Yates, a 6-foot-5 forward who was named Tennessee Class 3A Mr. Basketball in 2023, averaged 1.2 points and 0.8 rebounds in 3.6 minutes per game for the Tigers this past season.

Memphis won’t get the chance to get closure in San Antonio for the 2008 title game. That doesn’t mean that there still isn’t something for Penny Hardaway and Memphis to take from the last four teams remaining. 

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Defined largely by triumph, but tainted too, the 1984-85 Memphis State Tigers basketball team was perfectly imperfect, a fun bunch that had faults but also had a blast.

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Carter, a 6-foot-4 shooting guard, averaged 5.4 points and 1.5 rebounds per game while shooting 39.3% from 3-point range for the Tigers this season. 

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An up-to-date look at Tigers basketball’s 2025-26 roster rebuild

Parth Upadhyaya and John Martin grade the Tigers’ 2024-25 season.

Hardaway’s job this offseason won’t be easy, given the team’s challenges with its conference affiliation. Still, there are reasons to be optimistic about the offseason and beyond for Tiger basketball.

Williams originally committed to Memphis in November 2022, but he never played for the Tigers following an April 2023 arrest in connection to a shooting that occurred outside his San Diego-area home in March 2023.

If you’re looking for a live up-to-date look at Memphis’ latest roster rebuild heading into the 2025-26 season, The Daily Memphian has you covered.

A bit after the 2024 football season opened, the Tigers’ chance to exit the AAC arose. But AD Ed Scott said it was “a bad deal.” So the Tigers, who decided to stay in the AAC, continue to hold out.

Okojie, a 6-foot-1 defensive-minded point guard, averaged 1.5 points, 1.2 assists and 1.2 rebounds per game through 31 games this past season for the Tigers.

Penny Hardaway may have an opportunity to add some 901 flavor to his 2025-26 roster through the NCAA transfer portal.

The 6-foot-2 combo guard averaged 0.4 points and 0.3 rebounds in 3.1 minutes per game through the 16 games he appeared in. 

Can Memphis get PJ Haggerty to return? Will Penny Hardaway’s coaching staff remain intact? Here are questions Memphis must address before the start of its 2025-26 season.

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Pastner led Memphis to four NCAA Tournament appearances in seven seasons. Pastner and Memphis will now reunite when the Tigers and the Runnin’ Rebels meet at FedExForum next season.

“Penny Hardaway hasn’t had the success he would have wanted at Memphis. But given the changing basketball universe, his presence matters more than it ever has.”

“The Tigers were broken after that ugly finish to the 2023-24 season. Credit Duncan for quietly helping glue it all back together.”

“We talk about it all the time (like), ‘Man, ‘I’m from Memphis,’” Andre Turner said. “So wherever I would go, you’ll (see me say it) with my chest out.”

Though Memphis’ Sweet 16 drought continues, Hardaway brought the Tigers closer to their peak as a program as they’d been in a long time this season.

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Memphis Tigers coach Penny Hardaway tried his best not to makes excuses after the loss in the NCAA Tournament. But his answers revealed how he truly felt.

Memphis Tigers basketball had an important season of redemption. But the ending? “Just heartbreaking,” PJ Haggerty said.

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Box score: Colorado State 78, Memphis 70

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PJ Haggerty struggled from the field, making only 7 of his 23 shots in Friday’s NCAA Tournament first-round game against Colorado State.

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Fans gather for March Madness watch party in Tom Lee Park

A large, LED TV screen was set up under the Sunset Canopy at Tom Lee Park Friday, March 21, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. for an NCAA Tournament watch party.

Of the 12 players on Memphis Tigers’ roster, seven could potentially return for at least another season.

Hits to their depth added up for the No. 5 seed Tigers (29-6) in their 78-70 first-round loss to No. 12 seed Colorado State on Friday afternoon at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle.