March 3, 2001

The University of Memphis (16-13, 10-6) will open play in the 2001 OCG Conference USA Tournament Thursday in Louisville's Freedom Hall against the winner of Wednesday's first-round game between Marquette and Tulane.

Tip-off for Memphis's quarterfinal game Thursday is slated for 9:30 p.m. Eastern Time (8:30 p.m. Central).

The Tigers head into the C-USA Tournament as the No. 4 seed.

For the sixth straight year, Cincinnati (21-8, 11-5) clinched at least a share of the Conference USA regular season title and the No. 1 seed at the tournament to be held Wednesday through Saturday in Louisville, Ky. The Bearcats share the regular-season title with Southern Miss (21-7, 11-5). The Bearcats earned the tournament's top seed by virtue of a 64-52 victory over USM in Hattiesburg Feb. 10.

The tournament opens Wednesday with No. 6 South Florida (17-12, 9-7) taking on No. 11 DePaul (12-17, 4-12) at 1 p.m. Eastern Time. No. 7 Saint Louis (16-13, 8-8), the defending tournament champion, takes on No. 10 Houston (9-19, 6-10) at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday. No. 9 Louisville (12-18, 8-8) takes on UAB at 7 p.m. No. 5 Marquette (14-13, 9-7) faces No. 12 Tulane (9-20, 2-14) at 9:30 p.m.

In addition to Cincinnati, Southern Miss and Memphis, Charlotte (18-10, 9-6) receives a first-round bye as the No. 3 seed.

Memphis would play Friday at 8 p.m. Eastern Time in the second of two semifinals if it defeats the Marquette-Tulane winner. The championship game is slated for 12 p.m. Eastern Time Saturday.