It's gonna take more than a  gentle nudge
For me to get over my Calipari grudge..

It doesn't take a genius to do the math
To see how he took us down the  Primrose Path.

He is a cheat because it was at his behest
That someone else took Rose's college entrance test.

The NCAA found out and those pompous guys
Hit us hard,right between the eyes.

They sure didn't think it was very funny
They took away 38 wins and a ton of money.

They they up and did one thing more;
They kicked us out of the Final 4.

But Kentucky hired him anyway,they don't care
They cheated a long time before he got there.

So Coach Cal and Kentucky I think can say
Are now the Bonnie and Clyde of the NCAA.

As for me,I'll be a new creation
When the Wildcats are finally put on probation.

The Tigers NCAA appeal has apparently failed
And the University of Memphis is about to get nailed.

Derrick Rose is the problem and it's a beaut;
A few years ago he was the #1 recruit.

We knew he could play,a blue chip lock
But we didn't know he was dumb as a rock.

He failed the SAT twice in Chicago so they thought he could fake it
By going to Detroit and have someone else take it.

Someone passed the test but the NCAA knows
That person was not Derrick Rose.

I say Calipari engineered the whole rotten deal
And there are those of us who really feel;

He should be punished with serious jail time
But alas what he did is not a crime.

So Cal and Rose leave town with all the swag
And the Tigers are left holding the bag.

We are now known mainly for breaking a rule
And I guess we're the #1 outlaw school.

Now that it's over all I can say to you;
Is grin and bear it-that's the best we can do..

The University of Kentucky had the absolute gall
To hire the most dishonest coach of all.

Look up-crook-in the dictionary and it would be rare
If you didn't see John Calipari's picture there.

The NCAA knows him,that's for sure
And his reputation is less than simon pure.

His trips to the Final 4 have been a bumpy ride
On both occasions his teams have been disqualified.

Coach Cal accepted disgrace with a wry,slight smile
Hey, even Jesse James got caught once in a while.

So the Wildcats will keep doing business the same old way
The rules are in place for others to obey.

But there is still hope because his critics will brag
Cal can't coach his way out of a wet paper bag.

Some folks in Memphis have become cautious and wary
They think the anti christ may be John Calipari.

If you google-anti christ-it will tell you why
Coach Cal just might be the right guy.

The a/c is devious if he wants something he'll take it
And if there is a rule in the way-hey-he'll just break it.

He can be ever so charming and it's my belief
He could sell General Custer as an Indian chief.

But there is one aspect I hesitate to approach
The anti christ is touted as a great bench coach.

So if you look at his record here's my call
He may not be the anti christ after all.

So I sat there in my den watching the game
When I realized that things were not the same.

Not the same,indeed,so help me man
I discovered that I'm a UT Volunteer fan.

If this is true I won't know how to act
I've never been here before and that's a fact.

But when they play Kentucky I want all to note
The Volunteers will always get my vote.

But that goes for Russia,China or even Iraq.
Any one playing Calipari-I'm gonna back.

When Coach Cal left for Kentucky he did us dirt
So it stands to reason whenever he gets hurt;

Some Tigers fans are pleased to see him frying
And those who don't are probably lying.

So being a Tennessee fan is really tough
But one game as a Vol is more than enough.

Maybe the Volunteers will get another chance
Hey-it'll be- Go Vols Go- if they meet in the Big Dance.

Can anyone explain how those Memphis Tigers lost to SMU on Saturday? The Memphis team that beat UAB 85-75 on Wednesday was different.

These weren't the Memphis Tigers who — for lack of a better word — whined publicly via Facebook when things got tough, who let a guy named Papa Dia turn into Dwight Howard for a night or who let their big men shoot 18-foot air-balls with plenty of time left on the shot clock.

These Tigers shot well. They got aggressive, game-changing play from their two most talented players. They mixed up defenses that confused the opposition into bad passes, stagnant offense and poor shot selection. They got nine rebounds, seven blocks and a vicious put-back slam from the 6-foot-9, part-time freak athlete, part-time Houdini in the middle.

The things that needed to happen for this painfully under-manned Tiger team to compete at a high level happened against the Blazers.

Spooooooooooon!

Why, hello, Wesley Witherspoon.

When he's that aggressive and plays that well, Memphis won't lose to SMUs of the world, and it can beat teams like UAB, UTEP and maybe even Gonzaga.

