College basketball rankings: Memphis a surprising 2-0 after Penny Hardaway started season on hot seat
CBS Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- Memphis coach Penny Hardaway has prioritized scheduling tough non-conference games to build an NCAA Tournament at-large resume despite playing in a lower-ranked conference.
- After a disastrous 2025-26 season with seven losses in the first 11 non-league games, Memphis has started 2026-27 with surprising success, winning their first two games against strong opponents Iowa State and VCU.
- Memphis is currently the only Division I men's basketball team with a win over an AP-ranked opponent and another win over a top-60 KenPom team, signaling a potentially strong turnaround under Hardaway.
- Hardaway, a Memphis alum and former NBA star, has faced criticism due to limited postseason success and program struggles, making this season a critical make-or-break year for him and the Tigers.
- The Tigers, ranked 26th in CBS Sports Top 25 And 1, face another tough test against No. 24 Vanderbilt, with early computer projections skeptical but recent results suggesting Memphis may exceed expectations.
