# 2021–22 Memphis Tigers men's basketball team

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.

## 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. On June 28, reports emerged that Hardaway had in fact interviewed and emerged as a top candidate for the vacant head coaching job. 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.

### Departing players

| Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Notes |
| D. J. Jeffries | 0 | F | 6'7" | 215 | Sophomore | Olive Branch, MS | Transferred to Mississippi State |
| Isaiah Stokes | 4 | F | 6'8" | 250 | RS Sophomore | Memphis, TN | Dismissed from team |
| Boogie Ellis | 5 | G | 6'3" | 180 | Sophomore | San Diego, CA | Transferred to USC |
| Damion Baugh | 10 | G | 6'3" | 185 | Sophomore | Nashville, TN | Transferred to TCU |
| Jordan Nesbitt | 14 | G | 6'6" | 185 | Freshman | St. Louis, MO | Transferred to Saint Louis |
| Lance Thomas | 15 | F | 6'9" | 224 | Junior | Norcross, GA | Transferred to South Alabama (mid-season) |
| Ahmad Rand | 20 | F | 6'8" | 180 | Junior | Lincolnton, GA | Transferred to Oregon State (mid-season) |
| Moussa Cissé | 32 | C | 6'10" | 220 | Freshman | Conakry, Guinea | Transferred to Oklahoma State |

### Incoming transfers

| Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Notes |
| Earl Timberlake | 0 | G | 6'6" | 220 | Sophomore | Washington, D.C. | Transferred from Miami (Florida). Timberlake will have four years of remaining eligibility. |
| Chandler Lawson | 4 | F | 6'7" | 215 | Junior | Memphis, TN | Transferred from Oregon. Lawson will have three years of remaining eligibility. |
| Tyler Harris | 14 | G | 5'9" | 148 | Senior | Memphis, TN | Walk–on; transferred from Iowa State. Harris will have two years of remaining eligibility. |

### 2021 recruiting class

College recruiting information :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | 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 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 98 ||||||
| Jalen Duren* C | New Castle, Delaware | Montverde Academy (FL) | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) | 230 lb (100 kg) | 8/6/21 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 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 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 84 ||||||
| Johnathan Lawson SF | Memphis, Tennessee | Wooddale High School | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 165 lb (75 kg) | 4/22/21 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 84 ||||||
| Sam Onu C | Malvern, Pennsylvania | The Phelps School | 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) | 235 lb (107 kg) | 10/13/20 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 81 ||||||
| John Camden SF | Downingtown, Pennsylvania | Brewster Academy | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | 09/30/20 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 79 ||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: Rivals: 1 247Sports: 1 ||||||
| Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, 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.com. Retrieved August 25, 2021. "2021 Memphis Tigers Recruiting Class". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 25, 2021. "2021 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved August 25, 2021. "2021 Memphis Tigers Basketball 24/7 Sports Commits". 247sports.com. Retrieved August 25, 2021. ||||||
*Originally class of 2022, but reclassified to 2021.

## Preseason
### AAC preseason media poll

On October 13, The American released the preseason Poll and other preseason awards
Coaches Poll :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | Houston | 98 (8) |
| 2 | Memphis | 92 (3) |
| 3 | SMU | 77 |
| 4 | Wichita State | 76 |
| 5 | UCF | 66 |
| 6 | Cincinnati | 52 |
| 7 | Tulsa | 43 |
| 8 | Temple | 37 |
| T-9 | South Florida | 25 |
| T-9 | Tulane | 25 |
| 11 | East Carolina | 14 |

### 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

## Schedule and results

| 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 | Canceled due to COVID-19 issues within Memphis program | Canceled due to COVID-19 issues within Memphis program | Canceled due to COVID-19 issues within Memphis program | Canceled due to COVID-19 issues within Memphis program | Bridgestone Arena (–) Nashville, TN |
| December 21, 2021* 7:00 p.m., ESPN+ | | Alabama State | Canceled due to COVID-19 issues within Memphis program | Canceled due to COVID-19 issues within Memphis program | Canceled due to COVID-19 issues within Memphis program | Canceled due to COVID-19 issues within Memphis program | 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. |||||||||
Source

## Awards and honors
### American Athletic Conference honors
#### All-AAC Awards

* Freshman of the Year: Jalen Duren

#### All-AAC First Team

* Jalen Duren

#### All-AAC Second Team

* DeAndre Williams

#### All-AAC Freshman Team

* Jalen Duren
* Josh Minott
Source

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | Final |
| AP | 12 | 11 | 9 | 18 | RV | — | RV | RV | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | RV | | | Not released |
| Coaches | 16 | 16^ | 10 | 19 | RV | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | RV | | | |
*AP does not release post-NCAA Tournament rankings ^Coaches did not release a week 1 poll.