Despite all the new faces, Penny Hardaway’s Tigers are in sync heading into their first exhibition game.

The wait is nearly over for the 2023-24 Tigers.

Penny Hardaway’s team will take the court for the first time this season in an exhibition contest versus Lane College Sunday inside FedExForum. Penny Hardaway and senior guards Jayden Hardaway and Caleb Mills spoke to reporters about this weekend’s contest Wednesday afternoon.

“It’s time to put everything we’ve been practicing to the test,” Jayden Hardaway, who’s entering his fifth season with the Tigers, said. “We’re all super excited [and] amped up, you know, just to get in [FedExForum] and that environment. It’s new for a lot of guys on this team. So just to share that experience with them for their first time [in FedExForum] is going to be special.”

That newness Jayden Hardaway is referring to comes in the form of 11 new scholarship players, including eight transfer portal additions and three freshmen. Five of the transfers are expected to start on Sunday, according to Penny Hardaway; those being Jahvon Quinerly (Alabama), Mills (Florida State), Jaykwon Walton (Wichita State), David Jones (St. John’s) and Jordan Brown (Louisiana).

The elder Hardaway doesn’t seem worried about all the new faces, however, saying that this year’s team is meshing quicker than the 2022-23 Tigers did, though last year’s team was also constructed with many new pieces.

“The difference is this team is more connected,” Penny Hardaway said. “It’s more about the team than it is about individuals. So, the guys are further along.”

And what exactly attributes to that difference?

“I think [the] guys [are] just meshing, coming together and really liking one another,” he said. “[They’re] hanging out together off the court more, talking more in the locker room [and] out on the court. I can just see that they really enjoy being around each other first, then they enjoy playing together as well.”

Mills—one of the new guys—arrived to campus in late May. Penny Hardaway says the 6-foot-5 guard has tried to establish himself as “the guy” in terms of leadership ever since.

“It starts with always being the guy that’s in the gym first and leaves the gym last, not missing any rep, going hard all the time and knowing what to do,” Mills said. “Being able to be proactive and [talk] is the best help I can provide.”

The Florida State transfer also commented on his natural fit with Memphis, and even likened it to his time at Houston. Mills was the 2021 AAC Preseason Player of the Year while with the Cougars.

“I just wanted to be pushed more [than I was at Florida State]. I was in a fit that didn’t benefit my play-style [while at Florida State],” he said. “But being [in Memphis] definitely was the right choice. [I’m] playing for a great coach and being surrounded by a group of great guys.”

Updates on Mikey and DeAndre Williams?

Memphis is still awaiting the fallout on both the Mikey and DeAndre Williams situations (no relation). Both may suit up for the Tigers this season. Both may not.

Mikey Williams, a 4-star high school signee, is still trying to resolve his nine gun-related felony charges that stem from an incident at his (San Diego, Calif.) home back in March. The 6-foot-3 guard allegedly shot at a moving car filled with six people—including three minors—as it was driving away from the house. If convicted, he could possibly spend up to 30 years in state prison.

His charge count increased from six to nine during a court proceeding Tuesday that followed a preliminary court hearing from earlier this month. A San Diego Superior Court judge ruled during the hearing that Mikey Williams must stand trial for these charges. A trial date is expected to be announced later this week.

Memphis Athletics released a statement regarding the situation last month.

“While Mikey Williams is enrolled in online classes at the University of Memphis and remains on the roster, he will not have access to team-related facilities or activities until his pending legal process in California is complete,” the statement reads in part. “The process to assess and determine his status with the team will be initiated at that time.”

Despite the statement, however, Penny Hardaway maintains his endorsement of the 19-year-old.

“This young man is obviously going through something and he hasn’t been found guilty of anything,” he said. “So, we just have to continue to support him.”

Things are seemingly hitting the home stretch on the DeAndre Williams front. The All-AAC forward has been pursuing an additional year of eligibility since at least May 31, when the 27-year-old released a statement announcing his intentions to try for a waiver.

The application stems from the 2018-19 season, in which he was enrolled at Evansville but didn’t play due to being academically ineligible. The NCAA still counted that year of eligibility against him, however, citing a “delayed enrollment” violation. DeAndre Williams and his legal team allege that he received bad advice from people in position of authority while in high school, which includes having him enroll in an online institution that wasn’t NCAA accredited, and that the violation would’ve never happened without that poor advisement. To clarify, he used his COVID-19 waiver to play last season, and is now trying to get that first year of eligibility back to play this season.

His initial waiver was denied by the NCAA, sources confirm to Bluff City Media. Memphis, however, resubmitted the application with additional documents provided by attorney Don Jackson last month. Some think the waiver will be approved, while others aren’t as optimistic.

Memphis is hopeful for a final decision sooner rather than later.

“I’m just praying on that,” Penny Hardaway said. “There is no deadline. You know the NCAA don’t have no deadline.”