Friday, March 08, 2002
Confident Calipari rests Wise, awaits bid
By Gary Estwick, gestwick@enquirer.com
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Maybe Memphis coach John Calipari knows something no one else knows.
Calipari didn't play injured forward Kelly Wise during the Tigers' 80-74 loss to Houston Thursday in the Conference USA Tournament quarterfinals.
The reason? Calipari said he was resting Wise in anticipation of an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.
No, the selection committee hasn't picked teams yet. But yes, Calipari thinks his Tigers will be on the list.
“You're looking at a team that had its best player out,” Calipari said. “I think we're still going to get a bid.”
Only the selection committee, though, knows whether Calipari's Memphis team will be judged as the team it could be or the team it is.
In a press conference Monday, Calipari sounded like the Tigers (22-9) needed at least one win in Cincinnati: “It's vital to put everything to rest for us so that we're definitely in,” he said.
But about 15 minutes after losing Thursday, all he said his team needed was a healthy Wise.
“He will be ready for the NCAA Tournament,” Calipari said. “In my opinion, he will be 100 percent. Give him another four, five, six days, and I think we will be fine. We want him 100 percent so we can make a run.
“If we won, it might have been a lock, and we wouldn't even have to worry. Now without it, we've just got to go back there and hope they're logically looking at this game.”
Memphis' RPI before the Tigers' quarterfinal game ranked No.57. The number will drop because of the loss to the Cougars (18-13). Cincinnati (4), Marquette (27) and Charlotte (37) all have higher RPIs.
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Confident Calipari rests Wise, awaits bid
