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2021–22 Memphis Tigers men's basketball team

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The 2021–22 Memphis Tigers men's basketball team represented the University of Memphis in the 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Tigers were led by fourth-year head coach Penny Hardaway. The team played their home games at FedExForum as members of the American Athletic Conference. They finished the season 22–11, 13–5 in AAC Play to finish in 3rd place. They defeated UCF and SMU to advance to the championship game of the AAC tournament where they lost to Houston. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament as the No. 9 seed in the West Region, where they defeated Boise State in the First Round before losing in the Second Round to Gonzaga.

ConferenceAmerican Athletic Conference
Record22–11 (13–5 AAC)
Headcoach
Assistant coaches
Quick facts Memphis Tigers men's basketball, NCAA tournament, Second Round ...
2021–22 Memphis Tigers men's basketball
NCAA tournament, Second Round
ConferenceAmerican Athletic Conference
Record22–11 (13–5 AAC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaFedExForum
(Capacity: 18,119)
Seasons
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More information Conf., Overall ...
2021–22 American Athletic Conference men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 15 Houston †15–3 .83332–6  .842
SMU13–4 .76524–9  .727
Memphis13–5 .72222–11  .667
Temple10–7 .58817–12  .586
Tulane10–8 .55614–15  .483
UCF9–9 .50018–12  .600
Wichita State6–9 .40015–13  .536
Cincinnati7–11 .38918–15  .545
East Carolina6–11 .35315–15  .500
Tulsa4–14 .22211–20  .355
South Florida3–15 .1678–23  .258
† 2022 AAC tournament winner
Rankings from AP poll
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Previous season

The Tigers finished the 2020–21 season 20–8, 11–4 in AAC play, finishing in third place. They entered as the No. 3 seed in the AAC tournament, where they would lose to No. 2 seed Houston in the semifinals. They were selected as a No. 1 seed in the NIT. The Tigers would go on to win the tournament, their second overall, and first since 2002.

Offseason

On June 11, 2021, speculation emerged that Penny Hardaway was a candidate for multiple head coaching jobs in the NBA including his former team, the Orlando Magic.[1] On June 28, reports emerged that Hardaway had in fact interviewed and emerged as a top candidate for the vacant head coaching job.[2] Two days later, via Instagram, Hardaway confirmed he was not leaving the University of Memphis, and reports emerged that Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown had accepted an offer to be his assistant.[3]

Departing players

More information Name, Number ...
NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownNotes
D. J. Jeffries0F6'7"215SophomoreOlive Branch, MSTransferred to Mississippi State[4]
Isaiah Stokes4F6'8"250RS SophomoreMemphis, TNDismissed from team
Boogie Ellis5G6'3"180SophomoreSan Diego, CATransferred to USC[5]
Damion Baugh10G6'3"185SophomoreNashville, TNTransferred to TCU[6]
Jordan Nesbitt14G6'6"185FreshmanSt. Louis, MOTransferred to Saint Louis[7]
Lance Thomas15F6'9"224JuniorNorcross, GATransferred to South Alabama (mid-season)[8]
Ahmad Rand20F6'8"180JuniorLincolnton, GATransferred to Oregon State (mid-season)[9]
Moussa Cissé32C6'10"220FreshmanConakry, GuineaTransferred to Oklahoma State[10]
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Incoming transfers

More information Name, Number ...
NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownNotes
Earl Timberlake0G6'6"220SophomoreWashington, D.C.Transferred from Miami (Florida). Timberlake will have four years of remaining eligibility.[11]
Chandler Lawson4F6'7"215JuniorMemphis, TNTransferred from Oregon. Lawson will have three years of remaining eligibility.[12]
Tyler Harris14G5'9"148SeniorMemphis, TNWalk–on; transferred from Iowa State. Harris will have two years of remaining eligibility.[13]
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2021 recruiting class

