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2017–18 Memphis Tigers men's basketball team

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2017–18 Memphis Tigers men's basketball
ConferenceAmerican Athletic Conference
Record21–13 (10–8 AAC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaFedExForum
Seasons
2017–18 American Athletic Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
No. 6 Cincinnati 16 2   .889 31 5   .861
No. 21 Houston 14 4   .778 27 8   .771
No. 16 Wichita State 14 4   .778 25 8   .758
Tulsa 12 6   .667 19 12   .613
Memphis 10 8   .556 21 13   .618
UCF 9 9   .500 19 13   .594
Temple 8 10   .444 17 16   .515
UConn 7 11   .389 14 18   .438
SMU 6 12   .333 17 16   .515
Tulane 5 13   .278 14 17   .452
East Carolina 4 14   .222 10 20   .333
South Florida 3 15   .167 10 22   .313
2018 AAC tournament winner
Rankings from AP poll

The 2017–18 Memphis Tigers men's basketball team represented the University of Memphis in the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, the 97th season of Tiger basketball, the second under head coach Tubby Smith, and the fifth as members of the American Athletic Conference. They played their home games at the FedEx Forum. They finished the season 21–13, 10–8 in AAC play to finish in fifth place. They defeated Tulsa in the AAC tournament before losing to Cincinnati in the semifinals.

On March 14, 2018, the school fired head coach Tubby Smith after two years.[1][2] On March 20, the school hired former Memphis player and NBA star Penny Hardaway as coach.[3][4]

Previous season

[edit]

The Tigers finished the 2016–17 season 19–13, 9–9 in AAC play to finish in a tie for fifth place. They lost in the quarterfinals of the AAC tournament to UCF.[5] Despite having 19 wins, they did not participate in a postseason tournament.

Offseason

[edit]

Departures

[edit]

Following the 2016–17 season, Dedric Lawson, K.J. Lawson, and Markel Crawford, the Tigers' three leading scorers and rebounders, announced they would transfer from Memphis.[6]

Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes
K. J. Lawson 0 G/F 6' 7" 210 RS Freshman Memphis, TN Transferred to Kansas
Dedric Lawson 1 G/F 6' 9" 236 Sophomore Memphis, TN Transferred to Kansas
Keon Clergeot 4 G 6' 1" 187 Freshman Winter Haven, FL Transferred to Massachusetts
Markel Crawford 5 G 6' 5" 208 RS Junior Memphis, TN Transferred to Ole Miss
Christian Keese 10 G 6' 1" 182 Senior Las Vegas, NV Graduated
Craig Randall II 12 G 6' 4" 184 Sophomore Youngstown, OH Transferred to Duquesne
Chad Rykhoek 15 F 6' 11" 236 RS Senior Fort Worth, TX Transferred
Jake McDowell 42 G/F 6' 5" 218 Senior Memphis, TN Graduated

Incoming transfers

[edit]
Name Num Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes
Kyvon Davenport 0 PF 6'8" 185 Sophomore Gainesville, GA Junior college transfer from Georgia Highlands College.
Raynere Thornton 4 SF 6'7" 215 Sophomore Marietta, GA Junior college transfer from Gordon College.
Kareem Brewton 5 SG 6'3" 205 Sophomore Snellville, GA Junior college transfer from Eastern Florida State College.
Mike Parks Jr. 10 C 6'9" 270 Sophomore Cleveland, OH Junior college transfer from SW Mississippi CC.
Malik Rhodes 11 SG 6'2" 170 Sophomore Cincinnati, OH Junior college transfer from Barton CC.

2017 recruiting class

[edit]
US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Victor Enoh
PF
Decatur, Georgia Greenforest Christian Academy 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Oct 7, 2016 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars
David Nickelberry
SF
Orlando, Florida Windermere Prep 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 202 lb (92 kg) Apr 6, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars
Jamal Johnson
SG
Birmingham, Alabama Spain Park HS 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Nov 9, 2016 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • 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:

  • "2017 Team Ranking". Rivals.com.

