New Details Linked to Memphis Basketball Firings

Written By Tucker Harlin

Credit: University of Memphis Athletics

By Tucker Harlin

Rick Barnes and Tennessee haven’t scheduled Memphis in the last three seasons, and there’s good reason for it.

A Memphian could write a book about all the bizarre basketball activity in Memphis over the years.

Penny Hardaway’s chapter in said book would be an extensive one, and the chapter grew in length Wednesday.

It was revealed Hardaway had parted ways with assistants Rick Stansbury, Faragi Phillips, Jamie Rosser, and Demetrius Dyson. Not only is that a rather large overhaul but it’s only two months before the start of the 2024-25 season.

“These are good coaches that I’ve worked with closely over the past few seasons, but I made a difficult decision to go in a new direction,” Hardaway said in an official statement. “The timing is not ideal, but I want to give this team the best opportunity to reach our goals of winning the American Conference championship and advancing in the NCAA tournament.

Hours after this announcement, details from an anonymous letter sent to Hardaway were released.

Some close to the situation in Memphis have described it as similar to James Wiseman’s brief stint with the Tigers.

Hardaway was the head coach at Memphis East High School before taking the job at his alma mater, and Wiseman had moved to Memphis for the purpose of playing for Hardaway.

Hardaway took the job at Memphis but Wiseman stuck around, knowing he’d follow Hardaway there.

Wiseman was suspended for the first 12 games of the Tigers’ 2019-2020 season due to a violation of NCAA rules. He played in three games following the suspension but abruptly left the team after the third game. He was not present for the Tigers’ 51-47 victory over Tennessee in Knoxville.

Speaking of the Vols, they were directly involved in the next subject of controversy at Memphis.

Tennessee and Memphis had a game scheduled at Bridgestone Arena in December of the 2021-2022 season. As fans entered and found their seats, they received shocking news that a COVID-19 outbreak had overtaken the Memphis program.

Tennessee did its best to entertain the angry fans by putting on a scrimmage, but rumors began to swirl that the Tigers had themselves a night in Nashville on Friday.

Shadiness aside, the results on the hardwood have been less than what Tiger fans were hoping for under Hardaway.

The Tigers have been to two NCAA tournaments in Hardaway’s tenure, only winning one game against Boise State in both appearances.

Memphis played well in its 2023-2024 non conference slate, but losses to seemingly inferior AAC competition barred it from the 2024 NCAA tournament.

The Tigers will open their schedule with Missouri in November. I guess we’ll know if Hardaway has replaced his staff by then.

Tucker Harlin
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