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Bracketology 2021: Georgia Tech, Memphis among week’s biggest losers

By Tristan Freeman

Josh Pastner, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. (Photo by Andy Mead/ISI Photos/Getty Images).
Josh Pastner, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. (Photo by Andy Mead/ISI Photos/Getty Images). /
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Bracketology Anfernee Hardaway Memphis Tigers (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Memphis Tigers

After a great opening round win over Saint Mary’s, the Tigers ended up dropping their next two, to VCU and Western Kentucky. Neither of those are bad losses at all but the reason why Memphis is a “loser” is due to the overall circumstance.

The Tigers have just six non-conference matchups this season and just three more before AAC. Those opponents are Arkansas State, Mississippi Valley State, and Auburn. Of the three, Auburn clearly stands out but with the likelihood of star freshman guard Sharife Cooper not being declared eligible by the NCAA for this season, that game doesn’t look as strong for Memphis’s resume.

If the Tigers aren’t going to get a major win in the non-conference, they’ll have to get them in league play. Right now though, the Houston Cougars are the lone ranked team from the AAC, and one of a few others that are even playing.

Programs such as Cincinnati, Wichita State, and Temple have yet to even play this season due to Covid-related issues, while no one from the league overall having yet to notch an elite non-conference victory. Houston looks to break that when they face Texas Tech on Sunday.

With fewer opportunities, Memphis could be in for a tough season in terms of Bracketology. It’s unfair to doom a program to the bubble after just a few days but looking at the AAC, it’s hard to see how they’ll get more than three bids making the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers should be one of them but their margin of error is now lower going forward.

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