The Memphis basketball program sailed into the offseason on the strength of its recent NIT championship run.  The Tigers ran the table at the postseason tournament, beating Dayton, Boise State, Colorado State and Mississippi State to win the crown for the second time (2002).  On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto discuss the significance of the team's strong finish, what was most impressive about its season and how the current roster might change in the coming weeks.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tiger Basketball Podcast

The significance of Memphis' strong finish

The Memphis men's basketball team is back in action Thursday in the quarterfinals of the National Invitation Tournament.  On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, beat writer Jason Munz and sports columnist Mark Giannotto discuss Memphis' opponent (Boise State), break down what the NIT means in the grand scheme of things, and how next year's schedule should be more advantageous for Penny Hardaway's program, despite the direction the AAC is trending.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Boise State, the NIT and an early look at next season

Selection Sunday was disappointing again for the Memphis basketball program and its fans. The Tigers were left out of the NCAA Tournament field after a 16-8 season. While the team, under third-year coach Penny Hardaway, is a No. 1 seed at the National Invitation Tournament, how should we perceive the program and the direction it is headed?  Beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto discuss that, as well as give their impressions of how things played out at the AAC Tournament last week and look toward the future in this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How should the program be perceived after missing NCAA Tournament again?

The Tigers have their work cut out for them.  Memphis (15-7), after losing a heartbreaker at Houston to close out the regular season, will be the No. 3 seed at this week's AAC Tournament. The Tigers will face either East Carolina or UCF at 9 p.m. Friday. Chances are, if they win that game, a rematch with the Cougars will be on deck at 4:30 p.m. Saturday.  Can Memphis redeem itself? If so, what must the Tigers do differently in order to ensure a different outcome? If they're able to beat Houston this time, will they have enough left in the tank to win the AAC championship?  Beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto discuss all that and more on this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will Memphis beat Houston at the AAC Tournament?

The Memphis basketball team has set itself up for a dramatic conclusion to the regular season.  The Tigers, winners of six straight, are in position to potentially move into the NCAA Tournament field and still has a shot at an AAC title.  But they can't do either of those things without beating No. 7 Houston at 11 a.m. Sunday at the Fertitta Center.  On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto preview the marquee matchup, while also scrutinizing the job the AAC has done from a scheduling standpoint this season and discussing the job Penny Hardaway has done in his third season as Memphis' coach.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Penny Hardaway, the AAC and keys to the Houston game

The Tigers are a dangerous team capable of rattling off a strong enough regular-season finish to legitimately join the NCAA Tournament at-large conversation.  Why? Defense. But will that be enough against the likes of Houston or Wichita State?  On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto dive into what Memphis has to do to position itself on the bubble, breaks down its survive-and-advance win over Tulane and previews the weekend's road game at Cincinnati.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The survive-and-advance path runs through Cincinnati next

Memphis has won six of seven and is 8-3 in league play for the first time since the 2013-14 season.  But, if the Tigers are going to have a legitimate shot at an at-large bid and get back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since that same 2013-14 season, they have to beat Cincinnati at 6 p.m. Thursday.  Only after that should Memphis start looking toward Sunday's matchup at Houston.  Tiger basketball beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto discuss that, as well as break down the win over East Carolina, talk Penny Hardaway's discovery of his best lineup and preview the Bearcats on this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Memphis still in control of its own destiny

Memphis has turned its season around in the a matter of 15 days.  The Tigers have gone from a 6-5 record and a bleak outlook on the rest of the year to an 11-6 mark and, all the sudden, clearing a realistic path to the postseason.  Tiger basketball beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto discuss how the team has turned things around, what it needs to do to keep momentum on its side and whether the Tigers can do just that.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why ECU, Cincinnati games are more important than Houston

In the span of a week, the Memphis basketball team has gone from mediocre to having as much momentum as any team in the AAC.  The Tigers have won back-to-back-to-back league games for just the second time in the past two seasons.  Which begs at least a couple of intriguing questions: Is this the best three-game stretch of the Penny Hardaway era? Also, which five factors are the most responsible for Memphis' turnaround?  Beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto attempt to answer these questions and discuss whether the next seven days will be as successful as the last seven have been on this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What have been the biggest factors during Memphis' recent winning streak?

Another loss to Tulsa, a top 75 decommitment and a surprise addition to the current roster.  There's plenty to cover on this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast. Beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto recap the team's loss at Tulsa (and break down what it might have revealed about the future of the 2020-21 season), discuss Arterio Morris' decommitment, analyze Jordan Nesbitt's decision to enroll early and look forward to the next couple of games.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jordan Nesbitt and what we learned from the latest loss to Tulsa

The Memphis basketball team's season has been interrupted twice in less than a week by its opponents' issues with COVID-19 testing.  After beating South Florida on Dec. 29, the Tigers do not have a game scheduled until Jan. 14, when they are set to host SMU at 6 p.m. at FedExForum.  On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, beat writer Jason Munz and sports columnist Mark Giannotto recap the latest developments, dissect the team's new offense, discuss how the extended layoff might affect the Tigers and get into what has to happen if they want to have a legitimate shot at an NCAA Tournament berth.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Discussing what it will take for Memphis to make an NCAA Tournament push

Watching the Tigers this season has been a frustrating experience for some Memphis fans.  The team is 4-3 after another disappointing loss, this time to Auburn. Coach Penny Hardaway took to social media Sunday night, writing in part: "I appreciate the fans who are being patient. It is a marathon and not a sprint." On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto discuss how criticism of Hardaway and his team is warranted in some ways, while not in others. They also dive into the issues still plaguing the Tigers – most notably the lack of an effective point guard and a continued inability to execute consistently.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Penny Hardaway appreciates 'patient' fans. How much patience is warranted?

Defense is the Tigers' strong suit. Three-point shooting is the team's weak spot.  Jayden Hardaway has been Memphis' biggest surprise. Lester Quinones might be the team's best all-around player through six games.  On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto break down these things, as well as dig into other topics such as Landers Nolley II's injury, Memphis' upcoming game against Auburn and what the potential addition of graduate transfer Parker Stewart would mean for the team.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Strong suits, weak spots and the importance of the Auburn game

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Whose stock is up and whose is down after the Crossover Classic

On this week's Tiger Basketball Podcast, beat writer Jason Munz and columnist Mark Giannotto discuss whether it's still worth it to play in the Crossover Classic. In addition, Munz and Giannotto react to the news of Isaiah Stokes' one-year suspension, discuss Moussa Cisse and DeAndre Williams' statuses, and break down the impact of James Wiseman and Precious Achiuwa being taken in the first round of the NBA Draft.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

DeAndre Williams deserves a waiver and the NBA Draft was huge for Memphis

The Tiger Basketball Podcast from The Commercial Appeal, hosted by Tiger basketball beat writer Jason Munz and sports columnist Mark Giannotto.

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Tiger Basketball Podcast

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