FedExForum is hosting the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight and Memphians will find two familiar faces on the court.
John Calipari and Avery Woodson will coach and play in Memphis for the first time since they left the program. Calipari left the Tigers to take the head coaching job at Kentucky after the 2008-09 basketball season, and Woodson transferred after last season to finish his player career at Butler.
Calipari is the most controversial sports figure in the city because of the way he left the program. After nine seasons at Memphis, taking the program to new heights and national recognition, he left in mist of an NCAA investigation.
The Tigers had to vacate their 38 wins, Final Four win and National Championship appearance. This was the second time Calipari left a program that later had to vacate a Final Four season.
During the 1995-96 season, Massachusetts made the Final Four, but because of violations, they were forced to vacate the appearance.
Now back in Memphis, Calipari looks back on his years at Memphis with a fond memory. Counting the vacated season, he coached the Tigers to a 252-69 record, six NCAA Tournament appearances and an NIT Championship.
“You know, it’s kind of special to be back,” Calipari said. “Been back manty times, many, many times, but this is the first time coaching in this building since I left. I think we did all right here. Had some good times.”
Calipari went on to talk more about his time in Memphis. He offered a simple but compelling reason.
“Well, I had been talked to probably by six other universities during my time here, and three had offered jobs and a couple I considered,” Calipari said. “But Kentucky is one that you leave for. It just is.”
Although he is glad to be back in Memphis and to see old friends, Calipari wants to focus on the task ahead, UCLA.
“This thing right here, other than I’m being in Memphis, and I knew I would I would get some Memphis questions, this is about two unbelievably talented teams,” Calipari said. “That’s what this is, and people are going to watch this game — not because I’m coaching and not because I’m in Memphis and not because Steve is coaching. They’re going to watch it because this is a talented two teams.”
The other former Tiger, Woodson, is the starting shooting guard for the Butler Bulldogs. In his two seasons at Memphis, he shot higher than 40 percent from the 3-point line and averaged 8.8 points per game.
He transferred last season in hopes of joining a tournament team, and it worked out for the graduate transfer.
“Any decision I make is a decision I wanted to make, and I always feel like I make the right decisions because I pray on it,” Woodson said. “Leaving Memphis wasn’t an easy thing to do. I have a lot of love for this city and the people in it.”
His coach, Chris Holtmann, spoke highly of the Memphis transfer and how he has helped the program.
“It was a condensed recruiting period, but a very intense recruitment for a fifth-year young man,” Holtmann said. “It was a lot of time and effort, and he’s been such a great addition.”
Playing under two Division I programs, Woodson said that it is tough to compare the two because they are so different.
“Everybody keeps wanting me to contrast and compare Butler and Memphis, but I can’t,” Woodson said. “It’s like eating barbecue and comparing barbecue and Olive Garden. You can’t do it. It’s two totally different things.”
The South Region semifinals start Friday March 24 with Butler verse North Carolina with Kentucky and UCLA to follow.
Former Memphis coach John Calipari directs his players from this sideline. He is now looking for his second National Championship at Kentucky.
