South Florida @ Memphis preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 12, 2020 ) Memphis 68, South Florida 64

After dropping two games and losing top freshmen James Wiseman and D.J. Jeffries, it seemed the previously forgone conclusion of Memphis making the NCAA Tournament was in question. But the Tigers have bounced back with three straight victories and look to extend that streak Saturday when they host South Florida - a team they narrowly defeated at Tampa in January - in an American Athletic Conference game.

Defense has propelled Memphis throughout the winning streak, holding all three teams below 40 percent field goal shooting as they sit second in the nation at 36.1. The Tigers have also picked things up offensively, connecting on 43.6 percent of their 3-point attempts. The Bulls' defense has also been key to its two-game winning streak, holding opponents to 52 and 48 points to lower its AAC-leading average to 61.1.But USF has not played nearly as well on the other side of the ball as they are last at 62.3 points scored per game.

TIME: 4 p.m. ET. TV: CBS Sports Network

ABOUT USF (10-12, 3-6 AAC): The team’s offensive struggles have coincided with leading scorer David Collins, who has fallen below the double-digit plateau three times in the last five games, shooting 6-for-19 from the floor in the span. Senior guard Laquincy Rideau has scored 14 points in each of the last two contests and averages 4.1 assists while leading the AAC in steals at 2.5. Sophomore big man Michael Durr has shot nearly 60 percent from the floor in the last five games while leading the team in rebounding and blocked shots for the season.

ABOUT MEMPHIS (17-5, 6-3): Freshman guard Lester Quinones has stepped up in the absence of Jeffries, who will sit at least four weeks with a knee injury, by averaging 17.5 points in the last two games - including a team-high 21 against Temple. Following a streak of four straight games without a field goal made, Boogie Ellis has reached double figures in three of the last four contests, shooting better than 50 percent from 3-point range. But the playmaker for the Tigers continues to AAC Rookie of the Year contender Precious Achiuwa, who has notched 13 double-doubles and is the only player in the conference to average more than 10 rebounds (10.1) in addition to his 15.1 points per game.

BUZZER-BEATERS

1. Memphis on Feb. 3 did not receive a vote for the first time all season in the Top 25 coaches poll.

2. Achiuwa is one of the 10 finalists for the Erving Small Forward of the Year award.

3. Bulls sophomore Ezacuras Dawson shoots 42 percent from three, third-best in the AAC.

PREDICTION: Memphis 77, USF 66