Memphis Tigers and Oregon Ducks in Quality Early Season Matchup
The fans at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter will be treated to a game between the Memphis Tigers and the Oregon Ducks when they take their seats on Tuesday night. This is a quality early season battle between teams expected to compete for their Conference Championships.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, ESPN; LINE: Oregon -4; O/U: 145.
The drama surrounding James Wiseman off the court continues as the 7-1 freshman and No. 15 Memphis face their toughest challenge yet this season. They take on 14th-ranked Oregon in Portland as part of the Phil Knight Invitational. Wiseman is a potential top five pick in next June’s NBA draft. He has received a temporary injunction against an NCAA ineligibility ruling for improper payments and is expected to play.
The NCAA alleges that coach Penny Hardaway helped pay for the Wiseman family’s move from Nashville to Memphis in the summer of 2017. Hardaway was a high school coach at the time and considered a booster for the Tigers program. That is the crux of the issue as the NCAA says it is illegal.
Hardaway told reporters he has “to be silent on that because it’s an ongoing process” and hopes the Tigers can focus on a tough game. The team rolled to a pair of victories last week against mid-major programs. Wiseman averaged 22.5 points on 15-of-18 shooting, and had 10 rebounds and four blocks.
Oregon knocked off Fresno State by 14 to open the season before getting their offense in gear by routing Boise State 106-75 on Saturday. The team shot 70 percent from the field for the game and 13-for-19 from 3-point range. It was a huge difference after going 1-for-13 in the opener.
Head Coach Dana Altman knows the Ducks will have to be at their best again Tuesday. “Their athleticism and length stick out,” Altman told reporters of Memphis. “We’ll find out where we’re at. We know they’re a very talented team, it’ll be a tough game to get ready for in two days.”
This, That, and a Dart Throw
Memphis Tigers are 2-0 on the young season. Wiseman leads the consensus top recruiting class in the country. The Tigers shot 59.3 percent from the field, and 14-of-27 from 3-point range, in a 92-46 victory over Illinois-Chicago on Saturday. Freshman guard Boogie Ellis scored 22 against UIC and is averaging 15 points per game. Freshman forward Precious Achiuwa has racked 24 points along with 15 rebounds in the first two games. Sophomore guards Alex Lomax and Tyler Harris are the only prominent holdovers from last season’s team. They have combined to average 16.5 points in the wins over South Carolina State and the Flames.
New Mexico transfer guard Anthony Mathis led the way with 30 points Saturday for the 2-0 Ducks. He drained 9-of-11 from behind the arc after missing his only two long-range tries in the opener. Afterward he told reporters: “I made the first one and it’s like a breath of fresh air. I just went from there.” Guard Payton Pritchard is averaging 21.5 points, seven assists, 6.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals in the first two games. JUCO transfer Chris Duarte adds 11.5 points per contest. Senior forward Shakur Juiston, who is a transfer from UNLV, has totaled 21 points and 10 assists in the early going.
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The Dart Throw: Memphis 72, Oregon 67
NCAA Basketball Trends
Memphis Tigers
- Trend Under is 17-7 in Tigers last 24 games as a favorite of 13.0 or greater. Hit % 70.80% (24) O/U 7|17 Push 0 W/L
- Under is 8-2 in Tigers last 10 neutral site games as a favorite. 80.00% (10) 2|8 0
- Over is 5-1 in Tigers last 6 games as an underdog of 13.0 or greater. 83.30% (6) 5|1 0
- Under is 5-1 in Tigers last 6 games as a favorite. 83.30% (6) 1|5 0
Oregon Ducks
- Trend Under is 6-1-1 in Ducks last 8 neutral site games as a favorite. Hit % 85.70% (8) O/U 2|8 Push 0 W/L
- Over is 5-2 in Ducks last 7 games as an underdog of 13.0 or greater. 71.40% (7) 5|1 0
- Under is 11-2-1 in Ducks last 14 games as a favorite. 84.60% (14) 1|5 0
- Under is 6-2 in Ducks last 8 games as an underdog of 7.0-12.5. 75.00% (8) 2|6 0
Stats brought to you by Scores&Stats
Next up:
Memphis home to Alcorn State Saturday, November 16
Oregon home to Texas-Arlington Sunday, November 17
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