Tiger Basketball Podcast

The Memphis basketball offseason began much sooner than expected after the Tigers lost to FAU in the first round of the NCAA tournament last week. Reconciling that disappointment with all the positive strides the program made over the course of the 2022-23 season might take some time. Beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto, on this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, try to put everything into context and weigh in on how this season will ultimately be remembered. In addition, Munz and Giannotto dissect the loss to FAU (controversy and all), give their takes on what it will mean for the program moving forward and preview the road ahead for the Tigers.

Memphis basketball coach Penny Hardaway is building toward something. Has it taken longer than some people − possibly even he − expected? Yes, it has. But last week's win over No. 2 Houston, then the No. 1 team in the country, clinched the first league championship for the program in a decade. It represents the high-water mark of the Hardaway-as-coach era. On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto look back on the highlights of the AAC tournament, Memphis' formula for success in the NCAA tournament and why this season's Tigers are positioned to go on a run.

The Memphis basketball team is hitting the reset button this week. The Tigers (23-8) ended the regular season in second place, their best finish since joining the AAC in 2013. But that doesn't much matter in the postseason, when every team has a clean slate. Penny Hardaway's team will be the No. 2 seed at this week's conference tournament at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth. It will face the UCF-SMU winner Friday (6 p.m., ESPNU). On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto look back on Memphis' regular-season finale vs. No. 1 Houston, examine the team's NCAA Tournament prospects and predict whether Kendric Davis will win AAC Player of the Year.

Memphis basketball believes it belongs in the NCAA Tournament. But the Tigers also know there's still work to be done. That work continues Thursday, when Memphis travels to Dallas to face SMU and, then, returns home to host No. 1 Houston on Sunday. On this week's edition of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto look ahead to those two games and discuss the implications attached to each one. They also give their respective interpretations of Memphis' wins over Wichita State and Cincinnati last week and weigh in on whether some of the players' lack of NCAA Tournament experience will hurt or could benefit the team.

Memphis basketball should be hungrier than ever after its 72-64 loss to Houston, this week's new No. 1 team in the nation. “That’s exactly what I told the team,” Tigers coach Penny Hardaway said outside the team’s locker room. “We played with a 90% (Alex Lomax), kind of a 60% Malcolm (Dandridge) and no (Kendric Davis) and still had an opportunity to win the game. Definitely gonna be using this as motivation." It isn't often that a team is left with as much confidence (or more) after a loss as the Tigers have, but here we are. On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto work through processing Memphis' psyche in the wake of the loss at Houston. They also discuss the latest on Davis, Lomax and Dandridge, shine a light on Elijah McCadden and offer their takes on what the Tigers need to do to feel secure on Selection Sunday.

The Memphis basketball team rebounded from a disappointing loss to Tulane with a business-like win at USF. But the damage was done. Most bracketologists have the Tigers squarely on the NCAA Tournament bubble with seven regular-season games left. Two of their remaining games are against Houston. Did Memphis' loss to Tulane do so much damage that beating the Cougars at least once is the only way to make up for it? Or, can the Tigers still get into the NCAA Tournament without taking down the No. 2 team in the country? On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto weigh in on that. They also discuss Memphis' quietly prolific offense and where it ranks in program history.

Tulane. USF. Temple. UCF. That is what is left of the road ahead of Memphis basketball before it arrives at Houston. The Tigers, 17-5 overall and 7-2 in AAC play, are in a good spot. Is it a good enough spot that they can afford a bad loss? On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto weigh in on that. They also debate this hypothetical: If Memphis has to face either Alabama or Tennessee in the NCAA Tournament, which team would the Tigers rather go up against?

Memphis basketball has won its last three games, two of them coming on the road. Penny Hardaway's teams have a history of settling into a deep groove around this time of year. Since 2020-21, the Tigers are 28-6 after Jan. 20. Can this Memphis team keep that trend going? If so, what does a realistic finish look like? And, based on that finish, what can fans expect the Tigers' NCAA Tournament seeding to be? On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto forecast those things, break down last week's wins over Wichita State and Cincinnati, examine DeAndre Williams' level-up, and discuss Memphis' upcoming games versus SMU and Tulsa.

Penny Hardaway called the timeout that Kendric Davis said is "the reason we won." Davis actually hit the shot as time expired to lift Memphis basketball to a 61-59 win at Temple last week. The victory kept the Tigers (13-5, 3-2 AAC) on the projected NCAA Tournament bubble. But, on the heels of an excruciating double-overtime road loss to UCF just four days earlier, it might have also given the team a much needed shot in the arm. On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto dissect some of the key moments from the win over the Owls and discuss the potential residual effects it might have. They also update Memphis' injury situation, examine Malcolm Dandridge's value and look ahead to Thursday's home game against Wichita State.

The Memphis basketball team closed the 2021-22 regular season by winning 10 of its last 11 games. The Tigers needed every single one of them − and then some, ultimately − in order to reach the NCAA Tournament. Almost a year later, Memphis might need to pull off something similar, because Penny Hardaway's team is right back on the bubble. The Tigers are 4-3 in their last seven games and missed prime opportunities to distance themselves from the bubble, losing by 3 points at Alabama and falling in double overtime at UCF earlier this week. On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto break down the fallout of Memphis' most recent loss, offer some insight into what the future might hold for the injured Alex Lomax, give their thoughts on the Johnathan Lawson and Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu debate and preview Sunday's Temple game.

