Why Memphis women’s basketball is OK with being overlooked ahead of 2024-25 season

Posted by Admin October 22, 2024 Basketball

There is a calm, quiet confidence about the Memphis women’s basketball program these days.

“That’s probably a good term to use,” coach Alex Simmons said recently.

It’s like that because the Tigers, top to bottom, know what they have. And possibly because few others do.

Perhaps that has something to do with why Memphis, heading into Simmons’ second season as coach, was picked in the preseason AAC coaches’ poll to finish seventh. Even though the Tigers return leading rebounder and second-leading scorer Alasia Smith, who was also last season’s AAC Newcomer of the Year. Even though they will have All-Big Ten point guard DeeDee Hagemann on the floor by December. Even though they bring back a strong supporting cast (Hannah Riddick, Tanyuel Welch) and brought in a strong transfer class (Hagemann, Tilly Boler, Elauna Eaton, Quinzia Fulmore).

“Yeah, it’s a little odd,” Simmons said. “I don’t know what the mindset is. Maybe it’s just not knowing what’s in our gym. At the end of the day, everybody has an opinion about things they’re not necessarily privy to.”

Despite feeling overlooked, Simmons and her Tigers aren’t sweating it. They have found comfort in the confidence that their time will come. Some of them are also used to being bypassed. Riddick, a senior forward who will primarily line up at the 4, is entering her fourth season at Memphis.

“Memphis has kind of always been the underdog,” Riddick said. “(So) I wouldn’t say I’m even offended. It’s honestly a challenge.”

The Tigers won’t have Hagemann to start the season, as the Michigan State transfer will need until the end of the fall semester to sort through some academic issues. In the meantime, Simmons will likely employ a by-committee approach at point guard with Welch, Raven Sims and Destyne Jackson (all three returning players) making up the rotation there.

Smith, entering her fifth season playing for Simmons, has predominantly played the role of stretch-4 to success. This year will be a bit different. With the arrival of Fulmore (a 6-foot-3 traditional center), Riddick will slide to the 4, which will push Smith out to the perimeter more. It’s a move Smith, third in the AAC in rebounding last season (9.5 per game), endorses.

“I’ll leave the (physical inside game) to Hannah and them,” Smith said.

MEMPHIS WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: DeeDee Hagemann, tar transfer, out until December. Here’s why

If AAC coaches are skeptical about Smith’s new role, it’s because they haven’t seen what Simmons has seen.

“Her 3-point shot looks great right now,” Simmons said. “She was making 250 shots every single day from Sept. 1 until Oct. 14-15. Whatever the math is, that’s a lot of 3’s.”

And if the Tigers are playing it cool outwardly, it’s in stark contrast to how they feel beneath the surface.

“I kinda almost laugh a little bit to myself,” Riddick said. “Maybe it’ll work to our benefit if they underestimate us. They don’t know what’s coming. They’re in for it.”

Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or follow him @munzly on X, the social media app formerly known as Twitter.