While students are enjoying Thanksgiving break, the Tiger sports teams will head into this long weekend ready to play. The men’s basketball team is coming off a double-overtime thriller against Yale last Saturday, and Tyler Harris, American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Week, and the rest of the team will head to Orlando, Florida, to play against Oklahoma State in the AdvoCare Invitational Tournament.
The women’s basketball team aims to get back on track as they head to Conway, South Carolina, to play in the Coastal Carolina Tournament to face off against Mercer.
The headliner of this weekend is the football game against the Houston Cougars in the AAC West Division championship game at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
Memphis Tigers football
The Memphis Tigers (7-4, 4-3 AAC) will square off against the Houston Cougars (8-3, 5-2 AAC) this Friday at 11 a.m. on ABC to determine who will represent the AAC West in the AAC Championship against East representatives,UCF.
The Tigers football team has been hot as of lately, riding a three-game total winning streak into this game, most recently defeating the SMU Mustangs 28-18. The Cougars won their last game against in impressive fashion, walking away with a 48-17 victory against Tulane.
The last time these two teams played was last season, when Memphis overcame a 17-point deficit at the half to win the game 43-38. Admittedly, this year’s Tiger team is made up of many new starters, but as the season has progressed, they’ve improved on their chemistry, making them a dangerous opponent.
Houston will be without star quarterback D’Eriq King, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in the second quarter of the Tulane game. Prior to his injury, King was the FBS’ leader in touchdowns with 50.
Without King, Houston is going to have a difficult time keeping up with Memphis’ high-octane offense, especially if wide receiver Damonte Coxie and running back Darrell Henderson are available to play. This game also has the potential to be the turning point of the Tigers’ season.
Memphis men’s basketball
The Memphis Tigers will travel to Orlando, Florida, to participate in the AdvoCare Invitational Tournament during Thanksgiving break. The Tigers (2-1) will take on the Oklahoma State Cowboys (2-1) on Thanksgiving Day at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN2. The winner will move on to possibly play reigning NCAA champs Villanova (2-2) or Canisius (1-1), depending on which team advances to the second round.
Oklahoma State recently defeated the Charleston Cougars (3-1), 70-58. The Cowboys had five players in the game with double-digit points and knocked down 10 three-point shots.
Forward Cameron McGriff led Oklahoma State with 16 points and seven rebounds against Charleston. McGriff totaled a double-double in the game prior to Charleston against the University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners (0-4), with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
If the Tigers defeat the Cowboys, they may have a chance to upset the defending champs from last season, the Villanova Wildcats. Villanova lost both of the previous two games the program has played, one being a rematch of last season’s title game against the No. 9 Michigan Wolverines (5-0), 73-46, while the other came from the Furman Paladians (5-0), 76-68.
Even though the possible matchup has lost some luster since the start of the season, the Tigers will be eager to defeat Villanova, if they play, to gain some national recognition and climb their way up the national rankings.
Women’s basketball
As December approaches, the women’s basketball team aims to improve on a 1-3 start that saw the Tigers drop two tough road games at Arkansas State and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Coming into the new campaign, a learning curve was expected with several new faces settling into head coach Melissa McFerrin’s system.
This week, the Tigers will travel to Conway, South Carolina, to take on the Mercer Bears on Friday afternoon before doing battle with Coastal Carolina on Sunday. Mercer heads into this week’s clash boasting an even 2-2 record that features a lopsided 76-42 loss to AAC member University of Central Florida and a high-scoring 92-82 win against Florida.
The Bears will figure to provide a tough test, despite the game being played at a neutral site. Coastal Carolina, currently 2-1, will host Memphis on Sunday night and aim to secure a win over their toughest opponent to date.
With the season still in the early stages, non-conference games like these two are pivotal if the Tigers hope to remain competitive this season. While the results have not been as desirable thus far, there is hope for both the rest of 2018 and the years going forward.
This past week, the team announced its 2019 recruiting class, which features three four-star players and is the highest rated crop ever signed during McFerrin’s tenure.
With a blend of both young talent and veteran experience on the current roster and a high-profile freshman class scheduled to arrive on campus in 2019, the Tigers have the potential to defy expectations and challenge their league not only this year but also for seasons to come.
Wrap up
The football team will have a chance for revenge against UCF, self-proclaimed “National Champions,” if they can get a win at home against Houston Friday morning at 11 a.m. which will air nationally on ABC.
Head coach Penny Hardaway’s basketball team also looks to continue making Memphis into a powerhouse in the country with a chance to face Villanova, the 2018 national champions, if they can first get business done against Oklahoma State.
The women’s basketball team looks to overcome a three-game losing streak, and McFerrin’s team aims to grow the team’s hype after signing three four-star players in her 2019 class.
Memphis Tigers football head coach Mike Norvell runs onto the field with his players. The Tigers are 2-1 so far this season.
