MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Southern Illinois men’s basketball faces another tough test Wednesday, Nov. 26, at Memphis after a challenging stretch on the road. The game tips off at 7 p.m.
After starting the season with two wins in Banterra Center, SIU has since played four straight road games. Wednesday’s matchup marks its fifth consecutive game away from home.
Memphis, once a perennial national championship contender, is off to a slow start at 1-4. The Tigers opened with a win over San Francisco but have dropped four straight to Ole Miss, UNLV, Wake Forest and top-ranked Purdue. They pushed Purdue, falling by eight, and lost to Wake Forest by one, both on neutral courts. The Tigers are members of the American Athletic Conference.
“This is going to be a major test for our team,” SIU head coach Scott Nagy said. “We need to come out with great intensity and set a tone early.”
Memphis is coached by former NBA All-Star and program alum Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway. Senior guard Dug McDaniel leads the Tigers with nearly 15 points per game and also tops the team in assists (29), turnovers (17) and steals (10). Much of the offense runs through him.
The Tigers shoot 32 percent from 3-point range. Their best outside shooter is Hardaway’s son, Ashton, who hits 37 percent from deep. Memphis has been solid on the boards, slightly outrebounding opponents. Sophomore guard Julius Thedford leads the team with 5.4 rebounds per game.
The game will be played at FedExForum, home of the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies, and will air on ESPN+ and the Saluki Radio Network.
Life on the Road
Southern Illinois has gone 1-3 during its road swing, with each game bringing a different challenge:
- Nov. 12: SIU lost an 86-81 overtime thriller at Nevada. The Salukis had a chance to win in regulation but allowed a game-tying 3-pointer with 19 seconds left. Nevada pulled away in overtime.
- Nov. 17: The Salukis surrendered 16 3-pointers — the second-most in program history — in a 92-85 loss at North Dakota State. Despite a second-half rally, SIU couldn’t slow the Bison’s shooting.
- Nov. 23: Southern Illinois earned its first road win, controlling Delaware wire-to-wire in the Jacksonville Classic opener.
- Nov. 24: SIU fell behind early, rallied to take the lead, but couldn’t hold on against UAB in the Jacksonville Classic finale.
“Being on the road for such a long stretch is a challenge, but it’s a chance for our team to grow through a little adversity,” Nagy said. “We have faced some tough competition, and we were in all four of those games. We just have to play our game, trust the system, and finish the job.”
Looking Ahead
The Salukis return to the Banterra Center for the first time in more than three weeks at 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29, against Arkansas-Little Rock. Tickets are available here.
SIU then travels to High Point on Wednesday, Dec. 3, before hosting UT Martin on Dec. 10. The nonconference schedule wraps up Dec. 13 at Richmond against the Spiders.
