Memphis Tigers basketball begins practice, and here are three issues that need solving
The Memphis Tigers basketball team will hold its first official practice Tuesday, just a shade under six weeks before it opens the 2023-24 season against Jackson State at FedExForum.
It won't be the first time Penny Hardaway has held full-fledged practices this offseason. The Tigers, thanks to their three-game exhibition tour of the Dominican Republic in August, were afforded 10 extra practices this summer.
But these will be much different. Jahvon Quinerly, Jaykwon Walton and Jordan Brown were all late arrivals to campus and participated in only a few sessions. David Jones, Jayhlon Young and Malcolm Dandridge weren't there for any of them.
Here are three things we're thinking about as preparations for the season ramp up.
DeAndre Williams and Mikey Williams
It has been more than five months since four-star freshman guard Mikey Williams was charged with six felony gun counts, and we still don't know for sure whether he will be part of the team − although, it's highly unlikely.
It has been almost four months since All-AAC forward DeAndre Williams let everyone know he would welcome another season at Memphis and intended to pursue it with the NCAA. And we still don't know anything definitive on that, either. The Tigers remain optimistic they'll get their star player back, but nothing is certain.
Chances are both situations will be resolved before the Tigers' first exhibition game Oct. 29 against Lane College — possibly even much sooner than that.
Memphis Tigers' cohesion
Hardaway has been down this road before. The one where it takes him until September to get everything in order, which presumably will lead to inconsistent results early in the season.
He wanted to avoid that this time in hopes the Tigers hit their stride before February. He said as much when their season ended in March with a first-round NCAA tournament upset loss to FAU. But it didn't quite work out that way. It's almost October and as noted, there are matters left unresolved.
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It's imperative, however, that the Tigers get the kinks ironed out now. A potentially ferocious nonconference schedule awaits. One that could wind up featuring nine games against Power Five opponents, the results of which could be pivotal to Memphis' NCAA tournament résumé.
Memphis Tigers' role definition
It's also crucial to establish some semblance of a pecking order now. In other words, who starts and who comes off the bench. But it seems like some of that already has been decided.
If DeAndre Williams' request for another year of eligibility is denied, Quinerly, Walton, Jones, Brown and Caleb Mills are likely Hardaway's front line. The backup situation might be a little less fleshed out. Some combination of Young, Jayden Hardaway, Carl Cherenfant, Ashton Hardaway, Jonathan Pierre, JJ Taylor, Nick Jourdain and Dandridge will fill in the gaps behind the starters.
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But who? And when? And how much?
The other piece of the puzzle is ensuring everyone understands and accepts their respective responsibilities within the construct of the bigger picture.
Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @munzly.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: As Memphis Tigers basketball begins practice, here are 3 unresolved issues
