Tulane University men’s basketball team will open the 2026 American Conference Championship against Memphis in the first round at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama, on March 11. The Green Wave, seeded ninth, will compete against the eighth-seeded Tigers for a chance to advance to the second round and play Charlotte on March 12.
The matchup is significant as it marks the third meeting between Tulane and Memphis this season and their 82nd all-time contest. Tulane trails Memphis in the series history but managed to split their regular season games this year, with each team winning on the road. The Green Wave has yet to secure a win over Memphis at a neutral site.
The game is scheduled for a 6 p.m. tipoff and will be broadcast on ESPNEWS. Fans can also listen live via the Tulane Sports Network from Learfield or stream through various digital platforms. In their most recent encounter, Tulane lost to Memphis in overtime by one point after overcoming a nine-point deficit late in regulation.
Rowan Brumbaugh led Tulane with 31 points in that game, while Asher Woods added 21 points. Both players received postseason honors from the American Conference: Brumbaugh was named to the All-Conference Second Team, and Woods earned the Amir Abdur-Rahim Sportsmanship Award.
Memphis enters the tournament with a record of 13-18 overall and an 8-10 mark in conference play. The Tigers lead the league defensively in three-point percentage defense and are second in field goal percentage defense. Offensively, they average over 32 bench points per game, ranking among national leaders.
If Tulane wins against Memphis, they will move on to face Charlotte in the second round of the tournament.
