Memphis basketball has made a name for itself in recent years as a significant threat in non-conference play. 

From 2021 to 2024, Penny Hardaway's Tigers are 31-8 outside American Conference play in the regular season. That stretch includes wins over UConn, Clemson, Ole Miss, Michigan State, Arkansas, Michigan, Missouri, Texas A&M, Auburn, Vanderbilt and more. 

But, after starting the season 1-2 (with one of those losses coming by 14 points at home to UNLV), is it time to reset your expectations? Is it time to accept the likelihood that Memphis may not stack wins against non-league teams the way it has been? 

Is it time to consider the possibility this season will be more about building toward American Conference play? While ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi seems to think so, Jason Munz and Jonah Dylan ponder these questions as they look back on and dissect the Tigers' ugly loss to UNLV. In addition, Munz and Dylan set up Memphis' game against No. 1 Purdue during its trip to the Bahamas. 

Other topics on this week's episode: the status of the Tiger basketball text group, how Memphis football's season shifted so dramatically and the dominance of the school's women's soccer program. 

Two games into the regular season, Memphis basketball fans seem to be either heartened by the Tigers' play or resigned to a ho-hum existence that may or may not result in a March Madness appearance. 

There isn't much in-between. 

Penny Hardaway has his team off to a 1-1 start with a home win over San Francisco and a road loss to Ole Miss. 

Where do we stand? On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, Jason Munz and Jonah Dylan weigh in with their thoughts and feelings on the subject. In addition, they break down some of the more under-the-radar moments so far and preview the upcoming home game against UNLV. They also touch on where Memphis football is after the Tulane loss and set up the Tigers' women's soccer NCAA tournament game against Illinois. 

The Memphis basketball team lost to Arkansas and Auburn by more than 20 points apiece in a pair of lopsided exhibition games.

Are those results harbingers of dark days ahead for the Tigers, who open the regular season against San Francisco (2 p.m., Nov. 8, ESPN+)? Or, are they merely a mirage? 

The answer is simple: We don't know. 

On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, Jason Munz and Jonah Dylan rehash what transpired in Memphis' ugly performance against Auburn, discuss reasonable expectations for the season opener (including several guesses for a starting lineup), and pick out a few of the team's preseason bright spots. In addition, Munz and Dylan provide updates on how former Tigers performed in their debuts for their new team and break down how things are setting up for the Memphis football team's stretch drive toward a potential College Football Playoff berth. 

Any discussion about preseason exhibition college basketball should feature a healthy dose of nuance. 

The Memphis basketball team's 99-75 loss to Arkansas is no exception. 

The result is the result, but it's far from the most important thing. If nothing else, it did nothing to put a damper on the Tigers' confidence level about this season. The opposite, in fact. 

"I like what we got. Moving forward, we fix the things we need to fix, we’re going to have a lot of fun," said point guard Dug McDaniel. 

On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, Jonah Dylan and Jason Munz discuss how Memphis showed "proof of concept" in the losing effort. In addition, they look ahead to Memphis' other exhibition game (Auburn, 7:30 p.m., Oct. 30 in Atlanta) and touch on the Tiger football team's win over South Florida, as well as the school's women's soccer team three-peating as American Conference champions. 

For the first time in more than 20 years, Memphis basketball will host the Arkansas Razorbacks. 

Sure, it's an exhibition game (part of the second annual Hoops For St. Jude Tip Off Classic). It won't count toward either program's record. It won't help either team in the standings. It won't do anything for their March Madness outlook. 

But John Calipari returning to face the Tigers (the team he coached for nine seasons in the early aughts) has been almost 16 years in the making. Adding to the allure, dozens of former Memphis Tigers who played for Calipari are also returning to be recognized.

Jason Munz and Jonah Dylan dive into all of it (including the actual game, which will be the first look at the all-new Tigers for many) on this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast. 

We, here at The Commercial Appeal, recognize it can be difficult to keep up with the vast amount of roster turnover Memphis basketball undergoes each season. 

But especially this season. All 15 players on Penny Hardaway's 2025-26 roster were members of someone else's roster last season. Top to bottom: they're all brand new to the Tigers. 

Well, almost. After all, Hardaway has welcomed Ashton Hardaway, his son (who played at Memphis in 2023-24), back. Other than that, though: all newcomers. 

Never fear. On this episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, Jason Munz and Jonah Dylan break down the entire thing. They will provide a rundown on each and every player (one through 15) to help you get better acquainted with the all-new crop of Tigers and project the roles all 15 will play (starters, rotation players, depth pieces) for Hardaway.

Also, following Munz's trip to Birmingham, Ala., for American Conference Tipoff (AKA media days), Munz and Dylan discuss news, developments and takeaways from there. 

Anticipation is building at the University of Memphis.

Football season kicks off on Aug. 30. The nationally-ranked women's soccer team is undefeated with a home game against top-5 Tennessee coming up. Penny Hardaway has finalized his roster and his non-conference schedule. 

And what will university leadership's next move be in its effort to get into a Power 4 conference? 

Jonah Dylan and Jason Munz dig into everything on the latest episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast. 

• (0:00) - Intro
• (4:35) - FedEx sponsorship
• (12:40) – Definition of 'rigamarole'
• (14:28) – Ed Scott interview breakdown
• (26:50) – A closer look at the basketball roster
• (34:50) – Updated ESPN bracketology
• (47:16) – The juggernaut that is Memphis women's soccer
• (52:40) – Tiger football expectations
• (55:36) – Examining "Mocs" (Chattanooga's nickname)

 

The Big 12 apparently wants no part of Memphis.

The Tigers reportedly put together a pitch to join the power conference that was unprecedented. Yet the Big 12 was so unmoved by it that it did not even rise to the level where the league's presidents put it to a vote. 

What does that say about the Big 12? What does it say about Memphis? 

On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, Jonah Dylan and Jason Munz dissect the entire story. In addition, Dylan and Munz recap one of the newsiest weeks in recent Memphis athletics history. 

One piece of the Pac-12 media rights-slash-conference realignment puzzle was put in place on June 23. 

That's when CBS Sports and the new version of the one-time power league announced they were extending their broadcast partnership through 2031. 

It is a big step for the Pac-12, whose rebuilding efforts have (to varying degrees) been linked to Memphis for more than a year. So, what does the announcement mean for Memphis and the future of its conference affiliation?

On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, host Jonah Dylan and Memphis basketball beat writer Jason Munz break down the lay of the land as its currently constituted. In addition, Dylan and Munz analyze Memphis athletic director Ed Scott's recent comments on the department's revenue sharing plans and take a look at what "the big question" is for the Tigers in 2026-27. 

The Memphis basketball offseason is usually a fun ride.

This year is no exception. Of course, Penny Hardaway has rebuilt his entire roster from scratch - a task that takes into account the transfer of All-American guard PJ Haggerty. There is also the ongoing wait for star big man Dain Dainja's eligibility ruling and the news that Memphis missed out on hosting any of the next three AAC basketball tournaments. 

But it all pales in comparison to the approval of the House v. NCAA settlement and the new era of revenue sharing being ushered in as a result. 

On the latest episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, Jason Munz and Jonah Dylan break it all down. From evaluating Hardaway's new-look roster to Dainja's situation to why Memphis might be in a class all its own with regard to the House settlement, Munz and Dylan hit those topics and more.