Rose visit draws season-high crowd
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Derrick Rose couldn't wait to get back on his college campus, but his return trip to the University of Memphis turned out to be a big dud. It seems that no one cross-checked the schedules, because the Memphis Tigers left town Thursday for a game at Georgetown, departing about the same time the Bulls arrived.
"Besides my teammates, I really didn't know anybody," Rose said before Friday's game against the Grizzlies. "When they left, that just messed up my whole trip. I was in my room watching TV. I didn't go out. I went to go get something to eat around the corner. That was about it."
One writer for the local paper tried to turn the fans against Rose by making an issue of how he's introduced as being from Chicago, not Memphis, at home games.
But Rose received a very warm welcome on Friday, with a nearly unanimous standing ovation during introductions. The Grizzlies also drew their largest crowd of the season, announced at 17,132.
"That means they really cared about me when I was here," Rose said. "For them to show up like this, it was amazing. I wish I could stay a couple more days."
Bulls ride BG from start: The Bulls showed a new wrinkle in the first quarter at Memphis. When Ben Gordon got hot, they kept going to him and he piled up 18 points until picking up his second foul with 3:38 left in the opening quarter.
In the past, the Bulls showed a tendency to forget about Gordon or anyone else who happened to have a hot hand.
"Yeah, it was a good sign," Gordon said. "D-Rose, he did a good job of calling my number and getting me the ball where I needed it. I think as the season progresses, he's going to have to continue to do things like that when guys are feeling it. Just reading the tempo of the game and milking whatever's working for us."
Friendly rookie rivals: Derrick Rose and Memphis guard O.J. Mayo are close friends, as well as the two leading candidates for NBA rookie of the year.
"We've known each other for a long time," Rose said of the former USC star. "Just hanging around camps, I got to know him. He was in Chicago for the summer, I was in L.A. for almost half the summer, so we connected whenever we were in each other's towns."
Bull horns: Thabo Sefolosha finally saw some action against Memphis after sitting out the previous five games by coach's decision. ... Tyrus Thomas was given a seven-minute run in the first half Friday but did not return after contributing 2 points and 1 rebound.