The curtain has officially closed on the 2024–25 Memphis Tigers men’s basketball season following a 78–70 loss to Colorado State in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. What began as a promising campaign, complete with a regular-season and conference tournament title in the American Athletic Conference, ended in familiar fashion — a disappointing early exit and a wave of uncertainty heading into the offseason. From signature wins to injuries and roster limitations, here are seven takeaways from the Tigers’ rollercoaster season:
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Penny Hardaway Delivered Championships — But Not the Finish Fans Wanted
On paper, Memphis accomplished a lot: a 26–6 record, a sweep of both the AAC regular-season and tournament titles, and a Top 25 presence for most of the year. Hardaway proved once again that he can assemble competitive teams quickly — even with a mostly new roster — and dominate conference play. However, postseason success continues to elude him. The Tigers haven’t made it past the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament during his tenure, and the loss to Colorado State only adds more pressure going forward.
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PJ Haggerty Became a Star — and Now Faces a Big Decision
One of the season’s biggest bright spots was sophomore guard PJ Haggerty. The former Tulsa transfer blossomed into a high-level scoring threat, often carrying Memphis offensively and showing elite ability to get to the free-throw line. His blend of strength, creativity, and poise made him a first-team All-AAC selection. But what comes next is uncertain: Haggerty could return and be the centerpiece of another run, test the NBA Draft waters, or even hit the transfer portal. All options are reportedly on the table, and his decision will be the first major domino of the offseason.
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The Frontcourt Core is Gone
Dain Dainja. Nicholas Jourdain. Moussa Cisse. Colby Rogers. All out of eligibility. That’s a ton of production, rim protection, rebounding, and leadership walking out the door. Dainja, in particular, became a steady presence down low and closed the season with multiple double-doubles. Jourdain’s grit, Cisse’s defense, and Rogers’ outside shooting will all be difficult to replace. For Hardaway, the rebuild starts in the frontcourt — and it starts immediately.
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Injuries Played a Role at the Worst Time
Memphis entered the NCAA Tournament without Tyrese Hunter and Dante Harris due to injury, thinning out its backcourt depth. The offense grew stagnant in stretches against Colorado State, and the defensive intensity wasn’t the same without two of its best perimeter defenders. While every team battles injuries, timing is everything in March — and the Tigers simply weren’t at full strength when it mattered most.
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Ball Security and Rebounding Remained Lingering Issues
As noted in multiple previews leading up to the tournament, Memphis’ biggest flaws were its turnover issues and inability to consistently control the glass. Against Colorado State, those weaknesses were exploited again. The Tigers lost the rebounding battle and gave up too many second-chance opportunities. Even during their AAC title run, careless passes and rebounding lapses occasionally reappeared. For Memphis to break through in March, those habits must be cleaned up — regardless of roster makeup.
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Another Roster Reset is on the Horizon
With at least six seniors out of eligibility — including key pieces like Haggerty (if he departs), Dainja, Rogers, Jourdain, and Cisse — Memphis is heading for another offseason overhaul. This has become routine under Hardaway, who has often rebuilt his roster through the transfer portal. The pressure will now be on to not only reload, but to find long-term stability. At some point, Memphis needs a foundation of players who can develop and grow together, not just annual patchwork.
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The Program is Still a National Threat — But Time is Ticking
Memphis has proven it can attract talent, compete for titles in the AAC, and punch its ticket to March Madness. But for all the accolades and All-AAC selections, the national respect and deeper tournament runs still haven’t materialized. The Tigers have become a consistent presence in the NCAA Tournament, but they haven’t made the Sweet 16 since 2009. With the program now at a crossroads, the next steps — particularly in the transfer portal and player development — will define whether Hardaway can elevate Memphis beyond just being “dangerous” and into something more sustainable and elite.
The 2024–25 season was a success by many measures. The Tigers returned to the NCAA Tournament, dominated the AAC, and watched new stars emerge. But the postseason standard in Memphis is higher than early exits and “what-ifs.” The foundation is there. The next challenge is building something that lasts — and goes deeper in March.
Defining Success: More Than Just the Final Score?
Whether or not this season qualifies as a success depends on your lens. From a program stability standpoint, Hardaway and the Tigers re-established themselves as the class of the AAC. They avenged last year’s disappointing slide, dominated conference play, and secured quality wins over Michigan State, UConn, Ole Miss, and Clemson. They climbed the national rankings. They were relevant again.
But when your goal is a deep March run—and this team was built to win now—a first-round loss stings. For all the strides made, Memphis didn’t win an NCAA tournament game, which undercuts their resume in the eyes of critics.
So, was it a success? Yes, if you look at the AAC trophies. No, if your benchmark is the second weekend of the Big Dance. Ultimately, it’s fair to say the season delivered both validation and disappointment.
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