No. 18 Memphis Visits Temple, Hopes to Avoid ‘Sleepwalking’
As the Memphis Tigers prepare to visit Temple on Tuesday night, they are carrying the weight of their No. 18 national ranking, but with that comes the looming challenge of staying focused against an opponent they are heavily favored to defeat. While the Tigers have been impressive this season, their head coach, Penny Hardaway, is preaching a message of urgency to avoid the potential trap of “sleepwalking” through a game that, on paper, they should win handily.
Memphis enters the game with a 14-3 record and a growing sense of momentum. After dominating several lower-tier teams in their conference, they now face an underwhelming Temple squad that has struggled this season, sitting with a 6-9 overall record. However, this disparity between the teams is precisely what Hardaway is cautioning against.
“We can’t go into this game thinking it’s going to be easy,” Hardaway said during a press conference ahead of the matchup. “Temple is a team that plays hard, and we need to come in with the right mindset, every single time. If we start sleepwalking, we’ll be in trouble.”
The concept of sleepwalking is a common challenge for teams that are favored in matchups with lower-ranked opponents. It’s the tendency for players to take their foot off the gas and not play with the intensity required to secure a dominant victory. Hardaway, who has seen his share of upsets in his time as a coach, knows all too well how dangerous this mindset can be, especially in conference play.
Temple, despite its record, has been known for being a scrappy team. The Owls have a history of playing above their heads in big games, and even though they’ve struggled to put together consistent performances this year, they remain a team capable of surprises. Led by head coach Aaron McKie, Temple has a defensive mentality that can sometimes stymie teams that aren’t fully locked in. Hardaway is well aware that the Owls will look to disrupt Memphis’ fast-paced style and slow the game down, making it critical for the Tigers to stay focused and aggressive.
One of Memphis’ strengths this season has been its depth and versatility. They have multiple scoring threats, with standout performances from the likes of Kendric Davis, who has been the heart and soul of the offense, and DeAndre Williams, who provides much-needed experience and scoring. The Tigers’ athleticism and ability to play up-tempo are key elements of their game plan, but they’ll need to execute consistently and with purpose.
For Memphis, this game is also an opportunity to fine-tune their play before tougher tests in the American Athletic Conference (AAC) and beyond. Every win is crucial for securing a high seed in the postseason, and dropping games to underperforming teams can prove costly when the NCAA tournament selection committee starts evaluating teams for at-large bids.
Temple, on the other hand, is looking to turn around a season that’s been full of inconsistency. While the Owls are not expected to make a serious push for a postseason berth this year, a victory over a top-ranked team like Memphis would be a major boost for their morale and give them a sense of pride. A win would also serve as a springboard for future AAC contests, which could give Temple the momentum to finish strong.
The Tigers will need to come out with their usual energy and sense of purpose to avoid allowing Temple any confidence early in the game. If Memphis can keep their intensity high from the tip-off and play to their strengths, they should be able to avoid a potential upset and come away with the win.
As the game approaches, both teams are fully aware of the stakes. Memphis knows that it cannot afford to underestimate any opponent, regardless of their record. Hardaway’s message to his players is clear: treat every game as an opportunity to improve and execute, because anything less than full commitment could spell disaster.
Ultimately, Memphis’ goal is simple: take care of business and leave no room for doubt. If they can avoid “sleepwalking” through this contest, they will be in a good position to head into the rest of their schedule with momentum and a clearer path toward March Madness.