Memphis Tigers Basketball

Nineteen years ago, John Calipari led Memphis to an NIT championship to kick off the strongest period in school history.

Penny Hardaway will hope history repeats itself.

Champs! pic.twitter.com/lXBRLodyLQ

— Memphis Basketball (@Memphis_MBB) March 28, 2021

Boogie Ellis scored 23 points and D.J. Jeffries added 15 points and five blocks off the bench, leading Memphis to a 77-64 win over Mississippi State to take the 2021 NIT.

This is the second NIT title in program history, joining the 2002 Calipari squad. The Tigers would make the NCAA tournament in six of the next seven seasons, thanks in part to the momentum Calipari created with that NIT run.

Memphis has not reached the NCAA tournament since 2014, a streak many expected to end when Hardaway took over before the 2018-19 season. However, James Wiseman's arrival was abruptly ended last season, and the program hasn't quite recruited at the level some expected with Hardaway leading the fold.

These Tigers reinvented themselves midway through the season, going 10-3 in their last 13 games of the regular season to narrowly miss the tournament. Two of those three losses came against Houston, a team that reached the Elite Eight over the weekend.

Memphis carried that momentum to North Texas for the NIT, winning three of its four games by double digits. The only close call was a three-point victory over Boise State in the Tigers' second game.

Memphis ran out to a 13-0 run to start the game against Ben Howland's Mississippi State team on Sunday, though the Tigers weren't able to keep that lead. The Bulldogs had evened the score at 33 by the break before Memphis pulled away with a stellar offensive performance in the second half.

Cameron Matthews led the way with 19 points for Mississippi State, which was playing in its first NIT final. 

Former NBA star Penny Hardaway has signed a five-year contract extension to continue as the head coach at the University of Memphis, the school announced Monday. 

The deal will pay out $12.25 million through the 2025-26 season.

Hardaway, who attended Memphis, has coached the Tigers since 2018. 

Penny Hardaway on his five-year extension: “Obviously I did not do this for the money. I did it for the love of my city and the love of my school. We have unfinished business.” pic.twitter.com/6hv4xLUW2W

— John Martin (@JohnMartin929) December 21, 2020

In an Instagram story, Hardaway acknowledged the extension but noted his return had nothing to do with the money.

Hardaway, who previously coached at the high school and AAU levels in the area following his retirement from the league in 2008, brought Memphis to a 22-14 season when he took over for Tubby Smith. Last season, he brought in a group of recruits that was ranked No. 1 nationwide, leading to a 21-10 campaign.

One of those recruits was James Wiseman, who was drafted No. 2 overall by the Golden State Warriors, though Wiseman only played three games for the Tigers when he was handed a suspension by the NCAA for accepting money from Hardaway that helped fund a move to Memphis in 2017. Hardaway was considered a booster by the governing body because of a donation he made in 2008, per ESPN's Jeff Borzello.

"Coaching at Memphis is my dream job," Hardaway said. "I'm so thankful for the board of trustees, President Rudd, Laird Veatch and all of our loyal donors and fans for their continued support. Memphis basketball is in the national spotlight, and we are continuing to get better and better every day. The future is bright for the Tigers."

The Tigers are 5-3 so far this season. 

Memphis continues to add top prospects with 2022 guard Arterio Morris the latest to commit to the school.

Jason Munz of the Memphis Commercial Appeal reported the news of Tuesday's verbal commitment.

Morris is considered a 5-star recruit and the No. 21 overall prospect in his class by the 247Sports composite rankings. He is rated as the fifth-best combo guard in the country.

The 6'3", 175-pound player has good athleticism for his age with the ability to attack the rim with consistency. His play was enough to pick up double-digit offers after just his sophomore season of high school, including from Kansas and Oregon.

The Texas native ended up choosing Memphis, giving head coach Penny Hardaway another top option for the AAC school.

Memphis had the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation in 2019, including top prospect James Wiseman, although he eventually withdrew from the school after a suspension from the NCAA. The squad had an up-and-down season without him while finishing with a 21-10 record.

The Tigers added 5-star prospect Moussa Cisse for the 2020 class, while Morris now gives the team a head start for 2022 with plenty of time to add more.

Moussa Cisse has chosen to stay home as the Memphis, Tennessee, native will be joining head coach Penny Hardaway's Memphis Tigers.

The 6'10" center told Jonathan Givony of ESPN: 

"Coach Penny Hardaway is a legend and can help me develop my game and take it to the next level. He has a lot of influence in the league. I've been in Memphis for a year now and everyone is telling me to stay. With all this stuff we're facing with the pandemic, I didn't get to go visit any other schools except Florida State. I'm getting a lot of love from the fans."

