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Memphis still has plenty to play for vs. UAB

Mar 8, 2008 - 11:49 AM Uab (22-8) at No. 3 Memphis (29-1) 1:00 pm EST

MEMPHIS, Tennessee (Ticker) -- Even though No. 3 Memphis already has clinched the Conference USA title, it still has plenty to play for in its regular-season finale.

Memphis concludes its regular-season schedule on Saturday, when it hosts the University of Alabama-Birmingham.

The Tigers (29-1, 15-0) clinched their third straight conference title last Saturday with a nine-point victory over Southern Mississippi before completing their first perfect road record since 1960-61 with a 72-55 drubbing of Southern Methodist on Wednesday.

If Memphis can notch its fourth straight victory Saturday, it would give coach John Calipari the fifth 30-win season of his career and third straight, joining Adolph Rupp as the only other coach to reach the 30-win plateau in three consecutive campaigns.

A win against UAB also would make the Tigers the first team in Conference USA history to post an undefeated conference record in back-to-back seasons.

UAB (22-8, 12-3) locked up the No. 2 seed in the Conference USA tournament with an 84-70 victory over Tulsa on Wednesday. Robert Vaden scored 26 points and made 8-of-17 3-pointers to lead the Blazers.

Vaden, the team's leading scorer at 22 points per game this season, has scored at least 24 in each of his last four games while averaging almost 15 3-point attempts a contest over that span.