Memphis Basketball Outlook and Expectations
Behind the one-two punch of Bates and Duren, the Memphis Tigers should be a surefire NCAA Tournament team. Along with this projection, Hardaway’s squad should be among the contenders for an American regular-season title. They will primarily have to compete with a Houston Cougars program that made the Final Four last season.
There are some other solid teams in the American that could present some issues, but it will likely be a two-team race when all is said and done. The Tigers have a higher ceiling than Houston, but the Cougars have a proven defensive system and return pretty much their entire core from last year’s team.
It remains to be seen how the lack of a true high-level point guard will affect Memphis, if at all. Having a player like Emoni Bates can mitigate some of those concerns, and the Tigers are uniquely equipped to play a less-traditional style with him on the roster. In any case, Hardaway needs to determine who the offensive initiators will be for this team to avoid an isolation-heavy style that will hamper team-oriented play.
Perhaps the biggest question entering the 2021-22 season for Memphis is Penny Hardaway’s coaching. Based on talent alone, the Tigers are potentially a top-five team in the nation. However, Hardaway needs to prove he can get these pieces to mesh well on the court such that this talent is maximized. He hasn’t made the NCAA Tournament since becoming the Tigers head coach, and the pressure is on more than ever with the roster he has constructed. Entering his fourth season, there are no excuses this time.
Overall, look for Memphis Basketball to be a consistent top-20 team this season and compete for an American Conference title. There is a myriad of potential issues that could prevent this team from hitting their ceiling, but it’s nice to be able to fall back on blue-chip prospects like Bates and Duren. Time to see what Penny Hardaway can do.