More information Name, Hometown ...
College recruiting
Name Hometown School Height Weight Commit date
Emoni Bates*
SF		 Ypsilanti, Michigan Ypsi Prep Academy 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 200 lb (91 kg) August 25, 2021[14] 
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 5/5 stars   247Sports: 5/5 stars   ESPN: 5/5 stars   (98)
Jalen Duren*
C		 New Castle, Delaware Montverde Academy (FL) 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (100 kg) 8/6/21[15] 
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 5/5 stars   247Sports: 5/5 stars   ESPN: 5/5 stars   (97)
Josh Minott
SF		 Boca Raton, Florida Saint Andrew's School 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 08/08/20[16] 
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 4/5 stars   247Sports: 4/5 stars   ESPN: 4/5 stars   (84)
Johnathan Lawson
SF		 Memphis, Tennessee Wooddale High School 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 165 lb (75 kg) 4/22/21[17] 
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 3/5 stars   247Sports: 4/5 stars   ESPN: 4/5 stars   (84)
Sam Onu
C		 Malvern, Pennsylvania The Phelps School 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 10/13/20[18] 
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 4/5 stars   247Sports: 4/5 stars   ESPN: 4/5 stars   (81)
John Camden
SF		 Downingtown, Pennsylvania Brewster Academy 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 09/30/20[19] 
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 3/5 stars   247Sports: 3/5 stars   ESPN: 3/5 stars   (79)
Overall recruit ranking:    Rivals: 1    247Sports: 1
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, On3, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "Memphis 2021 Basketball Commitments". Rivals. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  • "2021 Memphis Tigers Recruiting Class". ESPN. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  • "2021 Team Ranking". Rivals. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  • "2021 Memphis Tigers Basketball 24/7 Sports Commits". 247Sports. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
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*Originally class of 2022, but reclassified to 2021.[20]

Preseason

AAC preseason media poll

On October 13, The American released the preseason Poll and other preseason awards[21]

More information Predicted finish, Team ...
Coaches Poll
Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1Houston98 (8)
2Memphis92 (3)
3SMU77
4Wichita State76
5UCF66
6Cincinnati52
7Tulsa43
8Temple37
T-9South Florida25
T-9Tulane25
11East Carolina14
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Preseason Awards

  • AAC Preseason Rookie of the Year - Jalen Duren
  • AAC Preseason All-Conference First Team - Jalen Duren
  • AAC Preseason All-Conference First Team - Landers Nolley II
  • AAC Preseason All-Conference Second Team - Emoni Bates
  • AAC Preseason All-Conference Second Team - DeAndre Williams

Roster

More information Players, Coaches ...
2021–22 Memphis Tigers men's basketball team
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
G 0 Earl Timberlake 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)220 lb (100 kg) SoMiami (FL) Washington, D.C.
F 1 Emoni Bates 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)190 lb (86 kg) FrYpsi Prep Academy Ypsilanti, MI
C 2 Jalen Duren 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)250 lb (113 kg) FrMontverde Academy (FL) New Castle, DE
G 3 Landers Nolley II 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)208 lb (94 kg) RS JrVirginia Tech Fairburn, GA
F 4 Chandler Lawson 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)215 lb (98 kg) JrOregon Memphis, TN
G 5 Johnathan Lawson 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)185 lb (84 kg) FrWooddale HS Memphis, TN
G 10 Alex Lomax 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)188 lb (85 kg) SrEast HS Memphis, TN
G 11 Lester Quiñones 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)208 lb (94 kg) JrIMG Academy Brentwood, NY
F 12 DeAndre Williams 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)205 lb (93 kg) SrEvansville Houston, TX
G 14 Tyler Harris (W) 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)148 lb (67 kg) SrIowa State Memphis, TN
F 15 John Camden 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)208 lb (94 kg) FrBrewster Academy Downingtown, PA
F 20 Josh Minott 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)205 lb (93 kg) FrSaint Andrew's School Boca Raton, FL
C 23 Malcolm Dandridge 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)250 lb (113 kg) JrEast HS Memphis, TN
G 25 Jayden Hardaway (W) 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)209 lb (95 kg) RS JrIMG Academy Memphis, TN
G 30 Conor Glennon (W) 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)172 lb (78 kg) SoBrother Rice HS Chicago, IL
G 31 Tadarius Jacobs (W) 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)170 lb (77 kg) FrBartlett HS Memphis, TN
C 55 Sam Onu 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)270 lb (122 kg) FrThe Phelps School Malvern, PA
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on
  • (T) Transferred
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Current redshirt

