Drew Hill and Chris Herrington recap the Grizzlies’ performances against the Suns and Clippers and discuss the importance of Vince Williams Jr. as Memphis looks to the playoffs. 

In the midst of a season when it feels like Memphis basketball just can’t seem to please the rest of the country — despite being ranked 14th — Thursday night was a blast.

Led by center Dain Dainja’s 20 points, coach Penny Hardaway’s Memphis Tigers looked dangerous in its 80-65 victory over USF. The win was Hardaway’s 150th as coach of the Tigers.

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Box score: Memphis 80, USF 65

This is the box score for the NCAA basketball game between the University of Memphis Tigers and the University of South Florida Bulls on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025, at the Yuengling Center in Tampa, Florida.

In this first installment of the Mid-Season Mailbag, Herrington takes questions on the trade deadline, the post-deadline Western Conference landscape and the team’s core stars. 

The voters have spoken. And they have chosen Dorion Bowen and Shayla Rodgers as The Daily Memphian’s high school basketball players of the week.

Tyrese Hunter had dealt with a tender right kneecap since the early portion of this season.

A pair of former Memphis Tigers are headed to the NFL Scouting Combine, scheduled for Feb. 27 through March 2 at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Fred Smith Jr. of Briarcrest, Taquez Butler of Whitehaven and Hutchison’s Tyler Jones are in the running for the state’s top prize in their respective classifications.

Memphis Grizzlies rookie Jaylen Wells will represent his alma mater, Sonoma State University, on his shoes during Friday’s Rising Stars mini-tournament during All-Star Weekend.

Coach Derek Harrison feels his youthful squad is peaking at just the right time as his CBHS team and other Memphis area Division 2 wrestlers head to Nashville for the state tournament.

It was a bad night for Memphis in the franchise’s first game at the Intuit Dome. It was clobbered in a 128-114 loss to the Clippers. 

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Box score: Grizzlies 128, Clippers 114

Memphis committed 22 turnovers that led to 41 Clippers points. The Grizzlies have lost two of their last three.

This is the box score for the NBA game between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

The Tigers (6-17, 4-8 AAC) opened the game on a heater but were overpowered by one of the conference’s best defenses as the game continued.

The Tigers’ game against USF on Thursday will be their final chance to turn heads before the NCAA Tournament’s Selection Committee televises the first in-season reveal of the top 16 seeds Saturday.

Parth Upadhyaya and John Martin try to determine if the Tigers playing up and down to their competition will ultimately bite them.

With 34 points and four blocks, Durant was the most productive player on the floor, helping the Suns stay in the game. But the Grizzlies halted the Suns run and never let their lead get below four.

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Box score: Grizzlies 119, Suns 112

This is the box score for the NBA game between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona.

The Showboats are looking to create a better product on the field while also creating fan excitement this UFL season. 

The top 25 boys and girls scoring leaders and the top records for Memphis-area schools in each of the classifications.

Hunter visited Memphis team orthopedist Barry Phillips on Monday afternoon after being sidelined in Sunday’s 90-82 home win against Temple.

Memphis ranks No. 4 in opponent adjust, a metric created by college basketball analytics expert Evan Miyakawa.

Before joining the Tigers, midseason transfer Dante Harris knew the drill. “I didn’t want to come in, you know, big-headed and try to do too much,” he said.

As All-Star weekend approaches, so comes an eight-day vacation. After a humbling loss to Oklahoma City, what does this break mean for the Grizzlies?