He also said he received an endorsement from former teammate Precious Achiuwa, who spent last year with the Tigers.

Cisse, who plays ball at Lausanne Collegiate School in Memphis, was ranked as the ninth-best 2020 prospect in the 247Sports composite rankings. The native of Guinea is among 27 5-star recruits.

Though he was originally part of the 2021 class, Cisse told Givony in May that he reclassified as a member of the class of 2020, making the 220-pound shot-blocker eligible to play NCAA basketball in the 2020-21 season. He'll also be eligible for the 2021 NBA draft.

He had 16 offers, with the finalists including LSU, Georgia, Georgetown, Kentucky and Florida State. But the arrow pointed toward Memphis, with 247Sports' prediction leaning in that direction prior to the announcement.

Jerry Meyer, who is 247Sports' director of college basketball scouting, compared Cisse to Washington Wizards big man Thomas Bryant and offered the following report in January:

"Has a slender build with a long wingspan. Plays with energy and chip on his shoulder. Is a mobile athlete who will chase down the ball. Quality finisher around the rim. Is a tremendous rebounder. Limited in his offensive skill set at this point. Tough defender who is a top-level shot-blocker. First-rounder on length, athleticism and energy. Must develop offensive skills to be an impact NBA player."

Meyer also wrote that he believed Cisse would be a first-round NBA draft pick.

A Memphis man was arrested and charged with attempted murder after an alleged shooting that stemmed from an argument about University of Memphis head basketball coach Penny Hardaway. 

Per Eryn Taylor of WREG in Memphis, Tyrone Taylor is said to have shot his cousin in the chest after the two got into a debate "over whether or not Hardaway was a good coach."

Police responded to a call on July 3, when the alleged victim said the fight began as a "verbal altercation" before escalating to a point where Taylor "allegedly punched the man in the face before pulling out a gun and firing."

WREG's report noted that Taylor was formally charged with attempted second-degree murder, employment of a firearm and being a convicted felon in possession of a gun after being taken into custody on July 9. 

Hardaway was hired as the Tigers head coach in March 2018. He has gone 43-24 in two years and guided the team into the Associated Press Top 10 during the 2019-20 season for the first time since 2011-12. 

 

Mike Miller has resigned from his position as an assistant men's basketball coach on Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway's staff at the University of Memphis. 

In a post on Twitter, Miller wrote the "past few months have made me realize that it's time to spend more time focused on family and wherever the journey will take me next."

THANK YOU #GTG pic.twitter.com/pLKJ4vUKML

— Mike Miller (@MikeMiller_13) June 3, 2020

Miller has been a key member of Hardaway's staff for the past two seasons, with Evan Daniels of 247Sports noting he was the lead recruiter for Precious Achiuwa, Lester Quinones and Boogie Ellis.

"We will stay in touch, and I'm looking forward to him attending practices from time to time," Hardaway said in a statement after Miller announced his resignation, per Jason Munz of the Memphis Commercial Appeal. 

Miller has been an assistant at Memphis since Hardaway's first season with the school in 2018-19. 

In their two seasons with the Tigers, Miller and Hardaway turned the program into a recruiting hotbed. They had the top-ranked class in 2019, led by James Wiseman, per 247Sports' composite rankings. 

Memphis began the 2019-20 season ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 for the first time since 2013-14 and climbed as high as No. 9. 

Prior to working as an assistant coach, Miller had a successful 17-year NBA career from 2000 to '17. He won two NBA titles with the Miami Heat in 2011-12 and 2012-13 and was named Sixth Man of the Year during the 2005-06 season while playing with the Memphis Grizzlies.    

Memphis athletic director Laird Veatch said men's basketball coach Penny Hardaway should not have held workouts with NBA draft prospect RJ Hampton given protocols in place amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 

"Coach Hardaway reached out to help a player he had built a relationship with in preparation for the upcoming NBA draft process," Veatch said, per Mark Giannotto of the Memphis Commercial Appeal (h/t USA Today). "Everyone in our program now recognizes that having any player development in the building is not in line with our current COVID-19 protocols, and it will not happen again until protocols have changed."

Giannotto noted the University of Memphis is conducting classes virtually and has only allowed students in the athletic facilities if they are rehabbing injuries.

Hampton played professionally for the New Zealand Breakers of Australia's National Basketball League but once strongly considered Memphis during his college recruitment.

Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman projected Hampton as the No. 12 overall pick in a recent mock draft, highlighting his athleticism, ability to facilitate the break in transition and "enough shot-making and ball-screen playmaking to feel confident in his potential to create, score and pass at an adequate level in the half court."

