From GoTigersGo.com...
Tigers take four-game win streak to Tulsa
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – A four-game American Athletic Conference winning streak will be on the line Saturday for the University of Memphis.
In putting together the consecutive victories the past three weeks, the Tigers (13-6, 4-2 AAC) have accomplished what no other U of M team has since joining the league five years ago. No Memphis team had won four straight games in the AAC.
To extend the streak, the Tigers will have to beat a conference team twice for the first time this season. The U of M defeated Tulsa, 78-67, Jan. 6 at FedExForum to begin an AAC winning streak that also includes wins over Tulane, Temple and UConn.
Memphis also will attempt to win a second straight road game after beating Temple in overtime in Philadelphia last weekend. Kareem Brewton Jr., drained a game-winning 3-pointer in the closing second of overtime to secure the win, the U of M's first away from FedExForum this season. Tip-off is 7 p.m. at the Reynolds Center in Tulsa and ESPNU will carry the game.
There have multiple contributors during the U of M win streak, but none more impactful than guard Jeremiah Martin and forward Mike Parks Jr. Martin earned league player of the week honors Monday for his efforts in the wins over Tulane and Temple. He scored a career-high 31 against Tulane.
Parks, meanwhile, has averaged 16.3 points during the winning streak. Tuesday against UConn, he set career highs in points (21) and rebounds (11), while recording his first double-double of the season. Martin also had a double-double with the same amount of points and rebounds as Parks.
Brewton said the Tigers have played better during the winning streak because of "moving the ball around better" than they had been and because of what Parks has added.
"We've got more of an inside presence now with Big Mike," Brewton said. "It's not just Kyvon (Davenport)."
Tulsa (10-9, 3-4 AAC) returns to the Reynolds Center after dropping a 59-58 decision at Temple, the Golden Hurricane's fourth straight loss. Last weekend, Tulsa nearly pulled off an upset of No. 5 Wichita State before falling 72-69 at home.
Tulsa hasn't won since a double-overtime victory against UConn Jan. 3 and Tiger coach Tubby Smith expects the Golden Hurricane to be hungry to end the drought.
"Absolutely," Smith said. "(Coach) Frank Haith and his staff are excellent coaches. He'll have his team ready to play."
QUOTABLE
"Every team, every preparation, every practice is different and each player is unique in how they respond to certain stimuli. You have a mixture of emotions and personalities (you're) having to mesh. The one thing that's constant is me. I'm not changing . . . they will adapt." -- Tiger coach Tubby Smith on molding a young team.
NOTABLES
Tigers take four-game win streak to Tulsa
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – A four-game American Athletic Conference winning streak will be on the line Saturday for the University of Memphis.
In putting together the consecutive victories the past three weeks, the Tigers (13-6, 4-2 AAC) have accomplished what no other U of M team has since joining the league five years ago. No Memphis team had won four straight games in the AAC.
To extend the streak, the Tigers will have to beat a conference team twice for the first time this season. The U of M defeated Tulsa, 78-67, Jan. 6 at FedExForum to begin an AAC winning streak that also includes wins over Tulane, Temple and UConn.
Memphis also will attempt to win a second straight road game after beating Temple in overtime in Philadelphia last weekend. Kareem Brewton Jr., drained a game-winning 3-pointer in the closing second of overtime to secure the win, the U of M's first away from FedExForum this season. Tip-off is 7 p.m. at the Reynolds Center in Tulsa and ESPNU will carry the game.
There have multiple contributors during the U of M win streak, but none more impactful than guard Jeremiah Martin and forward Mike Parks Jr. Martin earned league player of the week honors Monday for his efforts in the wins over Tulane and Temple. He scored a career-high 31 against Tulane.
Parks, meanwhile, has averaged 16.3 points during the winning streak. Tuesday against UConn, he set career highs in points (21) and rebounds (11), while recording his first double-double of the season. Martin also had a double-double with the same amount of points and rebounds as Parks.
Brewton said the Tigers have played better during the winning streak because of "moving the ball around better" than they had been and because of what Parks has added.
"We've got more of an inside presence now with Big Mike," Brewton said. "It's not just Kyvon (Davenport)."
Tulsa (10-9, 3-4 AAC) returns to the Reynolds Center after dropping a 59-58 decision at Temple, the Golden Hurricane's fourth straight loss. Last weekend, Tulsa nearly pulled off an upset of No. 5 Wichita State before falling 72-69 at home.
Tulsa hasn't won since a double-overtime victory against UConn Jan. 3 and Tiger coach Tubby Smith expects the Golden Hurricane to be hungry to end the drought.
"Absolutely," Smith said. "(Coach) Frank Haith and his staff are excellent coaches. He'll have his team ready to play."
QUOTABLE
"Every team, every preparation, every practice is different and each player is unique in how they respond to certain stimuli. You have a mixture of emotions and personalities (you're) having to mesh. The one thing that's constant is me. I'm not changing . . . they will adapt." -- Tiger coach Tubby Smith on molding a young team.
NOTABLES
- Tiger guard Jeremiah Martin has scored 354 points through 19 games this season, 26 more than a year ago. Last season, he scored 328 points in 32 games.
- With its four straight league wins, the Tigers have moved into a tie for third place in the American Athletic Conference with Houston. Both have 4-2 league records and trail only Cincinnati (5-0) and Wichita State (5-1).
- At 18.6 points per game, Martin is the second-leading scorer in the conference. He averages 19.7 points in league play.
- Memphis forward Mike Parks Jr., is averaging 13.2 points in the team's six conference games. He averaged 3.8 points in the team's 13 non-conference games.
