The reversal of fortune Memphis basketball is currently enjoying is no surprise to coach Penny Hardaway — even if it took a little longer than he would’ve liked.
“We’re starting to look like the team I envisioned,” he said after the Tigers won for the third time in four games with a victory Feb. 8 over Charlotte. “It was a big storm, for sure. But we’ve weathered the storm we’ve gone through.”
Since starting the season 4-7, Memphis (12-11, 7-4 American Conference) have gone 8-4, and it has improved in a variety of key statistical categories. Its 3-point field goal percentage is up by nearly 3 percentage points. Its opponents’ points per game is down by more than six points. And its steals and blocks per game are both up — Memphis ranks 16th in the nation with 9.4 steals a game, and is 77th with a 4.1 blocks per game average.
As a result, the Tigers’ wins are becoming more decisive. Their average margin of victory through the first eight wins was 10.4 points per game. That has ballooned to 21.5 in the past four.
Next up for Memphis: a road date with North Texas (13-11, 4-7) at the Super Pit in Denton, Texas on Feb. 12 (8 p.m. CT, ESPN2).
Here are three more things we’re thinking about ahead of tip-off.
Dug McDaniel’s evolving role
Senior point guard Dug McDaniel has spent much of the season as the team’s most consistently productive player. There hasn’t even been a close second.
Until recently. Still Memphis’ leading scorer (13.2 points per game), his role is shifting slightly. Hardaway has lightened his load while also giving others more of an opportunity to score. McDaniel played more than 33 minutes in nine of the season’s first 16 games. In the seven games since, he has topped that mark just twice.
Sincere Parker and Aaron Bradshaw have stepped up in the scoring department, while Parker, Curtis Givens III and Quante Berry have played more to lighten McDaniel’s workload.
“We put a lot into Dug, but it was a lot to carry for a small guard,” Hardaway said. “Just with the blessings, some other guys emerged. Sincere became the guy that can get us a basket on any given night. We’re subbing Dug more. That’s a lot better for our team, him playing less minutes and having more energy in the games.
“I’m sure it’s a sight for sore eyes for him as far as like getting some help.”
McDaniel, who has scored 13 points or fewer in six of his past seven games, has continued to affect the game in other ways. He has now registered at least three assists and at least one steal in 14 straight outings — the longest active streak in Division I and something no Tigers player has done since at least 1995-96.
Memphis basketball’s pursuit of a top-2 seed
The Tigers’ goal has always been (and still is) repeating as American Conference regular-season champion.
If that doesn’t happen, they are hoping to avoid a finish any worse than second place because the top two seeds get byes straight to the league tournament semifinals.
But Memphis is currently in a three-way tie for fourth place, alongside Wichita State and Charlotte, with eight conference games remaining. That’s a far cry from where the Tigers were (eighth place) after losing to Tulane at home on Feb. 1.
“I’m excited about that after letting one go against Tulane last week,” Hardaway said. “I thank God for the opportunity to be back in the fight.”
Ahead of them are Temple (7-3 and by itself in third) and Tulsa and South Florida (8-2 and tied for first).
Temple is due to face Tulane in New Orleans on Feb. 11. An Owls loss would mean the Tigers could move into third with a win at North Texas.
Also on Feb. 11, Wichita State hosts South Florida, while Tulsa hosts UAB.
North Texas basketball scouting report
The Mean Green lost 57-48 at FedExForum way back on New Year’s Eve. Immediately afterward, they took down Tulsa.
Since then, however, they have lost six out of nine. Their only wins during that span are over Tulane and UTSA (twice) — ninth and dead last in the conference standings, respectively. North Texas is 1-3 in its past four home games at The Super Pit.
But Hardaway isn’t letting any of that fool him.
“They’re going to play extremely hard, they’re going to be very physical. We’ve just got to be ready for that challenge,” he said.
The Mean Green and Tigers sport the second- and third-best scoring defenses in the American at 69.3 and 69.4 points allowed, respectively. But Daniyal Robinson’s team struggles to score, averaging just 69.6 points a game.
Je’Shawn Stevenson (17.0 per game) and David Terrell Jr. (12.9) are responsible for 42.4% of North Texas’ output this season. Stevenson dropped 20 on the Tigers in the first meeting, but no one else had more than eight.
Memphis basketball score prediction vs. North Texas
Memphis 72, North Texas 66: Another balanced scoring effort will propel the Tigers to win their third straight game.
Reach sports writer Jason Munz at [email protected], follow him @munzly on X.
