Baseball
The University of Memphis baseball team was selected by Conference USA coaches Tuesday to finish fifth this season in C-USA.
The Tigers, who finished 34-24 last season to become the most improved team in Division I, were picked ahead of Charlotte, C-USA newcomer TCU, Southern Miss, Louisville, Cincinnati, Alabama-Birmingham and Saint Louis.
Picked ahead of Memphis were Tulane and Houston at No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, followed by newcomer East Carolina and South Florida.
“I think we gained a lot of respect after last season’s success,” Memphis head coach Dave Anderson said. “To be ranked fifth is a fairly accurate prediction and it’s also a great complement because the league just got better with the addition of East Carolina and TCU.
“It should be a very competitive conference. Obviously with Tulane being the defending champs they are still the team to beat, but the competition just got tougher.”
Tulane sophomore outfielder/pitcher Michael Aubrey was chosen as C-USA Preseason Pitcher of the Year while Charlotte’s John Maine was named Preseason Pitcher of the Year. Maine won the 2001 Player of the Year Award following last season.
Memphis begins its season Feb. 20 at UT-Martin.
Men’s Tennis
The men’s team will face fourth-ranked Tennessee Sunday in Knoxville in the second of two weekend road matches. The Tigers will also face East Tennessee State Saturday.
Memphis is 1-1 on the young season after knocking off UT-Martin, 7-0, Friday in Nashville before losing, 5-2, to 30th-ranked Vanderbilt Saturday.
On Saturday, senior Michael Chamberlain and freshman Alex Bucewicz picked up the Tigers’ only two wins.
Memphis swept its competition on Friday.
Women’s Basketball
The Lady Tigers will host “Alumni Weekend” at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse Friday and Sunday with several former Memphis standouts returning to play in an alumni game on Sunday at 1 p.m.
The former players, which will include WNBA standout LaTonya Johnson, will also be recognized during Sunday’s 3 p.m. Memphis game against Charlotte.
On Friday, the Lady Tigers (9-10, 3-3 in Conference USA) host East Carolina at 7 p.m.
