Memphis basketball may go legal route if Nemanja Popović appeal denied, Penny Hardaway says

Memphis basketball coach Penny Hardaway did not rule out the possibility of seeking legal relief in the Nemanja Popović eligibility saga if the program's appeal of the NCAA's decision is denied.

"I think we will have other options if the appeal isn't granted to keep fighting it until we can't fight it anymore," Hardaway told reporters Oct. 30. "We hope the appeal goes through, but yeah, we're looking for other options as well."

The NCAA deemed the Tigers' center eligible for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons but mandated a six-game "withholding period" to be served starting with the team's regular-season opener against Iowa State (6 p.m., Nov. 2, FS1). The issue, according to Hardaway, is the number of games Popović played during the 2022-23 season. The 24-year-old is in his first season of college basketball after playing professionally overseas since 2019.

Memphis announced it was appealing the NCAA's ruling on Oct. 26. Hardaway is hopeful the appeal will be decided before tip-off against Iowa State, but as of 1:30 p.m. CT on Oct. 30, the school had not received any update from the NCAA.

See our best photos from Memphis basketball's exhibition against Arkansas

Popović played in all three of the Tigers' preseason games, most recently scoring 16 points and grabbing six rebounds in a loss at Arkansas. Hardaway said the prospect of not having him for any amount of time is "a tough problem."

"He's like the backbone of the offense, because we go through him for a lot of the things that we run," said Hardaway. "But (the coaching staff) has done a good job with the other frontcourt guys. Obviously, they don't have the same amount of talent, but they have the same amount of will power. All we need them to do is go out and play hard, play tough. We don't know exactly which guy we're gonna go with. Probably (Maxim Logue).

"When you've got 'Pop,' you can go inside and slow the game down. When he's not out there, you can play fast. We're definitely going to play to our strengths."

Memphis point guard Jayden Reid said Popović has kept his head up as the situation has played out.

"Obviously, we need him out there, we want him out there," Reid said. "He's a big part of what we're doing this year. He has a positive attitude about it. Whoever's out there, we're going to compete. We're trying to win the game no matter who's out there."

Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com, follow him @munzly on X .