As for Hardaway, he has been the Memphis men's basketball coach since the start of the 2018-19 season and has already developed a reputation as a formidable recruiter.

He landed the No. 1 recruiting class in the country in 2019, per 247Sports' composite rankings.

The former Orlando Magic point guard led the Tigers to a 22-14 record in his first season and 21-10 mark in his second. They were on the bubble to make the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2014 this past season until the Big Dance was cancelled because of the coronavirus.

Precious Achiuwa is moving on from college basketball and declaring for the NBA draft on Friday, according to basketball writer Jeff Goodman.

The forward played one season at Memphis in which he averaged 15.8 points, 10.8 rebounds and 1.0 assist en route to being named AAC Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year.

A 247Sports 5-star recruit, Achiuwa was part of a monster recruiting class for the Tigers and first-year head coach Penny Hardaway, teaming up with Lester Quinones and James Wiseman in what was supposed to be a new era for Memphis. That didn't quite happen. Wiseman left school early in the season after the NCAA began investigating his eligibility, and the Tigers ended up finishing fifth in their conference.

The native of Queens, New York, figures to become a first-round draft pick soon enough. Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman has Achiuwa going 14th overall, while Sam Vecenie of The Athletic has him a bit higher up at No. 12 in his Mock Draft 4.0:

"Achiuwa in the past has fashioned himself as more of a combo forward, but his measurements are well in line with that of a center. At Hoop Summit last year, he came in at 6-foot-9 with a 7-foot-2 wingspan and a 9-foot standing reach. That's well in line with guys like Bam Adebayo. I wouldn't advocate for him to solely play center, but I think that's the best place for him to get a marginal advantage on his skills. He's a good athlete with quick reactivity who consistently just plays at his absolute maximum effort level. He needs to improve his skill level as a passer and shooter, but the physical tools are there for him to be an impact player in the frontcourt."

In what's been routinely described as a weak draft pool, it certainly made sense that Achiuwa would try going pro this summer.

With most coaches and scouts likely relying on analyzing game film and talking to college staffs as the coronavirus pandemic alters the predraft process, Achiuwa can let his play speak for itself. That should put him in prime position to hear his name called early when the draft kicks off.

With the second week of conference tournaments heating up, college basketball is that much closer to its shining moment (if you'll forgive the pun).

Through Monday night, six of the 32 automatic bids were accounted for: Liberty (Atlantic Sun), Winthrop (Big South), Bradley (Missouri Valley), Utah State (Mountain West), Belmont (Ohio Valley), and East Tennessee State (Southern). 

Of those six, only Utah State is likely considered a bid-stealer, as San Diego State, the Mountain West's regular season champion, is a lock for a top-two seed line. 

Here's the full schedule March Madness, from the drama of Selection Sunday to the cutting of the nets and playing of One Shining Moment at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. 

         

• Selection Sunday: March 15, 2020. The show begins at 6 p.m. ET on CBS. 

• First Four: Tuesday and Wednesday, March 17-18, 2020

• NCAA Tournament Round 1: Thursday, March 19, and Friday, March 20, 2020

• NCAA Tournament Round 2: Saturday, March 21, and Sunday, March 22, 2020

• Sweet 16: Thursday, March 26, and Friday, March 27, 2020

• Elite 8: Saturday, March 28, and Sunday, March 29, 2020

• Final Four: Saturday, April 4, 2020

• 2020 NCAA championship game: Monday, April 6, 2020
  

       

As for the bubble teams, here are five squads you can expect to be sweating it out on Selection Sunday:

      

Texas

Shaka Smart's squad looked nothing like an NCAA tournament team while losing seven of nine games between mid-January and mid-February. But with the head coach's job status very much in question, the Longhorns responded by reeling off five straight wins, including a pair of victories over then-Top-25 teams West Virginia and Texas Tech.

Instead of ending the regular season with momentum, Texas was thumped by a hapless Oklahoma State team and will now be playing for its tournament life when it faces Texas Tech—another team on the bubble—in the Big 12 tournament. 

            

Xavier

The Musketeers broke a 36-year streak of going at least .500 or above in conference play this season, finishing 8-10 in the Big East after starting the season 11-2.

The path to the NCAA tournament is pretty simple, though. Beat DePaul, and Xavier is likely in the conversation for one of the last four spots; beat DePaul and Villanova, and it is in; lose to DePaul, and it can enjoy the NIT. 

