Part 1: What we’ve learned from non-conference play

After 13 non-conference basketball games, the Memphis Tigers are 10-3 and just outside of the AP Top 25 heading into AAC play. Memphis followed an opening night victory over Vanderbilt with some early season tests. Sandwiched between tough losses to Saint Louis and Seton Hall was a win over VCU. After those three contests, there was a three-game win streak setting up a pivotal matchup against Ole Miss.

The Tigers looked to avenge a loss the previous year in Oxford, MS. They played with intensity and determination throughout as they came away with a 68-57 win. Though a straightforward win over Little Rock followed, a daunting set of games against SEC opponents loomed large for Penny Hardaway and the Tigers.

No. 11 Auburn in a neutral site in Atlanta, GA where the crowd was 75/25 in favor of War Eagle was next. But Memphis was ready and didn’t let the hostile environment get to them, winning 82-73. Then, the Tigers headed to Tuscaloosa, AL to face the Alabama Crimson Tide. Memphis was in the game from start to finish but struggled to defend three-pointers and was ice-cold from beyond the arc themselves. While Texas A&M was a more difficult foe than most expected, the Tigers showed more grit to emerge with an 83-79 win to finish this stretch 2-1. A 22-point victory over Alabama St. ended Memphis’s non-conference schedule at 10-3.

So what did we learn?

1. Kendric Davis’s elite playmaking must continue as he finds his shot.

Not counting his freshman season at TCU, Kendric Davis has averaged 6.2 assists per game for his career. He ranked among the best in that category during the 2020 (fifth with 7.7) and 2021 seasons (eleventh with 6.7). Though his assist numbers were down in 2022, it was likely due to the fact that the Mustangs relied on him as its primary scorer. Currently, Davis is 22nd in the nation averaging 5.8 assists per game, a number that would likely be higher if Memphis finished better at the rim and hit more threes.

But for Memphis to find success, Davis must continue his elite playmaking. It’s no secret his shot has been off to a rocky start this year. In the past three years at SMU, he averaged 45.6% from the field and 35.2% beyond the arc. Though he’s averaging 19.3 points per game this year, Davis’s field goal percentage of 39 percent from the floor and 28.1 percent from three are a far cry from his time with the Mustangs. While Davis is likely to improve on those numbers, he must continue to find his teammates for easy looks.

2. Memphis’s depth is a strength that allows them to compete with anybody.

Hardaway and the rest of his staff know who the two best players on the team are: Kendric Davis and DeAndre Williams. Though a true third guy has yet to emerge, Memphis’s depth is looking like a real strength. Alex Lomax is still one of the best perimeter-defending guards in the country. The Lawson brothers are growing into their own, especially Jonathan who has played well in the last two games off the bench. Damaria Franklin is showing flashes of greatness. Keonte Kennedy and Jayden Hardaway add value on both ends. Last but not least, Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu has impressed on both sides of the ball in spurts.

Despite the impressive play throughout the lineup, the Tigers will go as far as their stars take them. But if Davis and Williams are performing at their best, Memphis has enough depth around them to compete with and beat anybody.

3. Memphis still fouls too much and struggles from the free-throw line.

Out of 363 teams, the Memphis Tigers rank a dreadful 289th in fouls per game. That’s not good. Memphis also ranks 126th in free throw percentage. That’s ok. Before the season, here’s what I tweeted:

Though Memphis is just outside of the top 100, other than Kendric Davis, the Tigers are still not a good free-throw shooting team.

But the fouls are the bigger issue. We know the importance of DeAndre Williams. He’s the heart of the Tigers. However, Williams can’t impact the game from the bench. In six of the last 13 games, Williams has committed four or more fouls. He’s not alone, though. It takes a team effort for Memphis to rank 289th in fouls per game, and it will take a team effort to improve that ranking.

The 2022-2023 Memphis Tigers could be the best team Hardaway has ever had. The past 13 games have taught us this veteran-laden group has the talent and depth to win the AAC and make a run in March/April. But questions still remain.