In fall 2019, filmmakers hired by ESPN moved to Memphis to put together a project about Penny Hardaway’s Tigers. He had just signed the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class, headlined by James Wiseman, and the Tigers were the talk of college basketball. It was titled “The Harder Way: A Season with the Memphis Tigers.”

Wiseman played three games, was suspended, and left the program.

Rasheed Wallace moves to consultant role for Tigers

Truthfully, the “harder way” isn’t just the title of a documentary about one derailed season. Under Hardaway, it’s a mantra the program seems to be taking literally. Every season is more difficult than it has to be. 

The latest twist to this strange Memphis basketball season came Wednesday afternoon. Star freshman Jalen Duren was asked about assistant coach Rasheed Wallace, who has not been on the bench for the past month and was said to be in health and safety protocols.

“He was a great mentor for the bigs for the short time he was here,” Duren said.

Hardaway confirmed that Wallace is in fact no longer serving as an assistant and has moved to a remote “consultant’s role.”

Why? Hardaway said it was a mutual decision about “health and safety.” One can wonder if it has anything to do with COVID-19 vaccinations, as Wallace was the only assistant on the bench who wore a mask while with the team in person.

On its own, the situation with Wallace is no referendum on Hardaway or his program. But when you add it to the running list of mysteries, it’s all hard to ignore.

Scouting report: Tigers need to thwart SMU’s outside shooting

There’s the random Alex Lomax injury. There’s the way we don’t know who’s playing on a given night until the game starts. The head trainer left days before the season began. There’s the botching of the team’s COVID vaccination numbers. There’s the Wiseman debacle, from which an IARP ruling is pending.

To say nothing of the events happening on the court. Memphis lost to East Carolina and Tulane in the same season for the first time since 2016, when Josh Pastner was the coach. The team’s defensive efficiency has plummeted, going from No. 1 last season to No. 50 now. Despite returning the bulk of last year’s NIT title roster and adding another No. 1 recruiting class, the Tigers again are on track to miss the NCAA Tournament.

Tigers Basketball Insider: Road woes have continued in Hardaway’s fourth season

This was supposed to be the season that order was restored. It was supposed to be smooth sailing. Hardaway had assembled the perfect blend of veterans and talented freshmen. He hired Hall of Famer Larry Brown as an assistant. Making the NCAA Tournament was no longer in doubt. After Emoni Bates committed, the Tigers had the same odds of winning the national championship as Purdue, Illinois and Villanova.

Instead, it has just been one thing after another. Locker room infighting. Bad losses. Every college basketball team has its drama to work through, but all of this? In one season? Every season?

Penny hopeful Tigers can get healthier this week for season turnaround

It’s still possible for Memphis to make the NCAA Tournament, either as an automatic qualifier by winning the American Athletic Conference tournament or perhaps going on a winning streak and earning an at-large berth. The absence of Wallace ultimately is not going to make that much of a difference. 

But the episode feels like a microcosm of the Hardaway era. Some said this might be the best staff ever assembled in the history of college basketball. There was giddy anticipation. Flashy headlines. Lots of buzz. It’s hard not to look back at that heady time and not feel ridiculous.