It’s year four of the Penny Hardaway era at the University Of Memphis, and excitement levels have reached a fever pitch as Coach Hardaway went out and recruited the best-recruiting classes in Memphis basketball history. Not to mention, the Tigers return several key starters from last season including, Lester Quinones, DeAndre Williams, Landers Nolley, Alex Lomax, and Malcolm Dandridge, all return this season to add to an already deadly Memphis roster that has the potential to go all the way and win a National Championship.

As far as the development of those returning players, Coach Penny Hardaway has talked about all of them especially, Lester Quinones, who has turned into a trusted leader on and off the court for Penny Hardaway and his Tigers. Last season, Lester Quinones was the man that the Tigers turned to when they needed a leader. Memphis fans can expect Lester Quinones to not only make strides in the stat column, but they can also expect to see the younger guys turning to him for guidance on how to navigate the pressures of being a Memphis Basketball player.

In the frontcourt, Memphis will revolve everything around DeAndre Williams in the middle. Penny Hardaway has all but said that Memphis will start four guards, which will leave DeAndre Williams in the middle to play bully ball.

In the backcourt, Memphis is loaded with talent. To start things off, let’s talk for another second about the importance that Landers Nolley and Lester Quinones will bring to the table for the Tigers this season. Sure, Memphis has the young talent to compete with anybody in the country, but the core of this team comes with their veteran guards who have true gritty potential to bring a National Championship to the 901.

Overall, the 2021-2022 season could be the year that Memphis takes that next step and makes a statement to the rest of the College Basketball world that they’re here to stay. Coach Penny Hardaway has been building towards for three years. For the first time since the 2007-2008 College Basketball season, Memphis has a legitimate shot at not only making the NCAA Tournament but making a deep run in said Tournament and advancing until the Final Four. It might be crazy to think about, but the 2021-2022 Memphis Basketball team has one of the deepest rosters that this program has ever seen. I would hate to be a team that has to line up across the court from there come early March.

Memphis will open the regular season on Tuesday night, November the 9th, against Tennessee Tech.