The University of Memphis men's basketball team enters uncharted waters next season after graduating five key seniors this year.
Senior guards Joe Jackson and Chris Crawford have been staples on the Tigers since the fall of 2010. Guard Geron Johnson transferred to Memphis two seasons ago, and Michael Dixon Jr. and David Pellom arrived on the U of M campus last summer, contributing for just one season a piece.
Memphis head coach Josh Pastner will most certainly miss the leadership and stability those five seniors brought to his team next season but he said he appreciated the time each senior spent in the Blue and Gray.
"I want to thank our seniors," the fifth-year coach said after the Tigers' final game of the season. "I appreciate these guys so much. Especially for guys like Joe and Chris, who have been here for all four years, and they, you know, Joe and Chris helped keep the program at a very, very high level. Geron and Mike, Geron's been here two years, Mike one, they assisted Joe and Chris with keeping the program at a very, very high level, keeping it relevant, doing a lot of great things."
Those five seniors contributed 47.7 points per game combined for the Tigers' last season - well over half of Memphis 76.9 points per game average. Pastner and the Tigers will lean heavily on inexperienced players to replace their production.
With the seniors, most of Memphis' three-point shooting will be leaving as well. Crawford and Dixon were the U of M's only real threats from downtown. Dixon shot 38.6 percent from deep, and Crawford connected on 37.3 percent of his 3-pointers.
Memphis will have to replace more than statistical production next season. Jackson and Crawford have been with Pastner since his second season as head coach at the University.
Pastner struggled in his first season, working with scraps from the John Calipari era, but he convinced Crawford and Jackson to come to Memphis even though they had chances to go elsewhere.
"When we took over, there was a lot of uncertainty," Pastner said. "And we had to almost, especially that second year, start from ground zero pretty much. And including that first year, we were just trying to hang on as if we were in the ocean, just trying to stay above water. And, through time, these guys to my left have made the program not only stay above water, we were able to get to land and have a lot of success, a lot of wins."
Pastner also boasts his players' ability to take of care of their business in the classroom. Both Crawford and Jackson graduated early, and Dixon and Johnson expect to graduate in May.
"They're good young men who have done a lot of good things on the court, but, most importantly, they've represented the program and the name on the front of the jersey and the University extremely well," Pastner said.
Jackson finished his degree in organizational leadership in August of 2013. He made several Conference USA first teams and he was named the C-USA Player of the Year in 2013. The Memphis native also earned a spot on the American Athletic Conference All-Conference Second Team. He is eighth in all-time scoring at the U of M and fourth in assists and made free throws.
Crawford graduated this past December with a degree in interdisciplinary studies. He won MVP in last year's C-USA tournament and was C-USA's Sixth Man of the Year. He finished his career in the top 10 in both three-point percentage and 3-pointers made.
Johnson enrolled at the U of M following stints at several junior colleges. He was in and out of trouble with the law before coming to the U of M, but he credits Pastner and helpful teammates for helping him turn his life around.
"These three guards next to me, great guys, great character," Johnson said after his final game in Blue and Gray. "Before here, I made a lot of mistakes in my life. I learned a lot from them because, in the past, they don't make too many mistakes off the court. We have a guy that has, but Joe Jackson and Chris Crawford, great character guys. They're just humble and work hard and do what they're supposed to do."
The Dayton, Ohio, native averaged 9.7 points per game in two seasons for the Tigers. He was an All C-USA third team selection in 2013, and he plans to graduate in May with a degree in interdisciplinary studies.
Dixon began attending Memphis in August after spending three seasons at the University of Missouri. Dixon provided a much-needed scoring lift off the bench for the Tigers, and he was their second leading scorer with 11.8 points per game. The American named the Kansas City, Mo., native their Sixth Man of the Year this season. Dixon hopes to graduate with a degree in interdisciplinary studies in May.
Pellom, like Dixon, spent his first three seasons in Washington D.C. at George Washington University. He transferred to Memphis last summer after sitting out last year with a wrist injury. After an early knee injury sidelined him for the first three games this season, he gave the Tigers depth in the frontcourt, despite not making a huge impact in the scoring department. Pellom has a degree in sociology from G.W.
Guard Trey Draper will also be leaving the program after four years on campus. Most of his contributions came in practice, but he appeared in 11 games for the Tigers this season, scoring three points on the year. Draper graduated in August with a degree in sports and leisure management.
Jackson, Dixon, Crawford, Pellom and Johnson will all most likely try their hands at professional basketball. Although they may not play in the NBA, it is possible that they may play for teams over seas.
