Tulane University
Southern Methodist University
Tulane Welcomes SMU For Wednesday Night Matchup
Jan 31, 2023 | Men's Basketball
The game will be broadcast live on ESPNU. Fans can also listen to the game live on the radio by tuning into 104.1 The Spot or by CLICKING HERE. Tulane's "Voice of the Green Wave" Corey Gloor will call the action live.
STARTING FIVE
1. Tulane took down the Mustangs in their first meeting on the season at SMU, 97-88.
2. Tulane got back in the win colum with a 95-90 overtime win at Wichita State. The 95 points marked the 6th time this season the team has scored 90+.
3. Jaylen Forbes continues to lead the team in scoring averaging 19.1 ppg. This is Forbes' highest ppg in his career as well has his highest free throw percentage at 88.7.
4. Tulane has the highest scoring offense in the AAC averaging 81.3 ppg on the season. The next closest is Memphis with 79.8 ppg. The Wave's lowest score of the season has been 60 vs. Houston and highest 97 at SMU.
5. Tulane is second in the country in free throw percentage shooting 81.0 percent from the charity stripe. Jalen Cook leads the team and the AAC shooting 90.7 percent.
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TULANE BY THE NUMBERS
274 – Tulane has made at least one 3-point field goal in 274 consecutive games. The last time the Green Wave failed to do so came on Jan. 16, 2014 at home against Louisiana Tech when they went 0-for-14 from outside.
90 – Tulane has scored 90+ six times this season which is more than the last two seasons combined. The last time the Green Wave scored 100 was in 2017, when they scored 102 versus LIU Brooklyn.
81.5 – Tulane is shooting 81.0 percent from the line which is on track to be the best team average ever for a Tulane team.
12 - Sion James has scored in the double digits 12 times so far this season, the sophomore totaled six double digit games last season. James's career high of 30 points came versus Memphis on 1/1/22.
8.5 - Tulane is averaging 8.5 more points per game than last season.
6 – Head coach Ron Hunter is seven wins away from 500 in his career.
1 - Tulane currently has the top ranked scoring offense in the league averaging 81.3 points per game.
THE OPPONENT – SMU
• The Mustangs have had at least four score in double figures seven times this season, six of those since the win over Uta State on Dec. 23.
• Zhuric Phelps is fifth in the AAC in scoring an average 17.1
• SMU has two in the Top 10 for rebounding in the AAC, Samuell Williamson is fifth in the AAC 7.5 rpg and Efe Odigie is ninth averaging 6.8 rpg.
• Phelps also ranks third in the AAC in steal with 2.0 spg.
A WIN VERSUS SMU
• Tulane would get its 14th regular season win, the most in the Ron Hunter era.
• Tulane would get its ninth home win of the season, tying their total from last season with four home games remaining following SMU.
• Ron Hunter would be five games away from 500 in his career.
2022-23 STATISTICAL IMPROVEMENT
Through the first 20 games of the year, Tulane shows improvement through six statistical categories compared to the first right games of last season.
Category                 2021-22 2022-23
Points Per Game           73.1                  81.3
Field Goal Percentage     .442                  .465
Free Throw Percentage    73.9                  81.0
Turnovers Per Game       10.7                  10.6
Steals per game            8.2                   8.8
Assists per game           13.0                  15.7
SUCCESS FROM THE CHARITY STRIPE
• Tulane is currently 349-431 from the free throw line (.810) which is trending towards the program's highest single-season percentage since 1967-68 when the team shot 528-of-692 (.763) at the charity stripe.
• Three Green Wave players are currently shooting over .800 from the line - Jalen Cook (.907), Jaylen Forbes (.845) and Kevin Cross (.838).
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WE ARE NOLA BUILT
Tulane University is located in the city of New Orleans. It is a city built on tradition and resiliency. The lessons Green Wave student-athletes have learned through their connection with this university and city have BUILT doctors, lawyers, business leaders, conference champions, all-conference players, All-Americans, professional athletes and NCAA tournament teams. The city of New Orleans has shaped us into who we are today. We are One City. We are Tulane. We are NOLA BUILT. Check out at NolaBuilt.com.Â
