Now that the exhibition portion of the season is over, I offer the following thought: The Memphis Tigers could win the tournament.

As the Christian Brothers University basketball team is preparing to play an exhibition game against the University of Memphis at FedExForum Friday, the university is exploring a move from Division II to Division III, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. The board of trustees discussed the merits of such a move at its meeting Tuesday afternoon. 

He couldn’t even wait until 10 a.m.

Saturday morning, running through Overton Park, the 70-year-old next to me gloried in the day.

The man never sat down.

Let’s start with what he’ll wear. What will Penny Hardaway wear in his first game as Memphis coach?

Memphis coach Mike Norvell says running back Darrell Henderson will be back for the East Carolina game. Norvell will be flying around Memphis in a helicopter Friday night, traveling to local high school games. And Norvell remains confident in the trajectory of the program, despite the dispiriting loss to Missouri.

Jaren Jackson Jr. began the night by dapping up Young Dolph during the introductions.

What happens when the No. 1 high school basketball prospect in the country asks everyone on Twitter what college he should attend?

By the end of this one, the Grizzlies commercials almost felt like an affront, didn’t they?

It’s the start of another Memphis Grizzlies season. What exactly does that mean?

The American Athletic Conference coaches predicted Monday that the Memphis Tigers will finish fourth this season.

They were in range, that’s what hurts. Or that’s one of a thousand things that hurt after a loss like that.

You’ve got questions, I’ve got answers, about Memphis vs. UCF.

You know what is unfair to Brady White?

Darrell Henderson took the handoff, headed left, and what happened next was pure wizardry.

Resh Short drove in from Cincinnati. He hopped in his car and pointed it toward Memphis and arrived by the time the doors opened at 6 p.m.

It will be the Memphis sports moment of the year. It will be a moment that summons the past and embraces the future and celebrates the return of a favorite son.

Derrick Rose brought down the house with a preposterous dunk. Rapper Rick Ross canceled on his first Madness visit but made it for the next. Gary Parrish won a chicken-wing eating contest, Larry Finch returned (after he was fired) to coach an alumni game and D.J. Stephens paid tribute to one of the greatest Memphis players ever by wearing his jersey for a dunk contest. All these things happened at Memphis Madness, which is what John Calipari renamed it sometime along the way. So here’s the complete and colorful history of the event, drawn from my notes, columns, memories and newspaper archives. 

The final dance contestant was Yuta Watanabe.

Let’s see if we have the list.

Jaren Jackson Jr. was hanging out in the Grizzlies locker room. This was not long ago, before an informal workout. Marc Gasol walked in, looking sharp.

The first official practice of the Penny Hardaway era ended the way you might expect.

Paris London, the former Memphis Tiger, is standing in a crowd, holding his phone up to capture his son on video, and it’s possible he has never been happier.

Brady White handed the ball to Darrell Henderson who then flipped the ball to Tony Pollard who headed back around left end and into the end zone.