Memphis basketball is 3-2 in its last five games and has allowed an average of 86.2 points per outing during that stretch. Last week's Quad 2 loss at Tulane has given pause to more than a few people's optimistic outlook on the Tigers' prospects the rest of the way. On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto examine the implications of that setback against the Green Wave, discuss the primary factors behind some of the shakiness of the past few weeks and how much Memphis has missed senior big man Malcolm Dandridge since he went down against Alabama on Dec. 13.

Memphis basketball has traversed the bulk of its non-conference schedule in favorable fashion. The Tigers (8-3) have Texas A&M (6 p.m. Saturday) and Alabama State (8 p.m. Dec. 21) left before entering AAC play. They will likely be favored in every game the rest of the season − with the likely exceptions being the two games against top-5 Houston. On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto examine the possibility that this Memphis team might be the program's best from an overall record standpoint in 10 years. Munz and Giannotto also pore over the Tigers' win over Auburn and their loss to No. 4 Alabama with a fine-tooth comb and discuss the most encouraging development of the past week as well as the least encouraging development of the past week.

Extreme early-season narratives are nothing new. Hot takes, knee-jerk reactions and Monday-morning quarterbacking are universally a part of sports. Seven games into this Memphis basketball season, there has been plenty of all three. One that has popped up frequently so far is the notion that this season's brand of Tiger basketball isn't as exciting as those many have become accustomed to under coach Penny Hardaway. On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto unpack and patently reject that concept. They also recap the win over North Alabama and discuss the potential implications of what might be the toughest stretch of the entire schedule, which begins Saturday against Ole Miss.

Memphis basketball is 2-1 and headed to Orlando for the ESPN Events Invitational. The Tigers most recently dismantled VCU, rebounding from a tough loss at Saint Louis. Kendric Davis scored 26 points and dished out 7 assists. Meanwhile, the defense shut the Rams down. On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto discuss which one of the two is the most important development for Memphis moving forward. They also provide the latest update on transfer guard Damaria Franklin's eligibility status, chime in on the debate making the rounds recently about former Tigers (such as Landers Nolley II, Tyler Harris and Emoni Bates) and break down what this week's tournament could eventually mean for Memphis' resumè.

The reaction Memphis basketball team's loss at Saint Louis varied widely. Some viewed it as a winnable game in which the Tigers doomed themselves by neither shooting nor defending well enough. Others came away from it encouraged by the fight and resolve Penny Hardaway's team exhibited in the closing minutes. And others still acknowledged both good and bad. All of which is OK. On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto explain why that is and examine some of the layers of the 90-84 setback, including DeAndre Williams' leadership, Kendric Davis' health, the team's shot selection and Johnathan Lawson's collegiate debut. In addition, Munz and Giannotto run through the Tigers' recruiting wins over the past week, discuss the latest with Damaria Franklin and look ahead to the home opener (VCU, 4 p.m., Sunday).

Memphis basketball − devoid of "chaos," as DeAndre Williams put it − calmly dismantled Vanderbilt Monday, kicking off the 2022-23 season with a 76-67 win. It was the exclamation point on a three-day stretch of success for Penny Hardaway on and off the court. On Saturday, he landed 5-star guard Mikey Williams and 4-star wing JJ Taylor. On Sunday, Hardaway earned a pledge from 3-star wing David Tubek. On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto analyze Memphis' recruiting wins and discuss their potential implications (Bronny James?). Also, Munz and Giannotto try to single out the most impressive aspect of the Tigers' win at Vandy, then give an early scouting report on Saint Louis, the team's next opponent.

The regular season is finally upon us. In less than a week, the Memphis basketball team will make the short trek to Nashville, where it will meet Vanderbilt (7 p.m., Monday, Memorial Gymnasium). Before we get there, though, there are still a few things to unpack from the Tigers' preseason showings. There are also some new details with regard to UIC transfer Damaria Franklin's pursuit of immediate eligibility. On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto dive into those two subjects, before attempting to sort out the relative lack of buzz surrounding the program, then getting into what Memphis is going up against on Monday against the Commodores.

It was only one game − and an exhibition at that. But that doesn't mean there's not plenty to break down and analyze from Memphis basketball's 69-60 preseason win over Christian Brothers University last week. Who looked good and who didn't. What is worth worrying about and what's not. On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto offer their respective perspectives on where the program stands after one exhibition game, what they'll be looking for in Sunday's 1 p.m. exhibition game against Lane College, a recap of the Damaria Franklin situation and some recruiting updates.

It’s (exhibition) game week! The newest iteration of the Memphis basketball team will make its on-court preseason debut when it locks up with Christian Brothers at 4 p.m. Sunday at FedExForum. In this week’s episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto delve into the top storylines around Penny Hardaway’s program – specifically, what the Tigers’ starting lineup and rotation might look like this season and the common thread throughout this preseason. Munz and Giannotto also reflect on the Memphis Basketball Block Party and discuss some recruiting news.

From the looks of things, the Memphis basketball team might well be on its way back toward the top of the metrics leaderboard in terms of defense. Two seasons ago, the Tigers were No. 1 in adjusted defensive efficiency. Last season, they dropped back to No. 33 in those same rankings. In last week's open practice, Penny Hardaway's team was split up for an intrasquad scrimmage in front of hundreds of fans and a couple dozen media members. Points (a combined 13) were at a premium. Elite-level defense or a sign of offensive issues? On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto dissect what they saw and examine ways the team can overcome what might be its biggest weakness. They also recap what Hardaway and his players said about the IARP decision and look ahead to the program's Pro Day.