Roster
Last update: August 25, 2021

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Schedule and results

More information Date time, TV, Rank# ...
Date
time, TV		 Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
October 24, 2021*
4:00 p.m.		 No. 12 LeMoyne–Owen W 105–57  –
  20 – Quiñones  7 – Timberlake  7 – Tied  FedExForum (10,925)
Memphis, TN
October 31, 2021*
1:00 p.m.		 No. 12 Lane W 88–49  –
  18 – Nolley II  6 – Duren  4 – Nolley II  FedExForum (10,741)
Memphis, TN
Non-conference regular season
November 9, 2021*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+		 No. 12 Tennessee Tech W 89–65  1–0
  17 – Bates  7 – Quiñones  4 – Tied  FedExForum (12,928)
Memphis, TN
November 13, 2021*
6:00 p.m., ESPN+		 No. 12 North Carolina Central W 90–51  2–0
  15 – Bates  10 – Duren  6 – Timberlake  FedExForum (12,893)
Memphis, TN
November 16, 2021*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+		 No. 11 Saint Louis W 90–74  3–0
  18 – Harris  10 – Nolley II  4 – Tied  FedExForum (13,302)
Memphis, TN
November 19, 2021*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+		 No. 11 Western Kentucky W 74–62  4–0
  22 – Duren  19 – Duren  4 – Lomax  FedExForum (13,375)
Memphis, TN
November 24, 2021*
8:30 p.m., ESPN2		 No. 9 vs. Virginia Tech
NIT Season Tip-Off semifinal		 W 69–61  5–0
  16 – Williams  10 – Williams  3 – Nolley II  Barclays Center (2,804)
Brooklyn, NY
November 26, 2021*
8:30 p.m., ESPN2		 No. 9 vs. Iowa State
NIT Season Tip-Off championship		 L 59–78  5–1
  12 – Bates  6 – Tied  3 – Lomax  Barclays Center (2,655)
Brooklyn, NY
December 1, 2021*
6:15 p.m., SECN		 No. 18 at Georgia
American/SEC Alliance		 L 79–82  5–2
  17 – Nolley II  8 – Williams  5 – Quiñones  Stegeman Coliseum (8,629)
Athens, GA
December 4, 2021*
11:00 a.m., ESPN2		 No. 18 at Ole Miss L 63–67  5–3
  13 – Williams  5 – Timberlake  3 – Nolley II  SJB Pavilion (8,629)
Oxford, MS
December 10, 2021*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+		 Murray State L 72–74  5–4
  15 – Harris  5 – Tied  4 – Harris  FedExForum (13,607)
Memphis, TN
December 14, 2021*
8:00 p.m., ESPN2		 No. 6 Alabama W 92–78  6–4
  20 – Williams  6 – Duren  6 – Tied  FedExForum (15,266)
Memphis, TN
December 18, 2021*
11:00 a.m., ESPN2		 vs. No. 18 Tennessee
Nashville Showcase		 Canceled due to COVID-19 issues within Memphis program [22] Bridgestone Arena (–)
Nashville, TN
December 21, 2021*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+		 Alabama State Canceled due to COVID-19 issues within Memphis program FedExForum (–)
Memphis, TN
AAC regular season
December 29, 2021
7:00 p.m., ESPN+		 at Tulane L 84–85  6–5
(0–1)		  19 – Nolley II  8 – Timberlake  6 – Timberlake  Devlin Fieldhouse (1,705)
New Orleans, LA
January 1, 2022
11:00 a.m., CBS		 at Wichita State W 82–64  7–5
(1–1)		  15 – Minott  7 – Williams  4 – Williams  Charles Koch Arena (8,751)
Wichita, KS
January 4, 2022
8:00 p.m., ESPNU		 Tulsa W 67–64  8–5
(2–1)		  12 – Tied  11 – Minott  5 – Minott  FedExForum (12,863)
Memphis, TN
January 9, 2022
2:30 p.m., ABC		 Cincinnati
Rivalry		 W 87–80  9–5
(3–1)		  20 – Harris  10 – Minott  6 – Bates  FedExForum (14,502)
Memphis, TN
January 12, 2022
6:00 p.m., ESPN+		 at UCF L 64–74  9–6
(3–2)		  15 – Harris  7 – Bates  6 – Nolley II  Addition Financial Arena (6,163)
Orlando, FL
January 15, 2022
3:00 p.m., ESPN+		 at East Carolina L 71–72  9–7
