University of Memphis Athletics
Tuesday, November 10
Nashville, Tenn.
6:15 p.m.
University of Memphis
at
No. 22 Vanderbilt
Nov 09, 2026 | Men's Basketball
NASHVILLE – One spot outside of the AP Top-25, the (RV) Memphis men's basketball program travels across the state for a game against No. 22 Vanderbilt at 6:15 p.m. Tuesday at Memorial Gymnasium.
The Tigers (2-0) are the top team receiving votes with 97. They had one of the best opening weeks in the nation with victories over No. 18 Iowa State and (RV) VCU.
Senior Jayden Reid led the charge and is the reigning American Conference Player of the Week winner, averaging 29.0 points and 4.0 assists per game including a career-high 32 points against the Rams. He was 17-of-32 (.531) from the field, 5-of-11 (.455) from long range and 19-of-23 (.826) from the free throw line.
Reid hit two free throws with five seconds left against VCU to put Memphis up for good 89-88. Furthermore, he surpassed 1,000 career points in his four year career at the Division I level and is up to 1,013 points.
After two games, the Tigers lead the American Conference in three-point percentage with a .452 mark. Senior Rihards Vavers, who is second on the team in scoring with 16.0 points per game, is 7-of-12 (.583) from long range.
The Commodores (2-0) opened the season with wins over Bellarmine 93-47 and Wake Forest 74-51, allowing just 49.0 points per game. Tyler Tanner, a preseason All-American and Naismith Player of the Year Watch List selection, leads the team with 18.5 points per game.
Vavers will see a familiar face in Vanderbilt's Ace Glass III as the two were teammates on Washington State last year. Glass is second on the Commodores in scoring with 14.0 points per game.
Tuesday's game can be watch on the SEC Network Plus, and can be heard live for free on 98.9 The Roar with Dave Woloshin and Ken Moody on the call.
NOTES
- Memphis is off to a 2-0 start for the fifth time under head coach Penny Hardaway and is looking to begin 3-0 for the fourth time in his tenure.
- The last time the Tigers started 3-0 with wins over two ranked opponents was 2005-06 when they beat No. 15 Alabama 87-76 and No. 16 UCLA 88-80.
- The Tigers have won four of the last five meetings against Vanderbilt but dropped a 77-70 decision last season. Memphis is 2-1 against the Commodores under Hardaway, who was also 2-0 against Vanderbilt as a player with wins in 1991-92 and 1992-93.
- With the victories over Iowa State and VCU, the Tigers improved to 9-0 in both season openers and home openers under Hardaway. Memphis has won 25 consecutive home openers.
- Hardaway is 22-10 against Power 4 opponents. He's 1-0 this season with upcoming games against Vanderbilt, Louisville, Penn State, Baylor, Texas and either Mississippi State or Wake Forest.
- Memphis has made 25 free throws in back-to-back games. The team is shooting a .704 (50-71) clip as a team with senior Luke Almodovar leading the way at 7-of-8 (.875). Almodovar scores 12.5 points per outing and is 4-of-9 (.444) from long distance.
- Memphis' win over Iowa State was the highest ranked opponent Memphis has ever beaten on opening day. Reid poured in a game-high 26 points, and Almodovar tallied 18 points, eight rebounds and a pair of steals.
- Almodovar recorded the SportsCenter No. 1 Top Play on opening night with a posterizing dunk to beat the buzzer at the end of the first half.
- Senior Nemanja Popovic was cleared by the NCAA for two years of eligibility. However, the NCAA notified Memphis that Popovic must serve a six-game withholding period to begin the 2026-27 season due to previous international competition. Tuesday will mark the third of six games he must sit. Popovic started at center in the team's exhibition games against Mississippi State and Arkansas and was 11-of-16 (.688) from the field and averaged 14.0 points per game.
How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tigers Men's Basketball, visit http://www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter and Instagram.
The Tigers (2-0) are the top team receiving votes with 97. They had one of the best opening weeks in the nation with victories over No. 18 Iowa State and (RV) VCU.
Senior Jayden Reid led the charge and is the reigning American Conference Player of the Week winner, averaging 29.0 points and 4.0 assists per game including a career-high 32 points against the Rams. He was 17-of-32 (.531) from the field, 5-of-11 (.455) from long range and 19-of-23 (.826) from the free throw line.
Reid hit two free throws with five seconds left against VCU to put Memphis up for good 89-88. Furthermore, he surpassed 1,000 career points in his four year career at the Division I level and is up to 1,013 points.
After two games, the Tigers lead the American Conference in three-point percentage with a .452 mark. Senior Rihards Vavers, who is second on the team in scoring with 16.0 points per game, is 7-of-12 (.583) from long range.
The Commodores (2-0) opened the season with wins over Bellarmine 93-47 and Wake Forest 74-51, allowing just 49.0 points per game. Tyler Tanner, a preseason All-American and Naismith Player of the Year Watch List selection, leads the team with 18.5 points per game.
Vavers will see a familiar face in Vanderbilt's Ace Glass III as the two were teammates on Washington State last year. Glass is second on the Commodores in scoring with 14.0 points per game.
Tuesday's game can be watch on the SEC Network Plus, and can be heard live for free on 98.9 The Roar with Dave Woloshin and Ken Moody on the call.
NOTES
- Memphis is off to a 2-0 start for the fifth time under head coach Penny Hardaway and is looking to begin 3-0 for the fourth time in his tenure.
- The last time the Tigers started 3-0 with wins over two ranked opponents was 2005-06 when they beat No. 15 Alabama 87-76 and No. 16 UCLA 88-80.
- The Tigers have won four of the last five meetings against Vanderbilt but dropped a 77-70 decision last season. Memphis is 2-1 against the Commodores under Hardaway, who was also 2-0 against Vanderbilt as a player with wins in 1991-92 and 1992-93.
- With the victories over Iowa State and VCU, the Tigers improved to 9-0 in both season openers and home openers under Hardaway. Memphis has won 25 consecutive home openers.
- Hardaway is 22-10 against Power 4 opponents. He's 1-0 this season with upcoming games against Vanderbilt, Louisville, Penn State, Baylor, Texas and either Mississippi State or Wake Forest.
- Memphis has made 25 free throws in back-to-back games. The team is shooting a .704 (50-71) clip as a team with senior Luke Almodovar leading the way at 7-of-8 (.875). Almodovar scores 12.5 points per outing and is 4-of-9 (.444) from long distance.
- Memphis' win over Iowa State was the highest ranked opponent Memphis has ever beaten on opening day. Reid poured in a game-high 26 points, and Almodovar tallied 18 points, eight rebounds and a pair of steals.
- Almodovar recorded the SportsCenter No. 1 Top Play on opening night with a posterizing dunk to beat the buzzer at the end of the first half.
- Senior Nemanja Popovic was cleared by the NCAA for two years of eligibility. However, the NCAA notified Memphis that Popovic must serve a six-game withholding period to begin the 2026-27 season due to previous international competition. Tuesday will mark the third of six games he must sit. Popovic started at center in the team's exhibition games against Mississippi State and Arkansas and was 11-of-16 (.688) from the field and averaged 14.0 points per game.
In-State Showdown tomorrow 💪 https://t.co/TcIrZ6gZn6
— Memphis Basketball (@Memphis_MBB) November 9, 2026
How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tigers Men's Basketball, visit http://www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
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