When they stumbled out of the gate it seems we all forgot about Memphis. \u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n
Conference USA Semifinal Matchup<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Preview<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Memphis<\/strong><\/p>\n But when you look back at their non-conference losses now, every single one of them was to a team currently ranked and heading to the Big Dance (including Murray State). \u00a0In Conference USA they weren\u2019t perfect but they won the league again, by two games, with a 13-3 record.<\/p>\n This is the only team in C-USA that doesn\u2019t have to win the tournament this weekend to advance.<\/p>\n Over the course of the season forward Will Barton showed why everyone was so high on him last year. He led the team in scoring and rebounding, not bad considering he weighs just 175 pounds. \u00a0This year\u2019s Memphis team has great depth with so many players yet to hit their ceilings.<\/p>\n If they all stick around this will be a team to fear next year and they can definitely disrupt a high seeds plans later this month…or implode (who knows?). [soliloquy id=”82219″]<\/p>\n UCF<\/strong><\/p>\n This has to be about as good a year for hoops in the state of Florida as ever. \u00a0Nobody is talking much about UCF but they finished tied for third in the league and with 22 victories already have to be in the conversation of teams playing their way in or out this weekend…especially if they beat Memphis, again.<\/p>\n When these two teams played last week UCF was embarrassed losing by nearly thirty points – but they did beat them by a point at home in January.<\/p>\n In that victory forward Keith Clanton and guard Marcus Jordan scored 43 of the Knights 68 points. \u00a0They are the team\u2019s leading scorers and it will be fun to watch the matchups on Friday. \u00a0The Knights don\u2019t have a great answer for Barton while Clanton is a very underrated power forward.<\/p>\n UCF has to get off to a good start to beat the Tigers. \u00a0In that blowout they were down 15 at the half and the game was over.<\/p>\n If that happens again their season might be too.<\/p>\n
\nMemphis Tigers vs UCF Knights
\nFriday March 9
\nThe Pyramid – Memphis, TN
\n5:30PM
\nMoneyline: \u00a0No money line currently listed
\nSpread: \u00a0No line currently listed
\nO\/U: \u00a0No line currently listed<\/strong><\/p>\n