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Memphis puts 22-game win streak on line against North Texas

Mar 16, 2007 - 1:46 PM North Texas (23-10) at Memphis (30-3) 12:30 pm EDT

NEW ORLEANS (Ticker) -- Memphis had no problem rolling through Conference USA, but the competition will be much stiffer in the NCAA Tournament. Maybe not right away, though.

The second-seeded Tigers (30-3) will take on 15th-seeded North Texas in first-round action Friday in the South Region.

Memphis won the C-USA regular-season and tournament titles for a second straight season. The Tigers are the first team in league history to have a 16-0 regular-season record and follow that with a conference tournament title.

They also won 30 games for a second consecutive season, including 22 in a row to close the season, which is the longest in the nation.

The second seed is the first for Memphis since 1985, when it advanced to the Final Four in Lexington. Last year, the Tigers earned the program's first No. 1 seed and advanced to the regional final.

The Tigers are a deep team, with nine players averaging more the 10 minutes per game. Sophomore guard Chris Douglas-Roberts averages 15.6 points and guard Jeremy Hunt is the only other player scoring in double figures at 13.6.

Memphis averages 79.6 points while holding opponents to just 62.3

North Texas (23-10) earned its second NCAA berth and first Sun Belt Tournament title with an 83-75 win over Arkansas State. The Mean Green last advanced to the "Big Dance" in 1988, where it fell to North Carolina in the opening round, 83-65.

Senior guard Calvin Watson averages 15.8 points North Texas, which has won five games in a row.

Mean Green coach Johnny Jones is familiar with the Tigers, having coached for three seasons at Memphis, including two seasons as associate head coach and one as the team's interim head coach during the 1999-2000 season.

The winner will play either Nevada or Creighton in Sunday's second round.