Martin: Tigers survive another wacky AAC game. Will we?
Memphis head coach Penny Hardaway talks with his team during a timeout in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Rice in Houston, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (Ashley Landis/AP Photo)
John Martin
John Martin is a contributing college sports columnist for The Daily Memphian. Martin is a lifelong Memphian who’s covered the Memphis Tigers’ basketball program for more than a decade. Before joining The Daily Memphian team, he was the Memphis beat writer for The Athletic. Currently, he is the co-host of the Jason and John Show on 92.9 FM ESPN, weekdays at 11 a.m. Martin is a graduate of White Station High School and the University of Memphis.
Memphis was rolling, leading by double digits against Rice on a sleepy Sunday afternoon with less than three minutes to go.
And then the wackiness ensued. PJ Haggerty turned it over. Nicholas Jourdain missed the front end of a one-and-one. Then Haggerty missed the front end of a one-and-one.
Just like that, what looked like a comfortable Memphis win turned into a sweat. Rice cut the lead to one before suddenly valuable asset PJ Carter sealed the game at the free throw line. Memphis survived, 86-83.
But, as we’re officially halfway through American Athletic Conference play, this game exactly encapsulates the Memphis basketball viewing experience since conference play began. Rather than opportunities to build upon a resume, these conference games exist only to sabotage the Tigers’ profile.
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