The 2025–26 Memphis Tigers men’s basketball season will open with a bang—and it won’t take long for Penny Hardaway’s brand-new roster to get a major litmus test. On November 20, the Tigers will take the floor in the Baha Mar Hoops Championship opening round against Purdue, a consensus preseason top 5 team and projected national title contender.
The news was officially announced on Tuesday with the release of the tournament bracket. CBS Sports will televise both matchups of the four-team field: Memphis vs. Purdue (5:00 p.m. CST) and Texas Tech vs. Wake Forest (7:00 p.m.). The winners will meet in the championship game on November 21 at 8:30 p.m., while the losers will play in the consolation game earlier that evening at 6:00 p.m.
For a Memphis team undergoing significant roster turnover, this matchup provides the kind of high-profile, high-stakes opportunity that could shape the tone of the season—and maybe even the program’s national narrative.
Why This Matchup Matters
It’s no secret that Memphis has become one of the most portal-active programs in college basketball. Penny Hardaway has assembled a roster full of new faces and positional versatility. But questions remain, especially in the frontcourt.
That’s why opening against Purdue—a team returning All-Americans Braden Smith, Trey Kaufman-Renn, and starter Fletcher Loyer—is significant. The Boilermakers are a physical, veteran squad that finished last season ranked in the top 5 in KenPom efficiency and earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament before being stunned in the second round.
They’re expected to enter the 2025–26 campaign not only as Big Ten favorites but as one of the most complete rosters in the nation.
For Memphis, this is a golden opportunity. A win over Purdue would provide a massive early résumé booster and instantly elevate the Tigers’ national standing. Even a competitive showing could prove this revamped group can hang with the sport’s elite.
Hardaway is fully aware of the stakes.
“We’re excited to be part of the 2025 Baha Mar Championship — this is exactly the stage we want to be on,” Hardaway said. “We’ve got a brand-new group this year, and going up against some of the top teams in the country early will be a monster test, but that’s how you find out what you’re made of.”
The Rest of the Non-Conference Schedule Is No Slouch
The Baha Mar trip headlines the Tigers’ early-season slate, but it’s far from the only challenge.
Memphis is set to travel to:
- Louisville (Dec. 13)
- Mississippi State (Dec. 20)
- Ole Miss (TBD)
- Utah State (Feb. 14)
At home, they’ll host:
- San Francisco (Nov. 8)
- UNLV (Nov. 16)
- New Orleans (TBD)
This schedule continues a trend under Hardaway—build one of the toughest non-conference slates in the nation. Last season, Memphis had the No. 4-ranked non-conference strength of schedule and finished 10–3 against that stretch before winning both the American Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles.
For a team with so many new pieces, chemistry will be tested early and often. These matchups aren’t tune-ups—they’re pressure cookers.
Frontcourt Uncertainty, Backcourt Depth
Hardaway has brought in 12 players so far this offseason and told reporters on June 17 that the staff is likely to stop at 13 scholarships, even though the NCAA allows 15.
But the biggest roster headline remains the status of Dain Dainja, the All-AAC center who anchored the frontcourt last season. His return is contingent on receiving an eligibility waiver from the NCAA.
“Our compliance department is working hard with him and his mother,” Hardaway said. “We’re praying that goes in our favor. That would be awesome.”
Without Dainja, the frontcourt is thin on traditional post depth. The only players over 6-foot-8 currently expected to log meaningful frontcourt minutes are:
- Aaron Bradshaw (7’1″, Ohio State transfer)
- William Whorton (South Dakota State transfer, true post)
- Ashton Hardaway (6’8 “, versatile stretch forward)
- Hasan Abdul-Hakim (6’8 “, hybrid wing/forward)
- Zachary Davis (6’7 “, long, athletic guard-forward)
This is a skilled frontcourt—Hardaway believes their shooting and mobility give Memphis a different look—but it lacks bulk and proven interior defense without Dainja.
Sincere Surprise in the Backcourt
The opposite is true in the backcourt: Memphis is stacked.
The Tigers have added seven guards, including:
- Dug McDaniel (Kansas State transfer)
- Sincere Parker (McNeese State transfer)
- Curtis Givens III (LSU transfer)
- Quante Berry (Temple transfer)
- Julius Thedford (Western Kentucky transfer)
- Zachary Davis (South Carolina transfer)
- Daniel Vieira-Tuck (incoming freshman)
While Hardaway didn’t single out many individuals during summer workouts, he did highlight one unexpected standout.
“A surprise, let’s see. Maybe Sincere Parker,” Hardaway said. “I knew he can score it, but he can really score it. He’s working hard. His hard work is definitely paying off right now.”
Parker averaged 12.2 points per game at McNeese last season and is known for his smooth shot and microwave scoring ability. If he can adapt to the AAC level, he may become an early-season breakout name.
Big Stakes from the Jump
There’s no easing into the 2025–26 season for Memphis.
A game against Purdue is about as big as it gets in November. It’s a litmus test for roster cohesion, frontcourt toughness, and whether the Tigers’ aggressive offseason overhaul can withstand pressure.
And that’s before they even get to Louisville, Mississippi State, and Utah State on the road.
Penny Hardaway has always scheduled big. Now, with a new roster and looming questions about Dainja’s eligibility, he’ll get early answers—on national television, against one of the best teams in the country.
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