Tag: Precious Achiuwa

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Cover Feature News

Tiger Trials: Penny Hardaway’s Team Still Looking for the Smoke

CREDIT: Larry Kuzniewski

Let’s start with the positive. The 2019-20 Memphis Tigers will post a winning record, making it 20 consecutive such seasons, an unprecedented stretch for a program that has existed now for more than a century. The Tigers have beaten three teams from “Power Five” conferences (they beat none in Penny Hardaway’s first season as head coach), including regional villains Ole Miss and Tennessee (the latter in Knoxville). The Tigers have suited up arguably the finest freshman in the country, Precious Achiuwa having averaged 15.8 points and 10.8 rebounds on his way to all-league recognition in the American Athletic Conference.

Alas, having finished fifth in the American Athletic Conference (with a record of 21-10, the Tigers may need to reach the final of this week’s AAC tourney in Forth Worth to land a berth in the NCAA tournament. The Tigers hope to avoid a six-year Big Dance drought, one that would equal the longest (1997-2002) since the famed 1973 team played UCLA for the national championship.

Larry Kuzniewski

Penny Hardaway

While they’ve beaten the Rebels and Vols, these Tigers also have a 40-point loss to Tulsa on their record, along with a dispiriting home loss to USF in early February that seriously damaged any hopes of a run to the Big Dance.

And finally, while they may feature the finest freshman in the country, his name is not James Wiseman. The Wiseman Case, as it will forever be known, is now in the hands of something called the Independent Accountability Resolution Process (IARP), a new agency tasked by the NCAA to measure and resolve infractions. Based on the Memphis program’s track record — two of three Final Four appearances vacated — the fan base should prepare itself for a hammer it didn’t know existed six months ago. All the more threatening, there is no appeal process with the IARP.

“We’ve been through everything you can go through. We’re fighting. These guys are scrapping. I’m proud of the effort.”

— Penny Hardaway after the Tigers beat UConn on February 1st

We asumed last summer the story of these Tigers would be told with Wiseman front and center. We didn’t know the story would actually be told with Wiseman as merely background, offstage. The acclaimed recruit — the centerpiece among seven jewels in Hardaway’s second class — made the kind of debut in November that had the most stoic of Tiger observers swooning: 28 points and 11 rebounds in just 22 minutes of playing time. It proved to be a cruel tease.

Wiseman played in two more games, even after learning he’d been ruled “likely ineligible” by the NCAA for his family having received $11,500 for moving expenses from Hardaway in 2017. It didn’t matter that Hardaway was merely a high school coach at the time. (He coached Wiseman and East High to a state title in 2018.) After some back-and-forth, the team accepted a 12-game suspension for Wiseman, only to have the player withdraw from the program to begin training for his pro career. (Wiseman is expected to be a top-three pick in June’s NBA draft.) This was removing Jagger from the Stones. It was killing off Rachel after the first season of Friends. Hardaway found himself tasked with driving a muscle car . . . minus the steering wheel.

Then in late January, as the Tigers were practicing before a clash with Connecticut, D.J. Jeffries suffered ligament damage in his left knee. The Tigers were 15-5 at the time, thanks in large part to the impact Jeffries had made since joining the starting lineup in late November: 10.8 points per game, 4.3 rebounds, and 51 percent shooting from the field. If Achiuwa was the second-best player in Hardaway’s ballyhooed recruiting class, it became clear the pride of Olive Branch High School was third. Now Jeffries would be as absent as Wiseman for the remainder of the season.

Larry Kuzniewski

Precious Achiuwa

“They’re learning on the fly. The pressure is different on this level than it’s ever been in high school.”

— Penny Hardaway after the Tigers beat Temple on February 5th

The Tigers have clearly lacked veteran leadership on the floor. You don’t get doubled up (80-40!) at Tulsa with the right captain in charge. You don’t surrender the final 15 points in a four-point loss to SMU at home without the right floor general shifting the game’s direction.

Why the leadership void? Five senior starters departed after the 2018-19 season. Four of them were junior-college transfers recruited by Tubby Smith to play but two seasons in blue and gray. Smith brought that quartet to Memphis, of course, thinking he’d be the guy tasked with replacing them. When Smith was fired — and Hardaway hired — at the end of the 2017-18 campaign, a “class gap” was all but certain, and the hurt has been compounded by Wiseman’s absence.

There’s been no superstar center — no “unicorn” — to hide or erase shortcomings among a talented-but-green rotation of players whose roles have changed not just from one game to another, but within games. When Achiuwa and Lance Thomas went down late in that home loss to USF on February 8th, the Tigers finished a tight game with no semblance of a frontcourt. The Bulls grabbed 41 rebounds, 12 more than the Tigers in a game decided by two points.

Larry Kuzniewski

Alex Lomax

Lomax has emerged as arguably the best point guard in what amounts to a committee system utilized by Hardaway. He’s near the top of the American Athletic Conference with an average of 4.3 assists per game. But veteran judgment? The 6’0″ sophomore chose to drive the lane as the clock wound down in a tie game at Cincinnati on February 13th. Instead of dishing to Achiuwa or another forward, Lomax put up a shot that was blocked from behind. The Tigers lost in overtime.

“This is life,” acknowledges Lomax, who has played for Hardaway since middle school. “People hold you to certain standards and expect you to be somewhere. You’re gonna have your ups and downs, no matter what. Stick to the same routine, trust the same people, and don’t let outsiders spread you with negativity. In the end, you’ll be fine.”

Having grown up in Memphis, Lomax knows the intensity of Tiger basketball culture as well as anyone his age. He also knows his coach personifies that culture, dating back to Hardaway’s All-America playing days (1991-93).

