MEMPHIS, Tenn. – During a season in which the University of Memphis men's basketball team battled its share of obstacles, one constant remained from start to abrupt finish.
The Tigers, under second-year coach Penny Hardaway, never took their collective eyes off the basketball while playing defense.
Memphis ended the season as the nation's top-ranked field goal-percentage defensive team, limiting its opponents to 36.1 percent shooting. Virginia, a traditionally strong defensive program, finished second at 36.9 percent.
Opponents also struggled against the Tigers from long range, shooting 28 percent (193-of-690) from 3-point distance. That percentage ranked fifth nationally.