Tiger football coach Tommy West has taken a keen interest in the basketball team’s run to the Final Four.

Before last weekend’s South Regional games in Houston, he predicted the lopsided wins over Michigan State and Texas, even when members of his staff thought the games would be a bit closer.

As the U of M prepares for Saturday’s national semifinal against UCLA, West said he’s expecting the Tigers to continue their run.

“To me, our guys have kind of been waiting on this game,” he said. “I like our chances, I think we are going to win it all. Every challenge this team has (faced), this team has responded. I believe they are going to win it all.”

West said he predicts and Memphis-North Carolina final.

“North Carolina is the second-best team in (the Final Four),” he said. “And if we get there and North Carolina gets there, I think it will be a heck of a final. Those are some talented players and I think they’ll both leave it on the floor.”

Heavy rains this month have played havoc with the University of Memphis football team’s spring practice schedule, but what has been evident during the workouts conducted between raindrops has been an uptick in intensity.

It has been particularly apparent on defense, as new coordinator Tim Walton’s aggressive approach has rubbed off on a unit that needed a boost.

“I do think there is a better intensity level,” Tiger coach Tommy West said after Thursday’s practice at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. “Everybody that comes to watch us says the same thing. There’s a lot of striking going on on both sides.”

West still would like to see better execution inside the red zone from the Tiger offense. To do that, the Tiger running game will have to improve.

West moved redshirt freshman defensive lineman Lionel Henderson to offense this week, but, unfortunately for the offensive staff, Henderson, from Mobile, Ala., injured his right ankle and may not return this spring.

“For the 20 minutes I had him on offense, he looked good,” West said.

West said even with the rainy spring weather, the Tigers find themselves shy only one of their schedule 15 spring workouts heading into Saturday’s scrimmage at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.