Memphis Tigers Basketball
Martin: 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.
John Martin
Columnist
There are 265 articles by John Martin :
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February 2026
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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.
Related content:
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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Memphis Tigers BasketballMartin: Memphis and Louisville are no longer rivals. That has to change.
The goal for Memphis has to be to elevate the status of its athletic programs so that it can credibly say that it’s a peer of Louisville’s once again.
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Memphis Tigers FootballMartin: Who should Memphis football hire? The guy who will bring players.
“What matters in the end is not the sizzle of the name. ... It’s the players. It’s always about the players.”
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Memphis Tigers FootballThe next coach at Memphis? We have thoughts.
Is Ed Scott about to make the most important hire of the Memphis athletic program? And who should he pick?
Related content:
Ryan Silverfield posts goodbye message to Memphis
Is Memphis football the best non-power conference job on the market?
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November 2025
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Memphis Tigers BasketballMartin: The last time Memphis basketball was 1-4? You don’t want to know.
You could almost start to see the vision of the rest of the season. Sure, it was a really bad loss to UNLV. But Memphis would escape the Bahamas with a 1-1 record, the team is playing hard, and players are settling into roles. But it all came undone. Slowly, then all at once.
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Memphis Tigers FootballMartin: Fire Silverfield? That seems unlikely.
Considering they were promised that the standard at Memphis would be maintained when Ryan Silverfield was hired, there are lots of reasons for Tigers fans to be ready to turn the page. Does that mean Memphis will be making a change at head coach?
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Memphis Tigers Basketball Martin: Memphis takes No. 1 Purdue to the brink. That’s more like it.
CBS Sports analyst Emeka Okafor called the gutty win for Purdue “championship vitamins.” But the truth is that even a close loss like this one — to the top dog in the sport — will make Memphis fans feel a whole lot better.
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Memphis Tigers Basketball Martin: As Memphis tries to knock off nation’s No. 1, we have questions
The Memphis basketball season may be off to a tepid start, but I’ve got five burning questions as the Tigers prepare to play No. 1-ranked Purdue in the Bahamas.
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Memphis Tigers BasketballMartin: Times have changed for Tigers basketball. They won’t get easier.
As Memphis embarks on yet another grueling nonconference schedule against Power 4 programs it’s clear the playing field has shifted. Should our annual expectations follow?
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October 2025
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Memphis Tigers BasketballMartin: Once more, Memphis fans will have to trust the process with Penny Hardaway
Breathe. These games don’t count (thank heavens), and don’t even necessarily have to mean anything.
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Memphis Tigers BasketballCoach Cal Countdown: The dunk that helped the Tigers defeat UCLA
This is the eighth installment in a nine-story series remembering games that defined the John Calipari coaching era of Memphis Tigers basketball. Today: A glorious slam from Chris Douglas-Douglas over Kevin Love lifted the Tigers into the title game.
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Memphis Tigers BasketballCoach Cal Countdown: The No. 1-ranked Tigers were in trouble against UAB. Real trouble followed.
This is the fifth installment in a nine-story series remembering games that defined the John Calipari coaching era of Memphis Tigers basketball. Today: A magical 2007-08 run included signature moments against name-brand programs, but UAB pushed Memphis’ beautiful season to the brink.
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Memphis Tigers BasketballMartin: Memphis is short on fanfare? There’s one way to get it back.
“A lot has changed about college basketball in 2025, but the way to get people back is the way it’s always been: To win when it matters most.”
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