Revenge as well as handing Memphis its first Conference USA loss of the season will be on the minds of Alabama-Birmingham players tonight at 8 when the Blazers host the Tigers at Bartow Arena.
That’s why Memphis head coach John Calipari said he is more concerned with the effort of UAB (10-12, 3-6 in C-USA) rather than that of his Memphis squad (20-4, 10-0).
“I’m worried about this being a revenge game,” Calipari said. “They’re at home, it’s on national television and they know if they don’t play hard, we will beat them good again.”
The Tigers beat the Blazers, 102-81, Jan. 23 at The Pyramid, giving Memphis its sixth of 10 straight wins dating back to Jan. 5. In that game, the Tigers shot 55.4 percent from the field while sophomore point guard Antonio Burks recorded one of his best floor games with 12 points and 10 assists.
Starting tonight at UAB, four of the Tigers’ remaining six games will take place on the road. After the trip to Birmingham, the Tigers will head to Charlotte and South Florida, then finish the season against American Division leader Cincinnati. Calipari said it’s a tough stretch his team is prepared to handle.
“It’s going to be a great challenge, playing top teams on the road, but we will respond,” he said. “We have played some of our best ball against teams with their best crowds and were absolutely ready to play.”
According to Calipari, Memphis being off to its best league start in school history at 10-0 should inspire the Blazers to play over their heads tonight to give the Tigers their first conference blemish.
“Being undefeated puts a huge target on our backs,” Calipari said. “We had a good practice Wednesday, and I don’t think there will be a letdown from us.”
Although currently mired in fifth place in C-USA’s National Division, UAB boasts a tough defense and a well-balanced offense.
The Tigers will have to keep an eye on junior guard P.J. Arnold and junior forward Will Campbell. Arnold comes into tonight’s game averaging 13.1 points per game while Campbell averages 12 points to go with 8.2 rebounds per game.
Since losing to Memphis two weeks ago, the Blazers have won two of their last three games, with wins over Tulane and TCU. Now UAB will be looking to pull off one of its biggest wins of the year on ESPN.
Despite a nationally-televised game and a chance to earn respect from critics, Calipari said the Tigers should be concerned only with making themselves happy.
“We have nothing to prove,” Calipari said. “We are just worried about us, and trying to please ourselves.”