In some respects, Lomax has witnessed Hardaway’s development as much as vice versa. “He’s done a great job,” says Lomax. “All the punches thrown his way, he’s found a way to swing back. You lose a starter every three or four weeks, you have to adjust. You can’t play the same way. Players have to step up before you intended them to. You have to grow up faster. He’s trusted us to do our job. And he always reminds us that this is the city’s team. We have to do it for the city. Especially all the fans and boosters. He goes all out, 24/7. It’s been fun for me to be by his side, and see him develop from when I was so young.”

“Where we started, we had a very deep team. We had size, we had shooting, we had speed, we had length. Where we are now . . . we’re just scrapping.” — Penny Hardaway after the Tigers lost to USF on January 12th

Few would describe Achiuwa’s play as “scrapping.” Amid the team’s various stumbles and face-plants, the freshman from Queens has left an imprint unlike many rookies in Tiger history. His 18 double-doubles are a Memphis freshman record and one more than the great Keith Lee had in 1981-82. Achiuwa is only the fourth Memphis freshman to pull down 300 rebounds and he’s 11 points from becoming just the tenth to score 500. He’s a “specimen,” to borrow a description from Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall, the kind college basketball gets to enjoy but for a single season these days.

Larry Kuzniewski

Lester Quinones

Though not as consistent as Achiuwa, Lester Quinones (a fellow freshman and New Yorker) has made his own impression on the Tiger program, and beyond his uncomfortably high — for some — shorts and air-guitar celebrations after connecting on a three-pointer. His flamboyance doesn’t mean Quinones hasn’t felt the growing pains. (At times, literally. He missed five games after breaking his right hand in the Ole Miss game.)

“We’ve lost way more games than we expected to,” says Quinones. “[It’s been crucial] for us to stay together and not let outside distractions interfere with where we’re trying to get . . . the NCAA tournament. We’re buying in more — and coming closer together — as the year goes on. No separation, because it’s been tough. Being the youngest team in the country, I feel like we’ve dealt with it pretty well. It’s hard to find a leader with just one senior on the team. We’re going to live up to expectations. We’ll get it done.”

So, what awaits the Tigers for the 2020-21 season? It’s hard to imagine the honeymoon being over for a third-year coach. This city’s love affair with Penny Hardaway runs deeper than most relationships between a community and college coach. It’s a different kind of belief system: This is Memphis, and he’s Penny. But as Hardaway has begun to emphasize, growth is necessary. Graduate transfers — veteran leadership, even if new to town — has become part of the sport’s culture. Look for a transfer or two to provide next year’s team an actual senior class. Among the five current freshmen who may be back — Achiuwa will be a first-round pick in the NBA draft — how many will return? These are variables to consider after the current Tigers play their final game. For now, hope remains, even if but a sliver.

“The low points have been losing our brothers out there,” says Lomax in reflecting on Wiseman and Jeffries. “It’s a family thing with us. But you gotta keep going, bring it together. At the end of the day, you can’t focus on the low points. Make a quick decision, keep your head up.”

And like Quinones, Lomax relishes the expectations of a passionate, if embattled, fan base. Whether it’s internal bravado or the “smoke” of national attention, he wouldn’t have it any other way. “This program can be the highest level,” he emphasizes. “We want to be number-one in the country. It’s not just basketball. We want to be number-one in everything. Fans don’t want mediocrity. We don’t either.”

Could the 2020-21 Tigers — however that roster is shaped, whatever the IARP decides — be a better team for the trials of this winter? “We can be better, just for having been through a lot,” notes Lomax. “Guys who have been here can teach the young guys. But every year’s different. And we’re focused on this year, still have a goal to accomplish.”

Even with possible sanctions looming (a postseason ban? a scholarship reduction?), Tiger basketball will be back in the spotlight, sometimes more so when games are not being played. Such is life for a program built as much on the bruises it’s absorbed as the nets it’s cut down.

“With the amount of players returning, we should have way more experience,” adds Quinones. “And [we’ll be] working hard this summer, expecting things might go south, and how we’ll recover. We’ll have that experience next year. Bigger goals. Bigger accomplishments.”

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Sports Tiger Blue

Tigers 68, Wichita State 60

CREDIT: Larry Kuzniewski

If Precious Achiuwa played his final home game as a Memphis Tiger Thursday night, he delivered a happy parting gift to the FedExForum faithful. The freshman small forward — one of five finalists for the Julius Erving Award — scored 14 points and pulled down 16 rebounds for his 17th double-double of the season, matching the freshman total of Tiger great Keith Lee. Along with a season-high 19 points from Tyler Harris, Achiuwa’s performance sparked Memphis to a win over Wichita State that keeps NCAA tournament hopes alive and sets up the Tigers for a possible bye into the quarterfinals of next week’s American Athletic Conference tourney. The U of M improved to 21-9 on the season (10-7 in the AAC), while the Shockers dropped to 22-8 (10-7).
Larry Kuzniewski

Precious Achiuwa

“I’m very proud of the team tonight,” said Memphis coach Penny Hardaway. “They stuck to the game plan for 40 minutes and made it really hard for Wichita State. A total team effort. The bench came in and played phenomenal. We didn’t start strong, but the bench calmed things down and we stayed in control for the rest of the game. Only seven turnovers . . . that was major for us.”

The Tigers didn’t score until Lance Thomas hit a three-pointer four minutes into the game. But a 13-0 run erased a 7-0 Shocker lead and the Tigers built a nine-point cushion before settling for a 29-24 halftime advantage (courtesy of a Harris trey at the buzzer).

