Memphis injured guards may affect NCAA Tournament performance

Memphis will take on Colorado State in the NCAA Tournament on March 21. However, the Tigers are dealing with injuries to key players. Guards Tyrese Hunter and Dante Harris are both hurt, which could affect their performance. Head Coach Penny Hardaway is worried about the situation. He hopes both players recover quickly before the game in Seattle. Harris is further along in his recovery from an ankle injury, but Hunter's chances of playing seem low after suffering a foot injury during the AAC tournament. Hardaway said, “I’m praying for good ankles and good feet.” With the two guards out, Memphis gave Baraka Okojie his first start in the AAC Tournament final. Hardaway is confident Okojie can step up against Colorado State. Meanwhile, teammate PJ Haggerty noted Hunter is still being a positive influence on the team. As they prepare, Hardaway understands they need more than just strategy to win. He said, “We all know you’ve got to have some luck.” Memphis needs good health and performance to succeed against Colorado State. In terms of betting, Colorado State is currently favored with a spread of -1.5 and a moneyline of -125. Dimers’ model gives Colorado State a 54% chance to win, predicting a close score of 77-75 in their favor.