A 6-foot-8 guard-forward who finishes with 29 points on 8-of-12 shooting, goes 12-of-14 from the free-throw line and tosses in three rebounds, two blocks and two steals is the kind of player who gets NBA scouts buzzing. If he can go on the rest of the season not necessarily with those numbers, but with that kind of effort, and stay away from Facebook while he's at it, Memphis can compete for a conference title.

Little bit of everything

John Calipari would turn in his grave if he watched Memphis last night.

Coach Josh Pastner threw everything at UAB, and it worked. After starting the game in a triangle-and-2, the Tigers also spent time playing man-to-man, zone and a box-and-1.

Confusing to watch, yes, but even more confusing to play against. UAB's Jamarr Sanders wasn't quite ready for it and managed just one 3-point attempt after hitting 4-of-6 and blistering Memphis in the first half.

It proves even further what the Tigers' recipe for winning or at least being competitive against equal or better competition this season is — aggressive, relentless and attacking defense.

Twitter watch

Couldn't have said it better myself.

"UAB has to be seriously confused right now. They're supposed to be playing Memphis but these guys are in a zone and playing a white guy." — bucsbaseball17

Hide your eyes

This happened. Midway through the first half, Pierre Henderson-Niles jumped and attempted to grab a rebound at the rim.

Instead of grabbing the ball, he tipped it in, which is all fine and dandy except that, um, he was trying to grab a defensive rebound and he tipped the ball in UAB's basket. Just like that, UAB's lead was 16-10. Yikes.

Dunk counter

All Memphis dunks were pretty emphatic, but none brought the house down like Doneal Mack's in the waning seconds. As Elliot Williams pushed the ball up in transition, he dished the ball behind his back to a streaking Mack. Mack caught it right below the free-throw line, took two steps and jammed it home. It made Memphis' lead 81-71 and effectively put the game out of reach.

Dunk count: 4 — Mack 1, Coleman 1, Williams 1, Witherspoon 1.

You had to be there

Pastner has it in him, it just takes more than horrible officiating to get it out of him — it takes tremendously horrible officiating.

UAB took a 52-50 lead with 11:1 left in the second half, forcing the Tigers to take a timeout. As the players walked to the sideline, Pastner walked out toward center court pointing and barking at the referees as the fans booed them louder than they had all game. One can bet Paster was referring to the five fouls called on Memphis that half and the zero that were called on the Blazers.

Tigers assistant Glynn Cyprien tugged Pastner away and calmed him down a bit. This was nothing big, but it sure was a change of pace from the Pastner everyone is used to seeing.

Brandon Harris covers Tiger basketball for Memphis Sport. You can follow him via Twitter @bharris901 for in-game updates.

I've drawn a line in the sand and I will not budge
I gotta be honest because-I do hold a grudge.

Coach Cal is the target-he's not a nice guy
And if you will stay tuned I'll tell you why.

First of all he can't coach,I know I'll not be the same
After the way he handled that Kansas game.

Tiger fans were going crazy,I heard them shout;
For Heaven's sake coach call a time out.

But no time out was called and the next time I looked
Sure as God made green apples out goose was cooked.

Then there is the Derrick Rose affair for all to see
Because he did not take his own ACT.

The NCAA found out and here's their call
They want to nail our butts to the wall.

Calipari could care less with him it's all ducky
He took off for a big job in Kentucky.

I don't wish him physical pain or financial distress
But If you polled Tiger fans I would have to guess;

They'd hope for the Wildcats to find their final rhythm
And go straight to the Devil and  take Cal with 'em.

How many words are there that rhyme with Thug?
I can think of-bug,jug,chug and even plug.

Now,there is a two word phrase that says it all,
Are you ready-yeah it's Tennessee basketball.

Of course all UT players aren't thugs but I will say
It sure as the devil seems that way.

Four were arrested,they were smokin' dope and had a gun
Were these just high spirited kids havin' fun?

No, I almost hate to say it- but what the heck I will
It was just another day up there on the Hill.

Now if Calipari coached at UT  he'd avoid all the flap
By having a 3 hour course in Beating the Rap.

So Tennessee will be ready as the conference schedule nears
But they'll probably be called the Thugs not the Volunteers.

The Tigers are going to appeal? Wait hold the phone
They had better leave well enough alone.

The U of M has been under the Calipari Curse
So when their appeal is rejected they'll look that much worse.

As cheaters-let's face it- the Tigers can do no more
Twice they've been kicked out of the Final Four.

Other guys may cheat,not do what they ought
But the Tigers are so inept they often get caught.

So-how about it-let's go up to the very edge
And once and for all take the no cheaters pledge.

We will abide by all the rules and that is that;
Still, if they win their appeal-I'll eat my hat.