University of Memphis NCAA News

Giffey paid off his coach's move by scoring a career-high 24 points, including six 3-pointers, as No.

First, there was the debate. Would Briarcrest star Austin Nichols really stay home and play for the Memphis Tigers? Or would outside offers, including ones from Duke, Kansas and North Carolina, be too good to pass up? Then there was the hype and the fast start.

Getting around parts of Kansas City might be a little difficult Saturday and Monday as streets close for St. Patrick Day's runs and parades.

Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal Memphis guard Joe Jackson battles Connecticut's Shabazz Napier and Phillip Nolan for a loose ball during their game on Feb. 15 at Hartford, Conn.

Jayhawks coach Bill Self said the 7-footer's status hasn't changed since Monday, when Embiid received a second opinion on his back from a specialist in Los Angeles.

PEAT?: UConn won both regular-season meetings, including 83-73 at Memphis on Jan. 16. The Huskies won at the XL Center in overtime 86-81 on Feb. 15. In the two games, Napier scored a combined 51 points with 14 assists and five turnovers.

The American Athletic Conference's maiden tournament is upon us. Louisville plans to arrive today.

The average Tennessee basketball fan on the street - or the message board - hopes the SEC tournament is the Vols' avenue to squeeze into one of the last rungs of the NCAA Tournament bracket.

Tulane Green Wave players celebrate after their 36-33 triple overtime victory over the East Carolina Pirates at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

By the time most of us had gotten to the end of the University of Kansas athletic department news release announcing center Joel Embiid would miss this week's Big 12 Tournament and perhaps the first couple rounds of the NCAAs, Tarik Black had two fouls on him.

The conference, which tips off its inaugural American Athletic Conference Tournament Presented by Reese's Wednesday afternoon, named All Conference and All Rookie team honors earlier today.

Memphis guard Joe Jackson, front, drives to the basket against SMU guard Nic Moore in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday in Memphis.

During the first day of spring practice Saturday, several players were in new positions as the Tigers kicked off the first of 15 days of drills, all of it ending with the April 5 spring game.

March 8, 2014 - After hitting his third consecutive three point shot Memphis' Chris Crawford is congratulated former Tiger Penny Hardaway as the crowd cheers during second half action against SMU at FedExForum.

SMU guards Keith Frazier and Ryan Manuel block a shot by Memphis guard Joe Jackson, left, in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, March 8, 2014, in Memphis, Tenn.

While neither team can win the inaugural American Athletic Conference title, both the 18th-ranked SMU Mustangs and 20th-ranked Memphis Tigers would love to post a win in the regular-season finale when the two get together at FedExForum on Saturday.

Big, in that ESPN Bracketologist Joe Lunardi currently has the Tigers five spots out of an NCAA Tournament berth, while the Volunteers are among Lunardi's projected last four teams in the tournament.

The Orlando Magic announced Friday that they've re-signed center Dewayne Dedmon and swingman Adonis Thomas to second 10-day contracts.

Seniors have made a major impact this season, and that is particularly evident at the point guard position as March Madness nears.

Tennessee Volunteers guard Antonio Barton shoots over Auburn Tigers guard Tahj Shamsid-Deen and Auburn Tigers guard-forward Allen Payne after drawing a foul during the first half of the NCAA men's basketball game on Wednesday, March 5, 2014, at Auburn Arena in Auburn, Ala.