Tigers, Cincinnati to open AAC play in Kentucky

Sunday, December 31

Highland Heights, Ky.

3 PM

University of Memphis

Cincinnati

Photo by: Matthew Smith

Dec 29, 2017 | Men's Basketball

Memphis Game Notes (vs. Cincinnati)Cincinnati Game Notes (vs. Memphis)

By: Phil Stukenborg

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – With a successful non-conference portion of the season in its rear-view mirror, the University of Memphis basketball team will begin American Athletic Conference play Sunday with a formidable opponent.

Make that the toughest in the AAC, as voted on during the preseason by the league's coaches.

Memphis, which went 9-4 in non-conference play, opens against league favorite Cincinnati at the BB&T Arena in Highland Heights, Ky. The Bearcats' regular home, Fifth Third Arena, is undergoing renovations.

The Tigers are coming off a 71-61 loss to LSU Thursday night at FedExForum, a game in which the U of M shot 37 percent to drop their first home game after nine straight victories.

Cincinnati is ranked 21^st nationally and is 11-2 overall, its only losses coming to ranked teams: at No 21 Xavier and against No 5 Florida.

"That'll be a tall task," said Tiger coach Tubby Smith. "I expect us to recover (from the LSU loss) and be ready to play."

Among the obstacles Cincinnati will present is having one of the nation's top defensive teams. The Bearcats rank fifth nationally yielding only 60 points per game. They've held two opponents to fewer than 50 points.

"We better be ready to play," Smith said.

The Tigers had won six of seven before losing to LSU and will attempt to restart a winning streak against an opponent that owns a 41-33 series lead, has won four straight at home in the series and is seemingly invincible at home. Cincinnati owns the nation's longest home court winning streak at 33.

The Bearcats were picked as a slight favorite to win the league over newcomer Wichita State. Cincinnati is 23-4 in conference openers since 1990 and has won seven of its last eight openers under coach Mick Cronin.

Cincinnati will be playing its first game since an 81-62 victory over Cleveland State Dec. 21.

Junior guard Jeremiah Martin leads the Tigers with an 18.2 scoring average, nearly eight points higher than last season. Newcomer Kyvon Davenport, who recorded his second double-double of the season in the loss to LSU, is averaging 13.4 points and 6.6 rebounds. He also has been the team's best 3-point shooter, scoring at a 39-percent clip from beyond the arc.

Jimario Rivers, who Smith calls the U of M's inspirational leader, returned from a two-game absence due to concussion protocol against LSU and had 10 points, five rebounds and three blocks off the bench.

Memphis hopes to return to the rotation freshman swingman David Nickelberry, who missed the LSU game because of flu-like symptoms. Nickelberry was named the AAC Rookie of the Week Tuesday for his play in wins over Siena (Dec. 20) and Loyola (Dec. 23).

Game Quick Facts

Opponent                  Cincinnati

Day/Date                   Sunday, Dec. 31

Time                          3 p.m. (CT)

Site                             Highland Heights, Ky./BB&T Arena

TV                               ESPNU (Jim Barber, Julianne Viani)

Radio (Flagship)     600 WREC AM/Rock 103 (102.7 FM)