It’s no secret that ever since Penny Hardaway took over as head coach of the Memphis Tigers in 2018, he has taken on all challengers in the non-conference season to boost his team’s resume for March. This year is no different, as Memphis is set to play against at least seven teams that made the NCAA Tournament last season, with a majority of those games being either away or neutral-site contests. Will the Tigers be able to run the gauntlet again this season?
Baha Mar Championship (Nov. 20-21)
The annual event in the Bahamas will provide an early test for Memphis against arguably the best team in the country, the Purdue Boilermakers. These two teams haven’t met since the 2005-06 season, when Memphis won in a 90-70 blowout. The Tigers also lead the all-time series 5-1, with their only loss happening in 1988.
The Boilermakers are coming into this game with some momentum behind their program. After their run to the 2024 national championship game, the Boilermakers went 24-12 last season, advancing to the Sweet 16, where they lost in a heartbreaker to Houston.
After Memphis plays Purdue, they will face either Wake Forest or Texas Tech, depending on the results of both games. The Demon Deacons are coming off a season where they finished fourth in the ACC with a 21-11 record. Despite not making a postseason appearance, Wake Forest still projects to be a quality opponent in November, following a solid transfer portal class highlighted by Cooper Schweiger (Valparaiso) and Sebastian Atkins (Denver).
As for the Red Raiders, they are riding the momentum of their third Elite Eight appearance in program history after finishing the season with a 28-9 record and a second-place finish in the Big 12 behind Houston. Texas Tech is expected to compete for a national championship this season. Big 12 Player of the Year JT Toppin is back and figures to lead the team once again. A matchup between Texas Tech and Memphis would be a must-watch game.
Going against top-tier opponents during Feast Week is nothing new for Memphis. Last year, the Tigers upset No. 2-ranked UConn, 99-97, and escaped with a 71-63 win against Michigan State at last year’s Maui Invitational.
Memphis vs Baylor (Dec. 6)
After the neutral-site tournament, the Tigers will face a long stretch of Power Five opponents with NCAA Tournament appearances from last season. It starts with the Big 12’s Baylor Bears. This is the first of four scheduled meetings between these teams. It is also the first time they have played since November 2014, which the Bears won on a neutral floor in Las Vegas, 71-47.
Baylor is coming into this game after a respectable 20-15 campaign and a second-round berth in the NCAA Tournament last season. A massive roster overhaul in the offseason means that the new-look Bears, led by Dan Skillings Jr. (Cincinnati) and Caden Powell (Rice), could prove to be a scrappy bunch when they make the trip to Beale Street.
Memphis @ Louisville (Dec. 13)
The rivalry that fans of both teams have long wanted to see return will finally reignite at KFC Yum! Center. It’s already setting up to be a must-watch game.
Louisville will undoubtedly be a Quad 1 opponent for the Tigers, which is something that Memphis needs to capitalize on whenever it gets the chance. The Cardinals kept their core of last season’s tournament team, led by J’Vonne Hadley and Kasean Pryor, and they are in the preseason top 10 in nearly every ranking.
Even if those projections aren’t the most accurate, there is no denying that this is a very talented team and will be one of the most hostile road environments Memphis has faced in the Hardaway era.
Memphis vs Vanderbilt (Dec. 17)
Vanderbilt rounds out Memphis’ key non-conference games that take place in the Bluff City after renewing a home-and-home for the next two seasons. The Tigers have won the last four games they’ve played against the Commodores, most recently a 77-75 nail-biter at FedEx Forum.
Vanderbilt finished ninth in the SEC, but in a league that produced five out of last year’s Elite Eight teams, including the eventual national champions, a 20-13 record with just one non-conference loss was enough for an at-large March Madness bid. Any team in the SEC can put up a fight against literally any other team in the country, and Memphis needs to be prepared for such a game.
Memphis @ Mississippi St. (Dec. 20)
The Tigers will travel to Starkville, Mississippi, for the second half of their home-and-home agreement with the Bulldogs in search of revenge after Mississippi State sprung a 79-66 upset on then-ranked Memphis last season. Mississippi State went on to finish with a 21-13 record and lose in the first round of the NCAA Tournament last season.
The Bulldogs rebuilt their roster via the portal after losing their stars in KeShawn Murphy (Auburn) and Cameron Mathews (graduation). A key player from last year’s squad, the Bulldogs retained and essentially built around their point guard Josh Hubbard. They also added Jayden Epps (Georgetown) for bench scoring and Achor Achor (Kansas St.) for a presence down low. Add it all up, and you’ve got a Mississippi State team that can give Memphis fits on the road.
Memphis @ Ole Miss (TBA)
Ole Miss is the final power-conference team Memphis will face this upcoming season. The time and date for this game have not been finalized as of now, but it will be another brutal environment for the Tigers to endure against a member of last year’s Sweet 16.
The Rebels lost most of their talent to graduation after their tournament run, so they used the portal to help reload. Highlighted by forward James Scott (Louisville), Ole Miss prioritized quality over quantity while relying on returning players like Malik Dia and freshmen Tylis Jordan and Patton Pinkins to develop quickly to maintain last season’s momentum.
