Sophomore forward LeRon Barns provides depth and length on the wing for the Cougars. | Emily Chambers/The Daily Cougar
After gaining some momentum from a conference win against UCF, the Cougars look to join the national conversation as No. 21 Memphis comes to town Thursday.
The last time these teams played, Memphis defeated UH 82-59 at the FedExForum on Jan. 23.
Memphis dominated for most of the game and brought a physical intensity UH could not match. The Cougars hope the results will change with the venue when the Tigers enter Hofheinz Pavilion.
“They are as good as anyone in the country at converting turnovers and missed shots into baskets, so transition defense is going to be very important,” said head coach James Dickey on his radio show Monday night. “(That means) valuing the basketball, not turning the ball over and not giving easy baskets in transition. We want to make them play more of a half-court game.”
With a pedestrian record so far, UH (13-14, 4-9) knows that games against top opponents down the stretch will influence its postseason position. The Cougars, now sixth in the American Athletic Conference standings, are in position for the final first-round bye for the conference tournament.
“We need to get this win going into the conference tournament,” said redshirt sophomore forward LeRon Barnes.
The Cougars have competed well at home in conference play — games against No. 23 SMU and No. 11 Cincinnati were close losses that were decided down the stretch. The Cougars are looking to convert close losses into victories against ranked teams.
“We’re excited. They are a good team, but we’re strongly confident in ourselves, and we know that if we play correctly and do everything we have to do, we are the better team,” said senior forward J.J. Richardson.
Memphis (21-6, 10-4) is fourth in the American after winning four of its last five games.
With four games left until the conference tournament, each game becomes crucial to seeding any possible postseason play. It comes down to the basics in basketball.
“We have to take care of our business one game at a time,” Dickey said.
