Tigers, Blazers renew longstanding basketball rivalry

Saturday, December 7

Birmingham, Ala.

4:30 PM

University of Memphis

UAB

Tickets

Precious Achiuwa (55) is averaging 13.9 points and 9...4 rebounds

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Tigers, Blazers renew longstanding basketball rivalry

Dec 06, 2019 | Men's Basketball

Memphis Notes (vs. UAB)UAB Notes (vs. Memphis)

UofM looking to win sixth straight game since Nov. 12

By: Phil Stukenborg

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – It used to be a heated rivalry when both programs were in the same conference.

The University of Memphis and UAB were, at one time, members together of the Great Midwest Conference and Conference USA. UAB's athletic program was started by Gene Bartow, the former men's basketball coach at the UofM, adding more intrigue to the rivalry.

When the 15^th-ranked Tigers travel to Birmingham to play the Blazers at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, the two schools will be playing for the fourth-straight season, each of the games being out of conference.

That doesn't mean the games won't be played without passion.

"This is really our first road test, true road test at someone else's arena with their home fans being there," said Tigers coach Penny Hardaway. "It is a game where they don't like us and we don't like them -- that might be a little harsh -- but what I mean is the rivalry is always going to be tough.

"It's always been a knockdown, drag-out battle with UAB over the years going back to when I played (in the early 1990s)."

The Tigers (7-1) will be seeking their sixth-straight win since losing at nationally ranked Oregon last month.

The UofM has been on the winning streak despite not having James Wiseman, its preseason All-American center, and Lester Quinones, another highly regarded member of the nation's top-rated recruiting class. Wiseman is sitting out, per an NCAA ruling, until Jan. 12. Quinones is recovering from a hand injury he suffered in a Nov. 23 win over Ole Miss.

Much of the team's success has been the result of strong contributions from sophomore guards Alex Lomax and Tyler Harris and freshmen Precious Achiuwa, Boogie Ellis and D.J. Jeffries.

Lomax has been extremely effective running the team. He had seven assists in back-to-back wins over Ole Miss and NC State and scored a career-high 17 points in a 71-56 win over Bradley. Harris has had back-to-back double-figure efforts.

Achiuwa is coming off a season-high 14-rebound effort against Bradley. Ellis scored 21 points in the win over NC State in Brooklyn and Jeffries grabbed a season-high nine rebounds against Bradley.

Jeffries has moved into the starting lineup since Quinones was sidelined. Jeffries' offensive production has declined slightly since becoming a starter (7.0 ppg. average as a starter compared to 14.0 ppg. as a reserve).

"I think I was more comfortable coming off the bench," Jeffries said. "By watching the game I can see what I can do better and not come in and make the same mistakes."

Where Hardaway would like the Tigers to make improvements is on the boards. Bradley outrebounded the UofM, 55-47, including 23 offensive rebounds.

Jeffries said the Tigers need to concentrate on the fundamentals. Hardaway said practices may be a bit more physical to drive home the point.

NOTES

Tigers coach Penny Hardaway said freshman guard Boogie Ellis, who took a hard fall in the win over Bradley, has recovered "after hitting all back." Hardaway said Ellis was "walking a lot better" Thursday morning "I guess that's where youth comes in," Hardaway said. "I would have been out for two years."
The Tigers hope to get increased productivity from freshman forward Malcolm Dandridge, who made his debut against NC State (7 minutes) and played 13 minutes against Bradley. "He's going to get better every game," Hardaway said.
UAB has a tough conference schedule that includes consecutive games against Kentucky, Texas and Memphis. The Blazers lost at Kentucky, 69-58, on Nov. 29 and at Texas, 67-57, on Tuesday.