Memphis kicked off conference play with a nine-point win over North Texas, but it was a sloppy game on both sides. The win takes the Tigers to 6-7 on the season, and it’s the third time Penny Hardaway’s team has won back-to-back games this season.
Hardaway debuted another new starting lineup, including Dug McDaniel, Julius Thedford, Ashton Hardaway, William Whorton and Tariq Ingraham. Thierno Sylla, who has started the last two games, missed Wednesday’s game with an injury.
The starting five combined to shoot 42 percent from the field, and McDaniel led the starting five with nine points on 4-for-10 shooting.
Zach Davis led the team in scoring with 12 points, while Sincere Parker added 10 points on 5-for-6 shooting off the bench.
As a team, the Tigers shot 47.1 percent from the field, 27.8 percent from deep and 26.7 percent from the free-throw line. Memphis made five three-pointers, and Davis led the team with a pair of triples.
The Tigers won the rebounding battle, 38-to-30, and they scored 13 second-chance points off of 13 offensive rebounds.
Turnovers led to a sloppy game
Turnovers hurt both teams, but the Tigers finished the game with 20 turnovers, which ties for the most in a game this season. Turnovers have been an issue over the last four games, and Hardaway’s team is averaging 19 turnovers in that span.
Every player who logged more than three minutes recorded a turnover, and the Mean Green scored 13 points off turnovers.
While the Tigers struggled with turnovers, they also forced 18 turnovers from North Texas. Memphis scored 13 points off those turnovers.
Earlier in the season, the Tigers were limiting turnovers to single digits or the low teens, and they must limit the turnovers as they get deeper into conference play.
Memphis holds North Texas to under 50 points
While it was a sloppy game, Memphis did a nice job on the defensive end of the court, and they held the Mean Green to 37.5 percent from the field and 5.6 percent from deep.
Hardaway’s group forced 18 turnovers, and they recorded 13 steals and five blocks. Curtis Givens III led the team with three steals, and McDaniel, Hardaway and Davis all finished with a pair of steals.
It’s the first time the Tigers have held an opponent to under 50 points since 2022. Memphis currently ranks No. 23 in adjusted defensive efficiency, and it will rely on its defense throughout conference play.
The Offense struggled most of the game
Memphis shot 47 percent from the field, but they struggled from three-point range and at the charity stripe. The Tigers only made five three-pointers and only four free throws. It’s the Tigers’ worst free-throw shooting performance since February 20, 2022, when they shot 20 percent against SMU.
Aside from the shooting percentages, Memphis didn’t play with a lot of energy, and multiple times throughout the game, guys were standing around on the offensive end of the court. It became a trend where North Texas would force a trap, and nobody would move to help the player trapped.
Memphis has struggled on the offensive end of the court most of the season, and they’ll need better showings in conference play.
The Tigers’ next game against Rice should be a good opportunity for them to find some offensive success. The Owls rank No. 261 in defensive efficiency, and they’ve allowed 84 points or more in back-to-back games.