Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Mo

The No. 2 Memphis Tigers take on the third-seeded Missouri Tigers tonight in what is bound to be an exciting and exhausting game. Here are two reasons to back Memphis.

1. "The Memphis Attack": Predicated on guard play, Memphis’s offensive philosophy, a variation on the Dribble Drive Motion, is to get to the basket as many times as there are possessions. Their plan of attack is simple and effective: attack the rim and either finish at the hoop, or dish the ball to someone who can score either on the low block or beyond the arc. It’s organized chaos, really, and very difficult to defend, even for outstanding defensive teams like Missouri. 
   
2. Tyreke Evans: The starting freshman guard is charged with making this high-octane offense go, and he seems to be doing a pretty good job of it. Since taking over at the point, Memphis is 27-0. Could be a just a coincidence or a product of the start of conference play (Ed. Note: Memphis conference isn’t very good). But 27 straight wins is nothing to sneeze out. If Evans, who’s looked a little shaky over the first two rounds of the tournament, can hold on to the ball, Memphis should be in pretty good shape. 
   

Of course, Missouri came to play too. Here are three reasons to be excited about Mizzou.

1. “Fastest 40 Minutes in Basketball”: Based on Nolan Richardson’s “40 Minutes of Hell,” Mizzou’s answer to Memphis’s motion offense is to counter with a balls-to-the-wall, full-court pressure defense. Quite simply, the Tigers attack, attack, attack on the defensive end, which, understandably, causes all sorts of problems for the opposition. They never let up, essentially running their opponents into the ground. Tonight’s game is going to be a battle of attrition. Whichever team’s left standing at the buzzer wins. 
   
2. Leo Lyons: Although he’s 6-9, he possesses the skill set of a point guard. This doesn’t mean he plays small; he can handle the ball and create his own shot from anywhere on the court. He can play inside or outside, he can block shots, and is almost always going to get to the glass. I expect him to stick Evans at several points tonight. Lyons might be able to rattle the young freshman just enough for Mizzou to pull off the upset. 
   
3. DeMarre Carroll: a 6-8, 225-pound senior, Carroll averaged close to 17 points and seven rebounds a game this year. He’s also an important kog in Mizzou’s hell-on-wheels defense. Combined with Lyons, he could give Memphis's staring front line of Shawn Taggert and Robert Dozier all sorts of problems.