College Hoops AAC Quarterfinal: (19) Memphis Tigers at (21) Connecticut Huskies

(19) Memphis at (21) UConn
AAC Quarterfinal
Time: 9:30 PM ET, Mar 13, 2014
Line: MEM -3
Total: 139

Betting odds courtesy of Bovada

Memphis is 23-8 on the season and 12-6 in AAC play. It will face UConn in the quarterfinals of the AAC tournament and college basketball oddsmakers at Bovada are favoring the Memphis Tigers by 3-points over the Huskies. UConn is 24-7 on the season and 12-6 in AAC play, and the Huskies have won three of its past four contests.

Memphis, despite entering the game as favorites, is 0-2 against UConn this season. The Tigers won 83-73 on Jan 16 and 86-81 in OT on Feb 15. Shabazz Napier is the Huskies best player, and the 6’1″ senior guard averages 17.8 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.2 assists. He’s having his finest statistical season at UConn, though his efficiency has dipped slightly.

Napier is doing a great job on the boards for a diminutive guard, and he’s currently projected to go No. 30 overall to San Antonio in the NBA mock draft at nbadraft.net. DeAndre Daniels and Ryan Boatright each contribute 12 points per game, as well, but the Huskies lack good scoring options moving outside its top-3 players. Daniels leads the team in rebounding with 5.6 boards per game, but he needs to add bulk at just 195 pounds and 6’9.”

Memphis has had a tough run in the schedule of late, but still emerged 2-1 after a three-game foray against ranked opponents. The Tigers defeated then-No. 7 Louisville on Mar 1st, and Memphis also defeated SMU 67-58 on Mar 8, with the lone loss coming to then-No. 15 Cincinnati on Mar 6. The Tigers have a good host f depth with six players on the squad averaging nine points per game or better.

Joe Jackson leads the way at 14.4 points per game and the 6’1″ senior is also leading the team with 4.6 assists per game. His long distance shooting has been poor this year at just 27.3 percent, but he has improved in almost every other statistical category.