Harris hit three-pointers on consecutive possessions midway through the second half to give the Tigers a 12-point lead (54-42). By the time Achiuwa threw down dunks on consecutive possessions (the latter at the 5:00 mark), the game was all but decided.

“We talked about taking care of the ball, and getting back on defense,” said Achiuwa. “Keeping it simple, playing solid.”

“It was a must-win,” added Harris. “Everybody was locked in.”

On a night Isaiah Maurice was saluted as the team’s only departing senior, Achiuwa deflected a question about the possibility of his own departure. “I’m focused on finishing out the season,” he said, “and putting my team in a position to achieve our goals.”

Goals are easier to achieve when turnovers are limited and your opponent shoots merely 34 percent from the field (and 26 percent from long range). “They did a great job of pressing our guards,” said Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall. “We had chances, but we could never make the play to put pressure on them.”

The win avenges a Tiger loss at Wichita State two months ago and sets up a showdown at Houston Sunday. Should Memphis beat the Cougars, the Tigers will secure fourth place in the AAC standings and that precious bye in the opening round of the league tournament at Fort Worth. Houston lost to Connecticut Thursday night and will enter the game with a record of 22-8 (12-5).

With news hovering around the program about an independent infractions investigation (related to James Wiseman’s suspension and his playing three games last November), Hardaway welcomed the win as reinforcement of the mission he continues to sell. “We’re going to keep going, no matter what,” he emphasized. “Nothing’s going to stop us from understanding what we’re trying to do. This is a family. We’ve supported each other through everything we’ve gone through this year. We’re not going to stop now.”

Sunday’s game at Houston is scheduled to tip-off at 11 a.m. and will be televised on CBS.

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From My Seat Sports

Memphis and The NCAA Tourney: Destination Dance?

CREDIT: Larry Kuzniewski

“Right now, it’s tough. But it’s not impossible.” — Penny Hardaway

Go ahead and cry a river for Penny Hardaway and his Memphis Tigers. A Top-10 team the first week in January, the Tigers now find themselves in the home stretch of the 2019-20 season without James Wiseman, without D.J. Jeffries, and without a spot even in the Top 25. They sport a still-solid record (17-6), but are considered a “bubble team,” at best, among prognosticators drawing up brackets for the 68-team NCAA tournament. With four of their next six games on the road (starting Thursday in Cincinnati), the Tigers must run a gauntlet of villains to reach the promised land for the first time since 2014. How do they do it? Here are four factors to watch.

• Find a floor general. Quickly: Who is the Tigers’ point guard? The ambiguity in your answer, I’m convinced, is related to this team ranking dead last among American Athletic Conference teams in turnover margin and next-to-last in assist-to-turnover ratio. The irony is that the team has four players seemingly capable of seizing the ball when a game grows frenzied: Alex Lomax, Damion Baugh, Boogie Ellis, and Tyler Harris. So why so many sloppy turnovers, so many of the unforced variety that make Hardaway cringe like he’s discovered a dog dropping on his welcome mat? (Malcolm Dandridge, let’s agree, should not be handling the ball near midcourt, let alone passing it.) The four potential generals are still learning their games still. (Yes, a college sophomore — like Lomax and Harris — is still a young player.) For this team to reach the Big Dance with any chance of advancing, it must know who will handle the ball in crunch time. Point-guard committees don’t cut down nets.
Larry Kuzniewski

Precious Achiuwa


• Make Precious moments. Lots of them. The damaging loss to USF last Saturday may not have happened had Precious Achiuwa not been sitting on the bench for 12 minutes of the first half, saddled with two fouls. Achiuwa is one of the top two or three freshmen in the country and a finalist for the Julius Erving Award (given to the nation’s top small forward). He’s been a double-double machine this season (12 of them so far) despite not being a volume shooter. (Achiuwa has taken no more than 10 shots in five of the Tigers’ last six games.) Particularly with Jeffries sidelined, the Tiger offense needs to find Achiuwa, if not run through him as the season winds down. He can score in traffic, from mid-range, and even connect from three-point country. Memphis may still be in search of a true point guard, but the team’s star has been here all along. And he needs to learn to play with foul trouble. Don’t let this season end without maximizing Achiuwa’s impact.

• Be angry at tip-off. The Tigers don’t start fast. They really haven’t in two seasons under Hardaway. A lead at the first media timeout (four minutes into a game) is as rare as a Louisville t-shirt at FedExForum. Particularly on the road, this has to change. Temple coach Aaron McKie said last week that his first priority in game-planning for Memphis was to take the crowd out of the game. The Owls indeed scored the game’s first six points and led (8-7) at the first media timeout. They just aren’t built to last with a team as talented as the current Tigers. Hardaway must instill in his team the importance of not climbing Comeback Mountain before halftime. Perhaps this means slowing the pace of play immediately after tip-off. Perhaps it means getting to the foul line. Crowds at Cincinnati, Connecticut, SMU, and Tulane are ready to chew this “overrated” team up if they start slowly.

• Set a Cougar trap. TheTigers’ best chance to regain support for an NCAA tournament berth would be to sweep Houston. Memphis will host the Cougars on February 22nd (one of two home games in the upcoming six-game stretch) then play in Texas in the regular-season finale on March 8th. Houston is the only AAC team currently ranked and just destroyed a team (Wichita State) that has been ranked (and handled Memphis). The Tigers must establish themselves among the top two or three teams in their league. Winning these two cat fights would accomplish that.

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Sports Tiger Blue

#23 Wichita State 76, #21 Tigers 67

Bye-bye, Top 25.

