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.