Episodes
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Finally, the season is here! Setting the stage for Penny Hardaway, Memphis
There are no more exhibition games for Memphis basketball in 2026-27. From now on, everything counts. On this episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, Jason Munz and Jonah Dylan sift through all of the many layers of the Nemanja Popović eligibility ruling and its implications. The specifics of…
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What we're looking for when Memphis basketball faces Mississippi State
Basketball. Actual Memphis basketball. It's been more than seven months since most of us have seen the Tigers in a game setting against another team. But, on Oct. 28, Memphis will face Mississippi State in an exhibition contest at Humphrey Coliseum in Starkville. On this week's episode of the…
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Who are these guys? Get to know every player on the 2026-27 roster
The countdown to the 2026-27 Memphis basketball season is on. The Tigers have preseason exhibition games coming up in a matter of weeks, then tip off the regular season on Nov. 2. Which means it's time. Time to get familiar with the players that coach Penny Hardaway has assembled to get the…
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Reacting to ESPN's 'ceiling' for Penny Hardaway's Tigers
The Memphis basketball team's "ceiling" is 19 wins, a third-place finish in the American Conference and no March Madness appearance, according to ESPN. On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, Jason Munz and Jonah Dylan share their unfiltered reactions to such a take and explain…
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On Memphis football, riding high as much-anticipated home opener awaits
Memphis football is the talk of the town after a buzzworthy defensive performance powered the Tigers to a 27-21 Week 0 win at UNLV. Charles Huff and Co. hope to hit another high note by christening the newly renovated Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium with a win over Arkansas State on Sept. 5. On this...
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What (we think) we know after seeing the Tigers live and how many conference titles Memphis will win in 2026-27
First impressions can be powerful. So, after catching our first in-person glimpse of the 2026-27 Memphis basketball team, Jason Munz and Jonah Dylan are leaning into them. Fresh off observing a portion of the team's summer workouts on July 23, Munz and Dylan parse through their primary takeaways...
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Extended interview: Kendric Davis on his connection with Memphis, the FAU game and the Bryce Cotton rivalry
Kendric Davis recently returned to Memphis for a few days to train with his former coach, Penny Hardaway, and the new Tiger basketball team. On the heels of that visit, the Sydney Kings' superstar point guard sat down for an extended interview with Commercial Appeal reporters Jason Munz and Jonah...
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Nemanja Popović outlook, Jalen Duren's free agency and listener questions
Penny Hardaway is not leaving anything to chance. Hence the pursuit of 24-year-old Serbian center Nemanja Popović, which yielded a commitment from the All-Polish Basketball League first-team selection. All that's left for he and the Tigers is the formal signing. While we await clearance of that...
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The multi-layered significance of Memphis' revenue sharing position and Penny Hardaway's next roster move
There is a high degree of surface-level significance to University of Memphis athletics' plan to fully fund revenue sharing in 2026-27. There are also what feels like a proverbial metric ton of layers to the news that are at least equally significant. Some might argue even more significant. On…
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What will the Memphis basketball starting lineup be on opening day?
The start of Memphis basketball's 2026-27 season is still more than five months away. But coach Penny Hardaway already has everything he needs to start making lineup decisions and rotation choices. Hardaway likely won't officially settle on anything for a long while. After all, summer workouts...
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Unpacking Memphis basketball's place in the overall financial landscape
Does Memphis basketball have enough money to compete in today's day and age? That issue is unequivocally at the forefront of the Tigers' offseason, as coach Penny Hardaway works to retool his roster in hopes of rebounding from a dreadful 13-19 season. On this episode of the Tiger Basketball...
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Digesting Memphis basketball's already newsy offseason and what's next
Intrigue always accompanies the Memphis basketball offseason under coach Penny Hardaway. It hasn't even been a month since the Tigers' 2025-26 season mercifully ended, and the amount of notable developments we're still sorting through and processing is already substantial. And, undoubtedly, there...
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What Penny Hardaway needs more than anything else on his next roster
Despair and desolation. If Penny Hardaway and Memphis basketball are to eradicate the feeling of misery that has enveloped the program, a lot has to happen between now and Nov. 2. Perhaps nothing is more important than getting the roster right. So, how does Hardaway do that? Where did he go wrong...
