How Memphis plans to move forward after Tyrese Hunter injury: 'The next guy's going to step up'
FORT WORTH, Texas — Memphis basketball beat Tulane on Saturday, but there's plenty of uncertainty for the Tigers because of what appeared to be a serious injury to starting point guard Tyrese Hunter.
Hunter left Memphis' AAC semifinal win over Tulane early in the second half and went back to the Tigers' locker room. He later emerged with a walking boot on his left foot and did not return to the game.
"We don't know what's going on with Tyrese," coach Penny Hardaway said postgame. "So hopefully it's not for the worst."
He's been Memphis' floor general this year and had been a massive part of a team that won the AAC regular season championship and is poised to go back to the NCAA tournament after missing it last season. Hunter, a senior, had previously been a starter at both Iowa State and Texas. He has more NCAA tournament experience than anyone else on the Memphis roster.
The Tigers eked past the Green Wave on Saturday thanks to double-doubles from Dain Dainja and Moussa Cisse and last-minute heroics from PJ Haggerty, who scored 10 points in the game's final 1:03 and created a critical turnover to help the Tigers seal the win. And they did it without Hunter for the final minutes.
"Our team is built one through 13 to be ready to play and be ready for war," Hardaway said. "So when one guy goes down, the next guy's going to step up."
Where Memphis goes without Tyrese Hunter
Hunter came in to Saturday's game averaging 13.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game this season. His impact goes well beyond those stats, too — he's been Memphis' floor general this season and has come up with critical shots down the stretch throughout the year, from wins over UConn and Michigan State in the Maui Invitational to Friday's AAC quarterfinal win over Wichita State.
The Tigers were already shorthanded at guard because Dante Harris suffered an ankle injury on March 4 and has not played since. Freshman guard Jared Harris has played sparingly this season, but he could be called into action moving forward if Hardaway runs out of options.
Hardaway can also shake some lineups around and lean more on PJ Haggerty as a primary ball-handler. That could mean more minutes for PJ Carter, too. Carter scored nine points in 23 minutes on Saturday.
Another obvious candidate for more minutes is guard Baraka Okojie, who played 17 minutes in Saturday's game and has impressed at times this season with his defense. He scored two points on Friday.
Assuming Hunter — who left the court on Saturday on crutches — can't play on Sunday, Carter or Okojie would be the two clear options to replace him in the starting lineup. Neither has started a game for the Tigers this season.
"Obviously, the concern is foul trouble," Hardaway said. "If you get into foul trouble, who do you go to? But at the end of the day, we have other guys that can substitute in and play the point guard. We're well-equipped. Dain can bring the ball up the floor and run the offense through the five-out. We'll make the adjustments, and the guys that are on the bench are going to be ready to play."
Reach sports writer Jonah Dylan at jonah.dylan@commercialappeal.com or on X @thejonahdylan.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: What Penny Hardaway said about Tyrese Hunter's injury after AAC semifinal
Topics
-
Memphis Grizzlies' Ja Morant added to injury report ahead of game vs Miami Heat
Ja Morant was added to the Memphis Grizzlies injury report ahead of Saturday's game.Yahoo Sports - 12h -
Clemson basketball's Dillon Hunter is out indefinitely with broken right hand
Dillon Hunter is out indefinitely with a right hand injury suffered vs SMU. Here’s the latest on his injury and his status for the ACC tournament.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Full injury report for Tyrese Maxey, Sixers vs. Pacers in return home
Here is the full injury report for Tyrese Maxey and the Philadelphia 76ers as they take on the Indiana Pacers in their return home on Friday.Yahoo Sports - 2d -
Full injury report for Tyrese Maxey, Sixers vs. Mavericks on the road
Here is the full injury report for Tyrese Maxey and the Philadelphia 76ers as they take on the Dallas Mavericks on the road on Sunday.Yahoo Sports - 8h -
How Chase Hunter's late-game heroics lifted Clemson basketball passed SMU in ACC tournament
Chase Hunter scored 15 of Clemson's 29 second-half points to help the Tigers survive SMU in the ACC tournament. Here's how the star guard did it.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
PJ Haggerty scores 42 for Memphis after coach Penny Hardaway told standout guard he had to produce
Memphis coach Penny Hardaway was speaking from experience with his message to standout guard PJ Haggerty before the start of the American Athletic Conference Tournament. "When you’re the man and ...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Dillon Hunter injury update: Clemson basketball guard injures right hand vs SMU in ACC tournament
Dillon Hunter suffered a right hand injury in the final seconds of the first half vs SMU. He returned to the starting lineup in the ACC tournament.Yahoo Sports - 2d -
Alabama forward Derrion Reid discusses return from injury
Alabama forward Derrion Reid returned to the floor Friday night after missing his last six games due to injury.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Nick Nurse provides injury update on Tyrese Maxey after loss to Pacers
Coach Nick Nurse gives an update on Tyrese Maxey after the Philadelphia 76ers fall to the Indiana Pacers on Friday.Yahoo Sports - 1d
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Heartwarming moment Lewis Hamilton’s dad consoles F1 rookie after debut crash
Isack Hadjar endured an F1 debut to forget after spinning into the barrier on the formation lapYahoo Sports - 13m -
Revealed: Arsenal & Liverpool want €50m winger, he’s open to transfer this summer
Arsenal and Liverpool are among the clubs keen on the potential transfer of Lyon wonderkid winger Malick Fofana this summer.Sources with a close understanding of the situation have informed ...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Duke coach says Cooper Flagg playing in ACC tourney is 'not worth it'
Flagg's sprained ankle looms large for the Blue Devils with March Madness right around the corner. But Jon Scheyer appears to be taking the right approach.Yahoo Sports - 2d -
New York Giants' Paulson Adebo embracing opportunity to be CB1
Paulson Adebo knows the New York Giants brought him in to be their top cornerback and he's fully prepared to embrace that role.Yahoo Sports - 2d -
College hoops live updates: UNC in close one, Arkansas out of SEC tourney
An eventful Thursday started with an ankle injury to Duke star Cooper Kupp. Now, the Tar Heels taking on Wake Forest leads live action. Follow along here.Yahoo Sports - 2d
More in Sports
-
Ronald Acuna Jr. says he'll be more careful this season -- but no one believes him
From 40/70 to 40/30? The Braves' 2023 NL MVP is rehabbing with a plan to be stronger -- and healthier.ESPN - 36m -
Houston beats 'Zona for Big 12 title, eyes 1-seed
Second-ranked Houston turned up its trademark defense in the final minute to hold on for a 72-64 victory over Arizona in the Big 12 tournament championship game Saturday night.ESPN - 1h -
St. John's wins first Big East tourney since '00
The No. 1 seed coming into the tournament played like it all week at Madison Square Garden, as coach Rick Pitino and his St. John's Red Storm secured their first Big East title since 2000, and will ...ESPN - 1h -
Vikings acquiring RB Mason in trade with 49ers
The Vikings added a young veteran running back to pair with starter Aaron Jones, landing Jordan Mason in a trade with the 49ers.ESPN - 1h -
Porzingis excels in return from 'frustrating' illness
Kristaps Porzingis, who returned after a "frustrating" bout with an illness that kept him out for eight games, scored 24 points in 32 minutes Saturday.ESPN - 1h