Memphis basketball mailbag: What’s next for the Tigers?
Is it lost on anyone else that, as much of the South sits frozen in its tracks, so, too, are the Tigers?
While Winter Storms Uri and Viola are to thank for the week's worth (so far) of bone-chilling temperatures, along with thick layers of ice and snow, the Memphis basketball team fell victim to the dreaded COVID-19 pause last week as well.
Because multiple members of the Tigers' program tested positive, four games have been postponed, interrupting a growing wave of momentum (six wins in its last seven games). The team, which remains in limbo, is scheduled (for the time being) to return to the court at 7 p.m. Wednesday against Tulane at Fedexforum.
Will we ever see a Tiger basketball game ever again? — @Martysullivan10
It may not seem like it. Obviously, the timing of Memphis' pause is far from ideal.
With only four games left on the reg
ular-season schedule and practically no room to squeeze in even one of the four postponed games (five, if you count the road matchup with Temple that was originally scheduled for early January), Memphis’ runway toward the postseason is quickly getting shorter.
The most accurate answer to the question, as it pertains to this season: nobody knows. But based on what coach Penny Hardaway said on his weekly radio show Monday, as well as conversations I’ve had with sources, the expectation is the Tigers will return to practice Saturday. That’s tentative, of course, as testing has to continue to go well and travel conditions have to improve.
Is the season gonna be canceled? — @Boysrback888
No, the season isn’t going anywhere. At least, I don’t think it is. The American Athletic Conference just announced the schedule for the league tournament, which begins March 11 in Fort Worth, Texas. It also began selling a limited number of tickets to the general public on Thursday.
Something would have to go catastrophically wrong for the Tigers’ season to be canceled.
Which postponed games will likely be played and how will they be scheduled? — anonymous, via email
Great question. I alluded to this earlier, but it’s worth taking a closer look.
Memphis has had five games postponed: both contests (home and away) versus Temple, a home game with Cincinnati and road dates with Wichita State and No. 6 Houston. To this point, the AAC hasn’t announced that any of them have been rescheduled.
There are two weeks left in the regular season and the Tigers have games scheduled with Tulane (Feb. 24), Cincinnati (Feb. 28), USF (March 3) and Houston (March 7).
Could Memphis go to Houston for a game on March 5? Possibly. The Cougars don’t have a game scheduled around that date, but that might be pushing it. Wichita State is pretty much booked solid over the last two weeks of the regular season. So, rescheduling the Shockers seems doubtful.
The Tigers’ other postponed games don’t benefit either team, at this point, making it unlikely they will be rescheduled.
There’s always the outside chance the AAC will get creative and start substituting. For instance, could Memphis travel to Houston on Feb. 24 or 25, instead of hosting Tulane? Sure, but I’m not sold on the AAC doing something like that this late in the game.
Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @munzly.