#1 Memphis vs. #2 Tennessee? It's on.

Move over, Kentucky. Out of the way, North Carolina. The center of the college-basketball world is the state of Tennessee.

Thanks to losses last week by #2 Duke and #3 Kansas, the Tennessee Volunteers have climbed to #2 in the polls this week, just in time for their Saturday showdown with in-state foe Memphis, the nation's #1-ranked and only undefeated team. The Jay Johnson Invitational is now also the Game. Of. The. Year.

The Tigers and Vols each have one tune-up remaining before the big game: on Wednesday night, Memphis visits 15-9 Tulane and Tennessee hosts 13-10 Auburn. Both with be heavily favored, of course, but even if they lose, it'll still technically be a #1 vs. #2 game on Saturday, since the new polls don't come out until Monday.

Memphis-Tennessee actually almost happened in last year's Elite Eight. If the Vols hadn't blown an 8,000-point lead (okay, that may be a slight exaggeration, but they were way ahead) against Ohio State in the Sweet Sixteen, the South Regional Final would have been an all-Tennessee affair, with a trip to the Final Four on the line. Alas, that wasn't to be. But hey, a regular-season #1 vs. #2 showdown is a pretty good consolation prize.

Anyway, it should be a hell of a game, and I'm looking forward to watching it. Jay will be rooting for the Tigers, his undergrad alma mater, over the Vols, his law-school alma mater. I definitely know what that's like. :) Personally, though, given that I have no allegiance to Memphis, I think I'll stick with the local boys, and root for the East Tennessee team over the West Tennessee team. Go Vols!

Comments

[CORNHUSKERS 94 95 & 97]

The only thing interesting about UT basketball is Pat Summitt and Candace Parker.