Penny Hardaway has constructed a starting lineup with Memphis basketball that looks like something Eric Musselman would construct at Arkansas.
In Thursday afternoon’s Arkansas vs Memphis matchup in the semifinals of the Battle 4 Atlantis, the Razorbacks will likely face a group of Tigers made up of five players on at least their third stop in college basketball.
The group includes one of Musselman’s former players, someone who played for Mike Anderson and a former teammate of Tramon Mark. Here’s a rundown of those players and their journeys to Memphis:
- Jordan Brown: Nevada –> Arizona –> Louisiana –> Memphis
- David Jones: DePaul –> St. John’s –> Memphis
- Caleb Mills: Houston –> Florida State –> Memphis
- Jahvon Quinerly: Villanova –> Alabama –> Memphis
- Jaykwon Walton: Georgia –> Wichita State –> Memphis
For a comparison, the Razorbacks typically start four transfers and play as many as four others, but only three of them have played at more than one other Division I program.
That list includes Chandler Lawson, who transferred from Oregon to Memphis before heading to Fayetteville. The others are Khalif Battle (Butler –> Temple –> Arkansas) and Makhi Mitchell (Maryland –> Rhode Island –> Arkansas).
Needless to say, the Arkansas vs Memphis matchup will be a showcase of new-age college basketball. We’ll be providing updates from it below…
(READ NEXT: Check out our in-depth preview of the Arkansas vs Memphis showdown.)
LIVE UPDATES – Arkansas vs Memphis
Pregame Tidbits
The North Carolina-Villanova game went into overtime and ran late, so the Arkansas vs Memphis game will now tip at 4:54 p.m. CT.
Villanova pulled off the upset in that game, so it will play the winner of Arkansas-Memphis in the Battle 4 Atlantis championship. North Carolina will face the loser.
After playing so well on Wednesday, freshman Layden Blocker is in the starting lineup today.
15:53, 1H – Arkansas 8, Memphis 6
Arkansas won the opening tip, but failed to score even after grabbing an offensive rebound. Blocker missed a layup and then the Razorbacks turned it over.
Memphis scores first with a bucket by Brown late in the shot clock.
Mitchell swatted a shot, but the Tigers retained possession and eventually knocked down a long 2.
Mitchell also got Arkansas on the board with a tough finish down low.
This is already a much better offensive start to the game for Arkansas than last night. Brazile scored on back-to-back offensive boards to give the Hogs their first lead of the night.
11:49, 1H – Memphis 15, Arkansas 13
After a deep 3 by Memphis when play resumed, the Tigers forced a turnover and got an easy dunk out of it.
On their next possession, the Hogs turned it over with Mitchell dribbled the ball off his foot. That led to a bucket for Memphis, as well.
Davis ends the run by knocking down a deep 3 late in the shot clock. He also made a really tough mid-range bucket to pull Arkansas within 2.
The Razorbacks had a chance to take the lead on a transition 3, but Ellis couldn’t knock it down.
Arkansas is shooting 50% (6 of 12) from the floor, but has turned it over four times. Memphis still has zero turnovers to go along with 46.7% (7 of 15) shooting.
7:54, 1H – Arkansas 21, Memphis 21
Mark picks up his second foul at the 11:06 mark in the first half.
A bucket by Mitchell tied it up earlier and then Lawson made 1 of 2 free throws to put Arkansas on top.
Memphis brought some full-court pressure and, coupled with a somewhat stagnant offense, Arkansas committed a shot clock violation. Ellis threw up a heave at the buzzer, but it was an air ball.
A fantastic bounce pass by Ellis leads to a layup by Lawson. Just a great pass on the pick-and-roll.
Davis knocked down another 3 to put Arkansas up 21-19, but he was immediately T’d up. Memphis knocked down both free throws.
Another block by Mitchell sends us to the U8 media timeout.
3:46, 1H – Memphis 32, Arkansas 29
Arkansas got a stop out of the timeout and Battle was fouled on a 3 on the other end. He made 2 of 3 free throws.
What a sequence for Memphis. Battle drove to the basket and had a head full of steam, but was blocked. That led to a run out and impressive alley oop dunk for the Tigers.
Battle wasn’t fazed, though. He knocked down a deep step-back jumper on the next possession.
A couple of free throws by Brazile push the Hogs’ lead to four, but Memphis answered with a 3. It had been just 1 of 9 from deep before that make.
Trevon Brazile was T’d up after Battle made a pair of free throws. Memphis made only 1 of 2, but then knocked down a jumper on the ensuing possession to tie it up.
Another 3 by Memphis puts the Tigers back on top. Brazile had an open look to answer, but didn’t connect.
HALF – Memphis 42, Arkansas 37
Battle is wide open in the corner on an inbound play and he knocked down the 3 to give Arkansas the lead.
Ellis couldn’t get a tough layup to fall, but Blocker made a tremendous play going for the rebound. He managed to throw it off a Memphis defender so Arkansas could retain possession.
The teams exchanged a pair of free throws, resulting in the 10th and 11th lead changes of the game.
Transition defense has been an issue for Arkansas once again. The latest layup by Memphis gives it 11 fast-break points.
Memphis gets a contested 3 to fall and then, after a turnover by Ellis, got another 3 at the buzzer. Disastrous end of the half for the Hogs.
Both 3s were by David Jones, who now has 17 points on perfect 6 of 6 shooting (including 3 of 3 from deep) for Memphis.
15:21, 2H – Memphis 49, Arkansas 46
Blocker opens the half with a drive and finish at the bucket. After an air ball by Memphis, Mark knocked down a mid-range jumper. Suddenly it’s a 1-point game.
