Penny Hardaway provides injury updates on Tyrese Hunter, Dante Harris ahead of NCAA Tournament

Memphis basketball coach Penny Hardaway is praying for good health this postseason.

“I’m praying for good ankles, good feet, good knees and everything right now. That’s just the honest truth,” he told reporters Tuesday. “You gotta have some luck [in the NCAA Tournament]. The teams that [win], they don’t get any injuries. They get everything to go their way. And now we need everything to go our way with health. The basketball side will take care of itself.”

There’s a reason he’s doing so too, because the injury bug is hitting the Tigers at the worst possible time. Backup point guard Dante Harris suffered a high-ankle sprain during Memphis’ victory at UTSA earlier this month, while starter Tyrese Hunter injured his left foot during last Saturday’s American Athletic Conference (AAC) Tournament semifinals in Fort Worth, Texas.

Hunter (13.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.5 steals per game) spent all of Sunday’s tournament final against UAB, which Memphis won 84-72, on the bench with crutches and a walking boot—unable to put any weight on the extremity. Harris (2.4 points, 1.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.1 steals) also sat out the contest, but notably didn’t sport a walking boot for the first time since his injury occurred.

Hardaway is currently skeptical if either one will play in the No. 5 seeded Tigers’ Round of 64 matchup with No. 12 seed Colorado State in Seattle Friday (1 p.m., TBS).

“Dante is progressing. Tyrese is coming along slower,” he said. “Don’t know about Friday—if [either guy] is gonna be able to play. But Dante is ahead of Tyrese on coming back.”

Hardaway acknowledged that Hunter’s chances of returning at all are slim, given the 6-foot guard’s severe ailment. He remains hopeful, though.

“There is a small percentage for sure, and there is wishful thinking,” Hardaway said. “It’s gonna take prayer and [then] some to get him on that court. We’ll see what happens.”

The reality of Hunter’s season—and college career (no eligibility left after 2024-25)—potentially coming to a premature end is beginning to set in for his teammates too. PJ Haggerty, a redshirt sophomore named to the Associated Press (AP) All-America second team Tuesday, is particularly gutted by the unfortunate development.

Haggerty (21.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.8 steals) is one of many Tigers making their first NCAA Tournament appearance this year. The 6-foot-3 guard is undoubtedly the team’s backbone, winning both the AAC Player of the Year and AAC Tournament MVP awards. Big man Dain Dainja (14.4 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game) is also claiming more of the spotlight as the AAC Newcomer of the Year.

But neither can quite fill the leadership void Hunter, who’s won six March Madness games in three seasons, brings to the table. Even when sidelined last Sunday and much of Saturday—he sat on the bench a coach-like manner, shouting words of encouragement as Memphis successfully brought home its second conference tournament title in three years.

Hunter’s positive attitude makes it a bit easier for Haggerty to stomach the possibility of his backcourt mate not joining him in the Big Dance.

“It’s kinda heartbreaking,” Haggerty said. “But I’d say he’s in good spirits. I mean, he’s still being a leader, being happy around all of us. So, that means a lot to us. We’re just trying to be there for him.”