Wtf, Memphis?? Leave it to Mempiss to piss on such a strong start to their season. “The average fan doesn’t know how good Arkansas State really is.” Louisiana Tech revealed Memphis’s weakness. I wonder if their arena had a similar library feel to the LA Tech game.
Looking like a very down year for the AAC. The one saving grace I can think of is that if Niners can find a way to get their act together, we might have an easier time than usual making noise in the conference. One can hope.
No library today in FedEx Forum but definitely more cheers coming from the Arkansas State fans. Haggerty (29 pts) and Dainja (16 pts, 12 rebs) showed up though latter contributed a good bit to the 11 missed FTs by the Tigers.
Classic trap game with Clemson, UVA, Mississippi State, and Ole Miss rounding out OOC for Memphis prior to the start of AAC play. ASU no world-beaters so far but did give #2 Bama a game in Tuscaloosa earlier in the season, so Tigers should have known this wouldn’t be a pushover opponent. Going to be a happy bus ride back to Jonesboro!
Definitely a down year for AAC hoops. Not sure the league has ever finished outside the top 10 but that’s very likely this season. Memphis’s #1 SOS is remarkable being a non-P5 team but Q4 losses like today - especially at home - can be an issue come time for NCAAT seeding. Still 4 opportunities for the Tigers to build on their resume with those all being ACC and SEC opponents.
Anyway, in spite of today’s head scratcher by Hardaway & Co, Tigers should still be the conference favorite. But now we know they’re not invincible. Niners chances of an upper division finish are as good as any team this year.
And more on Memphis vs Ark State:
And, ironically, Tigers next game is vs Oglesby’s alma mater - Clemson!
Memphis’ loss dropped the Tigers’ NET by 17 spots to #48!
Moved Arkansas State up to #124 from #167.
As such, now a Q3 loss instead of Q4 for UofM.
And more fallout from Memphis’ loss as Tigers drop out of the AP Top 25.
Tennessee is the new #1, while Iowa State is #3.
Pirates lose a buy game. Oof!
And gets an extra dose of ridicule beyond the usual Rothstein cliche - “The epitome of brutality.”
Noticed that North Alabama’s starting five includes 6-9 PF Corneilous Williams, who had 15 and 7 vs ECU. He prepped at Combine Academy in Lincolnton but never seemed to be on our radar for the 2022 recruiting class. Last I remember he had committed to Murray State but LSU swooped in and he ended up in Baton Rouge. See that he left LSU but apparently likes purple as he transferred to WCU. After a season in Cullowhee, continued with his affinity for purple by transferring to North Alabama. I believe he was something of a vagabond before college as well, so probably a good thing we weren’t ever involved.
Here’s a school-by-school list of P5 opponents this season:
CHARLOTTE
Niners could potentially face one in the Diamond Head Classic round 2 - Nebraska
Could play ex-P5 Oregon State in round 3
ECU
@ South Carolina - L
FAU
@ UCF - L
vs OK State, Charleston Classic - W
vs Seton Hall, Charleston Classic - L
@ Michigan State 12-21
Memphis
North Carolina (exhibition) - L
vs Alabama (ex in Huntsville AL) - L
Mizzou - W
vs #2 UConn, Maui Inv - W
vs Michigan State, Maui Inv - W
vs #4 Auburn, Maui Inv - L
@ #16 Clemson 12-14
@ UVA 12-18
#25 Mississippi State 12-21
#19 Ole Miss 12-28
North Texas
@ Minnesota - W
ex-P5 Oregon State - W
Rice
vs FSU @ Toyota Center - L
South Florida
vs #21 Florida in Jax - L
Temple
@ Boston College - L
vs FSU @ Mohegan Sun - L
Villanova - L
Tulane
vs FSU in Sunrise FL 12-14
Tulsa
OK State - L
vs UCF in Sunrise FL 12-14
UAB
No P5 opponents
UTSA
@ Arkansas - L
They have since caught up and passed the memphis.
Yep. Posted that more for the emptiness of Littlejohn than the early score.
Headed to OT.
AAC Tigers beat the #16 ACC Tigers 87-82 in OT. Penny & Co. should be ranked again next week. Nice Q1 win for UofM.
