The Memphis Tigers, nine games into the season, are still searching for a signature win. 

Maybe they'll get it against No. 12 Vanderbilt on Dec. 17. If so, it could prove that the issues from the monster loss at No. 11 Louisville are correctable. 

Will Penny Hardaway's team bounce back and get that marquee victory it needs in a bad way? 

On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, Jason Munz and Jonah Dylan revisit the yuckiness at the "Yum!", attempt to hone in on the most troubling aspect of the performance, and wonder whether Memphis can pull it together sooner rather than later. 

The storied Memphis-Louisville basketball rivalry resumes Dec. 13, 2025, after an eight-year hiatus. 

And, for that, we are thankful.

In fact, we should never again be left to wonder when the next time the Tigers and Cardinals will play. They should square off regularly no matter what. 

In this case, the upcoming meeting at the KFC Yum! Center is the first of a six-game series that will end during the 2030-31 season. While we hope a new agreement to extend the series will be in place by then, Jason Munz and Jonah Dylan dive into the rich history of the long-standing feud on this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast. 

In addition, Munz and Dylan look forward to the game between Penny Hardaway and Pat Kelsey's teams and discuss their top takeaways from Memphis' win over Baylor on Dec. 6, including Aaron Bradshaw and Zach Davis.   

Penny Hardaway and his Memphis basketball Tigers are gearing up for an important stretch of games, starting with New Orleans on Dec. 3. 

It continues with Baylor, then Louisville, Vanderbilt and Mississippi State. And how the team fares might have major March Madness at-large candidacy implications. 

With that in mind, will the recent debut of forward Hasan Abdul Hakim turn out to be a key factor in how it all plays out for the Tigers? Can Aaron Bradshaw build upon his best outing in a Memphis uniform and, if so, is that something that can elevate the team's trajectory? 

On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, Jason Munz and Jonah Dylan weigh in on these matters and more, including: the initial release of the NET rankings, previewing upcoming games against New Orleans and Baylor, and an update on the return of the Memphis basketball insiders text group. 

There's only one way to absorb a 1-4 start that includes a four-game losing streak.

Recovering from such a thing won't be easy. It may even be impossible. But the Memphis basketball team can dig itself out of the hole it's in. 

So says Tiger basketball beat writer Jason Munz. On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, he and Tiger football beat writer Jonah Dylan (who is not convinced) look back on the team's trip to the Bahamas, where it lost to No. 1 Purdue and Wake Forest in the Baha Mar Championship. They debate whether we've seen enough from the Tigers to believe they can redeem themselves.

Munz and Dylan also look ahead to Memphis' next game (Nov. 26 vs. Southern Illinois at FedExForum) and take a look around the American Conference at the week that was for some teams. 

Memphis basketball has made a name for itself in recent years as a significant threat in non-conference play. 

From 2021 to 2024, Penny Hardaway's Tigers are 31-8 outside American Conference play in the regular season. That stretch includes wins over UConn, Clemson, Ole Miss, Michigan State, Arkansas, Michigan, Missouri, Texas A&M, Auburn, Vanderbilt and more. 

But, after starting the season 1-2 (with one of those losses coming by 14 points at home to UNLV), is it time to reset your expectations? Is it time to accept the likelihood that Memphis may not stack wins against non-league teams the way it has been? 

Is it time to consider the possibility this season will be more about building toward American Conference play? While ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi seems to think so, Jason Munz and Jonah Dylan ponder these questions as they look back on and dissect the Tigers' ugly loss to UNLV. In addition, Munz and Dylan set up Memphis' game against No. 1 Purdue during its trip to the Bahamas. 

Other topics on this week's episode: the status of the Tiger basketball text group, how Memphis football's season shifted so dramatically and the dominance of the school's women's soccer program. 

Two games into the regular season, Memphis basketball fans seem to be either heartened by the Tigers' play or resigned to a ho-hum existence that may or may not result in a March Madness appearance. 

There isn't much in-between. 

Penny Hardaway has his team off to a 1-1 start with a home win over San Francisco and a road loss to Ole Miss. 

