Tigers challenge Vols in Maui

By KATE HEDLIN Memphis guard Will Barton said his team felt "disrespected" by people who believed it was ranked too high, but after a tough loss, the Tigers are going to have to work even harder to disprove their detractors. Memphis and Tennessee will showcase their in-state rivalry in the consolation round of the Maui Invitational on Tuesday. The eighth-ranked Tigers and Volunteers are scheduled to meet Jan. 4 in Memphis, but they are facing off earlier than expected after Memphis (1-1) suffered a 73-61 loss to No. 15 Michigan on Monday. The Tigers' veteran lineup struggled as Barton was held to nine points while Tarik Black, Wesley Witherspoon and Joe Jackson each scored seven. The four combined to shoot 8 for 28 (28.6 percent) while the Tigers finished at 33.3 percent. Memphis trailed by as many as 15 in the second half and couldn't get the deficit to single digits in the final 4:10. "We chipped away," coach Josh Pastner said. "They hit some big shots in the second half, and it's just one of those things where we're playing a very good Michigan team and we're a very good team. That's why we're playing these type of games to see what adjustments we need to make." It was a disappointing effort by a team that has high expectations coming off a 25-win season. Memphis opened with a 97-81 victory over Belmont last Tuesday and was eager to prove itself during this tournament, which also features No. 6 Duke. However, instead of two top-10 teams facing off, the Tigers will have to settle for a familiar rival. Memphis has lost its last two meetings with Tennessee (2-1), including 104-84 last January. The Volunteers have a different look with a new coach and several fresh faces in their lineup. They faded late in a 77-67 loss to the Blue Devils on Monday. After trailing by six points at the break, they pulled within two several times in the second half, but Duke went on a 12-4 run to push the lead back to 10. Four players finished in double figures, led by Jeronne Maymon, who had 14 points and 12 rebounds for his second straight double-double. However, the Volunteers shot 41.4 percent and were 0 for 8 from 3-point range. Leading scorer Trae Golden, who averaged 23.0 points in Tennessee's first two games, finished with 13 and was limited to 20 minutes because of foul trouble. "We were somewhat stagnant offensively and forced a couple shots," coach Cuonzo Martin said of the offense without Golden in it. "I think it's a good lesson for Trae to go up against one of the best teams." Tennessee had a season-low nine assists after averaging 20.5 in the first two games. Golden recorded 20 in those wins but managed just two Monday. The Volunteers lead 13-8 in the all-time series against the Tigers, and this will be the first meeting on a neutral court since 1969. "It's going to be a tough, physical game like it was today," Maymon said.