Memphis

[jacobkdoyle]

Game is Thursday at 7 on ESPN

Memphis is 18-9 overall and 8-6 in AAC. They have lost 2 straight and 3 out of 4. Just blew a 17 point lead at UConn last game.

They are #91 in KenPom. #134 AdjO, #69 AdjD, #185 AdjT.

They only shoot 30.2% from 3 as a team. But like us, they are a low TO team and rank 14th nationally in AST/TO.

They basically have 4 good players. Everyone knows Dedric Lawson (19.5 PPG 10.1 RPG 3.3 APG 1.3 SPG 2.2 BPG). Markel Crawford is still there (14.1 4.9 2.1 1.5 STL and 35.5% from 3 on 4.1 attempts). K.J. Lawson (12.2 8.5 3.0) and Jeremiah Martin (9.0 3.4 4.1 2.0 SPG and 0.9 BPG) are the other 2 main guys.

Big advantage for us being at home. Memphis is 4-5 in true road games (3-4 in AAC).

I think we'll be -12.

Memphis 61
UC 76

 

[AZ BEARCAT]

Feeling good about this game. UC 80-67

 

[cincyguy13]

Feeling good about this game. UC 80-67

Yeah I don't see us losing at home to either one the of remaining teams

 

[Garybearcat]

Bearcats 92
Tigers 73

We should take care of business.

 

[Jrmytg]

Yeah, I'm definitely feeling good about this matchup as well. Memphis has the talent to make the Bearcats work hard for 4 quarters. Yes, Memphis may be a low turnover team, but mistakes late will push a bearcat lead to double digits. I take the Bearcats by 10, Memphis unfortunately is trending down and looks like that may hurt SMU for the tiebreaker. Two thumbs up for Bearcats fans.

 

[2bearcatdad]

Yeah, I'm definitely feeling good about this matchup as well. Memphis has the talent to make the Bearcats work hard for 4 quarters. Yes, Memphis may be a low turnover team, but mistakes late will push a bearcat lead to double digits. I take the Bearcats by 10, Memphis unfortunately is trending down and looks like that may hurt SMU for the tiebreaker. Two thumbs up for Bearcats fans.

Make them work hard for 4 quarters???

Football season ended awhile ago, but I get what you're saying.

I think we win fairly comfortably. Hopefully we'll be in the 80's.

UC - 83
Memphis - 65

 

[Jrmytg]

Make them work hard for 4 quarters???

Football season ended awhile ago, but I get what you're saying.

I think we win fairly comfortably. Hopefully we'll be in the 80's.

UC - 83
Memphis - 65

Haha, good pickup but I guess I was referring to the NBA. Lol The All Star game excitement has most of my attention. Memphis should compete for most of the game, keeping it interesting.

 

[Cin City]

77-65 Good guys.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

Like the way we match up. Also like that we are at home. Think TC has a big game and gets rolling heading into the final stages of his College career.

Bearcats to cover!

 

[UCBearcats]

UC - 74

Memphis - 59

 

[justinhub2003]

Some quick Scouting on Memphis:

Kenpom Rank: #92
Offensive EfF: #134
Defensive EFF: #69


What they do well:
Protect the ball: Memphis is 38th in TO%. Generally teams who move the ball well and don't turn the ball over, can give UC some problems in the matchip zone. Will be interested to see if they switch between Man and Zone through out the game.

Sharing the ball/Assists: over 60% of Memphis' made field goals are assisted. They seem to move the ball well and generally find the open man. They have some guys who can drive and then either score or Kick. Could be a problem if we get beat off the dribble


What they struggle with:
Offense and scoring: We know that Memphis is a top 20 team in Assist to TO ratio but the rest of the offense is pretty bad. They have regressed a lot sense starting conference play, on the season they have an eFG% of 49.3 with was good for 229 in the country, but since conference play started, its down to 45% and 9th in our very offensively challenged conference.

3 point Shooting: Memphis very bad behind the 3 point line. They rank 332 in the country and are shooting just 30% as a team from 3. A lot of this has to do with Avery Woodson leaving for Butler. Their Best shooter is Markel Crawford, who is shooting 36%


Summary:
Memphis has an NBA pro on their team and they have a fearless guys who can get in the lane. But they lack shooting skill and while they do protect the ball, its offset by how bad they shoot. They have very little front court depth and I think UC will dominate them down low, Dedric lawson is 6'9 but has about a 5 inch vertical and he isn't all that fast. Against tough opponents, they generally will bring just 1 guy off the bench for extended minutes and he is a 6'4 guard who mostly comes out to volume shoot 3's but only hits 31% of them. They play at middle of the pack tempo and I don't think they will try to slow us down like SMU and other teams do.

Defensively, Memphis isn't bad at all. They protect the 3 point line pretty well and are good for 20th in the country in block %.

I think Gary will be able to dominate KJ Lawson, who has to play for the 4 for them and Kyle should have a huge quickness advantage on Dedric.

That all said, memphis has athletes than disrupt our offense and we need to put a lot of emphasis on Crawford and Dedric Lawson.


76-63 UC

 

[jacobkdoyle]

Coach Cronin Previews Memphis

 

[waterhead]

Coach Cronin Previews Memphis

Not much in the last few pre game interviews to take away from. I would imagine Cumberland will get a few minutes but not 20+ based on his comments. Might depend on practice attitude.

We have 4 regular season games left. Obviously they are all important and there are not any easy games left. Undefeated at home would be a huge accomplishment...but so would winning or sharing the conference title which might require winning out (likely).

I like the way most of the starters are playing lately. I would still like to see a little more from Troy to push us over the edge. Cumberland could be the next x factor after Troy.

