Skip to main content
Come Fan with UsWednesday, August 5, 2026

Memphis Basketball Is Back

“But it never left,” you say. “The Memphis Tigers were 33-4 last year, and advanced to the Sweet 16.” Ah, but they lost the man that made that success possible, Mr. John Calipari. And with that whole Derrick Rose mess, many figured Memphis would gently recede into college basketball obscurity, saddled by investigations and a weak conference.

↵And those people obviously didn’t read this profile of their new 31-year old head coach, Josh Pastner. Oh him? Yeah, he’s superhuman.

↵Some excerpts:

↵

↵

Before he could even get into an R-rated movie or drive a car, Josh was traveling with his father across Texas and Louisiana, scouting games and making recruiting visits to the homes of players they felt could help [his AAU team]. […]

↵

He had also began publishing the "Josh Pastner Scouting Report," a 50-page book of observations that he sent to college coaches across the country. […]

↵

Think that’s extreme? How about this: To this day Pastner has never taken one sip of alcohol, a puff of a cigarette or a hit of an illegal drug. He swears he’s never even had caffeine.

↵

↵It’s almost like success for Mr. Pastner has been preordained by some basketball God. And you, my son, will make everyone in the country look lazy and ignorant. Think that’s extreme? Take a look at Memphis’ recruiting class for next year.

↵They’ve got three 5-star players already signed up to play in Memphis, and today picked up a committment from Tarik Black, adding to what Fox Sports’ Jeff Goodman already calls an “insane class” for Memphis. Because Pastner’s clearly insane, you see? So it all makes sense.

Men's College Basketball
College basketball’s 9 national championship contenders for 2027 men’s titleCollege basketball’s 9 national championship contenders for 2027 men’s title
Men's College Basketball

These teams can win it all this season in men’s college basketball.

By Ricky O'Donnell
Men's College Basketball
College basketball rankings: Updated men’s top 25 after busy summer of movementCollege basketball rankings: Updated men’s top 25 after busy summer of movement
Men's College Basketball
UCLA lands Nikola Kusturica, its best recruit since Lonzo Ball and a top 2028 NBA Draft pickUCLA lands Nikola Kusturica, its best recruit since Lonzo Ball and a top 2028 NBA Draft pick
Men's College Basketball

Kusturica will be a 17-year-old freshman phenom at UCLA before entering the NBA Draft in 2028.

By Ricky O'Donnell
NBA
Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje is the best prospect in the world outside of the NBA, and Duke is nextJoaquim Boumtje Boumtje is the best prospect in the world outside of the NBA, and Duke is next
NBA

Duke struck gold again. The NBA is already salivating over Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje for 2028.

By Ricky O'Donnell
Men's College Basketball
Dusty May’s stunning NBA departure leaves Michigan facing its biggest test yetDusty May’s stunning NBA departure leaves Michigan facing its biggest test yet
Men's College Basketball

How will Michigan recover from losing Dusty May?

By Mike Rutherford