- (Sports Network) - The 13th-ranked Memphis Tigers open up their 2008-09 season at home this evening, as they welcome the Fairfield Stags to FedExForum for a non-conference matchup. John Calipari's Tigers are probably in a for a bit of a letdown this season, as they are coming off a 2007-08 campaign in which the team won 38 games against just two defeats, with the second loss coming in last year's national title game against Kansas. A lot has changed in terms of personnel from that amazing squad and it remains to be seen just how quickly the new players can be integrated into Calipari's system and begin to thrive.

The Stags would like nothing better than to pull off a huge upset on the road while Memphis is still trying to gel. Fairfield finished two games under .500 last year (14-16), but with four starters returning to the fold, Ed Cooley's team is poised for a run at the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference crown.

This is the first time that these two teams have met on the hardwood.

Last year, the Stags were led by guard Jonathan Han (11.7 ppg) and this year should be no different as the senior has been named an All-MAAC preseason selection. Still, for Coach Cooley, now entering his third campaign with the team, the focus will again be on defense, as the Stags would be best served to slow things down. Last year, Fairfield was second in the MAAC in scoring defense (68.9 ppg). With that in mind, Han will again be a crucial element, as he is the team's primary set-up man (186 assists last year), and also a terrific defender (50 steals). Junior forward Anthony Johnson hopes to improve on his 9.6 ppg, while still providing excellent defensive play. Overall, Johnson was good for close to seven and a half rebounds per game. Junior forward Greg Nero is also a contributor on the boards with his 4.6 rebounds per game a season ago

Last season, the Tigers became just the third C-USA team to advance to the Final Four and the first to play in the national title game. Although Memphis lost in overtime to Kansas, it still was a memorable campaign. The 2007-08 Tigers went 38-2 overall and they also completed a second straight perfect C- USA campaign, going 16-0. Since the start of 2005-06, Memphis is 48-1 versus C-USA foes and that includes three straight C-USA Tournament titles. There are holes to fill this year to be sure, as the Tigers lost the services of three stars in Derrick Rose, Chris Douglas-Roberts and Joey Dorsey. Rose, the first pick in the NBA draft, was the C-USA Freshman of the Year, while Douglas- Roberts was the league's Player of the Year and Dorsey, the Defensive Player of the Year. Overcoming those losses won't be easy, but Memphis has the talent to do so. Antonio Anderson and Robert Dozier (9.2 ppg, 6.8 rpg) are the top two returning players. The 6-6 Anderson was one of the most underrated players around last season, posting 8.6 ppg, 3.7 rpg and 3.4 apg. Doneal Mack (6.9 ppg) and Willie Kemp (5.0 ppg) are two more experienced players that will log time in the backcourt, but newcomers like Tyreke Evans and Wesley Witherspoon will push hard for playing time. Evans is one of the most heralded freshman and Witherspoon should make an immediate impact as well.





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