Five days after a loss to Georgia that dropped them 12 spots in the Top 25 (from 9th to 21st), the Tigers were declawed at Wichita State, surely toppling out of the rankings for the near future. Memphis has lost consecutive games for the first time this season, now 12-3 overall and 1-1 in the American Athletic Conference. The Shockers improve to 14-1 (2-0).

The U of M shot miserably in the first half (1 for 13 from three-point range), but closed a 13-point deficit to six (37-31) by halftime. Wichita State opened the second half with a 9-3 run and extended the lead to 17 points midway through the period. A Tyler Harris trey and Precious Achiuwa layup keyed a 13-4 Memphis run that reduced the Shocker lead to six points (66-60) with just over three minutes to play. But a pair of turnovers by Alex Lomax interrupted the comeback. The Tigers and Shockers have now split four games since Wichita State joined the AAC before the 2017-18 season.

Precious Achiuwa posted his eighth double-double of the season with 22 points and 12 rebounds. Harris scored a season-high 17 points off the bench, but no other Tiger scored as many as 10. D.J. Jeffries returned to the starting lineup after missing the Georgia game due to illness. He scored only three points in 28 minutes of action.

Jamarius Burton led the Shockers with 16 points.

The Tigers made only four of 21 shots from three-point range and had almost twice as many turnovers (18) as assists (10).

Memphis returns to action Sunday with a game at USF (8-8). Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. The Tigers return to FedExForum on January 16th when Cincinnati comes to town.

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Sports Tiger Blue

#11 Tigers 77, Jackson State 49

CREDIT: Larry Kuzniewski

For the first time in more than five weeks, the Memphis Tigers took the floor for a game that wouldn’t be analyzed primarily for who is not playing. A certain star freshman was absent for an eighth straight contest, but we now know James Wiseman is actually no longer a star freshman with the Memphis Tigers. With Wiseman’s departure from the program — announced via Instagram Thursday — the Tigers who beat Jackson State Saturday afternoon are largely the players Memphis will ride in hopes of ending a five-year NCAA tournament drought. (The notable exception is Lester Quinones, the guard who missed his fifth game Saturday as he recovers from a broken right hand.)

Larry Kuzniewski

Precious Achiuwa

Led by Precious Achiuwa (20 points and nine rebounds in 26 minutes), the 11th-ranked Tigers easily handled JSU for their eighth straight win and improved to 10-1 for the season. It’s the best start to a season for Memphis since Derrick Rose and friends won their first 26 games on their way to the 2008 Final Four. The winning streak is the program’s longest since an 18-game run in the 2012-13 season (the Tigers’ last in Conference USA).

Tiger coach Penny Hardaway acknowledged that the Wiseman saga has been a shock to his system, but isn’t all that surprised by his team’s record or ranking. “I’m not surprised because of how hard we work,” he said following the win. “But it’s incredible. This team deserves a lot of credit for everything we’ve gone through, to be on this winning streak and 10-1.”

The Tigers played sloppily in their first home game since December 3rd, committing 18 turnovers before halftime. But they also led throughout the game’s forty minutes, putting Jackson State in a 16-point hole (33-17) merely 13 minutes into the game. Isaiah Maurice played like a man wanting to absorb some minutes Wiseman’s departure will create. The Tigers’ lone senior scored six points, pulled down six rebounds, and blocked four shots in 16 minutes of action. Malcolm Dandridge also appears to be in the mix for more playing time. The freshman is still finding game form after left-knee surgery, but scored seven points and grabbed five rebounds in 19 minutes off the bench.

D.J. Jeffries scored 13 points for Memphis, his team-leading ninth game this season with at least 10. Tristan Jarrett led JSU (3-9) with 20 points.

“It takes a lot of discipline to play the same way against every team,” said Achiuwa, acknowledging the Tigers’ struggles to protect the ball, particularly in the first half. “We gotta stay locked in, no matter who we play.”

“I don’t feel we get the respect we deserve,” added Jeffries, “but that’s good. It means we have something to prove.”

Hardaway welcomes another week-long break for his team, a chance to collect some proverbial breath before conference play. (The Tigers host New Orleans on December 28th, then league-rival Tulane visits FedExForum on December 30th.) But he’s grateful for the team he now knows is his, and on the cusp of the nation’s Top 10. “I’m proud of the team,” he emphasized. “It’s something we imagined. To be where we are right now, I’m very proud of that. Just to get [another] win is a blessing.”

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Sports Tiger Blue

Tigers Scrape By Ole Miss, 87-86

CREDIT: Larry Kuzniewski

The Memphis Tigers squared off against regional rival Ole Miss at FedExForum Saturday. It was the Tigers’ third game without star center James Wiseman, who is serving a 12-game suspension levied by the NCAA.  Larry Kuzniewski

Precious Achiuwa

The first half was close, with the lead see-sawing back-and-forth, neither team able to create much separation until five minutes before the intermission, when the Tigers made a few stops and stretched the lead to seven points, 45-38, at half. Memphis was led in scoring by Precious Achiuwa (13) and D.J. Jeffries (10) in the first half.  Photographs by Larry Kuzniewski

Coach Penny Hardaway

Achiuwa came out aggressively in the opening minutes of the second half, scoring a quick seven points on a couple of strong drives and a steal at mid-court that was followed by a drive and dunk. The Tigers defense also ramped up a notch, forcing several turnovers and pushing the Tigers’ lead to 11 at the 16-minute mark.

