It was a top-notch week for Memphis Sports. Home teams not only won, but had decisive wins. Upsets too.
The Grizzlies ran through their four-game stand. They defeated the Portland Trailblazers, Detroit Pistons, the New Orleans Pelicans and Indiana Pacers. Point guards one and two, Ja Morant and Marcus Smart, also returned from injuries.
The Memphis Tigers basketball team gave notice with a win over the National Champion UConn Huskies. They followed up with a win over Tom Izzoโs Michigan State Spartans.
The football team also defeated the 17th-ranked Tulane Green Wave 34-24 on Thanksgiving Day.
Three area high school football teams advanced to the State Championship game in Chattanooga. The Houston Mustangs, the Melrose Golden Wildcats and the MASE Phoenix all won at home. The Mustangs are the defending state champs, while itโs Melroseโs first appearance since 2005. The Phoenix are making the trip for the first time.
If all three win, perhaps December will shape up to be even better.
With six wins in a row, the Grizzlies are the hottest team in the Western Conference. An extension during the upcoming four-game road trip would be a nice stocking stuffer.
The Memphis Tigersโ football team is ranked in both national polls. The club sneaks in at 25 in the AP rankings, meanwhile the AFCA Coachesโ Poll puts them a notch higher at 24.
Tigers menโs basketball will likely find its way into the rankings too. The squad came into the season with a revamped roster and the expectations of a return to the NCAA tournament. So far, the calculation checks out as coach Penny Hardaway has his team rounding to form early.
The Grizzlies have climbed to the third in the Western Conference, coming off a disappointing season in 2023-24. Pre-season prognosticators forecast Memphis to win 46 games – and struggle to reach the play-in tournament. So far, the predictions appear to have missed the mark.
The roster is getting healthier by the week too. Zack Edey, Vince Williams Jr. and GG Jackson will provide the NBA with additional worries when they return from injury.
There are numerous opportunities for teams of all levels to end 2024 on a high note.
