Kendric Davis was brilliant in his home debut. He scored 26 points, collected seven assists and looked exactly like the player Memphis needs him to be. 

NCAA men’s basketball box score for the Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022 game between the University of Memphis and Virginia Commonwealth University at FedExForum in Memphis.

Things started off slow for Memphis against VCU. Then Kendric Davis happened.

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Box score: Memphis 62, VCU 47

Kendric Davis finally arrives for the Memphis Tigers

Tiger Nation has waited nearly two weeks since the 2022-23 college basketball season began for the chance to see the team in person at FedExForum.

Memphis’ performance featured encouraging and discouraging aspects and everything in the middle. Here’s what we loved, liked and hated about the Tigers’ loss to the Billikens.

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The Memphis Tigers gave up a whopping 90 points in losing to Saint Louis Tuesday night. Is that something to worry about? Not yet, certainly. This team is going to be fine.

A lack of ball movement and a handful of contested 3-point attempts in the second half put the Tigers in a hole that proved to be insurmountable. 

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Box score: Saint Louis 90, Memphis 84

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NCAA men’s basketball box score for the game played Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022, between the Memphis Tigers and Saint Louis Billikens from St. Louis, Missouri.

Coach Penny Hardaway likes the two-point-guard lineup of Kendric Davis and Alex Lomax.

A win against the Billikens would almost certainly bolster the the Tigers’ NCAA Tournament resume. Here are five things to to follow Tuesday.

The Newark, New Jersey, product out of New York City’s Our Savior Lutheran School (OSLS) chose Memphis over offers from N.C. State, Seton Hall, Ole Miss and others.

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Johnnie Franklin is confident his son Damaria Franklin will be eligible for Memphis by the Nov. 20 home opener. But he wants to make his voice heard in the meantime.

Davis, one of 50 players named to the preseason watch list for the Naismith Trophy Men’s Player of the Year award earlier this week, is coming off a 16-point performance in the Tigers’ season-opening 76-67 road win over Vanderbilt.

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“For those guys to come into this environment,” Tigers head basketball coach Penny Hardaway said, “and come in here and fight, man, that’s Big Memphis all the way right there. That’s love. That’s representing the city at the highest level.”

Penny Hardaway and the Tigers don’t believe in scheduling cupcake non-conference opponents.

Memphis traveled to Nashville and dominated Vanderbilt Monday, 76-67. In the process, Memphis looked like something we haven’t seen from a Hardaway team before. It might be better than its hype!

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Memphis used a balanced scoring attack and solid defense to seal a win over Vanderbilt. DeAndre Williams and Kendric Davis combined for 33 points.

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Box score: Memphis 76, Vanderbilt 67