The Early Word: All doesn’t mean y’all for Kustoff talk; Tigers go dancing
Are you ready for some basketball? The Memphis Tigers are dancing today — Friday, March 21 — in their first-round NCAA Tournament game against Colorado State. That starts at 1 p.m., and here’s what you need to know. And after the game, check back here, because we’ve got four staffers in Seattle covering the Tigers' tournament run.
Later tonight, the Memphis Grizzlies will play the Los Angeles Lakers in L.A., and they’ll need to wake up if they want to win.
Of course, there’s more to life than sports. Also happening this weekend is the 40th annual Mid-South Con, where you can finally get some use out of that Wonder Woman costume you bought for Halloween in 2017.
On Sunday, you’ll get another chance to go back to Comeback Coffee before it closes its Pinch District spot; Comeback and adjoining plant store Greenhaus are hosting a floral pop-up. There’s more in The To-Do List.
But back to basketball: If the Tigers win today (fingers and toes crossed), they’ll have another NCAA game on Sunday, against either Maryland or Grand Canyon. Stay tuned.
U.S. Rep. David Kustoff, R-Germantown, will be speaking at a Germantown church this weekend, but you’re probably not invited. The flyer clearly states, “This is open to all. Please join us.” But the event organizers are now saying “all” just means all the people who attend Our Lady of Perpetual Help. “It was never intended to [be] a public forum,” said the organizer.
Tyrese Hunter ain’t playing. Seriously, y’all. The Memphis Tigers guard is not playing in today’s first-round NCAA Tournament game against Colorado State. He injured his left foot in the Tigers’ AAC Tournament semifinal win against Tulane on March 15, and it’s still not fully recovered. And on that note, point guard Dante Harris may be sitting out, too. That leaves the Tigers’ No. 3 point guard, Baraka Okojie, with some big shoes (probably literally) to fill, but he says that’s “something I’m ready to embrace, for sure.” So, yes, the Tigers are underdogs, and they’re missing some guys, but don’t let all that get you down: The Daily Memphian’s Geoff Calkins reminds us that “all things are possible.” And hey, the Tigers still have All-American guard PJ Haggerty, and he’s kind of a big deal in college basketball right now.
Plus, FedEx cuts its earnings outlook, interim MSCS head talks takeover and Trump plans, and you’ll want to keep your eyes peeled for this new coffee spot in Cordova.
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Bianca Phillips
Bianca Phillips is a Northeast Arkansas native and longtime Memphian who’s worked in local journalism and PR for more than 20 years. In her days as a reporter, she covered everything from local government and crime to LGBTQ issues and the arts. She’s the author of “Cookin Crunk: Eatin’ Vegan in the Dirty South,” a cookbook of vegan Southern recipes.
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