#21 Memphis @ South Florida

Who will WIN this matchup?

#21 Memphis Tigers (12-3)

@ South Florida Bulls (8-8)

Current odds:

#21 Memphis Tigers: (-175)

South Florida Bulls: (+155)

• The line for this game is Memphis by 4 points.

• Memphis was able to overcome its carelessness with the ball in November and December, but the tide appears to be turning against Penny Hardaway’s squad in January. Coming off back-to-back losses for the first time this season, the 22nd-ranked Tigers hope to rediscover the form that once allowed them to win 10 in a row when they visit South Florida on Sunday. Prior to recording 12 turnovers in its American Athletic Conference-opening victory over Tulane, Memphis routed Jackson State and New Orleans despite committing a total of 55 miscues in those contests. The Tigers have cut back on the mistakes significantly since then, but Georgia (16 turnovers) and No. 23 Wichita State (18) have made them pay for their sloppy play over the last week, leading to a pair of single-digit losses for Memphis, which ranks 339th in Division I in turnovers per game (16.9).

• While the Tigers have generally made up for their miscues by forcing an AAC-high 17.2 turnovers (26th in the country), the Bulls’ pressure defense – which ranks second in the conference and 31st overall in turnovers forced (16.8) – could contribute to Memphis returning to some old bad habits. USF could not overcome a 4-for-21 effort beyond the arc or 15-for-26 showing from the foul line in a 62-59 defeat Tuesday at East Carolina but are 7-2 at home this season.

• Freshman Precious Achiuwa (15.1 points, 10.3 rebounds) is the only player in the conference averaging a double-double and riding a four-game double-double streak – half of his season total – during which he is averaging 18.5 points and 11.8 boards. Sophomore guard Tyler Harris (9.3 points) bounced back from a scoreless effort against Georgia with a season-high 17 points Thursday and has buried at least three 3-pointers in three of his last four outings. Freshman forward D.J. Jeffries (11.4 points, 4.6 boards) returned to the lineup following a one-game absence due to the flu but managed only three points in 29 minutes, ending his six-game double-digit scoring streak.

• Guards Laquincy Rideau (3.6) and David Collins (3.3) rank first and second, respectively, in the AAC in turnovers per game, serving as a drain to a defense that has forced at least 16 turnovers 10 times. However, Rideau (13.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists) is tied for seventh in Division I with 2.7 steals and moved into a tie for seventh place in school history with 144 steals after recording four more versus the Pirates. Junior forward Justin Brown (8.2 points, 5.1 boards) has produced fewer than 10 points in six straight contests, but he set a career high with 13 rebounds Tuesday after collecting no more than four in his five previous games.

• Memphis leads the all-time series 26-6, although half of USF’s victories against the Tigers have come in the last seven meetings.

• The Bulls have held 14 of their 16 opponents below their season scoring average.

• The Tigers are the only team in the country who rank inside the top five nationally in blocks per game (6.9; second) and field-goal percentage defense (35.0; second).