Dain Dainja, PJ Haggerty power Memphis basketball to AAC tournament title game. 3 gut reactions
FORT WORTH, Texas — Memphis basketball star Dain Dainja barreled his way toward the basket and put up a shot.
Standing in his way was Tulane’s Percy Daniels, whose defense sent the Tigers’ big man falling to the floor inside Dickies Arena Saturday.
The shot fell and the referee’s whistle blew. Dainja reclined on the floor, stuck his tongue out and flexed his muscles toward the rafters. He knocked down the subsequent free throw as Daniels (who fouled out on the play) found his seat on the Green Wave bench.
It was that kind of day for Dainja, who – like his teammate and fellow all-AAC first-teamer PJ Haggerty did the day before – carried Memphis (28-5) to a 78-77 win over Tulane (19-14) to advance to the AAC tournament championship. Dainja finished with 23 points and 11 rebounds. Haggerty came on strong late, scoring 14 of his 18 points in the second half − 12 of them coming via free throw (eight of which came in the final 40 seconds).
The 17th-ranked and top-seeded Tigers will face the North Texas-UAB winner Sunday (2:15 p.m., ESPN).
As big as Dainja’s performance was, it was a pair of defensive plays by Moussa Cisse and Haggerty that sealed the win. Cisse blocked a Rowan Brumbaugh shot with 26.5 seconds left. Had it gone down, it would’ve given the Green Wave a 1-point lead. Then, Haggerty poked the ball loose enough to wrestle possession away from Brumbaugh on the ensuing inbounds play. He called timeout, then got fouled and hit both free throws to put the Tigers up 74-71 with 16 seconds to play.
Cisse also notched a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds to go along with two blocks.
Here are three gut reactions from the win over Tulane.
Dain Dainja is Penny Hardaway’s most important player
Haggerty is the superstar. Tyrese Hunter is the tried-and-true leader. Colby Rogers is the X-factor, and Moussa Cisse and PJ Carter are the invaluable depth pieces.
But Dainja is the most important Tiger there is this season.
The unanimous first-team all-conference selection and the AAC’s Newcomer of the Year is the key that unlocks the highest reaches of Memphis’ destiny. Without Dainja – or, without him at his most effective – the team is still capable of big things. With him, though, the ceiling elevates – multiple levels, potentially.
He was never questionable to play against Tulane, but there were doubts that he would be 100%, considering his right shoulder got “a little banged up” during Friday’s win over Wichita State.
The way he played in the first half against Tulane quelled those concerns, pretty definitively. Like he has for much of the past two months, Dainja dominated early on: 13 points, five rebounds, two steals.
Dainja is a safety valve. A one-man slump buster. A run stopper.
Dainja is a game changer.
Does Memphis basketball have a 3-point shooting problem?
Much to even the most ardent Tiger fans’ pleasant surprise, Memphis was one of the better 3-point shooting teams in the country all season.
Having spent most of the past four months slotted somewhere in the top five in the country, things have dipped on that front lately.
In six of its last seven games – including Saturday’s win over Tulane – the Tigers have made five or fewer triples.
Memphis’ shot-making ability was a big part of the team’s success this season.
Health the only thing that can stop these Tigers
First, backup guard Dante Harris sprained his left ankle during the next-to-last game of the regular season.
Then, Dainja’s right shoulder became an issue to monitor moving forward.
Now, Hunter’s left foot is a problem – and, potentially, a big one, depending on the severity of the injury.
Memphis has the talent to play with anyone in the country. The question is, can the Tigers hold up?
Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com, follow him @munzly on X, and sign up for the Memphis Basketball Insider text group.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Dain Dainja powers Memphis basketball to AAC tournament title game
Topics
-
PJ Haggerty's 40-burger, Dain Dainja's shoulder and setting up the Tulane game
PJ Haggerty went off Friday at the AAC tournament, Dain Dainja "got a little banged up" and Memphis basketball gets Tulane in the semifinals.Yahoo Sports - 18h -
What channel is Memphis basketball vs Tulane on today? Time, TV schedule to watch AAC Tournament game
What channel is the Memphis basketball vs Tulane AAC Tournament game on today? Here's how to watch, including time, TV schedule, live streaming info and game odds.Yahoo Sports - 23h -
PJ Haggerty finishes strong for No. 16 Memphis in 78-77 win over Tulane in AAC tourney semis
Haggerty, the AAC player of the year, put the Tigers (28-5) ahead to stay with two free throws that made it 72-71 with 40 seconds left. He finished with 18 points.Yahoo Sports - 9h -
PJ Haggerty scores career-high 42 points for No. 16 Memphis in 83-80 win over Wichita State
PJ Haggerty scored a career-high 42 points and led the go-ahead run for 16th-ranked Memphis in an 83-80 win over Wichita State in a quarterfinal game at the American Athletic Conference tournament ...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Memphis vs. Wichita State odds, prediction, time: 2025 AAC Tournament picks, March 14 bets by proven model
SportsLine's model simulated Memphis Tigers vs. Wichita State Shockers in the 2025 AAC Tournament quarterfinals on Friday 10,000 timesCBS Sports - 1d -
Louisville basketball edges Clemson in ACC Tournament, reaches championship game
Pat Kelsey’s No. 2-seeded Cardinals advanced to Saturday’s title game, where they will face No. 1 Duke, by notching a win over No. 3 Clemson on FridayYahoo Sports - 1d -
PJ Haggerty scores 42 for Memphis after coach Penny Hardaway told standout guard he had to produce
Memphis coach Penny Hardaway was speaking from experience with his message to standout guard PJ Haggerty before the start of the American Athletic Conference Tournament. "When you’re the man and ...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Lendeborg's double-double helps UAB advance to AAC title game with 66-56 win over North Texas
Yaxel Lendeborg scored 23 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead No. 3 seed UAB to a 66-56 victory over No. 2 seed North Texas in an American Athletic Conference Tournament semifinalABC News - 4h -
Tennessee advances to SEC Tournament title game after Auburn win
Tennessee beats Auburn to advance to the SEC Tournament championship game on Sunday.Yahoo Sports - 12h
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Arsenal feared losing Ethan Nwaneri to Chelsea – now he has eyes on Owen and Rooney records
This time two years ago, all seemed well at Arsenal. Mikel Arteta’s team were the best in the land, five points clear at the top of the table and in the midst of a seven-match winning run in the ...Yahoo Sports - 16m -
Technology provides benefits for West Virginia football
Technology has come a long way in the game of football and Rich Rodriguez believes that it certainly has a place.Yahoo Sports - 19m -
Commanders bring back former No. 4 overall pick for 2025
The Washington Commanders are bringing back defensive end Clelin Ferrell for next season.Yahoo Sports - 20m -
LIVE UPDATES: Bishop Stang vs. Hingham girls hockey MIAA state championship
Bishop Stang girls hockey will play Hingham on Sunday in the MIAA Division 1 state championship. Stick here for updates.Yahoo Sports - 20m -
Huge mock draft update after 1st wave of free agency
Where does Shedeur Sanders land in our new mock draft update?Yahoo Sports - 20m
More in Sports
-
Arsenal feared losing Ethan Nwaneri to Chelsea – now he has eyes on Owen and Rooney records
This time two years ago, all seemed well at Arsenal. Mikel Arteta’s team were the best in the land, five points clear at the top of the table and in the midst of a seven-match winning run in the ...Yahoo Sports - 16m -
Technology provides benefits for West Virginia football
Technology has come a long way in the game of football and Rich Rodriguez believes that it certainly has a place.Yahoo Sports - 19m -
Commanders bring back former No. 4 overall pick for 2025
The Washington Commanders are bringing back defensive end Clelin Ferrell for next season.Yahoo Sports - 20m -
LIVE UPDATES: Bishop Stang vs. Hingham girls hockey MIAA state championship
Bishop Stang girls hockey will play Hingham on Sunday in the MIAA Division 1 state championship. Stick here for updates.Yahoo Sports - 20m -
Huge mock draft update after 1st wave of free agency
Where does Shedeur Sanders land in our new mock draft update?Yahoo Sports - 20m