Game Day Essentials: Game #6 vs Memphis

Memphis

Head Coach: Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway
Location: Memphis, TN
Conference: AAC
Nickname: Tigers
Mascot: TOM (deceased), Pouncer

Last time out: Lost to Seton Hall
Opening Line: KenPom has the Tigers by 9

Other:  

• Second ever meeting between Memphis and Nebraska. Memphis St beat Nebraska 86-79 on Dec. 22, 1954
• Kendric Davis and Emmanuel Bandoumel were teammates for three years at SMU
• Penny's son Jayden is on the team and thus both coaches have sons that play for them

Player to watch: Kendric Davis

The SMU transfer is the reigning AAC player of the year and has picked up where he left off averaging 20.5 ppg and 5.8 apg. Nebraska will struggle to keep in front of this three level scorer all game.

KenPom most used lineup

Probable starters for Nebraska
5    Sam Griesel    G    6-7
25  Emmanuel Bandoumel    G    6-4

0   C.J. Wilcher    G    6-5

4   Juwan Gary  F  6-6

13  Derrick Walker    F    6-9

Bench

15   Blaise Keita C   6-11

30  Keisei Tominaga    G    6-2

32  Wilhelm Breidenbach    F    6-10

10  Jamarques Lawrence - G  6-3

12  Denim Dawson - F  6-6

33  Oleg Kojenets    F    7-0
12   Sam Hoiberg    G    6-0

31  Cale Jacobsen  G  6-4

35  Henry Burt  F  6-6

24  Jeffrey Grace III  G  6-3

Injured

3   Quaran McPherson   G   6-3 - Out for the Year

*Availability Unknown

The Skinny: 

First things first, Derrick Walker will play his first regular season game on Friday and I'm expecting him to start and play 20+ in this game.  While he likely won't magically have Nebraska making 3pt shots or FTs, his ability to score inside and distribute from the post should help this offense that hasn't scored over 60 points against a Power 5 opponent.

The likely way Nebraska wins this game is that they dominate in FT differential while Memphis turns the ball over and misses 3s. Seems much more likely that Memphis is able to throttle the Huskers offensively enough to break them defensively. 

Prediction: Memphis 73 - Nebraska 60