Any argument that the University of Memphis had for not wanting to play Tennessee -- basically it was why should the Tigers give the Vols any exposure in this talent-rich hoops haven? -- went out the window last Wednesday.

There couldn't have been a better showcase for what college basketball is supposed to be. A packed FedExForum, two teams running and pressing from start to almost finish and two highly competitive, charismatic coaches pressing every button possible, trying to squeeze out a victory.

You won't see in the NBA -- except for maybe the playoffs -- the start-to-finish intensity of the Tigers and Vols.

The best part is these teams have a 10-year contract, according to Vols' coach Bruce Pearl, who wants to play next year's date in Knoxville during December.

The only thing that's missing is national TV. ESPN would be foolish not to pick up this game.

"Take this game and put it on ESPN," Pearl said. "No question that it's going to sell out."

Last Wednesday's game helped both teams.

For Memphis, the Tigers needed a team to attack them for 40 minutes. It's something they probably won't see again until the NCAA Tournament, after they wade through watered-down Conference USA.

And for the Vols, they hadn't seen that many athletes on the opposing team at one time.

"They'll be the best team we see this season," Tennessee guard C.J. Watson said of the Tigers.

Hold that Tiger

Astute MDR reader Chuck Gallina, a Memphian who handles publicity for the Auburn's men's basketball team, wondered from afar about the Memphis PGA tour stop being renamed the Stanford St. Jude Championship. "Maybe Tiger Woods will now come since it is Stanford," cracked Chuckie, noting the name of Tiger's college. Woods has never played in the FedEx.... You've got to see the new movie "Glory Road" because Red West of Memphis is tremendous in his role as the assistant coach. But also reader Lisa Heath of Marion, Ark., spotted Susan Griffee of Marion in the movie.

Griffee was once a Commercial Appeal "Best of the Preps" athlete. She appears as one of the girls on the high school team coached by the Don Haskins character when the movie opens. She makes a winning shot and celebrates briefly with the coach and team. ... Also making the movie is a media acquaintance of MDR, Kenny Wilkerson, one of the sports voices for WWL-AM in New Orleans. He's the reporter who asks two questions at a Final Four press conference. ... Congrats to the Mississippi State athletic department for delivering more than 1,000 jackets and coats to hurricane victims along the Mississippi Gulf Coast last Tuesday. Sixteen student-athlete M-Club members, representing six varsity sports on the campus, handed out the coats that were collected at the last two home football games, as well as from 80 colleges and universities around the nation.

United we stand

Real nice security in the United Center the other night when the Knicks' Antonio Davis ran into the stands to allegedly protect his wife. It figures Davis hopped the scorer's table and was at his wife's side without being stopped. No one in Chicago plays defense, especially the security guards. ... Congrats to Lady Vols coach Pat Summitt on career victory No. 900 at Vanderbilt. When you think of the greatest coaches ever, pro and college, such as John Wooden, Red Auerbach, Adolph Rupp, Dean Smith and Mike Krzyzewski, Summitt with her six national titles, her victory total and her impact on her sport place her easily among the greats. "I thought about all the players who wore orange, the toughness of those players," said Summitt, reflecting on the 32 seasons' worth of players who helped get her to 900. "It's all about the players. We went to seven Final Fours and four national championship games before we won our first in 1987. It happened because I finally relaxed about trying to win one. I realized that it wasn't about me, it was about them." ... For all the college football fans getting excited over commitments: Check in August to see which signees actually qualify. It's amazing how a great recruiting class can turn mediocre over the summer.

Contact Ron Higgins at 901-529-2525l.