UAB coach Andy Kennedy did not sugarcoat the stakes of Sunday’s American Athletic Conference tournament championship game against No. 16 Memphis in Fort Worth, Texas.
The game would mean something for the Tigers, Kennedy said. But it would mean everything for his Blazers.
“They’re a really good team,” Kennedy said of Memphis. “They have won a bunch of games. They’re going to go to the NCAA Tournament regardless of what happens (Sunday). We’re not, so we’ve got to come out and play with a real sense of desperation.”
Memphis (28-5) is the top seed in the tournament and escaped with a one-point win over fourth-seeded Tulane on Saturday afternoon.
UAB (22-11) is the third seed and reached the conference title game after knocking off second-seeded North Texas in the second semifinal on Saturday.
Although Memphis appears to be a lock to make the NCAA Tournament, Sunday’s game still could matter. A win in the conference tournament could boost the Tigers’ seeding.
Regardless, Memphis coach Penny Hardaway said, his focus was on winning the next game.
“I don’t know if it will (matter) for seeding, but when you start winning championships, you get greedy for the championship,” Hardaway said. “So, we want to win. We can rest the next couple days.
“We’re going to go out with the mentality, and I’m sure I wouldn’t let these guys down by saying anything differently, that we want to go out and win (Sunday). I’m not really worried about the NCAA Tournament until we get there. Right now, our short-term goal after winning the regular season was to win this, and we’re in position.”
Memphis is led by guard PJ Haggerty, who has averaged 30 points per game in his first two contests of the conference tournament. He made only 2 of 13 shots from the field Saturday but sank all 14 of his free-throw attempts, including several in the final minutes, to help the Tigers advance with the 78-77 victory.
Big man Dain Dainja also provides Memphis with a difference-maker on the court. Dainja collected 23 points and 11 rebounds on Saturday.
Dainja said the key to success in March goes beyond points and rebounds.
“(It’s) just the little things,” Dainja said. “Little things we talk about all the time, just getting the stops, helping each other out defensively, talking to each other. Just having the next-play mentality.”
UAB’s Yaxel Lendeborg will try to stay hot after tallying 23 points and 13 rebounds in Saturday’s 66-56 win. Seventeen of those points came in the second half.
Lendeborg said his teammates deserved most of the praise heading into Sunday’s title game. He said they have stepped up as of late to help take pressure off of him.
“It’s huge,” Lendeborg said. “I feel like I’m starting to get a lot of attention every time I try to drive into the paint, and my teammates are knocking down those threes that we desperately need. And if we start to get that type of contribution every game, then there’s no doubt that we’re going to leave this arena with a ring.”
Memphis could be without guard Tyrese Hunter, who exited Saturday’s game with a foot injury. Hunter averaged 13.9 points per game heading into the weekend.
This is the third meeting between Memphis and UAB this season. Memphis won each of the first two games, including an 88-81 win on UAB’s home court on March 2.
–Field Level Media
