Tigers to face Jayhawks tonight
By: Joseph Russell
Issue date: 11/17/09 Section: Sports
Pastner wasn't here when the Tigers lost to Kansas two years ago, but he will see a familiar face on the opposing team when Jayhawk freshman Xavier Henry, who originally signed with Memphis before Calipari left, takes the floor.
"I basically lived over in Putnam City (Okla.) for a while," Pastner said. "Xavier was the No. 1 player in the rankings last year for that reason. We'll have to do a (good) job against him because he's a really good basketball player."
Former Memphis signees Marcus and Markeiff Morris and former Tiger point guard C.J. Henry will also be on the floor in Jayhawk jerseys. Due to his familiarity with so many of the Jayhawks' players, Pastner said he knows how good they are.
"We have to compete, play hard, scrap, do whatever we need to do to give us the best chance to win," he said. "The pressure is obviously on them, though. They've got the bull's-eye (on them)."
Regardless of the rankings heading into the game, the Tigers will still prepare the same way all season.
"We will prepare every single game, no matter whether it's Christian Brothers, whether it's LeMoyne-Owen, Jackson State, Kansas, any of our conference games - it doesn't matter," Pastner said. "We're not going to get too high with the highs or too low with the lows. We have to be even keel."
Mack, who was on the Tigers' roster when they played Kansas in 2008, said if The U of M sticks to their game, they have a chance to come home with a win.
"Games like these, this is what you play for," he said. "They're a big team, and they're a talented team down the bench. If we come out there and we play hard and we play our game, I think we have a chance to do something good."
Pastner said if his team plays hard, a victory is very possible.
"We have to give the maximum effort we can give because winning is a by-product of effort," he said. "We have to play hard. We have to compete. We have to leave every ounce of energy we have on the floor. It doesn't matter who our opponent is; if we do that, we'll have an opportunity to get a win."
"I basically lived over in Putnam City (Okla.) for a while," Pastner said. "Xavier was the No. 1 player in the rankings last year for that reason. We'll have to do a (good) job against him because he's a really good basketball player."
Former Memphis signees Marcus and Markeiff Morris and former Tiger point guard C.J. Henry will also be on the floor in Jayhawk jerseys. Due to his familiarity with so many of the Jayhawks' players, Pastner said he knows how good they are.
"We have to compete, play hard, scrap, do whatever we need to do to give us the best chance to win," he said. "The pressure is obviously on them, though. They've got the bull's-eye (on them)."
Regardless of the rankings heading into the game, the Tigers will still prepare the same way all season.
"We will prepare every single game, no matter whether it's Christian Brothers, whether it's LeMoyne-Owen, Jackson State, Kansas, any of our conference games - it doesn't matter," Pastner said. "We're not going to get too high with the highs or too low with the lows. We have to be even keel."
Mack, who was on the Tigers' roster when they played Kansas in 2008, said if The U of M sticks to their game, they have a chance to come home with a win.
"Games like these, this is what you play for," he said. "They're a big team, and they're a talented team down the bench. If we come out there and we play hard and we play our game, I think we have a chance to do something good."
Pastner said if his team plays hard, a victory is very possible.
"We have to give the maximum effort we can give because winning is a by-product of effort," he said. "We have to play hard. We have to compete. We have to leave every ounce of energy we have on the floor. It doesn't matter who our opponent is; if we do that, we'll have an opportunity to get a win."