Welcome to the end of 2024. As it relates to the Memphis sports scene, this was a tough year. But there’s hope. Next year could be bountiful for the local teams.

The Tigers finished a nonconference schedule that KenPom ranks as the fourth-toughest in the country with a 10-3 overall record. What does that mean for their NCAA Tournament prospects?

Coach Penny Hardaway feels his program is still judged by last season, despite having eight Quadrant 1 and 2 wins combined so far in 2024-25. No other team in the country has more than six.

This marks the third time in the past five weeks that Memphis has been ranked in the AP Top 25.

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Tiger’s beat writer Parth Uphadyaya’s latest AP poll ballot

How high did the Tigers rise in Upadhyaya’s AP Top 25 ballot after their 17-point win over Ole Miss in their nonconference finale on Saturday?

Coach Penny Hardaway’s tough attitude pushed the Tigers to respond with intensity in their Saturday afternoon rout of No. 16 Ole Miss at FedExForum.

Something the Mississippi State Bulldogs supposedly called the Memphis Tigers, and something Penny Hardaway said to Moussa Cisse, lit a fire under the Guinea native against the Ole Miss Rebels.

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Box score: Memphis 87, Ole Miss 70

After the Memphis Tigers smashed Ole Miss Saturday, Penny Hardaway called this the “most satisfying” nonconference season of his coaching career. Who are we to disagree?

The midseason transfer’s 7-minute Memphis debut reminded coach Penny Hardaway why he knew right away that he wanted to add the Washington, D.C., native to his roster once he became available.

The Tigers (10-3) looked refocused and reenergized in an 87-70 win over No. 16 Ole Miss on Saturday afternoon at FedExForum to close out one of the most grueling nonconference slates in the country.

Box score for the basketball game between the University of Memphis Tigers and the University of Mississippi Rebels Saturday, Dec. 28 at FedExForum.

Former Virginia and Georgetown point guard Dante Harris has committed to the Tigers, a source close to the program confirmed to The Daily Memphian on Friday evening.

New Tigers commit Felipe Patino is averaging 11.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game while shooting 50% from 3-point range for Eastern Florida State College.

Memphis’ matchup with Ole Miss represents a Quadrant 2 opportunity for the Tigers and likely their final chance to put themselves in contention for a top-four NCAA Tournament seed.

After an announced crowd of 14,565 showed up to FedExForum last Saturday, Memphis is asking for more support when it closes non-conference play at home against No. 16 Ole Miss.

The Tigers fall out of the Associated Press rankings after getting blown out by the Bulldogs on Saturday at home.

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Did the Tigers remain on Parth Upadhyaya’s AP Top 25 ballot after their lopsided home loss to Mississippi State on Saturday? 

Coach Alex Simmons expects some players who’ve been out with injuries to be back by the time Memphis begins the conference schedule against Wichita State on Jan. 1.

Despite a crowd announced at more than 14,000, Memphis lost big to Mississippi State. What will FedExForum look like when Ole Miss shows up next?

After the No. 21 University of Memphis basketball team fell to Mississippi State at FedExForum on Saturday, the Tigers are taking the loss in stride.

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Memphis suffers blowout loss to Mississippi State at home

Box score: Mississippi State 79, No. 21 Memphis 66

No. 21 Memphis (9-3) fell behind by 16 at the half and could not mount a comeback as Mississippi State knocked off the Tigers, 79-66.

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Box score: Mississippi State 79, No. 21 Memphis 66

Here’s the box score for the Memphis Tigers and Mississippi State basketball game Dec. 21, 2024.

Memphis athletic director Ed Scott said he never imagined that on a work trip he’d lose his friend of 14 years. Tigers associate AD Marlon Dechausay suffered a heart attack while in Hawaii for the Maui Invitational. He died Dec. 4.

Memphis football writer Frank Bonner II, basketball writer Parth Upadhyaya and columnist John Martin discuss this year’s football season and the raised level of expectations for Memphis basketball as it prepares for its final two non-conference games. 

The Bulldogs provide Penny Hardaway’s team a chance to pick up a fourth Quadrant I win.