Memphis basketball vs. SMU: Scouting report, score prediction as Tigers host AAC's second-place team

Things don't get any easier for the Memphis basketball team this week.

The Tigers (9-7, 3-3 AAC), sixth in the league standings after dropping road games to UCF and East Carolina, get second-place SMU (13-4, 4-1) at home Thursday (6 p.m., ESPN2).

The Mustangs – winners of 10 of their last 11 games – are rolling, largely thanks to an offense that has put up 70 points or more in all but two games.

Here are some things to keep an eye on.

Where did the Memphis defense go?

Memphis was as sound a defensive team as there was in the country the past two seasons.

Things were going well early on in 2021-22, too. But lately, cracks in the Tigers' foundation have surfaced. In the first nine games, Memphis opponents shot 40% or better from the field three times. In the seven games since, opposing teams have hit or exceeded that mark five times.

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Senior forward DeAndre Williams missed four of those five games. The 6-foot-8 Williams went down with a back injury during the Tigers' win over Tulsa on Jan. 4 and has not returned.

Williams is among the most valuable players on the team. Not only is he the leading scorer and second-leading rebounder, but he also provides sound defense (third-most steals on the team and nine blocks in 12 games), versatility (the ability to guard multiple positions) and a contagious motor.

His scoring ability and offensive rebounding percentage (10.8) also helps take pressure off the defense.