Where do we stand? On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, Jason Munz and Jonah Dylan weigh in with their thoughts and feelings on the subject. In addition, they break down some of the more under-the-radar moments so far and preview the upcoming home game against UNLV. They also touch on where Memphis football is after the Tulane loss and set up the Tigers' women's soccer NCAA tournament game against Illinois. 

The Memphis basketball team lost to Arkansas and Auburn by more than 20 points apiece in a pair of lopsided exhibition games.

Are those results harbingers of dark days ahead for the Tigers, who open the regular season against San Francisco (2 p.m., Nov. 8, ESPN+)? Or, are they merely a mirage? 

The answer is simple: We don't know. 

On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, Jason Munz and Jonah Dylan rehash what transpired in Memphis' ugly performance against Auburn, discuss reasonable expectations for the season opener (including several guesses for a starting lineup), and pick out a few of the team's preseason bright spots. In addition, Munz and Dylan provide updates on how former Tigers performed in their debuts for their new team and break down how things are setting up for the Memphis football team's stretch drive toward a potential College Football Playoff berth. 

Any discussion about preseason exhibition college basketball should feature a healthy dose of nuance. 

The Memphis basketball team's 99-75 loss to Arkansas is no exception. 

The result is the result, but it's far from the most important thing. If nothing else, it did nothing to put a damper on the Tigers' confidence level about this season. The opposite, in fact. 

"I like what we got. Moving forward, we fix the things we need to fix, we’re going to have a lot of fun," said point guard Dug McDaniel. 

On this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, Jonah Dylan and Jason Munz discuss how Memphis showed "proof of concept" in the losing effort. In addition, they look ahead to Memphis' other exhibition game (Auburn, 7:30 p.m., Oct. 30 in Atlanta) and touch on the Tiger football team's win over South Florida, as well as the school's women's soccer team three-peating as American Conference champions. 

For the first time in more than 20 years, Memphis basketball will host the Arkansas Razorbacks. 

Sure, it's an exhibition game (part of the second annual Hoops For St. Jude Tip Off Classic). It won't count toward either program's record. It won't help either team in the standings. It won't do anything for their March Madness outlook. 

But John Calipari returning to face the Tigers (the team he coached for nine seasons in the early aughts) has been almost 16 years in the making. Adding to the allure, dozens of former Memphis Tigers who played for Calipari are also returning to be recognized.

Jason Munz and Jonah Dylan dive into all of it (including the actual game, which will be the first look at the all-new Tigers for many) on this week's episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast. 

We, here at The Commercial Appeal, recognize it can be difficult to keep up with the vast amount of roster turnover Memphis basketball undergoes each season. 

But especially this season. All 15 players on Penny Hardaway's 2025-26 roster were members of someone else's roster last season. Top to bottom: they're all brand new to the Tigers. 

Well, almost. After all, Hardaway has welcomed Ashton Hardaway, his son (who played at Memphis in 2023-24), back. Other than that, though: all newcomers. 

Never fear. On this episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast, Jason Munz and Jonah Dylan break down the entire thing. They will provide a rundown on each and every player (one through 15) to help you get better acquainted with the all-new crop of Tigers and project the roles all 15 will play (starters, rotation players, depth pieces) for Hardaway.

Also, following Munz's trip to Birmingham, Ala., for American Conference Tipoff (AKA media days), Munz and Dylan discuss news, developments and takeaways from there. 

Anticipation is building at the University of Memphis.

Football season kicks off on Aug. 30. The nationally-ranked women's soccer team is undefeated with a home game against top-5 Tennessee coming up. Penny Hardaway has finalized his roster and his non-conference schedule. 

And what will university leadership's next move be in its effort to get into a Power 4 conference? 

Jonah Dylan and Jason Munz dig into everything on the latest episode of the Tiger Basketball Podcast. 

• (0:00) - Intro
• (4:35) - FedEx sponsorship
• (12:40) – Definition of 'rigamarole'
• (14:28) – Ed Scott interview breakdown
• (26:50) – A closer look at the basketball roster
• (34:50) – Updated ESPN bracketology
• (47:16) – The juggernaut that is Memphis women's soccer
• (52:40) – Tiger football expectations
• (55:36) – Examining "Mocs" (Chattanooga's nickname)