Martin and Weeks return home

The Marist Red Foxes did not officially announce the hiring of Chuck Martin until April 17, 2008, because the new coach had a prior commitment: the national championship game.
On Tuesday night, John Calipari's former assistants Chuck Martin and Tyrone Weeks return to the location of their previous coaching jobs. Both Martin and Weeks were assistants on Calipari's staff that compiled a 38-2 record last season before falling in overtime to eventual champion Kansas in the national championship game.
The two coaches now face foes that used to be called family. Marist will take on No. 15 Memphis in Tennessee tomorrow night. The 2-3 Red Foxes have a chance to measure their talent against some of the best in the country. Memphis sits at 4-1 on the year and the team is coming off its lone loss to No. 14 Xavier.
The Red Foxes will not only meet college talent tomorrow night but future NBA talent as well. Tigers guard Antonio Anderson and forward Robert Dozier originally submitted their names to the 2008 NBA Draft. Both withdrew their names and returned to Memphis. Memphis lost top guard Derrick Rose, the first overall pick, to the Chicago Bulls and 6-foot-7 swingman Chris Douglas-Roberts to the New Jersey Nets. Forward/Center Joey Dorsey is also in the NBA. Dorsey is a member of the Houston Rockets.
Marist will have its hands full trying to contain an offense that scores 79 points per game (ppg). Memphis allows 65 ppg, while Marist has averaged 66.6 ppg in the first five contests.
Coach Martin views Memphis as the ultimate test to gauge his team's progress.
"It's going to be a challenge for sure because obviously Memphis is really, really talented," Martin said. "We're not going to back down, we're not changing the way we play. We're going to defend them man-to-man and push the ball in transition.
"The Memphis game is more about us than Memphis," Martin said. "We need to figure out how can we play with a team of that caliber. Can we run with them, can we score in bunches against that team?"
Marist will have its hands full with freshman standout Tyreke Evans and senior forward Robert Dozier. Each player averages 14.6 and 13.2 ppg, respectively. Evans was rated as one of the top prospects in the country coming out of high school. ESPN rated Evans a 99 caliber prospect.
Memphis also represents an emotional homecoming for Martin.
"Memphis has been great," Martin said. "I still own a home in Memphis, I have friends in Memphis, Coach [Calipari's] been great to me. Anytime you surround yourself with good people like Coach [Calipari] and the city of Memphis, there's always an emotional connection there."