Why Memphis basketball's Kendric Davis said 'I'm a bad (expletive)' before Tigers play SLU
Memphis basketball’s next time on the floor will be a major test for the Tigers.
The Tigers (1-0) will make the trip to face Saint Louis at Chaifetz Arena (8 p.m., Tuesday, CBS Sports Network). The Billikens (1-0) were picked to finish second in the Atlantic 10 and had four preseason all-conference honorees. That group includes Yuri Collins and Javonte Perkins, who missed last season with a knee injury.
But the Tigers have a star, too, in guard Kendric Davis. The preseason All-American and consensus No. 1 transfer in the country last offseason was asked Thursday whether he had begun preparing for next week’s matchup.
“I (watch film) a little bit. Not too much,” he said. “I just feel like, no disrespect, I’m a bad (expletive). I don’t need to really. I respect everybody. So, I don’t need to watch nobody to respect them less or respect them more. I just feel like I know what’s coming. I know they got a good guard in Collins – Yuri.
MEMPHIS BASKETBALL: ‘That's Big Memphis all the way’: How Penny Hardaway, Tigers weathered a rocky preseason
SIGN UP: Sign up for the Memphis Tigers Basketball Insider text group with Jason Munz
“But I feel like I’m good, too. So, I’m ready for that.”
In 33 minutes, Davis scored 16 points and finished with six assists in Memphis’ season-opening win at Vanderbilt on Monday. Coach Penny Hardaway said after the game that Davis played through an ankle injury that prevented him from practicing for more than a week beforehand. It wasn’t the first time he’s missed practice time due to ankle problems. Hardaway said he first twisted his ankle in June after landing on teammate Elijah McCadden’s foot after a jump shot. The next week, Davis was sidelined again after a similar incident.
Both times he was back on the floor much faster than Hardaway anticipated.
“His toughness is unmatched and his heart is huge,” Hardaway said. “So, when it comes to other guards, he respects them. But he’s like, ‘OK, he’s gonna have to respect me, too.’ We have much respect for Yuri. He’s an unbelievable guard.
“But I love the confidence KD has in himself.”
Davis also looked back on the Tigers' win over Vandy. He said the team was happy to get the victory, adding they expected to win. The former SMU star has now faced the Commodores three seasons in a row and won each time. He said Vandy coach Jerry Stackhouse pulled him aside after the game.
"He was like, 'I'm glad I don't gotta see your (expletive) no more,'" said Davis.
Davis was asked about the unusually high temperature inside Memorial Gymnasium on Monday. Vandy's basketball facility does not have central air conditioning in the main part of the building. Instead, a swamp cooler, which relies on air flow to regulate the temperature.
"I don't remember it being that hot," Davis said. "I told Stackhouse, I think they did that on purpose. You remember heat like that. But I'm glad we got it done and got out of there."
Davis also spoke Thursday for the first time on an NIL deal he has with Apple. He recently gifted a set of AirPods to each player on the team. Several of the players expressed their appreciation to him on social media.
"I had a little NIL deal with Apple," he said. "So, I just, you know, want to take care of the team. And make sure nobody plays around on the bus. It was business. So, I wanted everybody to be locked in. Whatever motivates them, whether it's on the phone, listen to music, videos, movies. So, yeah, I got everybody some."
Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @munzly.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis basketball: Kendric Davis confident before Tigers play SLU
