Memphis Tigers Basketball has an offensive problem like LSU football
After the latest college basketball season concluded, the Memphis Tigers fell short of their primary goal of reaching the NCAA tournament.
They were a lot of the reasons they missed the tournament, but their lack of efficiency on offense was the main reason. They finished 185th in offensive efficiency.
LSU football had a similar issue on the offensive side of the ball, preventing them from reaching their full potential. It always felt like they were underachieving based on the amount of talent they had.
LSU football coach Ed Orgeron knew something had to change on the offensive side of the ball for the Tigers to reach their full potential. On January 28, 2019, the LSU Tigers announced the hiring of Joe Brady as their passing game coordinator.
Joe Brady’s impact on the LSU Tiger’s offense will never be forgotten. According to the ESPN rankings, they went from 29th to 1st in one season. They were able to beat Alabama, win the SEC championship, and win the national championship.
College football and college basketball are two different sports, but the teams that have recently won national championships have had elite offenses.
Penny has tried to make changes to the offense. He took the duties of running the offense from his assistant Cody Toppert midseason, and he implemented an offense he called the Lion offense.
They missed the NCAA tournament, but they were able to win the NIT with that offense. The problem is they lost three key players from that team in Boogie Ellis, D.J. Jeffries, and Moussa Cisse.
Penny will have an entire offseason to work with the team to maximize the offense he wants them to run. However, if the results are not better and they miss the tournament, it will be time for him to find an offensive assistant like Coach Orgeron, who can help maximize this team’s offensive potential.
The new era in college basketball requires teams to score more points than they had to in previous eras. The last six national champions have had a higher efficiency on offense than defense. That stat is not surprising, considering how the three-point shot has impacted the game. Also, there are more skilled guys on the court so that teams can maximize their offensive potential. Finally, the rules help offenses more now than they ever have.
This is a make-or-break season for Penny Hardaway, and if recent history is any indication of how efficient they are on offense will go a long way in deciding their fate.
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Photo courtesy of the University of Memphis.
