“He was always an unbelievable teammate- maybe the best I’ve ever coached. He was a coach’s dream, authentic and always trying to make it about other people,” stated John Calipari, the head coach of the Tigers team, the basketball outfit of the University of Memphis. In 2007, Derrick Rose, a future Bulls legend, arrived at the University of Memphis as the country’s top high school point guard. From the jump, he wasn’t just fitting in, he was leading. Big expectations? He exceeded them.

Fans saw a future star in motion, and the Tigers looked unstoppable. It was the kind of season you don’t forget. And yet, what should’ve been a crown jewel in college hoops lore now lives in a strange gray area. Brilliant, but complicated. 

Recently, @thefashionfirm shared a post on Instagram with a video showing Derrick Rose opening a briefcase containing various jerseys, which contained memories scattered through time. Upon seeing the surprise, Derrick Rose was immediately moved to tears as he was gripped by nostalgia.

Now, Derrick Rose was taken aback by the sight of the jerseys because they contained something very special. On the jerseys, there was a bee, a wolverine, and a tiger. Now, why that’s important is because Derrick Rose’s grade school was the Beasley Academic Center in Chicago. Their colors were/are green and gold. Their mascot is a Bee, and they are known as the Beasley Bees. His HS, Simeon, wore Blue and Gold, and they are known as the Wolverines. What a way to pay tribute!

Now, college is supposed to be unforgettable, but is Derrick Rose remembered for the right reasons? Under the spotlight, in packed arenas, with the pressure cranked up, he showed poise beyond his years. But did one controversy sour his college experience?

Derrick Rose’s college journey: Titles, honors, and controversy

Derrick Rose’s college basketball journey was as electric as it was short. In the 2007–08 season, he showed up at the University of Memphis as the country’s top high school point guard, and man, he lived up to the hype. 

He didn’t just fit in with a stacked Tigers squad; he ran the show. With Rose at the helm, Memphis went on a jaw-dropping 38–2 run, the most wins in NCAA Division I history at the time. They crushed Conference USA, went undefeated there, and even held the nation’s No. 1 ranking for the first time in over two decades.

Under Coach John Calipari, Rose wasn’t just putting up numbers—he was elevating everyone around him. His playmaking, leadership, and poise pushed Memphis all the way to the national championship game. He dropped 25 points against a loaded UCLA team in the Final Four, then put up 17 points, 7 assists, and 6 boards in the title game versus Kansas. Sadly, a clutch three by Mario Chalmers forced overtime, and Memphis came up short. But Rose? He balled out.

He earned All-American honors, made the All-Final Four team, and became the first Memphis player ever taken No. 1 overall in the NBA Draft. That’s the kind of season most guys dream of.

But here’s the twist. A year later, the NCAA ruled that Rose’s SAT score was invalid, and boom—Memphis had to vacate the entire season. The wins, the banners, everything. Officially, it became a 0–1 season, which feels surreal.

So yeah, Derrick Rose reached the absolute peak of college basketball in just one year. It was legendary. But that same run ended up being erased from the books, though not from memory.