Geoff Calkins: Tigers' play challenges even the best of fans

They dressed the same way they would have dressed for a Memphis game, in bright layers of blue. They drove downtown to FedExForum. They made their way to their seats. And then Terry and Sheila Nightwine sat and watched teams from Louisville, Houston, Cincinnati and Connecticut play basketball games.

"I'm from Memphis, so I'm going to support the city," said Sheila, by way of explanation. "But Thursday night was as disappointed as I've ever been by this team."

That's saying something, isn't it? The Memphis program — like all programs — has had some disappointing moments and years.

The Wayne Yates era was disappointing. The Tic Price era was a joke. But the Nightwines have been season-ticket holders since 1978, and Thursday was the first time they left a game before it was done.

"We left with four minutes left," said Sheila. "I couldn't take it anymore."

Said Terry: "I didn't want to sit in public and cry."

No, he wasn't laughing when he said that. It wasn't actually a joke.

You can say all you like that it's just a game, and it doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things, but the passion of people like the Nightwines is what has sustained the program over the years.

A good number of them returned to FedExForum Friday night. Out of loyalty, more than anything else. They were told it would be good for the program if the city supported the tournament. So they would do their part.

"We didn't want the building to be empty," said Maurie Thomas.

"It's still basketball," Ed Shelton said.

"We've seen the good, the bad and the ugly over the years," said Thomas.

Which was Thursday?

"Oh, it was ugly," he said.

And to think, it began with such promise. Memphians' hopes were so high.

"We parked next to some Louisville fans Thursday," said Terry. "They were wearing their national championship hats. We had a chance to get our own hats a few years ago, of course."

Then Mario Chalmers intervened.

But this tournament was at FedExForum. Maybe Memphis could get to the title game and beat Louisville yet again.

"I never expected what happened," said Nightwine. "I still don't understand it. It was devastating."

How could Memphis get run off its home court in the quarterfinals of the tournament? How could the Tigers get blown out for a fifth time this year? How could they leave a 3-point shooter wide open time and time again? How could the explanations be so vapid and unsatisfying?

"I swear, if I have to hear one more time about the four senior guards, I think I'm going to throw up," Nightwine said.

Note: These are not message board lunatics. They do not want Josh Pastner fired. But like so many Memphis fans, they've been watching basketball for decades now and they understand the game. So they know there is more to victory or defeat than whether the Tigers "made shots." And they expect more in the way of strategy than "We're going to live or die with the four senior guards."

"Honestly, the loss in the Final Four was easier to take than the other night," Nightwine said. "That was an embarrassment to the city. Something is badly wrong with that team."

As he talked, Louisville's Russ Smith (42 points) kept scoring basket after basket. Talk about your senior guards. It'll be an upset if Louisville doesn't win the tournament championship Saturday. Then the Louisville fans can get even more hats.

As for the Tigers, they'll be invited to the NCAA tournament, certainly. But Nightwine doesn't expect much.

"One and done," he said. "I hope I'm wrong. But every year, I'm sitting in the same spot. I knew what was going to happen, I knew I was going to be disappointed, but I let myself believe. And then, sure enough, it happened. How many times am I going to be fooled?"

He paused, then spoke for Memphis fans everywhere.

"I guess until I die."