Big 12 Basketball: Top 5 candidates to join league in potential realignment
By Joey Loose
3. Memphis
Passed over for the Big East during the last cycle of realignment, Memphis has only strengthened their resume for prospective power conferences in recent years. The football program is in their greatest stretch of play in program history, fresh off a 12-win season, and things are looking good for basketball under coach Penny Hardaway.
Memphis football was not going to sell anyone on a conference change, but the recent success will certainly quell some concerns. Successful coaches Justin Fuente and Mike Norvell have both moved to other programs, but they’ve left behind a program in great shape. There’s no guarantee they would be immediately competitive against these elite Big 12 programs, but the concerns are certainly lessened.
The golden days for Memphis basketball were earlier in the century, but Hardaway could have this program among the best in the Big 12 if they swapped conferences. Geographically, Memphis is much closer to the rest of the conference than a team like West Virginia, so it actually makes great sense for the league. Pairing Memphis with a football power would give the Big 12 a pretty great group of schools for both sports.