Dajuan Wagner is back to see his dad Milt, now an assistant coach at El Paso. But he admits his heart still lies with the Memphis Tigers, even though he only played one year here before heading to the NBA.

“I love it. I’m a Memphis fan. I went here,” said Wagner, sitting just behind the TV announcers. “I’m happy for them.”

Wagner also said his health problems have been cured. His NBA career was derailed by numerous injuries, but none more serious than colitis. After surgery to cure that disease, he’s feeling better now and planning another NBA comeback. His last attempt with the Golden State Warriors didn’t pan out, but Wagner expects to try again next season.

Not only has Joey Dorsey hit an astonishing 3-of-4 free throws, but the Tigers as a whole are shooting 80 percent. If this continues, it bodes well for the NCAA tournament. Last year, the Tigers were castigated for their woeful free-thro shooting in the regular season, but turned it on, a huge help in their advancing to the Elite Eight.

The crowd is going wild with sarcastic (and genuinely grateful) applause.

Two former Tigers are here tonight, watching the blowout. Clyde Wade, who finished last year, is sitting near the Tiger bench. Dajuan Wagner, looking healthy, is sitting a few seats down near half-court.

Wade admits that it’s tough to be in street clothes while the teammates he played with just last year are in uniform.

“It feels like I should still be out there,” the heavily tattooed Wade said.

You don’t realize how bad a free-throw shooter Joey Dorsey is until you sit courtside. I wish I’d brought a batting helmet. I’m afraid I’m going to be smacked in the noggin. His last shot just hit the back rim, hard.

Believe it or not, there are a few Tulane fans here, clustered in a corner, wearing green.

Some of them have to be here: their children are players or cheerleaders. But others actually made the drive from Louisiana, despite the near-certainty that their team will be destroyed by the Tigers.

Beth Bender has two teenage sons who were due to take their standardized tests today. She’s in Memphis anyway. “I decided that standardized tests can be taken over,” she said. Gordon and Faye Smith drove 6.5 hours from Baton Rouge to support the Green Wave. “Anything’s possible,” Gordon said.

Well, it’s 20-8 right now, with 10 minutes left in the half. So it’s almost certain that Gordon will be rooting for his alma mater Southern Miss in about two hours.

In just a few minutes, the Memphis Tigers will open their expected cakewalk in the Conference USA tournament, down here in the FedExForum. It’s expected to be a coronation, a relatively easy walk through three games to secure that longed-for top seed in the NCAA tourney.

I’m Jody Callahan, a reporter here at The Commercial Appeal. I’m also a hardcore Tiger fan, having graduated from the university (twice).

I’ve seen more Tiger games than any other team in any other sport, even my beloved Chicago Cubs. They’re one of the few teams that can sweep me to new heights or devastate me to tears.

Tonight, I plan to blog about the game from the perspective of a longtime Tiger fan. I’ll tell you what I can see and hear here at the Forum. I’ll tell you who’s here and what they’re saying. So stick around, or check back often for updates.

Oh, and Go Tigers.