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MEMPHIS (6-5, 0-1 AAC) vs WICHITA STATE (9-3, 0-0 AAC)
SATURDAY, JANUARY 1, 2022 | 11:06 AM CT
WICHITA, KANSAS| CHARLES KOCH ARENA
TV: CBS with John Sadak & Jim Spanarkel
RADIO: KEYN 103.7 FM https://www.radio.com/keyn/listen
SERIES: MEM leads 14-12 (4-8 in Wichita)
LAST MEETING: Jan. 17, 2021 in Memphis (MEM, 72-52)
GAME NOTES: WSU will "stripe" Charles Koch Arena on Saturday. Fans are encouraged to wear their designated color, based on section number:
YELLOW: Sections 101, 102, 105, 106, 110, 111, 114, 115, 118, 120, 122, 124
BLACK: Sections 103, 104, 107, 108, 109, 112, 113, 116, 117, 119, 121, 123, 125, 126
SATURDAY, JANUARY 1, 2022 | 11:06 AM CT
WICHITA, KANSAS| CHARLES KOCH ARENA
TV: CBS with John Sadak & Jim Spanarkel
RADIO: KEYN 103.7 FM https://www.radio.com/keyn/listen
SERIES: MEM leads 14-12 (4-8 in Wichita)
LAST MEETING: Jan. 17, 2021 in Memphis (MEM, 72-52)
GAME NOTES: WSU will "stripe" Charles Koch Arena on Saturday. Fans are encouraged to wear their designated color, based on section number:
YELLOW: Sections 101, 102, 105, 106, 110, 111, 114, 115, 118, 120, 122, 124
BLACK: Sections 103, 104, 107, 108, 109, 112, 113, 116, 117, 119, 121, 123, 125, 126
- A national CBS audience will watch Wichita State open up the New Year and its American Athletic Conference title defense, Saturday morning, against the Memphis Tigers inside Charles Koch Arena.
- Wednesday's original opener at East Carolina was postponed less than five hours before tipoff due to health and safety protocol within the ECU program.
- WSU overcame 10 AAC postponements or cancellations in 2020-21 (all initiated by opposing teams) to win the league's regular season title with an 11-2 mark.
- The Shockers look to shake off the rust from a 10-day layoff since their Dec. 22 rout of Prairie View (102-66).
- WSU -- picked fourth in the AAC preseason poll behind Houston, Memphis and SMU -- posted a 9-3 non-conference record, highlighted by road wins over 2021 NCAA tournament teams Mizzou and Oklahoma State.
- Minus three starters, Memphis dropped its AAC opener Wednesday at Tulane, 85-84, to fall a game back.
- Penny Hardaway returns a solid core from last year's NIT champion, led by All-AAC guard Landers Nolley II, and has the nation's top recruiting class, headlined by five-stars Jalen Duren and Emoni Bates.
- This is the 27th meeting all-time. Memphis leads 14-12 but is 4-8 in Wichita. Its last visit came nearly two years ago (Jan. 9, 2020) when then-No. 23 WSU knocked off the 21st-ranked Tigers, 76-67. The teams did not play in Wichita last year due to a COVID-19 pause at Memphis.
- Memphis handed the Shockers their most-recent AAC regular season loss (Jan. 21, 2021 at FedExForum). WSU bounced back to win its last seven and the title.
- WSU owns an 11-game AAC home winning streak, last losing Feb. 6, 2020 vs. Cincinnati.
- WSU has been the AAC's best defensive rebounding team, by percentage (.745) but will face a Tiger team that leads the league on the offensive glass (.392).
- WSU has been excellent defensively (35th, per KenPom), forcing turnovers on 22.5% of all possessions (40th) and blocking 14.7% of all shots (26th). Foes average 61.8 points on 39.4% shooting (28.8% from three).
- AAC preseason player of the year, Tyson Etienne averages a team-high 14.7 points and just over 2.5 threes-per-game. He's topped 20 points on three ocassions.
- Morris Udeze (12.2 ppg, team-high 5.6 rpg) has seven-straight double-figure scoring games and is averaging 15.9 points on 63% shooting over that span.
- Point guard Craig Porter Jr. (4.1 ppg, team-high 3.1 apg, 2.12 A:TO Ratio) has handed out 16 assists with just one turnover in his last three games
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