After a dunk by Memphis, Mark tied it up with an old-fashioned 3-point play, finishing through contact and knocking down the free throw.
Mitchell picks up his third foul with 17:43 left.
Things have gone a bit stale for Arkansas the last couple of minutes. Lawson managed to score down low, but that is the Hogs’ only points in the past three minutes.
11:36, 2H – Memphis 54, Arkansas 50
Battle knocks down a mid-range jumper, but it was sandwiched between a layup and 3 by Memphis. Arkansas will need some stops if it’s going to regain the lead.
On Arkansas’ next possession, it had three attempts right at the rim, but missed each of them. Brazile and Lawson each missed dunks and then Lawson couldn’t get a layup to fall.
After a rare turnover by Memphis, Davis couldn’t connect on a 3 from the wing.
A floater by Brazile made it a four-point game and then Arkansas had a chance to make it a one-possession game, but Battle turned it over.
7:18, 2H – Memphis 64, Arkansas 59
An easy bucket, turnover by Brazile and two free throws by Memphis and suddenly it’s back to an 8-point margin.
Mitchell picks up his fourth foul at the 10:29 mark.
Memphis gets into the bonus with 9:55 left. It comes on Battle’s third foul.
The Tigers knock down a pair of free throws to stretch their lead to seven and then Arkansas commits a shot clock violation.
It got to a nine-point game before back-to-back buckets by the Razorbacks. Really tough finish by Battle cuts the deficit to five.
4:15, 2H – Memphis 73, Arkansas 63
Battle looked like he had an and-1, but he was whistled for a charge. Questionable call.
It was still a five-point game when Jones knocked down a contested 3. He’s been on fire.
Arkansas has given up some offensive rebounds lately and it’s hurt the Hogs’ chances of cutting into their deficit.
Layden Blocker was just whistled for a technical.
It’s starting to get away from Arkansas, as Memphis pushes its lead to 10.
FINAL – Memphis 84, Arkansas 79
Brazile knocked down a 3 and then Memphis missed one on the other end, giving the Hogs some hope entering the U4 media timeout with 3:34 remaining.
Arkansas had a really nice defensive possession, but is rewarded by Memphis knocking down a 3 late in the shot clock to push its lead back to 10.
Memphis just got a technical foul for having six players on the floor. Battle made both free throws to make it a seven-point game. The Hogs retained possession and had a chance to get closer, but Brazile turned it over.
Oh my, after Arkansas came away with a long rebound, Battle pulled up and knocked down a 3. That pulls Arkansas within 76-72 with 1:04 remaining.
The Hogs turned up the full court pressure and nearly forced a turnover, but the ball went out of bounds off them. They also nearly had a back court violation, but Memphis called a timeout with 1 seconds to spare. Instead, Memphis got a finger roll out of the possession.
Davis is fouled with 38.8 seconds left and makes both free throws.
Brazile intentionally fouls with 28.0 seconds remaining. Young made both free throws.
Blocker makes a tough layup and Mark immediately fouls after the inbound. Jones heads to the stripe with 17.3 seconds left and makes both free throws to give him 36 points.
Davis went straight to the basket and appeared to have his shot blocked, but it was called goal tending – a call that reversed upon a replay review. It’s a jump ball and Memphis gets the ball.
On the ensuing inbounds, Blocker came flying in and deflected the pass. It was ruled off Memphis and, after another review, the call stands. Arkansas best the ball with 11.5 seconds left.
Arkansas tried getting it to Davis and it went out of bounds. Called Arkansas ball, with no foul, it was reversed to Memphis ball after a review.
Guess what? On the next inbounds play, Davis came in and deflected it out of bounds, prompting another review. The call stood – Memphis ball.
Battle fouls out with 8.4 seconds remaining, sending Memphis to the line with a chance to make it a three-possession game. That’s just what the Tigers do, making both free throws.
Davis made a deep 3, but it was too little, too late.
FINAL STATS


HALFTIME STATS


Starting Lineups at Battle 4 Atlantis
Memphis Basketball | Arkansas Basketball |
---|---|
#9 – Caleb Mills – G | #4 – Davonte Davis – G |
#10 – Jaykwon Walton – G | #6 – Layden Blocker – G |
#11 – Jahvon Quinerly – G | #12 – Tramon Mark – G |
#3 – Jordan Brown – F | #2 – Trevon Brazile – F |
#8 – David Jones – F | #15 – Makhi Mitchell – F |
How to Watch Arkansas vs Memphis
Date: Thursday, Nov. 23
Location: Imperial Arena (Nassau, Bahamas)
Tipoff Time/TV Schedule: 4 p.m. CT (ESPN)
ESPN’s BPI: It is a true toss-up, with each team having a 50.0% chance to win and the projected margin being 0.0 points.
Betting Line: Arkansas, -1.5 | O/U 149.5 (BetSaracen)
Battle 4 Atlantis Scores/Schedule
Wednesday
- (14) North Carolina 91, Northern Iowa 69
- Villanova 85, Texas Tech 69
- Memphis 71, Michigan 67
- (20) Arkansas 77, Stanford 74 (2OT)
Thursday
- Texas Tech 72, Northern Iowa 70
- North Carolina vs. Villanova – 1:30 p.m. CT (ESPN)
- Arkansas vs Memphis – 4 p.m. CT (ESPN)
- Michigan vs. Stanford – 6:30 p.m. CT (ESPNU)
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More coverage of Arkansas basketball at the Battle 4 Atlantis from BoAS…