While the Omicron variant of COVID-19 isn't yet expected to be a major consideration ahead of Sunday's American Athletic Conference matchup between the Cincinnati Bearcats and Memphis Tigers, general health and wellness is a concern.
UC leveled its AAC record at 1-1 in a Thursday home win against Southern Methodist, and Memphis enters Sunday's game at FedexForum with a winning record in league play (8-5, 2-1 AAC).
More:UC Bearcats, Wes Miller down SMU for first AAC win of the season
But Tigers head coach Penny Hardaway looks like he might struggle to assemble a competitive lineup and bench with anything close to resembling depth.
Senior guard Alex Lomax and junior forward Chandler Lawson have already been ruled out through injury for Memphis. Five additional players were characterized in Friday reports as "game time decisions."
The Memphis perspective:Who Penny Hardaway said was on Memphis basketball's growing injury list before Cincinnati game
One of those game time decisions – freshman wing Emoni Bates – practiced Thursday and therefore might be in a stronger position than his ailing peers in terms of dressing for the Bearcats' visit.
For U.C., A.J. McGinnis was held out of Thursday's victory over SMU in what head coach Wes Miller described as a precaution.
Miller described McGinnis as not being COVID-19-positive as of late Thursday, but dealing with cold symptoms. It's unclear if the precautionary measures will carry over to Sunday's game for the sophomore guard, who is averaging 2.6 point per game.
More:QB Ben Bryant returning to UC Bearcats after one year at Eastern Michigan
Absent McGinnis, the team Miller fielded on Thursday still won impressively against the visiting Mustangs, dominating many facets of a 77-60 victory in which UC led by 20 or more points for long stretches of the second half.
Memphis is streaking at the moment, having defeated Tulsa on Tuesday. The win constituted three wins in the Tigers' last four games.
More:Memphis basketball survives late scare in win over Tulsa. Here are 5 things we learned
Memphis players described the Tulsa win as ugly, but it was a win nonetheless.
“Their whole entire crew is energy guys just out there playing grimy and playing tough," Hardaway said of UC. "Anytime you play against Cincinnati, it’s not Mick Cronin, but Wes (Miller) does a great job of getting the best out of the guys.”
THE GAME
Tipoff: 3:30 p.m. ET on Sunday at FedexForum (Memphis)
TV/Radio: ABC/WSAI 1360
Series history: UC leads the all-time series with Memphis, 47-35. That includes an 11-4 record agaiin AAC play
SCOUTING REPORT
Memphis (8-5, 2-1)
Coach: Penny Hardaway, fourth season (71-37)
Offense: 77.7 ppg
Defense: 69.6 ppg
Projected lineup (Player, (Position, Height, Key Stat))
Earl Timberlake (G, 6'6", 6.8 ppg)
Malcolm Dandridge (C, 6'9", 5.1 ppg)
Lester Quinones l (G, 6'5", 8.5 ppg)
DeAndre Williams (F, 6'9", 11.3 ppg)
Josh Minott (F, 6'8", 5.3 ppg)
Cincinnati
Coach: Wes Miller, first season (11-4, 1-1 American)
Offense: 70.6 ppg
Defense: 60.5 ppg
Projected lineup
Player (Position, Height, Key Stat)
David DeJulius (G, 6’0", 12.8 ppg)
Mika Adams-Woods (G, 6’3”, 7.9 ppg)
John Newman III (G, 6’4”, 6.9 ppg)
Jeremiah Davenport (G, 6'7", 12.5 ppg)
Abdul Ado (F, 6’11”, 3 ppg)
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Josh Minott
The highly touted freshman helped Memphis dig out of an early 10-0 hole against Tulsa on Tuesday and that was just his latest contribution. Minott is averaging 10 points per game in AAC play for the Tigers, including a career-high 15 on Jan. 1 against Wichita State.
Minott is the reigning AAC Freshman of the Week as a result of his Wichita State output, and finished the game against Tulsa with seven points,11 rebounds, five assists and two steals.
Jeremiah Davenport
Miller lauded Davenport for his showing against SMU, which notably wasn't even a marquee scoring performance for the player.
Davenport was active on both ends of the floor, notching seven points, two offensive rebounds, four defensive boards and two steals in 29 minutes.
UC was also plus-27 with Davenport on the floor – a team high.
"I did tell Jeremiah Davenport I was about as proud of him tonight as I've been all year because it wasn't his night offensively, but I thought we were much better team with him," Miller said after the game. "Boy, I'm just privileged to be able to coach him because you wouldn't know by the way he played that it wasn't one of his better scoring nights."
KEY TO THE GAME
Stated simply, UC needs to start the Memphis game with the kind of energy its shown over the last three halves of basketball it's played.
In a Jan. 1 loss to Tulane, UC was practically run out of Fifth Third Arena by the Green Wave and trailed by as many as 26 points. Miller said that disappointing showing was a result of a lack of effort and intensity.
After halftime, UC seemed to have figured out its effort deficiency and put a scare in Tulane, which hung on for a narrow, 68-60 win.
Despite the loss, the Bearcats have hustled and jostled their way to outscoring opponents by 32 points over the 60 minutes they have played since getting dominated in the first half by the Green Wave.
RANKINGS
KenPom.com: Memphis (34); Cincinnati (76)
NET: Memphis (35); Cincinnati (121)
RPI: Memphis (80); Cincinnati (132)
