Southern Illinois vs. Memphis Picks and Prediction, Wednesday, November 26, 2025
On Wednesday, the Southern Illinois Salukis will visit the Memphis Tigers at FedExForum for a non-conference college hoops game, and we have you ready to go with our Southern Illinois vs. Memphis prediction, odds, and preview. Tip-off from Memphis, TN, is at 8:00 p.m. ET.
The Tigers are 10.5-point favorites, and the game total is 159.5 points scored.
If you want the Southern Illinois vs. Memphis prediction, read on to get our top NCAAB predictions and increase your bankroll!
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Can SIU win the battle in the paint?
Southern Illinois (3-3 SU, 3-2 ATS, and 3-2 O/U) lost 81-73 to UAB in its previous game. The Salukis, who have lost three of their last four after starting the season 2-0, shot just 17 percent from long range in their loss to the Blazers. UAB also dominated on the glass (+9 margin with 16 offensive rebounds).
Southern Illinois was 14-19 last season, finishing tied for eighth place in the Missouri Valley with an 8-12 record. The Salukis are led by second-year head coach Scott Nagy, who previously coached at South Dakota State and Wright State. He led the Jackrabbits and Raiders to five combined NCAA Tournament appearances from the 2011-12 season to the 2023-24 season. Southern Illinois was picked to finish 7th in the MVC this season in the conference's preseason poll.
The Salukis score 83.8 points per game (202nd) on 50.4 percent shooting (37th), but shoot only 24.1 percent from three-point distance (361st). Defensively, they surrender 73.0 points per game (107th) on 39.2 percent opponent shooting (68th). Southern Illinois is led by sophomore guard Quel'Ron House, a Jacksonville State transfer who averages 18.2 points with a 57.3 field goal percentage. A few other Salukis to watch against Memphis are senior guard Davion Sykes (10.7 PPG and 5.3 RPG), senior guard Isaiah Stafford (9.8 PPG), and senior forward Prince Aligbe (8.8 PPG and 5.7 RPG).
Southern Illinois Salukis Basketball Injury Report:
- No injuries to report for Wednesday's game against Memphis.
Memphis could use a dominant win to boost its ego
Memphis (1-4 SU, 4-1 ATS, and 2-3 O/U) lost 68-68 to Wake Forest in its last game. The Tigers, who have dropped four straight since beating San Francisco in their season opener, led by as many as 13 points, but couldn't hold off the Demon Deacons' rally. Myles Colvin hit the game-winner with a second left, lifting the Deacs over a Tigers team that outshot and outrebounded them.
Memphis went 29-6 last season (16-2 in conference play), winning both the American Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles. The Tigers were selected as a five-seed in the West Region of the NCAA Tournament, but were upset by Colorado State in the first round. Former NBA and Memphis star Penny Hardaway is in his eighth season as the team's head coach (162-68 record). The Tigers score 74.0 points per game (306th) on 42.3 percent shooting (299th), while their opponents average 78.8 points (174th) on 45.1 percent shooting (260th).
Hardaway leads a new-look Memphis roster this season, led by preseason all-conference selections Dug McDaniel and Aaron Bradshaw. McDaniel, a senior guard transfer from Kansas State, averaged 11.4 points and 4.9 dimes last season. He leads the Tigers in scoring (14.8 PPG), but is shooting only 37 percent. Bradshaw, a junior forward from Ohio State, has struggled to make an impact so far (4.4 PPG in 11.0 MPG). With zero returners from last season's squad, the Tigers were active in the transfer portal, adding a strong group of guards in McDaniel, Sincere Parker (McNeese State), Quante Berry (Temple), Zachary Davis (South Carolina), and Julius Thedford (Western Kentucky), but McDaniel is the only player currently scoring in double digits.
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Memphis Tigers Basketball Injury Report:
- No injuries to report for Wednesday's game against Southern Illinois.
Southern Illinois vs. Memphis Pick and Preview
Spread Pick for Southern Illinois vs. Memphis
- Salukis +10.5 (5 Units)
Given how poorly Memphis has played since the first half of its first game, I'm willing to bet the Salukis compete enough to at least cover the spread.
Southern Illinois plays at a similar pace to Memphis, so they won't be sped up, and they have an extremely effective scoring attack inside the arc (ranked 36th nationally in 2PT%). Their leading scorer shoots nearly 60 percent overall, and their second-leading scorer shoots 67.5 percent. They won't settle for too many threes, either. While the Salukis shoot a low percentage from long range, they have the fourth-lowest three-point attempt rate in the country. I like that offensive strategy on the road, where it can be difficult to get into a rhythm from beyond the arc if your team isn't elite in that department. Southern Illinois has also been among the unluckiest teams in college basketball this season (second-lowest Luck Rating in the nation, per KenPom), but that will change.
It's tough to back the Tigers at this point in their season. They rank 255th in two-point percentage, 245th in three-point percentage, and 292nd in free-throw percentage. Southern Illinois outranks them in total rebounding percentage (rebound rate), too. After four consecutive losses, I don't expect them to come out with a dominant performance to cover, either.
Over/Under Pick for Southern Illinois vs. Memphis
- Over 159.5 (5 Units)
These teams will push the pace in what should be an exciting game. The Salukis rank 91st in schedule-adjusted tempo, and the Tigers rank 94th, suggesting there will be plenty of scoring opportunities for both squads.
I feel confident predicting positive regression from Memphis' three-point shooters at home after a couple of tournament games, especially against a below-average Salukis perimeter defense. While the visitors have defended the rim well, they are 266th in opponent second-chance conversion percentage, so that's something else to watch on Wednesday.
Southern Illinois won't attempt to match Memphis' three-point attempts, but the Tigers better be prepared for a battle in the paint. The Salukis boast the 11th-closest shot proximity in college hoops and rank 44th nationally in near-proximity shot attempt rate (layups, dunks, and tip-ins). Considering that the Tigers rank 311th in opponent near-proximity shooting percentage, we could be in for a close, entertaining game.
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