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Memphis gets first shot at No. 13 SMU

<p>Shaq Goodwin will look to build off of his career game against Central Florida Saturday when Memphis faces No. 13 SMU.&nbsp;</p>
Shaq Goodwin will look to build off of his career game against Central Florida Saturday when Memphis faces No. 13 SMU. 

After dropping a game at home to ECU last week, 84-83, criticism of seventh-year coach Josh Pastner and the state of the Memphis men’s basketball program hit an all-time high. The Tigers will get a chance to make up some ground and possibly quiet a few of those critics, as they enter the toughest stretch of the season, which begins Saturday against No.13 ranked SMU.

The Mustangs (18-1) enter Saturday’s matchup coming off of an 89-80 loss to Temple, their first loss of the season. Despite the loss, SMU still remains atop the American Athletic Conference standings.

Memphis (12-7) –which responded well after its loss to ECU with a 97-86 victory at UCF—currently sits in sixth place in the conference standings at 2.5 games behind first.

Leading the way for SMU is senior point guard and reigning AAC player of the year Nic Moore. Moore ranks fifth in the conference in scoring with 15.3 points per game. He also averages 5.1 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game.

Moore isn’t the only offensive weapon for the Mustangs though. SMU has four other players who are averaging double figures in scoring as well.

Junior forward Ben Moore averages 13 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, senior forward Jordan Tolbert racks up 12.6 points and 9.2 rebounds per game, freshman guard Shake Milton averages 10.6 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game, and junior guard Sterling Brown puts up 10.1 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.

This doesn’t even include senior big man and former All-Conference second team member Markus Kennedy, who has had Memphis’ number the last couple of seasons. Kennedy averages 9.2 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.

The main focus for Memphis will have to be its defense. Memphis began the year as one of the top defenses in the nation, but recently the Tigers have slipped to no. 63 overall in adjusted defensive efficiency ratings according to KenPom.com, based on Ken Pomeroy’s composite rankings, after allowing its last three opponents to shoot better than 48 percent from the field.

The Tigers will need to regain its composure and sharp play on that side of the ball if it expects to beat a SMU team with so many offensive weapons.

Freshman forward Dedric Lawson and senior big man Shaq Goodwin continue to carry the bulk of the workload for Memphis.

Lawson averages 14.8 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. Goodwin flourished against UCF, as he posted a career-high 35 points in the win. He averages 14.9 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, which are career best in both categories.

Goodwin said he understands his team has a great opportunity in front of them, but said he is focused on treating Saturday like any other game and not the rankings.

“I know (playing ranked teams) matters when it comes down to seeding and things that matter like that, but that’s not what I’m thinking about, not the rankings or the accolades that come with it,” Goodwin said.

He went on to say he understands the caliber of team SMU truly is and that Memphis has nothing to lose.

“I know what type of team this is with a great coach (hall of Famer Larry Brown) and great players, and they are just coming of a loss so they are going to be fired up,” he said. “I look at it as we don’t have anything to lose. Even though they can’t go to the tournament (for NCAA academic violations), I feel like our attitude should be that we don’t have anything to lose. Even though there is a lot riding on this game and a lot matters, but just the attitude alone brings a lot to me personally, so that’s how I’m going into it.”

The Tigers will need both big men to remain consistent and performing at a high-level through this crucial stretch of conference play.

Pastner said Saturday’s game will be a great challenge, but he expects his team to give SMU everything they have.

“Saturday is a great challenge,” he said. “SMU is a really good team. They have got a lot of talent obviously and one of the greatest coaches of all time in coach Brown. We know we are going to have to play a great game. They are coming off a tough loss on Saturday versus Temple, and they have had the whole week to prepare (for Memphis). I know we are going to fight and compete and leave it all on the floor and see what can happen. I love our team and I love the opportunity with our team moving forward, and we have a lot to move forward to.”

SMU and Memphis will tip-off Saturday at Moody coliseum in Dallas, Texas, at 7 p.m.

Shaq Goodwin will look to build off of his career game against Central Florida Saturday when Memphis faces No. 13 SMU. 


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