The No. 19 Memphis Tigers (16-4, 6-1 AAC) enter Thursday night’s matchup against Tulane (11-9, 5-2 AAC) riding high after their most dominant performance in conference play, a 100-77 dismantling of UAB. A statement win solidified Memphis as a top contender for the AAC regular-season title. However, as Penny Hardaway and his team know, maintaining that same level of intensity will be critical as they hit the road for a challenging stretch.
The Tigers travel to Devlin Fieldhouse, a venue that has historically been a tough place for them to play. Memphis has not won at Tulane since December 2020, dropping its last three road matchups against the Green Wave. Head coach Ron Hunter’s squad may not have the national attention or resume Memphis boasts, but they have a history of elevating their play at home against the Tigers. Given Tulane’s recent momentum and their home-court advantage, Memphis cannot afford to take this game lightly.
The Importance of Thursday’s Game for Memphis
Thursday’s showdown is about more than just snapping a losing streak in New Orleans. With Memphis now tied for first place in the AAC alongside North Texas, every conference win holds major implications for seeding in the AAC Tournament and the Tigers’ NCAA Tournament outlook.
After climbing the latest Associated Press and Coaches Polls, Memphis has earned significant respect from national voters. A road win over Tulane would further bolster their tournament resume. However, a loss could be damaging, considering the limited number of quality wins remaining on Memphis’ AAC schedule.
The Tigers have been dominant at home, but their last three AAC road games have all been decided by single digits—a 68-64 win over North Texas, a 74-70 victory against East Carolina, and their lone conference loss, an 88-81 setback at Temple. Devlin Fieldhouse has been a house of horrors for Memphis in recent years, and Tulane will likely push them to the wire once again.
Scouting Tulane: A Resilient Green Wave Squad
Tulane has battled through an up-and-down season but has started to hit its stride in AAC play. After opening the season with a disappointing 6-7 record, the Green Wave have won five of their last seven games, including an impressive 82-71 victory over Rice in their previous outing.
One of Tulane’s biggest strengths is its balanced scoring attack, led by former Indiana forward Kaleb Banks, who has emerged as the team’s go-to player.
Key Tulane Players to Watch
- Kaleb Banks (Forward, 6’8”, Jr.) – Banks leads Tulane in points (17.5 PPG), rebounds (7.4 RPG), and blocks (1.2 BPG). His ability to stretch the floor and score in multiple ways will challenge Memphis’ frontcourt.
- Rowan Brumbaugh (Guard, 6’4”, So.) – Brumbaugh is the engine of Tulane’s offense, averaging 14.5 PPG and ranking second in the AAC in assists (4.7 APG). His ability to create for teammates makes him a dangerous playmaker.
- Kam Williams (Guard, 6’3”, Jr.) – Williams is Tulane’s third-leading scorer (9.9 PPG) and a reliable perimeter threat, shooting 49.0% from the floor and 42.9% from three. He also contributes on the boards, averaging three rebounds per game. His efficient shooting makes him a player Memphis must keep in check, especially in transition and catch-and-shoot situations.
Tulane’s strength lies in their ability to push the pace and create transition opportunities, an area Memphis has struggled with this season. The Green Wave also ranks among the top teams in the AAC in forcing turnovers, which could be a concern given Memphis’ inconsistent ball security.
Memphis’ Keys to Victory
For Memphis to end their losing streak at Devlin Fieldhouse, a few critical areas must be addressed:
- Take Care of the Basketball – Turnovers have been an Achilles’ heel for the Tigers, especially on the road. They committed 14 first-half turnovers in their recent win over Wichita State and will need to limit mistakes against a Tulane team that thrives on forcing takeaways.
- Dominate the Paint – Memphis’ frontcourt duo of Dain Dainja and Moussa Cissé must impose their will inside. Dainja was outstanding against UAB, scoring 21 points while adding eight rebounds. Cissé came off the bench and contributed 8 points and six rebounds, providing much-needed depth.
- Perimeter Defense – Tulane has multiple scoring threats from beyond the arc. Memphis must contest shots aggressively and prevent the Green Wave from heating up early.
- Continue the Hot Shooting – The Tigers shot 52.9% from three-point range against UAB, a significant improvement from earlier in the season. If they can replicate that efficiency, they’ll have a great chance to break their Devlin curse.
Score Prediction
This will be a gritty, hard-fought game that could go down to the wire, much like Memphis’ other AAC road contests. Tulane has a history of making things difficult for the Tigers, but Penny Hardaway’s squad seems to find its rhythm at the right time.
While the Green Wave will put up a fight, Memphis’ depth, defensive intensity, and size advantage should allow them to pull away late.
Prediction: Memphis 81, Tulane 74
With this win, the Tigers would move to 17-4 overall and 7-1 in AAC play, keeping them on track for a strong NCAA Tournament seeding. However, if they let Tulane control the tempo and force turnovers, it could be another tense road battle that comes down to the final possessions.
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