Memphis got a huge win over Baylor to extend their winning streak to three games and even up their record at 4-4 Saturday. This gives them more momentum heading into a massive matchup against old rivals No. 6 ranked Louisville.
Learning how to finish
Memphis has been in the position to win big games previously but had trouble getting it done. They led No. 1 Purdue with 7 minutes left and led Wake Forest for the whole game until the very end.
This time the Tigers fought through adversity and got the job done. They led for most of the game once again up until 12 minutes left when Baylor took a 6-point lead. Memphis didn’t give up and fought through the adversity, taking the lead back, then closing the game out by making their free throws and not turning the ball over.
“We’re starting to have winning habits now,” head coach Penny Hardaway said.
McDaniel and Davis continue to shine
Guards Dug McDaniel and Zach Davis continued to be the leaders of the team, both performing very well. Davis had a career game with 23 points and 13 rebounds, leading the game in rebounding.
“Zach Davis, I knew from the beginning that he could put these types of numbers up, and he wasn’t reaching that level, so it was my job as a point guard, as a head coach and a leader, to keep pushing him,” Hardaway said.
The emergence of Aaron Bradshaw
Former 5-star recruit Aaron Bradshaw had a disappointing start to the season but has emerged as of late. Bradshaw had 14 points against Southern Illinois but was benched for the game against New Orleans seemingly because of a lack of effort.
Bradshaw proved what he could do against Baylor. He had 17 points and 7 rebounds while avoiding the foul trouble that has plagued him this season. Baylor ran a 1-3-1 zone for much of the game, and Bradshaw was a post presence that kept the offense afloat in the first half. He also had a great hustle play near the end of the game, diving out of bounds to save the ball.
“He understands that we have a culture, and the standard is the standard,” Hardaway said. “He understands that he has to live up to those standards and when he doesn’t then there’s going to be repercussions behind it, and he respects that and then he responds like this; that lets me know that I’m doing what I’m supposed to do.”
Continued shooting troubles
Memphis once again struggled shooting the ball, especially from three. They shot only 41% from the floor and 19% from three. The Tigers are shooting 43.2% from the field for the season, ranking 276th in the country.
Memphis made up for their offensive struggles during this game with their strong defense, holding Baylor to an even worse 34% from the floor, but it is going to be very difficult to beat Louisville or Vanderbilt without shooting well.
What’s next
Next Saturday, Memphis renews their rivalry against Louisville, who is 8-1 and ranked No. 6 in the country. The two teams haven’t met since 2017, and Louisville leads the all-time rivalry 48 to 35. Louisville is undefeated at home this season with two wins over ranked opponents.
Memphis will be large underdogs in this game, but it is a huge opportunity for the Tigers. A win against Louisville would make up for the early season losses and put Memphis right back in contention for an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament.
