Conference USA games for Saturday 03-02-13
We have a full slate of conference games today and all but one take place fairly early in the day.
**Tip-Off at 12:05pm CT**
in Orlando,
UCF (19-9, 8-5)...RPI: #107 (SOS: #130)
#19/#17 Memphis (24-4, 13-0)...RPI: #20 (SOS: #76)
*This game will be televised on Fox Sports Network. UCF is attempting to win their final home game of the year and secure a 20-win season for the third year in a row. Memphis seeks to bounce back from a two-point loss @ Xavier that ended their 18-game winning streak. The Knights have won two consecutive games overall, but they have lost three of their last four C-USA contests. UCF is 15-4 at home this season overall and an impressive 6-1 in league games in Orlando. Their only loss in C-USA play at home came to Marshall on February 20. Memphis comes into this game having won 19 straight games against C-USA opponents dating back to last year. They have also won 10 straight C-USA road games. The Tigers only lost on the road in the league twice last season. One of those was a one-point defeat @ UCF. Earlier this season, Memphis defeated UCF by 22 in FedExForum. UCF is 2-4 versus the RPI top 50. The two wins both came at home (a three-point win over #23 Belmont and a two-point win over #36 Southern Miss). Against opponents rated outside the RPI top 100, the Tigers are 15-0.
**Tip-Off at 1:05pm CT**
in Houston,
Rice (5-22, 1-12)...RPI: #314 (SOS: #143)
UTEP (15-12, 8-5)...RPI: #98 (SOS: #67)
*The Owls have lost seven in a row and nine of their last ten. They are 4-8 at home this season, just 1-5 in C-USA home games. Rice has been outscored by an average of 15.9ppg during their losing streak. UTEP had lost four of five before their relatively easy win at home over Houston on Wednesday. The Miners have struggled away from El Paso this season, going just 2-10. They have lost their last three league road games. In the previous meeting this season, UTEP won by 12 at home. Against the RPI top 100, Rice is 0-6. The Miners are 6-1 versus those teams outside the RPI top 200.
**Tip-Off at 1:05pm CT**
in Houston,
Houston (15-11, 4-9)...RPI: #206 (SOS: #285)
Marshall (12-16, 5-8)...RPI: #204 (SOS: #120)
*This game will be televised on CSS. Like their crosstown rival, Houston is on a losing streak. The Coogs have lost three straight, but all were on the road. Now UH is back home where they have done fairly well this season. They are 10-4 at home overall and 3-3 in conference play. Marshall got a big win @ UCF on February 20, however they followed that up with a disappointing four-point defeat at home to UAB. Outside of the victory @ UCF, the Herd have been dreadful away from home this season. In combined road and neutral court games, they are 1-12 away from Huntington, just 1-5 in C-USA play. Houston is a solid 11-2 against teams outside the RPI top 200. Marshall is just 4-3 against those same teams.
**Tip-Off at 2:05pm CT**
in Birmingham,
UAB (14-14, 6-7)...RPI: #146 (SOS: #115)
SMU (14-14, 4-9)...RPI: #217 (SOS: #252)
*This is a match-up between two teams that have gone in opposite directions over the last month. UAB is 6-2 since January 30. SMU has lost four of their last six. The Blazers are 9-3 at home this year. They started out C-USA play losing three of their first four in Birmingham, but have since won two straight. The Mustangs have actually been quite respectable in true road games this season, going 5-6. However, they are just 2-4 on the road in league play, with the two wins coming @ Marshall and @ Rice. UAB is 8-2 this season against teams rated #201 or worse in the RPI. SMU is just 3-7 versus opponents rated #101 to #200.
**Tip-Off at 3:05pm CT**
in Tulsa,
Tulsa (14-13, 6-7)...RPI: #135 (SOS: #117)
Tulane (18-10, 6-7)...RPI: #171 (SOS: #243)
*These two teams both sit at 6-7 in league play. Tulsa was 4-2 in C-USA at one point, but they have lost five of their last seven. The weight of injuries seem to be taking their toll on the Golden Hurricane. Tulsa is back home where they have not had the greatest of advantages. They are only 7-4 at home overall and just 3-3 in C-USA play. Tulane had won four of their last five before losing at home to streaking UAB on Wednesday. The Green Wave are just 3-7 in true road games this season, but they have taken two of their last three. Tulane won the previous battle of the TU's on January 19 in New Orleans by 3. Tulsa is 2-4 against RPI #101 to #200. Tulane is 3-5.
**Tip-Off at 7:05pm CT**
in Hattiesburg,
Southern Mississippi (21-7, 10-3)...RPI: #36 (SOS: #94)
East Carolina (16-10, 7-6)...RPI: #100 (SOS: #92)
*This is arguably the most interesting game of the day. Southern Miss is back home after losing @ Memphis last week. They have only lost once in Hattiesburg all year, however they are facing a team they struggled with on the road two weeks ago before coming from behind and beating in overtime. East Carolina has won four of their last six overall, but it is their performance on the road of late that has been so impressive. The Pirates are 4-1 in their last five road games winning those four games by an average margin of 8.5ppg. USM is 3-1 vs. RPI #51 to #100. ECU is 0-4 against the RPI top 50.
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