Overview
- The four-team Baha Mar Championships begin Thursday with Purdue (4-0) facing Memphis (1-2) at 6 p.m. local time, with Texas Tech and Wake Forest meeting in the other semifinal and the final set for Friday.
- The Boilermakers reclaimed the top ranking after wins at Alabama and against Akron, with Trey Kauffman-Renn posting back-to-back double-doubles upon his return to full strength.
- Point guard Braden Smith ranks among the national leaders in assists and freshman guard Omer Mayer has stabilized the second unit, while Fletcher Loyer is off to a hot start from three and the foul line.
- Memphis arrives off losses to Ole Miss and UNLV with turnover issues and cold shooting, and coach Penny Hardaway is still sorting lineups after an offseason overhaul that returned no production from last year.
- Frontcourt availability remains a question for the Tigers with rebounder Hasan Abdul Hakim yet to debut due to a quad injury, as Wake Forest’s length and No. 15 Texas Tech’s stars loom as potential Friday opponents.