MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The No. 16 Memphis Tigers close the 2024-25 regular season with a Friday night showdown at FedExForum against last season’s American Athletic Conference regular season champion South Florida. Game time is set for 8 p.m. on ESPN2. Full analysis today on 92.9 FM ESPN.
Here's Penny Hardway's interview from earlier this week with J&J on 92.9 FM ESPN.
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Memphis will recognize Colby Rogers, Dain Dainja, Tyrese Hunter, Nicholas Jourdain and Moussa Cisse in a brief ceremony before the game. Fans are encouraged to arrive early and get to their seats by 7:45.
The Tigers, who already clinched the No. 1 seed and at least a share of the conference title at UTSA on Tuesday, can claim the regular season championship outright with a win over the Bulls. It is the program’s first regular season title of any kind since taking the C-USA crown in 2012-13.
Memphis enters the finale 25-5 overall and 15-2 in league play and have won 16 of its last 18 games dating back to December.
Dain Dainja earned AAC Player of the Week for the first time on Monday after securing his third-consecutive double-double behind 18 points and a career-high 17 rebounds at UAB. The big man just missed a fourth-straight on Tuesday with 19 points and eight rebounds at UTSA.
South Florida (13-17, 6-11 AAC) comes into the matchup ninth in the AAC standings after being tabbed third in the preseason poll. The Bulls have dropped six of their last seven outings, including three in a row, after falling 69-63 at home Sunday to Florida Atlantic on Senior Day.
Ben Fletcher was named the interim head coach for the 2024-25 season following the tragic passing of Amir Abdur-Rahim. Fletcher, who served as assistant head coach during the 2023-24 season, was promoted to associate head coach in June 2024.
Memphis has won six of the last seven games against South Florida, but dropped the last meeting inside FedExForum last season, when the 10th-ranked Tigers gave up a 20-point lead in the second half, falling 74-73.
The Tigers got some payback last month, however, when they went to Tampa and handed USF its second-largest loss of the conference season, 80-65, on February 13. Memphis won the rebounding battle (51-34) and put four players in double figures to secure its eighth-straight win at that point.
UP NEXT
After Friday’s game, the Tigers head to Fort Worth, Texas, for the AAC Tournament at Dickies Arena. The tournament bracket will officially be revealed Sunday evening after the conclusion of all regular season games, but the Tigers know for sure they won’t play until the quarterfinals on Friday, March 14 with a noon tipoff.