UAB shocks Tigers, ends C-USA winning streak

Yet even with the 64-46 loss, Memphis, at 20-5, finds itself off to its fourth-best start in school history.

“We go to Charlotte on Wednesday and if we don’t dictate the tempo, then we’ll come home with another loss,” Tiger head coach John Calipari said Monday. “We are not experienced enough to play catch-up.”

That’s what Memphis had to do most of the game Friday against UAB (11-12, 4-6 in C-USA), which shot 44.9 percent (22-of-49) from the field. The Tigers, playing without senior forward Kelly Wise (sprained right knee), managed to shoot just 30 percent (18-of-60), including an anemic 8-of-35 in the second half.

Freshman guard Dajuan Wagner was the only Memphis player to score in double digits with 16 points, but hit just 6-of-23 shots. UAB, meanwhile, had three players in double digits, led by guard Morris Finley’s 19 points.

Memphis, which entered the game as C-USA’s best-rebounding club, may have missed Wise most on the boards, where UAB held a 43-33 edge. The Blazers were able to capitalize on several second-chance scoring opportunities on the strength of 15 offensive rebounds.

After the game, Wagner left for New Jersey to be with the family of a close friend who died last week. He hid not practice with the team Monday.

“I’m not going to make him play (Wednesday) if he doesn’t want to play,” Calipari said. “That was his man, and he meant a lot to him.”

If both Wagner and Wise are not available for Wednesday’s game, Memphis will be faced with a interesting situation.

“If they don’t play, then that’s an excellent opportunity for some other guys to play and show what they can do,” Calipari said.

Calipari pointed out that two of the Tigers’ five remaining games are against teams with revenge in mind, much like UAB.

“Teams like Houston and South Florida are hungry for revenge, plus the added mindset that we are not going to get beat again.”