Welcome to this week’s Tigers Basketball Insider. Below you’ll find the latest news and analysis from The Daily Memphian’s Parth Upadhyaya, John Martin and Geoff Calkins.
Perhaps Gary Parrish said it best when it comes to Memphis’ new basketball court.
“You ever had a buddy who was dating the worst person in the world?” the CBS Sports columnist said Monday, Nov. 21, on 92.9 FM ESPN’s The Gary Parrish Show. “... And then that relationship ends and a new one starts, and they go, so what do you think of whoever this new person is?”
“And you’re like, ‘It’s not the other person, so this is great. I’m just happy you’re with somebody different than that other person.’”
That “other person” in question here is the Tigers’ old blue court at FedExForum. The new boo? The team’s freshly designed court that it unveiled ahead of Sunday’s home-opener against VCU.
Now, I didn’t attend any games at FedExForum before this season. So, I have no idea how appealing — or unappealing — the old court was in person. I can tell you, though, that thing was bad to look at on TV.
“Oh my gosh. When I saw the pictures of that, I was like, ‘OK, I get it,’” said Tigers coach Penny Hardaway with a laugh Friday as he recalled the stir the old court initially caused.
So, Parrish is right.
There aren’t any phallic-like designs on the new court. And it’s not that gaudy blue color. Those two reasons alone make the new court a vast improvement from its predecessor.
I, for one, actually really like the Tigers’ latest FedExForum floor paint job. The light-colored wood and the word “MEMPHIS” on both baselines provide a clean aesthetic, while the blue Tiger claw marks stretched diagonally across the center of the court makes the design uniquely Memphis.
So far, it seems like opinions have varied. Some love it. Some hate it.
And others — like Parrish — simply seem to find it tolerable.
I’m curious to hear what more y’all think, though. As always, reach out with your thoughts via email (pupadhyaya@dailymemphian.com) or on Twitter (@pupadhyaya_).
More from your Insider:
Kendric Davis, who finished with 26 points and seven assists, was clearly the difference. But how sustainable it’ll be throughout this season to have Davis play hero remains to be seen.
Things started off slow for Memphis against VCU. Then Kendric Davis happened.
Kendric Davis was brilliant in his home debut. He scored 26 points, collected seven assists and looked exactly like the player Memphis needs him to be.
Star point guard Kendric Davis scored 26 in Memphis win over VCU and looked good doing it.
Embarrassed by what happened in a loss to Saint Louis, Memphis took it out on VCU.
NCAA men’s basketball box score for the Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022 game between the University of Memphis and Virginia Commonwealth University at FedExForum in Memphis.
Memphis’ performance featured encouraging and discouraging aspects and everything in the middle. Here’s what we loved, liked and hated about the Tigers’ loss to the Billikens.
John Martin: “He didn’t ask me, but here’s the starting five I would roll with against VCU.”
Penny Hardaway “never thought” he’d coach two of his sons at the collegiate level but the fifth-year coach said the opportunity is “pretty cool.”
“There are gonna be some subtle changes for sure — or some changes (in general), because now we know where things fit,” the University of Memphis basketball coach told reporters Friday, Nov. 18.
Tigers ask highest-level donors to contribute big bucks to the University of Memphis’ Name, Image and Likeness program.
The Daily Memphian asked three college basketball coaches about Hardaway’s recruiting, granting them each anonymity to get their unvarnished thoughts.
Memphis adds three-star forward Ashton Hardaway to its 2023 recruiting class.
The Memphis Tigers gave up a whopping 90 points in losing to Saint Louis Tuesday night. Is that something to worry about? Not yet, certainly. This team is going to be fine.
A lack of ball movement and a handful of contested 3-point attempts in the second half put the Tigers in a hole that proved to be insurmountable.
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