Tiger Basketball Podcast

The Memphis basketball program learned Tuesday it can officially put the years-long NCAA investigation behind it. Penny Hardaway and his Tigers, as determined by the Independent Accountability Resolution Process, were completely absolved of the most severe allegations, receiving a few minor penalties for lesser infractions. That constituted a massive win for a lot of people. Who are the biggest winners? Is it possible the delivery of that news will wind up representing a huge springboard into the 2022-23 season for new-look Memphis? How much better off might Hardaway and the Tigers be now that they can turn their full attention toward actual basketball and only actual basketball? Tiger basketball beat writer Jason Munz and Commercial Appeal columnist Mark Giannotto discuss these things, along with the top storylines as Memphis begins official practices and the excitement surrounding the program now that the IARP is completely in the rear-view mirror on the return of the Tiger Basketball Podcast. 

Memphis basketball's season may have ended, but the news around the program continues all the same.  The Tigers, whose NCAA Tournament appearance was another positive step for coach Penny Hardaway and his team, have had a bit of a rough offseason thus far. Josh Minott declared for the NBA Draft. Third-year assistant coach Cody Toppert left for LSU. Three players, so far, have entered the transfer portal. And it all comes amid the emergence of new details in Memphis' ongoing NCAA infractions case.  On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto delve into all of the above and more. 

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. 

Dull moments are few and far between for the Memphis basketball program these days.  Coach Penny Hardaway, on the heels of back-to-back road losses to UCF and ECU, announced assistant coach Rasheed Wallace (a former NBA All-Star) has transitioned to a "consultant's role" and will work remotely the remainder of the season.  The news was delivered just a day before the Tigers are due to host SMU (6 p.m. Thursday).  On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto unpack the Wallace news, discuss the team's injury situation and analyze the importance of momentum. 

If you're looking for dull moments in the 2021-22 Memphis basketball season up to this point, we wish you luck.  Penny Hardaway and his Tigers, despite winning for the third time in four games Tuesday, left FedExForum in a foul mood after another chapter in what has been a rollercoaster couple of months.  On this episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto look back on the victory over Tulsa, discuss the team's injury situation and examine some things that could help Memphis seize control of the race for the AAC title. 

Memphis picked itself up off the mat Tuesday and delivered a resounding 92-78 win over eighth-ranked Alabama (No. 6 in this week's Associated Press poll).  On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto relive some of the highlights, as well as some of the under-the-radar moments, from the win over the Crimson Tide. They also answer questions like, "How much damage from Memphis' four-game losing streak is mitigated by the upset victory?" and "Is there an even better version of the Tigers than the one we saw Tuesday?" Finally, Munz and Giannotto close things out by focusing on the upcoming neutral-site grudge match between Memphis and Tennessee (11 a.m. Saturday, ESPN2). 

The Tigers are a team on the brink of a full-fledged crisis.  Can they recover?  On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto examine the problems Memphis has faced during its three-game losing streak and discuss whether the team can get things turned around in time. 

There are no second chances when it comes to first impressions. To this point, the Memphis basketball team has played exclusively at home and exclusively on ESPN+. That changes this week as the Tigers travel to Brooklyn, N.Y., where they will face Virginia Tech on Wednesday in a game that will be broadcast to a national audience (ESPN2). And there's a chance Memphis will be back on ESPN2 on Friday, facing No. 25 Xavier. Which Penny Hardaway squad will show up? On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto analyze Memphis' most recent win and examine what changes (if any) it will make before Wednesday's 8:30 p.m. tip-off.

The first three games of the Memphis basketball season have revealed plenty about these Tigers.  Want a weekly breakdown of all things Grizzlies, Tigers and 901 FC? Consider subscribing to our Memphis Sports newsletter. Most notably, despite all of the team's flaws, Penny Hardaway and Co. are still very good. We've also learned, however, that with a little work, a few adjustments in certain areas and maybe some more time together, the Tigers' ceiling could be among the five highest in the country.  On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto examine what's gone right (Emoni Bates and the team's shooting ability), what needs to be addressed (turnovers, point guard and Hardaway's rotations), and what's possible if and when everything aligns for Memphis. 

Emoni Bates and Jalen Duren were as advertised and the Memphis basketball team's veteran core gave the Tigers all the stability it needed to come away winners in the season opener.  How it all came together and where they still have work to do are the primary topics of this week's edition of the Tiger Basketball Podcast. Co-hosts Mark Giannotto and Jason Munz break down the lineup combinations that were most effective and least effective in Tuesday's win over Tennessee Tech, discuss Memphis' upcoming matchup with North Carolina Central, and identify the biggest difference between these Tigers and Penny Hardaway's first three teams. 

The trajectory of the upcoming Memphis basketball season will hinge on myriad variables.  How it utilizes veteran guard Alex Lomax might be at the top of the list.  On this episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto debate the topic, while also evaluating the role of star freshman Emoni Bates. Munz and Giannotto also survey the big picture and make a few predictions regarding the 2021-22 Tigers and the season to come. 

