After several weeks away from their home court, the Memphis Tigers are making a triumphant return to the FedEx Forum, where they are set to face a formidable opponent that could potentially catapult them into the coveted top 25 rankings – the Clemson Tigers. This highly-anticipated matchup offers Memphis a golden opportunity to notch another significant win, further embellishing their already impressive resume. Notable victories over Power Five adversaries like Arkansas, Missouri, Michigan, and, most recently, Texas A&M have showcased Memphis’s prowess on the hardwood.
With only two blemishes on their record, courtesy of losses to Villanova and Ole Miss, the Tigers have consistently demonstrated why they should be considered one of the premier teams in college basketball this season. While they are currently not ranked, their on-court performance speaks volumes. Head coach Penny Hardaway remains steadfast in his belief that the program is not receiving the recognition it undeniably merits at this juncture.
“You’re seeing all these teams losing in the top 25. You’re seeing teams jump (from) out of the top 25, 10, 11, 12, 14 spots, winning one game,” Hardaway said. “We have the 13th-hardest schedule. We can cry all we want, but just watching that it just makes you wonder. Like, what is it really all about?”
“When we win those games, it seems like we don’t move the needle, and we don’t get the respect. It’s no other way to look at it, because: 13th-hardest schedule, we beat a really good team (on the road), and they’re still ahead of us. If we’re not in the top 25, we’re definitely supposed to be, at least, ahead of Texas A&M for now.”
A second victory against a ranked opponent in less than a week could be just what the Memphis Tigers need to secure a spot in the elusive top 25 rankings. To achieve this feat, they’ll have to overcome an undefeated Clemson squad emerging as one of the premier teams in the ACC this season. Sporting an impressive 9-0 record, Clemson currently boasts a top-15 NET ranking, and their presence in the top 25 has steadily ascended each passing week. Notably, they clinched a significant victory on the road with an 85-77 triumph over Alabama during their nonconference slate.
PJ Hall, Clemson’s standout power forward, is a force to be reckoned with, ranking among the nation’s elite big men. The 6’10” senior leads the Tigers in scoring, averaging an impressive 20.1 points per game. Hailing from Spartanburg, South Carolina, Hall is a prolific scorer and an efficient shooter, boasting a remarkable 55% field goal shooting percentage. His teammate, former Syracuse standout Joseph Girard III, is a deadly sharpshooter from beyond the arc, maintaining an impressive 45.5% three-point shooting average. Girard is the second-highest scorer on the team, contributing an average of 14.5 points per game.
Overall, as a program, Clemson showcases its offensive firepower by ranking 23rd in the country in three-point shooting efficiency, boasting an impressive 39.2% success rate from beyond the arc. Additionally, their proficiency extends to their overall field goal accuracy, where they claim the 37th spot nationally in effective field goal percentage, standing at a remarkable 55%.
These statistics underscore the Tigers’ ability to score efficiently, making them a formidable opponent that Memphis must approach with a well-structured defensive strategy. Clemson’s sharpshooting and offensive efficiency will pose a significant challenge for the Tigers as they seek to secure a noteworthy victory in this high-stakes matchup.
However, Clemson has struggled this season in ball control, averaging 10.2 turnovers per game. With this in mind, players like Malcolm Dandridge must exercise caution to avoid falling into significant foul trouble during Saturday’s matchup. The ongoing Jordan Brown situation has impacted the Tigers’ depth at the center position. While forward Nicholas Jourdain has made commendable contributions since joining the starting lineup, his length may not be sufficient to contend with a player of Hall’s caliber should Dandridge encounter foul trouble.
The deciding factor for Memphis to win Saturday’s game will be the duo of Jahvon Quinerly and David Jones. The tandem has demonstrated that their skills can complement each other in games this season. In last Sunday’s matchup against Texas A&M, Jones and Quinerly combined 53 points and 11 rebounds. A few days before the A&M battle, the duo combined for 53 points and ten rebounds.
Score Prediction
Clemson may very well be one of the top teams that emerge in the ACC this season, but on Saturday, they will be dealing with a Memphis team that is riding with confidence right now. Memphis wins by three.
Clemson 81, Memphis 84
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