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How far will Memphis basketball go in American tournament?
The Memphis Tigers won the American Conference Tournament last season. Will they repeat? They'll have to win five games in five days and eliminate four teams more well rested than them to do it. But isn't that the very essence of March Madness? On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball...
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Penny Hardaway isn't making excuses for nosedive. What it might mean
Memphis basketball coach Penny Hardaway, as his team has lost six straight games, has not blamed injuries. He has not cited a lack of resources. He has not hinted at behind-the-scenes drama. Hardaway has, in large part, avoided making excuses. On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball…
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Penny Hardaway isn't looking ahead to next season yet. But we can
Memphis basketball still has four games left in what's been a dreadful regular season. The Tigers have lost four in a row, and there are no objective signs that things will get better before the book on this particular group is finally closed. For those reasons, the number of uncomfortable...
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Why Memphis-Utah State dust-up is healthy and necessary
Who knew the first Memphis basketball-Utah State meeting in history would yield some legitimate theatrics, while also highlighting a broader conversation about the role metrics play in March Madness? While that is unclear, that's sort of what's happened since the Tigers and Aggies met on Feb. 14....
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Tulsa? USF? Memphis? Who's going to win The American?
The American Conference race is as wide open as its been in recent memory. Only one game separates the current top six teams in the standings (as of Feb. 10). Memphis is one of those six teams. And, believe it or not, the Tigers (12-11, 7-4 in league play) are as hot as any of them. Penny...
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Are the Tigers 'back' and is ESPN the new MTV?
Coming off back-to-back home wins, and having won five of its last six games, Penny Hardaway recently declared his Memphis basketball team has finally turned a corner. Can we trust him? Is it safe to even entertain the thought that the Tigers may, in fact, be "back" after they responded to a...
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Are there any buttons left for Penny Hardaway to push with these Tigers?
Memphis basketball was knocked off its perch, tied atop the American Conference standings, in deflating fashion Jan. 11. That's when the Tigers were beaten handily by FAU, sending some fans' emotions into a tailspin. Not necessarily because the team lost one game. But largely because the same...
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How meaningful is rest of regular season for Memphis?
The Tigers are 2-0 in American Conference play, which is good enough for a first-place tie with Tulane and Temple. It's an encouraging start for Penny Hardaway's team, especially considering how shaky some other teams' starts were. But how much does the next nine weeks matter in the grand scheme…
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Special edition: New Memphis football coach arrives in 'Huff City'
Memphis football has officially ushered in the Charles Huff era. The Tigers' new football coach was introduced Dec. 10, when he made clear, "it's time to win a championship." Anything less is a goal unreached. On this special football edition of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, Jonah Dylan and Jason...
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Why the Louisville loss might be a one-off and why it may not be
The Memphis Tigers, nine games into the season, are still searching for a signature win. Maybe they'll get it against No. 12 Vanderbilt on Dec. 17. If so, it could prove that the issues from the monster loss at No. 11 Louisville are correctable. Will Penny Hardaway's team bounce back and get that...
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Memphis and Louisville should play regularly no matter what
The storied Memphis-Louisville basketball rivalry resumes Dec. 13, 2025, after an eight-year hiatus. And, for that, we are thankful. In fact, we should never again be left to wonder when the next time the Tigers and Cardinals will play. They should square off regularly no matter what. In this…
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Is Hasan Abdul Hakim the missing ingredient for Memphis?
Penny Hardaway and his Memphis basketball Tigers are gearing up for an important stretch of games, starting with New Orleans on Dec. 3. It continues with Baylor, then Louisville, Vanderbilt and Mississippi State. And how the team fares might have major March Madness at-large candidacy…
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Memphis basketball, at 1-4, is not a pretty sight. But sit tight
There's only one way to absorb a 1-4 start that includes a four-game losing streak. Recovering from such a thing won't be easy. It may even be impossible. But the Memphis basketball team can dig itself out of the hole it's in. So says Tiger basketball beat writer Jason Munz. On this week's…
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Is it already time to reset your expectations for the Tigers? Joe Lunardi says yes
Memphis basketball has made a name for itself in recent years as a significant threat in non-conference play. From 2021 to 2024, Penny Hardaway's Tigers are 31-8 outside American Conference play in the regular season. That stretch includes wins over UConn, Clemson, Ole Miss, Michigan State,...
