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Chat room: Dan Wolken talks Memphis Tiger basketball
 
9:53
Commercial Appeal -  Hi all. Welcome to our weekly chat with Dan Wolken on Tiger basketball. Dan will be here momentarily.
9:58
Commercial Appeal -  Dan will be here shortly
10:01
Commercial Appeal -  Just got a text from Dan. he said "hold on". We're almost ready to go.
10:05
[Comment From Dan Wolken]
I'm here
10:06
Commercial Appeal -  Hi Dan, lots of questions ready for you
10:06
[Comment From OKC]
Do you see Willie Kemp in the starting rotation or more as off the bench to spell Elliott Williams? Also, when they are on the court at the same time do you see Williams running the point in the role Evans played last year?
10:07
[Comment From Dan Wolken]
As of today, I'd probably bring Kemp off the bench and start Williams at point. I think if they are on the court together, they'll probably have Willie play the point and move Elliot over so that he can play some off the ball. But it's still early. They'll try some things in the exhibition games to figure out what rotation works best.
10:07
[Comment From Kid Dynamite]
How complicated is the offense that Pastner is trying to install?
10:08
[Comment From Dan Wolken]
Not very complicated. It's just different. They are going to be very simple with their stuff to start off and try to add a little bit more as time goes on.
10:08
[Comment From Michael H]
You mentioned on your blog I think that you felt Hippolyte Tsafack would eventually be a Tiger. He announced today he's waiting until spring to make his decision. Do you still think he'll be a Tiger?
10:11
[Comment From Dan Wolken]
He didn't announce that today. It's from a blog last week. So essentially you have two Maryland blogs - one that said he would commit to Maryland in a few weeks and one that said he was waiting until spring. In other words, 90% of the stuff you read on these Internet recruiting blogs is garbage. I think Memphis is in the best position for Tsafack but that's based on what he told certain people here. Maybe he was being insincere or there was misinterpretation? Who knows. Derrick Williams changed the background on his cellphone to a Tiger logo and told the players here he was coming. Then he went on a visit to Arizona and changed his mind. It happens.
10:11
[Comment From Lance]
What has surprised you most (positively or negatively) about the team in practices so far?
10:12
[Comment From Dan Wolken]
Positive, the attitudes and work ethic. Negative, ability to rebound the ball.
10:12
[Comment From Tiger Tina]
Dan, Pierre appears to be in basketball shape. Will he be able to contribute this season because he still looks timid as he fumbled and stumbled catching passes and scoring or is it too early in the game to assess his unknown impact?
10:14
[Comment From Dan Wolken]
Pierre is Pierre. I have said this a million times - players who have performed at one level for three years simply don't become something totally different over the course of one summer. He has had a dramatic body change and it will help him stay on the court for longer stretches because he can now run. But the weaknesses in his game and skill set are still weaknesses.
10:15
[Comment From OneShiningMoment]
Have you ascertained what type of offense Coach Pastner will run this season?
10:16
[Comment From Dan Wolken]
It will be a 4-out, 1-in type offense. There will be lots of screening and movement away from the ball. You have to read the defense and react.
10:16
[Comment From shuffle28]
How good are the odds that we will be playing Louisville next year to open their new stadium?
10:17
[Comment From Dan Wolken]
Probably not great. I haven't heard an update on it recently. If Louisville isn't going to play at Memphis in 2011-12, the deal probably won't happen.
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