stevek173
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Fresh off of losing the Pac-10 at the last second to an Isiah Thomas jumper, there is a subplot to the Wildcats' first round matchup with the Memphis Tigers.
They happen to be coached by none other than long time Arizona assistant coach, Josh Pastner.
Pastner walked on to the 1997 Wildcats team just in time to ride the pine to a National Championship on a team that featured such current stars as Mike Bibby and Jason Terry and past star Michael Dickerson (recently inducted into the NCAA Hall of Fame). He then served under Hall of Famer "Papa Lute" Lute Olsen from 2002-2008 and when many thought he deserved a chance at handling the reigns of one of the country's elite programs going on decades, Arizona did not see it that way and Pastner went to Memphis and served as Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator for the Tigers' 2008-2009 squad that went to the Sweet 16. On April 16, 2009 Pastner, known for his tireless work ethic was promoted to head coach of the Memphis Tigers replacing some no name named John Calipari.
Since then he was voted Conference USA Coach of The Year for the Tigers' 2009-2010 campaign.
Destiny feel to this matchup? Yes. Scary matchup for Cats fans who have had somewhat of a "walking on cloud 9" season before an Isiah Thomas jumper stabbed them in the heart? Definitely.
Beware of an upset here Hoops fans, Pastner works as hard as anyone in the sport and has a lot of motivation to win.
They happen to be coached by none other than long time Arizona assistant coach, Josh Pastner.
Pastner walked on to the 1997 Wildcats team just in time to ride the pine to a National Championship on a team that featured such current stars as Mike Bibby and Jason Terry and past star Michael Dickerson (recently inducted into the NCAA Hall of Fame). He then served under Hall of Famer "Papa Lute" Lute Olsen from 2002-2008 and when many thought he deserved a chance at handling the reigns of one of the country's elite programs going on decades, Arizona did not see it that way and Pastner went to Memphis and served as Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator for the Tigers' 2008-2009 squad that went to the Sweet 16. On April 16, 2009 Pastner, known for his tireless work ethic was promoted to head coach of the Memphis Tigers replacing some no name named John Calipari.
Since then he was voted Conference USA Coach of The Year for the Tigers' 2009-2010 campaign.
Destiny feel to this matchup? Yes. Scary matchup for Cats fans who have had somewhat of a "walking on cloud 9" season before an Isiah Thomas jumper stabbed them in the heart? Definitely.
Beware of an upset here Hoops fans, Pastner works as hard as anyone in the sport and has a lot of motivation to win.
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