We held our collective breaths...

You know how it is. It's just like when you see that green light ahead of you. Experience tells you that it's going to change first to yellow and then to red. So, you just hold your breath knowing that this is the only way that the light might stay green until you reach the intersection.

That's how I felt about Memphis. Other than a few call-ins to local radio shows, Memphis, as a city, took one deep, collective breath after the U of M beat UCLA in the Final 4. There were few bold predictions. There was very little smack talk. Even those of us outsiders who moved to town from other storied schools were caught up in a state of suspended animation.

As the Tigers began to take on the Jayhawks, Memphis started strong. But Kansas proved that it wouldn't back down. Derrick Rose was held to 3 first half points and Memphis entered the half with it's largest halftime deficit of the year.

But it was with 12 minutes and 10 seconds remaining in regulation that Derrick drove down the lane to easily score his 2nd field goal of the game. That's when I thought, and maybe all of Memphis, thought that we might be able to breathe again soon. Because it was then that Memphis had its full team back, and the game, as they say, was on.

And then the light turned red.

Thanks for a great season Tigers.