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Will Memphis make the NCAA Tournament?

By Ethan Lee

CINCINNATI, OHIO - FEBRUARY 15: Head coach Penny Hardaway of the Memphis Tigers calls out instructions in the first half against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Fifth Third Arena on February 15, 2022 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OHIO - FEBRUARY 15: Head coach Penny Hardaway of the Memphis Tigers calls out instructions in the first half against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Fifth Third Arena on February 15, 2022 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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Despite a really rough start to the season, it looks plausible for the Memphis Tigers to make the NCAA Tournament. Will that happen?

This basketball season hasn’t exactly been the easiest for Penny Hardaway and the Memphis Tigers. Earlier in the year, Hardaway and the Tigers held a 9-8 record and it looked like they’d be completely out of the NCAA Tournament conversation as March started to get closer.

UPDATE 3/14: With Memphis playing Houston in the Athletic Tournament Championship, it’s likely the Tigers will punch their tickets to the NCAA Tournament.

Well, March is almost upon us and all of a sudden it looks like there’s actually a chance that Memphis could make the men’s NCAA Tournament.

If you follow along with ESPN’s Joe Lunardi’s Bracketology, then you’ll see that Memphis is certainly in a much better spot than it was earlier this year. Just a few weeks back it seemed absolutely impossible for Memphis to get in.

At the moment, the Tigers are right on the bubble. According to Lunardi’s Bracketology, the Tigers will be among the last four teams to get into the tournament.

Memphis bracketology: Will Memphis Tigers make NCAA Tournament?

When considering where Memphis was just back in mid-January, that’s a really impressive turnaround for Hardaway and the Tigers.

After a loss to the SMU Mustangs on Jan. 20, the Tigers hit a hot streak. The Tigers went on to win six-straight games, including a very important win over the Houston Cougars. That winning streak was snapped by SMU on Feb. 20 (because of course it was), but the Tigers have won their last two games and have two very important games ahead of them.

Assuming the Tigers can handle business against the South Florida Bulls, Memphis will have an 18-9 record heading into a home matchup with No. 14 Houston. Assuming the Tigers can beat the Cougars once more, their resume will look really, really good going into the American Athletic Conference basketball tournament.

If the Tigers beat Houston and make a nice run in the AAC Tournament, their spot in the tournament becomes a little more solid. But right now, it looks like Memphis might just make it in.

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