Memphis Tigers vs. Temple Owls Pick & Prediction JANUARY 16th 2025

Preview and Prediction

The 18th ranked Memphis team has been successful in non-conference play, defeating notable teams such as UConn, Michigan State, Clemson, and Ole Miss.

The Tigers have managed to secure nine wins against opponents ranked in the top two quadrants this season.

However, according to coach Penny Hardaway, the real challenge lies ahead.

"As a ranked team, it's important to dominate and defeat teams that we are expected to beat, whether we are playing at home or on the road. We cannot afford to underestimate our opponents," he stated.

Hardaway and his team will need to be fully alert on Thursday night as they face a tough American Athletic Conference matchup against Temple in Philadelphia.

In their last game against East Carolina, the Tigers narrowly avoided a potential upset, winning 74-70 thanks to key plays from PJ Haggerty and Tyrese Hunter.

Haggerty, a 6-foot-3 guard who averaged 20.9 points per game last season at Tulsa, has been a valuable addition to the team this season. He is currently averaging 22.4 points and shooting 49.5 percent from the field, a significant improvement from last season.

Hunter, a transfer from Texas, adds an additional 15.1 points per game for the Tigers, who rank ninth in Division I in 3-point shooting at 40 percent. However, their weakness lies in turnovers, as they average 14.6 per game, ranking 325th in the country.

Despite this, Hardaway believes that his team has the ability to close out games due to their strong offensive players.

On the other hand, Temple (10-6, 2-1) is coming off a close 73-70 win against Rice, with Jamal Mashburn Jr. leading the team with 24 points.

Mashburn, a transfer from New Mexico, has been a consistent scorer throughout his college career and is currently averaging a career-high 20.7 points per game. However, the Owls' offense is not solely reliant on him, with contributions from players like Steve Settle and Zion Stanford.

Temple's defense has also been solid, holding opponents to 41.2 percent shooting from the field. However, they will need to find a way to capitalize on Memphis' turnover struggles, as they only force an average of 11.4 turnovers per game.

Another key factor to watch will be the Owls' ability to defend without fouling. Memphis has attempted almost as many free throws (298) as their opponents have tried (317), with Haggerty being a key contributor in this area.

It will be an interesting matchup between these two teams, with both having their own strengths and weaknesses. Only time will tell who will come out on top in this American Athletic Conference showdown.

PREDICTION

Memphis Tigers

Temple Owls