Tigers Close Homestand Against Bulls

Saturday, January 16

Memphis, Tenn.

11 am CT

University of Memphis

USF

Tickets

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Jan 15, 2016 | Men's Basketball

GAME INFORMATION
Memphis (11-5, 2-1 AAC) vs. USF (3-15, 0-5 AAC)
When: Saturday, January 16, 2016
Tip-Off: 11 a.m. (CT)
Location: Memphis, Tennessee
Arena: FedExForum
TV: CBS Sports Network
Rich Waltz, play-by-play
Chris Walker, analyst
Garry Parish, sideline
Radio: Memphis Radio Network / 600 WREC
Dave Woloshin, play-by-play
Matt Dillon, analyst
Forrest Goodman, pregame/postgame host
Live Stats: Memphis Stat Broadcast
Game Notes: Memphis | USF
Rosters: Memphis | USF
Schedules: Memphis | USF
Media Guide: Memphis | USF

SETTING THE TABLE

•     Memphis' 11-point comeback was the team's largest since December 13, 2013, and is the ninth-longest in Josh Pastner's tenure as the Tigers' head coach
•     The Tigers are 86-24 all-time against teams from Florida, and are 17-1 in the last 18 games played within the sunshine state
•     The game brings former Memphis assistant coaches Orando Antigua and Rod Strickland back to FedExForum, as head coach (Antigua) and assistant (Strickland)
•     Dedric Lawson's six double-doubles this season (including one in the most recent game against Temple), gives him     the fifth-most single-season double-doubles among true freshmen in Memphis history
•     In three career games against USF, Sha–q Goodwin averages 12 points and 9.7 rebounds per game
•     Memphis has 28.9 percent of its points coming from the free throw line, the largest total in the country, and the second highest total since 2002-03.
•   Memphis started the season by using the same starting lineup through the first 10 games of the season, and five different lineup combinations over the last six games.
•   With the team's win over Temple, Memphis head coach Josh Pastner has climbed into sole possession of fourth place in program history in career coaching wins. He now stands 14 wins away from tying Zach Curlin's total of 173-184

SCOUTING THE BULLS

USF comes into the game looking to snap out of its current seven-game losing skid, as the team's last win came on December 16 against the Jacksonville Dolphins.

Mehemias Morillo scored a game-high 20 points in the last outing, an 81-70 loss at home against Tulane, while Jahmal McMurray scored 18 and Chris Perry 12. Ruben Guerrero pulled down nine rebounds, while McMurray and Angel Nunez each had three assists.

McMurray is the only player on the team averaging in double figures, at 13.8 per game, although five others - Roddy Peters (9.8), Perry (9.4), Nunez (9.1), Jaleel Cousins (8.5), and Morillo (8.5) are near the double-figure average.

DON'T CALL IT A COMEBACK

OK, I guess you can, considering the meat of this note is about the largest comebacks in head coach Josh Pastner's coaching era. Against Temple, the Tigers trailed by 11 in the second half before rallying for the two-point victory at FedExForum. That is a large comeback, and ranks ninth in the Pastner era for largest comebacks in a game.

MEMPHIS VS. THE SUNSHINE STATE

Memphis holds a strong 86-24 advantage all-time against teams from Florida, as the Tigers have faced off against teams from Florida as part of three different conferences, Metro Conference (Florida State), Conference USA (UCF and USF), and the current American Athletic Conference (UCF and USF). Pastner is 17-2 all-time against teams from the state.

SNOW BIRDS (WELL, SNOW TIGERS MAYBE)

While the game on Saturday will be played at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee, it is worth noting that the Tigers have had a strong run of games in the Sunshine state. The last time the Tigers have lost a game played in Florida was on January 18, 2012. Since then the Tigers have played eight games in the state, including a tournament win in the Old Spice Classic in Orlando during the 2013-14 season, and an exciting overtime win over Ohio State in Miami earlier this season. Since 2001, the Tigers are 17-1 in Florida, and also worth noting, the 2016 American Athletic Conference Tournament will be played in Orlando.

FAMILIAR FACES

When South Florida makes its way to FedExForum on Saturday morning, Tiger fans will see a pair of familiar faces. The head coach of the Bulls is former assistant coach Orlando Antigua, and he brought along Rod Strickland - another former Tiger assistant - as an assistant coach at South Florida.