Memphis Basketball: Preview of Tigers 2020-21 depth chart

The Tigers frontcourt is an area of depth

Memphis may not have been as good offensively as the talent would’ve suggested last season, but they certainly were defensively, ranking 5th in the country in defensive efficiency on KenPom. Achiuwa was a big part of that, but the frontcourt should again be a strength for Memphis. Cisse is the big addition here to a frontcourt that can bring length and disruption to opponents in waves.

Cisse is a 6’10 big man with a pterodactyl wingspan of 7’4 who will make opponents think twice about entering the paint. He also has the athleticism to get out in transition and run for the Tigers, he should slide into the starting line up next to the team’s top returning scorer D. J. Jeffries and his 10.8 points from last season.

With no Achiuwa or Wiseman, Jeffries is also the team’s top returning rebounder with 4.3 per game, grabbing defensive rebounds in order to get out and run will be important.

The Memphis bench will be full of options for Hardaway to mix and matches as he pleases, with his four reserve forwards being 6’8 or taller. The two returnees, sophomore Malcolm Dandridge and redshirt junior Lance Thomas both saw limited minutes last season, and both are more valuable on the defensive end than they are on offense at this point in their careers.

Isaiah Stokes becomes eligible this season after transferring from Florida, the 6’8 250lb. forward is another guy who is a force defensively. Joining Stokes is junior Ahmad Rand who comes to Memphis from Junior College where the 6’8 forward, and you should see a trend by now, led the country in blocked shots. They say defense doesn’t slump and Memphis’ frontcourt certainly has the pieces to make sure it stays that way next season.

Wildcard

Much like the backcourt, the Memphis frontcourt has a potential wildcard that is awaiting word from the NCAA about whether he will be eligible. Deandre Williams is a 6’9 sophomore who starred for Evansville last season with 15 points, seven rebounds, and 2.7 assists while shooting nearly 65% from the field in the 18 games he played before deciding to transfer.

The Houston native also has the ability to step out and knock down the three, hitting over 45% of his attempts last season.

If he becomes eligible, I would expect him to be the first forward off the bench for Memphis, but that could easily change, with Jeffries, Cisse, and Williams as his top three forwards, Hardaway could use any number of combinations.