UNLV hosts the Memphis Tigers at home inside the Thomas and Mack Center at 6 p.m. ET (3 p.m. PT) Saturday.
UNLV is 1-0 to begin the season after a compelling win over Alabama State earlier in the week. The Runnin Rebels’ new transfers and core returners worked well together, resulting in a fluid and efficient team win.
The Runnin’ Rebels now look ahead to their first early challenge of the season in the Memphis Tigers. Memphis is 1-4 all-time against UNLV.
This will be the first meeting between the teams since the 1996-97 season when UNLV defeated the Tigers in Las Vegas 66-62. It will be the first game of a home-and-home deal between the programs, with UNLV traveling to Memphis next year.
The Tigers are coming off an impressive 22-10 season. Head coach Penny Hardaway is in his seventh year leading the program. Hardaway coached the Tigers to an 83-75 victory in their season opener against Missouri.
UNLV, led by fourth-year head coach Kevin Kruger, is ready for the challenge the Memphis roster brings.
The Runnin’ Rebels received efficient play from their bigs in the win against Alabama State. JUCO transfer Jeremiah “Bear” Cherry posted a double-double in his Division I debut. The junior posted 24 points and 11 rebounds in his first game of the season.
Rob Whaley Jr. had a quality night, posting seven points and four rebounds. UNLV has depth in the frontcourt to maintain interior efficiency.
The one-two punch of Whaley and Cherry can make more variations of the lineup than there already is. The group will need it against a fast and big team in Memphis.
“Memphis is extremely athletic and extremely talented,” Kruger said after Friday’s practice. “We have to be really sharp and we have to be really crisp.”
The Tigers have great guard play in redshirt sophomore PJ Haggerty. Haggerty had an explosive season opener, posting 25 points, six rebounds and five assists in the win over Missouri. The guard took over late in the second half to propel the Tigers to victory.
Memphis has the size to complement the guard play. Moussa Cisse, a fifth-year center, came off the bench for the Tigers and posted 14 points and seven rebounds. Cisse is the tallest member of this Memphis squad at 6-foot-11.
UNLV has matchup options to combat the size. One notable factor is that Memphis is heavy on getting into the interior and finishing at the rim.
“I’m excited to play their big men. They’re phenomenal players,” Cherry said after Friday’s practice. “I think it’ll be my first test and I’m ready for it for sure.”
The Runnin’ Rebels will try to slow down the pace against the Tigers. Memphis scored 12 points off fast breaks in its matchup against Missouri.
UNLV is prioritizing quick transitions back on defense and locating matchups effectively to disrupt Memphis’s fast-paced offense.
“When we put up a shot we have to get back,” UNLV forward Jalen Hill said. “We have to find our matchups and stop the ball. They have guys who can really push the ball, so we have to stop that.”
To put themselves in a winning position, UNLV has to take care of the ball. Memphis forced 14 turnovers against Missouri. The Tigers scored 24 points from those 14 turnovers, making it a crucial point to take care of the ball.
This will be UNLV’s first true test of the season. Staff and players have made it a priority to return to the NCAA tournament. The quest continues, and a quality win against a strong Memphis team will surely help in March.
