Memphis basketball began in 1920 and the program became a national powerhouse under several notable coaches. The 'Tigers' nickname was adopted in the 1910s. Larry Finch, a Memphis native and legend, played on the team that reached the 1973 NCAA Championship game and later coached the program. Under John Calipari, Memphis reached the 2008 title game before Mario Chalmers' three-pointer forced overtime in favor of Kansas. The program has been one of the most successful non-power-conference teams in college basketball history.
The 'Tigers' nickname was adopted in the early 1900s, with the live mascot TOM (Tigers of Memphis) appearing at games
The 2008 NCAA Championship game against Kansas, where Memphis led by nine points with two minutes left before Mario Chalmers' miraculous three-pointer forced overtime
Memphis has produced more NBA players than almost any non-power-conference school, including Penny Hardaway (who later returned as head coach), Derrick Rose, and Tyreke Evans
The Memphis Tigers compete in the AAC and hold an all-time record of 1411–720 (.662 winning percentage) across 65 recorded seasons dating back to 1954-55. The program has reached 1 Final Four.
| Season | Record | Conference | Coach | AP peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 13-19 | 8-10 (American) | Anfernee Hardaway | |
| 2024-25 | 29-6 | 16-2 (AAC) | Anfernee Hardaway | AP #14 |
| 2023-24 | 22-10 | 11-7 (AAC) | Anfernee Hardaway | AP #10 |
| 2022-23 | 26-9 | 13-5 (AAC) | Anfernee Hardaway | AP #24 |
| 2021-22 | 22-11 | 13-5 (AAC) | Anfernee Hardaway | AP #9 |
| 2020-21 | 20-8 | 11-4 (AAC) | Anfernee Hardaway | |
| 2018-19 | 22-14 | 11-7 (AAC) | Anfernee Hardaway | |
| 2017-18 | 21-13 | 10-8 (AAC) | Tubby Smith | |
| 2016-17 | 19-13 | 9-9 (AAC) | Tubby Smith | |
| 2015-16 | 19-15 | 8-10 (AAC) | Josh Pastner | |
| 2014-15 | 18-14 | 10-8 (AAC) | Josh Pastner | |
| 2013-14 | 24-10 | 12-6 (AAC) | Josh Pastner | AP #11 |
| 2012-13 | 31-5 | 16-0 (CUSA) | Josh Pastner | AP #17 |
| 2011-12 | 26-9 | 13-3 (CUSA) | Josh Pastner | AP #8 |
| 2010-11 | 25-10 | 10-6 (CUSA) | Josh Pastner | AP #13 |
| 2009-10 | 24-10 | 13-3 (CUSA) | Josh Pastner | |
| 2008-09 | 33-4 | 16-0 (CUSA) | John Calipari | AP #3 |
| 2006-07 | 33-4 | 16-0 (CUSA) | John Calipari | AP #5 |
| 2005-06 | 33-4 | 13-1 (CUSA) | John Calipari | AP #3 |
| 2004-05 | 22-16 | 9-7 (CUSA) | John Calipari | AP #24 |
| 2003-04 | 22-8 | 12-4 (CUSA) | John Calipari | AP #19 |
| 2002-03 | 23-7 | 13-3 (CUSA) | John Calipari | AP #16 |
| 2001-02 | 27-9 | 12-4 (CUSA) | John Calipari | AP #12 |
| 2000-01 | 21-15 | 10-6 (CUSA) | John Calipari | |
| 1999-00 | 15-16 | 7-9 (CUSA) | Johnny Jones | |
| 1998-99 | 13-15 | 6-10 (CUSA) | Tic Price | |
| 1997-98 | 17-12 | 12-4 (CUSA) | Tic Price | |
| 1996-97 | 16-15 | 10-4 (CUSA) | Larry Finch | |
| 1995-96 | 22-8 | 11-3 (CUSA) | Larry Finch | AP #3 |
| 1994-95 | 24-10 | 9-3 (GMWC) | Larry Finch | |
| 1993-94 | 13-16 | 4-8 (GMWC) | Larry Finch | |
| 1992-93 | 20-12 | 7-3 (GMWC) | Larry Finch | AP #8 |
| 1991-92 | 23-11 | 5-5 (GMWC) | Larry Finch | |
| 1990-91 | 17-15 | 7-7 (Metro) | Larry Finch | |
| 1989-90 | 18-12 | 8-6 (Metro) | Larry Finch | AP #15 |
| 1988-89 | 21-11 | 8-4 (Metro) | Larry Finch | |
| 1987-88 | 20-12 | 6-6 (Metro) | Larry Finch | AP #19 |
| 1986-87 | 26-8 | 8-4 (Metro) | Larry Finch | |
| 1980-81 | 13-14 | 5-7 (Metro) | Dana Kirk | |
| 1979-80 | 13-14 | 5-7 (Metro) | Dana Kirk | |
| 1978-79 | 13-15 | 5-5 (Metro) | Wayne Yates | |
| 1977-78 | 19-9 | 7-5 (Metro) | Wayne Yates | |
| 1976-77 | 20-9 | 3-4 (Metro) | Wayne Yates | AP #18 |
| 1975-76 | 21-9 | 1-1 (Metro) | Wayne Yates | AP #19 |
| 1974-75 | 20-7 | Ind | Wayne Yates | AP #11 |
| 1973-74 | 19-11 | Ind | Gene Bartow | AP #10 |
| 1972-73 | 24-6 | 12-2 (MVC) | Gene Bartow | AP #10 |
| 1971-72 | 21-7 | 12-2 (MVC) | Gene Bartow | AP #11 |
| 1970-71 | 18-8 | 8-6 (MVC) | Gene Bartow | AP #19 |
| 1969-70 | 6-20 | 1-15 (MVC) | Moe Iba | |
| 1968-69 | 6-19 | 0-16 (MVC) | Moe Iba | |
| 1967-68 | 8-17 | 2-14 (MVC) | Moe Iba | |
| 1966-67 | 17-9 | Ind | Moe Iba | |
| 1965-66 | 10-15 | Ind | Dean Ehlers | |
| 1964-65 | 10-14 | Ind | Dean Ehlers | |
| 1963-64 | 14-11 | Ind | Dean Ehlers | |
| 1962-63 | 19-7 | Ind | Dean Ehlers | |
| 1961-62 | 15-7 | Ind | Bob Vanatta | |
| 1960-61 | 20-3 | Ind | Bob Vanatta | AP #19 |
| 1959-60 | 18-5 | Ind | Bob Vanatta | |
| 1958-59 | 17-6 | Ind | Bob Vanatta | AP #18 |
| 1957-58 | 15-7 | Ind | Bob Vanatta | AP #18 |
| 1956-57 | 24-6 | Ind | Bob Vanatta | AP #12 |
| 1955-56 | 20-7 | Ind | Eugene Lambert | AP #12 |
| 1954-55 | 17-5 | Ind | Eugene Lambert | AP #15 |
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| Rank | Team | Conference | All-Time Wins |
|---|
Top 100 by all-time D1 wins. Verified against the NCAA record book — and tiered so you can argue properly.
| # | COACH | RECORD | WIN % | SCHOOL(S) | YEARS | BEST SEASON / LEGACY |
|---|