NCAA Basketball: Loaded field for the 2018 AdvoCare Invitational
Memphis Tigers
Obviously, the biggest news out of Memphis in the offseason was the hiring of former Tigers’ star Penny Hardaway as head coach. The team he inherits won 21 games and reached the semifinals of the American Athletic tournament last season.
They also return their top four scorers, who will all be seniors. Kyvon Davenport, Jeremiah Martin, Kareem Brewton, Jr. and Mike Parks, Jr. averaged 49.4 of the team’s 71 points per contest last season.
That is a good thing for Hardaway, as he will have plenty of leadership to rely on during his first foray into college coaching. He will also see a couple of familiar faces on his bench. Hardaway’s son Jayden is a two-star guard and Alex Lomax is a three-star point guard that played for Hardaway at East High School. In addition to those two, Hardaway landed a trio of other guards in Antwann Jones, Tyler Harris, and David Wingett. For frontcourt help, the Tigers also added 6-10 Isaiah Maurice.
Oklahoma State Cowboys
Despite finishing just 8-10 in the Big 12, Brad Underwood’s Cowboys reached the NIT quarterfinals before their season ended.
The Cowboys do return leading scorer Jeffrey Carroll, who will be a senior. A junior class made up of three guards and three forwards will round out Carroll’s supporting cast. Lindy Waters III and Thomas Dziagwa will be joined by Michael Weathers, who becomes eligible after transferring, averaged over 16 points, four rebounds, and four assists for Miami (OH).
Other newcomers joining the Cowboys this season are guard Mike Cunningham, who transferred from USC-Upstate, and a frontcourt quartet of 6-foot-8 Duncan Demuth, 6-foot-10 Kentrevious Jones, 6-foot-10 Yor Anei and 6-foot-9 Maurice Calloo.