After a rollercoaster season that ended in disappointment with a 78–70 loss to Colorado State in the NCAA Tournament’s first round, the Memphis Tigers head into the offseason facing another major reset. Despite capturing both the AAC regular season and tournament titles, Memphis fell short of its March Madness expectations, leaving fans wondering what it will take to break through.
With several key players exhausting their eligibility and looming questions surrounding returning talent, head coach Penny Hardaway is back in familiar territory: rebuilding a roster from the ground up. But this offseason, the stakes feel even higher.
Here are the key offseason priorities for Memphis basketball in 2025.
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Rebuilding the Frontcourt from Scratch
There’s no sugarcoating this: Memphis will enter the offseason without a returning frontcourt contributor.
Dain Dainja, the team’s most dominant interior presence, is out of eligibility after averaging 14.2 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. Nicholas Jourdain, a reliable stretch forward, and Moussa Cisse, the shot-blocking anchor off the bench, are also gone. Their combined size, athleticism, and rim protection won countless games for the Tigers this season — and their absence will be immediately felt.
Penny Hardaway must restock the frontcourt cupboard via the transfer portal, junior college prospects, and possibly international scouting. Targeting multi-year players who bring toughness, rebounding, and defensive presence is a must.
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Perimeter Firepower in Flux
While the frontcourt exits are significant, the Tigers are also facing major changes on the perimeter. Colby Rogers, one of the top three-point shooters in the country, has also exhausted his eligibility. Memphis recently saw guards Baraka Okojie and Jared Harris enter the transfer portal, leaving two more open spots in the backcourt rotation.
But perhaps the biggest question looms over the future of PJ Haggerty.
The AAC Player of the Year and Memphis’ leading scorer in 2024–25, Haggerty is considering all options — a return to Memphis, a transfer to a Power 5 program, or declaring for the NBA Draft. His decision will shape the ceiling of next year’s team. If Haggerty returns, the Tigers would retain a proven high-volume scorer and leader to build around.
PJ Carter, another key perimeter weapon, also has an important decision. The sharpshooting sixth man turned late-season starter still has eligibility, but it’s unclear whether he’ll return or explore other opportunities. His return would give Memphis a high-level floor spacer and reliable secondary scorer.
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Continuity Is the X-Factor
For all the talent Memphis has brought in during Hardaway’s tenure, consistent success has been hard to sustain because of constant roster turnover. If Memphis can convince players like Haggerty and Carter to return — and build around them with complementary pieces — they’ll enter 2025–26 with more cohesion than most of Hardaway’s previous squads.
Continuity also extends to the coaching staff. After parting ways with most of his staff following the 2023–24 season, Hardaway assembled a new coaching unit that helped guide the Tigers to a 26–6 record and an AAC title sweep. Every staff member is returning next season — and that kind of stability, especially in player development and recruiting, cannot be overstated.
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Depth, Depth, Depth
A lack of depth was one of Memphis’ glaring weaknesses this past season — especially during the NCAA Tournament loss. The Tigers leaned heavily on a tight rotation, and when injuries hit late in the year, there were few reliable options off the bench.
In that Colorado State game, the absence of Tyrese Hunter and Dante Harris left the Tigers with limited ball-handling and perimeter defense. Depth will need to be a top priority this offseason. Memphis must target versatile players in the portal who can play multiple positions, handle the ball, and defend at a high level.
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What’s the Identity in 2025–26?
The Tigers were one of the best three-point shooting teams in the nation last season, thanks to their elite guard play and spacing. But with Rogers, Hunter, and possibly Carter and Haggerty gone, the offensive identity could shift dramatically. If Memphis reloads with size and slashing wings, expect a more physical, inside-out approach next season.
That’s what makes this offseason so critical. The roster Hardaway builds over the next three months will define how the 2025–26 Tigers play — and whether they’re built for a second-weekend run in March or another early exit.
Memphis basketball enters another offseason full of questions, but the program also sits in a better place than it did a year ago. Winning the AAC regular season and tournament titles is no small feat. Penny Hardaway proved he could reset a roster and win, but now he must show that he can build a team with staying power.
The return of the full coaching staff, the possible return of Haggerty and Carter, and a renewed focus on depth give Memphis a strong foundation to build. But with key contributors exiting across the board, Hardaway must strike gold in the transfer portal again.
If he does, next season’s team might not just return to the tournament — it could finally make a real run in March.
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