Could the Tigers reclaim the season? It’s not impossible

Ray Padilla, Memphis Commercial Appeal
·2 min read
Memphis forward Emoni Bates (1) dunks ion the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Tulsa, Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022, in Tulsa, Okla. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Memphis forward Emoni Bates (1) dunks ion the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Tulsa, Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022, in Tulsa, Okla. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
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Welcome back to the Memphis Sports newsletter. It’s Ray Padilla, the Commercial Appeal’s digital producer, bringing you the latest Bluff City sports news.

Without top players like Jalen Duren, DeAndre Williams and Landerrs Nolley II, it seemed unlikely that Memphis would defeat Tulsa. However, the Tigers rallied from a 13-point halftime deficit to snap a three-game losing streak, our Jason Munz reports.

Jason takes a look at three players who provide some semblance of hope for the next six weeks in his story for subscribers.

Memphis head coach Penny Hardaway shouts on the sidelines in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022, in Tulsa, Okla. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Memphis head coach Penny Hardaway shouts on the sidelines in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022, in Tulsa, Okla. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

With Memphis’ win at Tulsa, coach Penny Hardaway’s progress is now the focus.

Since Thursday night’s tongue-lashing of the media went viral, most of the fan base rallied around him, and our sports columnist Mark Giannotto wrote it’s why no doubt he will keep this job. That is, if Hardaway still wants it despite this season’s disappointing results. Memphis still wants him to succeed.

Here’s an excerpt from his column:

Penny Hardaway almost made the same mistake again.

A decisive defensive possession awaited with guard Alex Lomax at the free throw line in the final moments of a spirited second-half comeback, and Hardaway initially left 5-foot-9 guard Tyler Harris on the court. He subbed out forward Malcolm Dandridge for junior Lester Quinones, a move that left the Tigers with two guards under 6 feet and no true big man on the floor.

For all Harris has done for Memphis this season, for all he did during Sunday’s shorthanded 83-81 win at Tulsa, he is a defensive liability because of his size. That’s how East Carolina stole a victory away from the Tigers just eight days earlier.

So after Lomax sank the second of two free throws, Hardaway realized what he had done. He quickly put Dandridge back in the game, removing Harris and setting the stage for a stop this program and its supporters so badly needed.

Memphis Tigers head coach Penny Hardaway reacts during the first half of a game Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022, at FedExForum. Southern Methodist defeated Memphis 70-62.
Memphis Tigers head coach Penny Hardaway reacts during the first half of a game Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022, at FedExForum. Southern Methodist defeated Memphis 70-62.

Jermaine Johnson rejoins Penny Hardaway’s staff

Multiple sources confirmed to the Commercial Appeal that Jermaine Johnson has returned to the Tigers in a non-coaching capacity, Jason reports.

In November 2020, Hardaway hired Johnson as an assistant, just days before the 2020-21 season began. Hardaway said in the moment that Johnson was being hired on a trial basis.

"It might work for this year and next year I might go out and hire another coach. But we'll see," he said before last season.

Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) defends as Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) shoots in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) defends as Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) shoots in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Ja Morant vs Luka Doncic is shaping to be a Western Conference rivalry

Both Luka Doncic and Ja Morant excel at getting to and finishing around the rim, and both were heralded as franchise cornerstones before turning pro.

Though they aren’t rivals yet, we can get used to seeing two of the league’s premier point guards battle for Western Conference supremacy, our Damichael Cole reports.

“You talk about two players that want to win and will do anything to win,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said. “It’s great to see the game have two young point guards in this league that can dominate the game.”

Jan 19, 2022; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard John Konchar (46) shoots against Milwaukee Bucks guard Grayson Allen (7) during the second quarter at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 19, 2022; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard John Konchar (46) shoots against Milwaukee Bucks guard Grayson Allen (7) during the second quarter at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

The Scoreboard

Memphis Grizzlies lose to Milwaukee Bucks (126-114)

Memphis Grizzlies win against Denver Nuggets (122-118)

Memphis Grizzlies lose to Dallas Mavericks (104-91)

Tigers basketball lose to SMU Mustangs (70-62)

Tigers basketball win against Tulsa Golden Hurricane (83-81)

Memphis Tigers center Jalen Duren (2) reacts after scoring during the second half of a game Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022, at FedExForum. Southern Methodist defeated Memphis 70-62.
Memphis Tigers center Jalen Duren (2) reacts after scoring during the second half of a game Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022, at FedExForum. Southern Methodist defeated Memphis 70-62.

Mark your calendar

Memphis Grizzlies vs San Antonio Spurs: Wednesday, Jan. 26, 7:30 p.m. at AT&T Center

Memphis Grizzlies vs Utah Jazz: Friday, Jan. 28, 7 p.m. at FedExForum

Memphis Grizzlies vs Washington Wizards: Saturday, Jan. 29, 7 p.m. at FedExForum

Memphis Grizzlies vs Philadelphia 76ers: Monday, Jan 31, 6 p.m. at Wells Fargo Center Philadelphia

Tigers basketball vs East Carolina Pirates: Thursday, Jan. 27, 8 p.m. at FedExForum

The Memphis Sports newsletter was written by Ray Padilla, the digital producer for The Commercial Appeal, and features stories written by Damichael Cole, Mark Giannatto, Jason Munz and Evan Barnes. Ray can be reached at raymond.padilla@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @Ray_Padilla_.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis sports: Can Penny Hardaway, Tigers reclaim basketball season?