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    • Memphis basketball vs UConn score prediction: Latest news, injury updates
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    Memphis basketball vs UConn score prediction: Latest news, injury updates

    Vaseline Posted on

    Memphis basketball coach Penny Hardaway knows the opportunity that awaits the Tigers in Hawaii.

    When Memphis (4-0) and No. 2 UConn (4-0) open the Maui Invitational on Monday (1:30 p.m. CT, ESPN2), the Tigers will be on a national stage. Thursday’s 68-64 win over San Francisco (a top 60 KenPom team) at the Chase Center was fun. But UConn will be very different.

    “We consider that a blessing,” Hardaway said Thursday. “You get a chance to play the No. 2 team in the country again. We played Alabama when they were No. 2, even though it was a scrimmage. Man, that’s a real blessing.”

    Here are three things to keep in mind before the match.

    PJ Haggerty, Tyrese Hunter injury update

    For the third week in a row, Memphis’ leading scorers PJ Haggerty (22.5 points per game) and Tyrese Hunter (13.3) were not full participants in practice.

    Both are struggling with nagging knee injuries. While neither has been limited to one game this season, the prospect of playing three games on consecutive days – with only three days off between San Francisco and UConn – has Hardaway concerned.

    Hunter, meanwhile, didn’t seem too concerned about it. He said head coach and senior sports medicine AD Darrell Turner along with strength coach Todd Forcier have helped him deal with the injury, and he will continue to lean on them for support.

    Whether or not he or Haggerty will practice leading up to the UConn game is unclear.

    “It depends on what my guys want to do, with Darrell and Todd. See how my body responds,” he said. “The most important thing is staying healthy. Making sure the body is good. We do the whole nine (meters). Ice, stem, boots.

    “You know, I’m going to be fine. If I can still play defense, I’m good.’

    Penny Hardaway wants more physicality

    One area that has left Hardaway dissatisfied so far is the Tigers’ physical level.

    He was particularly impressed with it for much of Thursday’s win over San Francisco, where the Dons won the rebounding battle 46-43. The offensive glass in particular was where USF excelled (18-12).

    And that’s because the Tigers don’t bring enough power.

    “You gotta hit, man. We hit every day,” Hardaway said. “These guys know what to do. You just have to think about it. We played a soft first half. Then we didn’t make any runs late. If we did hit, we were out of the game by more than 10 points.”

    Memphis got away with it against the Dons. Hardaway is confident UConn won’t be as forgiving.

    “If you don’t do it against UConn, the same thing will happen (but worse),” he said. “They’re going to smash the glass. Guys just have to toughen up.”

    UConn basketball scouting report

    The Huskies do almost everything extremely well.

    One of the few non-elite aspects of their play so far this season has been turnovers. UConn averages 12.2 turnovers per game, more than Missouri, UNLV and Ohio. Of course, Memphis has been pretty good at creating turnovers. Opponents average more than 13 per match.

    But UConn is as dominant as any team in the sport. Sure, the Huskies return just one starter from last season’s championship team (leading scorer Alex Karaban), but coach Dan Hurley’s plug-and-play approach continues.

    Freshman Liam McNeeley is the second leading scorer and former Michigan center Tarris Reed Jr. has an average of almost 10 rebounds per game.

    Memphis basketball score prediction vs. UConn

    UConn 83, Memphis 74: The Huskies will have their hands full against the Tigers. But UConn will make its free throws down the stretch.

    Reach sportswriter Jason Munz at [email protected] or follow him @munzly on X, the social media app formerly known as Twitter.

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