UAB has been hot for the last couple of weeks.
Memphis got hot when its last game was on the line.
The Blazers (12-7, 5-1) and the No. 24 Tigers (15-4, 5-1) will meet Sunday afternoon in Memphis to determine which team will stay atop the American Athletic Conference standings. North Texas also sports a 5-1 record.
Memphis trailed by seven in the second half but finished with a 12-2 run in a 61-53 victory against visiting Wichita State on Thursday. The Tigers’ last two home victories before that both came by four points.
“We just keep getting these grace blessings,” Memphis coach Penny Hardaway said. “God keeps blessing our situation because we have to keep fighting back at home. I hate having tough games at home, but winning tough games shows you who you really are.”
Hardaway has been harping on his team’s problem with turnovers, but the issue has persisted. The Tigers had to overcome a season high-tying 20 against Wichita State.
“It’s getting embarrassing right now,” Hardaway said. “I haven’t seen as many stat sheets where you’ve got everybody that plays in the game with a turnover or more than this year and that can’t happen.”
Memphis is committing 14.7 turnovers per game, which is two per game more than the second-highest total in the conference.
The Blazers’ efficient ball handling has helped them to lead the conference in scoring (84.8) and field goal percentage (47.7). They also lead in rebound margin (plus-7.8), led by forwards Yaxel Lendeborg, who leads the conference in rebounding (10.1), and Christian Coleman, who is fourth (7.7).
Meanwhile, Memphis leads in 3-point percentage (38.9) and guard Tyrese Hunter is first in 3-point percentage (42.7) and third in 3-pointers per game (2.8).
The Blazers, like the Tigers, are coming off a stressful game – an 81-78 home victory against UTSA on Wednesday.
“This is certainly not good for the coach’s health,” UAB coach Andy Kennedy said, “but I think it’s really good for our team because it makes us grind through some tense moments, and that’s conference play, especially as the calendar gets deeper into January turning into February.”
UAB is the hottest team in the conference but matched its lowest point total in a conference win when it defeated UTSA. The Blazers shot just 42.6 from the floor and 17.7 percent on 3-pointers, but made 26 of 30 free throws.
“It was the worst we’ve shot the ball all year,” Kennedy said. “I’m just glad we were able to muster up enough to finish the game on the right note.”
Though this game will give the winner a leg up in the conference race, they will meet again March 2 in Birmingham, Ala.
“It’s always great to have that first game on your floor,” Hardaway said, “but you know they’re going to come in with a road warrior mentality and physicality and try and get our crowd out of the game early and we can’t allow that.”
–Field Level Media
