Memphis Basketball Struggles Raise Questions About Penny Hardaway's Future

The Tigers have lost four straight games in a disappointing regular season.

Feb. 25, 2026 at 11:20pm

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Memphis basketball is enduring a difficult regular season, having lost four games in a row with just four games left to play. The team's struggles have raised questions about the future of head coach Penny Hardaway, who is in his fourth season leading the program.

Why it matters

Penny Hardaway is a beloved figure in Memphis, having starred for the Tigers as a player in the 1990s before going on to an NBA career. His return to coach the team was seen as a homecoming, but the program has struggled to live up to high expectations during his tenure so far.

The details

The Tigers' recent losing streak has dropped their overall record to 12-16 on the season. Hardaway, who is in the fourth year of a 5-year contract, has faced increasing scrutiny as the team has failed to make the NCAA Tournament in any of his first three seasons as head coach.

  • The Tigers have lost four games in a row.
  • Memphis has just four games left in the regular season.

The players

Penny Hardaway

The head coach of the Memphis Tigers basketball team, who is in his fourth season leading the program.

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What’s next

The Tigers' performance in their final four games of the regular season will likely determine Hardaway's future with the program.

The takeaway

Penny Hardaway's tenure as Memphis basketball coach has been marked by high expectations and disappointing results so far, leaving the program's future direction uncertain.