State of Tennessee basketball

[sleepy 1]

Well, look at this. Half the 6 top rated RPI teams are from Tennessee.

1. Memphis 11-0 0.7037

2. Arizona 8-3 0.6816

3. St. Mary's 11-1 0.6719

4. North Carolina 13-0 0.6657

5. Tennessee 11-1 0.6525

6. Vanderbilt 13-0 0.6513

realtimerpi.com/

[Rural King 1]

Tennessee is becoming quite the basketball state on the collegiate level. Its always fun to have multiple state teams to root for and increase the odds of a Tennessee school bringing home a championship. Of course I'm pulling for UofM until UT-Martin rebuilds their program to championship level standards (sarcasm on the UTM part!).

Now if only the Grizzlies could get get turned back around and get back to where they were a few years ago we would be set.

[memphisvol 0]

Tennessee is becoming quite the basketball state on the collegiate level. Its always fun to have multiple state teams to root for and increase the odds of a Tennessee school bringing home a championship. Of course I'm pulling for UofM until UT-Martin rebuilds their program to championship level standards (sarcasm on the UTM part!).

Now if only the Grizzlies could get get turned back around and get back to where they were a few years ago we would be set.

[highriser 1]

Tennessee is becoming quite the basketball state on the collegiate level. Its always fun to have multiple state teams to root for and increase the odds of a Tennessee school bringing home a championship. Of course I'm pulling for UofM until UT-Martin rebuilds their program to championship level standards (sarcasm on the UTM part!).

Now if only the Grizzlies could get get turned back around and get back to where they were a few years ago we would be set.

[sleepy 1]

As of Sunday, January 6th, my Vols are now up to #4 in the RPI. The prices online for Memphis-UT bball tickets keep increasing!

[miami1855 5]

Tigers will stomp them, I tell you, stomp them!

All right, you all get football--most years--but ain't nothing compared to Tigers basketball dominance! Not just the state, but the region, and the nation!

[Rural King 1]

APSU and MSU both have good basketball programs. I can't speak for APSU, but when MSU makes the NCAA or NIT tournament its always a big deal in Western KY and portions of NWTN. MSU has a very solid fan base, which seems much geographically stronger than that attached to UTM - but I attest that to MSU's better sports programs.

Is MSU considered APSU's biggest rival in basketball? Or does that distinciton fall to another team?

[sleepy 1]

Memphis has dropped to No. 2 in the RPI, a couple hundredths of a point behind UNC. Guess because Memphis didn't beat Marshall by 50 points.

Good news is UT has gone up to No. 3.

Circle your calendars Tennesseans, February 23rd, UT @ UM, on ESPN Gameday.

The Beale Street Beatdown.

[miami1855 5]

Is MSU considered APSU's biggest rival in basketball? Or does that distinciton fall to another team?

[nashvol85 0]

Tigers will stomp them, I tell you, stomp them!

All right, you all get football--most years--but ain't nothing compared to Tigers basketball dominance! Not just the state, but the region, and the nation!

[sleepy 1]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/boxscore?gameId=263402633

I think the halftime score was Memphis 22, Chris Lofton 21...hehe

This year's game will be better, though, because Memphis will get the home refs this time.

[nashvol85 0]

Memphis is no. one now in both polls, with UT at 3 and 5.

UT should coast through the rest of the SEC schedule. I know Vandy is good, but I don't really know how good.

UM should likewise coast through the CUSA schedule (an understatement). Only big game up before the Vols is Gonzaga in Memphis. So both teams should easily still be in the top 5 by the time they meet.

The UT-UM game in Memphis will also be ESPN's game day feature. Should be a good one.

[Memphis Love 0]

Great news that Memphis is now #1, hope this doesn't put too much pressure on the guys to perform!

[sleepy 1]

Great news that Memphis is now #1, hope this doesn't put too much pressure on the guys to perform!

[TchulahomaKid38118 0]

I checked out the seat availabilities for the Feb 23. Tigers and Vols game and I found only two nose bleed sections starting @ ( are you ready?) $230!

Talk about lucrative

[miami1855 5]

The Vols will move up to #3 after Duke's loss last night. It would be killer to be a 1 vs. 2 game.

Also, Austin Peay (18-9 overall, 14-3 conference) just wrapped up their second straight OVC regular season title. This ensures them a spot in the NIT if they don't win the conference tourney. But, a big dance ticket would be nice for the Peay.

[sleepy 1]

Game on!

Tennessee v. Memphis, no. 2 v. no. 1, Saturday, ESPN Gameday, 10 AM CST, FedEx Forum, Memphis.

Anyone going to the game? The Forum ought to be rockin'!

CUSA is 3-0 against the SEC this year.

Go Tigers!

[Rural King 1]

^ I'll be downtown on Beale tomorrow night by a fluke coincidence, but alas no tickets. I am sure plenty of places on Beale will have the gam on though...if we can get in one. LOL I will report back Tuesday.

[Hankster 6]

It was reported earlier this week in the Chattanooga paper that this will only be the fifth time in the history of college basketball of a No. 1 vs a No. 2 matchup between two teams from the same state. This is an extremely rare event, indeed.

The first two times it happened were way back in 1961 and 1962. The games were Ohio St. vs Cincinnati in the NCAA championship game. Cincinnati won both of the games. The other two times it happened were the 1990's and were games between North Carolina and Duke.

[Rural King 1]

It was a fun night on Beale with lots of excitement and city/school pride visible all over the city and downtown. Alas Memphis lost, but we lost to a good team from our own state at least! According to what I saw on ESPN on Sunday morning the game's outcome was in line with past #1 vs. #2 match ups, with the #2 team winning most of the time. It was a very good game and probably will go down as a classic match-up referenced from time to time in years to come.

It was a bummer for the undefeated streak to end, but at least UofM lost to a great rival from our own state. I think it was a lot easier to lose to UTK than UK, Duke, IU, etc. IMO.

[miami1855 5]

Two TN schools in the tourney so far....Austin Peay and Belmont. Then, you are looking at least 3 more automatic bids in Tennessee, Memphis and Vandy.