Box score for the University of Memphis Tigers men’s basketball game against the East Carolina Pirates at FedExForum.

With Memphis having a week off between Sunday’s home win over North Texas and its upcoming matchup with ECU on Saturday, coach Penny Hardaway said significant changes to his team’s practice structure were coming. Tigers basketball beat writer Parth Upadhyaya and columnist John Martin discuss what those are and more.

Despite a potential 6 inches of snow, the No. 19 Tigers are still set to face the Pirates on Saturday. With nearly a week off between games, adjustments made by Penny Hardaway’s team should be on display.

The Tigers led after the first quarter, 22-19, but lost the middle two quarters by a total score of 40-19 in their first road conference game of the season.

Penny Hardaway, Tyrese Hunter and Nicholas Jourdain spoke to reporters Wednesday about solving the Tigers’ turnover issue, the recent addition of midseason transfer Dante Harris and concerns regarding a potential snowstorm on the horizon.

South Florida coach Amir Abdur-Rahim, who spoke with Penny Hardaway ‘maybe once a week,’ died Oct. 24 at age 43.

Though PJ Haggerty is an All-American candidate and one of the biggest reasons for the No. 19 Tigers’ success, Coach Penny Hardaway thinks he can be even better.

Through 15 games this season, Memphis coach Penny Hardaway has relied mostly on six to eight players. But he will need more Tigers to “get after people a little bit more.”

This is the first time this season Memphis has been ranked in back-to-back editions of the weekly Associated Press Top 25.

Related content:

Tigers beat writer Parth Upadhyaya’s latest AP Top 25 ballot

Where did the Memphis Tigers land on Parth Upadhyaya’s Associated Press Top 25 ballot after picking up a pair of wins to open American Athletic Conference play?

Coach Penny Hardaway saw the signs when he and his team landed back in Memphis following their 28-point road win over Florida Atlantic in Boca Raton. 

With one second on the shot clock and ice in his veins, Memphis Tigers guard PJ Haggerty threw up a 3-pointer from 30 feet and was certain it would fall. “That’s what he does,” coach Penny Hardaway said.

The No. 21 Tigers did enough to pull off a 68-64 victory over the Mean Green and avoid what would’ve been deemed their second bad loss of the season Sunday.

Related content: 

Box Score: Memphis 68, North Texas 64

Here is the box score for Memphis’ game against North Texas Sunday, Jan. 5, at FedExForum. 

The Tigers’ Alasia Smith got a decent shot at the buzzer, which would have forced overtime with the Mean Green women’s basketball team. 

Derrick Rose, the 36-year-old former Memphis Tigers and Grizzlies guard, will become just the fifth Bulls player to have his jersey hang in the United Center rafters.

Hey, Memphians. It’s time to resolve to have fun again in 2025. Go to a Tigers game. Go to a Grizzlies game. Get off your couch and do something.

Memphis’ game against North Texas — a Quad 3 opportunity for the Tigers — is the final matchup it has on its schedule against an opponent in the top 100 of the NET or KenPom.

Memphis big man Dain Dainja scored 16 points in a span of less than seven minutes in the Tigers’ AAC-opening win over Florida Atlantic.

Exhale, Memphis. The Tigers didn’t even make you sweat in the conference opener. Final: Memphis 90, Florida Atlantic 62. The real challenge is the next 17.

The No. 21 Tigers appeared to come out of the gate with a point to prove against the Owls — and they rarely let up through the course of 40 minutes.

Related content:

Box score: Memphis 90, FAU 62

This is the box score for the NCAA basketball game between the Memphis Tigers and the Florida Atlantic University Owls on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, at Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena in Boca Raton, Florida.

Penny Hardaway must decide whether to add depth up front by making a second midseason addition, or stand pat. The choice could pay dividends, or prove costly, come NCAA Tournament time.

With the win, the Tigers (3-9, 1-0 AAC) are 1-0 in conference play for the first time since the 2011-12 season and the first time as a member of the AAC. 

Memphis’ game against FAU represents one of only three remaining Quad 2 or better opportunities on the Tigers’ schedule.