K.J. Lawson (0) fights through defenders on Saturday in Memphis’ 99-86 win over Savannah St. K.J., the older of the two Lawson brothers, has posted double-doubles in two of the three games this season, giving the brothers five double-doubles in the team’s first three games.
The University of Memphis men’s basketball team has opened its 2016-2017 season with three straight victories. Sophomore guard Jeremiah Martin is showing signs of a solid point guard with 7.3 assists and 2 turnovers per game.
Junior guard Markel Crawford is getting his confidence back after shooting 53.3 percent from the floor and posting 13.3 points per game. Even graduate transfer Chad Rykhoek, who never touched the floor during his career at Baylor, went 5-for-5 with 10 points against Savannah State. However, the story of the season has been the Tigers’ frontcourt duo, Dedric and K.J. Lawson.
The Lawsons, arguably the best brother combo in the country, combined to score 37.7 points, grab 22.7 rebounds and dish out 7 assists per game. The duo accounts for nearly half the team’s points and boards, and they are shooting above 45 percent from the floor. K.J. came into this season with some high expectations but it has been surprising how well he has played through the first three games.
The slashing forward from Memphis appeared in only 10 games last season before coming down with an Achilles injury. After opening the season with 25 points, his shooting numbers have gone down since, combining for 25 points over his last two games while shooting 33 percent during the stretch.
However, the older Lawson was two rebounds away from a double-double in the season opener, and has posted double digit rebounds over the last two games. Dedric, meanwhile, came into the new season with extremely high expectations after winning the AAC Rookie of the Year award and being nominated the AAC Preseason Co-Player of the Year along with Cincinnati guard Troy Caupain.
Dedric was also named on the Naismith Trophy Watch List, given to the best college basketball player in the country, and the Lute Olson Award Watch List, given annually to the nation’s top Division 1 player who has played at least two seasons.
Last season, Lawson led the conference in rebounding and tied legendary Memphis forward Keith Lee’s single season double-double record with 17. He was also the only freshman in the nation with 500 points, 300 rebounds, 60 assists, 50 blocked shots and 20 threes made, according to a press release sent out by the U of M athletic office, all while being younger than the rest of the competition after entering college a year early.
This year, the younger Lawson has put up rebounding totals of 15, 10 and 14 through the first three games. His most impressive rebounding statistic is that he is averaging five offensive boards per game this season.
He has scored 60 points during the stretch, and even flirted with a triple-double against Savannah State after dishing out seven assists. Lawson is currently tied for the nation lead in double-doubles, but is the only player out of the five who has three out of three games.
While the Tigers’ first three opponents haven’t been very difficult, it is impressive to see Memphis’ top two players playing so well.
Dedric Lawson drives to the hoop. The Lawson brothers averaged 37 points and 23 rebounds and seven assists.