Memphis did what it was supposed to do last week against LeMoyne-Owen.  Better yet, for the most part, it looked like most people hoped it would look. The Tigers played confidently and were in sync more often than not, despite missing several key pieces, including Emoni Bates and last year's leading scorer, Landers Nolley II.  On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, beat writer Jason Munz is joined by Tiger football beat writer Evan Barnes to break down the biggest takeaways from the win over LeMoyne-Owen and look ahead to the upcoming exhibition matchup with Lane College. 

The Memphis basketball team achieved its highest preseason Associated Press Top 25 ranking in a decade this week.  Thirty-four of the AP's 63 voters had the 12th-ranked Tigers inside their top 10. The team even showed up on one ballot at No. 2 in the country, according to collegepolltracker.com. But seven voters did not include Memphis anywhere in their top 25.  On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, beat writer Jason Munz is joined by Tiger football beat writer Evan Barnes and preps beat writer Khari Thompson to analyze what Memphis' preseason rankings mean and discuss whether the Tigers should have been ranked higher than 12th. In addition, the trio gets into the signature Memphis Madness moments, previews Sunday's exhibition game against LeMoyne-Owen and predicts Penny Hardaway's starting lineup. 

We know more today about the Memphis basketball program's pending NCAA infractions case than we did last week. That's because Independent Accountability Resolutions Process officials released a timeline of the case's procedural events on Monday.  But, for every question it answered, it raised many more.  On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto take a closer look at where things stand and use some procedural context clues to guesstimate how much longer the process could be dragged out. Also, Munz and Giannotto rehash the Tigers' pro day event and give their takes on the players who stood out most. Finally, they preview Memphis Madness, which won't be televised or livestreamed at 7 p.m. Wednesday. 

It's one thing to see it on paper, but it's something else entirely to observe it up close and personal.  If anything was made clear by watching the Memphis basketball team practice last week, it's how deep the Tigers' roster will be this season. Even without veteran guard Alex Lomax and high-profile transfer Earl Timberlake on the floor during the Memphis Rebounders Club's Happy Hour Hoops event, Penny Hardaway showed off a collection of players that is built to endure almost anything thrown their way.  On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto delve into a variety of topics, including the Tigers' depth – especially within the context of what the starting lineup could look like and who Hardaway will decide to go with as his primary sixth man – the team's schedule and which players stand to benefit most from the program's upcoming Pro Day. 

The Memphis basketball team won a postseason tournament championship (the NIT) in March. It won an offseason championship – in a manner of speaking – by signing the No. 1 recruiting class in the country and adding Hall of Famer Larry Brown and former NBA All-Star Rasheed Wallace to the coaching staff.  Will the Tigers make it three in a row with a national championship next spring?  Penny Hardaway's team will officially begin its pursuit of the program's first NCAA Tournament title Tuesday. That's when the Tigers will hold their first full-fledged practice ahead of the 2021-22 season.  So, what are the most intriguing storylines for Memphis ahead of practice No. 1? On this week's episode of the Memphis Basketball Podcast, Commercial Appeal beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto preview the possibilities.

 Football is the driver behind any and all conference realignment.  Always has been and always will be.  But, obviously, its effects aren't limited to football. So, as the American Athletic Conference appears set to lose Houston, Cincinnati and UCF to the Big 12, where does that leave the league from a basketball perspective?  On this week's episode of the Memphis Basketball Podcast, Tiger basketball beat writer Jason Munz and Commercial Appeal columnist Mark Giannotto dissect the topic, discuss which programs the AAC might want to recruit for its own expansion and get into which programs would help the league's basketball membership most.  Munz and Giannotto also break down the Tigers' 2021-22 non-conference schedule. 

The Memphis basketball offseason has been one wild ride.  And, one way or the other, the season to come is sure to follow suit.  On the long-awaited return of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, The Commercial Appeal's Tiger basketball beat writer Jason Munz and sports columnist Mark Giannotto revisit the highlights of the past five months – the No. 1 recruiting class, the start of the NIL era, Larry Brown, Rasheed Wallace and more – before looking ahead to the Tigers possibly becoming the sport's biggest story in 2021-22. 

