2020–21 Memphis Tigers men's basketball
NIT Champions
ConferenceAmerican Athletic Conference
Record20–8 (11–4 AAC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaFedExForum
2020–21 American Athletic Conference men's basketball standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Wichita State11–2 .84616–6  .727
No. 6 Houston †14–3 .82428–4  .875
Memphis11–4 .73320–8  .714
SMU7–4 .63611–6  .647
Cincinnati8–6 .57112–11  .522
UCF8–10 .44411–12  .478
Tulsa7–9 .43811–12  .478
South Florida4–10 .2869–13  .409
Temple4–10 .2865–11  .313
Tulane4–12 .25010–13  .435
East Carolina2–10 .1678–11  .421
† 2021 AAC tournament winner
Rankings from AP poll

The 2020–21 Memphis Tigers men's basketball team represented 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. They finished the season 20-8, 11-4 to finish in 3rd place. They defeated UCF in the quarterfinals of the AAC Tournament before losing in the semifinals to Houston. They received an invitation to the NIT where they defeated Dayton, Boise State, Colorado State, and Mississippi State to become NIT Champions.

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 16. 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:5/5 stars   247Sports:5/5 stars    ESPN:5/5 stars   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.
  • "2020 Memphis Tigers Basketball 24/7 Sports Commits". 247sports.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]

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
G 14 Jordan Nesbitt 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)185 lb (84 kg) FrSt. Louis Christian Academy St. Louis, Missouri
F 15 Lance Thomas (T) 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)224 lb (102 kg) RS JrLouisville Norcross, Georgia
F 20 Ahmad Rand (T) 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
G 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 Injured
  • Redshirt Current redshirt

Roster
Last update: August 8, 2020

  • Nov 19, 2020 - Prior to the start of season, Isaiah Stokes was suspended for the year.[12]
  • Dec 31, 2020 - Ahmad Rand elected to transfer to Oregon State after the fall semester.[13]
  • Jan 19, 2021 - 2021 commit Jordan Nesbitt enrolled a semester early.[14]
  • Jan 22, 2021 - Lance Thomas entered the transfer portal.[15] He would eventually transfer to South Alabama.[16]

Schedule and results

COVID-19 impact

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Tigers' schedule was 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 against Houston scheduled for March 7 was moved to Houston.

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*
 Ole Miss Cancelled due to COVID-19 issues[17] The Pavilion at Ole Miss 
Oxford, MS
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		 at Tulane W 80–74  5–3
(1–0)		  20 – Quiñones  11 – Jeffries  3 – Jeffries  Devlin Fieldhouse (100)
New Orleans, LA
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[18] 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
Previously scheduled for Jan. 14		 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
Previously scheduled for Jan. 5		 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		 Cincinnati
Rivalry		 Postponed due to COVID-19 issues[19] FedExForum 
Memphis, TN
February 14, 2021
1:00 p.m., ESPN		 at Houston Postponed due to COVID-19 issues[20] Fertitta Center 
Houston, TX
February 18, 2021
6:00 p.m., ESPN/ESPN2		 at Wichita State Postponed due to COVID-19 issues[21] Charles Koch Arena 
Wichita, KS
February 21, 2021
2:00 p.m., ESPN+		 Temple Postponed due to COVID-19 issues[22] FedExForum 
Memphis, TN
February 24, 2021
7:00 p.m., ESPN+		 Tulane W 61–46  13–6
(9–3)		  13 – Ellis  11 – Williams  5 – Williams  FedExForum (2,253)
Memphis, TN
February 28, 2021
12:00 p.m., ESPN		 at Cincinnati
Rivalry		 W 80–74  14–6
(10–3)		  17 – Ellis  7 – Tied  10 – Williams  Fifth Third Arena (1,135)
Cincinnati, OH
March 2, 2021
8:00 p.m., ESPNU		 at South Florida
Previously scheduled for Mar. 3		 W 73–52  15–6
(11–3)		  18 – Ellis  10 – Williams  4 – Jeffries  Yuengling Center (1,222)
Tampa, FL
March 7, 2021
11:00 a.m., CBS		 at No. 9 Houston L 64–67  15–7
(11–4)		  14 – Nolley II  5 – Tied  4 – Tied  Fertitta Center 
Houston, TX
AAC Tournament
March 12, 2021
9:00 p.m., ESPNU		 (3) vs. (6) UCF
Quarterfinals		 W 70–62  16–7
  17 – Jeffries  15 – Quiñones  5 – Williams  Dickies Arena (826)
Fort Worth, TX
March 13, 2021
4:30 p.m., ESPN2		 (3) vs. (2) No. 7 Houston
Semifinals		 L 74–76  16–8
  27 – Ellis  7 – Cisse  3 – Williams  Dickies Arena (1,182)
Fort Worth, TX
NIT
March 20, 2021
11:00 a.m., ESPN		 (1) vs. (4) Dayton
First Round – Memphis bracket		 W 71–60  17–8
  21 – Nolley II  10 – Quinones  5 – Tied  The Super Pit (1,044)
Denton, TX
March 25, 2021
8:00 p.m., ESPN		 (1) vs. (2) Boise State
Quarterfinals – Memphis bracket		 W 59–56  18–8
  11 – Tied  7 – Quinones  3 – Jeffries  The Super Pit (935)
Denton, TX
March 27, 2021
11:00 a.m., ESPN		 (1) vs. (1) Colorado State
Semifinals		 W 90–67  19–8
  27 – Nolley II  9 – Williams  6 – Tied  Comerica Center 
Frisco, TX
March 28, 2021
12:00 p.m., ESPN		 (1) vs. (4) Mississippi State
Championship		 W 77–64  20–8
  23 – Ellis  16 – Quinones  5 – Ellis  Comerica Center 
Frisco, TX
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Central Time.

