WICHITA, Kan. —
Memphis basketball's supreme shot-making it has relied upon so many times this season abandoned it in crunch time Sunday.
In an 84-79 overtime loss at Wichita State , the No. 14 Tigers (21-5, 11-2 AAC) were just 1-of-8 in the extra period. The only made bucket by Memphis in overtime was a Moussa Cisse dunk with 1:20 on the clock. They were 26-of-67 (39%) in regulation. "I think those are the same shots we’ve won with all year, and I think the guys feel confident in their shot," Hardaway said after the game. "We obviously have to feed our post much more. They were kind of ill-advised shots, but they’re shots these guys can make. This is just a learning experience. "It’s tough to watch when we start doing that. We started settling and not executing. That’s just a bad thing all around for us." The loss snaps an eight-game winning streak. It’s the first defeat since Memphis fell at Temple on Jan. 16. The Shockers (15-10, 5-7) have won four in a row.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. Quincy Ballard scored 19 points, including 12 in the second half. Corey Washington put up a double-double with 18 points and 15 rebounds. It's a significant hit for the Tigers' NCAA tournament outlook. Widely projected as a 5- or 6-seed prior to Sunday's game, Wichita State is now the Tigers' third Quad 3 loss − although, by virtue of winning Sunday, it turn into a Quad 2-variety loss by Monday morning. Next up for the Tigers is a home game against FAU on Feb. 23 (1 p.m., ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU). Here are three takeaways from the contest.
Rough performance for Colby Rogers
Memphis senior guard Colby Rogers made his return to Charles Koch Arena for the first time since transferring from Wichita State after last season. When he was introduced during the starting lineup announcements, Rogers was showered with boos from the enthusiastic Shockers crowd. Each time he touched the ball or was involved in a key play, Wichita State fans let Rogers hear it even more. Rogers’ showing did not help. He scored 6 points (on 2-of-8 shooting) and had one rebound and three assists. Rogers went more than 16 minutes of game time in the second half without attempting a field goal. That changed on the final play of regulation. Memphis had possession with 18 seconds left in a 71-71 tie and called timeout. Hardaway said he took the timeout, because it appeared to him in the moment that PJ Haggerty was having trouble getting open to receive the in-bounds pass. In hindsight, he wishes he had not called timeout. "Initially, I didn’t think PJ was going to be able to get the ball in (and) I didn’t want a 5-second call. I called timeout. Shouldn’t have called timeout – (Haggerty) broke loose as I was calling timeout," said Hardaway. "That play would’ve been better, if (Haggerty) would’ve had the ball back there and everybody else just get out of the way. The play was to go to him, and again, he just didn’t do a good enough job getting open." Out of the timeout, the ball eventually found Rogers, who rose up to take a 3-point shot, and missed with one second left on the clock. "Colby, he was the second option. Because he had the ball and the clock was running down, and that’s just the shot he decided to take," said Hardaway. Nicholas Jourdain said he had no issue with Rogers' look. "I think it's a good shot, man," he said. "I've seen Colby work so hard. So, I think everyone's confident every time he puts a shot up."
When things got shaky for Memphis basketball
For much of the first half, the Tigers were the definition of efficient, assisting on each of its first nine made field goals (zero turnovers) – building a 20-14 lead in the process. Then came the shift. Memphis made just two of its next 15 field goal attempts. The downturn was underscored by a 5:23 scoreless cold snap that included a stretch of nine consecutive misses and two turnovers.
Rise of the role players
Tyrese Hunter led Memphis with 24 points and PJ Haggerty added 15. But it was the Tigers’ role players who kept the Tigers in the game. Cisse, Jourdain, PJ Carter and Dante Harris combined for 30 points, 22 rebounds, nine assists, seven blocks and two steals. Specifically, Cisse had perhaps his best game of the season with 12 points, 14 rebounds, two assists, five blocks and only one turnover.
