SAN ANTONIO (AP) -Backup point guard Andre Allen missed only two games the last three seasons for the Memphis Tigers. Now he might miss the two most important.
Allen was suspended for a violation coach John Calipari said he couldn’t reveal because of privacy rules. Allen did not travel to San Antonio for the Final Four, counting him out for the national semifinal against UCLA on Saturday and the title game Monday night should Memphis (37-1) get that far.
“Sometimes these guys do stupid things at inopportune times,” Calipari said. “He has.”
Allen scored only one basket the last five games and averaged just 3.3 points, 2.1 assists and 1.2 rebounds over 14.1 minutes per game this season. So his absence is likely to affect intangibles more than Xs and Os.
Will it be a distraction? Hardly, according to Calipari, saying it instead might “elevate my team.”
“Because if you’ve ever coached or been part of a team, someone gets hurt and what happens? They come together, and they step up,” Calipari said Thursday before a practice at Trinity University. “So at the end of the day, it may help us. It will not hurt us. … It’s like a guy making a bad play with 4 minutes left and the guys saying, ‘We’ve got your back. We got this.’ I bet you they’ll want to, but I don’t think they feel the pressure of it.”
Allen’s minutes will easily be absorbed by others.
Allen was the third-string point guard, so second-stringer Willie Kemp could see more time. Starting shooting guard Antonio Anderson also is capable of running the offense.
“And obviously I got this kid that’s not bad, Derrick Rose,” Calipari said.
Rose, the freshman sensation, played 39 minutes in the second round and obviously could go all 40 if necessary. After all, this is probably his last weekend in college basketball.
Allen, one of two Memphis natives on the roster, did not play as a freshman because he was an academic non-qualifier. He’s on track to graduate this summer and could possibly seek a fifth season of eligibility.
“I don’t know,” Calipari said. “We’ll see.”
Add A Comment
THIS IS NOT A GAMBLING SITE – If you think you have a gambling problem click here.
Disclaimer: This site is for informational and entertainment purposes only. Individual users are responsible for the laws regarding accessing gambling information from their jurisdictions. Many countries around the world prohibit gambling, please check the laws in your location. Any use of this information that may violate any federal, state, local or international law is strictly prohibited.
Copyright: The information contained on TheSpread.com website is protected by international copyright and may not be reproduced, or redistributed in any way without expressed written consent.
About: TheSpread.com is the largest sports betting news site in the United States. We provide point spread news, odds, statistics and information to over 175 countries around the world each year. Our coverage includes all North American College and Professional Sports as well as entertainment, political and proposition wagering news.
©1999-2023 TheSpread.com