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Encouraged or resigned? How Memphis has created two distinct camps
Two games into the regular season, Memphis basketball fans seem to be either heartened by the Tigers' play or resigned to a ho-hum existence that may or may not result in a March Madness appearance. There isn't much in-between. Penny Hardaway has his team off to a 1-1 start with a home win over…
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What do we know about the Tigers with regular season starting? Nothing
The Memphis basketball team lost to Arkansas and Auburn by more than 20 points apiece in a pair of lopsided exhibition games. Are those results harbingers of dark days ahead for the Tigers, who open the regular season against San Francisco (2 p.m., Nov. 8, ESPN+)? Or, are they merely a mirage?…
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New-look Tigers display 'proof of concept' in Arkansas loss
Any discussion about preseason exhibition college basketball should feature a healthy dose of nuance. The Memphis basketball team's 99-75 loss to Arkansas is no exception. The result is the result, but it's far from the most important thing. If nothing else, it did nothing to put a damper on the...
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Setting up John Calipari and Arkansas vs. Penny Hardaway and Memphis
For the first time in more than 20 years, Memphis basketball will host the Arkansas Razorbacks. Sure, it's an exhibition game (part of the second annual Hoops For St. Jude Tip Off Classic). It won't count toward either program's record. It won't help either team in the standings. It won't do...
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Who are these guys? Breaking down the entire 2025-26 Memphis basketball roster
We, here at The Commercial Appeal, recognize it can be difficult to keep up with the vast amount of roster turnover Memphis basketball undergoes each season. But especially this season. All 15 players on Penny Hardaway's 2025-26 roster were members of someone else's roster last season. Top to...
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Memphis has momentum. As football season kicks off, can Tigers keep it going?
Anticipation is building at the University of Memphis. Football season kicks off on Aug. 30. The nationally-ranked women's soccer team is undefeated with a home game against top-5 Tennessee coming up. Penny Hardaway has finalized his roster and his non-conference schedule. And what will…
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Big 12 passes on Memphis again. Where do Tigers go from here?
The Big 12 apparently wants no part of Memphis. The Tigers reportedly put together a pitch to join the power conference that was unprecedented. Yet the Big 12 was so unmoved by it that it did not even rise to the level where the league's presidents put it to a vote. What does that say about the…
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Memphis and the Pac-12: Cutting through conference realignment noise
One piece of the Pac-12 media rights-slash-conference realignment puzzle was put in place on June 23. That's when CBS Sports and the new version of the one-time power league announced they were extending their broadcast partnership through 2031. It is a big step for the Pac-12, whose rebuilding...
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Why House settlement makes things exciting - and scary - for Memphis
The Memphis basketball offseason is usually a fun ride. This year is no exception. Of course, Penny Hardaway has rebuilt his entire roster from scratch - a task that takes into account the transfer of All-American guard PJ Haggerty. There is also the ongoing wait for star big man Dain Dainja's...
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What went wrong vs. Colorado State, PJ Haggerty and the Tigers' road ahead
The Memphis basketball team's offseason began sooner than most expected. And it began sooner than any Tiger or Tiger fan hoped it would. But last week's March Madness loss to Colorado State means this chapter is closed and a new one has already begun. On this week's episode of the Tiger…
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Everyone is picking Colorado State to beat Memphis. Here's why that's ridiculous
The Memphis Tigers are facing the Colorado State Rams Friday in March Madness. Both teams are very good. Both teams are very hot. Both teams have superstar-level talent. Both teams won their conference tournaments. Both teams are well coached. Memphis is a 5-seed, while Colorado State is a…
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PJ Haggerty's 40-burger, Dain Dainja's shoulder and setting up the Tulane game
PJ Haggerty went off Friday at the AAC tournament. Memphis' All-American guard dropped 42 points against Wichita State and the Tigers advanced to the semifinals of the AAC tournament. From Fort Worth (deep inside the bowels of Dickies Arena) Jason Munz and Jonah Dylan react to Haggerty's...