Tyler Harris knocked down a pair of three-pointers to push the Tigers’ lead to 14 with 12 minutes to go. But Ole Miss began chipping away, and with three minutes left, the Tigers’ lead was down to eight. Ole Miss cut the lead to three with 16 seconds left, and then to 2 with 8 seconds to go. Damien Baugh made one of two free throws, giving the Tigers a three-point lead — and giving Ole Miss a shot to tie with a three-pointer.

The Tigers fouled Ole Miss guard Breein Tyree in the backcourt with 5 seconds left. Tyree made the first of two and missed the second, giving the Tigers a quick fast-break bucket, which was followed by a buzzer-beating Ole Miss three-pointer from half-court, making the final score 87-86.

Achiuwa led the Tigers with 25 points and 11 rebounds. Jeffries had 23 points; Tyler Harris added 15, and Lomax finished with 14. 

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Sports Tiger Blue

#14 Tigers 97, South Carolina State 64

CREDIT: Larry Kuzniewski

“James Wiseman makes the game a lot easier for everybody.” — Memphis basketball coach Penny Hardaway

The 99th season of Memphis Tiger basketball opened Tuesday night at FedExForum with the number one on the mind of every fan in attendance. Coach Penny Hardaway’s top-ranked recruiting class — and the debut of James Wiseman, the country’s top-ranked freshman — headlined the Tigers’ thorough beating of South Carolina State. For the first time in program history, five freshmen started the season-opener and six true freshmen played 65 percent of the total minutes. Wiseman delivered 28 points and 11 rebounds in just 22 minutes of playing time after sitting out the team’s two exhibition games with what’s been described as a minor ankle injury.

Larry Kuzniewski

James Wiseman

“[James] was going to erase a lot of the woes we were having,” noted Hardaway after the game, the only mention of “woes” connected with his team in quite some time. “I’m really proud of our team. We’re young, maybe the youngest in the country. We were a little stagnant at first, but it became a beautiful night for lots of reasons. Our game-plan discipline, the way we shared the basketball. We boxed out, only gave up seven offensive rebounds.”

The Bulldogs made their first five field-goal attempts — three of them from long range — and took an early 13-8 lead. But the Tigers discovered their first rhythm of the season offensively and took command well before halftime. Memphis converted six dunks — three of them by Wiseman — in the game’s first six minutes. After six misses from three-point range, D.J. Jeffries drained the Tigers’ first three-pointer of the season from the right corner to help build an 18-point (50-32) halftime lead. Wiseman had 20 points and eight rebounds at the break.

“I just took it possession by possession,” said Wiseman, who said there was no discomfort in his ankles. “I trusted my teammates, and ran the floor. When I do that, the floor opens tremendously. The atmosphere was crazy. Playing the game we love, it was a lot of fun.”

“We’re young, and we have to play against ourselves,” said Hardaway. “You have to build on sharing the basketball. Don’t let any outside noise come in. They might say, ‘You didn’t get enough shots tonight.’ Or ‘You didn’t get enough minutes.’ The games are gonna get tougher as we go. But overall, we have to protect our young guys from outside noise, any negativity.”

Sophomore guard Alex Lomax saw nothing negative in the arrival of Wiseman, his former teammate at East High School (where they won a 2018 state championship under Hardaway). “James Wiseman makes a team go from a one to a ten. He led the way, made a lot of easy baskets and was an intimidator on defense. It’s been a long time since I threw a lob to James . . . the easiest assist in the world.”

Larry Kuzniewski

Lester Quinones

Lomax scored eight points off the bench to support Wiseman, a total matched by three freshman teammates (Boogie Ellis, Damion Baugh, and Lester Quinones). Freshman forward Precious Achiuwa picked up a pair of early fouls but scored 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds in just 18 minutes of action. Baugh led the Tigers with eight assists and Jayden Hardaway (the coach’s son) scored nine points in 11 minutes off the bench.

Ian Kinard led the Bulldogs with 13 points.

Thirty regular-season games remain to be played before the 14th-ranked Tigers know if the preseason hype can be translated into significant hardware. But Hardaway sounded like a coach excited to see the plot unfold, particularly with his new leading man back on center stage. “It’s amazing, just seeing [Wiseman] run the floor,” said Hardaway. “Them throwing the ball toward the rim, and him finishing. That’s such a huge luxury. I had that in the NBA with [Shaquille O’Neal]. Just put it anywhere near the rim, and you get an assist from that. And him getting offensive rebounds.”

The Tigers host UIC (Illinois-Chicago) Friday night at FedExForum, with tip-off scheduled for 6 p.m.

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Cover Feature News

Hoop City! Season Previews for the Tigers and Grizz

First Class

Can the country’s top-ranked recruiting class take the Memphis Tigers to the promised land?

by Frank Murtaugh

Not since Penny Hardaway (an All-American guard) and four other starters departed after the 1992-93 season has the University of Memphis basketball program undergone what amounts to a roster flip. But there’s a significant catch this time. Hardaway — now the second-year head coach of the program — has filled that roster with the country’s top-ranked recruiting class, a septet that will not so much support returning rotation players like Alex Lomax and Tyler Harris (both sophomores), but shape the way those veterans impact the upcoming season. The Tigers will have a brand-new starting five on opening night (November 5th against South Carolina State at FedExForum), but they’ll take the floor with the highest expectations the program has seen in at least a decade.

Photographs by Larry Kuzniewski

Coach Penny Hardaway

A year ago at this time, excitement around the program was entirely Hardaway-generated. The first-year coach led the Tigers to a 22-14 record and postseason play for the first time in five years (albeit the NIT). All but three members of that team’s rotation — most notably Jeremiah Martin — exhausted their eligibility, making this year’s recruiting class critical for any hopes of a return to the NCAA tournament and/or national rankings. And what a class Hardaway has delivered: seven players from four states and three times zones, a group ranked tops in the country by those who specialize in such metrics.

