Busting Brackets
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Memphis Basketball: Preview of Tigers 2020-21 depth chart

By Jason Burgess

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)
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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PORTLAND, OREGON – NOVEMBER 12: during the first half of the game Damion Baugh #10 of the Memphis Tigers  (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OREGON – NOVEMBER 12: during the first half of the game Damion Baugh #10 of the Memphis Tigers  (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /

The Tigers backcourt needs to be more consistent

Point Guard

The point guard position is by far the biggest question mark on this Memphis team. Coach Hardaway’s offense excels in transition but gets bogged down in the half-court and with just two primary ball handlers on the team.

Sophomore Damion Baugh and the team’s elder statesman junior Alex Lomax, a lot of the team’s improvement on offense will depend on the improvement of these two, as they combined for a turnover percentage of over 60% last season. Baugh should get the starting nod, with Lomax coming off the bench, but for the Tigers to improve the two guys with the ball in their hands the most, have to take better care of it.

Shooting Guard

The other two starting guard spots in Memphis’ three-guard line up should go to another pair of returning sophomores, Boogie Ellis and Lester Quinones. The duo is the 2nd and 3rd top returning scorers for the Tigers, having averaged nearly 19 points per game last season. Quinones was off to a solid start, starting the first six games of the season before a hand injury cost him most of December.

Ellis had an up-and-down season in his first year, showing glimpses of someone who can take over games, and then having stretches where he struggled. For the Tigers, a more experienced Ellis and a healthy Quinones gives Memphis a three-headed monster in the backcourt as good as anyone in the conference.

As far as guard depth, there is little to speak of. Jayden Hardaway, Penny’s son averaged just seven minutes per game as a freshman and the 6’5 guard is likely to see a big jump in minutes this season, but it remains to be seen whether that will be a good thing or a not.

Wildcard

There is an ace up the sleeve when it comes to the Memphis backcourt, but it remains to be seen if Virginia Tech transfer Landers Nolley II will be eligible this season. The 6’7 Nolley who led the Hokies in scoring with 15.5 points, was second on the team with 5.8 rebounds and dished out 2.4 assists last season could alleviate some of the depth questions and give them another ball-handler in addition to adding to Memphis’ length all over the floor. Having Nolley could push Ellis to the bench, lengthening the options there as well.