Tigers, Temple set for 7 p.m. tipoff

Wednesday, February 5

Memphis, Tenn.

7 PM

University of Memphis

Temple

Tickets

Memphis Men’s Basketball vs. University of Connecticut

Damion Baugh (10) is part of a Memphis bench averaging 28 points per game.

Photo by: Matthew A. Smith

Feb 04, 2020 | Men's Basketball

Memphis Notes (vs. Temple)Temple Notes (vs. Memphis)

On 2-game win streak, UofM welcomes Owls to FedExForum

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Another stretch of the American Athletic Conference season, another challenge for the University of Memphis men's basketball team.

Early in the season, the Tigers dealt with the loss of 7-foot-1 center James Wiseman, considered the nation's No. 1 recruit last year and a preseason All-American. His career lasted only three games before an NCAA suspension eventually led Wiseman to forgo the remainder of the season, even through he could have returned in mid-January.

There was the loss of 6-foot-5 freshman guard Lester Quinones in late November to a broken hand that sidelined him for slightly more than a month.

And the latest setback? Tigers' 6-foot-7 freshman forward D.J. Jeffries, the team's second-leading scorer at 10.8 points per game, suffered a left knee injury in practice that will keep him sidelined for most of what remains of the regular season.

With that as a backdrop, the UofM will play the second game of a three-game home stand at 7 p.m. Wednesday at FedExForum against the Temple Owls, in their first season with former NBA and Temple player Aaron McKie as head coach.

Memphis coach Penny Hardaway is growing accustomed to dealing with hurdles. Fortunately for him and the Tigers, several players have stepped up in recent games.

Freshman guard Boogie Ellis is averaging 11 points in the team's last three games and shooting 60 percent from long range (6-for-10). Sophomore forward Lance Thomas had had back-to-back games of 20 points (a career-high) and 14 points. Against UConn Saturday, he had a career-high five blocks.

Ellis had scored only 13 points in the previous six games before his breakout run. Thomas had scored only 22 points in his previous 12 games before the 20-point game at UCF.

Hardaway will need similar performances from the duo to complement 6-foot-9 forward Precious Achiuwa, the conference's leading rebounder, and to offset the rugged play of Temple (11-10 overall, 3-6 American).

"The physicality that they play with," Hardaway said, when asked about the challenge Temple presents. " An older bunch, the same challenge we have against most teams. They are veteran guys.

"I spoke to Coach (Aaron) McKie about this last summer when he first got the job. (I told) him this was a veteran's league. So they are going to tell the older guys to beat up on the young guys, for sure. So that's a concern."

Quinton Rose leads Temple with a 15.6 scoring average that ranks second in the conference. Nate Pierre- Louis averages eight rebounds per game.

The Owls have lost seven of their last nine, but own a victory over then-No. 16 Wichita State in mid-January. They also beat East Carolina by holding Jayden Gardner, the league's leading scorer at 21 points per game, to 11 points in 38 minutes.

TIGERS NOTEBOOK

Temple coach Aaron McKie and Tigers coach Penny Hardaway are among 28 former NBA players serving as head coaches at the Division 1 level.
The Tigers are 11-2 at home this season. They are 3-1 in home league games.
Temple is 8-0 when holding opponents to 62 or fewer points.
Tigers forward Precious Achiuwa ranks first among the nation's freshmen in rebounding (10.1) and double-doubles (11).
Fifteen of the 21 games in the series have been decided by single digits.