Busting Brackets
Fansided

AAC Basketball: Memphis vs. Cincinnati preview, prediction, TV schedule

By Taylor Sturm

Jan 29, 2017; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats forward Quadri Moore (0) dribbles the ball past South Florida Bulls guard Jake Bodway (11) during the second half at Fifth Third Arena. Cincinnati won 94-53. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 29, 2017; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats forward Quadri Moore (0) dribbles the ball past South Florida Bulls guard Jake Bodway (11) during the second half at Fifth Third Arena. Cincinnati won 94-53. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Memphis Tigers are on the outside looking in to the 2017 NCAA Tournament, but a win on the road against the Cincinnati Bearcats night could change everything.

TV Schedule: Thursday, Feb. 23, 7:00 p.m. ET, ESPN

Arena: Fifth Third Arena, Cincinnati, OH

With just a few games left of regular season play across the college basketball landscape, it’s do or die for many teams and their hopes of making the Big Dance. One of the teams that has some work to do is the Memphis Tigers.

Memphis, who are currently sitting at 18-9 on the season, watched a major opportunity to get a solid road win at UConn fall away last Thursday, but will be hopeful heading into their next game against the Cincinnati Bearcats. If they win this game, they still face the Houston Cougars and No. 17 SMU Mustangs to close out the season and could sneak into the field of 64.

Cincinnati, on the other hand, are a lock for the 2017 NCAA Tournament and are just a half game behind SMU in the race for the AAC regular season title. With four games remaining for the Bearcats against beatable opponents, they will feel that they should be able to win out and at least earn a share of the crown heading into the postseason.

Heading into their lone match-up of the season, Memphis and Cincinnati both need wins in order to keep their expectations high and momentum going to close out the season. I think Memphis makes a late push and ends up either in the Big Dance or as a top three seed in the NIT – a respectable season under a brand new head coach.

Next: UCLA vs. Arizona State primer

Unfortunately, I don’t see this happening against a solid all-around Cincinnati team. The Bearcats get the win and keep rolling into the AAC Tournament and the NCAA Tournament.

Prediction: Cincinnati 70, Memphis 62