Memphis Tigers coach Penny Hardaway plans to meet with athletic director Ed Scott following an early exit from the American Conference Tournament. 

The Tigers came out flat in front of a quiet crowd of no more than 500 in Birmingham, Alabama.

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Box score: Tulane 81, Memphis 69

Box score for the NCAA American Conference Tournament game between the Memphis Tigers and the Tulane Green Wave at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026.

The Tigers will open against a power conference opponent to start next season.

Memphis failed to land a player on the American’s all-conference first, second or third teams — or on the 10-player All-Newcomer Team. 

With six nonconference matchups now set, Memphis is still left with seven spots to fill in its 13-game 2026-27 non-American Conference schedule.

The Tigers begin American Conference tournament play against the No. 9-seeded Green Wave.

The women’s team has not reached the NCAA Tournament since the 1997-98 season under coach Joye Lee-McNelis.

Headed to Birmingham, Memphis looks to make possible what seems improbable: five straight wins and an NCAA Tournament berth.

“It’s March, and Penny Hardaway and the Tigers have a chip and a chair.”

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Bracket set for American Conference Tournament
Memphis escapes in OT against Tulane to clinch

American Conference Tournament berth

A tumultuous regular season complete, Tigers excited to enter ‘new season’

Memphis will open the American Conference Tournament against Tulane.

Quante Berry made two free throws with 2.3 seconds left in overtime to give Memphis a 96-95 comeback win over Tulane and send the Tigers to the upcoming American Conference Tournament in Birmingham, Alabama.

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Box score: Memphis 96, Tulane 95 (OT)

Bracket set for American Conference Tournament

Here is the box score for the Memphis Tigers’ game against the Tulane Green Wave on Sunday, March 8.

A win against the Green Wave would snap the Tigers’ seven-game losing streak and guarantee them a spot in the 10-team American Conference Tournament.

With nine American teams having already clinched a berth to the conference tournament, Memphis is fighting for a final spot in Birmingham.

Former Memphis star Dain Dainja, now playing in the G-League for the Miami Heat-affiliated Sioux Falls Skyforce, said it hurts to watch the Tigers struggle.

Memphis falls to 12-18 overall and 7-10 in the American Conference. Point guard Dug McDaniel led the Tigers with 25 points. Zach Davis added 17.

Box score for the NCAA basketball game between the University of Memphis Tigers and the University of South Florida Bulls at FedExForum on Thursday, March 5, 2026.

As questions again swirl about the future of Penny Hardaway, athletic director Ed Scott had every chance to address them Wednesday. He chose to stay silent. What could that mean?

A Senior Day matchup against league-leader South Florida marks Memphis’ final home game of the 2025-26 season.

Memphis athletic director Ed Scott updated the university’s Board of Trustees on revenue-sharing contracts with players, soccer stadium renovation and football ticket revenue. 

Among six programs for which the Tigers budgeted revenue generated from ticket sales and parking, only men’s basketball has fallen short.

Student-athletes can now get paid for their name, image or likeness as well as revenue-sharing payments from the school. Today, we try to sort it all out. 

”It’s hard. I’m not lying — it’s hard for sure,” Tigers coach Penny Hardaway said of what’s been one of the most difficult seasons in program history.

One fact to sum up Penny Hardaway and this Memphis basketball season: This is the most losses the Tigers have suffered in 56 years.