Huskers Look to Bounce Back vs. Memphis

Following a loss to Oklahoma on Thursday, the Huskers will look to bounce back Friday afternoon as they take on Memphis at the ESPN Events Invitational just outside Orlando, Fla. Tipoff between the Huskers and Tigers is set for 4:30 p.m. (central) and the game will be televised nationally on ESPNEWS. It will also be carried on 105.3 FM in Lincoln, on Huskers.com and on the Huskers app.
 

Friday’s meeting between the two schools is just the second-ever meeting between the two programs and first since an 86-79 Memphis win on Dec. 22, 1954. That marked the first year for Husker men’s basketball coach Jerry Bush, who is the grandfather of current Husker head coach Fred Hoiberg. Memphis coach Penny Hardaway and Hoiberg are two of the 23 former NBA players on Division I sidelines this season.

Nebraska (3-2) struggled with cold shooting following a 69-56 loss to Oklahoma in the first round. The Huskers shot just 42 percent on the day, including 3-of-14 from 3-point range, while Oklahoma shot 51 percent, including 9-of-20 from 3-point range. That shooting difference was more than enough to overcome Nebraska’s 35-23 advantage on the glass.

Junior forward Juwan Gary continued a strong run of performances with 16 points and seven rebounds to lead the Big Red. Gary, a 6-foot-6 transfer from Alabama, is averaging 13.6 and 8.3 rebounds per game over the last three contests.  In four career games at the ESPN Events Invitational, he is averaging 11.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, well above his career averages of 5.6 ppg and 3.5 rpg.

Memphis (2-2) dropped a heartbreaking 70-69 loss to Seton Hall as Tyrese Samuel banked in a 3-point pointer as time expired for the win. The Tigers trailed only once in the second half until the game winner and had a four-point lead with just over a minute remaining. Kendric Davis led Memphis with 22 points, seven assists and six rebounds and leads the Tigers in scoring at 20.5 points and 5.8 assists per game.

One Husker is very familiar with Davis, who was the American Athletic Conference Player of the Year in 2022. Senior guard Emmanuel Bandoumel started alongside Davis for three seasons (2019-20 to 2021-22), helping the Mustangs to a pair of NIT appearances in 2021 and 2022.

Nebraska will play Stanford or Florida State on Sunday with the start time determined by Friday’s results. If Nebraska wins, it will play at 10 a.m. (central), while a loss puts the Huskers in the 6:30 p.m. (central) contest.