Memphis Hosts No. 10 Louisville With Two Starters Game-Time Decisions
No. 10 Louisville visited Memphis for a noon tipoff at FedExForum, the first Tigers home game against the Cardinals since 2014. Memphis guards Jayden Reid and Luke Almodovar were game-time decisions, and the Tigers were coming off a 105-81 loss at Vanderbilt.
The Memphis Tigers hosted No. 10 Louisville in a Sunday, November 15 game at FedExForum, with tipoff set for noon and an ESPN broadcast. Louisville vs Memphis was the Tigers' first home game against the Cardinals since 2014, and two Memphis starters were game-time decisions.
Jayden Reid and Luke Almodovar were both uncertain, according to a report from Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports. Reid left early in the first half of Tuesday's loss at Vanderbilt but returned shortly after. Almodovar left that game after falling on the back of his head following a dunk.
Reid said on the Gary Parrish Show on Friday that he would be ready to play Louisville. It was still unclear whether either player would suit up.
Two teams, two recent results
Memphis (2-1) beat Iowa State and VCU before losing 105-81 at No. 22 Vanderbilt. The Tigers wanted to bounce back in what was expected to be one of their most anticipated home games of the season.
Louisville (2-0) entered the year with one of the top NCAA transfer portal classes in the country. It opened with a 14-point win over Chattanooga and a 50-point win over Morehead State. The Cardinals had not played since the previous Saturday.
The two programs agreed to a six-year series in 2025, and this was the first home game of that series for Memphis. In the last meeting in Memphis, in 2014, Josh Pastner's Tigers beat No. 7 Louisville 72-66.
The rebounding problem
The Cardinals, ranked No. 10 in the AP poll and coached by Pat Kelsey, are one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the country. They rank No. 4 in offensive rebounding percentage and No. 5 in rebounds per game. They also rank No. 22 in points per game, at 95.5 across two games.
Flory Bidunga, who spent two seasons at Kansas, is averaging 13 points and eight rebounds. Obinna Ekezie Jr. is averaging 12.5 points and 6.5 rebounds off the bench.
Memphis lacks size. Without Nemanja Popović, coach Penny Hardaway has leaned on Maxim Logue and Corneilous Williams in the frontcourt. Williams ranks No. 52 in offensive rebounding percentage, and Hardaway could play both big men together.
Three-pointers have hurt the Tigers over their last two games. Louisville is shooting only 30.1 percent from deep through two games, which could help Memphis.
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