The Magnificent Seven

• James Wiseman, C (East High School, Memphis) — The top-ranked recruit in the entire country, Wiseman won a Tennessee state championship (in 2018) as a junior at East, playing for Hardaway. He was the tipping point for this recruiting class, a primary factor in attracting new teammates from as far away as New York and California. The Gatorade National Player of the Year as a senior, Wiseman played in the McDonald’s All-American Game and could become the top pick in the 2020 NBA draft. But first things first. The 7’1″ center will aim to add a college championship to the high school hardware he earned alongside Alex Lomax, Malcolm Dandridge, and Ryan Boyce. Wiseman is the only Tiger on the AAC’s preseason all-conference team.

James Wiseman

• Precious Achiuwa, F (Bronx, New York) — Like Wiseman, a five-star recruit, top-10 national prospect, and participant in the 2019 McDonald’s All-American Game. Played with Lester Quinones at St. Benedict’s Prep in New Jersey (as well as AAU ball in New York). The last of the “magnificent seven” to sign with Memphis, Achiuwa’s addition clinched a No. 1 ranking for the recruiting class.

Precious Achiuwa

• Boogie Ellis, PG (San Diego) — A four-star playmaker, Ellis was ranked 32nd overall by 247Sports. Scored 51 points and 43 points in games as a senior at Mission Bay High School.

• Lester Quinones, G (Brentwood, New York) — Earned a four-star ranking during his single season at IMG Academy in Florida. The 12th-ranked shooting guard in the country according to 247Sports. Won a championship in 2018 alongside Achiuwa at St. Benedict’s Prep in New Jersey. Shot 38 percent from three-point range at IMG.

• D.J. Jeffries, F (Olive Branch High School) — A four-star prospect, Jeffries was the top-ranked player in Mississippi and the ninth-ranked power forward in the country. Averaged 23.3 points and 12.8 rebounds for the Conquistadors as a senior.

• Damion Baugh, G (Nashville) — Played two seasons at Tennessee Prep Academy in Memphis, averaging 23.5 points and 10 rebounds as a senior. A four-star prospect, Baugh was ranked fourth among Tennessee prospects by 247Sports.

• Malcolm Dandridge, F (East High School, Memphis) — Won a pair of state titles under Hardaway at East then became the new coach’s first commitment shortly after Hardaway was named Tiger coach in March 2018. A four-star prospect, Dandridge also played alongside Jeffries on the Bluff City Legends summer team.

Malcolm Dandridge and Alex Lomax

Talented But Inexperienced …

Hardaway hasn’t expressed — or shown outwardly — the slightest intimidation at the challenge he faces as Tiger coach, not since the March 2018 press conference in which he was reintroduced to a community of followers who already knew him better than they did their second cousins. To now be armed with a recruiting class that is the envy of every other coach in the country? “I’m excited,” he says. “Last year was a great learning experience. To come back with the No. 1 recruiting class. … I’m anxious to get ready.”

And the notion of a rotation built around freshmen? “They’re freshmen, but they’re talented,” emphasizes Hardaway. “They’re gonna lean on us, the coaching staff, and players from last year. Experience is the best teacher. They’ll get their feet wet and see what works, and what doesn’t work. If they stay within themselves, and listen to us, they’ll be okay. If five freshmen earn spots, I’d have no problem starting them. Who is going to be the best at their position for us to win? There’s no favoritism. They’ll battle it out in practice.”

Among the star-studded group of freshmen, Wiseman is almost certain to stand out. Players who can run the floor at 7’1″ tend to gain “unicorn” status in the modern basketball lexicon, and Wiseman qualifies. Already projected to be a top-five pick in the 2020 NBA draft, the Mandarin-speaking big man will aim to maximize his impact for what he hopes is one special winter of college. “He’s matured a lot,” says Hardaway. “James is really quiet. But he’s being active with his teammates. He’s asking a lot of questions. He’s hungry. He wants to play great while he’s here.”

Quinones has stepped forward as a face — and voice — of sorts for the Tiger rookies. He wears his game shorts higher than most, and flexes his Twitter muscles without reservation, recently firing away at Tennessee players as the Tiger-Vol rivalry regains some bite. “I love playing in front of huge crowds,” he says. “It gets me going better. It has a huge effect on us, how accepting the fans are. We’re just one huge basketball city.”

The new collection of talent has meant intense practices. As Hardaway puts it, “Iron sharpens iron.” Says Quinones, “The talent level on this team is amazing. Every day, someone is going to bring it more. The next day, the next person will do it.”

“These are the moments I’ve been waiting for my whole life,” adds Ellis, the freshman who’s made the longest trip to be part of this special class. “The bright lights, it’s an amazing feeling. Since I arrived in town, everybody wants to take pictures with us. It’s crazy. Great expectations come with great responsibility. We’ll live up to it if we continue to work hard and come together for one goal. We’ll put it all out there.”

While Ellis and Quinones are the premium guards among the freshman class, don’t sleep on Baugh, as there’s one element of a player’s game that earns playing-time love from Hardaway. “Damion is special,” notes Hardaway. “He picks up [defensively] 94 feet, maybe our best defensive guard besides Alex Lomax. Great rebounding guard. High IQ. And he can pass the ball really well.”

