Game: (819) Memphis Tigers (2-0) vs (820) Oregon Ducks (2-0)
Time: Tues. 11/12 9:00 PM EST at Moda Center, Portland, Oregon
Spread: Oregon -3 ML: -85/+160 Total: 147 at 5Dimes
Tools: Public Consensus| View Matchups | Bet This Game
No. 13 Memphis takes on the No. 14 Ducks Tuesday night (6 p.m., ESPN) at the Moda Center as part of the Phil Knight Invitational. Oregon and Memphis have never faced one another. Oregon defeated Boise State, 106-75, in their most recent game on Nov. 9. and Memphis defeated to UIC, 92-46, in their most recent game on Nov. 8. This isn’t considered a home game for the Ducks but they will definitely have home-court advantage. Wiseman and Achiuwa are familiar with the venue having played at the Nike Hoop Summit in April at the Moda Center.
The Oregon Ducks are loaded and are ranked No. 15 in the country. They were the preseason pick to win the Pac-12. They made it to the Sweet 16 last year and lost two key players from that team in Kenny Wooten and Louis King. However, coach Dana Altman has a lot of talent coming back, including the projected all-Conference pick, point guard Payton Pritchard. They also had a good recruiting class in landing top freshmen CJ Walker and center N’Faly Dante. They also landed 2 huge transfers, forward Shakur Juiston from UNLV and shooting guard Anthony Mathis from New Mexico. Oregon sophomore F Francis Okoro, who missed Saturday’s game after posting 10 points and 10 rebounds in the opener, is sore after being struck by a car and questionable for Tuesday.
Oregon has played well offensively this season, averaging 88.5 points per game. The team is shooting 55.8 percent from the field and 43.8 percent from three-point range. Payton Pritchard has been the top scorer for the Ducks, averaging 21.5 points per game. He is also averaging 6.5 rebounds and seven assists per game for the Ducks. Anthony Mathis is averaging 19.5 points and two rebounds per game, while Chris Duarte is averaging 11.5 points, six rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. Oregon has also played well defensively, holding opponents to 66 points per game.
Memphis is averaging over 90 points per game. They are shooting 56.7 percent from the field and 42.6 percent from three-point range. Wiseman leads the Tigers with 22.5 points, 10 rebounds, and four blocks per game. Boogie Ellis is averaging 15 points and two assists per game, while Precious Achiuwa is averaging 12 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. The Tigers have also done a great job on the defensive end, holding opponents to 55 points per game.
Wiseman has lived up to the hype in his debut, scoring 28 points and grabbing 11 rebounds in a win over South Carolina 97-64. In a win over Illinois-Chicago on Friday, Wiseman had 17 points and 11 rebounds while Ellis led the way with 22 points. DJ Jefffries added 14 points. Wiseman has been ruled ineligible by the NCAA due to alleged recruiting violations by Hardaway. However, the team seems to have been prepared for this as they quickly received a restraining order, reversing the NCAA’s power. So as it stands, Wiseman will continue to play and he is expected to play against Oregon.
The Ducks are averaging 88.5 points per game, which is 45th in the country, but they will have a hard time keeping up against the Tigers, who are averaging 94.5 points per game and holding opponents to 55 points per game. The Ducks will also struggle in the paint with the team averaging 39.5 rebounds per game, while the Tigers average 42.5 rebounds per game.
Since last season, Oregon ranks 26th in defensive efficiency (95.4) and Memphis is 59th (98.0). It will also be a matchup of opposite tempos as the aggressively-paced Tigers rank 11th in possessions per game, while the more methodical Ducks rank 327th.
Oregon might cover if they can win the battle on the perimeter. Oregon has the more experienced guards, and Oregon’s guards need to be the better pair. But Memphis will cover if Wiseman dominates inside. The Ducks don’t have anyone who can match him in the paint.
In this matchup, the experience goes to the Ducks but Memphis has the edge when it comes to talent. The Tigers will be coming out hungry in this matchup after getting a lot of negative press all week. Look for big games from big players but especially Wiseman here.
The O/U has dropped to 145 here this is likely because of the Neutral Court. This will be a big game for these teams and defense tends to outperform offense. You can also count in the fact that Under has been performing well so far this year as the oddsmakers are adjusting to the new rules. This court is also much bigger which will give depth perception a difference for the shooters, especially as they are still adjusting to the line that has been moved back this year.
Oregon is allowing only a .390 shooting percentage its first two games and just 66 points per game. The UNDER is 12-3-1 in Memphis’ last 16 games overall and 7-0 UNDER when following a win. The Ducks are 16-5-1 UNDER their last 22 and 10-3-1 UNDER after a win. Also, Oregon is 8-3-1 UNDER its last 12 non-conference games.