South Florida at Memphis
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Interstat) — A surging South Florida team looks to continue its push toward the postseason when it visits a struggling Memphis squad in an American Athletic Conference men’s basketball game Thursday afternoon at FedExForum.
The Bulls (21-8, 11-5 AAC) enter on a seven-game winning streak, their latest a dominant 90-62 victory over Tulane on Sunday. They have not lost since Jan. 31 and sit firmly in contention for a high seed in next week’s conference tournament.
Conversely, the Tigers (12-17, 6-10) have lost five of their last six, including an 84-68 defeat at East Carolina on Sunday. Memphis, which has struggled with consistency all season, will try to salvage a regular-season split with USF and build momentum before the tournament.
South Florida is powered by guard Wes Enis, who is averaging 19.6 points per game during the winning streak. He scored 25 points with four assists in the win over Tulane and dropped 20 points in the teams’ first meeting this season, a commanding 87-66 USF victory in Tampa on Feb. 19.
Memphis will counter with guard Dug McDaniel, who has been a bright spot during the difficult stretch. He is averaging 15.2 points over his last five games, including a 29-point outburst in a narrow loss to Wichita State on Feb. 26. McDaniel was held to just seven points in the loss at South Florida last month.
The Bulls have showcased a potent offense during their streak, scoring 80 or more points in five of the seven wins. Memphis’s defense, which has allowed an average of 82.2 points over its last six games, will be severely tested.
Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. EST. South Florida can solidify its standing near the top of the AAC with a road win, while Memphis aims to play spoiler and find a signature victory to end its regular season home schedule.