Five staff members left Memphis this offseason. On Sep.4, head coach Penny Hardaway fired four coaches, three assistants and one special adviser, adding to the list of vacant staff positions.
Just under four months later, the Tigers sit at 6-1, with three high-major victories to start the season.
Penny Hardaway’s group took down UConn in the opener at the Maui Invitational, the start of an 0-3 week for the Huskies.
After taking down another legendary head coach in Tom Izzo, Hardaway and Memphis fell to Auburn in the tournament championship, 90-76.
So, for a team that battled controversy throughout the offseason and returned just one scholarship player, what has been the key to success?
For Memphis, another offseason of domination in the transfer portal from Hardaway has the team humming early.
Hardaway landed star center David Jones in the portal last season. Jones, a two-time transfer who spent time with DePaul and St. John’s before committing to Memphis, averaged 21.8 points and 7.6 rebounds per game, both of which led the team.
This year, PJ Haggerty and Tyrese Hunter lead the way for the Tigers. The duo put the nation on notice with its opening win over UConn, in Maui.
He averaged 11 points per game with efficient shooting numbers a season ago and has taken advantage of increased opportunities with 16.1 ppg this season.
Haggerty transferred to Tulsa after starting his career at TCU. As a sophomore, Haggerty started all 31 games for the Golden Hurricane and averaged 21 points per contest.
Under Hardaway through seven games, Haggerty is averaging 22 points, 6.3 rebounds and three assists per game.
Staring into the face of a blown lead against the two-time defending champions, Memphis looked dazed as they headed to overtime following a buzzer beating three by Solo Ball of UConn.
With Haggerty fouling out just before the end of regulation, the Tigers appeared to be in trouble.
PJ Carter had something to say about that.
After a jumper from Wichita State transfer Colby Rogers started the scoring in the extra period for Memphis, Carter took over.
The two-time transfer splashed a three to trim UConn’s lead to one with 1:41 to go. Colby Rogers drilled another crunch time shot for Hardaway, tying the game at 92 with just over a minute to play.
Carter stepped to the line for four free shots with the game on the line. The senior guard swished four straight. After being fouled again with a chance to put the game out of reach, he drilled two more.
No matter what punches Memphis took from UConn throughout a back-and-forth game, the Tigers bounced back, a testament to Hardaway’s ability to build a cohesive unit.
Of course, Hardaway recruited more than just guards in the portal. In fact, former four-star forward Dain Dainja dropped 14 points and five rebounds against UConn off the bench. He followed that with 15 and five against Auburn. The 6’9” senior is averaging just under 11 points and 6 rebounds for Memphis.
Moussa Cisse, who started his career at Memphis in 2020, played two years at Oklahoma State before suiting up for Ole Miss last season.
The Guinea native remains a defensive force upon his return to Memphis. The 6’11” center averages over a block per game thus far this season, a mark he has hit each year of his career.
Opposite Cisse, Nicholas Jourdain returned this offseason as the only Tiger to do so. Jourdain started his career with three seasons at Temple before transferring to Memphis after the 2023 season.
For Hardaway and company, consistency will be key. The Tigers got off to a 15-2 start in 2023, before finishing 7-8 and missing the NCAA Tournament.
However, this Memphis squad showed incredible resilience in Maui.
With the chance to pick up non-conference wins against Clemson, Virginia, Mississippi State and Ole Miss on the horizon, Tiger fans can expect to see their team in the hunt for the Big Dance once again.
