Memphis basketball moves up in AP Top 25 after dominating UAB

Memphis basketball is in the Associated Press (AP) Top 25 for the fifth consecutive week

The Tigers (16-4, 6-1 AAC) are up to No. 19 in Monday’s updated poll after being No. 24 a week ago. Their five-spot jump matches No. 15 St. John’s as the biggest this week. They won two home games over Wichita State last Thursday and UAB on Sunday.

Penny Hardaway’s club dominated the American Athletic Conference (AAC) preseason favorite Blazers in essentially every aspect, clinching a 100-77 victory. Memphis shot 62% from the field and 53% from 3-point range while scoring 54 points in the paint and 32 points off 16 forced turnovers. It also outrebounded UAB 37-33 and led wire-to-wire by as many as 24 points. The Blazers ranked No. 9 in the country in offensive rebounding and No. 10 in total rebounding before tipoff.

Dain Dainja, who started for the first time since Nov. 15, starred with 21 points (10-of-12 shooting), 8 rebounds, a block and a steal in just 25 minutes before fouling out at the 6:21 mark in the second half. He even scored 10 consecutive Memphis points over a three-minute span in the first half. Hardaway told reporters postgame that the 6-foot-9 center will keep starting moving forward.

Dainja’s performance set the tone for nearly every other Tiger too. PJ Haggerty totaled a game-high 23 points and tied his career-high with 9 assists. He also notched 6 rebounds and 3 steals. PJ Carter scored 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting off the bench. Colby Rogers bounced back from his recent struggles with 12 points (4-for-7 shooting), 3 rebounds and 3 steals. Nick Jourdain notched 11 points (4-for-7 shooting), 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 blocks. Cisse and Tyrese Hunter both added 9 points. Cisse additionally grabbed 8 rebounds, while Hunter distributed 4 assists.

Hardaway, however, knows one blowout win won’t make up for four single-digit victories against lowly AAC competition this month. It sure doesn’t in advanced computer metrics, where the Tigers are still far lower than their AP rank. They currently sit at No. 41 in the NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) despite having nine combined wins in Quads 1 and 2. They’re also No. 42 in KenPom and No. 46 in Bart Torvik.

That’s partially why Hardaway’s voice was still hoarse after Sunday’s 23-point demolition.

“I’m gonna keeping pushing and driving the needle for perfection,” he said.

Other human polls are still very kind to Memphis. CBS Sports personality and Grind City Media host Gary Parrish ranks the Tigers No. 15 in his Top 25 and 1. NCAA correspondent Andy Katz slots them at No. 13 in his Power 37. They’re No. 18 in CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein’s top 45.

Memphis visits Tulane on Thursday (8 p.m., ESPN2).