Tigers men’s basketball have a tough challenge ahead at road game in Cincinnati

The last time the University of Memphis men’s basketball team faced Cincinnati, they held the lead for much of the contest until a late Jarron Cumberland-fueled surge propelled the visitors to a statement 66-62 road win.

Now, with the roles reversed, and Memphis set to pay the Bearcats a visit at Fifth Third Arena on Saturday, the stakes surrounding this game are much higher than they were the in the prior matchup.  

Cincinnati comes into this one with a record of 24-4 and can feel comfortable about their spot in the NCAA tournament. Despite losing some of their key players from a season ago, head coach Mick Cronin’s team has continued to play their brand of gritty, no-nonsense basketball that has been a staple of a program that is among in the most consistent in the entire country.  

Meanwhile, the Tigers, who are winners of three straight and 18-11 overall, desperately need to find a way to pick up what would be their biggest win of the season to date. For a team that consistently struggled to perform on the road until recent wins at East Carolina and Wichita State, Saturday night’s clash with the Bearcats represents an opportunity to build confidence and continue their improved play. 

One of the key reasons behind the Tigers recent surge has been the stellar play of Jeremiah Martin. Martin currently leads the league in scoring with an average of 19.3 points per game, but his of February alone has grabbed national attention because of the video game-like numbers he’s been posting. In their last three games, the senior guard has averaged 36 per contest, which includes a career best 43-point outburst against Tulane.  

While Martin has certainly made his case for player of the year honors in the AAC, the Bearcats also feature their own candidate in Cumberland.

The junior guard, who at 6-foot-5 and 205 pounds already has an NBA-ready frame, plays at a methodical pace and always seems comfortable in the biggest moments when the game is on the line. While he may not consistently post eye-popping scoring numbers like Martin, the pivotal game-deciding plays never appear to be too much for him to handle, and his poise was on full display the last time these two teams met.  

With their win against Temple, Memphis managed to make up some ground in the race for a top seed in the league tourney, but the Bearcats still find themselves only one game back of leader Houston for the number one spot in the standings. With a win, they would keep the pressure on the Cougars as the hourglass that is the regular season gets closer to its end.  

A Tigers win would complicate things even further, as it would position Memphis in a bit of a deadlock for the third and fourth spot with Temple and UCF. As far as conference tournament implications go, the games won’t get much bigger than this one for either side.  

As speculation runs rampant about which teams can make the most noise in March, the Memphis Tigers are locked in on finishing this year strong and leaving it all on the floor, regardless of the outcome. 

Saturday night in Cincinnati, they’ll face some of the most intense pressure they’ve experienced since Hardaway was coach. For these Tigers maybe having their backs against the wall will be the best way to show what they’re truly capable of.