HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Penny Hardaway, Memphis basketball coach learned a thing or two during an 0-2 preseason, which ended Monday with a 96-88 loss to Alabama.
About what it will take to hang with the big hitters. About what he has to work with in his own locker room. And with the regular season set to begin in less than a week, there are still some things to sort out.
Memphis begins the 2024-25 season in earnest Monday (7 p.m., ESPN+). That’s when Missouri visits FedExForum in what will be the start of a grueling non-conference schedule for a team determined to shake off the bitterness of a terrible late-season collapse.
As Hardaway looks to lead the Tigers back to the NCAA Tournament, here are five burning questions facing his program.
What have the exhibition games done for the Tigers’ confidence?
Much like the loss to North Carolina earlier this month, Monday’s game against Alabama was another example of how far the pendulum can swing for Memphis – even from halftime to halftime. ‘other.
The Crimson Tide’s energy and aggression — as well as their perimeter shooting ability, with six 3-pointers in the first half — gave the Tigers fits for the first 20 minutes. Then, in the second half, Memphis kind of dominated Alabama.
But a loss is a loss. How does losing their first two outs in a game affect the Tigers?
Well, that’s encouraging, according to center Dain Dainja, who had 16 points and seven rebounds Monday.
“I feel like we’re as good as those teams,” Dainja said. “You know, it’s just little things. Bouncing, playing extra games, boxing, talking to each other, communicating. We just need to tighten up the little things. How we practice is important. We have to train harder.
“If we start like that and play like that the whole game, we’ll be as good as anyone in the country.”
Is it too early to worry about Memphis basketball’s 3-point shooting?
Not if you ask Hardaway.
The Tigers were 5 of 23 from beyond the arc against North Carolina, and even worse (1 of 14) against Alabama. Colby Rogers, a career 39 percent shooter from deep, went 3-of-15 in the preseason — and he was the team’s most productive player in that area.
But Hardaway isn’t worried yet.
“I think it’s too early because in the North Carolina game we took a lot of 3s at a very low percentage. Tonight we looked better. We just didn’t achieve them,” he said. “But when we start playing guys in a different way and then getting more points and playing after the fences, we’ll have more opportunities to get knockdowns.”
Do the Tigers have something with the Dainja-Cissé double?
The sample size is small.
Dainja and Moussa Cissé, returning to Memphis after a three-season hiatus, are the Tigers’ two main options at 5th place. Cisse did not play against North Carolinabut he was back from his groin injury and played 20 minutes against Alabama.
Dainja showed against the Crimson Tide that he is a highly skilled offensive player. And Cisse seemed like a much more complete player than the last time he was with the Tigres, finishing with seven points, five rebounds and three blocks).
Hardaway hasn’t had a double with as much potential as Dainja and Cisse – maybe never.
Is Tyreek Smith best suited at the 4?
Tyreek Smith did not play Monday. He traveled with the team to Huntsville, but remained on the bench with a walking boot on his right foot.
Hardaway said he injured his ankle in training shortly after returning to the team after a short break for “personal reasons.”
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Smith spent the majority of his career at #5. With Dainja and Cisse, however, most of Smith’s minutes should come at the 4, which is what he wants. And that’s something that will make Memphis a more complete team.
Can PJ Haggerty carry Memphis?
Haggerty showed last season as a redshirt freshman at Tulsa that he could score points. And after two exhibition games, he showed he could still put the ball in the hole. Haggerty dropped 24 against North Carolina, then scored 32 points against Alabama.
But that won’t get you far, as the Golden Hurricane learned. It’s one thing to score, it’s another to score and lead your team to victory.
It remains to be seen whether Haggerty can marry the two in Memphis. But his coach and his teammates believe in him.
“He makes the guys around him better,” point guard Tyrese Hunter said.
“I saw that up close and personal last year when he played for Tulsa,” Hardaway said. “I know how dynamic he is. I think as the moment gets bigger, he goes harder. And he becomes the guy. I think these guys understand that.
Contact sports writer Jason Munz at [email protected] or follow him @munzly on X, the social media app formerly known as Twitter.
This article was originally published on Memphis Commercial Appeal: 5 burning questions facing Memphis basketball heading into the regular season
