Despite losing only one game while setting a team record for wins, finishing undefeated in Conference USA for the second straight season and collecting a No. 1 ranking, the top-seeded Tigers said they felt slighted.
But Memphis’ quest for respect was bolstered here Sunday by its dominating 85-67 victory against second-seeded Texas in the South Region final. Memphis, which advanced to its first Final Four since 1985, will face a fellow No. 1 seed, UCLA, 35-3, on Saturday in San Antonio.
“Everybody’s been doubting us all year,” Memphis guard Willie Kemp said. “We just constantly prove people wrong. I know they’re going to say that we won’t win this game against UCLA.”
Memphis coach John Calipari said: “We are a pretty good team. I just keep saying it. I believe in these guys. I trust them.”
The Tigers opened a 17-point lead in the first 17 minutes. The lead was reduced to five points early in the second half before Memphis went on a 18-4 run and sealed its victory.
“I don’t think we’ve seen as good a defense all year that we saw today,” Texas coach Rick Barnes said. “There’s no doubt that Memphis deserves all the credit.”
In the previous two NCAA tournaments, with trips to the Final Four within reach, Memphis, 37-1, lost in regional finals, giving its critics ammunition.
“To make them shut up, all we’ve got to do is keep winning,” the Memphis freshman point guard Derrick Rose said.
Junior forward Chris Douglas-Roberts led Memphis with 25 points, which included a 14-of-17 effort at the free-throw line.
But Rose stole the show and was chosen the most outstanding player of the South Region. Rose made seven of 10 field goals and finished with 21 points, nine assists and six rebounds.
He easily outplayed Texas sophomore D.J. Augustin, who had 16 points on four-of-18 shooting.
A.J. Abrams had a team-high 17 points for Texas.
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