Big 12 Basketball: 4 schools the conference should add soon

3) Big 12 Basketball expansion candidates

Memphis Tigers (American Athletic Conference)

One of the most storied basketball programs that the Big 12 could add, that recruits well, and makes sense in terms of geographic expansion is the Memphis Tigers. Former Orlando Magic star point guard and current Memphis head coach Penny Hardaway is a master on the recruiting trail and is looking to bring a rising program to the table.

Memphis’ 2019 recruiting class was the best in the nation, when they were able to sign the likes of the nation’s top ranked high school prospect and five-star center James Wiseman and fellow five-star prospect, forward Precious Achiuwa. The results on the recruiting trail continue to be promising for the Tigers, which would also bode well for their hypothetical case to get in the Big 12.

Not only would Memphis bring a promising and storied men’s hoops program to the table for the Big 12, but they also have enough recent success to buy into their case for sustainability. Memphis was a solid bet to make the NCAA Tournament last season, despite Wiseman only playing in three games. And they’re one of the more talented teams coming back for the 2020-21 season.

The combination of factors including the new and promising recruiting pipeline in Tennessee, the new TV market, the geographic relevance, and the potential sustainability of this program, all adds up to a good expansion candidate with Memphis. This expansion candidate should hypothetically be considered a slam dunk for the Big 12.