2012 Conference USA Championship Game
#6 Marshall Thundering Herd vs #1 Memphis Tigers
FedEx Forum – Memphis, Tennessee
Saturday, March 10, 2012, 11:30 am Eastern, TV: CBS
Opening Line: Memphis -10
Current Line: Memphis -10 1/2
Opening Total:
Current Total:
Opening Money Line: Memphis -600 / Marshall +400
Current Money Line: Memphis -600 / Marshall +400
Teams on the bubble like Northwestern, Seton Hall, South Florida and Drexel will be watching the Conference USA Championship game with great interest. This is because the Cinderella Marshall Thundering Herd have advanced to the C-USA Championship game and could poach a bid if they upset #1 seed Memphis in the final. The 21-12 Thundering Herd finished 6th in Conference USA with a 9-7 record. Marshall is playing their fourth game in four days, with a 74-56 win over SMU in the first round, a 105-100 triple overtime win over Tulsa in the quarters, and a 73-62 win over Southern Miss in the semis.
Memphis is 25-8 this season and won the Conference USA title outright with a 13-3 record. Memphis has won 10 of their last 11 games, and six in a row. The Tigers beat UTEP 65-47 in the quarters and crushed Central Florida 83-52 in the semifinals. Most experts say Memphis is safely in the NCAA tournament field whether they win or lose this game.
Memphis leads the series 10-2 against Marshall. The Tigers won both match-ups against the Thundering Herd this season. Memphis won 83-76 at home January 28, and won at Marshall 87-67 February 25.
Marshall is coached by Tom Herrion. The Herd have wins over Cincinnati, Iona, Belmont, UTEP, Rice, UAB, Central Florida, Tulane, East Carolina, SMU twice, Houston, Southern miss twice, and Tulsa. Marshall has losses to Ohio, Syracuse, Belmont, Akron, West Virginia, Southern Miss, UAB, Tulsa, Central Florida, and East Carolina.
Memphis is coached by Josh Pastner. The Tigers have wins over Belmont, Tennessee twice, Austin Peay, Miami-FL, Charlotte, UAB twice, Southern Miss, Houston, SMU, Rice, Xavier, East Carolina, Tulane, Central Florida twice, Tulsa, and UTEP. Memphis has losses to Michigan, Georgetown twice, Murray St, Louisville, Central Florida, Southern Miss, and UTEP.
Marshall is outscoring opponents 71-67 this season. The Thundering Herd are shooting 43.8% from the field and 31.1% from 3 point range. Marshall makes 61.7% of their free throws. The Herd average 40.1 rebounds a game with a rebounding margin of +7.6. Marshall is #6 nationally in rebounding. The Herd average 12.9 assists, 13.2 turnovers, 6.2 steals, and 3.9 blocks a game. Marshall opponents are shooting 44.4% from the field and 31.3% from 3 point range. Marshall forces 12.4 turnovers a game.
Marshall guard DeAndre Kane averages 16.7 points a game, 5.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.5 steals a game. He leads the Herd in scoring and steals. Damier Pitts averages 14.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists to lead the team, and 1 steal a game. Dennis Tinnon averages 10 points and 10 rebounds a game to lead the team. Shaquille Johnson averages 9.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.8 assists. Robert Goff averages 6.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks a game to lead the team. Dago Pena and Nigel Spikes also get significant minutes. Guard Justin Coleman is suspended indefinitely.
Memphis is outscoring opponents 75-63 this season. The Tigers are shooting 49.2% from the field, including 36.6% from 3 point range. The Tigers are #5 in field goal percentage nationally. Memphis makes 71.3% of their free throws. The Tigers average 34.5 rebounds a game, and have a rebounding margin of +1.5. Memphis averages 14.7 assists, 12.8 turnovers, 8.2 steals, and 5.7 blocks a game. Tiger opponents are shooting 38.5% from the field including 31.2% from 3 point range. The Tigers are #12 in opponent’s field goal percentage in the country. Memphis forces 14.2 turnovers a game.
Memphis sophomore guard Will Barton averages 18.3 points, 8 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.8 blocks a game. He leads the Tigers in scoring and rebounding, and makes 34.4% of his 3 pointers. Joe Jackson averages 10.9 points, 2.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.3 steals a game. Tarik Black averages 10.9 points, 5 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks a game to lead the team. Chris Crawford leads the team in assists with 3.9 and steals with 1.8 a game, and also averages 9.3 points, and 3 rebounds a game. Adonis Thomas averages 9.2 points and 3.4 rebounds a game. Antonio Barton and Wesley Witherspoon also get significant minutes. Charles Carmouche is day to day with a knee injury.
Memphis is 16-12-2 ATS and the total is 14-13-3 this season. Marshall is 13-13-1 ATS and the total is 14-13 this season. Four of the last 5 games in the series between Marshall and Memphis have gone over the total.
Although Marshall has had a wonderful run in the Conference USA tournament, it might be a bit much to ask them to beat a red hot and powerful Memphis team on the Tiger’s own home court when Marshall is playing it’s fourth game in four days, including a triple overtime game. I think the bubble teams can breathe a sigh of relief as Memphis keeps Cinderella out of the dance. Tigers win big.
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