UAB Basketball Preview: UAB @ Memphis

CUSA-fans.com has a new staff of team correspondents this season to help bring you, the fan, more detailed Conference USA sports coverage. Today, our UAB Correspondent Joe Schillaci, Jr. previews the basketball game between UAB and Memphis.

Tuesday January 16th, 2007

FedEx Forum

TV: CSTV

8 PM CST

Coach Davis may finally be getting through to his team. Since the loss to UTEP, UAB (10-7 overall, 2-1 C-USA) has played better defense and Lawrence Kinard has scored over 20 points in the past two games after being challenged by Coach Davis to bring his A game for the entire time he is on the court. Kinard is a Memphis native and he will want to have a big game in front of his hometown.

Paul Delaney, III continues to be a steady force at point guard for UAB even though he is playing out of his natural position. Wen Mukubu's scoring punch has been lacking the last two games and Frank Homes has been nowhere to be found offensively this season. For UAB to win, Holmes and Mukubu need to score inside and Kinard and Delaney must continue to score outside.

Defensively, the Blazers shut down the leading scorer for UCF and Tulane. They must do the same against Memphis to have a chance to win this game. Memphis comes into the game with a 13-3 record 3-0 in C-USA. John Calipari’s club likely has revenge on its mind. Last year, UAB handed Memphis a loss at Bartow Arena. The Tigers were ranked No. 3 in the nation at the time and rarely lose in CUSA play.

This year, Memphis comes into the game ranked No. 17 in the AP poll. It is coming off a hard fought victory over Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg on Saturday.

Both UAB and Memphis have struggled at the free throw line in recent games.

Memphis is led by Chris Douglas-Roberts who is averaging 15.7 points per game and Jeremy Hunt with 13.4 points per game. The Tigers are getting balanced scoring from the rest of their starters and the bench.

UAB is currently staring down the barrel of a NIT bid and a win against Memphis could give UAB hope of getting back on the bubble.

Prediction: Memphis 78 - UAB 71