Showdown with No. 4 Alabama on Deck for Tigers

Tuesday, December 13

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

8:00 PM

University of Memphis

#4/5 Alabama

Dec 12, 2022 | Men's Basketball

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MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Fresh off their biggest win of the season, the Memphis Tigers get ready for an even tougher test Tuesday when they travel to Tuscaloosa to take on No. 4 Alabama in another nationally televised showdown on ESPN2. Tip inside Coleman Coliseum is set for 8 p.m. where the Tigers will look to extend their six-game win streak.

The matchup with the Crimson Tide will be Memphis' fourth game against a Southeastern Conference opponent. The Tigers have already defeated Vanderbilt, Ole Miss and No. 11 Auburn.

Alabama enters the game No. 4 in the nation in the AP poll after knocking off No. 1 Houston, 71-65, on Saturday. It marked the Tide's second victory of the season over the country's top-ranked team, becoming the first to do so before the New Year since Duke in 1956-57.

The Crimson Tide is led by outstanding freshman Brandon Miller, who leads the nation's freshmen with 17.9 points per game. He is also pulling down 8.4 rebounds per game and making 3.0 long balls each time out.

Alabama ranks No. 1 in the country in rebounding (49.6), defensive rebounds per game (33.3), offensive rebounds per game (16.2) and No. 2 in rebound margin (+12.9).

The Tigers return home Dec. 17 to welcome Texas A&M at 6 p.m. to FedExForum.

GAME DETAILS
Memphis Tigers (8-2) vs. #4/5 Alabama (8-1)
Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022 | 8 p.m. CT
Coleman Coliseum (14,474); Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Television: ESPN2 (Tom Hart, pxp; Fran Fraschilla, analysis)
Radio: 98.9 THE ROAR OF MEMPHIS (Dave Woloshin, pxp; Matt Dillon, analysis)
Satellite: Sirius 134 / SXM App 201

BY THE NUMBERS

2013: The last time Memphis defeated a top-5 team (No. 5 Oklahoma State, 12/1/13, 73-68); the Tigers have lost three-straight games against top-5 opponents.
2: Alex Lomax's rank nationally in steals with 30 through 10 games, just 5 behind the leader (Malique Jacobs - Kent St.) The senior also ranks 3rd in the country in steals per game at 3.00. He has 3+ swipes in 7-of-10 games this season and four with 4+.
6: Memphis' win streak that matches the 2nd-longest win streak in five seasons under Penny Hardaway. The Tigers won 10 straight in 2019-20 and have now won 6 straight in each of the last three seasons.
5: Tigers already have five wins over Power Five conference opponents, including two SEC foes. Their next two outings are also versus SEC teams, setting them up for a strong resume builder.
10: Kendric Davis is 10th on the NCAA Division I's active career leaders list with 569 career assists. Alex Lomax is 29th with 448.
19: Memphis' national rank in adjusted defensive efficiency (90.9 points allowed per 100 possessions against the average Division I offense).
21: Rank in the country in field goal defense at 37.9%. The Tigers have held two opponents to under 30% and four to 35% or les
1^st: Memphis is playing its first top-5 opponent of the season as the Crimson Tide are 4th in the AP and 5h in the coaches poll.
16: NBA teams have requested credentials for Tuesday's game as of Monday afternoon.

THE LAST TIME OUT

The Tigers earned a win in their biggest test of the season Saturday afternoon with an 82-73 win over No. 11 Auburn inside the State Farm Arena on ESPN2.
Memphis led by as many as 15 in the second half en route to their sixth-straight victory and its third win over a Southeastern Conference opponent this season. Auburn was one of just 10 unbeaten teams in the country entering the day.
A trio of players were in double figures, led by Kendric Davis' 27 points, a career high-tying nine rebounds and six assists.
DeAndre Williams added his third double-double of the year behind 16 points and 11 rebounds, while Alex Lomax chipped in 13.
Davis and Williams also combined for nine of the team's 14 assists and four steals.
Memphis' well-rounded game as a whole included shooting 50 percent from the field (30-60) despite turning the ball over a season-high 19 times.
Memphis dominated the glass 43-32 and grabbed 14 on the offensive end and outscored them 50-24, the most Auburn had allowed all season.
Memphis entered the night 27th in the nation allowing opponents to shoot just 37.8 percent from the floor. They held Auburn to 38.1 percent (24-63

NOTING THE OPPONENT

Alabama is ranked No. 4 in the AP Top 25 Poll, the highest ranking for the Tide since 2006-07 (Ranked No. 4).
For the second straight week, Noah Clowney has been named SEC Freshman of the Week.
Alabama is the first team since 1965-66 (Duke) with multiple wins over the AP No. 1 team before the New Year.
Alabama's win over No. 1 Houston was the Tide's first true road victory over the nation's top-ranked team in almost 40 years, dating back to Jan. 28, 1983 when UA won at then-No. 1 UCLA, 70-67.
Brandon Miller is averaging 17.9 points per game, the most by any freshman in the country and No. 65 overall.
Miller is the only freshman in the country to rank in the top 65 in points per game (No. 65) and rebounds per game (No. 65).
Miller is averaging 3.0 three-pointers per game, which ranks No. 34 in the country.
Alabama is the only school in Division I to have two freshmen rank in the top 75 in rebounds per game, as Miller ranks No. 65 (8.4 rpg) and Noah Clowney ranks No. 73 (8.3 rpg).
Alabama ranks No. 1 in the country in rebounds per game (49.6), defensive rebounds per game (33.3), offensive rebounds per game (16.2) and No. 2 in rebound margin (+12.9).
Alabama's newcomers have scored 589 of the Tide's 739 points this season.

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