Ayrton Oneill
The Memphis Tigers are the athletic teams that represent the University of Memphis, Tennessee. The Tigers compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level as a member of the American Athletic Conference. The Memphis Tigers men's basketball team first gained national prominence when it reached the 1973 NCAA Division I Basketball Championship game. The women's basketball team competes in the same conference and plays home games at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the Basketball Team | Memphis Tigers |
| University | University of Memphis |
| Location | Memphis, Tennessee |
| Conference | American Athletic Conference |
| Previous Conference | Conference USA |
| Rivals | Louisville, Cincinnati, Ole Miss, UAB, University of Southern Mississippi, University of Tennessee |
| Home Stadium | FedExForum |
| Previous Success | NCAA Division I basketball championship game in 1973, Final Four in 1985, Elite Eight 2006-2008, Conference championship 2007-2008 |
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What You'll Learn
The Memphis Tigers basketball team
In 1924, Zach Curlin began coaching the team, and four years later, they joined the Mississippi Valley Conference. The Tigers played their early home games in various venues, including a local high school gym, a YMCA, and a cramped room on campus nicknamed the "Normal Cage." In 1929, they moved into their first proper home, a $100,000 facility on campus named Memorial Gym.
The school's name changed to Memphis State College in 1948 and then to Memphis State University in 1957. During this time, the Tigers continued to build their basketball program, with John Wallesea becoming the first Memphis State player to be drafted by the NBA in 1952. In 1964, the Tigers started playing their home games at the Mid-South Coliseum, and in 1966, Moe Iba became the team's coach, joining the Missouri Valley Conference the same year.
However, Iba's tenure is considered a low point for Memphis Tigers basketball, with the team suffering multiple losing seasons. In 1970, Gene Bartow took over as head coach, and the same year saw the emergence of two all-time greats, Larry Finch and Ronnie Robinson. The Tigers went on to upset conference rival Louisville in 1971, achieving a ranking of #19.
The Memphis Tigers continued to make their mark on the basketball world in the following decades. In 1990, Finch recruited highly-rated high school player Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway, who led the team to the 1992 NCAA tournament. The Tigers also moved to the Great Midwest Conference in 1991 and started playing their home games at the Pyramid Arena. In 1994, the school changed its name to the University of Memphis, and the following year, they joined Conference USA as a founding member alongside rivals Louisville and Cincinnati.
The University of Memphis Tigers men's basketball team continues to be a prominent force in college basketball, with a rich history and a passionate following.
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The Tigers' conference history
The Memphis Tigers are the athletic teams that represent the University of Memphis, Tennessee. The teams compete at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level. The Memphis Tigers men's basketball program first gained national prominence when it reached the 1973 NCAA Division I Basketball Championship game. The Tigers continued an era of excellence throughout the 1980s and went to the Final Four in 1985. Their success continued through the 1990s and into the 2000s, with the team reaching the Elite Eight three years in a row (2006–2008) and winning the conference championship each year, going undefeated in conference play in 2007 and 2008.
The Tigers' soccer team has also had its share of success, winning the Conference USA championship in 2004. In 2013, the Tigers' soccer team and all of the university's athletics moved to the new American Athletic Conference. The Memphis Tigers women's basketball team also competes in the American Athletic Conference. They previously competed in Conference USA, in which they won two conference tournament championships.
The Tigers have a rich history of success in various sports, particularly men's basketball, and continue to be a competitive force in their new conference. The football team, in particular, has been ranked near the top of the American Conference in preseason power rankings for 2025. The Tigers have a talented roster, but only two full-time starters returned from the previous season's team.
The Tigers' football program first began in 1912, when the team was known as the Blue and Gray Warriors. The nickname "Tigers" was born after a student parade following the final game of the 1914 season, when students shouted, "We fight like Tigers!".
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1973 NCAA Division I basketball championship game
The Memphis Tigers are a college basketball team that competes in the American Athletic Conference (AAC).
In the 1973 NCAA University Division basketball tournament, Memphis State (as they were then known) reached the championship game, facing UCLA. The game was held on Monday, March 26, 1973, at St. Louis Arena in St. Louis, Missouri, and was the 35th annual edition of the tournament. UCLA, led by longtime head coach John Wooden, won their seventh consecutive national title with an 87–66 victory over Memphis State, coached by Gene Bartow—who would later coach UCLA himself.
The UCLA-Memphis State matchup was a historic encounter, with several remarkable individual and team achievements. Bill Walton of UCLA, a junior center, delivered a stellar performance, setting a championship game record by scoring 44 points on 21-of-22 shooting. This exceptional display earned him the title of the tournament's Most Outstanding Player for the second consecutive year. The victory secured UCLA's seventh straight NCAA national championship, a remarkable dynasty in college basketball.
For Memphis State, their journey to the championship game was also noteworthy. Reaching the national semifinals for the first time in program history, they defeated Providence in the Final Four before falling to UCLA in the final. The 1973 tournament marked the final appearance of the Oklahoma City Chiefs, who hold the distinction of having the most tournament appearances (11) among teams no longer competing in Division I.
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The American Athletic Conference
The Memphis Tigers are part of the American Athletic Conference, also known as "The American". The conference was renamed from the "America 12" conference on April 3, 2013, to avoid confusion with the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). The American Athletic Conference was formed following the departure of the Catholic 7 universities, with the remaining football-playing members selecting a new name and site for their basketball tournament.
The conference has seen some changes in its membership over the years. Louisville and Rutgers spent a single season in the newly renamed conference before leaving for other conferences in 2014. In 2019, UConn announced its departure from the American Athletic Conference for the Big East Conference, citing issues with the league's television deal. The conference considered bringing in two new schools to replace UConn, one for football and one for non-football sports.
In 2022, it was announced that three more schools would be leaving The American for the Big 12 Conference: Cincinnati, Houston, and UCF. This led to a discussion of the possibility of Cincinnati and UCF remaining in the conference as affiliate members for women's lacrosse and men's soccer, respectively, as these sports are not sponsored by the Big 12. However, UCF ultimately accepted an offer from the Sun Belt Conference for men's soccer, aligning with West Virginia's program.
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The University of Memphis
Prior to the establishment of the West Tennessee State Normal School in 1912, the University of Memphis already existed in name through a collection of higher education departments, including pharmacy, dentistry, and law. Over time, the West Tennessee State Normal School took over these departments, and the institution underwent several name changes, reflecting its expanding academic offerings and evolving status.
In 1925, the name changed to West Tennessee State Teachers College, and in 1941, it became Memphis State College as it expanded its liberal arts curriculum. The institution continued to grow and achieve new milestones, awarding its first B.A. in 1951 and its first doctoral degrees in 1966.
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Frequently asked questions
The Memphis Tigers basketball team plays in the American Athletic Conference.
The University of Memphis has teams in multiple sports, including football, basketball, and soccer.
The Memphis Tigers men's basketball team first gained national prominence in 1973 when they reached the NCAA Division I basketball championship game.
The Memphis Tigers have several rivals, including Louisville, Cincinnati, Ole Miss, UAB, the University of Southern Mississippi, and the in-state rival University of Tennessee.
The Memphis Tigers men's basketball team plays its home games at the FedExForum, while the women's team plays at Elma Roane Fieldhouse.
