The Memphis Tigers are one of the most unique programs in college basketball. Despite never being a member of a major conference, Memphis is one of the most successful programs in college basketball. It’s never been easy to find cheap Memphis basketball tickets, and that isn’t likely to change any time soon. The program has consistently attracted great coaches and great players and has long been a March Madness regular. Most importantly, the Tigers have a loyal fanbase that would do anything to score last-minute Memphis basketball tickets.

Road to Stardom

Back when the school was still known as Memphis State, the Tigers put themselves on the college basketball map for the first time in the 1970s. Behind stars Ronnie Robinson and Larry Finch, Memphis reached the Final Four for the first time in program history in 1973, losing to John Wooden and the dynastic UCLA in the finals. A decade later, head coach Dana Kirk took Memphis State to four straight Sweet 16s, culminating in the program’s second-ever Final Four appearance in 1985.

The Next Level

The Tigers were able to sustain moderate success for the latter part of the 20th century, but things changed in 2000 when John Calipari arrived in Memphis. A few years later, Memphis was a national power, going to the Sweet 16 in four straight seasons while averaging over 34 wins per season during that stretch. Calipari’s tenure included a 38-2 campaign in 2007-08 that ended with another Final Four despite a heartbreaking loss in the national championship game. Before leaving in 2009, Calipari laid the foundation for his successor Josh Pastner to keep Memphis in the national spotlight.

Hometown Hero

Amidst a few down seasons, Memphis welcomed back Penny Hardaway as the team’s new head coach in 2018. Hardaway was born in Memphis and played for the Tigers in the early 90s. As a Memphis native and one of the best players in program history, Hardaway appears to be the perfect choice to lead the Tigers into the future and take Memphis basketball to new heights in the years to come.