In a surprising turn of events, the Memphis Tigers have secured a No. 5 seed in the 2025 NCAA Tournament, shaking off previous projections that placed them as low as an No. 8 seed. Their impressive trajectory this season, bolstered by back-to-back conference and regular-season championships, has brought renewed hope among fans and players alike.
The excitement was palpable when the team's name flashed on the screen inside a conference room at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. Athletic director Ed Scott described his reaction: “My gut reaction is we got what we deserved based on our body of work. Penny (Hardaway) had one of the toughest non-conference schedules, this program had one of the toughest non-conference schedules in America,” according to quotes published by The Commercial Appeal.
Memphis will compete against No. 12 seed Colorado State on Friday, March 21, 2025, at 1 p.m. CT in Seattle. The winner of this matchup will then face either No. 4 Maryland or No. 13 Grand Canyon in the next round. Scott, who watched Virginia lose in the NCAA tournament to Colorado State last year, hopes to avenge that defeat.
The Tigers' journey to the tournament has been anything but uneventful. They've amassed an impressive record of 29 wins against only five losses this season. Both Penny Hardaway, the head coach, and athletic director Scott are vocal about the respect they feel they’ve gained through hard work and sheer determination. Hardaway reflected, “I thank the committee for respecting us and our work that we've put in this year. Because we heard so many things. I'm so proud of this team.”
Despite their solid record and recent championships, Memphis opened as an underdog against Colorado State, a label that Hardaway and his team are willing to embrace as additional motivation. In his own words, “We obviously try to use it as motivation. But you have to give them credit. They've looked really daggone good, right?”
He noted the challenge posed by the Rams, stating, “They're not respecting our conference because they're saying, 'Well, they're over there beating those teams that can't play.' Well, maybe they should come and play those teams and see how hard it really is.”
Memphis has demonstrated a remarkable resilience this season, often proving doubters wrong in the face of skepticism about their conference and team strength. Forward Nicholas Jourdain articulated this sentiment succinctly, saying, “Naturally, we want to go out there and prove them wrong. But we've been doing that all season.”
The team's confidence is further buoyed by individual accolades, with star guard PJ Haggerty recently recognized as a second-team AP All-American after a stellar season. Although Haggerty felt snubbed by not making the first team, he remains steadfastly focused on team success: “I think they snubbed me, though... if you take care of the name on the front of your jersey, the name on the back will always be taken care of.”
As Memphis prepares to hit the road for Seattle, the collective belief among the players and coaching staff remains strong. Hardaway expressed further confidence stating, “It's a great feeling. We heard so much as bad as 8, 9, for the last month and that's what kind of pushed us through. It makes you feel good to see the 5. That's respecting us a lot. And we put the work in. We earned it.”
These themes of expectation versus reality, respect, and determination are not only rallying calls for the Memphis Tigers but also a testament to the hard work that has been laid by the team all season.
The matchup against Colorado State serves not only as an opportunity for advancement in the tournament but also for redemption. With plenty of motivation and the spirit of underdogs riding high, the Memphis Tigers are aptly prepared for what lies ahead in the NCAA Tournament.
Amidst the camaraderie and team spirit, the players and coaches are looking forward to challenging perceptions and perhaps even rewriting their narrative on the national stage.
Can the Memphis Tigers leverage their motivation and bounce back against perceived adversities? The countdown to March Madness has truly begun, and fans are ready to see how this intrepid team will face their next challenge.
