Charlotte has fired head football coach Biff Poggi after less than two seasons, following a 6-16 record and a recent 59-24 loss to South Florida. Tim Brewster will serve as interim coach for the remainder of the season. Poggi, who previously worked under Jim Harbaugh at Michigan, is the fifth AAC coach to be dismissed this year. Charlotte, which joined the AAC after moving from Conference USA, has struggled with only one winning season since its football program was revived in 2013.
Memphis basketball secured a decisive 82-58 victory over East Carolina, extending their winning streak to three games and moving within a half-game of a three-way tie for fourth place in the AAC standings. Nae'Qwan Tomlin led the Tigers in scoring with 20 points, while David Jones contributed 18. Observations from the game highlighted Jones' consistent performance, Jahvon Quinerly's control as point guard, strong post play from Tomlin and Jourdain, a productive yet sloppy first half, and a stout defensive effort from Memphis.
Memphis basketball senior Malcolm Dandridge has been sidelined indefinitely due to potential academic misconduct, with the university investigating the issue and withholding him from competition. Dandridge, a key player for coach Penny Hardaway's team, is averaging 8.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game this season. The program is already under probation for violations related to former star James Wiseman's eligibility, and Hardaway himself was suspended for a recruiting violation.
Memphis basketball secured a resounding 76-52 victory over Charlotte, showcasing resilience and determination despite recent struggles. David Jones exited early due to a left eye injury, but Nae'Qwan Tomlin and Jahvon Quinerly stepped up offensively. The Tigers effectively slowed Charlotte's momentum and dominated the boards, addressing previous concerns. With a shortened rotation due to injuries, Memphis displayed a strong team effort, providing a much-needed boost as they head into the final stretch of the regular season.
The Memphis Tigers face off against the SMU Mustangs in an AAC matchup. Memphis looks to bounce back after a road loss to North Texas, while SMU aims for their sixth straight win. Memphis holds a 19-14 advantage in the all-time series but lost the last four meetings. Memphis is led by David Jones, averaging 21.6 points per game, while SMU's Zhuric Phelps leads his team with 14.6 points per game. The prediction favors SMU with a -4.5 point spread and suggests the game will fall short of the total at 155.5 points.
FAU Owls will face South Florida Bulls in an AAC game, with both teams having impressive records. South Florida has a strong defense but struggles with shooting, while FAU is a high-scoring team with defensive issues. The game is expected to be high-scoring, and the prediction leans towards taking the over.
Tulane Green Wave faces off against the Memphis Tigers in an American Athletic Conference showdown, with both teams vying for positioning in the conference standings. Tulane showcases offensive prowess but struggles defensively, while Memphis boasts a balanced offensive and defensive strategy. A betting expert predicts Memphis as the confident pick with a -8.5 spread, and the game's total points pick leans towards the Over due to both teams' offensive strengths and fast-paced style of play.
The Memphis basketball team's losing streak extends to four games after a 74-71 defeat to Rice, despite a strong performance at the free throw line and balanced scoring. Turnovers and poor 3-point shooting contributed to the loss, prompting a shakeup in the starting lineup as the team looks to rebound against Wichita State.
Memphis basketball coach Penny Hardaway is making changes to the starting lineup for the game against Rice, benching point guard Jahvon Quinerly and giving Nae'Qwan Tomlin and Jonathan Pierre their first starts. Hardaway expressed the need for players to defend and rebound, hinting at potential lineup changes after the team's recent struggles. Quinerly, the team's second-leading scorer, has had ball security issues, while Tomlin and Pierre bring size and potential to the lineup.
Memphis basketball suffered a close 81-79 loss to Tulane, marking their third consecutive loss at Devlin Fieldhouse. Despite a strong performance from David Jones with 32 points, turnovers plagued the Tigers, with Jahvon Quinerly tallying six. Malcolm Dandridge's return and impressive performance with 13 points and eight blocks provided a bright spot, but defensive struggles and a free throw discrepancy contributed to the loss. Additionally, Jaykwon Walton's injury further impacted the team's performance.
The No. 15 Memphis basketball team secured their seventh consecutive win with a narrow 78-75 victory over Tulsa, thanks to a last-second three-pointer by Jahvon Quinerly. Nae'Qwan Tomlin and David Jones led the scoring for Memphis with 17 points each, while PJ Haggerty scored 27 for Tulsa. The game also saw a concerning injury to Memphis guard Caleb Mills and a strong second-half comeback attempt by Tulsa, highlighted by Carlous Williams' three-point shooting.
SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings overcame an early fumble to lead his team to a 26-14 victory over Tulane in the American Athletic Conference (AAC) title game. Jennings threw a touchdown pass and accounted for 266 yards from scrimmage, while the SMU defense dominated, holding Tulane to just one touchdown and 31 yards rushing. The win secured SMU's first conference title since 1984, and they will move to the ACC next season. Tulane's loss likely ends their chances of returning to a major New Year's Day bowl game.
The American Athletic Conference (AAC) is reportedly targeting Army as its top choice for expansion, following SMU's departure to join the ACC. AAC Commissioner Mike Aresco has engaged with Army's athletic director about potential membership, with the addition of Army being for football only, similar to Navy's arrangement with the conference. While no decision is imminent, Army would fill the spot left by SMU, making them the 14th team in the AAC. Other schools were discussed but did not gain significant traction, and only Army has received outreach from the AAC. Army's independence as a football program would simplify the process of joining the conference, and it is important to them to maintain the traditional Army-Navy game on the same date.
San Diego State's attempt to create a new conference with Pac-12, Mountain West, and AAC members in order to obtain "Power Five" designation has failed. The initiative, led by SDSU president Adela de la Torre, aimed to assemble the best schools from the Mountain West and American conferences along with some Pac-12 leftovers. However, the idea was rejected by Mountain West presidents, leading to the collapse of the breakaway attempt. This development could potentially pave the way for Oregon State and Washington State to join the Mountain West. The fate of Cal and Stanford in the ACC will also impact the next round of realignment.
The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and the American Athletic Conference (AAC) are both exploring the possibility of adding Pac-12 schools, including California and Stanford. The Pac-12 lost five members last week, leading to speculation about the conference's future. The Mountain West Conference (MWC) is also considering adding Pac-12 schools. While the ACC seems like a strange option geographically, it could help the conference expand its revenue and footprint. Cal and Stanford do not appear to have other Power Five options at the moment.