The Veterans

The only three players who can be classified as veterans this season are sophomore guards Harris (10.8 points per game as a freshman) and Lomax (5.1) and senior forward Isaiah Maurice (5.6 points and 3.1 rebounds). Hardaway is especially pleased with the development Lomax has shown over the offseason. Having coached A-Lo since his high school days at East, Hardaway feels an investment in the player’s rise. “He really struggled last year, shooting the ball,” says Hardaway. “He’s always been a great defensive player but kind of lost his way. This year, he came in understanding what he needs to do, and how he can affect the game for us. He understands what it takes for him to be successful on this level.”

Hardaway For the Defense

Amid all the flash, all those ranking stars (two fives and five fours, remember), Hardaway has his sights set on smothering opponents defensively. Good defense doesn’t slump. Particularly when playing away from FedExForum — where the Tigers’ various rankings will be held against them — Hardaway wants to see his team answer with defense. “With a young team, defense is gonna get it,” he says. “When we run into those teams that are senior-laden, physical . . . defense is going to come into play. Offensively, we’ll be okay. But defensively, we’ll have to shut people down.”

The Tigers’ nonconference schedule is gaining strength, both with regional rivals back (Ole Miss, UAB, Tennessee) and “power-five” opponents a long way from FedExForum (Oregon and North Carolina State, the latter in Brooklyn). “There are some points on the schedule where, if we’re not coming to play, we could lose two or three in a row,” says Hardaway. “Especially with a young team. We’ll see who can handle adversity. We’re not afraid to play anybody.”

Hardaway pays attention to the rankings, both for his recruiting class and for the team he’s built in two years. While some prognosticators have the Tigers in their top 20 — but not top 10 — Hardaway says top five wouldn’t surprise him. (AAC coaches picked Memphis to tie Houston for the conference championship.) He’s that confident in the talent he’s drawn to Memphis, and that convinced he and his coaching staff will max-out the treasure trove of skills. So raise your expectations as high as they’ll go. They’re not higher than those of the Memphis coach.

“The mood around the city — everywhere I go — they can’t wait for the season to start,” says Hardaway. “Everybody’s raring to go, to see what this team’s gonna do. We’re all anxious.”

A Fresh Start

Six key questions about this year’s new-edition Grizzlies.

By Aimee Stiegemeyer and Sharon Shy Brown

Gone are the days when the Memphis Grizzlies were a playoff staple in the NBA’s Western Conference — and often known as the team no one wanted to face in the post-season. A new chapter has commenced in Grind City. The Grizzlies traded franchise cornerstones — and two of the best players in franchise history — Marc Gasol and Mike Conley. Gasol was traded to the Toronto Raptors prior to the trade deadline, where he eventually went on to become an NBA champion. Conley was sent to the Utah Jazz ahead of the draft.

But the Grizzlies have quietly established a young core that could set the organization up for years to come. Second-year player Jaren Jackson Jr. and rookie point guard Ja Morant will be the key figures going forward.

Jaren Jackson Jr.

Will it work? Time will tell. Here are six key questions ahead of the upcoming NBA season:

The Grizzlies made a lot of major changes during the off season — changes in the front office, changes in the coaching staff, and changes to the roster. Do you think those changes will lead to success? 

Aimee Stiegemeyer: Eventually, yes. Although it could take more than one season to fully realize it. While they might not lead to immediate success, the changes made in the off season are a good starting point for getting there. 

There are some new decision-makers in the front office, and so far the choices they have made appear to be good ones. Ja Morant and Brandon Clarke were excellent pickups, and the Grizzlies also received a few usable pieces from Utah and Atlanta. Shedding the remainder of Chandler Parsons’ contract was one of the most impressive moves made.

Sharon Brown: In recent years, the Grizzlies have been a team plagued with instability and uncertainty. The team has been through four coaches since Robert Pera took controlling ownership of the franchise in 2012. For some reason or another, coaches haven’t worked out for Memphis. It is too early to predict how first-year coach Taylor Jenkins’ tenure will work out.

Confidence was lost in the front office, and former general manager Chris Wallace took the brunt of the criticism — rightfully so, since he was the one in front of the cameras. Changes were inevitable to appease the fan base. Grizzlies fans were used to being in the playoffs during the Grit ‘n Grind era with the Core Four (Gasol, Conley, Zach Randolph, and Tony Allen). Even though the team improved to 33 wins last season from 22 the previous season, fans still want and expect more. Success is relative, and time will tell if the changes made will be worthwhile.


Memphis appears to be at the starting point of an across-the-board rebuild. Do you think a complete rebuild was necessary?

AS: Yes, 100 percent. The Grizzlies went all in on Gasol and Conley three years ago, which I do think was the correct choice at the time. Overspending on Chandler Parsons was a gamble by the front office, and in hindsight it turned out to be a losing one. However, looking at the context of where the Grizzlies were as a team, I still believe they did the best they could with the cards they were dealt. It became apparent last year that the window to build around Conley and Gasol was pretty much closed, and a hard reset was the most logical way forward. 

It’s easy to look back now and criticize the albatross that ended up being Parsons’ contract, but top-tier free agents were not exactly clamoring to come to Memphis, and something that often goes unstated is that without signing Parsons (or a similar caliber player), there was a good chance that Conley wouldn’t have re-signed. 

It seems like a lifetime ago now, but there were plenty of reasons to believe that building around Gasol and Conley would lead to further success. With a quality center and a quality point guard on the roster, the addition of a top-tier wing like Parsons made perfect sense. On paper, it was a solid move. In practice, not so much. Paralyzed by three near-max contracts, the Grizzlies were not able to acquire the rest of the pieces needed to push the team to the next level. And thus, here we are. 

SB: Absolutely, it was necessary. As the saying goes, you can’t expect different results if you keep doing the same thing over and over. That’s the definition of insanity. The Grizzlies were never known for developing young talent. Players were getting older and restless.

