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.
Julius Thedford, who averaged 8.4 points and a team-high five rebounds in 2025-26, is staying with Memphis. But the Tigers have more work to do.
Two days after deciding to retain coach Penny Hardaway, Memphis athletic director Ed Scott and Hardaway himself address dwindling basketball attendance.
Eight Memphis players from this past season have until Friday to let Penny Hardaway know if they’d like to return to the Tigers in 2026-27.
“I don’t make any excuses for what’s happened, for what I’ve failed at,” Tigers basketball coach Penny Hardaway said after finishing 13-19 this past season. “But I know I can come back from failure.”Related content:
Scott says he saw “some progression” when evaluating Hardaway’s eight seasons so far with the Tigers.
The Memphis women’s basketball team hasn’t gone to the NCAA Tournament in almost 30 years. After firing Alex Simmons, the Tigers are searching for a spark. Local coaches and a former player weigh in on how to end the drought.
“Penny Hardaway is returning as Memphis coach. How can he fix things? He can start by accepting that the disaster that was this past season wasn’t some ‘one-off.’ ” Tigers will bring Penny Hardaway back for ninth season Three Memphis assistant basketball coaches not returning next seasonRelated content:
According to a news release issued by the Memphis athletic department, “... Hardaway announced structural changes within the men’s basketball program.”
The Memphis Tigers have decided to retain head basketball coach Penny Hardaway, a source with knowledge of the situation confirmed Monday morning.
Some losses seem much more painful than others. Coach Penny Hardaway discusses the ones that hurt the worst.
Penny Hardaway could make his job easier by returning some of the eight players from this season who have eligibility remaining for 2026-27 and beyond. But how many should Memphis bring back after a season the coach called a failure?
As much as Hardaway has enjoyed calling many of the shots himself throughout his tenure as it pertains to building rosters and staffs, he suggested Wednesday that having someone else oversee those operations could be beneficial.
Memphis Tigers coach Penny Hardaway plans to meet with athletic director Ed Scott following an early exit from the American Conference Tournament.
The Tigers came out flat in front of a quiet crowd of no more than 500 in Birmingham, Alabama. Penny Hardaway admits he could use help to ‘build everything'Related content:
Box score for the NCAA American Conference Tournament game between the Memphis Tigers and the Tulane Green Wave at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026.
The Tigers will open against a power conference opponent to start next season.
Memphis failed to land a player on the American’s all-conference first, second or third teams — or on the 10-player All-Newcomer Team.
With six nonconference matchups now set, Memphis is still left with seven spots to fill in its 13-game 2026-27 non-American Conference schedule.
The Tigers begin American Conference tournament play against the No. 9-seeded Green Wave.
The women’s team has not reached the NCAA Tournament since the 1997-98 season under coach Joye Lee-McNelis.
Headed to Birmingham, Memphis looks to make possible what seems improbable: five straight wins and an NCAA Tournament berth.
“It’s March, and Penny Hardaway and the Tigers have a chip and a chair.” Bracket set for American Conference Tournament American Conference Tournament berth A tumultuous regular season complete, Tigers excited to enter ‘new season’Related content:
Memphis escapes in OT against Tulane to clinch
Memphis will open the American Conference Tournament against Tulane.
Quante Berry made two free throws with 2.3 seconds left in overtime to give Memphis a 96-95 comeback win over Tulane and send the Tigers to the upcoming American Conference Tournament in Birmingham, Alabama.Related content: