Memphis Part II
 

Sunday, February 26th, 2023
2:00 PM
FedExForum
ESPN2

The Bearcats (18-10 [10-6 AAC], NET #79, KenPom #66) hit the road one last time this regular season as they travel to Memphis (21-7 [11-4 AAC], NET #39, KenPom #38) in a match-up where the winner will have the inside track on a top 3 seed in March's AAC tournament.

The Tigers bounced back from a 72-64 loss at Houston last weekend (where they played without Kendric Davis) with a midweek 83-78 victory at Wichita State. Their only home loss on the season has come at the hands of Tulane who won a 90-89 OT thriller at the FedExForum three weeks ago.

Memphis will be without the services of 5th-year 6'5 wing Keonte Kennedy (9.2 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 38.1% 3FG) who broke his hand while punching a wall in frustration after the Houston loss.

The Tigers continue to play fast (15th nationally in Adjusted Tempo), draw fouls (lead the AAC), and force turnovers (lead the AAC). They also lead the AAC in team FG% during conference play at 49.4%.

Memphis limited Cincinnati to its worse 3-point shooting performance of AAC play (25% on 6/24) during our first match-up - a 75-68 loss where Memphis held the lead for over 36 minutes of the game.

In the first game we chased Kendric Davis around as if he's exclusively a shooter, but only 3 of his 21 points came from beyond the arc. On the season he's shooting under 32% from three on 5 attempts per game. He takes more than 10 shots per game from inside the arc at 47%, gets to the free throw line 8 times per game, and averages nearly 6 assists. His game is built more on getting into the lane. We should be going under screens and not falling for pump fakes. Davis might make some threes, but scheming to stop that just invites him to do damage driving the ball.

Williams led Memphis with 26 in the first game, but he was making a lot of tough shots. I think we can beat Memphis if some of those don't go and we hit a decent percentage from three.

Memphis are 5.5-point favorites

They denied DDJ the ball on the wing last time we played. This might be a good game to let him run point most of the game or figure out a way to hand the ball off rather than passes to the wing.

The lack of hustle from Nolley at times is absurd.

Memphis up 28-16 at the 8:00 mark today.

They were also up 28-16 at the 6:34 mark in the first match-up.

We're acting like we've never seen a team pick up man defense at half court. Bad turnovers all over the place. Everyone needs to take a few steps out. Ball screens should be outside the 3pt line, corners should step out to the wing, and post move to the free throw line. Shorten the passes and leave the lane and baseline open so we can get rim looks when we break through.

19 turnovers and counting. Simply outclassed.

Wow. Two 86% free throw shooters missing front ends, otherwise could be a tie game.

Frustrating game. Easily winnable if we cut down on live ball turnovers.