2020–21 Memphis Tigers men's basketball team

The 2020–21 Memphis Tigers men's basketball team will represent the University of Memphis in the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. This is the 100th season of Tiger basketball, the third under head coach Penny Hardaway, and the eighth as members of the American Athletic Conference. They play their home games at the FedEx Forum.

2020–21 Memphis Tigers men's basketball
ConferenceAmerican Athletic Conference
2020–21 record12–6 (8–3 AAC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaFedExForum
2020–21 American Athletic Conference men's basketball standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L PCT  W L PCT
No. 5 Houston10–2 .833  16–2  .889
Wichita State7–2 .778  11–4  .733
Memphis8–3 .727  12–6  .667
SMU6–4 .600  10–4  .714
Tulsa6–6 .500  9–8  .529
South Florida3–3 .500  7–5  .583
Cincinnati3–4 .429  5–7  .417
Temple3–7 .300  4–7  .364
UCF3–8 .273  5–9  .357
East Carolina2–7 .222  8–7  .533
Tulane2–7 .222  7–7  .500
† 2021 AAC Tournament winner
As of February 7, 2021; Rankings from AP Poll

Previous season

The Tigers finished the 2019–20 season 21–10, 10–8 in AAC play to finish in sixth place. They entered as the No. 6 seed in the AAC Tournament, which was ultimately cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Offseason

Departures
NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownNotes
Tyler Harris1G5'9150SophomoreMemphis, TNTransferred to Iowa State[1]
Ryan Boyce12F6'6185RS FreshmanMemphis, TNTransferred to Georgia State (mid-season)[2]
Isaiah Maurice14F6'10224SeniorDurham, NCGraduated
James Wiseman32C7'1240FreshmanNashville, TNLeft team (mid-season)[3]
Precious Achiuwa55F6'9225FreshmanPort Harcourt, NigeriaDeclared for NBA Draft; selected 20th overall by the Miami Heat[4]

Incoming transfers
NamePos.HeightWeightYearHometownNotes
Ahmad RandF6'8"180JuniorLincolnton, GAJunior college transferred from USC Salkehatchie.[5]
Landers Nolley IIF6'7"225RS SophomoreAtlanta, GATransferred from Virginia Tech. Nolley was granted a waiver for immediate eligibility. Will have three years of remaining eligibility.[6][7]
DeAndre WilliamsF6'9"190JuniorHouston, TXTransferred from Evansville. Williams was granted a waiver for immediate eligibility on December 16th. Will have two years of remaining eligibility.[8][9]

2020 recruiting class
US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Moussa Cissé
C		 Conakry, Guinea Lausanne Collegiate School 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 07/15/20 [10] 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN:   ESPN grade: 92
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:

  • "Memphis 2020 Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  • "2020 Memphis Tigers Recruiting Class". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  • "2020 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved July 15, 2020.

Memphis will also add Preferred Walk-on Conor Glennon a 5'10" PG from Brother Rice High School in Chicago.[11]

2021 recruiting class

2022 recruiting class

Preseason

AAC preseason media poll

On October 28, The American released the preseason Poll and other preseason awards[18]

Coaches Poll
Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1Houston99 (2)
2Memphis90 (2)
3SMU80
4Cincinnati77
5South Florida61
6Tulsa50
7Wichita State44
8UCF37
9East Carolina34
10Temple18
11Tulane15

Preseason Awards
  • Preseason Rookie of the Year - Moussa Cisse
  • All-AAC Second Team - Landers Nolley, D.J. Jeffries

