NCAA Basketball: 5 programs set to dominate the next decade (2020-29)

Memphis Tigers

Memphis is experiencing a resurrection of sorts in head coach Penny Hardaway’s second year, as they’re currently 12-1 and ranked No. 9 in the country. In doing so, Hardaway and the program have answered any and all questions about their long-term viability.

Hardaway has already done the biggest thing he was hired to do – reinvigorate fan interest and excitement around the Memphis program – and he’s recruiting at a high level and winning games at a high clip.

His first recruiting class was ranked No. 1 in the country, headlined by the nation’s top prospect in James Wiseman, by accomplishing two things. He kept all the city’s best prospects and also reeled in high-level prospects from across the country.

Hardaway has also answered questions about his ability as an on-court coach as most of Memphis’ wins have come without Wiseman, who only played in three games before being suspended and then opting to leave school. The Tigers are undefeated without their star big man, largely due to their ability to play shorthanded.

Given the way they’ve proved themselves in all these areas, it’s hard to imagine this program losing relevancy any time soon.

That obviously depends on how long Hardaway stays at Memphis (though a potential successor can certainly do well, too), but their rise back to the top of the college basketball world appears to only be just beginning. If Hardaway continues to recruit at a high level, the Tigers could become a consistent top 10 team in the 2020’s.