        

Wichita State

In a typical year, a record of 23 wins for Gregg Marshall's squad would be enough on its own to get the Shockers into the Big Dance. But Wichita State's strength of schedule (No. 78), non-conference strength of schedule (No. 169) and lack of quality wins (just one, according to ESPN) has the Shockers a little nervous about their prospects.

Two years ago, WSU was a No. 4 seed with 25 wins. If it can get there this year, which means at least two wins in the AAC tournament, it might be able to sneak into the field of 68. Better to avoid the risk and steal the automatic bid instead. 

        

Indiana 

Hoosiers coach Archie Miller had plenty to say about bracket prognosticators who have his team on the bubble, and you can bet he won't be sending them a basket of roses after this is all over.

Simply put, though, Indiana's resume doesn't blow anyone away, especially as a team playing in college basketball's best conference this year. 

It has seven quality wins, according to ESPN, but its non-conference strength of schedule ranks a paltry No. 176.

The Hoosiers did beat Florida State, the eventual ACC champion, as well as Ohio State and Michigan State, which are all top-15 teams, according to KenPom.

If Miller's squad beats Nebraska in its first Big Ten tournament game, it's hard to imagine the selection committee keeping a 20-win team with an SOS of 16 out of the field. 

         

Memphis

Penny Hardaway's inaugural season at Memphis started with national championship aspirations, but it just might end with an NIT bid instead.

Without high lottery pick James Wiseman—who left the team after playing just three games—as well as starting forward D.J. Jeffries, Memphis sputtered through AAC play to 21-10 overall and 10-8 in conference play. 

Despite all that, the Tigers do still have enough talent on the right day to win the AAC title and secure the automatic bid. Outside of that, they'll likely need to make it to the semifinals on Saturday to be considered for an at-large bid. 

      

Follow Keegan on Twitter @ByKeeganPope. 

Former Memphis big man James Wiseman spoke with ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and offered his side of the story following the NCAA's 12-game suspension of him earlier this season, saying that he felt the punishment was "unfair" and that he was "in the middle of a hurricane."

Wiseman, a potential 2020 No. 1 overall NBA draft pick, left school in December to prepare for a pro career.

"I was really in the middle of a hurricane," he told Wojnarowski. "That's like the worst place you could possibly be. Just having the mental agony and the suffering, crying every night because I just wanted to get on the court so much."

Wojnarowski explained the particulars behind the suspension:

"The NCAA punished Wiseman because his family accepted $11,500 in moving expenses in 2017 from Penny Hardaway -- who was then the coach of Memphis East High School. While Hardaway didn't accept a job at the University of Memphis and recruit Wiseman to campus until 2018, the NCAA deemed Hardaway a university booster at the time of the financial support. Hardaway had donated $1 million in 2008 to the university, where he had starred in the 1990s."

On Nov. 20, Wiseman accepted a 12-game suspension and was ordered to repay the $11,500, but he left school for NBA prep a month afterward.

He added:

"I felt it was unfair because they notified and alerted me at the last minute. Coach Penny told me about it. I was really down and shocked. When I got suspended for 12 games and had to pay back the money, that was kind of surreal. I didn't really have any knowledge of [the violation] or all the ramifications behind it."

Wiseman played just three games for Memphis, averaging 19.7 points, 10.7 rebounds and 3.0 blocks in 23.0 minutes per contest.

"I'm trying to gain some weight and keep my body healthy," Wiseman said of his NBA draft prep. "I study a lot of film. Anthony Davis. Dirk Nowitzki. Karl-Anthony Towns. A lot of players who can shoot the ball at my height. I'm working on my shooting mechanics, trying to get my shot right."

Per Wojnarowski, Wiseman is prepping for the June 25 draft in Miami and working out twice per day. 

Woj also noted that the 7'1", 240-pound Wiseman has a "similar height, wingspan and left-handed shot" to Hall of Fame San Antonio Spurs center David Robinson.

That fact hasn't gone unnoticed by Wiseman, who believes he will be the top pick in the draft like Robinson was in 1987.

"I truly expect that," he said. "I trust in myself, in terms of my game and my skill level. I've just to keep working, keep grinding every day."

Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman projected Wiseman to go sixth overall to the Charlotte Hornets in his latest mock draft.

"Leaving Memphis after three games won't kill James Wiseman's draft stock," he wrote. "But it could allow a few others to leapfrog him on boards, particularly given the decline in value of centers who aren't shooters, playmakers or versatile options. However, Wiseman won't slip too far, just based on his spectacular physical profile."

Wiseman is arguably the best big-man prospect in a draft heavy on guards and wings, namely near the top. He may not go No. 1, but seeing him slip far in the lottery portion is hard to imagine.

Wiseman is signed with Excel Sports.