Men's basketball opens second season vs. San Diego

Tuesday, March 19

Memphis, Tenn.

7 PM

University of Memphis

San Diego

Tickets

Antwann Jones will be playing in the postseason as a freshman.

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Mar 18, 2019 | Men's Basketball

Memphis NIT Notes (vs. San Diego)San Diego NIT Notes (vs Memphis)

Tigers, Toreros won't be `playing by the rules' as the NIT kicks off at FedExForum

By: Phil Stukenborg

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Tuesday night at FedExForum, the University of Memphis will play its first postseason game since 2014. Forgive the Tigers if they don't completely recognize their surroundings.

Not only will the opponent – the University of San Diego -- be unfamiliar, so will some of the rules. Several experimental rules will be used, including a wider lane and a deeper 3-point line.

Tiger coach Penny Hardaway isn't overly concerned with the changes, which will include the 3-point line being extended by 1 foot, 8 inches to 22 feet, 1.75 inches (the distance implemented for international competition).

The free throw lane will be widened from 12 to 16 feet, the width used by the NBA, and the shot clock will re-set at 20 seconds after an offensive rebound instead of the full 30 seconds. Also, team fouls will be re-set at the 10-minute mark of each half for the purpose of determining free throws. One-and-one free throws will be eliminated.

There are several other minor changes relating to fouls and overtime, but, again, Hardaway isn't worried by playing under new rules in the NIT.

"That's very cool, that's out of my (NBA) era," said Hardaway, former NBA All-Star with the Orlando Magic. "It won't change anything strategically at all. We play fast, We don't really want to hold the ball."

Hardaway said the practice court at the Laurie-Walton Family Basketball Center has an NBA-distance 3-point line, so the farther shot shouldn't be an issue.

"As long as the rules are the same for everybody, I'm OK with it," Hardaway said.

Memphis (21-13) is in the post-season for the first time since 2014, a rare, lengthy drought for the program. The Tigers are a No. 3 seed in the Lower Right Bracket of the 32-team tournament, whose first three rounds will be held on campus sites and whose semifinals and finals are held at Madison Square Garden in New York.

San Diego (21-14) is a program enjoying unprecedented success. The Toreros, the No. 6 seed, have won 20 or more games in back-to-back seasons for the first time. And they are led by 6-foot-7 forward Isaiah Pineiro, who is averaging 19 points and 9.5 rebounds.

The Toreros reached the semifinals of the WCC Tournament last week.

"They got to the final four of their conference tournament, they've got some athletes, and they've had back-to-back 20-plus win seasons," Hardaway said. "They play about seven strong and they are a pretty good team."

QUICK FACTS

Tiger coach Penny Hardaway said senior forward Kyvon Davenport, who missed most of the second half in The American tournament semifinals with a bruised knee, will play against San Diego. "Kyvon has gotten better," Hardaway said. "He is much better than he was on Saturday."
Like Memphis, San Diego is being led by a first-year coach. Sam School was introduced last April as the 13^th head coach in program history and just the sixth since the Toreros moved to Division 1 in 1979-80.
San Diego guard Tyler Williams is second on the team with 62 made 3-pointers and is shooting 38 percent from long range.
Jeremiah Martin ranks third in school history for most points in a season by a senior. He has 667. He trails only Larry Finch (721) and Keith Lee (688). He passed Elliot Perry (665) Saturday in the conference semifinal loss to Houston.