Tiger Basketball Podcast

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.