Tiger Basketball Podcast The Commercial Appeal

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.