After two consecutive close calls against league opponents, the Tigers returned home Saturday for a pivotal match-up with western division foe SMU. Coming out of the locker rooms, the Tigers raced to a quick 13-0 lead behind suffocating team defense and quick, smart passes on the offensive end. Although SMU battled back and appeared to be on the verge of getting back into the game at certain points, Memphis ultimately was able to pull away in the second frame and pick up a crucial 83-61 win on their home floor and improve their record to 12-6 overall and 4-1 in conference play.
As the focus now shifts to a road game against Temple in Philadelphia next Thursday, there are a few key points from Saturday’s game worth keeping an eye on as the season moves forward.
Kareem Brewton has his moment
When the hiring of Penny Hardaway hiring was made official, the spotlight was on the incoming crop of freshmen and the future of the program. Despite returning to the team as a senior, Kareem Brewton was almost an after-thought on a team lead by fellow senior Jeremiah Martin.
Against the Mustangs, Brewton shined as he scored 20 points on 7-13 shooting, including a career best 6-11 from beyond the arc.
“That’s what life is all about, you got to work, and you got to grind and earn everything, and when you earn it, it’s better,” Hardaway said. “He’s earning it right now and he works his butt off, and I’m proud to see him reaping the benefits from it.”
After getting off to a red-hot 4-4 start from three-point range, it was evident that Brewton was playing with extreme confidence. Looking ahead, Tigers fans will surely be hoping for similar showings from the senior out of Claxton, Georgia.
Defense comes to play
All season long, Hardaway has preached the importance of team defense and how success on that end will translate to more victories as the Tigers get deeper into their schedule. Against the Mustangs, Memphis was able to keep their opponents scoreless well into the first half until the visitors were able to connect on their first field goal with about 12 minutes to go until the break.
From the opening tip, the Tigers’ press defense wreaked havoc all over the floor, as they forced 21 turnovers while only allowing 13 assists and limiting the visitors to only 36 percent shooting from the floor.
“This is exactly what I’m looking for when you’re talking about punch first,” Hardaway said. “That’s what you want as a coach. That’s a dream come true, when you’re looking at your team play out there on the floor and then they started believing more and started to play harder, and then the bench got into it.”
As satisfying as it must be for Hardaway to see what he has been preaching all year finally come to fruition, it will be critical for Memphis to replicate this same effort as the games become more meaningful down the stretch.
Team wide production
While Kareem Brewton made headlines with his 20-point outburst, the contributions of his teammates are what helped Memphis run away with this game. Raynere Thornton, who started at center due to SMU’s tendency to play small, shined with 11 points and a team-high 14 rebounds to go along with a thunderous dunk that blew the roof off FedexForum.
In the backcourt, Jeremiah Martin did not have his best game offensively as he finished with only eight points, but the senior still found a way to have a huge impact on the outcome as he recorded 11 assists, four rebounds and two steals. The unquestioned leader of this team, Martin showcased why his coaches and fellow players have so much faith in him as he zipped passes all over the floor and displayed the veteran savvy that has endeared him to so many fans thus far in his Memphis career.
Looking ahead
Memphis will now prepare for a tough road tilt against Temple. The Owls have already received national attention this season after knocking off then-ranked Houston at home, and head coach Fran Dunphey is looking for one last conference title before retiring after the campaign’s end. Currently 14-4, the Owls will be eager to avenge a loss in their last game after falling 77-70 to 11-6 Penn. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. eastern time.
Mike Parks (10) and his teammates Antwann Jones (11) and Raynere Thornton (4) walks off the court as they celebrate. The last time the Tigers faced Cincinnati, they lost 66-62.
Kareem Brewton shoots a three pointer. Brewton shined in the team’s 83-61 win against SMU where he finished with 20 points.
