Memphis basketball continues to land big players from the Transfer Portal and plans to be the top dog of the AAC.
The tradition continues! CBB Review is again ranking the top 100 teams heading into the new college basketball season. We will reveal the next team each day until we reach the team slotted at number one. Up next: Memphis basketball.
As more things change, things stay the same. Coach Penny Hardaway is again shrouded in a dark cloud as a letter alludes to severe issues for the Memphis basketball coach. The letter alleges that has been brought up previously that Hardaway paid to secure players between 2020 and 2022 ahead of Name, Image, and Likeness. This is a lesser issue than stated later in the letter covering allegations of academic misconduct. This misconduct included coaches paying for students to complete the assignments for the basketball players struggling with grades. Shortly after this letter, Coach Hardaway let go of four basketball staffers, including Rick Stansbury, Mike Davis, Faragi Phillips, and Jamie Rosser.
The heavy senior team from last year is gone. Returning no starters, this Memphis Tigers team is again highly talented. Coach Hardaway plucked two of the best players around the AAC, Colby Rogers and PJ Haggerty. The team also has a couple of immense talents, including Dain Dainja and Tyrese Hunter. The Tigers continue to beat out teams for talented players and clearly have one of the best recruiting stats around the NCAA.
Click here to learn more about our preseason top 100 teams heading into the 2024-25 college basketball season.
Head coach: Penny Hardaway (5th season)
2023-24 record: 22-10 (11-7)
2024 postseason finish: No postseason
Notable departures:
- Jahvon Quinerly (13.5 PPG, 4.9 APG, 3.3 RPG, 34.5 3P%)
- David Jones (21.8 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 1.8 APG, 2.2 SPG, 38.0 3P%)
- Jaykwon Walton (8.3 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.2 SPG)
- Nae’Qwan Tomlin (14.0 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 0.7 APG, 1.1 BPG, 60.1 FG%)
- Caleb Mills (7.9 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 1.4 APG, 0.8 SPG, 36.7 3P%)
- Malcolm Dandridge (8.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 0.7 APG, 1.4 BPG, 61.0 FG%)
https://x.com/Memphis_MBB/status/1836119398450594166
Notable non-conference games:
- vs. Missouri (Nov. 4)
- at UNLV (Nov. 9)
- at San Francisco (Nov. 21)
- vs. UConn (Nov. 25)
- vs. Colorado OR Michigan State (Nov. 26)
- Maui Invitational (Nov. 27)
- at Clemson (Dec. 14)
- at Virginia (Dec. 18)
- vs. Mississippi State (Dec. 21)
- vs. Ole Miss (Dec. 28)
Projected Rotation
PG: Tyrese Hunter (6-0, 178, Sr.)
2023-24 stats: 11.1 PPG, 4.1 APG, 2.9 RPG, 1.3 SPG (Texas)
SG: PJ Haggerty (6-3, 192, So.)
2023-24 stats: 21.2 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 3.8 APG, 1.9 SPG (Tulsa)
SF: Colby Rogers (6-5, 190, RS Sr.)
2023-24 stats: 16.4 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.0 SPG, 40.9 3P% (Wichita State)
PF: Dain Dainja (6-9, 270, Sr.)
2023-24 stats: 6.1 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 0.2 APG, 66.9 FG% (Illinois)
C: Moussa Cisse (6-10, 220, Rs.-Sr.)
2023-24 stats: 4.5 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 0.3 APG, 1.4 BPG, 55.8 FG% (Ole Miss)
6: Tyreek Smith (6-7, 220, Gr.-Sr.)
2023-24 stats: 8.2 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 0.5 APG, 1.0 SPG, 58.4 FG% (SMU)
7: Nick Jourdain (6-8, 205, Sr.)
2023-24 stats: 6.5 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 1.2 APG, 40.5 3P%
8: P.J. Carter (6-5, 175, Sr.)
2023-24 stats: 9.5 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 0.9 APG, 40.3 3P% (UTSA)
9: Baraka Okojie (6-3, 175, So.)
2023-24 stats: 8.1 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 2.4 APG, 1.4 SPG (George Mason)
Memphis Basketball team MVP: PJ Haggerty
One of the not-so-surprising transfers was an impressive “freshman” from Tulsa, PJ Haggerty. Looking at the offense, any onlooker could see that Haggerty was something different. He is a shooter and creates shots for himself and others. Being the player that defenses focused on, Haggerty led the AAC in points per game with 23.4 last year, behind only David Jones in points. He was in the top ten in assists, steals, field goal percentage, and impressive free throw attempts and free throws. Haggerty was going into the teeth of defenses and coming up with points in any way he could. This year, he is with the other offensive weapons on this team. The most extensive help for Haggerty will be the other potential MVP for the team, Colby Rogers. Colby Rogers is a 3-point specialist and will take heat away from Haggerty or give him an outlet. Outside of Rogers, the bigs on this team can isolate and create space in Dain Dainja and Moussa Cisse.
PJ Haggerty is a contributor on both ends of the floor. His offense is impressive; the in-depth stats where he is in the top ten include effective field goal percentage, true shooting percentage, player efficiency rating, win shares, offensive win shares, box plus/minus, points produced per game, and offensive ratings. While this makes him impressive in the area, Coach Hardaway is more impressed by what he did on the other end of the floor. Haggerty was top ten in steals and top five in steals per game, defensive win share, steal percentage, and was AAC’s Rookie of the Year.
Memphis Basketball make-or-break player: PJ Carter
This player could play some massive minutes for the Memphis Tigers. Carter played for a team that relied heavily on certain players. He will have space to grow as a potential rotation player. Carter could even be a starter by the end of the year. His ability to score adds more depth, and this team’s offensive ability is just impressive. Carter looks like Caleb Mills from last year in his potential role. The toss-up between him and Colby Rogers could cause issues for many teams. The pure size of these two players, Carter can sneak up on teams. He was “considered” a starter but only played just twenty minutes a game. In average minutes, Carter put up an impressive stat line behind Tucker, Ivy-Curry, Dre Fuller, and Isaiah Wyatt.
Key analytic: Defensive rebounding
The glaring issue for Penny Hardaway’s team is their defensive rebounding. Last year, the Tigers ranked 339th in defensive rebounding. This year, there will be a massive shift after a strong showing on the offensive end; this team has perimeter players who will snatch up loose balls. Teams that would miss from deep and have long rebounds, this team was more prepared for that with players from worse offenses last year. If that is the case, these players will want to limit the opponent to one shot per possession. The talent on this team is quick, long, and has some bounce. It will improve if Coach Hardaway maintains the adjusted tempo for the Tigers. Last year, Memphis basketball was the 20th in adjusted tempo; this speed will wear down opponents.
Memphis Basketball 2024-25 projections
Projected conference finish: 1st in the AAC
Projected postseason ceiling: NCAA Tournament Round of 32 Exit