While not being part of the AP preseason Top 25—or even receiving any votes—it doesn’t mean the national media are completely out on the Tigers. In fact, many analysts and bracketologists are projecting Memphis to make the NCAA Tournament this season. With an almost entirely new roster, assessing this team’s potential is challenging; however, the talent brought in certainly warrants attention.
Joe Lunardi
ESPN’s lead college basketball analyst, Joe Lunardi, recently released his preseason bracket.
Lunardi has Memphis slotted as a 10-seed, entering as an automatic qualifier and the only bid from the American Athletic Conference. In his projection, the Tigers would face Kentucky in the first round of the East bracket, with a potential second-round matchup against either UConn or South Dakota State.
CBS Sports
“It’s wild times at Memphis these days, which is to say: everything’s normal.”
Memphis comes in at #29 in the CBS Sports Top 100 and 1. The ranking highlights key additions like PJ Haggerty and Tyrese Hunter in the backcourt, along with defensive standout Moussa Cisse.
Analyst Matt Norlander also notes that the AAC winner should finish in the top 30, making Memphis a logical pick given the talent they’ve added.
KenPom
The basketball statistic archive, KenPom, has Memphis cracking its top 50, currently sitting at #43.
Notably, it was recently announced that the selection committee will no longer use the site to create its final bracket. However, KenPom remains a reliable and effective tool for tracking college hoops throughout the season.
Conclusion
Ultimately, while it may be difficult to judge Memphis solely on paper, many see the potential for this team to surprise. Although they didn’t receive any votes in the preseason AP poll, this simply means the Tigers will need to earn their respect on the court. Fans will have another opportunity to see the team in action next Tuesday, when Memphis heads to Huntsville for a scrimmage against Alabama.