2018 recruiting class

[edit]
US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Alex Lomax
PG
Memphis, TN East HS 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 189 lb (86 kg) Apr 4, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 80


Ryan Boyce
SF
Memphis, TN East High School 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Oct 13, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: NR
Tyler Harris
PG
Memphis, TN Cordova HS 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 155 lb (70 kg) Apr 13, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 80
Antwann Jones
SG
Orlando, FL Oak Ridge HS 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Apr 15, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 81
Jayden Hardaway
SG
Memphis, TN IMG Academy (FL) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Apr 3, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A    ESPNN/A
David Wingett
SG
Winnebago, NE Bull City Prep (NC) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 185 lb (84 kg) May 9, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A    ESPNN/A
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • 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:

Roster

[edit]
2017–18 Memphis Tigers men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown
F 0 Kyvon Davenport 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Jr East Hall HS/Georgia Highlands Gainesville, Georgia
G 1 Jamal Johnson 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Fr Spain Park HS Birmingham, Alabama
G/F 2 Jimario Rivers 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 193 lb (88 kg) Sr Kenwood HS/SW Tennessee CC Clarksville, Tennessee
G 3 Jeremiah Martin 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Jr Mitchell HS Memphis, Tennessee
G/F 4 Raynere Thornton 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Jr Marietta HS/Gordon State Marietta, Georgia
G 5 Kareem Brewton 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Jr Shiloh HS/Eastern Florida State Claxton, Georgia
F 10 Mike Parks 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 270 lb (122 kg) Jr Richmond Heights HS/SW Mississippi CC Cleveland, Ohio
G 11 Jonathan Bins 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) 150 lb (68 kg) So Germantown HS Memphis, Tennessee
F 12 Victor Enoh 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Fr Greenforest Christian Academy Decatur, Georgia
G 15 David Nickelberry 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 202 lb (92 kg) Fr Windermere Prep Orlando, Florida
F 23 Karim Sameh Azab 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 290 lb (132 kg) So Hales Franciscan HS Giza, Egypt
G 30 Kytrel Williams 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 207 lb (94 kg) Sr Harding Academy/Motlow State CC Memphis, Tennessee
F 32 Alex Moffatt 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 223 lb (101 kg) Sr Fayette Academy/Shawnee State Somerville, Tennessee
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster

