Memphis Embarrassment: Memphis lost to Rice 74-71

Simply put, it was awful. Memphis lost to the Rice Owls 74-71 Wednesday (1/31) in front of a half-full FedExForum. It's been an awful fall from grace from a specially formulated group of high-paid (via NIL) transfer players that were once ranked #10 in the country and destined for the NCAA Tournament as a Top 5-seed. Now Memphis will be lucky to make the NIT, let alone the NCAA Tournament it seems like.

Memphis started a new group this game including Jonathan Pierre, who only logged 2-points the whole game in seven minutes. Four players for Memphis scored in double figures, but it wasn't enough to overcome Rice shooting 47.6% from the 3-point arc (10/21). Memphis was 3-of-18 from long range (16.7%). Combine pour shooting with 19 turnovers, and it spelled disaster for the Tigers.

Memphis will try to pick up the pieces and host Wichita State Saturday at 12:00 p.m. at FedExForum on CBS. Full analysis live on 92.9 FM ESPN.