Calkins: Critical year for Memphis basketball gets off to a smashing start
The Tigers smashed Wichita State Saturday. It was the best way possible to begin what could be one of the most important years in Memphis basketball history.
The Tigers smashed Wichita State Saturday. It was the best way possible to begin what could be one of the most important years in Memphis basketball history.
The Tigers’ best lineup against the Shockers featured Earl Timberlake, Minott, Jalen Duren, DeAndre Williams and Landers Nolley II.
Jan. 1, 2022: The Memphis Tigers defeat the Wichita State Shockers at Koch Arena in Wichita, Kansas.Related story:
The Shockers had no answers to the return of DeAndre Williams and Jalen Duren for Memphis. With Josh Minott’s breakout game, has Memphis found a go-to lineup?Related stories:
Memphis will still be short-handed, but is getting some reinforcements.
With another Quad 1 opportunity on the line, the Tigers’ game against the Shockers is a must win.
Memphis lost to Tulane for the first time since 2016. That was the last season for Josh Pastner. Which doesn’t mean this will be the last season for Penny Hardaway, of course. But things are not going well.
Penny Hardaway’s puzzling decision to go away from the hot hands proved costly.
Dec. 29, 2021: The Tulane Green Wave defeat the Memphis Tigers in New Orleans. Short-handed Tigers fall at the buzzer to Tulane in AAC openerRelated story:
Without two of its top rim protectors, Memphis struggled on defense and had difficulty containing the Green Wave’s best scorer. How the final call against Tulane sums up what’s gone wrong for MemphisRelated stories:
The Tigers could be missing a few players when they play Tulane on Wednesday night.
After a two-week COVID-imposed hiatus, Memphis restarts its schedule, hoping to recapture the momentum from the Alabama win.
Coach Penny Hardaway didn’t go into specifics about who tested positive but shared what information he could.
No word on whether more of the Memphis players have been vaccinated, but Penny Hardaway says he believes there will be enough to play against Tulane.
Mississippi State coach Mike Leach will face one of his former players, Texas Tech coach Sonny Cumbie, as the Bulldogs play the Red Raiders Tuesday.
Conference play will prove vital for the Tigers thanks to an uneven showing against their nonconference opponents. Beating a short-handed Houston team is priority No. 1.
If a team doesn’t have enough players then the game will be canceled and declared a no contest. Under the old policy, if a team had to cancel a game because of positive COVID-19 cases then it was a forfeit.
In a letter to Tigers fans addressing a number of topics, Laird Veatch says redshirts and injured players are among the vaccinated.
Inquiring minds want to know: Will Memphis make it to conference play? And were players really out partying the night before the Tennessee game was canceled due to COVID?
The Memphis football team also wraps up the season in the Hawai’i Bowl and there’s a lot at stake for Ryan Silverfield.
One bracketologist views Memphis as a bubble team after an up-and-down nonconference performance.
An official statement from the University of Memphis also gives clarification on team members’ vaccination status.
The Daily Memphian spoke to five coaches who addressed what Hardaway’s responsibilities were, and what they tell their own players.
If Tennessee remains unwilling to reschedule, Hardaway hopes the Tigers can pick up a big game with another school.
‘The Memphis-Tennessee game was canceled because too many Tigers players were unvaccinated. That’s an indictment of Penny Hardaway’s leadership.’ Tyler Harris, Landers Nolley tested positive, leading to Tigers’ cancellationRelated articles: