Penny Hardaway has done it again.
The ninth-year Memphis basketball coach always puts together one of the more challenging nonconference schedules in the country. That's not changing in 2026-27.
The Tigers boast the third-toughest nonconference slate in the nation, behind only UConn and Duke, according to The Field of 68. The outlet determined its preseason projections "using a formula factoring in opponent quality, elite matchups, game locations, preseason data and more," it said in a social media post on Oct. 1.
Powerhouse, high-major programs Gonzaga, Illinois, Alabama, Arizona, Michigan, Louisville and Kansas round out the top 10.
Memphis' gauntlet begins Nov. 2 with Iowa State at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It also includes
games against Louisville, Vanderbilt, Baylor and Texas.
In the spirit of becoming more acquainted with the Tigers' daunting path toward the goal of national respect, The Commercial Appeal is highlighting one player from each nonconference opponent that everyone should know.
Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State
A career 1,500-point scorer (all with the Cyclones) and the program's all-time leader in steals, Lipsey is a three-time All-Big 12 performer at the point guard spot. He averaged 13.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 2.3 steals per game last season. Note: Lipsey is currently eligible for a fifth season of competition, but his status could change pending legal rulings.
Sammy Jackson, VCU
A 6-foot-7 freshman wing, the four-star recruit is one of the highest-ranked signees (No. 65, per 247Sports Composite) in program history. The son of former NBA player Marc Jackson, the Rams are expecting big things from the youngster early and often.
Tyler Tanner, Vanderbilt
The primo point guard broke out in a big way as a sophomore at Vandy last season, landing first-team All-SEC honors and an All-American honorable mention nod. Tanner averaged 17.5 points per game and broke single-season school records in assists (184) and steals (86).
Flory Bidunga, Louisville
The 6-10 center was a beast for Kansas last season, landing Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors, making Bidunga the consensus No. 1-ranked transfer in the country this offseason. Enough said, really.
AJ Casey, Evansville
The 6-9 Casey began his career at Miami, then made his way to Saint Louis. He returns for a second season with the Purple Aces after leading the team in scoring (13.5 points per game) and finishing sixth in the Missouri Valley Conference in rebounding (5.9) last season.
Ivan Jurić, Penn State
Hopes are high for the 7-foot Jurić, who is the only regular starter from last season's Nittany Lions squad to return, to make a big jump as a sophomore. He averaged 10.2 points and 5.3 rebounds per game as a freshman and has reportedly beefed up considerably ("40 pounds heavier" than last offseason, according to coach Mike Rhoades).
Amaël L'Etang, Dayton
A 7-1 forward who is entering his third season with the Flyers, L'Etang was third on the team in scoring last season with 11.9 points per game, second on the team in rebounding (5.9) and led in blocks (41).
Daeshun Ruffin, Jackson State
The reigning SWAC Player of the Year averaged 23.3 points per game last season at Jackson State, making him the fifth-leading scorer in the country. The 2026-27 season will be the guard's sixth at the collegiate level.
Kayden Mingo, Baylor
A 6-3 guard who was Penn State's second-leading scorer (13.7 points per game) as a freshman last season, Mingo is a 3-and-D menace. He was the 29th-ranked transfer in the portal this offseason, according to On3. He teamed up with current Memphis point guard Jayden Reid to win a high school state championship at Long Island Lutheran in 2023.
Makaih Williams, Grand Canyon
A 6-2 senior guard entering his third season with the Lopes, Williams averaged 14 points per game, good enough for 10th in the Mountain West. Williams is also a career 1,000-point scorer.
David Punch, Texas
Rated the No. 9 transfer in the most recent portal cycle by 247Sports, the 6-7, 245-pound forward went to the Longhorns as possibly the best defender on the market this past offseason. The former TCU player makes an already stout Texas roster even more intimidating.
Mason Falslev, Utah State
No stranger to the Tigers, Memphis fans got a glimpse of the 6-3 guard last season when he dropped 20 for the Aggies in a February matchup. Well, the Mountain West Player of the Year is back.
Memphis Tigers men's basketball schedule 2026-27
- Oct. 23: at Mississippi State (exhibition)
- Oct. 28: at Arkansas (exhibition)
- Nov. 2: vs. Iowa State (6 p.m., Sanford Pentagon, Sioux Falls, South Dakota)
- Nov. 7: host VCU (2 p.m.)
- Nov. 10: at Vanderbilt
- Nov. 15: host Louisville (2 p.m.)
- Nov. 22: host Evansville (1 p.m.)
- Nov. 25: vs. Penn State at Battle 4 Atlantis (4 p.m. CT, ESPNU, Bahamas)
- Nov. 27: vs. Mississippi State/Wake Forest at Battle 4 Atlantis (Bahamas)
- Nov. 29: vs. Dayton (noon, ESPN, Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio — part of the Atlantic 10-American Conference Showcase)
- Dec. 2: host Jackson State (11 a.m.)
- Dec. 5: at Baylor
- Dec. 11: host Grand Canyon (7 p.m.)
- Dec. 16: at Texas
- Dec. 22: host Little Rock (7 p.m.)
- Dec. 30: host East Carolina (7 p.m.)
- Jan. 3: at South Florida
- Jan. 6: host Rice (7 p.m.)
- Jan. 10: at FAU
- Jan. 14: host Wichita State
- Jan. 17: at UAB
- Jan. 20: at Charlotte
- Jan. 23: host North Texas (2 p.m.)
- Jan. 28: at Wichita State
- Feb. 2: at Tulane
- Feb. 7: host UAB (2 p.m.)
- Feb. 11: host Charlotte (7 p.m.)
- Feb. 14: at UTSA
- Feb. 17: at North Texas
- Feb. 20: host Utah State
- Feb. 25: host Tulsa
- Feb. 28: host South Florida
- March 4: at Temple
- March 7: host Tulane (2 p.m.)
Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com, follow him @munzly on X.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Players you need to know on Memphis basketball's daunting nonconference schedule
