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Memphis Basketball: 2019-20 season preview for the Tigers

By Lukas Harkins

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: Coach Penny watches. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 25: Coach Penny watches. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /

Memphis basketball is facing high expectations this season. How will Penny Hardaway’s core of sensational freshmen attempt to live up to the hype?

Memphis basketball looks poised for a major resurgence during this coming season. Even though the Tigers have been quite solid over the last few years, they have not been as nationally prevalent as they had been in the past. Head coach Penny Hardaway, who is entering his second full season with the program, is looking to change that very quickly. There is a tremendous buzz surrounding the Tigers right now and that is due to their elite-level recruiting.

Coach Hardaway is bringing in the No. 1 overall recruiting class in the country for this year. With seven commits all ranked in the top-115, including the best player in the class, it is easy to see why fans and experts are so excited about this team. While Memphis is bound to be quite young and inexperienced as a result of this huge class, the team will also be among the most talented in the nation.

Most experts have settled on the idea of being “cautiously optimistic” about this team. Their talent level is undeniable but they are going to be very young and their head coach is only in his second season at the college level. To put it simply, Tigers are unproven in just about every way. Still, they belong in the preseason top-25 for this season and they have the opportunity to shoot up the rankings in a hurry.

Memphis fits the mold of being a “boom or bust” team. If they are able to form a cohesive rotation and gel quickly, the Tigers could be right at the forefront of the national title contenders for this season. If they struggle to find early consistency and adjust to the college game, they could fail to reach their lofty goals.

Now, without any further ado, let’s dive into this 2019-20 season preview for the Memphis Tigers.