How to watch Memphis vs. Alabama State

Following a five-point loss against Mississippi State, Memphis will quickly turn around to host Alabama State in its final home non-conference game of the year. The Hornets enter the game 3-8 and are currently on a five-game losing streak.

Tony Madlock’s team only has two wins over D1 oppoents, and they rank No. 274 on KenPom. After making the tournament last season, Madlock lost his top three leading scorers and lacks size in the frontcourt.

As a team, Alabama State averages 76.6 points per game, and they shoot 43.4 percent from the field and 36.1 percent from deep. Two players average more than 15 points per game, and Queens transfer Asjon Anderson leads the team with 17.5 points and 3.8 assists per game.

The Hornets feature five players from the Memphis area, including former Tiger Damarien Yates. Yates has appeared in 10 games and is averaging 6.4 points in 13.5 minutes per game. 

In the frontcourt, Madlock’s biggest player is 6-foot-9, and they rank No. 281 in average height. With the lack of size, the Hornets are forced to play a smaller power forward.

Defensively, Alabama State allows 82.4 points, and opposing teams are shooting 47.1 percent from the field and 34.7 percent from three. The Hornets average 37.3 rebounds per game, and they have a minus-1.3 rebounding margin. 

Here’s a look at how to watch Monday’s game against Alabama State:

TV: N/A

Stream: ESPN+

Radio: 98.9 The Roar of Memphis

Time: 7:00 p.m. CT

Line: Memphis -17.5

What to expect from Memphis against the Hornets:

The Tigers need a win in the worst way, and Monday will be a good opportunity to pick up a win before conference play starts.

Penny Hardaway continues to make changes to the starting lineup, and there’s a good chance he makes another move ahead of Monday’s game. The starters struggled against Mississippi State, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see either Aaron Bradshaw or Curtis Givens in the starting five after both played well off the bench.

Memphis has struggled shooting the ball over the last two games, shooting under 40 percent in both games, and Hardaway continues to look for consistent scorers. Multiple players have shown flashes, but they haven’t found enough guys that can do it night after night. 

Julius Thedford averaged 14 points in the two games before his injury, but he struggled in his first game back. Despite going 1-for-3 from the field, the guard finished with eight rebounds, an assist and two steals in 23 minutes of action. 

It’ll be interesting to see if he can get back into a groove with a game under his belt. 

Another player to keep an eye on is Hasan Abdul Hakim. He shot 58 percent against Louisville and Vanderbilt, but he went 1-for-6 against the Bulldogs. 

The biggest thing to watch will be the intensity, especially on defense. The Tigers have looked out of sorts lately, and who knows what the body language will look like following three losses. 

This is the perfect opportunity to get a win and build confidence before an extended break heading into conference play.