Life after Rose: Memphis just wins

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Maybe this is a mark of what John Calipari has been able to accomplish at Memphis. When his Tigers entered the 2008-09 season ranked 12th in the preseason ESPN/USA Today poll, it was widely viewed as signaling a down year. Never mind that 300 or more Division I coaches would love for their team to be as "down" as that. Still, that preseason perception was understandable. After all, how do you not take a step back when you lose Derrick Rose, Chris Douglas-Roberts and Joey Dorsey? That's your point guard, leading scorer and glass-cleaning workhorse right there. Surely the Tigers would feel the effects of all those departures, right?

Not so much. Look at Memphis now: It's 24-3 overall, riding some truly gaudy win streaks (18 wins in a row this season and 54 in a row in Conference USA spanning four seasons), and still very much in the hunt for a No. 1 seed in next month's NCAA tournament.

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John Gasaway

ESPN Insider

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• ESPN Insider college basketball contributor
• First began covering college hoops in 2004
• Has written for Basketball Prospectus and the Wall Street Journal