Hardaway, Tigers exit early: ‘Know how it’s viewed’

• Brady HendersonMar 21, 2025, 07:53 PM ET Close Brady Henderson is a reporter for NFL Country and covers the Seattle Seahawks for ESPN. He joined ESPN in 2017 after covering the group for Seattle Sports 710-AM.

SEATTLE– Cent Hardaway has a great idea of what needs to occur for Memphis to overcome its current postseason bulge. Making it a truth as soon as again proved difficult for the seventh-year coach.The fifth-seeded Tigers fell to Colorado State 78-70 in the opening round of the men’s NCAA tournament Friday at Climate Pledge Arena, another early exit for a storied program that has actually stopped working to advance to the Sugary food 16 because Hardaway took over at his alma mater in 2018.”We want to make deep runs in March

, and we haven’t done that yet, “stated Hardaway, whose team won the American Athletic Conference tournament after completing atop the regular-season standings.”It doesn’t matter what happened the night of those games. I have not gotten it done yet. Just got to get better. I comprehend that’s going to be the subject. Simply got to grow from it and simply keep improving, which’s what I’m doing.”This marked Memphis’3rd look in the NCAA competition under Hardaway, who was a four-time NBA All-Star as a player. The Tigers lost in the second round to Gonzaga in 2022 and in the first round to Florida Atlantic the list below year before missing out on the competition last season.Editor’s Picks 2 Related This time, it was Kyan Evans and 12th-seeded Colorado State that sent Memphis home early, with the sophomore guard catching fire in the second half to assist the Rams turn a five-point halftime deficit into a comfy win.Memphis was playing without guard Tyrese Hunter, the first-team All-AAC choice who hurt his foot in the semifinals of the AAC tournament. Hardaway said the Tigers”clearly”missed Hunter– their third-leading scorer– and the coach made numerous mentions of the group’s difficult injury luck over the previous 2 seasons.” You have actually just got to keep recruiting,”he said when asked how the Tigers can get past the opening weekend of the NCAA competition.”You have actually got to get the guys here that care. You have actually got to have the luck of not having any injuries. You’ve simply got to keep getting better. I comprehend that accompanies this.”I completely comprehend what the postseason is everything about, and it’s simply truly unfortunate for us that we haven’t had the ability to overcome the bulge for different factors. … The first year, didn’t complete the game against Gonzaga. The second year, lost at the buzzer, and then this year, we lose and then you don’t have Tyrese. I know how it’s seen, and I just need to continue to get better and keep growing.”In spite of Hunter’s absence and PJ Haggerty’s cold shooting, Memphis appeared to be in control while taking a 36-31 halftime lead. But Evans discovered his rhythm in the second half and Colorado State found an answer for Dain Dainja, the senior forward who had actually carried Memphis over the first 20 minutes.The Rams tied the game at 48 five minutes into the second half, then went ahead by 10 at the 8:38 mark after Evans made a set of 3-pointers in a little over a minute.Evans finished with a season-high 23 points on 7-of-11 shooting, including 6-of-9 from 3-point range.”Whatever Kyan was feeling tonight, I just wish to feel that one time– due to the fact that I haven’t seemed like that,” Colorado State coach

Niko Medved said.”Kyan, he’s just among those guys. He’s an astounding competitor.

He’s a live-it hoops guy. He discovered a lot in 2015 playing behind another fantastic point guard. Enjoying his advancement this year has actually simply been special. He is available in every day. He soaks it up, and he’s aggressive. He really believes in himself and what he can do, and I concur– I thought he really controlled the game … actually brought us a swagger, and he simply truly had an unique game. “He’s really had an unique conference season for us. He’s been one of our leaders and he’s playing at a high level today and he’s simply got a truly, truly bright future. Brilliant present, too.”“I totally understand what the postseason is everything about, and it’s just truly regrettable for us that we have nothad the ability to overcome the hump for different factors, “said Cent Hardaway, whose team has stopped working to reach the Sweet 16 because he took over in 2018. Steven Bisig/Imagn Images Nique Clifford and Jalen Lake each added 14 points for the Rams.Dainja led Memphis with 15 points in the first half, picking up Haggerty’s slack as the country’s third-leading scorer made only three of his first 10 efforts. But Colorado State held Dainja scoreless over the game’s last 12 minutes. He finished with 22 points and 12 rebounds while playing all 40 minutes.” They loaded it in, much like Coach said,” Dainja said.”So I was actually just trying to find my teammates. We got some open appearances. We just could not knock ’em down. “Said Medved:”Dain Dainja’s a load.

He’s really tough. I believed we did a bit much better task in the 2nd half of sort of taking his real estate, not permitting him to catch it where he wanted, bringing a bit of assistance previously to him when he put it on the flooring. “Haggerty finished with 18 points, however six of them came through a set of 3-pointers in the final minute, by which point Colorado State was salting away the victory.Hardaway stated this season-ending loss is harder for him to swallow than last season’s. He drew a parallel in between Hunter’s injury and the one that sidelined guard Caleb Mills late in 2015.”You have actually got to have some luck, and when Tyrese decreased, we understood it was going to

harm because he’s a guy that’s been here before,” Hardaway stated.”You need as much experience as you can.”