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Memphis Basketball: Projected starting lineup and depth chart for 2021-22 season

By Greg Waddell

Ypsi Prep forward Emoni Bates (21) dunks against SPIRE Academy during the second half at Central Academy in Ann Arbor, Saturday, March 13, 2021.
Ypsi Prep forward Emoni Bates (21) dunks against SPIRE Academy during the second half at Central Academy in Ann Arbor, Saturday, March 13, 2021. /
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New Castle’s Jalen Duren Memphis Basketball Jalen Duren
New Castle’s Jalen Duren Memphis Basketball Jalen Duren /

Center

Starter: Jalen Duren

After reclassifying into the 2021 class, Duren committed to Memphis and altered the course of next season for the Tigers.

Duren arrives on campus as one of the more physically-ready front court prospects in years. At 6’10”, 230 pounds, Duren has shown the ability to completely dominate the paint at the prep level and also switch onto perimeter scorers and lock them down.

It was actually Duren who overtook his future teammate Emoni Bates for the #1 spot in the 2022 recruiting class after Duren’s Team Final defeated Bates Fundamentals in a game in which Duren took the challenge of guarding Bates and made some critical game-clinching plays.

Duren will be productive as a college center because of his motor and stature alone. It remains to be seen if his skill level will be able to dominate against more bruising collegiate centers. 20-25 minutes per night seems like the floor for Duren, as there isn’t a ton of competition for the spot on the roster.

Bench: Malcolm Dandridge

Dandridge is a prototypical backup center at the college level. In 50 appearances in two seasons at Memphis, he has started only four games and played 20 minutes or more only five times.

Dandridge is a catch and finish big who has shot 60% from the floor on his career. He can make an impact when he isn’t asked to do too much, and with Duren in the fold and all the scoring talent on the wing, Dandridge is set up for success in the same primary backup role he has played for two seasons.

Memphis’ talent is that of a top five team in the country heading into next season.  But there are legitimate questions such as:

  • is there a quality point guard?
  • how can the five best players on the team play together?
  • are there too many cooks in the kitchen?

And maybe most importantly, can a Penny Hardaway-led team reach its ceiling?

There’s simply too much talent on the roster to miss the NCAA Tournament again, but I also believe there will be headaches at times throughout the year.

Next. Top 25 team frontcourts heading into 2021-22. dark

An AAC championship should be attainable and a 3-4 seed in the NCAA Tournament seems likely.

I’ll set the way too early over/under at 1.5 NCAA Tournament wins, and I’ll be taking the under.