The Memphis basketball program sailed into the offseason on the strength of its recent NIT championship run.  The Tigers ran the table at the postseason tournament, beating Dayton, Boise State, Colorado State and Mississippi State to win the crown for the second time (2002).  On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto discuss the significance of the team's strong finish, what was most impressive about its season and how the current roster might change in the coming weeks.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Memphis men's basketball team is back in action Thursday in the quarterfinals of the National Invitation Tournament.  On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, beat writer Jason Munz and sports columnist Mark Giannotto discuss Memphis' opponent (Boise State), break down what the NIT means in the grand scheme of things, and how next year's schedule should be more advantageous for Penny Hardaway's program, despite the direction the AAC is trending.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Selection Sunday was disappointing again for the Memphis basketball program and its fans. The Tigers were left out of the NCAA Tournament field after a 16-8 season. While the team, under third-year coach Penny Hardaway, is a No. 1 seed at the National Invitation Tournament, how should we perceive the program and the direction it is headed?  Beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto discuss that, as well as give their impressions of how things played out at the AAC Tournament last week and look toward the future in this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Tigers have their work cut out for them.  Memphis (15-7), after losing a heartbreaker at Houston to close out the regular season, will be the No. 3 seed at this week's AAC Tournament. The Tigers will face either East Carolina or UCF at 9 p.m. Friday. Chances are, if they win that game, a rematch with the Cougars will be on deck at 4:30 p.m. Saturday.  Can Memphis redeem itself? If so, what must the Tigers do differently in order to ensure a different outcome? If they're able to beat Houston this time, will they have enough left in the tank to win the AAC championship?  Beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto discuss all that and more on this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Memphis basketball team has set itself up for a dramatic conclusion to the regular season.  The Tigers, winners of six straight, are in position to potentially move into the NCAA Tournament field and still has a shot at an AAC title.  But they can't do either of those things without beating No. 7 Houston at 11 a.m. Sunday at the Fertitta Center.  On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto preview the marquee matchup, while also scrutinizing the job the AAC has done from a scheduling standpoint this season and discussing the job Penny Hardaway has done in his third season as Memphis' coach.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Tigers are a dangerous team capable of rattling off a strong enough regular-season finish to legitimately join the NCAA Tournament at-large conversation.  Why? Defense. But will that be enough against the likes of Houston or Wichita State?  On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto dive into what Memphis has to do to position itself on the bubble, breaks down its survive-and-advance win over Tulane and previews the weekend's road game at Cincinnati.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Memphis has won six of seven and is 8-3 in league play for the first time since the 2013-14 season.  But, if the Tigers are going to have a legitimate shot at an at-large bid and get back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since that same 2013-14 season, they have to beat Cincinnati at 6 p.m. Thursday.  Only after that should Memphis start looking toward Sunday's matchup at Houston.  Tiger basketball beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto discuss that, as well as break down the win over East Carolina, talk Penny Hardaway's discovery of his best lineup and preview the Bearcats on this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Memphis has turned its season around in the a matter of 15 days.  The Tigers have gone from a 6-5 record and a bleak outlook on the rest of the year to an 11-6 mark and, all the sudden, clearing a realistic path to the postseason.  Tiger basketball beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto discuss how the team has turned things around, what it needs to do to keep momentum on its side and whether the Tigers can do just that.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the span of a week, the Memphis basketball team has gone from mediocre to having as much momentum as any team in the AAC.  The Tigers have won back-to-back-to-back league games for just the second time in the past two seasons.  Which begs at least a couple of intriguing questions: Is this the best three-game stretch of the Penny Hardaway era? Also, which five factors are the most responsible for Memphis' turnaround?  Beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto attempt to answer these questions and discuss whether the next seven days will be as successful as the last seven have been on this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another loss to Tulsa, a top 75 decommitment and a surprise addition to the current roster.  There's plenty to cover on this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast. Beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto recap the team's loss at Tulsa (and break down what it might have revealed about the future of the 2020-21 season), discuss Arterio Morris' decommitment, analyze Jordan Nesbitt's decision to enroll early and look forward to the next couple of games.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Memphis basketball team's season has been interrupted twice in less than a week by its opponents' issues with COVID-19 testing.  After beating South Florida on Dec. 29, the Tigers do not have a game scheduled until Jan. 14, when they are set to host SMU at 6 p.m. at FedExForum.  On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, beat writer Jason Munz and sports columnist Mark Giannotto recap the latest developments, dissect the team's new offense, discuss how the extended layoff might affect the Tigers and get into what has to happen if they want to have a legitimate shot at an NCAA Tournament berth.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Watching the Tigers this season has been a frustrating experience for some Memphis fans.  The team is 4-3 after another disappointing loss, this time to Auburn. Coach Penny Hardaway took to social media Sunday night, writing in part: "I appreciate the fans who are being patient. It is a marathon and not a sprint." On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto discuss how criticism of Hardaway and his team is warranted in some ways, while not in others. They also dive into the issues still plaguing the Tigers – most notably the lack of an effective point guard and a continued inability to execute consistently.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Defense is the Tigers' strong suit. Three-point shooting is the team's weak spot.  Jayden Hardaway has been Memphis' biggest surprise. Lester Quinones might be the team's best all-around player through six games.  On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto break down these things, as well as dig into other topics such as Landers Nolley II's injury, Memphis' upcoming game against Auburn and what the potential addition of graduate transfer Parker Stewart would mean for the team.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's Tiger Basketball Podcast, beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto discuss whether it's still worth it to play in the Crossover Classic. In addition, Munz and Giannotto react to the news of Isaiah Stokes' one-year suspension, discuss Moussa Cisse and DeAndre Williams' statuses, and break down the impact of James Wiseman and Precious Achiuwa being taken in the first round of the NBA Draft.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.