University of Memphis Athletics
Tuesday, November 9
Memphis, Tenn.
7 p.m.
University of Memphis
vs
Tennessee Tech
Photo by: Matthew A. Smith
No. 12/16 Tigers Begin Highly Anticipated 2021-22 Season Tuesday Night
Nov 08, 2021 | Men's Basketball
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The 101st season of Memphis Tiger Basketball gets underway Tuesday at 7 p.m., as the No. 12/16 Tigers host Tennessee Tech at FedExForum.
Memphis is coming off the 2021 National Invitation Tournament championship and a 20-8 season, and to a returning core of three starters and seven letterwinners the Tigers have added the nation's top-ranked recruiting class for the second time in three seasons.
Prior to tip-off Tuesday night, the NIT Championship banner will be unveiled inside FedExForum.
The Tigers were picked to finish second in the 2021-22 American Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches Poll, just behind 2021 Final Four participant Houston.
Memphis and Tennessee Tech most recently matched up on Nov. 6, 2018, which was the first game of the Penny Hardaway head coaching era. Memphis defeated the Golden Eagles in that game, 76-61, and has now won six-straight contests against Tennessee Tech.
Tuesday's game is the start of a season-opening four-game homestand for the Tigers, who will next host North Carolina Central at 6 p.m. Saturday. The Tigers welcome Saint Louis and Western Kentucky to FedExForum next week before traveling to Brooklyn, N.Y., for the NIT Season Tip-Off the week of Thanksgiving.
The Tigers have won seven-straight games at FedExForum and are 43-7 at home under Hardaway.
Tuesday's game is presented by Regional One Health.
Season tickets for 2021-22 start as low as $100 per seat and are available online at www.GoTigersGoTix.com or by phone at (901) 678-2331. Single-game tickets are also on sale at www.GoTigersGoTix.com.
FEDEXFORUM COVID-19 POLICIES
FedExForum has implemented a policy requiring fans 12 and older to present proof of a COVID-19 vaccination OR proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours to attend all scheduled Tigers and Memphis Grizzlies games at the venue through at least Nov. 19. Fans have to have at least started the vaccine series but do not have to yet be fully vaccinated.
There are three ways to present proof of a COVID-19 vaccination or proof of a negative COVID-19 test:
In accordance with the latest Shelby County Health Department Directive No. 27, as of Oct. 28 masks are no longer required – but are highly recommended – for all events at FedExForum. Children ages 2-11 will need to follow the current attendance policy and be masked while inside FedExForum for Tigers and Grizzlies games.
GAME DETAILS
#12/16 Memphis Tigers (0-0) vs. Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles (0-0)
Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021 | 7 p.m. CT
FedExForum (18,400); Memphis, Tenn.
Television: ESPN+ (Greg Gaston, pxp; Jon Albright, analysis)
Radio: 98.9 THE ROAR OF MEMPHIS (Dave Woloshin, pxp; Matt Dillon, analysis)
BY THE NUMBERS
Memphis is coming off the 2021 National Invitation Tournament championship and a 20-8 season, and to a returning core of three starters and seven letterwinners the Tigers have added the nation's top-ranked recruiting class for the second time in three seasons.
Prior to tip-off Tuesday night, the NIT Championship banner will be unveiled inside FedExForum.
The Tigers were picked to finish second in the 2021-22 American Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches Poll, just behind 2021 Final Four participant Houston.
Memphis and Tennessee Tech most recently matched up on Nov. 6, 2018, which was the first game of the Penny Hardaway head coaching era. Memphis defeated the Golden Eagles in that game, 76-61, and has now won six-straight contests against Tennessee Tech.
Tuesday's game is the start of a season-opening four-game homestand for the Tigers, who will next host North Carolina Central at 6 p.m. Saturday. The Tigers welcome Saint Louis and Western Kentucky to FedExForum next week before traveling to Brooklyn, N.Y., for the NIT Season Tip-Off the week of Thanksgiving.
The Tigers have won seven-straight games at FedExForum and are 43-7 at home under Hardaway.
Tuesday's game is presented by Regional One Health.
Season tickets for 2021-22 start as low as $100 per seat and are available online at www.GoTigersGoTix.com or by phone at (901) 678-2331. Single-game tickets are also on sale at www.GoTigersGoTix.com.
FEDEXFORUM COVID-19 POLICIES
FedExForum has implemented a policy requiring fans 12 and older to present proof of a COVID-19 vaccination OR proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours to attend all scheduled Tigers and Memphis Grizzlies games at the venue through at least Nov. 19. Fans have to have at least started the vaccine series but do not have to yet be fully vaccinated.
There are three ways to present proof of a COVID-19 vaccination or proof of a negative COVID-19 test:
- CLEAR App Health Pass (fully vaccinated only)
- Physical vaccination card or test result
- Digital photo of vaccination card or test result
In accordance with the latest Shelby County Health Department Directive No. 27, as of Oct. 28 masks are no longer required – but are highly recommended – for all events at FedExForum. Children ages 2-11 will need to follow the current attendance policy and be masked while inside FedExForum for Tigers and Grizzlies games.
GAME DETAILS
#12/16 Memphis Tigers (0-0) vs. Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles (0-0)
Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021 | 7 p.m. CT
FedExForum (18,400); Memphis, Tenn.
Television: ESPN+ (Greg Gaston, pxp; Jon Albright, analysis)
Radio: 98.9 THE ROAR OF MEMPHIS (Dave Woloshin, pxp; Matt Dillon, analysis)
BY THE NUMBERS
- 57.5: Percent of Memphis' scoring returning in 2021-22, including three of its top-five scorers from last season, along with 49.2 percent of its rebounding.
- 25.8: Memphis' average win total in the season immediately following its five previous NIT trips in the 2000s.
- 2011-12: The last time the Tigers were ranked this high in the Associated Press Preseason Top 25 Poll (11th).
- 18: Consecutive home-opener wins for Memphis, dating back to an 81-80 overtime loss to Austin Peay on Nov. 22, 2002.
- 4: Programs in the nation have won at least 18 games in each of the last 21 seasons starting in 2000-01 (Memphis, Kansas, Gonzaga, Syracuse).
- The Tigers won the 2021 National Invitation Tournament with a 77-64 win over Mississippi State on March 28 in Frisco, Texas.
- The NIT title was Memphis' second all-time, joining 2002.
- Boogie Ellis led the Tigers with 23 points against Mississippi State, and he hit 4-of-7 3-point tries.
- Ellis also had five assists.
- D.J. Jeffries added 15 points and blocked five shots, and DeAndre Williams had 12 points.
- Lester Quinones grabbed 16 rebounds, including five on the offensive end, and he was named to the NIT All-Tournament Team.
- Landers Nolley II was named the NIT's Most Outstanding Player after averaging 16.5 points per outing in the tournament.
- Tennessee Tech returns 10 players from a season ago, including three-time All-Ohio Valley Conference selection Jr. Clay and backcourt mate Keishawn Davidson.
- Last season Clay ranked second in the OVC in scoring (17.3 ppg) while also averaging 3.7 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game while hitting a career-best 58 3-pointers.
- Clay is only the second player in Tennessee Tech history to score 400 or more points in three seasons.
- Clay was named to the 2021-22 Preseason All-OVC Team.
- Davidson, who averaged 11.1 points per game, had 118 assists last year, becoming just the third Tennessee Tech player to account for 100-plus assists in his freshman and sophomore seasons.
- The Golden Eagles welcome seven newcomers, including five Division I transfers.
Players Mentioned
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