March 16, 2008

• Memphis' NCAA Tournament Central

Well, it's something Tiger Nation has been waiting for the entire season, and it was confirmed Sunday with the NCAA Tournament Selection show. Memphis is the South Region No. 1 seed and opens NCAA Tournament play against UT Arlington in North Little Rock, Ark., Friday, March 21.

CBS Sports will announce Friday's game time by Monday evening. The first and second rounds are scheduled for Little Rock's Alltel Arena. If the Tigers win their first-round game Friday, they would play a second-round game on Sunday. Game time for Sunday's contest will be announced late Friday after the first round is completed.

This is the second time in three seasons that the Tigers earned a No. 1 seed. Memphis was the Oakland Region No. 1 seed in 2006. Last year, the Tigers were the South Region's No. 2 seed. The 2005-06 and 2006-07 Memphis teams advanced to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight.

Memphis, ranked No. 2 in the Associated Press poll and No. 3 in the ESPN/USA Today coaches poll, is 33-1 overall entering the NCAA Tournament. The 33 victories tied the school record for most wins in a single season. The Tigers are also the only squad in NCAA Division I history to enter the NCAA Tournament with 30 or more wins three-straight years.

This is Memphis' 21st overall NCAA Tournament appearance. The Tigers have a 25-20 record in NCAA Tournament play. In its history, Memphis has made two Final Four appearances (1973, 1985), five Elite Eights and nine Sweet Sixteens.