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Tulsa vs. Memphis: MBB Game 28 Preview
2/27/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 27, 2015MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The Tulsa men's basketball team is back on the road for an American Athletic Conference contest at Memphis at 7 p.m. Saturday at the FedEx Forum. The game will be televised by ESPNU.
The Golden Hurricane (20-7, 13-2 American) has won three in a row, and 15 of its last 17 games, including a 76-55 defeat of Tulane on Wednesday. The Hurricane is 7-3 on the road this season, and defeated Memphis, 73-55, in Tulsa on Jan. 21. The Tigers (17-11, 9-6 American) have won three of their last four games, and are 12-5 at home this season.
TULSA (20-7, 13-2 American) vs. MEMPHIS (17-11, 9-6 American)
Saturday, Feb. 28, 2015 • 7:05 p.m. • FedEx Forum (18,400)
TV: ESPNU (Jason Benetti and Tim Welsh) and WatchESPN
Radio: News 102.3 and AM 740 KRMG and the Golden Hurricane Radio Network (Bruce Howard and Rick Couri)
Internet: Live Audio on Hurricane Vision
Live Stats: www.TulsaHurricane.com
Twitter: @TUMBasketball | @TulsaHurricane
Instagram: TulsaMBasketball
The Coaches
Tulsa: Frank Haith (Elon '88)
Career Record: 225-136 (11th year) | Record at Tulsa: 20-7 (first year)
Memphis: Josh Pastner (Arizona, '97)
Career Record: 147-55 (sixth year) | Record at Memphis: same
The Series
This is the 38th meeting between Tulsa and Memphis. Memphis leads the series, 23-14. The Golden Hurricane won earlier this season, 73-55, back on Jan. 21. Prior to this season, the Tigers won three in a row in the series from 2012-13, and 15 of the previous 16, dating back to 2006. Tulsa's last victory in Memphis was a 68-65 win in 2011. The Golden Hurricane also won 72-64 in the 2001 NIT Final Four in New York, in the schools' first meeting since 1989. Tulsa won the first 11 meetings between the two schools, from 1964-71, including an 80-63 win in Tulsa in 1964. The Tigers won eight straight in the series from 1972-89. The Hurricane is 7-12 all-time against the Tigers in Memphis.
About Memphis
The Tigers are led by Austin Nichols, who averages 13.4 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game. Shaq Goodwin averages 8.8 points and 7.0 rebounds, Avery Woodson scores 8.6 points and Trahson Burrell adds 8.3 points per game. Memphis averages 67.5 points and 37.7 rebounds per game, shooting .440 from the field and 33 percent from 3-point range. The Tigers allow 62.0 points and 32.9 rebounds, a .392 field goal percentage, and a .298 3-point shooting percentage.
Quick Hits
• Tulsa averages 65.6 points and 37.1 rebounds, and a .424 field goal percentage and .319 3-point percentage. TU allows opponents 60.0 points and 34.0 rebounds per game, and a .390 field goal percentage and a .329 3-point shooting percentage.
• Tulsa defeated Tulane, 76-55, on Wednesday. James Woodard led the Golden Hurricane with 18 points and four 3-pointers, while Rashad Smith tallied 17 points and eight rebounds. Rashad Ray put up 10 points and six assists, and Brandon Swannegan had nine points and four blocks.
• In conference play, Tulsa is outscoring opponents by an average of 64.7-57.3. The Hurricane has shot .423 from the field, while holding opponents to a .383 field goal percentage, and has outrebounded opponents by a 37.0-34.3 margin.
• As of Feb. 27, Tulsa was ranked No. 34 in the official NCAA RPI. TU holds top-100 wins over RPI No. 32 Temple (twice), No. 76 UConn, and No. 85 Memphis. The Hurricane is 4-5 against the RPI top-100 and 2-4 against the RPI top-50.
• In conference games, Tulsa ranks second in The American in scoring margin (+7.4 ppg), field goal percentage defense (.383) and rebounds (37.0), and third in scoring defense (57.3). Woodard ranks third in the league with 14.6 points per game in conference play, while Harrison ranks second with 2.0 steals per game. Woodard ranks third overall in the league in scoring (14.7 ppg) and second in 3-pointers made (2.6).
• Woodard ranks 19th in Tulsa career scoring with 1,307 points in 93 career games (14.1 average). He also ranks ninth with 166 career 3-pointers.
• Shaquille Harrison ranks seventh with 167 career steals, and Brandon Swannegan is sixth at TU with 113 career blocks.
• Tulsa has won 20 games for the second straight season, and the 22nd time in program history.
• Tulsa's 20-7 record under first-year head coach Frank Haith is the program's best record through 27 games in a head coach's first season since 2001-02 when TU started 22-5 in John Phillips' first year.
• The Hurricane is 16-0 when leading at halftime, 17-0 when it out-shoots its opponent, and 17-0 when it holds opponents to fewer than 65 points.
• Tulsa has won seven road contests this season, including six in conference play. TU won seven consecutive road games from Dec. 7-Feb. 5.
• Tulsa has held 24 of its 27 opponents this season under 50 percent shooting from the field, and 56 of its last 61 opponents, dating back to last year. TU has also held 14 opponents below 40 percent shooting this season, and three opponents under 40 points in a game.
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