There are 17 players with ties to Memphis or surrounding suburbs headed to the NCAA Tournament this season.

The Tigers have shocked the college basketball world before. Fueled by a mission to prove the doubters wrong — and perhaps more importantly, prove themselves right — they’ll try to do it again.

The Crosby, Texas, native is averaging 21.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.8 steals per game for Tigers (29-5), who won the AAC Tournament title 84-72 over UAB on Sunday and are a No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament. 

Eleven-year-old Maci Barrett gave Penny Hardaway a bracelet expressing her support for the coach. Now FedEx is flying Maci and her family to Seattle for the NCAA Tournament. 

Hillcrest (1A) and Memphis Business Academy (2A) begin play Wednesday at the Murphy Center. Fayette-Ware and Munford (3A) and East and Whitehaven (4A) follow on Thursday.

Desmond Bane and Ja Morant are pouring time and money into the youth basketball program. They didn’t have the same opportunity, so they hope to provide it for young players from their hometowns and surrounding areas. 

The Grizzlies are now 0-7 in games played in California this season after a loss to the Kings. Can they gain momentum before the end of a long road trip?

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This is the box score for the NBA game between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Sacramento Kings on Monday, March 17, 2025, at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California.

Despite being limited to nine available players, Memphis found a way to beat UAB in convincing fashion in Sunday’s AAC Tournament title game. Can it do more of the same in the Big Dance?

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.

The Tigers, fresh off of their 84-72 AAC Tournament championship victory over UAB on Sunday, stayed put at No. 16 in this week’s AP Top 25.

Just like everyone else, Memphis’ professional superstars will be filling out their brackets this week. 

Standouts from Bartlett, Briarcrest, Collierville, FACS, Lakeland Prep and St. Benedict are up for consideration this week. 

Maybe we shouldn’t have been surprised the Memphis Tigers are a No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament. They’ve certainly earned the respect. 

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.

Before No. 5 seed Memphis takes on No. 12 seed Colorado State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament’s West Regional in Seattle at 1 p.m. CT Friday (TBS), learn a little bit about the Rams.

Tony Madlock, a former Memphis player and assistant coach, led Alabama State to its first SWAC Tournament Championship since 2011. His son TJ was a major reason why. 

This trip to the Big Dance comes after Hardaway led Memphis to a bounceback season in which it has already won its most games since 2012-13.

Despite having just nine scholarship players available, the Tigers captured the AAC Tournament title. PJ Haggerty and Dain Dainja combined for 45 points to lead Memphis.

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NCAA men’s basketball box score for Sunday’s AAC Championship game between the Memphis Tigers and UAB Blazers.

Walter Clayton Jr. scored 22 points and fourth-ranked Florida won its fifth Southeastern Conference Tournament title and first since 2014 Sunday, beating the No. 8 Tennessee Volunteers 86-77.

Joining Memphis on the list of finalists for the 2026 AAC’s men’s basketball tournament are Wichita, Kansas; Birmingham, Alabama; and Tampa, Florida.

Hunter exited the Tigers’ AAC Tournament semifinal game Saturday early in the second half with a left foot injury and was examined by the team’s medical staff in the locker room.

“On and off the court, Allen turned being an NBA player into a kind of lunatic performance art, and in Memphis, he found a deeply appreciative audience.”

The Bartlett Panthers finish as state runner-up for the third consecutive season.