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Memphis tips off season against Fairfield

Nov 15, 2008 - 11:20 AM Fairfield at No. 12 Memphis 8:00 p.m. EST

MEMPHIS, Tennessee (Ticker) -- Memphis opens its season on Saturday against Fairfield in an opening-round game of the second annual Puerto Rico Tip-Off.

Memphis was 2.1 seconds away from its first NCAA title last season, but a 3-pointer by Kansas' Mario Chalmers sent the game into overtime and the Jayhawks went on to a 75-68 win.

Gone to the NBA are Derrick Rose and Chris Douglas-Roberts, and with them goes 33 points, 8.6 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game. The 12th-ranked Tigers will also miss departed big man Joey Dorsey.

Coach John Calipari will rely on a pair of seniors, Antonio Anderson and Robert Dozier, and highly touted freshman Tyreke Evans to avoid a hangover from last season.

Fairfield, which went 14-16 overall and 11-7 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, returns four starters.

Senior guard Jonathan Han is the Stags' leading returning scorer at 11.7 points per game. The preseason All-MAAC selection also averaged 6.2 assists.

Regardless of the result, the teams will advance to the quarterfinal round of the tournament on November 20. Fairfield will play Virginia Tech and Memphis is schedule to face Chattanooga.