Roster
2020–21 Memphis Tigers men's basketball team
PlayersCoaches
}}
Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
F 0 D. J. Jeffries 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)225 lb (102 kg) SoOlive Branch HS Olive Branch, Mississippi
G 1 Jayden Hardaway 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)195 lb (88 kg) RS SoIMG Academy Memphis, Tennessee
G 2 Alex Lomax 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)190 lb (86 kg) JrEast HS Memphis, Tennessee
G 3 Landers Nolley II 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)225 lb (102 kg) RS SoVirginia Tech Fairburn, Georgia
F 4 Isaiah Stokes (S) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)250 lb (113 kg) RS SoFlorida Memphis, Tennessee
G 5 Boogie Ellis 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)175 lb (79 kg) SoMission Bay HS San Diego, California
G 10 Damion Baugh 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)185 lb (84 kg) SoTennessee Prep Academy Nashville, Tennessee
G 11 Lester Quiñones 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)210 lb (95 kg) SoIMG Academy Brentwood, New York
F 12 DeAndre Williams 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)190 lb (86 kg) JrEvansville Houston, Texas
F 15 Lance Thomas (T) 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)224 lb (102 kg) RS JrLouisville Norcross, Georgia
F 20 Ahmad Rand 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)180 lb (82 kg) JrUSC Salkehatchie Lincolnton, Georgia
C 23 Malcolm Dandridge 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)250 lb (113 kg) SoEast HS Memphis, Tennessee
C 30 Conor Glennon (W) 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)165 lb (75 kg) FrBrother Rice HS Chicago, Illinois
C 32 Moussa Cissé 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)220 lb (100 kg) FrLausanne Collegiate School Conakry, Guinea
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on
  • (T) Transferred
  • Injured
  • Current redshirt

Roster
Last update: August 8, 2020

  • Nov 19, 2020 - Prior to the start of season, Isaiah Stokes was suspended for the year.[19]
  • Jan 22, 2021 - Lance Thomas entered the transfer portal.[20]

Schedule and results

COVID-19 impact
Main article: Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Tigers' schedule is subject to change, including the cancellation or postponement of individual games, the cancellation of the entire season, or games played either with minimal fans or without fans in attendance and just essential personnel.

  • The game scheduled against Ole Miss was cancelled after Ole Miss paused all basketball activities through Dec. 7th due to COVID-19 contact tracing.[21]
  • The games @ Temple scheduled for Jan 2nd was postponed due to positive COVID-19 tests in the Temple program.[22]
  • The game @ UCF originally scheduled for Jan 5th was moved to Feb 1st due to COVID-19 issues.[23]
  • The game vs. SMU originally scheduled for Jan 14th was moved to Jan 26th due to COVID-19 issues in the SMU program.[24]

Schedule
Date
time, TV		 Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Regular season
November 25, 2020*
1:00 p.m., ESPN2		 vs. Saint Mary's
Crossover Classic quarterfinals		 W 73–56  1–0
  24 – Ellis  9 – Jeffries  3 – Lomax  Sanford Pentagon (0)
Sioux Falls, SD
November 26, 2020*
11:00 a.m., ESPN		 vs. Western Kentucky
Crossover Classic semifinals		 L 69–75  1–1
  25 – Nolley II  10 – Jeffries  4 – Nolley II  Sanford Pentagon (0)
Sioux Falls, SD
November 27, 2020*
8:00 p.m., ESPN2		 vs. VCU
Crossover Classic third place game		 L 59–70  1–2
  17 – Jeffries  5 – Jeffries  5 – Baugh  Sanford Pentagon (0)
Sioux Falls, SD
December 2, 2020*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+		 Arkansas State W 83–54  2–2
  23 – Nolley II  10 – Tied  6 – Tied  FedExForum (2,829)
Memphis, TN
December 5, 2020*
6:00 p.m., ESPN+		 Central Arkansas W 85–68  3–2
  23 – Nolley II  10 – Cisse  5 – Bauh  FedExForum (2,564)
Memphis, TN
December 8, 2020*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+		 Mississippi Valley State W 94–57  4–2
  21 – Jeffries  13 – Cisse  11 – Lomax  FedExForum (2,478)
Memphis, TN
December 12, 2020*
4:30 p.m., ESPNU		 vs. Auburn
Holiday Hoopsgiving		 L 71–74  4–3
  16 – Jeffries  14 – Cisse  5 – Nolley II  State Farm Arena (0)
Atlanta, GA
December 16, 2020
8:00 p.m., ESPNU		 Tulane W 80–74  5–3
(1–0)		  20 – Quiñones  11 – Jeffries  3 – Jeffries  FedExForum (100)
Memphis, TN
December 21, 2020
7:00 p.m., ESPN2		 Tulsa L 49–56  5–4
(1–1)		  13 – Williams  9 – Williams  3 – Tied  FedExForum 
Memphis, TN
December 29, 2020
6:00 p.m., ESPN2		 South Florida W 58–57  6–4
(2–1)		  13 – Quiñones  4 – Cisse  4 – Jeffries  FedExForum (133)
Memphis, TN
January 2, 2021
11:00 a.m., ESPNU		 at Temple Postponed due to COVID-19 issues[25] Liacouras Center 
Philadelphia, PA
January 17, 2021
2:00 p.m., ESPN+		 at Tulsa L 57–58  6–5
(2–2)		  13 – Nolley II  10 – Dandridge  4 – Williams  Reynolds Center (100)
Tulsa, OK
January 21, 2021
6:00 p.m., ESPN2		 Wichita State W 72–52  7–5
(3–2)		  16 – Nolley II  10 – Tied  6 – Lomax  FedExForum (2,118)
Memphis, TN
January 24, 2021
3:00 p.m., ESPN2		 at East Carolina W 80–53  8–5
(4–2)		  15 – Cisse  9 – Cisse  5 – Lomax  Williams Arena (55)
Greenville, NC
January 26, 2021
6:00 p.m., ESPNU		 SMU W 76–72  9–5
(5–2)		  14 – Lomax  10 – Cisse  5 – Lomax  FedExForum (2,157)
Memphis, TN
January 28, 2021
7:00 p.m., ESPN2		 at SMU L 65–67  9–6
(5–3)		  19 – Nolley II  11 – Williams  8 – Lomax  Moody Coliseum (1,698)
University Park, TX
February 1, 2021
7:00 p.m., ESPN+		 UCF W 96–69  10–6
(6–3)		  20 – Nolley II  7 – Jeffries  6 – Quiñones  FedExForum (2,106)
Memphis, TN
February 3, 2021
7:00 p.m., ESPN+		 UCF W 75–61  11–6
(7–3)		  18 – Nolley II  10 – Nolley II  6 – Lomax  FedExForum (2,284)
Memphis, TN
February 6, 2021
1:00 p.m., ESPN		 East Carolina W 66–59  12–6
(8–3)		  12 – Tied  8 – Williams  9 – Lomax  FedExForum (2,371)
Memphis, TN
February 11, 2021
6:00 p.m., ESPN2/ESPNU		 Cincinnati
rivalry		     FedExForum 
Memphis, TN
February 14, 2021
1:00 p.m., ESPN		 at Houston     Fertitta Center 
Houston, TX
February 18, 2021
6:00 p.m., ESPN/ESPN2		 at Wichita State     Charles Koch Arena 
Wichita, KS
February 21, 2021
2:00 p.m., ESPN+		 Temple     FedExForum 
Memphis, TN
February 24, 2021
7:00 p.m., ESPN+		 at Tulane     Devlin Fieldhouse 
New Orleans, LA
February 28, 2021
12:00 p.m., ESPN		 at Cincinnati
rivalry		     Fifth Third Arena 
Cincinnati, OH
March 3, 2021
6:00 p.m., ESPNU		 at South Florida     Yuengling Center 
Tampa, FL
March 7, 2021
11:00 a.m., CBS		 Houston     FedExForum 
Memphis, TN
AAC Tournament
March 11–14, 2021
TBD		 vs.      Dickies Arena 
Fort Worth, TX
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Central Time.

