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Another buzzer-beater ends Memphis’s NCAA Tournament dream
March is mad. March is also sad.
By Francis Carlota - March 17, 2023, 11:12 pm - 0 comments
About 30 minutes prior to Memphis’s matchup with Florida Atlantic, history was made. The No. 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson Knights made this night their own upsetting No 1. seed Purdue. But there was still one more game left in Columbus Friday night.
This NCAA tournament features many captivating matchups. No. 8 Memphis vs. No. 9 Florida Atlantic is one of them with many questions that will be answered in the next 40 minutes of game time. How will Memphis match up with FAU’s four-out, one-in offense? Will Coach Hardaway press FAU to raise the tempo? Can FAU continue its hot shooting from deep? How will Kendric Davis play in his NCAA Tournament game? We’re about to find out.
1ST HALF
The AAC player of the tournament, Kendric Davis started things off for the Tigers with a floater in the lane. Then Jayden Hardaway hit a smooth pull-up jumper. But FAU responded with a bucket from big man Vladislav Goldin and a two triples to take an early 4-8 lead.
FAU is one of the best three-point shooting teams in the country averaging 9.7 makes per game. While Memphis’s three-point defense improved throughout the year, guarding the perimeter was an achilles heel. The Owls continuing their strong start from deep would be a massive issue going forward.
Another issue for the Tigers has been their struggles on the glass. Memphis only ranks 86th in rebounds per game and 160th in offensive rebounds. Early on, that trend was reversed as they grabbed 3 offensive rebounds in the first 4 minutes including a Malcolm Dandridge tip-in to tie the game 8-8 at the under 16-minute timeout.
Elijah McCadden came out of the timeout with a corner three giving the Tigers the lead.
But FAU’s defensive strategy was clear: force Memphis to beat them from outside. There was no room in the paint to finish, and the triples weren’t falling as a whole. To make things worse, FAU got everything they wanted offensively opening up an 11-18 lead with 11:38 in the 1st.
That lead was extended to 9 as Florida Atlantic continued its 14-2 run. Chandler Lawson provided some relief with a put-back slam. But a deep FAU triple at the end of the shot clock felt like a shot to the ribs. This was the difference in the game so far. Memphis was 1-9 from three. FAU was 4-8. Shot selection from the Tigers had been questionable up to this point.
I guess the Tigers heard me because their next two baskets came at the rim from Elijah McCadden. Then, Damaria Franklin finally knocked down a triple cutting the FAU lead to four. But credit FAU’s defense once again. Memphis had no choice but to take contested threes against the Owls’ 2-3 zone that also suffocated Kendric Davis whenever he touched the ball.
Davis was quiet after scoring the Tigers’ first two points. A pull-up jumper going to his left broke his cold streak. Then he turned defense into offense with a steal leading to a foul and hit one free throw that cut the lead to three. Jayden Hardaway erased FAU’s lead with a triple of his own from a nice Elijah McCadden skip pass. 29-29 with 2:08 left in the half.
Kendric Davis entered the three-point party with back-to-back triples to take a 35-31 lead into halftime. A 16-4 run was ignited by Davis and sustained by the Tigers’ half-court defense and impressive rebounding. KD led all scorers with 12 points, while Elijah McCadden had nine.
2ND HALF
With how well the Tigers closed the 1st half, someone was missing: DeAndre Williams. He was quiet with only 2 points on 1-5 shooting. Getting Dre going was likely a point of emphasis coming out of halftime, and he scored Memphis’s first bucket with a nice hook shot. Then McCadden found Williams for a fast-break lay-up.
But just when DeAndre found his rhythm, he committed two questionable fouls forcing him to the bench with 17:35 to play. Things went from bad to worse as McCadden got called for a technical foul and FAU hit two free throws cutting the Memphis lead to two.
With DeAndre on the bench, this needed to become the Kendric Davis show. He responded with two free throws and a perfect pass to Jayden Hardaway for a reverse lay-up. Then the unthinkable happened.
DeAndre Willimas, four fouls and all, entered the game with about 14 minutes left.
Columbus, Ohio has never been compared to Las Vegas. But this was a gamble the biggest high-rollers on the strip wouldn’t take.
So far though, it paid off. Memphis went on a 6-0 run after Dre entered the game capped off by a Malcolm Dandridge slam. FAU timeout. Tigers lead 51-44 at the 9:55 mark.
After a hot start from three for Florida Atlantic, the Owls went ice cold making only one of their next 14 triples. But that lone make came after their timeout halting Memphis’s momentum. That three-pointer started an offensive barrage with both teams trading buckets.
But once again, the Tigers just couldn’t catch a break. Kendric Davis rose up for a triple and landed on his defender’s foot and rolled his right ankle. He immediately collapsed to the floor in pain. Memphis fans across the world fell silent as he hopped to the bench.
With no KD, Memphis had to find another source of offense. Chandler Lawson hit clutch threes against Houston and knocked down a huge triple.
This was followed by two free throws from DeAndre Williams. FAU’s Johnell Davis found his shot though and hit back-to-back treys tying the game 60-60 with 3:04 left.
Somehow, someway, Kendric Davis entered the game. KD clearly was hobbled. But he showed heart defensively on the next possession. Unfortunately for Memphis, FAU got a lucky offensive rebound and hit a lay-up to take a two-point lead.
On the next Tigers possession, KD was isolated with an FAU big. He drove the lane and missed his shot. But DeAndre Williams was there for the offensive rebound and put back. Better yet, he got fouled and hit the free throw. Memphis led by one, 63-62. 1:28 to play.
Once again though, the Owls got an offensive tip-in to retake the lead with only 57 seconds left.
The Tigers need a bucket. Who else but DeAndre Williams? He got a tip-in of his own to give Memphis a one-point lead. 34.3 seconds.
The Tigers need a stop. They got one. Credit Dre for going straight up and grabbing the defensive rebound. 19 seconds.
Then chaos ensued that can only be explained by March Madness. Lomax inbounded the ball to KD. FAU chose not to foul and pressed Memphis, and it worked. KD threw the ball away. FAU’s Brandon Weatherspoon raced down the floor and ran into multiple Tigers who caused another turnover. Jayden Hardaway dove on the ball. Alex Lomax tried to call timeout. But the refs called a jump ball.
Possession arrow: Florida Atlantic.
FAU inbounded to Nicholas Boyd in the corner. He drove on Elijah McCadden and broke the hearts of Memphians.
Memphis 65, Florida Atlantic 66.
The storybook ending for the Memphis Tigers went unwritten. March is mad. March is also sad.
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