Regardless of their spectacular file and first-place standing within the American Athletic Convention, the Memphis Tigers discover their NCAA Event resume weakening within the eyes of many prognosticators.
The Twenty second-ranked Tigers will attempt to get again on observe once they host Florida Atlantic on Sunday in Memphis.
The Tigers (21-5, 11-2 AAC) had an eight-game successful streak snapped in an 84-79 extra time loss at Wichita State on Feb. 16.
Coincidentally, Florida Atlantic (15-11, 8-5) is also coming off a loss to the Shockers in its most up-to-date recreation, on Thursday.
Memphis, though nonetheless projected to make the NCAA Event, has seen its projected seeding slip just a few spots in a number of brackets. The Tigers might want to keep away from extra damaging losses to solidify their postseason standing over the ultimate two weeks of the common season and the AAC match.
Nevertheless, Memphis’ powerful nonconference slate, towards which it went 10-3, and the truth that the Tigers have a 6-2 file in Quad 1 video games lead coach Penny Hardaway to imagine his facet is undervalued.
“I really feel like we might be 26-0 and nonetheless be a No. 6 seed,” Hardaway mentioned on Friday. “It is nearly deflating to the fellows in all probability, as a result of they are going, ‘Man, how does this work?’
“We did all that work within the nonconference, and we have solely misplaced two video games in convention. I really like our convention. It is tougher than individuals give it credit score for, however the nation and the voters will not allow you to get previous a sure level.”
The Tigers have 5 regular-season video games left to play, beginning with their second conflict towards Florida Atlantic. Memphis routed the Owls 90-62 on Jan. 2 in Boca Raton, Fla.
Tyrese Hunter had 20 factors in that recreation and the Tigers went a staggering 10 of 18 from 3-point vary. Memphis shot 55.9 % from the sphere total whereas holding the Owls to simply 32.4 % field-goal capturing and 5 of 31 (16.1 %) from lengthy distance.
PJ Haggerty, who had 19 factors in that contest, leads Memphis with averages of 21.2 factors and three.8 assists per recreation. Haggerty and Hunter are every capturing higher than 40 % from 3-point vary.
As with Memphis, the Owls had been taking part in properly till they bumped into surging Wichita State.
Florida Atlantic had received 5 in a row, however its issues with perimeter protection resurfaced because the Shockers shot 6 of 10 from 3-point vary.
The Owls can not afford to expertise one other letdown towards Memphis.
“I believed there was some annoyed pictures taken by us, which is fairly disappointing,” Florida Atlantic coach John Jakus mentioned after the defeat. “We had 12 assists on 25 (area objectives). That is not even 50 % of help ratio, which is disappointing as a result of we have been hovering between 60 and 70 whereas we have been successful.”
The Owls possess a balanced-scoring offense, led by Kelb Glenn at 12.9 factors per recreation, Tre Carroll at 12.2 ppg and Baba Miller at 10.7 ppg. Florida Atlantic has three extra gamers averaging nine-plus factors per contest.
–Discipline Stage Media