Tigers Look to Keep Home Dominance Alive Against Slumping Tulane
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - After delivering their most complete performance of the season in a 92-65 dismantling of Florida Atlantic, the Memphis Tigers return to FedExForum on Sunday with momentum firmly on their side. Now sitting at 10-10 overall and 5-3 in American Athletic Conference play, Penny Hardaway’s squad is eyeing another key win - this time against a Tulane team trending in the opposite direction.
The Green Wave roll into Memphis riding a five-game losing streak, having dropped to 12-9 overall and 3-5 in conference play. And they’re walking into one of the toughest environments in the league.
The Tigers have turned FedExForum into a fortress, winning 18 straight home games against AAC opponents - a streak that dates back to January 31, 2023. Under Hardaway, Memphis is a dominant 58-9 at home in conference play.
A Familiar Foe, A Tricky Matchup
While Memphis has owned the home floor, Tulane hasn’t exactly been a pushover in recent years. The Green Wave have managed to snag at least one win over the Tigers in three of the last four seasons. That said, Memphis has won the last three matchups in the series and will look to keep that streak alive on Sunday.
Bradshaw’s Breakout
One of the biggest storylines for Memphis right now is the emergence of 7-footer Aaron Bradshaw. After two seasons bouncing between Ohio State and Kentucky with limited offensive output, Bradshaw is finding his rhythm in Memphis. He’s posted three straight games with double-digit scoring for the first time in his career, including a 15-point performance against FAU earlier this week.
During that stretch, Bradshaw is averaging 12.3 points and a team-best 7.0 rebounds per game while shooting an efficient 60.9% from the field. He now has eight double-figure scoring games this season - a clear sign that he’s becoming a real presence in the Tigers’ frontcourt.
Parker Heating Up
Senior guard Sincere Parker is also stepping into a bigger role. Now second on the team in scoring at 9.9 points per game, Parker has reached double digits in five of his last seven outings.
Over his last two full games - wins over UTSA and FAU - he’s been lights out, averaging 21.5 points in just 23.5 minutes per game. He’s done it efficiently too, hitting 8-of-12 from the field in both games and going a combined 4-of-5 from deep.
Memphis by the Numbers
- The Tigers are 4-0 at home in conference play for the second straight season - a feat they haven’t pulled off in back-to-back years since the 2011-12 and 2012-13 campaigns.
- Memphis has held nine opponents under 30% shooting from three at home this year, tied for the most in Division I.
- Dug McDaniel has quietly been a model of consistency, with 11 straight games of at least three assists and a steal - tied for the longest such streak by a Tiger in the last 30 years.
- Memphis’ bench is producing at a historic rate, averaging 33.7 points per game - on pace to be the highest bench scoring average in AAC history.
- The Tigers are 95-18 since 1996-97 when multiple players score 20+ in a game, and 134-22 when leading at halftime under Hardaway.
Scouting Tulane
Tulane’s recent struggles hit a low point Wednesday with a 97-83 home loss to South Florida. The Bulls dominated the offensive glass and outscored the Green Wave by 26 in second-chance points - a tough pill to swallow for a team already battling inconsistency.
Despite the skid, Tulane still has one of the league’s most dangerous scorers in Rowan Brumbaugh. The preseason AAC Player of the Year is averaging 19.1 points per game and shooting 36.9% from deep. He’s scored 15+ points in 16 of 21 games this season, including a career-high 35 earlier this month at Charlotte.
Curtis Williams Jr. (13.2 PPG, 4.1 RPG) and Asher Woods (12.2 PPG, 3.1 RPG) round out a trio of capable scorers for the Green Wave.
And they know how to get to the line - Tulane ranks 26th in Division I in made free throws per game (18.7) and 34th in free throw percentage (76.9%). Brumbaugh himself is fourth in the country in total makes from the stripe, hitting 134 of 165 attempts.
But the Green Wave’s Achilles' heel is rebounding. They’re near the bottom nationally, pulling down just 30.8 boards per game and getting outrebounded by an average of 7.6 per contest.
What’s Next for Memphis
After Sunday’s matchup, Memphis hits the road for a Thursday night showdown at UAB before returning home next weekend to face league-leading Charlotte. It’s a pivotal stretch for a Tigers team that’s finding its form - and doing it just in time for the heart of conference play.
Tip-off against Tulane is set for 2 p.m. CT at FedExForum. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2, with radio coverage on 98.9 THE ROAR OF MEMPHIS.