Reality Is Better Than Fiction for Tigers' Dorsey

SAN ANTONIO, April 5 -- Over the past few days, Memphis's Joey Dorsey wrote the script for Saturday night's national semifinal against UCLA. In a blue diary, Dorsey hand wrote a one-page story entitled "No Love for UCLA," a narrative that explained how he planned to redeem himself after a regrettable performance against another standout in the same Alamodome in last year's NCAA tournament.

Dorsey did not score as many points as he expected Saturday -- in fact, he scored none -- but the Baltimore native grabbed 15 rebounds and wore down UCLA freshman Kevin Love, who scored just two of his 12 points in the second half of Memphis's 78-63 victory. Even though the man Dorsey guarded outscored him 12-0, Dorsey played one of the larger roles in the victory.

"I was trying to hold him to 10 points and 10 rebounds," Dorsey said. "I already wrote my dream."

The performance will help Dorsey erase the memory of last season's region final loss to Ohio State, in which Dorsey struggled against Buckeyes freshman Greg Oden. His performance was further marred by brash pregame comments he later regretted.

This past week, Dorsey told coaches he felt he needed to redeem himself after the Oden game, specifically against another dominant freshman big man. And he said he could not stop thinking about the Ohio State game early in Saturday's game against the Bruins.

Dorsey struggled at times in the first half, picking up two fouls and watching Love score 10 points and grab six rebounds. But Memphis Coach John Calipari, who was on Dorsey throughout the game, told him: "Let it go, Joey; this isn't football!"

Dorsey managed his aggression better in the second half and made it hard for Love to catch the ball. Love made only 1 of 5 shots in the second half and appeared fatigued during the latter stages of the game.

"I knew he was getting tired because when I got a rebound and threw an outlet pass he wasn't even getting back on defense," Dorsey said. "My teammates told me to run down court to get a layup."

Memphis employed some double-teaming on Love that helped to keep the ball out of his hands near the basket. Love credited Dorsey as being "their man out there" to patrol the paint, but said that other players were "swarming me, coming at me. There were a couple plays where I threw the ball away. Other than that, other players, we just need to step up and hit big shots."

Dorsey only wishes he could have scored a basket or two, but he knows this is the sweetest scoreless performance he could ever have.

"I don't want the ball too much," he said. "Just throw me a bone or two."

Dorsey said he won't totally redeem himself unless Memphis wins Monday's national title game. When Dorsey exited the locker room Saturday night, Calipari said, "Hey, Joey, what's your next story?"

"I ain't telling you yet," answered Dorsey, leaving Memphis faithful to eagerly await his final chapter.