University of Memphis Athletics
Saturday, January 27
Memphis, Tenn.
5 PM
University of Memphis
vs
Cincinnati
Tigers brace for visit from No. 9 Cincinnati
Jan 26, 2018 | Men's Basketball
MEMPHIS – The University of Memphis Tigers are 12-1 at home, winners of four of their past five games and in the midst of a one-week break between games.
The Tigers are hoping those factors are beneficial as they prepare for their biggest home game of the season: Saturday's 5 p.m. American Athletic Conference showdown against No. 9 Cincinnati at FedExForum.
Memphis (13-7, 4-3 American) will be playing at home against a team ranked in the Top 10 nationally for the 11th time since the turn of the century. The Tigers are 5-5 in the previous 10 games, with victories over No. 5 Georgetown (in 2007-08), No. 6 Louisville (in 2003-04), No. 7 Illinois (in 2002-03), No. 7 Louisville (2013-14) and No. 8 Gonzaga (2005-06) during that stretch.
The Bearcats are only the second Top 10 opponent to play the Tigers at FedExForum in the past four seasons.
Cincinnati (18-2, 7-0 American) will be a challenging matchup for the Tigers. Memphis lost to the Bearcats, 82-48, on New Year's Eve in Highland Heights, Ky. The Tigers shot a season-low 32.1 percent in that game, including 4-of-22 (18.2 percent) from beyond the arc.
But the Tigers have recovered since then. Memphis put together a four-game conference winning streak (victories over Tulsa, Tulane, Temple and UConn) before a 64-51 loss at Tulsa last weekend.
Also, point guard Jeremiah Martin emerged as one of the league's top players during the streak, averaging 26.5 points and scoring a career-high 31 points in the win over Tulane. Tiger coach Tubby Smith said Martin is recovering from a bruised hip injury he suffered late in the loss at Tulsa and is expected to be near full strength against the Bearcats.
"He's been getting a lot of treatment," Smith said. "He's fine."
Cincinnati has been dominating, especially defensively, in winning its seven conference games. The Bearcats rank first in the American in multiple defensive categories, including scoring defense (56.6), field goal percentage defense (36.4) and 3-point field goal percentage defense (31.7). The Bearcats also rank first in blocked shots (112 or 5.6 per game) and steals (168 or 8.4 per game).
After Wednesday night's 75-42 AAC win over Temple, the Bearcats have won 11 straight.
"They are really clicking on all cylinders right now," Smith said. "They are a very physical team."
NOTABLES
The Tigers are hoping those factors are beneficial as they prepare for their biggest home game of the season: Saturday's 5 p.m. American Athletic Conference showdown against No. 9 Cincinnati at FedExForum.
Memphis (13-7, 4-3 American) will be playing at home against a team ranked in the Top 10 nationally for the 11th time since the turn of the century. The Tigers are 5-5 in the previous 10 games, with victories over No. 5 Georgetown (in 2007-08), No. 6 Louisville (in 2003-04), No. 7 Illinois (in 2002-03), No. 7 Louisville (2013-14) and No. 8 Gonzaga (2005-06) during that stretch.
The Bearcats are only the second Top 10 opponent to play the Tigers at FedExForum in the past four seasons.
Cincinnati (18-2, 7-0 American) will be a challenging matchup for the Tigers. Memphis lost to the Bearcats, 82-48, on New Year's Eve in Highland Heights, Ky. The Tigers shot a season-low 32.1 percent in that game, including 4-of-22 (18.2 percent) from beyond the arc.
But the Tigers have recovered since then. Memphis put together a four-game conference winning streak (victories over Tulsa, Tulane, Temple and UConn) before a 64-51 loss at Tulsa last weekend.
Also, point guard Jeremiah Martin emerged as one of the league's top players during the streak, averaging 26.5 points and scoring a career-high 31 points in the win over Tulane. Tiger coach Tubby Smith said Martin is recovering from a bruised hip injury he suffered late in the loss at Tulsa and is expected to be near full strength against the Bearcats.
"He's been getting a lot of treatment," Smith said. "He's fine."
Cincinnati has been dominating, especially defensively, in winning its seven conference games. The Bearcats rank first in the American in multiple defensive categories, including scoring defense (56.6), field goal percentage defense (36.4) and 3-point field goal percentage defense (31.7). The Bearcats also rank first in blocked shots (112 or 5.6 per game) and steals (168 or 8.4 per game).
After Wednesday night's 75-42 AAC win over Temple, the Bearcats have won 11 straight.
"They are really clicking on all cylinders right now," Smith said. "They are a very physical team."
NOTABLES
- The Tigers are 7-0 when they have 15 or more assists in a game this season. Memphis had only four assists in last weekend's 64-51 loss at Tulsa.
- Cincinnati is one of eight teams that have participated in each of the last seven NCAA tournaments. The others: Duke, Kansas, North Carolina, Gonzaga, Michigan State, VCU and Wisconsin.
- While the Bearcats are only the 11th Top 10 opponent the Tigers have faced at home since 2000-01, the Tigers played a ranked foe (No. 25 South Carolina) last season at home and won, 70-54.
- Memphis forward Mike Parks is averaging 12.9 points and shooting 66 percent (40-of-61) in the Tigers' seven conference games.
- Kyvon Davenport recorded his fourth double-double of the season Jan. 20 at Tulsa. He scored a career-high 21 points with 10 rebounds.
- The Bearcats have been dominating opponents on the boards this season. UC out-rebounds them by plus-9.2 boards per game (40.4 to 31.2).
Players Mentioned
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