Memphis Tigers Basketball
How Penny Hardaway convinced one of the nation’s top shooters to pick Memphis
New Memphis commit Rihards Vavers spoke to The Daily Memphian about his decision and what he plans to bring to the Tigers next season.
John Martin
Columnist
There are 277 articles by John Martin :
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April 2026
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Memphis Tigers Basketball -
Memphis Tigers Basketball Memphis Tigers land 6-9 forward Deng
Jerry Deng, a 6-9 transfer from N.C. State, committed to the Memphis Tigers on Thursday night, according to a report from League Ready.
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Memphis Tigers Basketball How Memphis basketball’s latest commitment plans to ‘turn the city up’
Brandin Cummings on Tuesday became the latest player to commit to Memphis from the transfer portal. He spoke to The Daily Memphian on Wednesday about that decision, his game, and what he plans to bring to Penny Hardaway’s team.
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Memphis Tigers Basketball Memphis basketball lands first commitment in Rihards Vavers
Penny Hardaway has landed his first official commitment of the transfer portal season: Washington State sharpshooter Rihards Vavers.
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Memphis Tigers Basketball Pitt guard picks Memphis, becomes second portal commit of day for Tigers
Penny Hardaway was busy working the NCAA transfer portal Tuesday afternoon.
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Memphis Tigers BasketballMartin: Can a hometown kid help Hardaway bring back the glory days?
The four-star prospect committed to Penny Hardaway and the Tigers, giving the Memphis basketball program some much-needed momentum after the worst on-court season since the 1970s.
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Memphis made: Briarcrest standout Fred Smith Jr. says yes to Tigers
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Memphis Tigers BasketballThe transfer portal is open. Who might Penny Hardaway bring in?
Among nearly 2,000 players who have entered the transfer portal, Penny Hardaway will likely need to find 11 to assemble his make-or-break team. So who might they be?
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March 2026
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Memphis Tigers BasketballMartin: Memphis makes staff hires official, plus some rumblings around college basketball
As we near the truly busy season, i.e., the transfer portal window opening, here are just a few things I’m hearing at the local and national level in college basketball.
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Memphis Tigers BasketballMartin: Memphis and Penny Hardaway have a plan. Will it work?
Now that the decision has been made to bring Penny Hardaway back, everyone in Memphis hopes he’ll be successful — and that his ninth year will be the charm. The task before him is immense.
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Memphis Tigers BasketballMartin: Thanks to dramatic foul shots, Memphis basketball’s season stays alive. Here’s what it means.
“It’s March, and Penny Hardaway and the Tigers have a chip and a chair.”
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Bracket set for American Conference Tournament
Memphis escapes in OT against Tulane to clinchAmerican Conference Tournament berth
A tumultuous regular season complete, Tigers excited to enter ‘new season’
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Memphis Tigers BasketballMartin: Loss to ECU should raise questions about Memphis’ plans with Penny Hardaway
One fact to sum up Penny Hardaway and this Memphis basketball season: This is the most losses the Tigers have suffered in 56 years.
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February 2026
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Memphis Tigers BasketballTigers Talk: What the future holds for Penny Hardaway at Memphis
Parth Upadhyaya and John Martin look ahead to what changes Penny Hardaway needs to make.
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Memphis Tigers BasketballMartin: Hardaway loses another — and the heartbreak is setting in
This wasn’t a fiery coach fighting back against an establishment that he felt was out to get him — this was a coach who was hurting.
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Memphis Tigers BasketballMartin: With loss to Utah State, this Memphis team somehow found a new low
The magnitude of these losses — and the demoralizing way that they’re unfolding — highlight the fact that this team and program are in real trouble.
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Memphis Tigers BasketballMartin: Brace yourselves, Memphis fans. After loss to North Texas, the real storm is here.
The Tigers may have weathered one storm. But the bad news is that another storm cell arrived, and it could hang around.
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Self-inflicted mistakes cost Memphis in road loss to North Texas
Martin: How is Penny Hardaway doing at Memphis? We asked AI.
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Memphis Tigers BasketballMartin: How is Penny Hardaway doing at Memphis? We asked AI.
With so much emotional discussion around the Memphis basketball program and its future, John Martin took to ChatGPT and asked it for its brutally honest and objective view of the Tigers and coach Penny Hardaway.
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Memphis Tigers BasketballMartin: Parker has all-time night against UAB, and the Tigers sincerely needed it
The timing of such a performance couldn’t have been more perfect for the Tigers and coach Penny Hardaway.
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January 2026
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Memphis Tigers BasketballMartin: What Memphis hoops is trying to do may be impossible
What the Tigers are doing this season is undeniably disappointing, and there’s basically nothing they can realistically do to redeem themselves at this point. But what would a successful season look like?
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Memphis Tigers BasketballMartin: After latest double-digit loss, Memphis basketball doesn’t seem to have a plan
Right now, Memphis isn’t the dominant team in the conference. It’s not even second-best in the conference. It’s a mediocre program that is currently in seventh place.
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Memphis Tigers BasketballMartin: Crushing loss to Tulsa shows Memphis basketball being left behind
It’s time to confront some hard truths about this Memphis basketball team and program.
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Memphis Tigers BasketballMartin: Memphis loses again. And this time, there’s no excuse.
“There’s a major problem brewing elsewhere for the Memphis administration. It’s that the gap has been closed — it’s just the one that used to exist between Memphis basketball and the rest of the American Conference.”
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Memphis Tigers BasketballMemphis’ jumbled rotation, expectations before American play
Parth Upadhyaya and John Martin answer some of the most pressing questions as the Tigers prepare to open conference play against North Texas.
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SportsMartin: Uncomfortable conversations coming for Memphis basketball, and more 2026 Memphis sports predictions
As 2025 draws to a close, it’s time for John Martin’s annual list of Memphis sports predictions for the new year.
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Memphis Tigers BasketballMartin: Memphis escapes Rice. Tiger fans should probably get used to days like this.
It’s a win, to be sure. The Tigers are 2-0 in league play and have won three in a row. But can you really look at this team and think the arrow is pointing up?
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December 2025
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Memphis Tigers BasketballMartin: Memphis got crushed at Louisville. What’s next for the program?
While it’s probably unwise to base anything off one particular game, the magnitude of the loss to Louisville should cause any Memphis fan to wonder what should be taken from it.
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