Losers: Memphis Tigers
It’s early but after winning their first game of the season against the Saint Mary’s Gaels, 73-56, on Wednesday night, the Memphis Tigers dropped two games in a row to mid-major foes in the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and the VCU Rams.
A lot has been said about their recruiting classes and the hiring of head coach Penny Hardaway, but now it’s time to produce on the hardwood. The Memphis Tigers are 44-26 are so far under Hardaway with two 20-win seasons, but things haven’t exactly translated for them in conference play.
This past season, they were 10-8 in the American Athletic Conference, finishing fifth with Houston, Tulsa, and Cincinnati finishing in a three-way tie for first place. In his first season, they went 11-7 in conference action, finishing fifth once again in the AAC standings.
Now, it’s not time to panic for the Tigers just yet, but it’s worth noting, they went 11-2 in non-conference action last season. With less room for error this season and just three more games left in nonconference play, hopefully, the Tigers can turn things around.
On the bright side, sophomore Boogie Ellis and transfer Landers Nolley III are playing well. Ellis is averaging 16.0 points per contest while Nolley is averaging 13.7 points per contest through three games.