Following a loss to Illinois State to start its road trip, Ohio (1-2) travels to Tennessee to take on Memphis (2-0) Friday. Memphis, which peaked 10th in the AP Poll last season, will be Ohio’s biggest test as the team looks for an answer to its early-season offensive woes.
Here’s everything to know ahead of the game.
Game information
Opponent: Memphis
Location: FedEx Forum (Memphis, Tennessee)
Time: Friday at 7 p.m.
Where to watch: ESPN+
Follow live stats here.
Meet the opponent
Head coach
Penny Hardaway (7th season)
Projected starters
No. 2, Nicholas Jourdain
No. 3, Colby Rogers
No. 4, PJ Haggerty
No. 11, Tyrese Hunter
No. 42, Dain Dainja
Statistical leaders
Points: Haggerty (27.0 per game)
Rebounds: Dainja (9.5 per game)
Assists: Haggerty (4.0 per game)
Steals: Jourdain (1.5 per game)
Blocks: Jourdain (1.5 per game)
Field goal percentage: Jourdain (.667)
Three-point percentage: Hunter (.500)
Free-throw percentage: Haggerty (.826)
Memphis notes
The Tigers have emerged from a successful season looking dangerous. While the team has only secured its wins by margins of 8 and 6 points, Memphis, armed with productive transfers, scored 80 points in each of its two regular-season games, including 88 against Alabama and 76 against North Carolina in its preseason matchups.
Hardaway runs a tight rotation, with each member of his starting five playing at least 30 minutes in the team’s most recent game against UNLV. Ohio will need to limit the starting unit’s production if it looks to come away with the upset.
Player to watch: PJ Haggerty
Haggerty is currently the nation’s seventh-leading scorer, with a staggering 27.0 points per game. The 6-foot-3 transfer from Tulsa is coming off a season where he averaged 21.2 points per game. Haggerty is a menace getting to the free-throw line, averaging 10.0 free-throw attempts per game last season and 11.5 per game this season.