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Will the Tigers be one of the most dangerous teams in the NCAA tournament?
March Madness is upon us. Sure, the Tigers still have their regular-season finale on Friday against South Florida. But, with the AAC tournament up next and the NCAA tournament after that, Memphis is ready for the Madness. On this week's Tiger Basketball Podcast, Jason Munz and Jonah Dylan break...
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Has Dain Dainja become the Tigers' most important player?
The stage is set: Memphis vs. UAB. The 18th-ranked and first-place Tigers will travel to Birmingham Sunday to face the Blazers, who are nipping at their heels with the regular season drawing to a close. On this week's episode, Jason Munz and Jonah Dylan set up the most anticipated AAC matchup of...
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Surveying the damage from Tigers' loss and wondering how they can recover
The Memphis basketball team took a significant body blow by losing at Wichita State last week. But it's not the knockout punch some might think. On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, Jason Munz and Jonah Dylan look back at where things went wrong for Penny Hardaway and his team…
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Will Tyrese Hunter play vs. USF and other burning questions for the Tigers
The Memphis basketball team may or may not have starting point guard Tyrese Hunter on the floor Thursday at South Florida. The 14th-ranked and first-place Tigers (20-4, 10-1 AAC) will make an official decision before tip-off at the Yuengling Center in Tampa. On this week's episode of the Tiger...
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Why is there a disconnect between Memphis' NET ranking and its March Madness projection?
The Tigers have won six games in a row and 10 of their last 11, after beating Tulsa Wednesday. Most NCAA Tournament projections have Penny Hardaway's team as a 4-, 5- or 6-seed. But Memphis' computer-based (metrics) rankings do not match up with that. On this week's episode of the Tiger…
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The most eye-popping thing about Memphis' win over UAB and Dainja, Lendeborg feuding?
The Memphis Tigers packed a lot to like into one basketball game against UAB last week. But what was the most eye-popping part of Penny Hardaway's team's 100-77 win at FedExForum? On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, Jason Munz and Jonah Dylan relive the highlights of Memphis'...
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Why the Tigers don't have the luxury of only focusing on winning and losing
The Memphis basketball team has positioned itself well within the March Madness bracketology landscape. The Tigers are 14-4 and tied for first place in the AAC at 4-1. The Tigers have five Quad 1 wins. The Tigers are currently projected by some as a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament. But wins and...
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The Tigers' sparkling resumé and a conversation about NET rankings
Penny Hardaway's Memphis basketball team largely controls its own March Madness destiny. The Tigers have, so far, put together a near-sterling NCAA Tournament resumé. But the metrics-driven NET rankings don't exactly reflect that, at present. On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball…
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PJ Haggerty: His impact on Tigers and Memphis' impact on him
Penny Hardaway has done it again. The Memphis Tigers coach is developing yet another bona fide superstar, in PJ Haggerty, right before our eyes. The Tulsa transfer has led the way for No. 20 Memphis this season, most recently lifted the team with a highlight-reel, circus, 30-foot 3-pointer to…
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Penny Hardaway says the Tigers are under-ranked. Is he right?
Penny Hardaway's Memphis basketball team is No. 21 in this week's Associated Press Top 25 and 25th in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll. The Tigers are 10-3, and have more Quad 1 and Quad 2 wins (eight) than any other team in the nation. They've beaten UConn, Michigan State, Clemson, Ole Miss, Missouri,...
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Dream big? Penny Hardaway's big-picture goals are well within reach
Memphis basketball coach Penny Hardaway guided the Tigers to a 2-0 ACC road trip over the past week. Because of that, the team is occupying more space in the within the national landscape than perhaps it ever has under Hardaway. Memphis is 9-2 overall with seven of its wins qualifying as valuable...
About this show
The Tiger Basketball Podcast from The Commercial Appeal, hosted by Tiger basketball beat writer Jason Munz and Tiger football beat writer Jonah Dylan.
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