Thierno Sylla Out: Can Memphis Basketball Stun #1 Purdue Tonight?

Memphis, Tenn. — Memphis basketball is heading into Thursday’s Baha Mar Championship opener against No. 1-ranked Purdue with fresh adversity and a chance for a season-altering statement. Thierno Sylla sidelined Starting center Thierno Sylla did not make the trip to Nassau, Bahamas, because of undisclosed personal reasons, according to a team spokesperson. The 6-foot-11 sophomore averages 3.0 points and 3.7 rebounds, and coach Penny Hardaway has called him one of the roster’s “fire-starters.” The program emphasized Sylla’s absence is not injury, academic, or discipline related and expects him back soon. Front-court shuffle Without Sylla, Hardaway must lean on 7-foot-1 freshman Simon Majok, 6-9 senior Tariq Ingraham and 6-8 sophomore William Whorton for interior minutes. Purdue, led by 7-4 All-American Zach Edey, punishes thin frontcourts, so Memphis needs immediate growth from its young bigs. Opportunity in the Bahamas Memphis (1-2) faces Purdue (4-0) at 5 p.m. CT (CBS Sports Network) inside the Baha Mar Resort ballroom. A win would likely set up a semifinal with No. 15 Texas Tech; a loss could pit the Tigers against Wake Forest. Either path provides two Quadrant-1 opportunities critical for NCAA Tournament résumés. Key storylines that can flip the Tigers’ season 1. Julius Thedford’s backcourt surge: The sophomore guard’s 16-point effort in the UNLV loss showed flashes of scoring leadership. 2. Sincere Parker’s experience: Parker is Memphis’ lone rotation player with NCAA Tournament minutes; his perimeter defense on Purdue’s Braden Smith is vital. 3. Tempo vs. size: Hardaway hinted he may push pace to neutralize Edey’s half-court dominance and capitalize on athletic wings like David Jones Garcia. 4. Defensive rebounding: Memphis ranks outside the top-250 nationally in defensive-board percentage; Purdue is top-10 in offensive rebounding. Second-chance points could decide the game. 5. Penny’s early-season course correction: After exhibition losses to Arkansas and Auburn and a home stumble to UNLV, the fan base is restless. A signature neutral-site win would restore momentum ahead of December’s SEC gauntlet (Florida, Texas A&M, Ole Miss rematch). What’s at stake • National exposure: Beating the top team on national TV can catapult Memphis into the AP Top 25 and energize recruiting. • NET ranking leverage: Neutral-site Quad-1 wins carry extra weight in the committee room. • Culture check: Hardaway’s mantra this week—“Just fight”—will be tested against the country’s most physical front line. Stat to watch Purdue’s offensive-rebound rate (41.8%) vs. Memphis’ defensive-rebound rate (66.2%). Winning the glass could swing a double-digit spread into upset territory. Bottom line Memphis basketball enters the Baha Mar Championship wounded yet undeterred. If Penny Hardaway’s Tigers can compensate for Thierno Sylla’s absence, control tempo, and shore up the boards, they have the athletes to write the program’s next signature upset—and flip the narrative of an uneven November.