The Tigers swept the regular-season series but they haven't exactly been dominant in this tournament, and they won't have senior guard Tyrese Hunter. Yaxel Lendeborg continues to shoot up NBA Draft boards, and he's eager to make amends for a pair of subpar performances versus Memphis. Back Andy Kennedy's team to at least take this to the wire, if not win outright.

Ugh, brutal loss by the hook on Cornell but that's why I said I so badly wanted 6.5 late last night instead of 5.5 this morning. Ah well, we only played a half unit like we will here. Memphis is in the NCAA Tournament no matter what happens today in the AAC title game, but UAB's only shot is to win it and Coach Andy Kennedy flat-out said his team will play "with a real sense of desperation." It appears starting Tigers point guard Tyrese Hunter (13.7 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 3.6 APG) is out injured.

Rare indeed for Greg Sankey, among others, to be cheering for Memphis today, but at-large candidates around the country are doing the same as the bubble shrinks by one if UAB can take out the Tigers in the American finale at Fort Worth. Memphis stayed in character on Saturday, barely edging out Tulane 78-7, now 3 spread Ls the last 18 as chalk for the Tigers, who also cut it very close on Friday vs. Wichita State. Though Memphis did take out UAB in both prior meetings, scoring 94 ppg in the process. UAB looks dangerous, however, seeing off gnarly UNT on Saturday, and PF Yaxel Lendeborg (17.5 ppg, 10.8 rpg) remains a prime double-double threat. Play UAB (American at Fort Worth)

Memphis' Tyrese Hunter left Saturday's game early --and left the arena in a walking boot. With injured Dante Harris idle since March 4, the Tigers could be down to their third point guard for the AAC finals. That would make this lofty total seemingly beyond reach. The Tigers allowed a respectable 71 ppg in AAC outings, so they are no slouches defensively. UAB plowed through a 122-point game in the semis. These teams engaged in two high-scoring affairs during the regular season. A correction seems likely, especially with the Blazers needing a win to slip into the NCAA Tournament.