Our Tiger Bloggers will give us their thoughts throughout the University of Memphis’ run through the NCAA Tournament

From Andrew Ruhland, Memphis:

That was one of the best Memphis games I have ever seen in my life. We played like a team tonight. Now I am watching to see who wins between OSU and UT and OSU has made mincemeat of the UT lead going into half. Now we have another ballgame tonight.

What a heck of a performance from the Tigers. CDR playing and scoring like we needed him to. Jeremy, playing like a Senior who doesn’t want this train to stop at the station tonight to let him off. I want everyone to understand what we witnessed tonight. This will be a game you tell your grandkids 30 years from now, that you had the opportunity to watch and be intimately involved with. This is the game where every one of the ‘professionals’ picked us to loose because A&M had so much depth, and we had “not very much (depth)” (I actually heard them say this tonight). This is the game that propelled us to the Elite 8 for the second consecutive year. This is the game where you talk about how much San Antonio was a home court for the men from A&M, but we were able to rise above the noise and prevail. And, this is the game that we point to, to show how we were able to propel ourselves to the Final Four. How great does that sound?!?!?

Nice going guys, Keep saying your prayers for CDR’s ankle, and definitely sport your Tiger gear tomorrow. We are in the midst of a momentous occasion. Soak it up!

Go Tigers Go!!!

Our Tiger Bloggers will give us their thoughts throughout the University of Memphis’ run through the NCAA Tournament

From Felix Caldwell, Memphis:

Anderson at the free throw line shooting two with the Tigers down one and 3.1 seconds left on the clock.

1 of 4 from the line up to that point. He calmly nails the first. Time out to try and ice him. I’m so tense I can’t sit still during the commercial break. My stomach is in a knot. Antonio comes back to the line and nails the second. By his demeanor there was never any doubt in his mind as to the outcome. He had only moments earlier grabbed 3 offensive rebounds to set up the final heroics. Before that he had spent the evening containing Acie Law a probable All- American and player of the year candidate.

This is nothing new for Antonio. His consistent play has been the backbone of this team throughout the season. I could have highlighted a number of Tiger players and the contributions they each made to help secure this victory and a second straight trip to the Elite Eight. This team finds a way to win and they do it with hustle, team play and desire. I love to watch this team play because they look like they’re having fun. They also represent Memphis admirably as student athletes. I’m trying to decide about going to San Antonio for Saturday’s game. If not I’m confident I will be able to see them again in Atlanta.

Our Tiger Bloggers will give us their thoughts throughout the University of Memphis’ run through the NCAA Tournament

From David Rubio, Franklin, Tenn.:

TIGERS LEGIT!!!

As I sat, frantically drinking my wife’s special “Game Day Blue Milk” in the closing seconds…it happened. MEMPHIS WINS!!! Take that Sports Talk experts! The Memphis Tigers have just done what you said was impossible. This magical Tiger team has succeeded in knocking off one of the “Big Boys”. My wife just said: “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this excited.” And there’s a good chance that she’s right. Ho…ly…Shnikees!

There are so many amazing things about this game; I don’t even know where to start.

Did I really just see my Tigers shut down a consensus all-American sharp shooter…on his home court? Was I dreaming, or did Memphis just stun the basketball world at the free-throw line for a second game in a row. (Was “Double-A” ice cold under that pressure or what?) Can it be that Jeremy Hunt picked TONIGHT to pull out of his slump & hit the biggest “three” of his career…you remember the one that silenced the horde of Aggie Fans who were going nuts over an Acie Law “three” just moments earlier? (Good-bye slump!) I KNOW we didn’t just beat a Big 12 powerhouse with Dozier on the bench in the first half & Dorsey on the bench in the second did we?
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Our Tiger Bloggers will give us their thoughts throughout the University of Memphis’ run through the NCAA Tournament

From Jim Lott, Nashville:

Elite 8 two years in a row! What else needs to be said! I am glad that the game is actually played on the floor and not in the media. Congratulations and thanks to this Tiger team. They are the ultimate example of TEAM! I have been sick with the flu all week and have not felt like moving but I can tell you that I could not sit still tonight! It has been a great ride and it’s still not over yet. I can’t wait to hear all the “experts” analyze tonights game. That is if they even talk about it!

No matter what happens from here on out, this team has staked its claim to being one of the all time best just simply by their sheer will to win. No matter what people are saying, they just go about their business and keep winning. Thanks Tigers for another great game and thanks coach Cal for another great run. Anybody for 3 more wins! I think this may be our Tiger Team of Destiny!

Go Tigers!

Our Tiger Bloggers will give us their thoughts throughout the University of Memphis’ run through the NCAA Tournament

From Jody Kane, Memphis:

Can you say Elite 8? You would have thought we were some fly-by-night team, by listening to the inept announcers! I can count on one hand the nice things they said about Memphis, whereas the Aggies were soooo good! It all comes down to the W and the L, and oh, by the way, look who got the W!!!!!

I knew it was going to be a close one. I never doubted that the Tigers would win, but I must say, they made me sweat! Antonio Anderson has been my favorite player since he has been on the team, and tonight, he definitely reminded me why! The entire game, he was missing and I kept saying, “It will come, it will come.” (As if he could hear me through the TV.) Well, and how it came!!!! Not bad for the team with the worst free throw percentage in the field of 65! If we hadn’t been tested throughout our weak schedule, tonight showed me, without a doubt, that we have what it takes to win the whole thing! Talking about ice!!!! CDR looked good and Jeremy had a great game! I was a bit confused by Pierre Niles’ jumper, but hey…guess it probably confused the Aggies a bit too, not to mention Coach Cal!

Anyway, I could go on forever, but I need to start resting up for Saturday! GO TIGERS!!!!!!!

Our Tiger Bloggers will give us their thoughts throughout the University of Memphis’ run through the NCAA Tournament

From Alisa D. Williams, Bartlett.:

Oh My God!!!

What an amazing game!!!

The Tigers went in pumped and ready to play and brought this win home for us!

The competitiveness and athleticism was amazing!

Not for one second was I ever worried.

My co-worker, Kay, called me and was almost crying and I told her not to worry. We were gonna do this. And we did!

It was awesome seeing Chris back on the court and he was amazing as ever but my player of this game was Jeremy Hunt. Boy, did he deliver for the team tonight!

Another amazing win by our beloved Tigers!!!

Congrats to Coach Calipari and the boys!!!

Final Four, here we come!

Our Tiger Bloggers will give us their thoughts throughout the University of Memphis’ run through the NCAA Tournament

From Kenneth Brasel, Glasgow, Ky.:

Okay Cal, You win…

“Rocky Top, You’ll always be home sweet home to me…!” There I did it, took one for the team. Now, back to business. HOW ‘BOUT THEM TIGERS!! This game was a close, yet excellent match of two evenly matched teams. It was nice to play a heart thumping close game. I am too excited to even type a long sentence. Someone just called me and said Texas A&M is not from Conference USA. Is that true? Does Dicky Vitale know that one? We beat someone from another conference who had all their star players active? I hope someone from the “established media” can help me with all these questions tonight. I will TIVO tonight the following: ESPN, CSTV, and even those right and left wing media sports nuts. You remember them; this morning some of them were saying “Over-rated,” following in the same breath . . . Memphis.

Well fans, I am going to take a deep breath, grab some ice-cream, (Rocky Road) in favor of my new temporary favorite team at least for the next 48 hours. After that, I don’t want to hear or read anything nice about Tennessee, that relates to orange. By the way, can someone contact all of those fans who were praying for CDR, we may need some higher intervention after we win it all next week. Tubby is gone from Kentucky and those boys up there are going to start calling.