Rankings
See also: 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. т = Tied with team above or below. ( ) = First place votes.
Week
Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Final 
AP RV Not released 
Coaches RV

*AP does not release post-NCAA Tournament rankings

References
  1. Peterson, Randy (25 Apr 2020). "Iowa State men's basketball lands Memphis transfer Tyler Harris". desmoinesregister.com. Des Moines Register. Retrieved 30 Apr 2020.
  2. Moore, Ben (2019-12-22). "Memphis Guard Ryan Boyce to Transfer to GSU". 247sports.com. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
  3. ESPN News Services (2019-12-19). "James Wiseman leaves Memphis, to enter NBA draft". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2019-12-19.
  4. Giviony, Jonathan. "Memphis star, AAC Player of the Year Precious Achiuwa to enter NBA draft". espn.com. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  5. "Tigers Add JUCO Standout Ahmad Rand". gotigersgo.com. University of Memphis Athletics. 16 Apr 2020. Retrieved 20 Apr 2020.
  6. Rothstein, Jon [@JonRothstein] (20 Apr 2020). "Virginia Tech transfer Landers Nolley has committed to Memphis, per his Twitter page" (Tweet). Retrieved 20 Apr 2020 – via Twitter.
  7. Rothstein, Jon [@JonRothstein] (27 Aug 2020). "Source: Memphis' Landers Nolley has received a waiver from the NCAA and is eligible for the 20-21 season. Transfer from Virginia Tech" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  8. Lindskog, Chad (15 May 2020). "DeAndre Williams transfers from Evansville to Memphis". courierpress.com. Evansville Courier & Press. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  9. Bieler, Des (17 Dec 2020). "NCAA grants blanket waiver to transfer athletes, most of whom can play right away". washingtonpost.com. Washington Post]. Retrieved 22 Dec 2020.
  10. Givony, Jonathan (15 Jul 2020). "No. 24-rated prospect Moussa Cisse commits to Memphis basketball". espn.com. ESPN. Retrieved 15 Jul 2020.
  11. Disabato, Pat. "Disabato: Brother Rice point guard Conor Glennon bets on himself by accepting preferred walk-on offer from Memphis". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 25 Jun 2020.
  12. Munz, Jason (8 Aug 2020). "4-star prospect Josh Minott commits to Memphis". commercialappeal.com. The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved 8 Aug 2020.
  13. Munz, Jason (30 Sep 2020). "John Camden commits to Memphis. Will there be others for Penny Hardaway and Co. this week?". commercialappeal.com. The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved 1 Oct 2020.
  14. Munz, Jason (1 Oct 2020). "Jordan Nesbitt, a 4-star 'bucket-getter' gives verbal pledge to Penny Hardaway's Memphis basketball team". commercialappeal.com. The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved 1 Oct 2020.
  15. Munz, Jason (13 Oct 2020). "Sam Ayomide Onu, 7-foot center, commits to Memphis basketball over Kansas, Seton Hall". commercialappeal.com. The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved 23 Nov 2020.
  16. Munz, Jason (21 Jul 2020). "Arterio Morris, a top 25 Class of 2022 prospect, commits to Memphis basketball". commercialappeal.com. The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved 23 Jul 2020.
  17. Munz, Jason (1 Jan 2021). "Memphis scores commitment from Amarr Knox, Bartlett's 2022 point guard". commercialappeal.com. The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved 6 Jan 2021.
  18. "Houston Tabbed as 2020-21 American Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Favorite". theAmerican.org. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  19. Munz, Jason (19 Nov 2020). "Memphis forward Isaiah Stokes suspended one year; Tigers still playing in Crossover Classic". Commercial Appeal. Retrieved 23 Nov 2020.
  20. @VerbalCommits (January 22, 2021). "Memphis F Lance Thomas (RS JR) has entered the transfer portal" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  21. Munz, Jason (24 Nov 2020). "Penny Hardaway: Memphis basketball is working to add a game after Ole Miss cancellation". commercialappeal.com. Commercial Appeal. Retrieved 13 Dec 2020.
  22. "Pair of Men's Basketball Games Postponed". theamerican.org. 31 Dec 2020.
  23. "Memphis-UCF Men's Basketball Game Rescheduled for Feb. 1". theamerican.org. 7 Jan 2021.
  24. "The American Announces Changes to Men's Basketball Schedule". theamerican.org. 14 Jan 2021.
  25. "Pair of Men's Basketball Games Postponed". theamerican.org. 31 Dec 2020.
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