MEMPHIS, Tenn. — No game bigger than Saturday this season for the Memphis Tigers. While it seems that's been the case for a number of weeks, it all culminates in the regular season finale when Memphis goes head to head in a rematch with Florida Atlantic. Seeding in the AAC Tournament is on the line.
Memphis has already beaten FAU once, a 78 to 74 win in FedExForum on February 25. This go round they head to Boca Raton where the Owls are 12 and 1 in the Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena. The environment will be hostile, but at this stage of the game that's not anything the Tigers are not used to.
Penny Hardaway's Tigers have been lauded for their talent this year and picked to be at the top of the conference in the preseason. Several road games this year have been giveaway games as a result, where fans are encouraged to show up for prizes. It creates for raucous away crowds keen on seeing the Tigers take a nosedive.
"It makes the other team really get up for every game whether its at our place or their place. Every game has been a t-shirt game. That's really weird going to every arena and seeing t-shirts on the chairs for every game that you go to," Hardaway said. "Sometimes you have to be careful what you wish for. You want to be the big dog you got to be able to back it up."
The matchup in FedExForum turned in the Tigers favor when a 7-0 run in the beginning of the second half put them in the driver's seat and got the crowd behind them.
After the Owls knocked Memphis out of the NCAA Tournament in 2023, it was a revenge game. FAU can return the favor.
"The definitely want this game and not only that they're at home so the momentum can swing that fast. We have to go out there and give them no easy points, no easy buckets," said Nicholas Jourdain.
A win gives Memphis a shot at a top four seed in the conference tournament and a start on Day 3, a double bye. A loss means their bubble spot could pop. That mentality hurt the Tigers initially against UAB, before their miraculous 20-point comeback win.
Everyone understands the stakes, but Memphis still must play loose.
"We put ourselves in a predicament losing those four games in a row and losing other games in conference. Everybody's playing like each game's our last," said Nae'Qwan Tomlin.
"I think it was like, 'hey, this was putting us in position to get a double bye' and we had kind of worked our way up. Sometimes that can work against you," said Hardaway. "Saturday, it's about having fun and being prepared."
Saturday's game is at 11 a.m. in Boca Raton, Florida. The game will be on CBS.
