Sports
Buckley: The night Redbirds manager Ben Johnson answered a special call
Germantown High graduate Ben Johnson had family in mind on a big night for the Memphis Redbirds.
Tim Buckley
Tim is a veteran sportswriter who graduated from CBHS in Memphis and the University of Missouri. He previously covered LSU sports in Baton Rouge, and the University of Louisiana football and basketball for The Daily Advertiser/USA TODAY Network in Lafayette, the NBA’s Utah Jazz for the Deseret News in Salt Lake City, the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning for the St. Petersburg Times in Florida and West Texas State basketball for the Amarillo Globe News in Texas.
There are 363 articles by Tim Buckley :
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May 2025
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Memphis Tigers Basketball Tigers guard Dante Harris enters transfer portal
The entry of Memphis guard Dante Harris into the NCAA transfer portal does not come as a surprise, after LSU transfer Curtis Givens III agreed to join the coach Penny Hardaway’s program.
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Memphis Tigers Basketball Calipari’s Razorbacks working to schedule exhibition game in Memphis
The Memphis Tigers and Arkansas Razorbacks are working on scheduling an exhibition basketball game at FedExForum that would benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
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Memphis Tigers Basketball Tigers to play Purdue in Bahamas, Boilermakers coach says
It appears coach Penny Hardaway’s Memphis Tigers will again get a shot at beating one of the nation’s top teams before beginning American Athletic Conference play.
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SportsBuckley: In 1975, LeMoyne-Owen won it all. Too few in Memphis remember.
Fifty years ago, a team of Magicians now largely forgotten won the only college basketball national championship Memphis has ever known.
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Memphis Tigers Basketball Tigers sign strong-shooting small college transfer forward Matthews
Mason Matthews’ signing is the 11th announced by coach Penny Hardaway and the Tigers this offseason.
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April 2025
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SportsShowboats in a hole after falling to Houston
Even after a mid-game quarterback change, the UFL’s Memphis Showboats dropped to an 0-3 with their 18-17 loss to the Houston Roughnecks.
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Memphis GrizzliesJa Morant fined by NBA for gesture
The NBA on Friday fined Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant after the superstar mimicked firing a gun on two occasions against the Miami Heat.
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Memphis Tigers BasketballAAC commissioner working on basketball strength of schedule
The American Athletic Conference has been talking with other leagues about potential nonconference scheduling agreements.
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Memphis Tigers BasketballMemphis makes case for hosting AAC basketball tournament
Armed with a somewhat unique bid, Memphis could learn soon if it will again host the American Athletic Conference’s men’s basketball tournament. Memphis Tourism’s Kevin Kane helped make the city’s case.
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March 2025
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Memphis Tigers BasketballThe epilogue: Tragedy, trials, tribulations followed Memphis State’s magical 1984-85 run
Defined largely by triumph, but tainted too, the 1984-85 Memphis State Tigers basketball team was perfectly imperfect, a fun bunch that had faults but also had a blast.
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Memphis Tigers BasketballBuckley: Memphis remains in the AAC. Still waiting for a good deal?
A bit after the 2024 football season opened, the Tigers’ chance to exit the AAC arose. But AD Ed Scott said it was “a bad deal.” So the Tigers, who decided to stay in the AAC, continue to hold out.
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Memphis Tigers BasketballBuckley: Tim Duncan helped Penny Hardaway, Ed Scott glue broken Tigers together
“The Tigers were broken after that ugly finish to the 2023-24 season. Credit Duncan for quietly helping glue it all back together.”
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Memphis Tigers BasketballThe then, and now: Tigers basketball was all about Memphis in 1984-85. Today, not so much.
“We talk about it all the time (like), ‘Man, ‘I’m from Memphis,’” Andre Turner said. “So wherever I would go, you’ll (see me say it) with my chest out.”
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Memphis Tigers BasketballBuckley: Colorado State had a plan for PJ Haggerty. Wow, did it ever work.
PJ Haggerty struggled from the field, making only 7 of his 23 shots in Friday’s NCAA Tournament first-round game against Colorado State.
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Memphis Tigers BasketballScenes from Seattle: Did Penny Hardaway know it would go this way?
Memphis Tigers coach Penny Hardaway tried his best not to makes excuses after the loss in the NCAA Tournament. But his answers revealed how he truly felt.
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Memphis Tigers BasketballScenes from Seattle: More Tiger Tournament tales
Penny Hardaway and the players had a lot to say at Thursday’s media day in Seattle as the Tigers prepare for Friday’s NCAA Tournament first-round game against Colorado State.
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Memphis Tigers FootballBuckley: Baraka Okojie, a kid from Canada, could help carry Memphis in Tournament
Early in American Athletic Conference play, Baraka Okojie was Memphis’ No. 3 point guard. Then backup Dante Harris sprained an ankle. Then starting point guard Tyrese Hunter hobbled off the court in Fort Worth.
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Scenes from Seattle: More Tiger Tournament tales
Tony Madlock led Alabama State falls to No. 1 seed Auburn in NCAA 1st round
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Memphis Tigers BasketballBuckley: Memphis feels it got what it deserved. Was there ever any doubt?
Memphis was made a No. 5 seed in the West Region and will open NCAA Tournament play Friday in Seattle against Mountain West Tournament-champion Colorado State, the No. 12 seed.
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Memphis Tigers BasketballBuckley: Last season was a mess. What does Ed Scott think of Penny now?
For a while last offseason, there was no telling how this season might end for Penny Hardaway and his Tigers. And Memphis’ new athletic director arrived well-aware of all the bad vibes.
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Memphis Tigers BasketballBuckley: The Tigers may not have Tyrese Hunter. But they do have resolve.
“What the Tigers, their roster nearly entirely overhauled, really showed was the resoluteness they failed to exhibit a season ago.”
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Memphis Tigers BasketballThe upbringing: Two 1984-85 Tigers came so far from so little
William Bedford and Andre Turner both grew up in Memphis and were two pillars on the Tigers’ 1984-85 Final Four team.
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Memphis Tigers BasketballBuckley: DainjaMan got winged. Then he shed his cape and resumed business.
Dain Dainja was “a little banged up” in the first half of the Tigers’ AAC quarterfinal win against Wichita, but he returned for the start of the second half to help Memphis advance to Saturday’s semifinal.
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Memphis Tigers BasketballThe Memphis game: Coaches, players, even fans had Bluff City roots in MSU-UAB game
In Tigers vs. Blazers in the NCAA Tournament in 1985, there were sometimes nine players from Memphis on the floor at once.
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February 2025
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Memphis Tigers BasketballBuckley: Flopping? Flailing? Maybe. But PJ Haggerty wants what he’s earned.
Frustration finally boiled over for guard PJ Haggerty and the Tigers. “If he gets fouled,” coach Penny Hardaway said, “we just want the call.”
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