Adonis Thomas Returns To Memphis

      Prize-recruit Adonis Thomas, high school All-American, has been cleared by the medical staff at Memphis to return to practice, just in time for post-season play. But what should Josh Pastner do with Thomas? In the pre-season, his athletic gifts were supposed to bring the Tigers versatility that could create offensive and defensive advantages for the team. When the regular-season rolled around, Memphis won just 11 of 16 games with the freshman in the lineup and have since posted a 12-3 mark since being sidelined with an ankle injury that required surgery.

        Does Pastner implant Thomas and his 9.7 points and 3.6 rebounds per game with hopes of similar production and risk disrupting an obvious improvement of chemistry? As the Tigers have won eight of their last nine, they are playing some of their best basketball of the season, specifically shooting guard Will Barton, the conference-leader with 18.7 points and sixth in rebounding at 8.1 per game. If Pastner can get bring Thomas along off the bench without a break in the team-chemistry, then Memphis will become an even tougher opponent to take down in the Tournament.


By President Corey Ruff - 3 - 5 - 12