The knock against Memphis for most of the season was that Conference USA didn’t provide the Tigers with much of a test. Sure, they had solid nonconference games, beating Georgetown, Arizona, Gonzaga, and Connecticut and losing to Tennessee. Well, this bracket will test them. To add spice to the mixture, the Tigers might be forced to beat Texas in Houston the same way they had to deal with Texas A&M in San Antonio last year. But coach John Calipari’s team is better than last year’s and looks ready for the challenge.
The Tigers start with a scrimmage against Texas-Arlington, which will set up a nice challenge against Oregon or Mississippi State. The Tigers should eat either of those schools for lunch.
Then it gets interesting. Michigan State and Temple face off in a first-round game and the Spartans are too good for the Owls, but not too good for Pittsburgh, which should be waiting after taking care of Oral Roberts.
The other half of the bracket is even more interesting. Texas is the No. 2 seed and should handle Austin Peay in its first-round game, but could very well run into a Saint Mary’s team that wants to prove something after running past Miami.
The top half of that draw has Stanford and Marquette. Both are capable of major damage. Stanford will deal with Ivy League champion Cornell in an Academic Bowl in the first round, then should face Marquette, which should get past Kentucky.
Stanford is good enough to beat Marquette, but beating Texas is another matter, especially in Houston.
The top half of the draw should have Memphis against Pitt, which should be physical, and that can be good or bad for the Tigers. Physical means a lot of foul shots. Memphis has an issue with foul shots — as in not shooting them very well. Memphis should prevail, but it will be anything but easy.
Now the Tigers have to play a ‘‘road’’ game against a Texas team that is as talented as any in the country. Memphis shut up the crowd in San Antonio last year by beating A&M. It can do the same thing against Texas this year — putting the Tigers in the Final Four and back in San Antonio.
UPSET SPECIAL: Saint Mary’s over Miami
MOVING TO HOUSTON: Memphis, Pittsburgh, Stanford, Texas
REGIONAL CHAMP: Memphis
