<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">John Calipari was holding a press conference a couple weeks ago, just bouncing from one subject to the next while ranting about loose balls and intensity and how players and coaches have to improve their day-to-day habits if the University of Memphis is going to approach the Final Four. Then the subject switched to Darius Washington. Subsequently, Calipari was asked whether the sophomore's apparent difficulties could be attributed to him simply not seeing what it is he should be seeing in the flow of the game. "You mean things that everybody is seeing," Calipari answered. "You're talking about you're watching and you're saying, 'Why doesn't he see that?'" Translation: Darius Washington is struggling. Has been for weeks. And while there are many issues facing the fifth-ranked Tigers (27-3) heading into tonight's 6 p.m. meeting with Tulane (12-16) in the quarterfinals of the Conference USA Tournament, the one surrounding the point guard looms largest and must be resolved quickest if that cliched chase for greatness is going to continue deep into this month. "I haven't played up to par," acknowledged Washington, who has missed 31-of-46 field goal attempts in his past four games while dishing out just six assists compared to 18 turnovers. "It has kind of brought the team down." Pinpointing the exact issues with Washington's slump is difficult, but everything stems from the fact that what he is being asked to do -- make reads, find teammates and deliver passes -- is something he didn't grow up doing, and really didn't do too much last year. Therefore, it doesn't come naturally and it doesn't look natural, which is why the first team All-Conference USA performer has compiled almost as many turnovers (86) as assists (96) during a season that was supposed to launch him into the NBA Draft. Now, who knows? But to those thinking one has something to do with the other, Washington rolls his eyes. "Going pro is not even on my mind," he said. "I hear people talk, and people think that's what I'm thinking. But going pro is the last thing on my mind. "I'm just trying to win." Which may be his greatest sin. Born with confidence and natural gifts, Washington has always felt like he must take over games, if only because he's always been talented enough to do it. That's why it's no coincidence that he flourished last season once Sean Banks flunked out of school because at that point Washington became the go-to figure, and he dominated down the stretch largely due to the thought that Memphis could not win unless he consistently scored. "And scoring is what Darius does best," Calipari said. "That's one of his strengths, and we still need him to do that." </div> Source
