It’s simple: Win and you’re in.
Although that’s not the only way Memphis basketball can advance to the American Conference tournament, it is the most straightforward. If the Tigers (12-18, 7-10) want at least a shot at salvaging a shred of something with redemptive value, securing a spot in the league tournament is the only hope.
Standing in their way is a date with Tulane (17-13, 8-9) at Devlin Fieldhouse in New Orleans March 8 (1 p.m. CT, ESPN+). Memphis could lose and still squeak into the 10-team American tournament field, but that would require East Carolina to lose at UAB on March 8 (2 p.m. CT).
Following his team’s seventh straight loss — a hard-fought 96-89 game versus league champion South Florida March 5 at FedExForum — coach Penny Hardaway said his Tigers can’t concern themselves with relying on other teams to help them.
“You can’t worry about UAB beating ECU. You’ve just got to go and win,” he said. “We’re very capable. Definitely need to take this energy to New Orleans.”
Can Zach Davis step up again?
Zach Davis was a big reason why Memphis had a chance to pull off the upset against South Florida.
The senior guard had 17 points, eight rebounds and three assists in 31 minutes — his best showing in three months. It was the most points, rebounds and minutes since his 23-point, 13-rebound game against Baylor way back on Dec. 6, and his most assists since he had three against Purdue on Nov. 20.
That performance was an encouraging sign for the South Carolina transfer, whose lone season with the Tigers has been riddled by inconsistency and frustration over his role. But Hardaway said he and Davis had a good talk “that we both needed” after the Tigers’ loss at East Carolina on March 1. His hope is that Davis can build on this game.
“He played the role we needed him to play tonight, and that’s good news before we go to Tulane,” Hardaway said.
Tulane basketball scouting report
The Green Wave have been a tricky matchup for the Tigers under Hardaway, especially in New Orleans.
Memphis has just one win over Tulane at Devlin Fieldhouse in the previous four seasons. That came last season, but it was a tight affair for much of the game.
If the Tigers are to make it back-to-back wins in the Big Easy, it will be their first win over the Green Wave this season. Tulane won Feb. 1 at FedExForum 78-76. Preseason conference player of the year Rowan Brumbaugh went coast-to-coast and hit the game-winning layup with six seconds remaining. Memphis did not even get a shot off after that.
Tulane has lost three straight games, including a 89-60 shellacking at Temple on March 5. Brumbaugh is the team’s leading scorer at 18 points per game, while Asher Woods is scoring 12.4 per game. Both players put up 20-plus points on the Tigers in the previous meeting.
Memphis basketball score prediction vs. Tulane
Memphis 74, Tulane 71: The Tigers are due for a few breaks to fall their way.
Reach sports writer Jason Munz at [email protected], follow him @munzly on X.
