After accomplishing everything they set out to do in the regular season and in the AAC by going 29-5 and winning the AAC Regular Season and Tournament Championships, the 5-seed Memphis Tigers will open up NCAA Tournament play against the 12-seed Colorado Rams in Seattle on Friday at 1 p.m.
Memphis returned to the NCAA Tournament for the third time in four years, earning a 5-seed after going 29-4, winning the AAC regular season title, and winning the AAC Tournament 84-72 over UAB minutes before the bracket was released. The Tigers will open up play against the Mountain West Tournament Champion, 12-seed Colorado St., on Friday at 1 p.m. in Seattle.
The regular season is over. Thursday at noon, the real fun begins for the Memphis Tigers, as they will open up their postseason play in the AAC Tournament Quarterfinals.
Blue and white confetti exploded up in the air and floated throughout the bowl of FedExForum. Ladders were out, AAC championship hats were on, and players were cutting down the nets. “What a difference a year makes,” said Penny Hardaway to the crowd at the conclusion of the game.
First place in the AAC on the line. Beef on X between big men Dain Dainja and Yaxel Lendeborg stemming from Memphis’ 100-77 drubbing of UAB earlier in the year. A fever-pitched atmosphere inside a nearly sold-out Bartow Arena, named after the late Gene Bartow, coach of the legendary 1973 Memphis Tigers NCAA Championship and founder of UAB athletics. This game had plenty of storylines, plenty of intensity, and it lived up to the billing. Memphis won 88-81, coming behind from an 11-point deficit against UAB to all but clinch a share of the AAC regular season title behind PJ Haggerty’s 25 points and 4 assists, and Colby Rogers 21 points on 5-of-9 from deep, his highest scoring output in AAC play.
Selection Sunday is just a little more than three weeks away and Memphis projects to have their name called for the third time in four years. After gaining wins over current teams in the AP Poll #14 Michigan St., #15 Missouri, #18 Clemson, #24 Ole Miss, and the back-to-back national champions, UConn, Memphis had realistic hopes of achieving their highest seed since they were awarded a 2-seed in 2009. Last weekend threw in a wrench in these hopes.
Memphis defeated South Florida 80-65 in Tampa Thursday night for Penny Hardaway’s 150th win as the University of Memphis Head Coach. The 14th ranked Tigers (21-4, 11-1 AAC) have won eight in a row and maintain their two game lead for first place in the AAC over North Texas with six games left in the regular season.
Memphis lit up Tulsa 83-71 on neon night in FedExForum on Wednesday night to improve to 19-4 overall and 9-1 in AAC play, good for first place in the conference.
Dain Dainja slipped to the hoop early in the game, and PJ Haggerty bounced the ball to him for what was a thunderous slam over AAC Preseason Player of the Year Yaxel Lendeborg. Dainja swung from the hoop, holding on for perhaps a second or two too long, right into the face of Lendeborg.
Wearing their Sounds throwbacks, the Grizzlies rallied to beat the Timberwolves in the most special game of their regular season.
