Memphis Basketball: 2021-22 season preview and outlook for Tigers
By Karl Heiser
Memphis Basketball enters the 2021-22 season with a huge infusion of talent
The major storyline surrounding the Memphis Basketball program following this offseason is head coach Penny Hardaway’s continued recruiting wizardry. This summer dramatically improved the Tigers’ projections entering 2021-22.
Hardaway’s No. 1 overall 2021 recruiting class is his second No. 1 class in three years after he landed the nation’s top 2019 class. The Tigers add six recruits and three transfers to this year’s squad, per 247Sports. Foremost among these newcomers are two five-star prospects in Emoni Bates and Jalen Duren. Both players reclassified from 2022 to 2021 to join Memphis for this season, each remaining a top-five prospect in their new class.
Returners Landers Nolley, Lester Quinones, and DeAndre Williams will be important pieces this season, as well as Miami transfer Earl Timberlake. Based on raw talent alone, Memphis will have one of the most impressive groups in the country.
Last season, the Tigers went 20-8 overall and 11-4 in the AAC. They missed the 2021 NCAA Tournament, but they won the 2021 NIT as the No. 1 seed. With the new talent entering the fold, look for them to make the NCAA Tournament field for the first time in Hardaway’s tenure. Memphis will play some quality teams in their non-conference schedule to prepare them for AAC play and March to follow.
Things are certainly looking up for Memphis, and they are largely expected to finish as one of the top teams in the American Conference. Let’s take a look at their projected starters for this upcoming season.