University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
Arkansas State
Memphis Basketball opens 2020-21 home schedule Wednesday against Arkansas State
Dec 01, 2020 | Men's Basketball
After opening its season last week in South Dakota, Memphis is set for its home opener Wednesday against Arkansas State at the FedExForum.
The Tigers (1-2) defeated Saint Mary's in the first round of the Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic in Sioux Falls, S.D., last Wednesday before falling to Western Kentucky in the semifinals on Thursday and VCU in the third-place game on Friday.
"The practices this week have been extremely hard," said Memphis head coach Penny Hardaway. "The guys have been unified and together. That tournament was meant for us to get better, and we did get better from it. You will see the difference tomorrow night."
Game Details
Memphis vs. Arkansas State
Tip-off: 7 p.m. CT
Location: FedExForum (18,400); Memphis, Tenn.
Broadcast: ESPN+ (Dave Woloshin, pxp; Jon Albright, analysis)
Radio: 102.7 FM/NewsRadio 600 AM WREC (Jeff Brightwell, pxp; Matt Dillon, analysis)
Scouting Arkansas State
Arkansas State is in its fourth season under head coach Mike Balado. The Red Wolves have improved their record in each season under Balado, going 11-21 in his first season, 13-19 in his second and 16-16 last season.
Picked in the preseason to finish fourth in the Sun Belt West, Arkansas State (0-2) opened its season with a 70-56 loss to Marshall last Friday followed by a 69-61 loss to Morehead State on Sunday.
The Red Wolves are led by guards Caleb Fields and Marquis Eaton. Fields is averaging a team-high 17 points per game through two contests after scoring a career-high 22 points against Morehead State. Eaton, a preseason second-team All-Sun Belt selection, led the team with 13.3 points per game last season.
"Their best players are their guards, and that's something we have been having a problem with," Hardaway said. "Those two guards are going to try to impose their will on our team. They are going to run plays to get those guys the ball. We know we have our work cut out for us with those two guys."
Memphis holds a 32-28 advantage in the all-time series with Arkansas State, including winning the last six matchups. The teams last met Dec. 1, 2010, a 78-71 overtime victory for the Tigers.
Home opener history
Memphis has not lost a home opener since 2002. The Tigers have never lost a home opener at FedExForum, where the team began playing in 2004. Under Hardaway, Memphis has won both its home openers by an average margin of 80-62.
The Tigers practiced inside FedExForum for the first time this season on Tuesday.
"Everyone is ready to play in the Forum," Hardaway said. "The guys that are new, they had never been in the Forum before (Tuesday). They are all excited for tomorrow's game."
For fans attending the game, click here for 2020-21 FedExForum guidelines.
Wooden watch
Sophomore guard Landers Nolley II was recently named to the 2021 John R. Wooden Award Preseason Top 50 Watch List.
Nolley II is averaging 13.7 points and 29.6 minutes per contest through three games. He has connected on 8-of-17 3-point attempts. He spent last season at Virginia Tech, where he was named to the Atlantic Coast Conference All-Freshman Team after averaging 15.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists.
Ellis earns AAC honor
Sophomore guard Boogie Ellis was named to the American Athletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll after leading Memphis in scoring over three games in South Dakota last week.
Ellis scored a combined 48 points while coming off the bench in all three games. He posted a career-high 24 points with six 3-pointers against Saint Mary's and followed that performance with 14 points against WKU and 10 against VCU.
Looking ahead
After tomorrow's game, the Tigers remain home to face Central Arkansas on Friday night at 7 p.m. Memphis is also home Tuesday night at 7 p.m. against Mississippi Valley State.
