If Memphis and Tennessee State foul at their usual rate Saturday, coach Penny Hardaway says fans may need a pillow.

Memphis (6-5) overcame a slow start on the defensive end of the floor to defeat Little Rock (5-7) 99-89 and get back over .500 in the record book.

This could have been embarrassing for Penny Hardaway and the Memphis program. It’s one thing to get into a public fracas with Tennessee coach Rick Barnes. It’s another thing to then go out and lose to a team like Little Rock. But with 3:52 left in the game, Little Rock up by two points, embarrassment seemed distinctly possible.

Four days earlier with No. 3 Tennessee in a sold-out building, adrenaline was no problem for Memphis.

Memphis 99, Little Rock, 89

Head coach Penny Hardaway had strong words for Tennessee coach Rick Barnes on Tuesday afternoon.

He had just scored a career-high 31 points and grabbed 11 rebounds against No. 3 Tennessee. So, I asked Memphis Tigers forward Kyvon Davenport, point-blank, if he had surprised himself a little.

It was during a timeout midway through the second half that Tiger nation seemed to cast its vote on the day. Fans were standing and cheering. Roaring, really.

Just 47 seconds remained in this brawl of a game, when an actual brawl seemed on the verge of breaking out. 

Forward Admiral Schofield had just scored 29 points and grabbed 11 rebounds when he was struck with the urge to remind the capacity crowd at FedExForum who was on top.

Admiral Schofield popped his Tennessee jersey to the Memphis fans who had been screaming at him throughout the game.

Memphis couldn't overcome a slow start and fell to No. 3 Tennessee 102-92 in FedExForum.

They grew up here, knew the heroes of Memphis Tigers basketball, and tried to emulate them. Time was, they bled blue. But it didn’t guarantee that they would stay here and play for the hometown team.

Four-star forward Trendon Watford tweeted his final four potential schools Friday afternoon and the Memphis Tigers made the cut.

Tigers beat reporter Jonah Jordan is joined by USAToday’s Dan Wolken to discuss the Memphis rivalry with the Volunteers and head coach Mike Norvell’s future.

The No. 3-ranked Tennessee Volunteers were slowed down Friday, their flight from Knoxville to Memphis delayed by more than two hours because of mechanical problems with the plane.

6-foot-3, 6-foot-6, 6-foot-6, 6-foot-7, 6-foot-11 – that’s what No. 3 Tennessee’s starting lineup read as during the Volunteers' win over No. 1 Gonzaga Sunday afternoon.

The Memphis Tigers’ non-conference strength of schedule this season ranks 81st at kenpom.com out of 351 Division I schools.

His collegiate debut gave the doubters ammunition for their argument. The 5-foot-9, 150-pound guy missed all six shots he took, all from behind the 3-point line, and some stupid deep.

Memphis 94, UAB, 76

When it was over and Memphis had secured a 94-76 victory over UAB on Saturday at FedExForum, coach Penny Hardaway called it “our first blowout win” of the season.

Memphis (5-4) put away a scrappy UAB (6-3) squad 94-76 for their fourth home win of the season Saturday afternoon.

Tyler Harris scored 24 points, Kyvon Davenport added 21 points and eight rebounds as Memphis used a strong second- half defense to defeat UAB 94-76 on Saturday afternoon.

Three days after the best game of his young career as a Memphis Tiger, Isaiah Maurice conceded that, yes, he has had an adjustment period. Which makes him just like his teammates.

Geoff Calkins and Jonah Jordan talk about the future of Memphis football coach Mike Norvell, the disgrace that was the AAC title game, the state of football and basketball recruiting and the progress of Penny Hardaway’s basketball team.