Memphis Basketball: Preview of Tigers 2020-21 depth chart

PORTLAND, OREGON - NOVEMBER 12: Head coach Penny Hardaway of the Memphis Tigers speaks with his team during a time out during the second half of the game against the Oregon Ducks at Moda Center on November 12, 2019 in Portland, Oregon. Oregon won the game 82-74. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /

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MEMPHIS, TN – MARCH 05: Alex Lomax #2, Damion Baugh #10, Precious Achiuwa #55, Isaiah Maurice #14, Lester Quinones #11 of the Memphis Tigers huddle together (Photo by Joe Murphy/Getty Images)”n /

Memphis Basketball’s season didn’t go as planned last year, but with another year’s experience for the young roster, 2020-21 could be better. Here’s a look at the Tigers’ roster.

What a difference a year can make. Last summer, Memphis Basketball was the talk of the college basketball world, with a young star-in-the-making coach in Penny Hardaway and the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class loaded and lauded with freshmen. But, three games in, James Wiseman decided to concentrate on the NBA, and key injuries derailed a hopeful season.

Now in his third season with the Tigers, with expectations tempered and a roster that is a year older, Hardaway is hoping for much more success this season.

Last season Memphis won 21 games but went just 10-8 in the American, which was good enough for just 5th place. In addition to losing Wiseman, freshman big man Precious Achuiwa also left for the NBA but, five of the other freshmen in that star-studded class have returned for their sophomore season and this season’s success will be predicated on how many of those players are able to take another step forward in their development this year and how big of a step that is.

This season the Memphis roster doesn’t have nearly as many young additions as last season, but Hardaway got big addition late this summer when big man Moussa Cisse picked Memphis over many other high-major teams.

The lack of experience seemed to be a big problem for Memphis last season, now with everyone a year older, that isn’t a reason to fall back on this season. Here’s how this iteration of the Tigers has a deep and hopefully, for them, reliable rotation.