Fans have their first opportunity to take a look at the University of Memphis men’s basketball team Wednesday night, as the Tigers take on Christian Brothers University in an exhibition.
The Tigers participated in a closed scrimmage against Saint Louis Saturday, but the exhibition against CBU will be the first time this year’s Memphis squad plays a real-game environment in front of fans.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to get out there and play in FedExForum tomorrow,” junior guard Kedren Johnson said. “I might be so amped up that I might pass out and they might have to call a trainer to come pick me up off the court because I’m gonna be that amped up tomorrow.”
For the Tigers, the games don’t start counting until the Nov. 18 neutral-site, season-opener against Wichita State, but, with a revamped roster, the exhibition gives fans as well as the players and coaches time to adjust to the new additions.
Memphis lost four of its top six scorers from a season ago, but has bolstered the roster with incoming freshman guard Dominic Magee, three junior college players and two transfers, including Johnson, a former Vanderbilt standout.
“With this team there is some black and white, some absolutes,” Memphis coach Josh Pastner said. “We’re gonna play hard. We’re gonna defend. We’re gonna compete. We’re gonna leave it all out on the floor. The gray area or the unknowns is who’s going to step up and put the ball in the basket when you need a big shot? Who’s making the big play? Who’s the lockdown defender?”
In Memphis’ two-point loss in the scrimmage against Saint Louis the Tigers struggled to shoot the ball from downtown, but both Johnson and Pastner said that they were not concerned about shooting being an issue throughout the season.
The Tigers could be without two of its new players against Christian Brothers. Junior forward Chris Hawkins has been ruled out with a bone bruise in his knee, while redshirt freshman Markel Crawford is questionable with a dislocated finger.
Christian Brothers is a regular exhibition opponent for the Tigers, and has given Memphis a scare in recent years. In 2012 the Buccaneers led Memphis by two at halftime before the Tigers came roaring back to pull away in the second and win by a closer than expected score of 65-54.
Memphis and Christian Brothers will tipoff at 7 p.m. at FedExForum on Wednesday night.
