The Memphis Tigers secured their eighth consecutive victory by defeating USF with a score of 80-65. Despite this win, the Tigers, ranked No. 12 in the CBS Sports Top 25 And 1, are struggling to enhance their NCAA tournament resume within the American Athletic Conference (AAC). The team’s winning streak largely consists of victories over lower-ranked opponents, making it difficult to bolster their standings and secure more significant wins for tournament consideration.

Key Highlights:

• Current Record: 21-4 overall, 11-1 in the AAC.
• Tigers have achieved five significant victories (Q1 wins) against teams like Ole Miss, Michigan State, Missouri, Clemson, and UConn.
• The upcoming schedule presents several games against lower-ranked teams, further complicating their chance to make a stronger tournament argument.

“It’s tough to win in this conference; that’s just the nature of it. But we’re doing what we need to do,” said Head Coach Penny Hardaway.

As Memphis gears up for its next game on Sunday against Wichita State, Hardaway celebrates his 150th victory while steering the Tigers toward a potential regular-season championship. This achievement puts him in the running for AAC Coach of the Year as well.