For us Tigers fans, it’s been a long time since we have felt this good. It’s been too long since we have had the taste of that great feeling of the team getting an NCAA Tournament win. Yeah, last year we WON the NIT, which was great. But….
Great Feeling # 1 – Making it to the Tournament
Great Feeling # 2 – Getting that Great First Win
Great Feeling # 3 – Watching the Heart that is Memphis Basketball
As I watch my Memphis Tigers win yesterday, it was one of the greatest sports thrills I’ve had in a long while. Even though my Atlanta Braves won the World Series last year, this year of Memphis basketball is magical. Each home game, I find myself screaming from the cheap seats. Sometimes at the bonehead calls by the zebras. But mostly, I’m yelling support for my Tigers.
I love how Penny has made this mass of talent and experience find a way to gel. I love how I can now laugh at the various scoffers of the program. I love how I watch the players give it all each game. I love how Alex Lomax leads the team on offense and defense and how his hustle is an example of how intense you need to play to win big. I love to what Duren inside as he prepares for his NBA career. I love to watch Quinones not only hit a three and his air guitar but also his intensity on defense. I love to watch Tyler Harris launch a shot from just about anywhere and nail them at the most opportune time.
I could go on and as I add to this article, I probably will. For now, I’m enjoying the tournament and hoping that the Tigers can get their next big W. Penny deserves this. The team deserves this. And they are capable of it. So I’ll be watching from my real cheap seats (my living room), but my wife is already talking about plane tickets to San Francisco. And who knows, that may be an option.
With a Gonzaga that looks beatable and a sense of unfinished business from a Tigers team with a chip on its shoulders, I can’t wait to get to this game. As we head into the game as a 9 Seed, history will not be on our side. Out of the 71 games where a 9 Seed has faced a 1 Seed, the 9 Seed has won only 5 games (7%). But of the six total 9 Seeds that have made it to the Sweet 16, four went on to the elite.
So, the only question for now is can this rough and tough and talented underseeded Memphis Tigers team take it to Gonzaga? In my humble opinion (often delusional), I know we can. I also know that the magic that is Memphis Tigers basketball will find a way. They are that kind of team.
Rewriting Tigers Recent History – where are we now?
Last NCAA Tournament – 2014 (now 2022)
Last NCAA Tournament win – 2014 (now 2022)
Last Sweet 16 – 2009
Last Elite 8 – 2008
Last Final Four – 2008
Last Championship game – 2008
Last Championship – Not yet (can 2022 be the first magical year we hoped for in November?
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