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: RV = Received votes.
Week
PollPre123456789101112131415161718Final
APRVNot released
CoachesRV

*AP does not release post-NCAA Tournament rankings

Awards and honors

American Athletic Conference honors

All-AAC Awards

All-AAC First Team

  • Landers Nolley II

All-AAC Freshman Team

  • Moussa Cisse

Source[23]

References

  1. ↑ Peterson, Randy (April 25, 2020). "Iowa State men's basketball lands Memphis transfer Tyler Harris". desmoinesregister.com. Des Moines Register. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  2. ↑ Moore, Ben (December 22, 2019). "Memphis Guard Ryan Boyce to Transfer to GSU". 247sports.com. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  3. ↑ ESPN News Services (December 19, 2019). "James Wiseman leaves Memphis, to enter NBA draft". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  4. ↑ Giviony, Jonathan. "Memphis star, AAC Player of the Year Precious Achiuwa to enter NBA draft". espn.com. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  5. ↑ "Tigers Add JUCO Standout Ahmad Rand". gotigersgo.com. University of Memphis Athletics. April 16, 2020. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  6. ↑ Rothstein, Jon [@JonRothstein] (April 20, 2020). "Virginia Tech transfer Landers Nolley has committed to Memphis, per his Twitter page" (Tweet). Retrieved April 20, 2020 – via Twitter.
  7. ↑ Rothstein, Jon [@JonRothstein] (August 27, 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 (May 15, 2020). "DeAndre Williams transfers from Evansville to Memphis". courierpress.com. Evansville Courier & Press. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  9. ↑ Bieler, Des (December 17, 2020). "NCAA grants blanket waiver to transfer athletes, most of whom can play right away". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
  10. ↑ Givony, Jonathan (July 15, 2020). "No. 24-rated prospect Moussa Cisse commits to Memphis basketball". espn.com. ESPN. Retrieved July 15, 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 June 25, 2020.
  12. ↑ Munz, Jason (November 19, 2020). "Memphis forward Isaiah Stokes suspended one year; Tigers still playing in Crossover Classic". Commercial Appeal. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
  13. ↑ Daschel, Nick (January 18, 2021). "Memphis transfer forward Ahmad Rand lands at Oregon State, eligible to play next season". The Oregonian. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  14. ↑ Munz, Jason (January 19, 2021). "Penny Hardaway: Jury is still out on whether Memphis early enrollee Jordan Nesbitt will play this season". Commercial Appeal. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
  15. ↑ @VerbalCommits (January 22, 2021). "Memphis F Lance Thomas (RS JR) has entered the transfer portal" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  16. ↑ @JonRothstein (March 7, 2021). "Source: Memphis transfer Lance Thomas has committed to South Alabama. Another big transfer for Richie Riley" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  17. ↑ Munz, Jason (November 24, 2020). "Penny Hardaway: Memphis basketball is working to add a game after Ole Miss cancellation". commercialappeal.com. Commercial Appeal. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  18. ↑ "Pair of Men's Basketball Games Postponed". theamerican.org. December 31, 2020.
  19. ↑ "The American Announces Men's Basketball Schedule Changes". February 10, 2021.
  20. ↑ "The American Announces Pair of Men's Basketball Postponements". February 11, 2021.
  21. ↑ "The American Announces Changes to Men's Basketball Schedule". February 13, 2021.
  22. ↑ "The American Announces Changes to Men's Basketball Schedule". theamerican.org. February 16, 2021.
  23. ↑ "American Athletic Conference Announces Men's Basketball Honors". theamerican.org. March 10, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
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