What's plaguing Memphis, and why they needed a two hours team meeting after losing to Georgetown

The final buzzer sounded at just past 9 pm ET as No. 15 Georgetown put the finishing touches on a 70-59 victory over Memphis at the Verizon center, wrapping up what was a crisp, two-hour basketball game.

It wasn't until 10:45 pm, however, that Memphis head coach Josh Pastner finally emerged from his team's locker room in the bowels of the Verizon Center. For the second time in the span of 10 days, the Tigers had a team meeting in an effort to cure what ails them, this one lasting just 15 minutes less than the game itself.

"We just had a team meeting and needed to air a few things out," Memphis head coach Josh Pastner said after the game. "It was the right thing before we got to Christmas break. It was a good open discussion. I love those guys, no one in there is happy to be 6-5. Have we played a tough schedule? Darn right. But we're too good to be sitting at 6-5."
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Hoops Housekeeping: Gibbs will be back Saturday, Stokes Monday, Witherspoon tonight

Ashton Gibbs: There was originally speculation that Pitt's leading scorer would be able to return for tonight's game against South Florida, but according to Adam Zagoria, Gibbs said he will "be back Saturday" pending a doctor's clearance to take on St. John's in Madison Square Garden. (Gibbs is an NYC native. No chance he was missing that game.)

"He never came out when he was hurt in the game anyway, so he's never felt he's been hurt anyway," Pitt coach Jamie Dixon said Sunday at the PrimeTime Shootout at Kean University. "He's been ready to go since the injury."


Wesley Witherspoon: The 6'8" Memphis small forward has been in and out of the lineup this season due to injuries and disciplinary matters, but according to Jason Smith of the Memphis Commercial-Appeal, Witherspoon will dress and be available to play tonight against UAB.

"The biggest issue is he's just not in condition. He gets winded very quickly, which is very normal obviously," Pastner said. "He doesn't have his full athleticism back just yet."

'Spoon hasn't played since January 12th against SMU. He was suspended after the game due to inappropriate behavior on the bus ride home then sat out while his surgically repaired knee continued to heal.


Tennessee's point guards: According to Tennessee beat writer Wes Rucker, Bruce Pearl will be shaking up his back court rotation tonight against South Carolina. Pearl has yet to say who will start, but he did announce that Skylar McBee will be taking over Trae Golden's minutes at the point. He did say that it will probably be Goins starting, and that the changes have nothing to do with his senior's attitude or energy.

"It's factual," Pearl said. "Where are we in points? Where are we in assist-turnover ratio? Where are we in steals? Where are we in shooting percentage? Where are we in 3-point percentages? We're not where we want to be.

"Defense can't be measured, and your heart can't be measured. And certainly, Melvin has played terrific defense, and he's to be complimented on that. But we've got to get better offensive play. So it looks like tomorrow we'll be going with Skylar and Melvin."


Corey Stokes: Villanova's senior guard missed his second straight game after sitting out the second half of the Wildcat's loss to Rutgers with turf toe. He's not expected to play on Saturday against DePaul, either, as the team tries to get him prepared for a Big Monday matchup with Syracuse on the 21st of the month.

It may end up being a blessing in disguise. Last night, freshman James Bell went for a career-high 21 points against Seton Hall playing some of Stokes' minutes. He had 31 points on the season coming into the game. It can't hurt to have a player like Bell with his confidence at a high level this team of the year.
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Wesley Witherspoon latest casualty of the mess of a season for Memphis

Memphis junior forward Wesley Witherspoon has been suspended from the team by head coach Josh Pastner.

Why? Here's Jason Smith, the Tiger beat writer for the Memphis Commercial-Appeal:

University of Memphis junior forward Wesley Witherspoon was suspended indefinitely Thursday for mocking an assistant coach on the team bus following the Tigers' 64-58 loss to SMU on Wednesday, a source close to the situation said.
...
The source said Witherspoon mimicked an assistant coach who had voiced his displeasure over the loss to SMU, going as far as getting on the bus' loudspeakers and doing an impression of the coach.

"He will be suspended until I say further," Pastner said. "I absolutely love Wesley. He's a really good young man, and he's got a tremendous amount of talent. But sometimes you do decisions, including discipline, that are best not only for the team but also for the young man."


This isn't the first incident for Witherspoon. He's a fun-loving kid with a sense of humor, he just hasn't learned the time and place for that humor. He's never been the leader of a team that has had success. Even in high school, his team's struggled. And this is supposed to be the Tiger's veteran leader?

He doesn't defend, he doesn't rebound, and he doesn't seem to care all that much about winning or about embarrassing losses to conference foes that a Memphis team with this much talent should never lose too.

One thing is certain, however.

Josh Pastner does.

And he also cares about discipline.

Remember, he's already kicked Jelan Kendrick off of the team as a result of the behavioral issues he had. Who knows if Witherspoon will end up going down that road, but its evident that Pastner would rather lose with the guys that respect the game and play hard than struggle with kids that don't care about a road loss to SMU.

No disrespect to any Mustang fans out there, but Memphis should not be losing to SMU. This is supposed to be one of the best basketball programs in the country. They've now dropped two in a row in Dallas.

Hopefully, this is the wake up call that Witherspoon needs.

But as my man Gary Parrish always says, once a knucklehead always a knucklehead.
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