Memphis Part II

[Queens_NYC]

Sunday, February 26th, 2023
2:00 PM
FedExForum
ESPN2

The Bearcats (18-10 [10-6 AAC], NET #79, KenPom #66) hit the road one last time this regular season as they travel to Memphis (21-7 [11-4 AAC], NET #39, KenPom #38) in a match-up where the winner will have the inside track on a top 3 seed in March's AAC tournament.

The Tigers bounced back from a 72-64 loss at Houston last weekend (where they played without Kendric Davis) with a midweek 83-78 victory at Wichita State. Their only home loss on the season has come at the hands of Tulane who won a 90-89 OT thriller at the FedExForum three weeks ago.

Memphis will be without the services of 5th-year 6'5 wing Keonte Kennedy (9.2 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 38.1% 3FG) who broke his hand while punching a wall in frustration after the Houston loss.

The Tigers continue to play fast (15th nationally in Adjusted Tempo), draw fouls (lead the AAC), and force turnovers (lead the AAC). They also lead the AAC in team FG% during conference play at 49.4%.

Memphis limited Cincinnati to its worse 3-point shooting performance of AAC play (25% on 6/24) during our first match-up - a 75-68 loss where Memphis held the lead for over 36 minutes of the game.

 

[sedziobs]

In the first game we chased Kendric Davis around as if he's exclusively a shooter, but only 3 of his 21 points came from beyond the arc. On the season he's shooting under 32% from three on 5 attempts per game. He takes more than 10 shots per game from inside the arc at 47%, gets to the free throw line 8 times per game, and averages nearly 6 assists. His game is built more on getting into the lane. We should be going under screens and not falling for pump fakes. Davis might make some threes, but scheming to stop that just invites him to do damage driving the ball.

Williams led Memphis with 26 in the first game, but he was making a lot of tough shots. I think we can beat Memphis if some of those don't go and we hit a decent percentage from three.

 

[Queens_NYC]

Memphis are 5.5-point favorites

 

[waterhead]

They denied DDJ the ball on the wing last time we played. This might be a good game to let him run point most of the game or figure out a way to hand the ball off rather than passes to the wing.

 

[TheLivingLegend]

The lack of hustle from Nolley at times is absurd.

 

[Queens_NYC]

Memphis up 28-16 at the 8:00 mark today.

They were also up 28-16 at the 6:34 mark in the first match-up.

 

[sedziobs]

We're acting like we've never seen a team pick up man defense at half court. Bad turnovers all over the place. Everyone needs to take a few steps out. Ball screens should be outside the 3pt line, corners should step out to the wing, and post move to the free throw line. Shorten the passes and leave the lane and baseline open so we can get rim looks when we break through.

 

[Queens_NYC]

19 turnovers and counting. Simply outclassed.

 

[sedziobs]

Wow. Two 86% free throw shooters missing front ends, otherwise could be a tie game.

 

[sedziobs]

Frustrating game. Easily winnable if we cut down on live ball turnovers.

 

[Queens_NYC]

Commendable effort but dug ourselves in too deep of a hole early on and paid for it when we finally started to get some breaks at the end.

Still no reason to give up on the season yet.

 

[sedziobs]

It's impressive that we were even competitive in a game where we had 15 live ball turnovers, and 20 total. Nolley led the team with 5, but every starter had at least 2.

The free throw line killed our comeback. Memphis was 10 for 11 in the second half. We were 2 for 6, with a couple of missed front ends so you could call it 2 for 8.

 

[TheRealMick]

Commendable effort but dug ourselves in too deep of a hole early on and paid for it when we finally started to get some breaks at the end.

Still no reason to give up on the season yet.

I don't celebrate participation trophies. Yesterday and this season has been a disaster.

 

[TheRealMick]

Even if Rob doesn't get hurt Wes know he was going into best conference in country with zero for sure returning guards at all. McGinnis or Saunders should've been told to stay if we was only going after one year PG. Throwing all eggs into #1 PG in country was rookie mistake. Eric Gaines was locked to come here but we went cheap and paid for one of Rob.

 

[Queens_NYC]

I don't celebrate participation trophies. Yesterday and this season has been a disaster.

I agree that there's nothing to celebrate based on the season's results so far, but this team should still expect to compete in next week's AAC tournament and at worse earn a NIT berth.

It's been 4 seasons since we've played postseason basketball beyond the conference tournament. Any additional experience against respectable teams (particularly away from home) will be invaluable for whoever returns next season.

I'd obviously like for us to take much bigger steps towards improvement but we have to acknowledge that we're not a perennial top 50 program yet.

 

[sedziobs]

Even if Rob doesn't get hurt Wes know he was going into best conference in country with zero for sure returning guards at all. McGinnis or Saunders should've been told to stay if we was only going after one year PG. Throwing all eggs into #1 PG in country was rookie mistake. Eric Gaines was locked to come here but we went cheap and paid for one of Rob.

No one can be considered "for sure returning" anymore, but I have to think MAW will be back and hopefully Skillings too. And we've got two incoming PG in James and Thomas. We might not be great at the guard spots next year, but a couple of 4 stars, a 5th year combo, and JUCO guy isn't nothing.

Gaines hasn't been great anyway. He's only shooting 40% inside the arc and turns the ball over more than 3 times a game.