Things must be real good at the University of Memphis when fans are bored with a 10-point win. That was the sentiment from many last night after the Tigers beat UTEP, 66-56.

Regardless of what you think of the Miners, until last night they were solidly in second place in Conference USA, winning 10 of their last 11 games. Coach Doc Sadler had spent the week rallying his troops by preaching how his team was getting no respect. Memphis was always expected to be the best in CUSA, then Houston or UAB would grab second. Where's UTEP? You heard an audio cut from Sadler on last night's pregame show stating the Miners were being ignored by the media.

UTEP even took the nostalgic route by breaking out throwback jerseys commemorating the 1966 Western Texas team, the team featured in the movie "Glory Road."

Look, folks, a win is a win is a win. Memphis is 25-2 & either no. 3 or no. 4, depending on the poll you keep an eye on. Sure, Memphis can't go far in postseason playing like they did last night. Then again, things change when March rolls around. This team & coaching staff is smart enough to realize some of the things they have gotten away with in conference play will give them an early exit in the NCAA tournament. The basketball IQ of this squad is one of the best I have seen in awhile.

Don't worry about the Tigers sleepwalking through the rest of the regular season. I am not sure what Tulsa will offer when the teams meet this Saturday for a second time this season; however, Houston, then especially UAB on the road should offer the tests Memphis will need before entering postseason.

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So Stephen Ames makes a joke about Tiger Woods Monday, then Tiger tears the guy apart at the Accenture Match Play Championship, winning every hole on the front nine – seven of them with birdies – and eliminating Ames as early as mathematically possible. Wow.

Ames was an underdog from the start. He was asked what he thought his chances were against the no. 1 player in the world. "Anything can happen," he said with a teethy grin. "Especially where he's hitting the ball."

Uh oh. He might as well said Tiger's mom still dresses him funny, too.

When asked if Ames' comments motivated him, Tiger simply replied, "Yes."

No word yet if Tiger is asking the media to interview Ames or any other loose-lipped wannabe before each Major this season.

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On the same day his state newspaper reports his job may be in jeopardy, coach Rod Barnes' Rebels are smoked by Kentucky, 80-40. Timing is everything, even if it is bad timing.

In some circles, Barnes is already gone. Sure, he's still physically present but the search is on for his replacement. The common concern I hear is if the University of Mississippi makes this move, they must do it swiftly & have their next guy ready to step in. Just call it lessons learned after firing football coach David Cutcliffe in 2004 & the weeks it took to hire someone before selecting Ed Orgeron.

On the list of replacements is UAB's Mike Anderson & Elston Turner, a former Rebel from the early 80s who played in the NBA & now is an assistant with the Sacramento Kings. The list could be longer, these were just the first two names thrown out to me in conversations.

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If you got an extra 400-million or so lying around, you could be the owner of the Atlanta Braves. That's the rumored asking price for the team by Time Warner, so Falcons owner Arthur Blank has said thank, but no thanks. Blank believes the team is worth substantially less than the asking price. No word if the rumor is true he was willing to pay at least 300-million if Bobby Cox agreed to mow his lawn weekly & Chipper Jones clean the pool.

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The circle of life: Penny Hardaway is with the Orlando Magic again.

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Up in smoke: the agent for troubled NFL running back Ricky Williams is convinced his client is drug free.

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The jig is up, the news is out: "We're going to win it this year. We're going after them this year," according to New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner.

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Don't do me like that: no good news to report out of a long meeting between the NFL Players Association & a group representing team owners in Indianapolis Wednesday. "There's been no progress," union chief Gene Upshaw said as he left the downtown Indianapolis hotel at which the meeting was held. "We told them our points. They understand our points. They think we're asking too much, and we think they're not offering enough. We're just not there, and I'm not sure we're going to get there... The positions are still the same."

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Music quote of the day:

"Amarillo by morning, up from San Antone
Everything that I've got is just what I've got on
I ain't got a dime, but what I got is mine
I ain't rich, but lord I'm free
Amarillo by morning, Amarillo's where I'll be"

George Strait - "Amarillo By Morning"