How long does it take to get over a “gut-wrenching” loss in a basketball game that the losing coach knows his team could have – probably should have – won?
The Tigers lost 74-71 to Auburn on Saturday in Atlanta during the Pit Boss Grills Holiday Hoopsgiving. On Wednesday night at 6, they open American Athletic Conference play against Tulane.
“This is the hardest loss for me. It is gut wrenching,” said Memphis head coach Penny Hardaway.
Memphis led 63-62 with 4:11 left in the game. Defensive lapses allowed Auburn to go on an 8-2 over the next 2:13.
Normally good from the free-throw line, the Tigers only connected on 11 of 23 attempts. And the turnover bug that haunted the team last year, well, it was biting away. Memphis had 18 turnovers and only 14 assists.
Missed shots – many easy at the rim layups and put-backs – were painfully present.
“Focus,” Hardaway said of the remedy.
“Guys are going in there and they know the bigs are going to be there and you just got to make shots. I think the focus isn’t there always. There was a lot of craziness missing free throws and layups.”
The Tigers were good on the glass, grabbing a season-high 24 offensive rebounds Moussa Cisse had 14 total rebounds.
D.J. Jeffries led the way for the Tigers with 16 points, adding seven rebounds. Boogie Ellis and Alex Lomax each had 10 points. Landers Nolley II and Cisse each had 9 points.
Auburn’s freshman guard, Justin Powell, pushed and pulled the SEC Tigers toward victory, hitting four of six three-pointers (most in the second half) and finishing with 26 points.
Up next
The AAC opener on Wednesday at Tulane is set for tipoff at 6 p.m. The game will be televised on either ESPN2 or ESPNU.
Memphis’ next home games are Dec. 21 against Tulsa and Dec. 29 against USF.
The Tigers open conference play Wednesday at Tulane at 6 p.m. The game will be televised on either ESPN2 or ESPNU. Memphis’ next home games are Monday, Dec. 21 against Tulsa and Tuesday, Dec. 29 against USF.
