The University of Memphis Tigers (16-11, 7-7 American Athletic Conference) will return home to face No. 23 Houston (21-5, 11-3 AAC) on Thursday. The Tigers are coming off back-to-back road wins and are aiming for their third-straight win. The Tigers are looking for a win at home, which they have not seen since they played UConn more than a month ago.
Last season, Memphis went 1-1 against the Cougars, winning on the road at Houston in overtime. Thursday’s game is the only matchup between the two teams this season.
Memphis is no stranger to top-ranked teams this season. This is Memphis’ fourth matchup against a top-25 team this season and their third at home.
“I feel like we can beat the ranked team,” forward Mike Parks, Jr. said. “I feel like we got better since we played the ranked teams, so I think we’ve got a good shot at (winning).”
Parks said the Tigers are playing better as a team, and he attributes this to their recent success and improvement.
Areas of improvement
The Tigers have transitioned to zone defense and Tubby Smith has said he wishes they’d made the defensive change earlier this season.
“It’s better for us,” Parks said.
The Tigers are shooting slightly better than their opponents overall at 44.4 percent, but they have are struggling beyond the arc at 29.8 percent. They also are struggling to defend the three-point line, as opponents shoot at 37.7 percent from beyond the arc.
The Tigers hope to continue to improve in three-point percentage. In their last two wins, they shot at 41.7 percent from beyond the arc.
A look at the opponent
Houston is currently tied with Wichita State for second in conference standings. The Cougars went 1-1 against Wichita State. However they lost to Tulane on the road, a team Memphis beat on the road.
Houston has three players who average points in double-digits. Their overall shooting percentage is slightly lower than the Tigers, at 44.2 percent, but their three-point percentage is better at 38.4 percent.
“They all shoot the three,” Smith said. “That’s going to be a real challenge for us.”
Players to watch
Memphis forward Mike Parks, Jr.
Smith said the Tigers are playing better offensively by getting the ball inside, and Parks has seen better numbers inside in recent games.
The Tigers are 5-0 when Parks scores 15 points or more. In last week’s wins over SMU and Tulane, he shot above 50 percent and had 17 points and 15, points respectively.
Houston guard Rob Gray
Gray shoots well overall at 39.5 percent in conference play. However, he struggles from beyond the arc, at 26.2 percent. He is able to shoot at 50 percent or better from the arc and has done so in five conference games this season. In conference play, he averages 4.6 assists.
Smith described Gray as “one of the best players in the league.”
University of Memphis junior forward Mike Parks Jr. goes up for a layup in a game against the Tulane Green Wave. Parks has averaged 65 percent shooting from the floor in the Tigers' seven conference games so far.
