Know the Foe: Alabama State

Following a five-point loss to Mississippi State, Memphis returns to FedExForum for its final home non-conference game of the season. The Tigers desperately need a win before starting conference play, and they’ll look to get on track against Alabama State.

Former Memphis player and assistant Tony Madlock will bring his Hornets to the Bluff City Monday night. His team enters the game on a five-game losing streak with a 3-8 record on the season. 

After making the NCAA Tournament last year, Madlock’s team looks a lot different after it lost its three leading scorers from last season’s team. 

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 three. It also struggle at the free-throw line, only converting on 67.4 percent of its attempts.

While they have three wins on the season, only two are against division one opponents, but they did pick up a road win against UAB, who the Tigers will see twice in conference play.

The Hornets have two players averaging more than 15 points per game, and senior Asjon Anderson leads the team in points and assists, averaging 17.5 points and 3.8 assists per game. Senior Micah Simpson, who is the leading returning scorer from last year’s team, averages 15.9 points, 3.5 rebounds and three assists.

Aside from Madlock, the Alabama State roster features several players with local ties. Five players are from the mid-south area, including former Tiger Damarien Yates. 

After averaging 1.2 points and 0.8 rebounds in 14 games with Memphis, Yates is averaging 6.3 points and 2.9 rebounds in 11 minutes with the Hornets.

Junior Tyler Boyd, freshman Damion Cox Jr. and redshirt freshman R’Chaun King are all from Memphis, while Yates and redshirt junior JaSteven Walker both attended Fayette Ware High School.

In the frontcourt, Alabama State lacks size, but redshirt freshman Jerquarius Stanback leads the team in rebounds and blocks. The forward averages 7.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game. 

Stanback, who stands 6-foot-9, is one of the tallest players on the team, and Madlock usually pairs 6-foot-6 R’Chaun King or 6-foot-7 Yates at power forward.

Defensively, the Hornets struggle to slow teams down and rank No. 318 in adjusted defensive efficiency. Opponents average 82.4 points per game, and they’ve allowed 85 or more points in four games this year.

Opposing teams are shooting 47.1 percent from the field and 34.7 percent from deep. 

After Monday’s game, Alabama State will have a week off before traveling to Starkville for a game against Mississippi State to wrap up the non-conference slate.