Memphis just latest obstacle for Cal State-Northridge

The Matadors of Cal State-Northridge have had their share of adversity.

In July, head coach Bobby Braswell was nearly killed in a traffic accident. In January, Deon Tresvant, the team's leading scorer was arrested along with Jeffrey Braswell, the coach's son, for allegedly stealing from an electronics store. In February, another traffic accident almost claimed the life of point guard Josh Jenkins.

Now, they're huge underdogs. Seeded No. 15 in the West Regional, the Matadors (17-13) will face a much bigger and more experienced No. 2 Memphis (31-3) today in a West Regional opener in Kansas City.

But the last thing Memphis coach John Calipari expects to see in this opponent is any quit.

"It doesn't matter what the score is with 7 or 8 minutes to go - if you think this team is going to go away, you're out of your mind," Calipari said.

* Northern Iowa coach Ben Jacobson knows his team has its hands full - the 12th-seeded Panthers (23-10) play fifth-seeded Purdue (25-9) in a West Regional opener today in Portland.

Since 2001, No. 12 seeds have defeated No. 5 seeds in 13 of 32 games. But that means little to Jacobson..

"It doesn't mean that we get to win just because we're the 12 and people like to talk about it, you know?" Jacobson said. "We're going to have to play a very good basketball team and we know what we're up against."

* There's no sibling rivalry between the Griffin brothers, Blake and Taylor, who play for second-seeded Oklahoma (27-5), which takes on No. 15 Morgan State (23-11) in a South Regional game tonight in Kansas City.

"Not everybody can be the best player in the country," said the 6-7 Taylor, who's averaging 9.6 points and 6.0 rebounds, said. "I'm right there with hundreds of other players in the NCAA. Not everybody can be as good as Blake Griffin. In my opinion, nobody is as good as Blake Griffin in college basketball. That's how it is." *