Memphis vs. Temple basketball matchup postponed
The Memphis basketball game against Temple in Philadelphia on Saturday was postponed because of issues related to COVID-19 within the Owls' program.
The news was announced by the American Athletic Conference on Thursday. The AAC said Temple has had one positive COVID-19 test and is undergoing ensuing contact tracing.
The Tigers are 6-4 overall this season with a 2-1 mark in American Athletic Conference play.
Memphis' next scheduled game is a road date with UCF (3-2, 1-1) on Jan. 6 (8 p.m., ESPNU)
Rand enters transfer portal
Memphis junior forward Ahmad Rand entered the transfer portal Thursday, The Commercial Appeal has learned.
The 6-foot-8 junior-college transfer has played in three games this season, most recently against Tulsa on Dec. 21, when he grabbed three rebounds in eight minutes.
Rand also played three minutes against Mississippi Valley State and seven against Arkansas State. He has eight rebounds and one block on the season.
He has not scored a point.
Rand did not make the trip to the Crossover Classic, where Memphis opened the season in late November, and was forced to sit out of practices and games for two weeks for COVID-19 contact tracing.
Coach Penny Hardaway has said in recent weeks that Rand has struggled getting back up to speed.
"He missed a lot of time," Hardaway said on Dec. 8.
"He was already a little bit behind before he went out, and that set him back more. And I'm trying to find a rotation right now. I'm trying to get Lance (Thomas) and Malcolm (Dandridge), with Moussa (Cisse), ready to play in conference. And then we'll bring Ahmad along slowly."
Rand was the leading junior-college shot blocker in the country each of the last two seasons at Usc-salkehatchie, averaging five blocks a game last season and 4.3 per game as a freshman.