NCAA Basketball: Top 25 frontcourts for 2020-21 season
By Ian Mumm
. . . Tigers . 13. team. 451
The signing of 5-star center Moussa Cisse was not only a coup from analyst predictions but an opportunity for Coach Hardaway to run back a roster he never got the chance to fully see in action. The early departure of James Wiseman from the 2019 team, whether you agree with the circumstances or not, undercut one of the most talented rosters in the nation.
Without his presence in the middle and ability to create opportunities for guards on the perimeter, severely altered the momentum the Memphis program had built under the young coach.
Now with Cisse, the Tigers again have a midrange threat with tenacity around the rim and unrelenting love for swatting shots into the stands. Cisse has been working hard to expand his range, but he can make defenses pay away from the rim and will finish many highlight plays via alley-oop.
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If that boost wasn’t enough for Memphis to begin gaining traction again, the signing of Evansville transfer DeAndre Williams should add even more steam. Williams showed he can be an explosive scoring threat in his lone collegiate season, despite only playing half the year. His 64.8% shooting from the field under 30 minutes per game highlighted his ability to heat up fast and put defenses on their heels. Joining a free-flowing offense should help him to continue this torrid scoring pace.
D.J. Jeffries was the only freshman from last year’s class able to breakthrough in the frontcourt, aside from Wiseman and Precious Achiuwa. Jeffries managed to reach double-digits scoring the ball but missed nearly half the season with a knee injury. If he can stay healthy this season, he stands to command a large role in the Tigers offense.
Behind him are sophomores Lance Thomas, Malcolm Dandridge, and redshirt freshman Isaiah Stokes. Despite seeing nearly 20 minutes apiece, Thomas and Dandridge were not priorities within the offense but were heavy presences on the glass. More of the same should be expected this season with so many options positioned in front of them. Penny has reloaded and the Tigers are capable of stacking wins again in 2020.