It was time to move on from Gasol and Conley and allow them to pursue championship aspirations because, frankly, it wasn’t happening in Memphis any time soon.

It was long overdue. The icing on the cake was finally getting rid of Parsons’ massive contract. Getting rid of the three massive contracts of Gasol, Conley, and Parsons gave the Grizzlies room to maneuver for the future.

Who’ll have a breakout season, top of the roster?

AS: Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. are the obvious answers, provided the latter can learn to stay out of foul trouble. This could also be the season that Dillon Brooks unlocks his full potential and elevates his game to another level. I’m feeling pretty high on Brandon Clarke as well. 

Ja Morant

SB: Conventional wisdom would say Jaren Jackson Jr. However, Morant may give him a run for his money. Both have the potential to become superstars in this league.

Jackson is a great all-around player and the new face of the franchise, but he has had issues with rebounding and getting into foul trouble. He needs to understand that when the game is on the line, he needs to be out on the floor, not sitting on the bench with foul issues.

Morant is one of the best passing and explosive point guards to come out of college in a long time, and he will be in the conversation for Rookie of the Year. And he is hungry. With luck and hard work, Morant and Jackson could be an unstoppable duo in the NBA for years to come.

Who’ll have a breakout season from the bench?

AS: Jae Crowder and Solomon Hill are both giving me very strong veteran role-player vibes. And this is likely to be an unpopular opinion, but I don’t think we should sleep on Grayson Allen either. 

SB: There are several players who stand out on the bench, and it is hard to pick just one to have a breakout season. Clarke and Allen may be top-tier role players. Backup point guard Tyus Jones may be the most important bench player. He has an all-around game and has the ability to run the offense when Morant is catching a rest.

What does a successful season look like right now to this franchise?

AS: The Grizzlies need to consider the long game here and look beyond immediate results. What constitutes success is subjective, and one man’s ceiling is another man’s floor. I don’t expect them to be playoff contenders this year — and maybe not next year, either. They have put together a nice group of guys who are young, scrappy, and hungry, and the primary goal for this season should be about player development and building team chemistry.

Coach Taylor Jenkins

SB: Setting high expectations for this season doesn’t seem realistic. As we’ve seen elsewhere in the league, a youth movement doesn’t necessarily mean instant success. Continuity goes a long way as far as development is concerned with a young core. It might be a few years before the team’s hard work pays off. This is a game of chess, not checkers. It may be tough in terms of winning in the Western Conference, but fans will likely have other things to cheer for and become excited about. This team should be considered one of the better up-and-coming young teams in the West, one with a bright future.

How should the Grizzlies handle the situation with Andre Iguodala?

AS: This is another situation in which playing the long game is necessary. What they should absolutely not do, under any circumstances, is give Iguodala a buyout right now. I might feel differently if he were willing to accept something lower than his full $17.2 million salary, however it just does not make good business sense to subsidize his move to the Lakers or the Clippers for nothing in return. If nothing else, he will be a hot commodity as the trade deadline gets closer, and there’s a much better chance of getting some value out of his contract.  

SB: Right now, it’s a business decision for the Grizzlies. Memphis has every right to want something in return, instead of a buyout. Iguodala has over $17 million remaining on his contract. Neither the Grizzlies nor Iguodala appear to be in a rush to come to an agreement. The Grizzlies are vying for future assets via a trade while Iguodala wants to be traded to a contender or sign with a team of his choosing, if he’s bought out. Patience is key for both Memphis and Iguodala.

Aimee Stiegemeyer and Sharon Shy Brown are the founding editors and co-owners of the Memphis Grizzlies blog All Heart in Hoop City.

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From My Seat Sports

Precious! Memphis Secures Top Recruiting Class in the Country

CREDIT: Larry Kuzniewski

“We want to win a national title. I don’t think that’s far-fetched. That drives me.”

Penny Hardaway shared those sentiments with me before the start of his first season as basketball coach at the University of Memphis. The interview would inform a feature in which Memphis magazine named Hardaway its 2018 Memphian of the Year. (Yes, we named him MOY before he coached his first college game. Any questions about that now?) Hardaway did not say in that interview, “We want to win a national title in 2020.”
Larry Kuzniewski

Penny Hardaway, recruiting king.

He might say that today.

With Precious Achiuwa‘s announcement Friday (via social media) that he will play at the U of M, Hardaway has landed the top-ranked recruiting class in the country. Along with James Wiseman — the top-ranked player in the country, a center who starred at East High School for Hardaway — Achiuwa gives Memphis a pair of five-star recruits for the first time since Joe Jackson and Will Barton arrived on campus as part of Josh Pastner’s second recruiting class in 2010.

But the five-stars have a supporting cast. Forwards Malcolm Dandridge (another East product) and D.J. Jeffries have been signed for weeks, along with Tennessee Prep guard Damion Baugh. Guard Lester Quinones committed to Hardaway a week ago (which may have clinched Achiuwa, the two having played together for years) and Boogie Ellis signed on the blue-and-gray line earlier this week. All five players are considered four-star recruits by Rivals.

Achiuwa’s commitment pushes Memphis above Kentucky, Arizona, and Duke to number-one in the national rankings, according to 247Sports. When you add up the numbers, fully 10 percent of the country’s top 50 recruits (according to Rivals) are coming to play for Hardaway at Memphis. In order: Wiseman (1), Achiuwa (17), Ellis (37), Quinones (48), and Jeffries (50).

I recently asked someone close to Hardaway how he has reacted with the serial signings of superstars. Excitement? Delight? Does he consider this normal? The description I received: “Supreme confidence.”