Martin: Memphis is left out — and needs to get out
Memphis Tigers guard Tyrese Hunter (11) reacts to the crowd during the second half against the Mississippi Rebels at FedExForum on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (Wes Hale/The Daily Memphian file)
John Martin
John Martin is a contributing college sports columnist for The Daily Memphian. Martin is a lifelong Memphian who’s covered the Memphis Tigers’ basketball program for more than a decade. Before joining The Daily Memphian team, he was the Memphis beat writer for The Athletic. Currently, he is the co-host of the Jason and John Show on 92.9 FM ESPN, weekdays at 11 a.m. Martin is a graduate of White Station High School and the University of Memphis.
On Saturday, the NCAA Tournament selection committee unveiled its Top 16 teams in the country. For the first time since the early television reveal started in 2017, Memphis fans at least had a reason to tune in.
One by one, North Carolina athletic director and committee chair Bubba Cunningham rattled off the teams. Auburn … Florida … Kentucky … Wisconsin … Arizona … Michigan … St. John’s …
And that was that.
Despite being ranked 14th in the country in the AP Poll, Memphis did not make the cut as one of the top 16 teams, per the selection committee. They didn’t make it as the 17th or 18th, either: The just-missed teams were Michigan State (which Memphis beat on a neutral site) and Marquette.
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