Madness aficionados upgraded Memphis basketball to "lock" status after it beat Rice. It may now be time for everyone else to follow suit.

Memphis basketball star PJ Haggerty shook the UAB defender, dribbled twice and knocked down a jump shot. As he backpedaled down the court, he stared toward the visitors bench inside Bartow Arena Sunday and nodded – as if to confirm that the All-American candidate had everything under control.

The No. 18 Memphis Tigers play the UAB Blazers on Sunday afternoon on the road in a matchup that could decide first and second place in the regular-season conference standings. Although two games remain in the season for both teams after this contest,