Florida Atlantic has faced all sorts of challenges this season, and cleared many of them, so this shouldn't prove especially daunting at FedEx Forum on Sunday. Memphis did play one of its best games of the year at midweek against Charlotte, but Penny Hardaway's bunch has been plagued by inconsistency all season. The Tigers are only 3-13 their last sixteen on the board sine just in front of Christmas, though for once didn't lean too hard on top scorer F David Jones (ex-St John's; 21.t ppg) in the romp past Charlotte, when he scored just ten, with ex-Bama Jahvon Quinerly leading the way with 17 points. But the potency (83.3 ppg) and balance (four DD scorers) should bode well for the Owls. Play FAU

The most impressive segment of any game this season for FAU came in a recent loss. The Owls, down 25 points with 8 1/2 minutes left, nearly rallied to win at formidable South Florida. The experience will serve them well in a rowdy scenario. Tigers coach Penny Hardaway might have been signaled a death knell at his alma mater with shot-blocker Malcolm Dandridge yanked from the squad Friday over concerns about academic irregularities. Memphis already is on probation and Hardaway was handed a suspension. The timing of Dandridge's roster removal could throw off the Tigers.