What to expect when Memphis basketball hosts Ohio, plus a game prediction

Memphis basketball arguably had the best opening week of any program in college basketball.

The Tigers first overcame a 14-deficit to take down Missouri at home last Monday, and then bounced up a 12-point hole to escape Las Vegas with a win over UNLV last Saturday. Mizzou and the Runnin’ Rebels are ranked No. 64 and No. 92 respectively in KenPom.

Memphis (2-0) now gets a slight step down in competition when it hosts Ohio (1-2) inside FedExForum on Friday (7 p.m., ESPN+). This will be the Tigers’ final home game before they play San Francisco at the Chase Center and three contests in the Maui Invitational (including one against back-to-back national champion UConn).

Memphis coach Penny Hardaway, however, refuses to overlook the Bobcats.

“This game with Ohio is very different than the first two…I’m excited about that because when you play every style of game, then you’re prepared to play everyone,” Hardaway said Wednesday. “Any team is capable of beating you. We’ll never disrespect any team, no matter who we’re playing. I think I’m the happiest because this game is gonna make us think, communicate a lot and really have to be locked in the entire game.”

Here’s what to expect in Memphis’ third regular season outing.

Banged-up Tigers

Memphis managed a victory over UNLV after outscoring the Runnin’ Rebels 50-40 in the second half on 71.4% shooting, and its stellar rally required major grit from its two lead guards.

PJ Haggerty and Tyrese Hunter, who combined for 38 of Memphis’ 80 points Saturday, sat out three consecutive practices with knee injuries before the Tigers’ trip to Las Vegas. Haggerty—the reigning American Athletic Conference (AAC) Player of the Week—particularly impressed with 29 points on 10-for-18 shooting despite his ailment.

Neither practiced this week either, according to Hardaway, but both are expected to play against Ohio. Hardaway also revealed that forward Nick Jourdain has missed some practices due to a hip injury, but he’s also expected to suit up in Friday’s game.

Will Dain Dainja and Moussa Cisse see more minutes together?

The big men enjoyed respective standout performances in Memphis’ first two games.

Cisse, a 6-foot-11 senior who spent his freshman year at Memphis, racked up 14 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks in just 19 minutes against Missouri. Dainja, a 6-foot-9 senior transfer from Illinois, filled the box score with 9 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists and a block at UNLV.

But they haven’t shared much time on the court thus far—exactly eight minutes and 13 seconds—despite living an apartment door away from each other. Dainja also averages 28.5 minutes per game, while Cisse plays just 15.

The former hopes these numbers start trending the other way moving forward.

“The more [Cisse and I play together], the better it is. I feel like we should do it more. We learn off each other a lot,” Dainja said Wednesday. “I feel like it’s an advantage for us—having two bigs. I can pass. I can pop back out, pass it down to him in the post. It’s just a mismatch problem for teams, especially on the glass. I feel like we can outrebound anybody.”

What Ohio brings to the table

The Bobcats entered 2024-25 as the preseason favorite to win the Mid-American Conference (MAC), but their first three games didn’t go to plan.

Ohio suffered 10-point losses at both James Madison and Illinois State, sinking Jeff Boals’ team to No. 161 in KenPom and No. 140 on barttorvik.com. Memphis, for reference, is No. 37 and 36 respectively in both metrics. KenPom also ranks Ohio No. 76 in adjusted offensive efficiency, but No. 307 in adjusted defensive efficiency.

“Missouri ran ball screens and some staggers. UNLV was high-ball screen, space the floor. [But] Ohio is like more of a motion-style offense the entire game—looking for backdoors, looking for burn cuts. And then when you make a mistake, those bigs will pop and shoot,” Hardaway said. “They have weapons at every area, especially [with] the style that they play.”

The Bobcats are led by sixth-year senior Shereef Mitchell. The 6-foot-1 guard, who played four seasons for Creighton, averaged 13 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds and 2 steals on 68.8% shooting in Ohio’s first two games. Mitchell missed Tuesday’s loss at Illinois State.

AJ Clayton has spent his entire collegiate career at Ohio. The 6-foot-8 senior puts up 13 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game while shooting 43.3% from the field and 35.3% from 3-point range. Clayton scored a season-high 19 points in the Bobcats’ 82-76 victory over UNC-Asheville.

Aidan Hadaway has also remained loyal to Boals’ program. The 6-foot-8 junior currently scores 13 points per game on 50% overall shooting and 36.4% perimeter shooting. Hadaway also notches 4 rebounds and 1.7 steals.

Other players to watch for are 6-foot-4 guard AJ Brown (12.3 points, 53.8% from 3-point range), 6-foot-2 guard Jackson Paveletzke (10.3 points, 3.3 rebounds) and 6-foot-3 guard Elmore James (9 points, 2.7 rebounds).

The Prediction

Memphis rolls to victory at home.

This one shouldn’t remain within single digits. Ohio will certainly bring energy early, but the Tigers’ talent gap probably settles things down by the second half.

Expect Memphis to handle business.