Former Breakers coach John DeFilippo accepted the Memphis Showboats head coaching job after New Orleans wasn’t awarded a spot in the new UFL, whose first dispersal draft is Friday.

The Washington native scored 23 goals in the past two seasons while playing in USL League One.

Good, sustainable starts are going to be critical for the Grizzlies on an important three-game road trip, according to Desmond Bane. 

Standouts from Hillcrest and Hamilton lead the way this week.

Bartlett High and Houston High will host games Friday and Saturday.

Parth Upadhyaya and John Martin break down Memphis’ recent struggles and preview the Tigers’ AAC schedule. 

Ja Morant spoke on the criticism he faced following the “Rock Ya Hips” dance he did during a win over New Orleans on Dec. 26.

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Grizzlies comeback falls short against Raptors
Box score: Raptors 116, Grizzlies 111

The Memphis Grizzlies lost to the Toronto Raptors at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee, on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024.

The Grizzlies cut the Toronto lead to four in the fourth quarter, but the late push came up short. 

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Box score: Raptors 116, Grizzlies 111

Memphis women’s basketball team uses a strong fourth quarter to catch UAB, but the Blazers pulled away in final minute to drop the Tigers to 0-2 in league play.

The veteran midfielder will begin transition into coaching during the next two seasons.

The Tigers open an AAC schedule full of pitfalls with a road matchup against Tulsa on Thursday.

Jordon Hankins was the defensive coordinator in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl as the Tigers’ defense held Iowa State to zero rushing yards in a 36-26 win. 

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Darko Rajakovic said his stop in Memphis was instrumental in preparing him for his first NBA head coaching job with the Raptors.

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Darko’s back: Grizzlies players, coaches praise former assistant

The offense appears to be poised for another strong year behind quarterback Seth Henigan. 

Two rare talents, and two of the league’s most compelling young stars, met on the floor of FedExForum Tuesday night.

Ja Morant dunked on Victor Wembanyama, starting a sequence that put the Spurs away in the fourth quarter on Tuesday.

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Box score: Grizzlies 106, Spurs 98

The Memphis Grizzlies defeated the San Antonio Spurs at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee, on Jan. 2, 2024.

Let it Fly, the sports bar Mike Miller opened in 2019, closed its Germantown location.

Jaren Jackson Jr. said former assistant coach Darko Rajakovic, now with the Raptors, always knew how to motivate him. 

From David Jones’ play for the No. 15 Tigers to Seth Henigan’s in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, there’s plenty to discuss on the first 2024 edition of The Daily Memphian Tigers Podcast with Greg Gaston.

College basketball analytics website Bart Torvik shows just how up and down the Tigers have been so far this season.

At shootaround, Marcus Smart’s peeled back the bandage on his left hand exposing a gnarly wound. He’s playing through it, and setting an example for Grizzlies teammates.

Philadelphia Eagles kicker Jake Elliott is 14-of-15 on field-goal attempts of 40 yards or more. He’s only missed two of his 31 total field goal tries all season. 

The Tigers first cracked the AP Top 25 this season in the Dec. 18 edition of the poll.

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Tigers beat writer Parth Upadhyaya’s newest AP Top 25 ballot