Schedule and results

[edit]
Date
time, TV
Rank# Opponent# Result Record Site (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
Nov 2, 2017*
7:00 pm
LeMoyne–Owen W 101–78 
FedEx Forum 
Memphis, TN
Non-conference regular season
Nov 10, 2017*
5:30 pm, CBSSN
vs. Alabama
Veterans Classic
L 70–82  0–1
Alumni Hall (3,238)
Annapolis, MD
Nov 14, 2017*
7:00 pm, ESPN3
Little Rock W 70–62  1–1
FedEx Forum (7,224)
Memphis, TN
Nov 21, 2017*
7:00 pm, ESPN3
New Orleans W 62–53  2–1
FedEx Forum (7,224)
Memphis, TN
Nov 25, 2017*
5:00 pm, ESPN3
Northern Kentucky W 76–74  3–1
FedEx Forum (5,369)
Memphis, TN
Nov 30, 2017*
7:00 pm
at UAB
Bartow Classic
L 56–71  3–2
Bartow Arena (4,920)
Birmingham, AL
Dec 2, 2017*
4:00 pm, ESPN3
Mercer W 83–81 2OT 4–2
FedEx Forum (4,113)
Memphis, TN
Dec 5, 2017*
7:00 pm, ESPN3
Samford W 65–64  5–2
FedEx Forum (4,702)
Memphis, TN
Dec 9, 2017*
12:00 pm, ESPN3
Bryant
Gotham Classic
W 90–72  6–2
FedEx Forum (4,373)
Memphis, TN
Dec 12, 2017*
8:00 pm, ESPNU
Albany
Gotham Classic
W 67–58  7–2
FedEx Forum (4,168)
Memphis, TN
Dec 16, 2017*
11:00 am, ESPN2
vs. Louisville
Gotham Classic/Rivalry
L 72–81  7–3
Madison Square Garden (6,525)
New York, NY
Dec 20, 2017*
7:00 pm, ESPN3
Siena
Gotham Classic
W 70–66  8–3
FedEx Forum (6,079)
Memphis, TN
Dec 23, 2017*
11:00 am, ESPN3
Loyola (MD) W 83–71  9–3
FedEx Forum (5,825)
Memphis, TN
Dec 28, 2017*
8:00 pm, CBSSN
LSU L 61–71  9–4
FedEx Forum (9,468)
Memphis, TN
AAC regular season
Dec 31, 2017
3:00 pm, ESPNU
at No. 21 Cincinnati L 48–82  9–5
(0–1)
BB&T Arena (8,143)
Highland Heights, KY
Jan 3, 2018
6:00 pm, ESPN3
at UCF L 56–65  9–6
(0–2)
CFE Arena (4,298)
Orlando, FL
Jan 6, 2018
3:00 pm, ESPNews
Tulsa W 76–67  10–6
(1–2)
FedEx Forum (6,004)
Memphis, TN
Jan 9, 2018
6:00 pm, ESPNews
Tulane W 96–89  11–6
(2–2)
FedEx Forum (4,825)
Memphis, TN
Jan 13, 2018
1:00 pm, CBSSN
at Temple W 75–72 OT 12–6
(3–2)
Liacouras Center (6,238)
Philadelphia, PA
Jan 16, 2018
8:00 pm, CBSSN
UConn W 73–49  13–6
(4–2)
FedEx Forum (2,417)
Memphis, TN
Jan 20, 2018
7:00 pm, ESPNU
at Tulsa L 51–64  13–7
(4–3)
Reynolds Center (5,189)
Tulsa, OK
Jan 27, 2018
5:00 pm, CBSSN
No. 9 Cincinnati L 48–62  13–8
(4–4)
FedEx Forum (12,223)
Memphis, TN
Jan 31, 2018
7:30 pm, ESPNews
at South Florida W 86–74  14–8
(5–4)
USF Sun Dome (2,754)
Tampa, FL
Feb 3, 2018
1:00 pm, ESPNews
at East Carolina L 85–88 OT 14–9
(5–5)
Williams Arena (3,338)
Greenville, NC
Feb 6, 2018
8:00 pm, CBSSN
No. 22 Wichita State L 65–85  14–10
(5–6)
FedEx Forum (7,257)
Memphis, TN
Feb 11, 2018
3:00 pm, CBSSN
UCF L 64–68  14–11
(5–7)
FedEx Forum (7,163)
Memphis, TN
Feb 14, 2018
8:00 pm, ESPNU
at SMU W 70–67  15–11
(6–7)
Moody Coliseum (6,539)
Dallas, TX
Feb 17, 2018
2:00 pm, ESPNU
at Tulane W 68–63  16–11
(7–7)
Devlin Fieldhouse (1,896)
New Orleans, LA
Feb 22, 2018
8:00 pm, CBSSN
No. 23 Houston W 91–85  17–11
(8–7)
FedEx Forum (6,536)
Memphis, TN
Feb 25, 2018
3:00 pm, ESPN
at UConn W 83–79  18–11
(9–7)
Gampel Pavilion (8,574)
Storrs, CT
Mar 1, 2018
8:00 pm, ESPNews
South Florida L 51–75  18–12
(9–8)
FedEx Forum (5,945)
Memphis, TN
Mar 4, 2018
2:00 pm, ESPNews
East Carolina W 90–70  19–12
(10–8)
FedEx Forum (6,474)
Memphis, TN
AAC tournament
Mar 8, 2018
1:30 pm, ESPNU
(5) vs. (12) USF
First Round
W 79–77  20–12
Amway Center (7,856)
Orlando, FL
Mar 9, 2018
1:17 pm, ESPN2
(5) vs. (4) Tulsa
Quarterfinals
W 67–64  21–12
Amway Center (8,491)
Orlando, FL
Mar 10, 2018
12:00 pm, CBS
(5) vs. (1) No. 8 Cincinnati
Semifinals
L 60–70  21–13
Amway Center 
Orlando, FL
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Central Time.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Memphis fires Tubby Smith after two seasons. Will Penny Hardaway be his successor?". The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  2. ^ Rainwater, Ben (March 15, 2018). "Tubby Smith fired as Memphis basketball coach". WHBQ. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  3. ^ "Penny Hardaway expected to be named new Memphis Tigers basketball coach". The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  4. ^ "Memphis introduces Penny Hardaway, flips entire program in less than 24 hours". CBSSports.com. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  5. ^ Romero, Iliana Limón. "UCF throttles Memphis, advances to AAC Tournament semifinals". OrlandoSentinel.com. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  6. ^ "How Tubby Smith made a gigantic mess of Memphis' program in just one year". CBSSports.com. Retrieved April 26, 2017.