UAB Tops Memphis

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Blazers secured a notable road victory, defeating the University of Memphis Tigers 78-67 at FedExForum. The 11-point margin of victory belies a competitive contest, with the outcome potentially hinging on a possession or two. UAB, currently ranked 116th in the NET rankings, outperformed Memphis, ranked 109th, in a game where the difference in performance was not overwhelming.

A closer examination of the half scores reveals that UAB's strong first half, where they outscored Memphis 46-30, ultimately proved decisive. Although Memphis narrowed the gap in the second half, outscoring UAB 37-32, the initial deficit proved too great to overcome. This disparity in the two halves suggests that the outcome was influenced by UAB's ability to capitalize on opportunities and limit Memphis's scoring chances, particularly in the first half.

A 23-point, 6-assist performance from Chance Westry helped drive UAB's offense, as his ability to score and distribute the ball effectively created opportunities for his teammates. With the game on the line, Westry's 10-for-13 mark from the free-throw line proved crucial in securing the win. His four rebounds and one block also demonstrated Westry's overall impact on the game. The freshman standout, Evan Chatman, erupted for 22 points, including four three-pointers, and added eight rebounds, showcasing his versatility and scoring prowess.

Evan Chatman's three blocks were a testament to his defensive capabilities, complementing his impressive offensive display. His nine field goals, including four from beyond the arc, underscored Chatman's ability to score from various spots on the court. Meanwhile, Daniel Rivera's eight rebounds, coupled with 13 points, provided a significant boost to UAB's frontcourt, as his five field goals and three free throws demonstrated Rivera's efficiency in the paint, and his one block highlighted his defensive contribution to the team's effort.

Finishing with 19 points on 8-13 shooting, Dug McDaniel's effort was a highlight for Memphis, but it ultimately fell short. His three assists and lone rebound, however, underscored the team's overall struggle to find a cohesive rhythm on offense. Despite the loss, McDaniel's 8-13 field goal shooting was a notable bright spot, as he managed to find openings in the UAB defense.

The team's leading scorer, Dug McDaniel, received some support from Sincere Parker and Julius Thedford, who finished with 13 and 12 points, respectively. His 13 points on 6-14 shooting from Parker was a decent showing, but the lack of outside shooting, as evidenced by his 0-2 mark from three-point range, limited his overall impact. Meanwhile, Julius Thedford's eight rebounds were a team-high, but his inability to create for others, with no assists, hindered the team's ability to sustain offense beyond individual scoring efforts.

Beyond the standout performances, the remainder of the players for both teams largely fell in line with their seasonal averages, neither vastly exceeding nor underwhelming expectations.

The pre-game prediction, which had Memphis narrowly edging out UAB by a mere 0.2 points, proved to be inaccurate as the Blazers ultimately secured an 11-point victory. This discrepancy suggests that the model underestimated UAB's ability to outperform their season averages and capitalize on Memphis's shortcomings. The actual result raises questions about the predictive power of such models, highlighting the complexities and unpredictabilities inherent in college basketball.

A closer examination of the team statistics reveals that UAB's superior shooting efficiency and rebounding prowess were key factors in their victory. The Blazers' effective field goal percentage of 50.8% exceeded their season average, indicating a high level of accuracy and shot selection. Furthermore, their offensive rebounding rate of 31.0% allowed them to capitalize on second-chance opportunities, putting additional pressure on Memphis's defense. In contrast, Memphis struggled with their three-point shooting, converting at a rate significantly lower than their season average, which limited their ability to keep pace with UAB's scoring.

The outcome of this contest has significant implications for both teams' postseason aspirations, as they each vie for the American Athletic Conference tournament auto-bid. UAB's victory improves their standing in the conference, bolstering their chances of securing a favorable seed in the tournament, while Memphis's loss further complicates their path to the championship. With UAB now boasting a 18-10 record and Memphis falling to 12-15, the Blazers have positioned themselves for a potentially advantageous draw in the conference tournament, whereas the Tigers must regroup and reassess their strategy to remain competitive. As the season draws to a close, UAB's ability to capitalize on opportunities against Quad 2 and 3 opponents will be crucial in determining their program's trajectory, and with this win, they have taken a decisive step forward, underscoring the notion that Memphis's inability to beat a Quad 3 opponent at home is a damning indictment of their program's current state.