Tigers Host Nicholls in Non-Conference Finale

Tuesday, January 5

Memphis, Tenn.

7 pm CT

University of Memphis

Nicholls

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Photo by: Joe Murphy

Jan 04, 2016 | Men's Basketball

GAME INFORMATION
Memphis (9-4) vs. Nicholls (4-10)
When: Tuesday, January 5, 2016
Tip-Off: 7 p.m. (CT)
Location: Memphis, Tenn.
Arena: FedExForum
TV: ESPN3/ WatchESPN
Greg Gaston, play-by-play
Jon Albright, analyst
Radio: Memphis Radio Network / 600 WREC
Dave Woloshin, play-by-play
Matt Dillon, analyst
Forrest Goodman, pregame/postgame host
Live Stats: Memphis StatBroadcast
Game Notes: Memphis | Nicholls
Rosters: Memphis | Nicholls
Schedules: Memphis | Nicholls
Media Guide: Memphis | Nicholls

SETTING THE TABLE

•     The 46 free throw makes and 63 free throw attempts by South Carolina mark a single-game school record for Memphis opponents; Memphis' 41 fouls set a new program mark as well.
•     Memphis currently leads the country in blocked shots per game, averaging 7.2 per contest. If the Tigers continue at their current pace, they will finish with the fourth-most single-season blocked shots in program history.
•     Memphis also ranks third in the NCAA in field goal percentage defense and free throws made.
•     The opponents of Memphis' four losses have a combined 46-5 record this season
•     29.2 percent of Memphis' points this season have come from the charity stripe, the second-highest such percentage in NCAA Division I since 2002-03
•     Memphis will face five opponents for six total games this season against teams from the state of Louisiana
•     Memphis is 93-15 all-time against teams from the Bayou State
•     Memphis is undefeated this season when the score at least 80 points in a game
•     Shaq Goodwin climbed three spots in the career scoring list against South Carolina, and now stands 37th in school history with 1,119 career points, needing four more points to pass Ernest Smith for 36th.
•     Dedric Lawson stands fifth in NCAA Division I freshman in rebounds per game (8.8), blocked shots per game (2.3), and total double-doubles (5)
•     With his next win, Memphis head coach Josh Pastner will tie Dana Kirk for fourth on the school's all-time wins list

SCOUTING THE COLONELS

Nicholls comes into its final non-conference game of the season with a 4-10 overall record, having dropped the last four games against Canisius, Houston, and Lamar.

Ja'Dante' Frye scored a team-high 17 points, hitting 5-of-10 shots from the field, while Shane Rillieux scored 12 and T.J. Carpernter added 10, seven coming at the charity stripe. The team was led in rebounding by Jonathan Bell with six, as the Colonels were out-rebounded 46-to-34 in the contest. Carpenter also dished out three assists, as Liam Thomas blocked a game-high four shots.

This season Frye leads the team averaging 17.2 points and 5.9 rebounds per game, while Carpenter averages 12.4 points and has dished out a team-leading 38 assists. Thomas averages just under a block and a half per game, while Frye leads the team by averaging a steal per contest.

NATION'S LEADERS

Following a nine-block effort against nationally ranked South Carolina, the Memphis Tigers have climbed into the No. 1 spot in the national rankings in the category, averaging 7.2 blocked shots per game, while ranking third in field goal percentage defense and free throws made.

FINAL NOTES VS. SOUTH CAROLINA

•   Shaq Goodwin reached double figures, marking the first time that he has reached double-figure scoring this season and the team has lost the game.
•   Ricky Tarrant Jr. reached the 20-point plateau for the third time this season, and Memphis is 0-3 when he scores 20 or more points.
•   The game was the first loss for the Tigers when winning the opening tip
•   The game was the first time this season that Memphis did not make more free throws than its opponent
•   Shaq Goodwin passed Baskerville Holmes, Bob Neumann, and Don Holcomb into 37th in the school's career scoring list
•   The team's 10-point loss was the team's largest of the season

POWERFUL LOSSES

This season, Memphis has fallen to four teams - Oklahoma, UT Arlington, Ole Miss, and South Carolina. Those four teams, as of January 3, have a combined record of 46-5 (Oklahoma, 12-0; UT Arlington, 11-2; Ole Miss, 10-3; South Carolina, 13-0).

GETTING DEFENSIVE

The Memphis Tigers rank in the top-50 in numerous key defensive categories this season, including blocked shots (1st), field goal percentage defense (4th), total rebounds (7th), three-point field goal percentage defense (33rd), and steals (46).