(3–3)		  15 – Duren  9 – Duren  7 – Harris  Williams Arena (5,107)
Greenville, NC
January 20, 2022
6:00 p.m., ESPN2		 SMU L 62–70  9–8
(3–4)		  17 – Harris  9 – Duren  5 – Lomax  FedExForum (13,723)
Memphis, TN
January 23, 2022
2:00 p.m., ESPN		 at Tulsa W 83–81  10–8
(4–4)		  24 – Harris  9 – Minott  7 – Lomax  Reynolds Center (3,524)
Tulsa, OK
January 27, 2022
8:00 p.m., ESPN2		 East Carolina W 71–54  11–8
(5–4)		  17 – Quinones  12 – Minott  5 – Timberlake  FedExForum (13,418)
Memphis, TN
February 5, 2022
7:00 p.m., ESPN2		 UCF W 88–60  12–8
(6–4)		  16 – Minott  10 – Duren  5 – Harris  FedExForum (15,280)
Memphis, TN
February 9, 2022
7:00 p.m., ESPN+		 Tulane W 80–69  13–8
(7–4)		  15 – Duren  13 – Williams  5 – Lomax  FedExForum (13,685)
Memphis, TN
February 12, 2022
2:30 p.m., ABC		 at No. 6 Houston W 69–59  14–8
(8–4)		  20 – Nolley II  11 – Duren  6 – Lomax  Fertitta Center (7,450)
Houston, TX
February 15, 2022
6:00 p.m., ESPN+		 at Cincinnati
Previously scheduled for Feb. 3rd		 W 81–74  15–8
(9–4)		  15 – Harris  8 – Williams  9 – Lomax  Fifth Third Arena 
Cincinnati, OH
February 20, 2022
2:00 p.m., ESPN		 at SMU L 57–73  15–9
(9–5)		  13 – Quinones  7 – Williams  5 – Lomax  Moody Coliseum (5,657)
University Park, TX
February 24, 2022
6:00 p.m., ESPN2		 Temple W 78–64  16–9
(10–5)		  22 – Duren  9 – Williams  6 – Lomax  FedExForum (14,013)
Memphis, TN
February 27, 2022
1:30 p.m., ESPN		 Wichita State W 81–57  17–9
(11–5)		  22 – Nolley II  7 – Duren  4 – Lomax  FedExForum (14,147)
Memphis, TN
March 3, 2022
8:00 p.m., ESPNU		 at South Florida W 73–64  18–9
(12–5)		  16 – Duren  10 – Duren  5 – Nolley II  Yuengling Center (3,186)
Tampa, FL
March 6, 2022
11:00 a.m., CBS		 No. 14 Houston W 75–61  19–9
(13–5)		  15 – Harris  8 – Duren  3 – Nolley II  FedExForum (17,946)
Memphis, TN
AAC Tournament
March 11, 2022
8:00 p.m., ESPNU		 (3) vs. (6) UCF
Quarterfinals		 W 85–69  20–9
  22 – Quinones  20 – Duren  7 – Lomax  Dickies Arena 
Fort Worth, TX
March 12, 2022
4:36 p.m., ESPN2		 (3) vs. (2) SMU
Semifinals		 W 70–63  21–9
  12 – Tied  10 – Williams  3 – Tied  Dickies Arena 
Fort Worth, TX
March 13, 2022
2:15 p.m., ESPN		 (3) vs. (1) No. 18 Houston
Championship		 L 53–71  21–10
  14 – Duren  10 – Duren  4 – Tied  Dickies Arena 
Fort Worth, TX
NCAA tournament
March 17, 2022*
12:45 p.m., TNT		 (9 W) vs. (8 W) No. 23 Boise State
First Round		 W 64–53  22–10
  14 – Williams  11 – Duren  5 – Lomax  Moda Center 
Portland, OR
March 19, 2022*
8:40 p.m., TBS		 (9 W) vs. (1 W) No. 1 Gonzaga
Second Round		 L 78–82  22–11
  14 – Williams  7 – Tied  5 – Lomax  Moda Center (17,907)
Portland, OR
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
W=West.
All times are in Central Time.
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Source[23]

Awards and honors

American Athletic Conference honors

All-AAC Awards

All-AAC First Team

  • Jalen Duren

All-AAC Second Team

All-AAC Freshman Team

Source[24]

Rankings

See also: 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings
More information Week, Poll ...
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre12345678910111213141516171819Final
AP1211918RV—RVRV—————————RVNot released
Coaches1616^1019RV————————————RV
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*AP does not release post-NCAA Tournament rankings
^Coaches did not release a week 1 poll.

References

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