Junior Guard Antonio Barton is Instant Offense for the Memphis Tigers

The Memphis Tigers are currently undefeated with a 3-0 record that includes the Christian Brothers Bucs exhibition game. Although all victories were by double digits, the Tigers’ performance has been very inconsistent.

The Tigers gave up 10 3-pointers to a Bucs team they knew could shoot it. Against North Florida Ospreys, the Tigers were more energetic and looked like a veteran squad ready to show the world they deserve to be higher in the national rankings. Next, Memphis underestimated a Samford Bulldogs squad and had to fight hard for the victory.

Although junior guard Antonio Barton started the season with a minor setback during the exhibition game, he has been the most consistent scorer.

During the Christian Brothers game, Barton and Coach Josh Pastner appeared to have a disagreement after Pastner had sent him to check in the game. According to the Commercial Appeal, Pastner would only call the situation with Barton, who was not in the locker room after the game, an internal matter.

Since that situation, Barton has come to the rescue in the last two games to provide offense off the bench.

He did the scoring during the 19-0 run that buried North Florida. While trailing 20-17, Barton scored 10 of the Tigers’ next 12 points.

Barton’s performance was big against a pesky Samford team knocking down 4 of 7 3-pointers for a total of 14-points.

“It’s frustrating. We keep playing down to our opponents,” Barton said to the Commercial Appeal. “We gotta stop that because good teams are going to blow us out early.

“I think it’s just a mentality, man. I don’t know if it’s overlooking other teams just to get to the big teams or what it is. But we come out with the mentality they’re going to lay down and give us the game because we’re Memphis. We can’t keep thinking like that.”

Currently, Barton is second in scoring for the team averaging 12.5 points per game.

Patosha Jeffery is the Memphis Tigers Featured Columnist at Rant Sports. Be sure to follow her on Twitter: @patoshajeffery and add her Google + to your circles for all of her latest articles and thoughts.