Kendric Davis: UCF 'talked crazy' after beating Memphis. Tigers eager to even the score
Kendric Davis and the Memphis basketball team have a score to settle with UCF.
The Tigers’ leading scorer said as much Wednesday afternoon, as his team prepares to face the Knights on Thursday (7 p.m., ESPN+).
“Dang, I can’t remember his name, but (a UCF player) said something like, ‘I’m glad we beat the Tigers, because they was all that was talked about in non-conference,’” Davis said. “We lost to UCF. They talked crazy after the game. I’m ready to show ‘em, ‘You gotta play us again.’”
That UCF player was guard C.J. Kelly. Following the Knights’ 107-104 victory on Jan. 11 at Addition Financial Arena, Kelly, who scored 21 points, said a bit more than what Davis recalled.
MEMPHIS BASKETBALL: 'Why I am the way I am': How DeAndre Williams became the face of Memphis Tigers basketball
SIGN UP: Memphis Tigers Basketball Insider text group with Jason Munz
“People just have Memphis already, you know, just going to the (NCAA Tournament),” Kelly said. “They casted us to the side. We’ve seen the rankings, so it’s personal. All I know is they kept talking about ‘Memphis and Houston, Memphis and Houston.’ It was just like, ‘OK, what about UCF?’
“Memphis was supposed to given the second spot, first spot, whatever. So, we definitely had to pack them up.”
The Tigers (19-6, 9-3 AAC) are tied for second in the league with Tulane and have won seven out of eight games. UCF is 15-6, 6-6. Memphis coach Penny Hardaway said it’s enough just to have a shot at payback without the added postgame chatter. But he hasn’t forgotten it, either.
“Some guys get excited after a win,” he said. “I mean, he’s trying to pump his team up, you know, and he had a good game against us. So, that was a great game for him that day.”
‘Zero chance’ injured Tigers play vs. UCF
Hardaway also stamped out any possibility that Memphis could welcome back injured Tigers Alex Lomax (groin) or Malcolm Dandridge (ankle) vs. UCF.
“Zero chance on both of those guys tomorrow,” he said.
Lomax has been sidelined since that Jan. 11 loss to UCF, while Dandridge has not played since Dec. 13 at Alabama. While neither is expected to play Thursday, Hardaway did not rule out the possibility of welcoming one or both back for Sunday’s game at No. 2 Houston (2 p.m., ESPN).
“I don’t know how much playing time either would get, if they come back (versus Houston),” Hardaway said. “But you welcome a veteran that’s played against a team before, because you’re thinking more defensive-minded. You’re thinking these are guys that know the system and can shore up some stuff defensively.”
Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @munzly.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis basketball eager to even the score after UCF 'talked crazy'
