Busting Brackets
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Memphis Basketball: Tigers building recruiting powerhouse under Hardaway

By Josh Stevens

MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 01: Head coach Penny Hardaway of the Memphis Tigers reacts against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the HoopHall Miami Invitational at American Airlines Arena on December 1, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 01: Head coach Penny Hardaway of the Memphis Tigers reacts against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the HoopHall Miami Invitational at American Airlines Arena on December 1, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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ORLANDO, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 25: Penny Hardaway, head coach of the Memphis Tigers, watches the action during the game against the Charleston Cougars at HP Field House on November 25, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 25: Penny Hardaway, head coach of the Memphis Tigers, watches the action during the game against the Charleston Cougars at HP Field House on November 25, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /

Penny Hardaway the soon to be second-year head coach is building what could be the next mid-major great in Memphis Basketball.

While Memphis Basketball has never been a bad school in recent history they have struggled to a certain degree. The last time they had a losing record was in the 1999-2000 season, but they have not made the NCAA tournament in quite some time dating back to 2014 when they were coached by Josh Pastner who is currently coaching at Georgia Tech. They have had moderate success for a mid-major program as the AAC typically send two or three schools to the big dance a year.

The Tigers had the same record in 2019 as they did in 2018, but they just played flat out better. They were competitive in almost every game, while even pushing the Houston Cougars to the edge in the semifinals in the AAC tournament. They did not have the talent this season to truly make a push to the NCAA tournament, but next season could be completely different for them. Hardaway has brought in one of the top recruiting classes this season, and it still has a lot of potential to grow even more.

I will talk about each of the people he has already signed, and also take a look at some of the other athletes he has a chance to sign here in the near future.