Memphis up next for UVa

No. 1 Virginia vs. No. 8 Memphis in Raleigh, N.C., 8:40 p.m. TNT

So, UVa moves on after a challenge from Coastal Carolina and up next is No. 8 seed Memphis, which downed No. 9 seed George Washington, 71-66, on Friday.

Let's learn some more about the Tigers.

Record: 24-9, 12-6 American Athletic Conference (AAC), lost in conference tournament quarterfinals to Connecticut
Scorers in double figures: Senior guard Joe Jackson (14.3), senior guard Michael Dixon Jr. (12), sophomore forward Shaq Goodwin (11.6)
Leading rebounders: Goodwin (6.5), senior forward Geron Johnson (4.9)
Assist leaders: Jackson (4.6), Johnson (3.6). Johnson also scores 8.8 ppg.

Other notable players: Freshman forward Austin Nichols (a player UVa recruited) scores 9.1 ppg and grabs 4.3 rpg. Senior guard Chris Crawford scores nearly nine ppg and snags four rpg. Two other players average about 12-13 minutes per game: Nick King and David Pellom. They combine to average about nine ppg and six rpg.
Best win (prior to GW): The Tigers had a whole slew of them, but I think for best, I would go with winning at defending national champ and No. 12 Louisville on Jan. 9, 73-67.
Other wins: Austin Peay, Nicholls State, Siena, LSU, Oklahoma State (neutral court), Northwestern State, Arkansas Little-Rock, Southeast Missouri, Jackson State, South Florida (twice), Temple (twice), LeMoyne-Owen, Houston, Central Florida (twice), Rutgers (twice), Gonzaga, Louisville (at home), SMU
Best loss: In November, to Florida, 77-75, in New York
Worst loss: at Houston, 77-68, Feb. 27; the Cougars finished with a record of 17-16

Joe Jackson

Other losses: Oklahoma State (on the road), Cincinnati (twice), Connecticut (three times), SMU
What Memphis does well: Lots of things. The Tigers score 77.6 ppg (35th in the nation), grab 37.6 rpg (46th), dish out 17.4 apg (third), and shoot well at 47.9 percent (23rd). They also get 8.7 steals per game, which is second in the AAC.
What Memphis does poorly: Though the Tigers shoot well from the field, they do not shoot well beyond the arc (33.2 percent, second-to-last in the AAC; actually 0.1 percent lower than Coastal's 3-point percentage. They also shoot just 65 percent from the line. The Tigers don't play defense poorly, but it is just middle-of-the-road. They allow 70.3 ppg
Why Virginia should not be worried: GW only had two 3-pointers vs. Memphis but only lost by five thanks to a superb inside presence. I think that bodes well for UVa's Anthony Gill, Mike Tobey, Akil Mitchell, and Darion Atkins, all of whom are 6-foot-8 or taller. Memphis is not a very tall team. Goodwin is

Michael Dixon Jr.

the only regular who stands 6-foot-9. I think Virginia's length might bother the Tigers' two main scorers, too -- Jackson and Dixon are both just 6-foot-1. I think UVa's discipline and slow pace will frustrate the Tigers, who like to get up and down the floor quickly. Prior to the victory over GW, Memphis had lost three of five games and four of eight.
Why Virginia should be worried: Memphis shoots really well, rebounds really well, and plays solid defense, even if it isn't spectacular. This is a solid all-around veteran team that has two wins over Louisville. The Tigers rank second in the country in transition ppg with 21.3. Virginia will have to be on its toes after missed shots and turnovers and get back and try to limit the Tigers in transition. GW did a good job of that in the first half, allowing zero points, but Memphis recorded 12 fast-break points in the second half.

The reason why Memphis shoots a high percentage even though it is a poor 3-point shooting team is it gets into the paint and excels on the fast break. Memphis entered the game against GW scoring 39.3 ppg in the

Shaq Goodwin

paint, most among teams in the seven major conferences. Virginia is going to need to either slow Memphis on the fast break or keep it out of the paint, or both. If it is unable to do either, the Tigers will win this game. The Cavaliers must live up to one of their main tenets on 'D' -- make the other team shoot contested jumpers. That is what they need to make the Tigers do. Shoot long 2-pointers and 3-pointers and have a hand in shooters' faces if they are down low. Make it difficult around the basket for the Tigers.

When Memphis does shoot 3s, the Wahoos need to be wary of Dixon and Crawford, who shoot 38.4 and 38.3 percent, respectively. Jackson is not too much of a threat back there at 26.9 percent (unless he goes all Coastal Carolina on the 'Hoos). Dixon comes off the bench and was the best sixth man in the AAC.

I think Virginia has a coaching edge in this game. If not a coaching edge, then at least an experience edge. Memphis coach Josh Pastner is only 36 and has been Memphis' coach since the 2009-10 season. It is his first head coaching position. He has been pretty successful, but is still quite young and inexperienced, unlike Coastal Carolina's coach, Cliff Ellis, who is almost 70 and has seen a lot of basketball. I think that helped him while preparing for UVa.

Like many games this season, if Virginia plays to its potential, I think it will win. I think the Cavs' best is better than the Tigers' best. But they gotta go do it and put the work in. I think getting that first half out of the way against Coastal was a good thing. Now, Virginia can play more loosely and doesn't have the psychological burden of being a No. 1 seed anymore. A loss would be disappointing, but not historically devastating like a defeat Friday would have been. If UVa plays against Memphis like it did against Coastal in the second half, I think the Tigers will be in trouble. Protect the paint, use height to their advantage, be patient on offense, and limit the fast break and the Cavaliers could be headed to the Sweet 16.