Conference USA games for Wednesday 02-13-13
SMU and Tulsa are off tonight. UCF (17-6, 7-2) @ #22/#25 Memphis (20-3, 9-0) is the only game on TV (the CBS Sports Network at 7pm CT).
**Tip-Off at 6:05pm CT**
in Greenville,
East Carolina (13-9, 4-5)...RPI: #120 (SOS: #85)
UAB (11-13, 3-6)...RPI: #155 (SOS: #82)
*ECU and UAB are going in somewhat different directions. East Carolina has lost 3 of 4, including their last two at home. The Pirates are 10-3 at home this year, but just 2-2 in league play. UAB has won 3 of their last 4, including wins over UTEP and Tulsa on the road. The Blazers are just 2-8 in true road games this year, 1-3 away from home in league play. Against teams outside the RPI top 100, ECU is 8-2. UAB is 9-5 vs. RPI #101 or worse. The Pirates won the previous game between these two in Birmingham earlier in the season, 91-85.
**Tip-Off at 6:05pm CT**
in Huntington,
Marshall (10-14, 3-6)...RPI: #209 (SOS: #113)
Rice (5-18, 1-8)...RPI: #304 (SOS: #134)
*These two teams are suffering through disappointing seasons. Marshall was expected to compete for the league title, while Rice was expected to be down, however most didn't think they would struggle like this. The Herd have lost 5 of 6. One bright spot for Marshall is their 9-2 record at home this season (3-1 in C-USA play). Like Marshall, Rice has also lost 5 of 6. The Owls are a dreadful 0-7 in true road games, 0-4 in league games away from home. The Herd are just 3-2 vs. teams outside the RPI top 200. Rice is a slightly better 4-2.
**Tip-Off at 7:05pm CT**
in Memphis,
#22/#25 Memphis (20-3, 9-0)...RPI: #32 (SOS: #97)
UCF (17-6, 7-2)...RPI: #88 (SOS: #142)
*This game will be broadcast on the CBS Sports Network. This is the second straight match-up of #1 vs. #2 in the conference for the Memphis Tigers. Memphis has won 14 games in a row and 18 of their last 19. The Tigers are 13-1 at home this season and 65-8 (.890) at home under Josh Pastner (28-3 at home vs. C-USA opponents). UCF comes into tonight's games having won 6 of 7. The Knights are a respectable 4-3 in true road games, 2-2 in league play away from home. Memphis is a perfect 19-0 vs. teams outside the top 50 of the RPI. UCF is a not-too-bad 2-3 vs. the top 50 of the RPI. The Knights are the only team this season in C-USA with two top 50 RPI wins.
**Tip-Off at 7:05pm CT**
in Houston,
Houston (14-8, 3-6)...RPI: #222 (SOS: #326)
UTEP (13-9, 6-3)...RPI: #92 (SOS: #72)
*This is a match-up of two teams that had disappointing losses in their last games. Houston blew a big second half lead to lose at home to Tulane. UTEP lost a close game at home to Tulsa and that is news because of the fact that the Miners had been so strong in El Paso all season. Houston comes into this game having lost 6 of 8. The Coogs are 9-4 at home this season, but just 2-3 in C-USA play there. UTEP is 2-4 in true road games, but a pretty decent 2-2 away from home in league play. Houston is 0-3 vs. the RPI top 100. The Miners are 4-0 against those teams rated outside the RPI top 200.
**Tip-Off at 7:05pm CT**
in Hattiesburg,
Southern Mississippi (18-6, 7-2)...RPI: #47 (SOS: #109)
Tulane (16-8, 4-5)...RPI: #147 (SOS: #232)
*Southern Miss will look to bounce back from two straight defeats and do so just a few days after a tornado ripped through the city of Hattiesburg, including a part of the USM campus. Southern Miss had won 10 straight and 12 of their last 13 before dropping a two-point game @ UCF and a #1 vs. #2 showdown with Memphis at home. USM is 8-1 at home this season. They are 37-3 (.925) at home dating back to the end of the 2009-10 season. Tulane comes into this game having won two straight, including coming from 18 down with under 10 minutes to go @ Houston to win. The Green Wave are just 2-6 in true road games this season, 1-3 in C-USA contests away from home. Southern Miss is a perfect 16-0 vs. teams outside the top 100 of the RPI. Tulane is 1-5 vs. teams in the RPI top 100.
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