Tigers embracing the pressure as AAC Tourney looms

As February draws to a close and March begins, college basketball teams around the nation will be looking to close their regular seasons strong and set themselves up for postseason success. For some teams, a strong last few weeks of the campaign followed up by a solid showing in their league tournaments could be enough to firmly establish their place in the NCAA tournament field. For others, faltering down the stretch could spell doom for any hopes of cutting down nets.  

The Memphis Tigers are preparing to enter the American Conference tournament with their goal of reaching the Big Dance for the first time since 2014 hanging delicately in the balance. While their conference record of 10-6 may indicate otherwise, the Tigers can feel a bit more comfortable knowing that they won’t have to travel anywhere for their league tournament.  

Of their 11 losses, all but two have come on the road. The advantage given by playing in front of their home fans isn’t one that is lost on head coach Penny Hardaway, either.  

“After the Wichita State game, we knew that was a hostile environment,†Hardaway said during media availability on Monday. “Students and fans were in the stands a couple hours before. It was an amazing atmosphere to be able to get that win, and we knew we needed that win. If we’re going to win our conference tournament, we have to win games like this on the road to take to this energy back to our building.â€Â 

Although they have only dropped one league game in their gym, the Tigers will not have an easy road to an American Conference title. With only two games left to play, they find themselves in fifth place behind Temple, UCF, Cincinnati and Houston, all of which dealt the Tigers at least one loss this year. 

Memphis managed to split the season series with the Owls and the Knights, with their last road game against the Bearcats still looming. 

“When we’re doing things right, we’re a good team,†Hardaway said after his team’s 81-73 home win over Temple. “We’re capable of doing some things that people thought we probably couldn’t do. The belief that the team has in each other, everybody buying in, we’re peaking at the right time to be able to do some great things moving forward.â€Â 

To better understand the importance of securing a top four seed, it is key to note that those four with the highest win totals will not have to play in the opening round. While it isn’t impossible for a team without a bye to make a run and win the whole thing, it is also clear that a potential four games in four days makes for a grueling schedule.  

Houston, who sits at No. 8 in the country and boasts a gaudy 26-1 record, appears to be almost a lock for at least one of top two spots. Likewise, Cincinnati has only dropped two league games and seema to be in the driver’s seat for the spot behind the Cougars. As late as it is in the season, the Tigers will not be able to make up enough ground to catch either of those schools, regardless of how they perform.  

Outside of the top two, there is a bit of a gap that provides the Tigers with plenty to play for. UCF sits three games back from the lead, and the Tigers are not far behind at four games off the pace, trailing the fourth place Owls by only half a game. With wins in their last two and help from some of their other American Conference counterparts, the Tigers will be in a prime position to snag one of those ever-so-coveted first round byes.  

“Anything is possible in life, period,†Tigers guard Jeremiah Martin said. “No one is better than anybody, especially in our conference. I feel like we have a balanced conference, anybody can lose any given night. I feel like we got the advantage, because we have the tournament at our crib, so we’re going to come out ready. We still have Cincinnati next, so we’re not looking ahead to no one because we know how tough it is going to be trying to grind out a win.â€Â 

As each game becomes more of a must-win than the previous one, the Tigers seem to be embracing the pressure. With only two regular season contests left until the league tournament begins Mar. 14, Hardaway’s declaration that his team is peaking at the exactly the right time will certainly put to the test.