Martin: In this NBA Draft, there’s a lot to like for the Grizzlies
With less than a week to go before the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft, here are some of John Martin’s thoughts on the class and who he most believes in.
Topic: John Martin
RSSThere are 31 article(s) tagged John Martin:
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June 2026
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April 2026
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Martin: Can a hometown kid help Hardaway bring back the glory days?
The four-star prospect committed to Penny Hardaway and the Tigers, giving the Memphis basketball program some much-needed momentum after the worst on-court season since the 1970s.
Related content:
Memphis made: Briarcrest standout Fred Smith Jr. says yes to Tigers
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March 2026
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Martin: Memphis and Penny Hardaway have a plan. Will it work?
Now that the decision has been made to bring Penny Hardaway back, everyone in Memphis hopes he’ll be successful — and that his ninth year will be the charm. The task before him is immense.
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February 2026
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Martin: Brace yourselves, Memphis fans. After loss to North Texas, the real storm is here.
The Tigers may have weathered one storm. But the bad news is that another storm cell arrived, and it could hang around.
Related content:
Self-inflicted mistakes cost Memphis in road loss to North Texas
Martin: How is Penny Hardaway doing at Memphis? We asked AI.
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January 2026
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Martin: Crushing loss to Tulsa shows Memphis basketball being left behind
It’s time to confront some hard truths about this Memphis basketball team and program.
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Jason Smith and John Martin to replace Calkins on 92.9 lineup
In the wake of Geoff Calkins’ departure from local radio, 92.9 FM ESPN has a new lineup of shows. It starts with Jason Smith and John Martin at 9 a.m.
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November 2025
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Martin: The last time Memphis basketball was 1-4? You don’t want to know.
You could almost start to see the vision of the rest of the season. Sure, it was a really bad loss to UNLV. But Memphis would escape the Bahamas with a 1-1 record, the team is playing hard, and players are settling into roles. But it all came undone. Slowly, then all at once.
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Martin: Memphis takes No. 1 Purdue to the brink. That’s more like it.
CBS Sports analyst Emeka Okafor called the gutty win for Purdue “championship vitamins.” But the truth is that even a close loss like this one — to the top dog in the sport — will make Memphis fans feel a whole lot better.
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August 2025
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Martin: In new world of high-dollar college athletics, Memphis refuses to be priced out
“The new deal isn’t a panacea for Memphis athletics like getting into the Big 12 would be, but it’s the next best thing to keep the Tigers afloat in the intermediate.”
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June 2025
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Martin: OKC does it again, and other favorite picks
With the first round of the NBA Draft in the books, here are some of my favorite picks from Wednesday.
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March 2025
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Martin: Hardaway has earned this conference championship
Who could’ve imagined during last season’s epic collapse what would be in store for the Memphis basketball program this season? Who would’ve believed that six months later that Penny Hardaway would do something Josh Pastner or Tubby Smith never could?
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January 2025
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Martin: Memphis lost. That’s OK. Just don’t make it a habit.
Memphis coach Penny Hardaway called the loss disheartening and discouraging. In the abstract, it’s hard to argue with him. It was a poor effort from the start.
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December 2024
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Martin: With win at Virginia, Hardaway keeps pushing right buttons
On Wednesday, Memphis became the only team in college basketball to earn more than five Quad 1 and Quad 2 wins. And it happened in large part due to yet another crucial Hardaway adjustment.
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Martin: Even as Maui run falls short, these Tigers feel different
Seven games into the season, the Tigers have come together better than anyone could have imagined.
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November 2024
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Martin: As Tigers reach Maui title game, Penny Hardaway proves he belongs
Just before the season started, some national media suggested Penny Hardaway was on the hot seat. Well, if Hardaway was on the hot seat, the man has spent the week dumping a bathtub of water from the Pacific Ocean on the flame.
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Martin: Another heartbreak? Not this time, as Memphis downs UConn
No, this wasn’t an NCAA Tournament win. No, this doesn’t mean the Tigers can go directly to the Sweet 16 — or even the tournament. But this was the biggest regular-season win in a long time.
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October 2024
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Martin: Memphis is done with its exhibitions. Here’s what we’ve learned.
Memphis is officially through its two-game exhibition season, which concluded with a 96-88 loss to No. 2 Alabama in Huntsville.
So, what have we learned about this team?
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June 2024
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Martin: What’s next for the Memphis basketball roster?
It’s hard to imagine that Penny Hardaway is done adding to his roster, but it’s fair to wonder if there’s anyone he could bring in at this stage of the year that would make significant contributions next season.
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Martin: How good is the Memphis AD job?
What are the best and worst parts about the Memphis athletic director job?
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February 2024
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Martin: March magic? This Memphis team is showing it’s not done yet
In the midst of a season that went from shine to, well, you know what, in the span of a week, it is indeed time to start asking if the inverse is happening as we enter March.
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Martin: This Memphis basketball season was once promising. Now it’s just depressing.
Memphis won three in a row after a four-game slide, and some thought they had figured it out. They don’t have it figured out. Furthermore, they didn’t look reinvigorated or rededicated. And, most importantly, they didn’t beat North Texas.
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Martin: After win against Temple, Hardaway knows what he has to do
John Martin lists seven points on the road win against Temple, and advises coach Penny Hardaway on how to narrow his rotation.
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January 2024
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Martin: It’s back to square one for Memphis basketball
After a month of mostly near-misses and too-close-for-comfort wins, the Memphis Tigers finally got caught.
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Martin: Tigers avoid disaster. They’ll have to do it 17 more times.
Jahvon Quinerly’s 3-pointer in the final seconds helped the Tigers avoid a stumble in its AAC opener.
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November 2023
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Jason Smith, a second-generation media personality, finds his path
When Jason Smith moved to sports-talk radio 92.9 ESPN, he learned fast that making it work would be about his personality and the on-air chemistry with co-host John Martin.
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