New Orleans @ Memphis preview

Returning just two letter winners from a season ago - tied for the fewest in Division I - Memphis coach Tubby Smith knew it would take time for his young squad to come together. He got his first win of the young season last week behind solid play by his one returning star, and he hopes his squad will take another step forward when winless New Orleans visits on Tuesday.

The Tigers dropped their opener 82-70 to a depleted Alabama team but rebounded by overcoming a five-point halftime deficit for a 70-62 victory over Little Rock last Tuesday behind a career-high 26 points from Jeremiah Martin and 13 points from junior-college transfer Kyvon Davenport. Martin, who averaged 10.3 points and 4.4 assists as a sophomore last year, shot 7-of-12 from the floor, including 4-of-5 beyond the arc, and added six rebounds and three steals in the victory. "Thank goodness Jeremiah Martin stepped up, raised up; he played a superb game," Memphis coach Tubby Smith said. "Kyvon Davenport gave us some clutch shots. … That's what those guys are supposed to do. They're veteran players and I'm really proud of how we recovered.” New Orleans, the reigning Southland Conference champions, return two starters, seniors Travin Thibodeaux (8.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists last season) and Makur Puou (5.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.3 blocks).

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN3

ABOUT NEW ORLEANS (0-2): The 6-8 Thibodeaux and 6-9 Puou are coming off career highs of 20 and 18 points, respectively, in an 87-68 loss to Oakland on Nov. 13. The 6-8 Thibodeaux went 9-of-13 from the field and added six rebounds, four assists, four steals and three blocks, while freshman guard Troy Green came off the bench with 11 points, five assists and four rebounds. Outside shooting has been an issue for the Privateers, who have made just seven 3-pointers in 22 attempts in the first two games with junior guard Ezekiel Charles leading the way with three.

ABOUT MEMPHIS (1-1): With the transfers of three starting players to Power 5 schools that accounted for over 44 points a game, Davenport (14 points, 7.5 rebounds per game) and another JC transfer, Kareem Brewton Jr. (10 points, 2.5 assists), join Martin (18 points, 6.5 rebounds) as the other double-digit scorers on the team through two contests. Jamario Rivers (7.0 points per game) and Mike Parks (2.5 points) round out the starting lineup. Smith feels that freshman guard Jamal Johnson, a first-team all-state player in Alabama last season can help, and the 6-0 shooter is averaging 7.5 points in 20.5 minutes.

TIP-INS

1. Tuesday marks the first matchup between the programs since Dec. 20, 1989. Memphis leads the series 8-0 overall and is 5-0 in Memphis.

2. Memphis ranks sixth among the NCAA Division I programs with the most newcomers (eight) and ninth in fewest returning minutes (1,825) this season.

3. Smith wants the team to share the ball more, as Memphis has just 16 assists on 46 field goals.

PREDICTION: Memphis 64, New Orleans 60