Tiger Basketball Podcast

The Memphis basketball team's exhilarating stretch run concluded last week in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. 

The Tigers' appearance in the Big Dance – their first under coach Penny Hardaway and first since 2014 – will have a major impact on the program. On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto dissect the numerous benefits it could have. They also discuss Hardaway's growth as coach and detail Memphis' top priorities this offseason. 

Penny Hardaway has gotten the Memphis basketball team to the round of 32 at the NCAA Tournament. 

The Tigers defeated Boise State Thursday at the Moda Center to score the program's first Big Dance victory in eight years. 

On this special edition of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto break down how Memphis beat the Broncos, highlight Hardaway and Alex Lomax and look ahead to Saturday's marquee matchup (8:40 p.m., TBS) versus Gonzaga, the No. 1 overall seed. 

Memphis, the 9 seed, and Boise State, the 8 seed. 

The Tigers and Broncos are, on paper, at least, as evenly matched as they come. But, should the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee have put two of the hottest teams in the country against one another in the first round? 

In this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto delve into that topic. In addition, they look back at Memphis' AAC Tournament run and discuss how it might affect the team moving forward. Munz and Giannotto also break down the Tigers-Broncos matchup and examine the big picture as it pertains to the program as a whole. 

Memphis polished off a white-hot stretch to end the season by pounding Houston. 

Now, the Tigers head to the AAC Tournament, hoping to carry that momentum with them. 

On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto recap the scene inside FedExForum during last week's beatdown of Houston, put into perspective how far Memphis has come and examine the team's NCAA Tournament prospects. 

Jalen Duren or Landers Nolley II? 

Coaching or free throw shooting? 

Rallying from behind or winning big? 

The Memphis basketball team's turnaround – winning eight of its last nine games – has been chock full of impressive moments and big-time performances. On this week's Tiger Basketball Podcast, beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto dissect some of the more under-appreciated aspects of the hot streak. 

In addition, Munz and Giannotto discuss Memphis' place on the bubble and looks ahead to the Tigers' big games at USF and at home against No. 14 Houston. 

There's a lot riding on the next two weeks for the Memphis basketball team. 

It begins Thursday (6 p.m., ESPN2) when the Tigers welcome Temple to FedExForum. 

On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto examine what went wrong in Memphis' loss at SMU, preview the upcoming game against the Owls and take a look at where the Tigers are positioned with regard to the big (NCAA Tournament) picture. 

Down the stretch they come. 

Having won six straight – and with five games left in the regular season – the Memphis basketball team has put itself in a position where each game seems to be more important than the one before it. That may not be any truer than Sunday's matchup with SMU (2 p.m., ESPN). 

A win over the Mustangs would do a lot for the Tigers. Let us count the ways. Beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto get into that on this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, while also discussing how Memphis got here and the unique situation it finds itself in with regard to injured freshman Emoni Bates. 

The Memphis basketball team will take momentum built from a four-game winning streak into No. 6 Houston on Saturday (2:30 p.m., ABC). 

The Tigers aren't an NCAA Tournament team just yet. But the game against the Cougars marks an opportunity for them to prove they are. Which is impressive considering the damage Memphis did to its resumè earlier this season. 

On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto discuss what has made the team's four-game winning streak so encouraging. They'll also break down the most recent wins over UCF and Tulane before getting into the keys to the contest against Houston and whether Memphis needs to beat the Cougars to get into the NCAA Tournament. 

The Memphis basketball team could make the trip to Cincinnati this week healthier than it has been in more than two months. 

Several Tigers (Landers Nolley II, Jalen Duren, Jayden Hardaway and DeAndre Williams) have each missed an extended amount of time in recent weeks due to various injuries. They might all be back for Thursday's game (7 p.m., ESPN2). 

If that's the case, it will certainly make Penny Hardaway happy. But it will also leave him and the rest of his staff with some potentially difficult decisions when it comes to the rotation and the roles each player will take on. 

Beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto dissect those subjects on this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast. They also preview the Cincinnati game and highlight the job first-year women's basketball coach Katrina Merriweather has done so far this season. 

Last time out, the Memphis basketball team beat Tulsa – the last-place team in the AAC – on the road by two points. 

But it feels like more than that. It feels like the Tigers might have saved their season from total catastrophe. 

On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto break down Memphis' win at Tulsa, look back at Penny Hardaway's viral moment and dig in to how the schedule sets up for the Tigers over the next month.