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The Big Freeze of 2026 left Memphis’ two high-profile basketball teams out in the cold. The Memphis Grizzlies' Sunday game against the Denver Nuggets at FedExForum postponed until a still-to-be-announced date. At the same time, the Memphis Tigers spent a couple unplanned nights in Wichita, Kansas — all due to the paralyzing winter storm that’s turned the Mid-South into somewhere best suited to sledding and ice skating. The Grizzlies did manage to make it to Houston for Monday night’s game against the Rockets, but — based on the result, a third straight loss — may as well have stayed home. As their season continues to circle the drain, star guard Ja Morant — still on the trade block — remains with the franchise. At least for now. The NBA’s deadline for dealing comes next week, on Feb. 5. Drew Hill spelled out all things Ja, and what Hill is calling the “Morant Maze,” in a piece, published Monday, that’s among The Daily Memphian sports staff’s highlights of the week. Another: Frank Bonner II’s two-part package, published Sunday, on what it’s like to be in the NCAA transfer portal these days, and the real reason running back Sutton Smith, who left Memphis for Arkansas out of the portal, dressed for but did play in the Tigers football team’s recent Gasparilla Bowl loss to North Carolina State. The Tigers basketball team, meanwhile, lost to Wichita State on Saturday, three days after an epic road collapse against Tulsa. Coach Penny Hardaway was rather displeased after falling to the Shockers in Wichita, telling beat writer Parth Upadhyaya, “I think we’re waiting on (big) names — we’re waiting on bigger-money guys (to deliver).” The team left Memphis for Tulsa last Tuesday, then traveled to Wichita on Thursday. Instead of flying home from chilly Wichita as originally planned, weather conditions left the Tigers stranded there until Monday. Upadhyaya remained even longer, as multiple flight cancellations had him still there this afternoon. Hardaway’s Tigers are scheduled to play Florida Atlantic on Thursday night and Tulane on Sunday, with both games at FedExForum, while the Grizzlies are slated to face Charlotte on Wednesday night at FedExForum before heading back out onto the road to play the Pelicans on Friday night in New Orleans. On the preps front, John Varlas made it over to MUS on Thursday night, about 36 hours before the snow and ice arrived, to watch Fred Smith deliver a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double that also included five assists as Briarcrest beat the Owls in a key Division 2-AA West Region game. Here’s a look at some of the staff’s top work from the week: — Deputy sports editor Tim Buckley
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By Drew Hill
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