Busting Brackets
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Memphis Basketball: Can Tigers live up to preseason hype for 2019-20?

By John Willkom

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: Alex Lomax #2 of the Memphis Tigers attempts to drive past Jaylen McManus #24 of the Charleston Cougars during the game at HP Field House on November 25, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 25: Alex Lomax #2 of the Memphis Tigers attempts to drive past Jaylen McManus #24 of the Charleston Cougars during the game at HP Field House on November 25, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /

Key returners

Tyler Harris is Memphis’s top returning scorer, putting up 10.8 ppg in a freshman campaign that garnered First-Team All-Freshman honors in The American conference. The shifty 5’9” guard set a school record with 79 three-pointers but shot only 31%. With fewer shots to be had, Harris will need to showcase that he can be more efficient and take better care of the basketball (1.09 assist/TO ratio).

Alex Lomax is a Hardaway guy, playing for Penny since the 5th grade and a former teammate of James Wiseman and Malcolm Dandridge at East High School in Memphis. In a somewhat underwhelming freshman campaign, the 6’0” guard started 11 games as a freshman and averaged 5.1 ppg. What Lomax lacks in physical gifts, he makes up for in grit and good decision-making.

With both returning guards standing under six feet, Hardaway will have an interesting decision when it comes to lineups. Look for Memphis to apply more full-court pressure given their guard depth and an elite rim protector in Wiseman.