The stage is set at FedExForum as the Memphis Tigers (10–10, 5–3 AAC) return home this Sunday afternoon for a 2 p.m. showdown with the Tulane Green Wave (12–9, 3–5 AAC). The game airs on ESPN2, with the Tigers looking to extend their 18-game home winning streak against conference opponents and prove that Thursday night’s breakout win wasn’t a one-time performance.
Memphis is coming off its most complete showing of the year — a 92–65 dismantling of Florida Atlantic that looked every bit the team Penny Hardaway envisioned back in November. The Tigers pushed the ball, dominated the paint, and looked both confident and connected. Now comes the challenge that has eluded them most this season — consistency.
A Crucial Moment in the Standings
Sunday’s contest carries more weight than its midseason billing might suggest. The Tigers sit near the middle of a tightly packed American Athletic Conference race, within striking distance of the top four — the line that often earns a key tournament bye and boosts postseason hopes.
A win over Tulane would move Memphis another step up the standings and, perhaps more importantly, send a message that this team has matured past its early inconsistencies. With the AAC Tournament in Fort Worth just over a month away, every game now has seeding and identity implications.
Hardaway knows it. “It’s about trust now — trusting each other, trusting the system,” he said Friday. “We’ve shown what we can be. Now we’ve got to make it who we are.”
FedExForum Fortress
There’s no place better to find momentum than home. Memphis has turned FedExForum into one of the toughest stops in the league. The Tigers haven’t lost a conference game there since January 2023 — 18 straight wins, second-longest in the nation — and are 58–9 at home under Hardaway.
This season, they’ve started 4–0 in home conference play, a feat the program last achieved in back-to-back years more than a decade ago. Their defense has set the tone, holding nine opponents under 30% from three — tied for the most nationally. If they bring that same defensive intensity, the streak should keep rolling.
Bradshaw and Parker Rising
One reason Memphis looks more stable lately? The rise of two key contributors.
Junior center Aaron Bradshaw has become a difference-maker in the frontcourt. The 7-footer has scored in double figures in three straight games, averaging 12.3 points and 7 rebounds while shooting 60.9% from the field during that stretch. His confidence finishing around the rim and his ability to defend without fouling have given the Tigers an anchor inside.
Next to him, senior guard Sincere Parker has ignited Memphis’ bench with timely shooting and energy. He’s averaged 21.5 points over his last two full games, hitting an efficient 8-of-12 in both and knocking down 4-of-5 total from three. That scoring punch has kept defenses honest and allowed Hardaway to stagger his lineups without losing rhythm.
At this point, Dug McDaniel continues to orchestrate everything. His streak of 11 straight games with at least three assists and a steal ties the longest by any Tiger in the past 30 seasons. Simply put — when McDaniel controls tempo, Memphis thrives.
Tulane’s Slide and Star Power
While Memphis seems to be heating up, Tulane is cooling off fast. The Green Wave has lost five straight, including a 97–83 home defeat to South Florida on Wednesday, in which they were dominated on the glass. Rebounding has been their season-long weakness — they rank in the bottom 20 nationally and are being outrebounded by nearly eight per game.
Offensively, though, Tulane remains dangerous. Sophomore guard Rowan Brumbaugh has been sensational, ranking second in the AAC with 19.1 points per game while shooting 37% from three. He’s scored at least 15 points in 16 of 21 games and ranks fourth nationally in made free throws (134). Flanked by Curtis Williams Jr. (13.2 PPG) and Asher Woods (12.2), the Green Wave can fill it up from outside when in rhythm.
Tulane enters 3–2 in true road games this season — not bad for a team on a skid — and shoots 45.5% from the field and 36.5% from three on the road. For Memphis, staying disciplined defensively and controlling the paint will be essential. This matchup tilts toward the Tigers’ length and depth if they avoid letting Tulane’s guards dictate pace.
What’s at Stake
Beyond the stat sheet, this game is about trust and trajectory. Every season under Hardaway, Memphis has used February to find its true form. The question is whether that surge starts now. If the Tigers want to climb into the top four of the AAC standings and carry momentum into March, this is a must-have game.
A win Sunday would affirm that Thursday’s breakthrough wasn’t a fluke — it was a foundation. Stringing performances together is what separates contenders from pretenders, and it’s exactly what Memphis has lacked to this point.
FedExForum will be buzzing again, and rightfully so. After weeks of inconsistency, the Tigers finally look like a team ready to surge. And if they can deliver another complete performance against Tulane, Memphis’ February push might officially be underway.
