
A game that ugly -- on national television, no less -- leaves an impression. And Memphis' image still hasn't completely recovered, regardless of the results.
Since moving Evans to point guard after the Syracuse game, the Tigers (31-3) have shot 45 percent or better 13 times, though they are still susceptible to sub-par performances. In four of their 25 straight victories, Memphis has failed to reach 60 points.
The only difference when things go wrong, senior Antonio Anderson said, is that the Tigers sometimes don't make enough outside shots.
"We're more efficient. Sometimes we'll throw some bad shots up, but we don't take as many bad shots as we used to in the beginning of the year, and that helps us out," Anderson said. "We run our offense more. We actually get in a motion offense and drive and pass and kick and post the ball a little."
The Tigers were an elite offensive team last season when they made the NCAA championship game, finishing fourth in Pomeroy's efficiency ratings.
In terms of the raw numbers, Memphis is down this season in 3-point shooting from 34.9 percent to 32 percent and is scoring 5.2 points per game fewer than last season on 3-pointers. The Tigers have made up some of that at the free-throw line, where their percentage has increased from 61.4 to 69.6.
The ability to shoot free throws, especially for forwards Robert Dozier (73 percent) and Shawn Taggart (75.2), has allowed the Tigers to throw the ball into the post and not be afraid of getting fouled, as they were with Joey Dorsey (37.8 percent last season).
That might come in handy in this tournament, but Calipari believes for Memphis to have a championship-level offense it will be important to make some 3-pointers.
"We have enough 3-point shooters, and it doesn't mean each one of them every game, but someone every game has to make some shots," Calipari said. "If we make 12, we'll win by 30 in the national championship game. But if we make five, six, seven, we'll be fine. You just can't have that 1-for-15, and as long as one of these guys is going in there saying, 'I'm making shots,' we're tough because we can go inside and we can drive the ball."
(Dan Wolkent writes for the Commercial Appeal in Memphis, Tenn.)
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