Tulane @ Memphis preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 14, 2019 ) Tulane 68, Memphis 83

Tenth-ranked Memphis emerged virtually unscatched through a tumultuous first seven-plus weeks of the season and looks to extend its winning streak to 10 when Tulane visits for the American Athletic Conference opener on Monday night. The Tigers enjoyed just three games with star center James Wiseman before he was suspended by the NCAA and later left school, but lost just once against No. 7 Oregon early on.

Memphis entered Sunday second in the nation in field goal percentage defense (34.4) with a roster made up primarily of freshmen and sophomores, but are averaging 17.3 turnovers after coughing the ball up 27 times in Saturday’s 97-55 win over New Orleans. “Obviously, we’re playing defense incredibly well, real good half-court defense,” Tigers coach Penny Hardaway told reporters. “We’re holding teams to really low percentage and winning the rebounding battle as well. A couple of good stats, but we have to take the turnovers down.” Memphis must be alert against snakebit Tulane, which lost a pair of games by a total of five points at the DC Holiday Hoops Fest in its last two outings before the Christmas break on Dec. 20 and 21.The Green Wave will have to improve defensively if they are to make an impact in the AAC as opponents are shooting 44.3 percent against them from the field - 257th in the nation through Saturday’s contests.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network

ABOUT TULANE (8-4): Georgia transfer Teshaun Hightower leads the team in scoring (17.8) after pouring in a season-high 33 points on 9-of-15 shooting in the 86-82 overtime loss to Towson last time out. Kansas transfer K.J. Lawson contributes 14 points per contest while senior guard Christion Thompson, formerly with Rhode Island, is averaging 12.3 points and a team-best 6.3 rebounds. Sophomore guard Jordan Walker adds 8.9 points and a team-high 2.7 assists for the Green Wave, who made just 23-of-38 from the free-throw line in their past two outings but shoot 70.3 percent overall from the stripe.

ABOUT MEMPHIS (11-1): Freshman guard Lester Quinones returned to the lineup after missing five games with a hand injury by scoring 13 points and hauling in five rebounds in 18 minutes against New Orleans. “Its felt great to be back out there with my guys,” Quinones told reporters. “Being on the sidelines for those four-to-five weeks helped me see the game differently, seeing all the little stuff, all the talk and communication, all the things we need improvement with.” Freshman forward Precious Achiuwa leads the team in scoring (14.3) and rebounds (9.8) and has five double-doubles in the last eight games.

TIP-INS

1. Memphis senior F Isaiah Maurice, who averages 3.8 points, scored a season-high 10 against New Orleans.

2. Tulane senior G Nic Thomas made five 3-pointers and scored a season-high 19 in the loss to Towson.

3. Freshman G Damion Baugh had seven steals Saturday, the most in a game by a Tiger since 1990.

PREDICTION: Memphis 80, Tulane 68