Date: Wednesday, December 18, 2024
Venue: John Paul Jones Arena, Charlottesville, VA
Broadcast: ESPN2
This Wednesday, the Virginia Cavaliers (6-4) will host the Memphis Tigers (8-2) at the John Paul Jones Arena.
In their last outing, the Memphis Tigers achieved a competitive victory over Clemson with a final score of 87-82. Memphis posted an impressive 51.7% shooting percentage (31 of 60) and made 12 out of 25 three-point attempts. They also succeeded on 76.5% of their free throws, hitting 13 of 17. On the boards, the Tigers accumulated 30 rebounds, including 10 offensive rebounds. They showcased strong playmaking with 17 assists while forcing 13 turnovers and making 7 steals. Defensively, Memphis allowed their opponent to shoot 44.8% from the field, with Clemson achieving 30 of 67. Clemson recorded 16 assists but struggled defensively with no blocked shots. At the free throw line, Clemson shot 80.0%, making 12 of 15 attempts, and struggled from beyond the arc, hitting only 10 of 31 shots. Both teams finished with 16 personal fouls.
Tyrese Hunter stood out as a crucial player for Memphis, netting 23 points on 8 of 14 shooting in 41 minutes of play. He also grabbed 4 rebounds and dished out 3 assists while showcasing a shooting efficiency of 57.1%.
For more insights on NCAA Betting Picks, explore our expert analysis.
The Memphis Tigers enter this contest with an 8-2 season record. They average 14.1 turnovers and commit 18.6 fouls per game. The Tigers pull down an average of 35.1 rebounds and have a combined total of 130 assists this season, ranking them 282nd in college basketball for assist metrics. Memphis exhibits a strong three-point shooting performance at 44.3%, having made 85 of 192 attempts, alongside a free throw success rate of 73.3%. They average 81.1 points per game (ranked 68th in D-1) and shoot 47.3% from the field overall.
Defensively, the Tigers generate 13.7 turnovers per game while committing an average of 20.6 personal fouls. They rank 277th in the nation for allowing assists, with a total of 158 surrendered this year. Opponents are shooting 43.3% from the field against Memphis and capturing 34.5 rebounds per game. They yield a three-point shooting percentage of 36.0% and rank 307th in allowing points per game, currently at 77.1.
In their previous game, the Virginia Cavaliers secured a solid victory over Bethune-Cookman, finishing at 59-41. The Cavaliers collected a total of 40 rebounds, with 30 defensive and 10 offensive. They committed only 11 turnovers while generating 4 steals throughout the game. Bethune-Cookman was limited to 12 fouls, allowing Virginia to shoot 12 free throws, of which they converted 8 for a percentage of 66.7%. From beyond the arc, the Cavaliers shot 30.4%, making 7 of their 23 attempts, and overall team shooting from the field was at 44.0%, hitting 22 of 50 shots. Conversely, the Cavaliers’ defensive performance held Bethune-Cookman to 30.9% shooting from the field, as they allowed 17 of 55 attempts to go in and 25.0% from three-point territory.
Elijah Saunders emerged as a key player for Virginia, scoring 15 points in 36 minutes with a shooting rate of 54.5% (6 of 11) and grabbing 8 rebounds without recording an assist.
The Cavaliers hold a season record of 6-4. Offensively, they have a field goal percentage of 43.8%, positioning them 238th in the NCAA. Over the course of the season, they have logged 614 points (averaging 61.4 per game) and pulled down 32.5 rebounds per contest. Their assist average stands at 14.1 (ranked 187th) while committing 12.3 turnovers per game. Virginia averages 13.4 fouls per game and maintains a free throw shooting percentage of 72.9%.
Defensively, the Cavaliers allow a three-point shooting percentage of 32.5% (80 of 246), and opponents convert 68.9% of their foul shots. Virginia’s defense permits 11.2 assists and 32.2 rebounds per game, ranking 66th and 77th, respectively. They excel in points allowed per game, ranked 14th nationally with an average of 60.2. Additionally, they force 9.7 turnovers from opponents and give up a field goal percentage of 39.6%, placing them 51st in D-1.
Free Prediction: Bet on Memphis (-5.0)
