When Memphis faced SMU at Moody Coliseum in late January, the Tigers were fresh off of a double-digit stomping of UCF and hoping to get their season back on track, while the Mustangs were 18-1 and one of the hottest teams in the country. SMU dashed out to a quick start en route to a 12-point win, but ever since that game both teams have been in a tailspin.
Now, with No. 24 SMU stumbling into FedExForum Thursday night, Memphis has an opportunity to turn around some of the negativity around the program if they’re able to knockoff their first nationally ranked opponent of the season in the Mustangs.
Since losing to SMU (21-4, 10-4 AAC), the Tigers have won just two games, with embarrassing losses to American Athletic Conference bottom feeders Tulane and South Florida along the way. The Mustangs haven’t quite fallen from grace in the same way as Memphis (15-12, 6-8 AAC), but they’ve dropped off significantly since the 18-0 start that left them as the only undefeated team in college basketball.
SMU hasn’t won consecutive games since taking down Tulane and Houston on Jan. 17 and 19. Since then, the Mustangs have alternated wins and losses, with two of the losses on the road. They’re still one of the top teams in the conference, currently second, one game behind Temple, but if there’s any consolation for the Tigers it’s that SMU won its last game, so if the pattern of inconsistency continues then Memphis has a chance to steal a victory over a top 25 opponent at FedExForum Thursday.
The Mustangs have lost only four times this season, and there’s a common thread in each of the losses — foul trouble. SMU has been an elite team this season, but depth has been a legitimate issue. For all intents and purposes, coach Larry Brown’s squad has seven players. Guard Keith Frazier was the team’s third leading scorer and helped to add depth earlier in the season, but then decided to transfer after playing only 10 games. Ever since, SMU has run a strict seven-man rotation.
With so few players ready to play meaningful minutes, the Mustangs have very little margin for error, and that’s why foul trouble can pose a significant threat. In the team’s three-point loss to Houston, forward Ben Moore fouled out after 27 minutes, and three more players finished the game with four fouls. Moore also fouled out in a loss at UConn, and when SMU lost for the first time on Jan. 24 on the road at Temple three players totaled four fouls, and yet another was disqualified after too many whistles.
Make no mistake: Memphis is going to be the underdog Thursday night, but SMU has been in a slump, and if the Tigers are able to pound the ball down low and get the Mustang forwards into foul trouble early then Memphis will have a chance for its most impressive victory of its season.
Tipoff between Memphis and SMU is set for 6 p.m. Thursday at FedExForum, and the game will be nationally televised on ESPN 2.
Memphis senior forward Shaq Goodwin (left) will hope to lead the Tigers to win against SMU Thursday at FedExForum. The Tigers have dropped seven of its past 10 games heading into the game.
