Jaren Jackson Jr. of the Grizzlies cheers on Maui against the Memphis Tigers

College basketball’s Maui Invitational tournament has put some Memphis Grizzlies players in conflicting positions.

The hometown Memphis Tigers are there, but several Grizzlies players also have their alma mater in the tournament.

Guard Cam Spencer, who played at UConn last season, saw his Huskies get upset by the Tigers on Monday afternoon. Before the match, he expressed confidence that UConn can beat Memphis.

Now he is reminded of the result by his teammates.

“He acted like it was a layup,” Desmond Bane said. “I haven’t had a chance to bother him yet, but I’m sure he’ll hear from me tomorrow.”

Next up for the Tigers is a matchup against Michigan State, where Jaren Jackson Jr. spent his first college basketball season. The 25-year-old has spent more than six years in Memphis, but East Lansing is near and dear to his heart.

Jackson said he will watch the showdown on Tuesday (5 p.m. CT, ESPN). His advice to Tigers players is not to jump when Michigan State University athletic sophomore Coen Carr makes a run for it.

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