One of my favorite UC mottos of all time is "Intimidate, Dominate, Celebrate". I would like to see us just bury some teams into submission as we close this season out. No more Mr. Nice Guy. No more on the road hesitancy. We need to know at this point we are the superior team and play like it. That includes the first two games of the NCAA tourney.

Going through a magical season like this and ending up with little to show for it would be a let down IMO...even though the season has been a lot of fun!

 

[waterhead]

You gotta love the way KJ has been playing recently. Our starters have been getting the job done. I would hope for a little more out of Troy for many reasons. If he can get the monkey off his back we are going to be a really tough team to beat.

For some reason I think he will do this at some point...but he hasn't really yet. I have confidence in his heart and desire to go out on top. If Kj keeps it up and Troy gets on track I am hoping for an elite 8 type season along with winning our conference championships whether it be outright or shared.

The thing that bothers me about Troy (and this is going to seem REALLY nit picky) is that even his latest made outside shots are hitting iron. KJ has been swishing a few as well as Evans. They are confident in the shots. Troy is hesitant. When Troy gets to being confident again we will be almost unstoppable really. The sooner he sees a shot not hit the iron the better. If we get KJ, Cumberland, Evans, and Troy knocking down 40% for a small stretch we can beat anyone.

Timing is everything and Cronin is getting us rested as much as he can. I think Cronin has done his best coaching job to date...partially because he has options. Now we need to close out the season playing our best basketball for Cronin to get over "the hump". Whether that hump is reasonable or not doesn't matter but there is a hump that many fans want him to surpass because of Huggins. A lot of articles have been posted about what Cronin has brought us through...but he still has not taken us to the "next level" and I have been holding out as a fan likewise.

Is it too much to ask to just let it end this season? Just perform!!
Stop all this talk about how tournament play is a crap shoot...it's not! Tournament play is about getting the best out of your team at the right time.

 

[UCBearcats]

You gotta love the way KJ has been playing recently.

Agreed! It's funny how much up and down there's been with him this season. Prior to the year most everyone was down on him, early on he looked pretty bad and then he had a terrific stretch of about 6 games before conference play. Then he started playing like crap again and recently has turned it back on.

KJ may go down as one of the most frustrating Bearcats of the Mick era. I remember thinking he was going to be a real special player when he was a Freshman because he seemed to have such a high basketball IQ. I remember watching him move without the ball and thinking he was someone who was going to partner with Troy to completely revamp what was a pathetic offense at the time.

I personally think Mick made a mistake with KJ by making things overly technical for him, he looks at times like he's thinking way too much out on the court. He's always been a great defender but on the flip side maybe the worst passer I've ever seen. It's nice to see that as a Sr. he's been able to slow the game down at times and just play using his instincts.

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

Agreed! It's funny how much up and down there's been with him this season. Prior to the year most everyone was down on him, early on he looked pretty bad and then he had a terrific stretch of about 6 games before conference play. Then he started playing like crap again and recently has turned it back on.

KJ may go down as one of the most frustrating Bearcats of the Mick era. I remember thinking he was going to be a real special player when he was a Freshman because he seemed to have such a high basketball IQ. I remember watching him move without the ball and thinking he was someone who was going to partner with Troy to completely revamp what was a pathetic offense at the time.

I personally think Mick made a mistake with KJ by making things overly technical for him, he looks at times like he's thinking way too much out on the court. He's always been a great defender but on the flip side maybe the worst passer I've ever seen. It's nice to see that as a Sr. he's been able to slow the game down at times and just play using his instincts.

Couldn't agree more. I remember watching him his freshman year and thinking the same thing. I recall down the stretch of the season, Mick was turning to him in close games (namely that three he hit against UCF in the AAC Tournament). I don't know if he just didn't develop his skills or was always going to just be best suited as an 8th or 9th man on a good team and the more minutes he played exposed his weaknesses. He can't dribble or pass well enough to be anything more than a spot shooter (something he isn't very efficient at either).

 

[cincyguy13]

Couldn't agree more. I remember watching him his freshman year and thinking the same thing. I recall down the stretch of the season, Mick was turning to him in close games (namely that three he hit against UCF in the AAC Tournament). I don't know if he just didn't develop his skills or was always going to just be best suited as an 8th or 9th man on a good team and the more minutes he played exposed his weaknesses. He can't dribble or pass well enough to be anything more than a spot shooter (something he isn't very efficient at either).

I like KJ, he's not the best player but he plays hard and never complains. He Shares his minutes every year and he seems like a great team guy.

 

[waterhead]

Couldn't agree more. I remember watching him his freshman year and thinking the same thing. I recall down the stretch of the season, Mick was turning to him in close games (namely that three he hit against UCF in the AAC Tournament). I don't know if he just didn't develop his skills or was always going to just be best suited as an 8th or 9th man on a good team and the more minutes he played exposed his weaknesses. He can't dribble or pass well enough to be anything more than a spot shooter (something he isn't very efficient at either).

The one thing I always thought KJ had the potential to do was make 3s. His stroke is very good and his range isn't bad. I don't know why he never developed into "deadly" but I hope he can be that from here on out. He looks so much better and comfortable shooting the ball than Caupain does. Even his pull up J's LOOK better. His FTs are also more comfortable looking.

He's not baseball's version of a 5 tool guy but he doesn't have to be.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

Kevin Johnson is shooting 41.9% from 3 in the last 17 games...36-86 for 2.1 made 3s per game.

First 10 games he was 15.4% from 3...6-39 for 0.6 made 3s per game.

 

[waterhead]

Kevin Johnson is shooting 41.9% from 3 in the last 17 games...36-86 for 2.1 made 3s per game.

First 10 games he was 15.4% from 3...6-39 for 0.6 made 3s per game.

Well now! Let's just take that show on the road and we might be OK.