AAC Basketball: Way-too-early power rankings for 2022-23 season
By Joey Loose
2. Memphis
Last year, blue-chip prospects Jalen Duren and Emoni Bates gave Memphis heightened expectations, but Penny Hardaway’s team failed to live up, finishing 22-11 and falling in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Still, the Tigers made their first Tourney in eight years and are looking in great shape, especially this year when they’re depending less on freshman talent.
With Duren off to the NBA and Bates likely heading to Louisville, the Tigers will lean more heavily on seniors like DeAndre Williams (11.1 ppg, 5.8 rpg last year) and Chandler Lawson. Memphis gets a big boost from scoring guard Kendric Davis and wing Elijah McCadden, who starred the last few seasons at SMU and Georgia State respectively. The Tigers also add some depth from a few freshman recruits, including Johnathan Lawson and big man Sam Ayomide.
The expectations aren’t quite as high this season in Memphis, but this is still a very solid roster. Hardaway’s club has played elite defense these last few seasons and this team has the potential to continue that trend. It’s been a sloppiness hanging onto the basketball that’s doomed the Tigers in recent years; if a senior-laden lineup filled with experience can fix that issue, then this team could surprise some people this season.