No team in college basketball has made a splash this offseason quite like the Memphis Tigers. Penny Hardaway has not only added the country's premier young talent to the Tigers roster, but coaching staff additions should also pay significant dividends. In a span of just three weeks, Penny landed a pair of reclassified 2022 five-star recruits in Jalen Duren and Emoni Bates.

As for the staff, Hardaway added Hall of Famer Larry Brown and former NBA All-Star Rasheed Wallace to anchor a coaching group oozing with pro experience. The combined additions elevate the Tigers from a likely tournament team to one capable of a deep March run.

But while Memphis' revamped roster is one of the nation's best, plenty of question marks still linger if the Tigers hope to live up to expectations. Let's dive into what Memphis needs to address this season.

Memphis Tigers questions:

How does Bates fit at point guard?

The point guard position was always going to be the Tigers' major offseason need. Through three years at the helm, Hardaway's lead guards have been a mixed bag.

In 2019, freshmen Alex Lomax and Tyler Harris shared duties before giving way to senior Kareem Brewton in January. The trio was serviceable but limited in overall skill set. Memphis had turnover issues and struggled to connect from the perimeter.

Another freshman, Boogie Ellis, started things off in 2020. He, Lomax and Harris all played north of 20 minutes a night with Lomax providing the best spark on both ends despite starting just four times all year for Memphis.

Lomax was the opening day starter to start the 2021 season but was immediately outshined by Ellis, who dropped 24 points to open the campaign. Ellis recorded five more double-figure scoring performances over the next six games and started in his final 13 appearances for Memphis, while Lomax had inconsistent showings and missed the final nine games with an ankle injury.

Ellis could have been the obvious starter heading into '21-22 but the San Diego native took his talents to USC. Lomax became the de-facto point guard option with Harris serving as the backup before things changed drastically at Memphis.

Enter Bates, a 6-9, 200-pounder who is far from a natural ballhandler but has playmaking abilities that should serve Memphis well. One of the reported selling points Hardaway's staff used to lure Bates was to make him the offensive centerpiece and let him attack from up top.

This approach could be clunky at times with Bates being more of a small forward than a point guard. However, Memphis has struggled to score the basketball for years and a Bates dribble drive or isolation is far from the worst-case scenario offensively. He's a scorer, and the coaching staff should ask him to chase buckets instead of assists.

How far can the Memphis offense climb?

If Memphis' offense doesn't improve substantially, it won't be a Final Four contender. Hardaway has yet to field a Top 80 offense by efficiency standards, dipping as low as 210th in KenPom offense in 2020.

Turnovers have been a major issue. Memphis has ranked 10th (of 12), 12th (of 12) and 11th (of 11) in turnover rate in the AAC under Hardaway. An up-tempo attack mixed with inconsistent guard play and a defense-first frontcourt has proven to be a challenging recipe when it comes to quality attempts and ball control.

A lacking shot-creator — the exact role Bates will occupy — has also put a strain on the offense. While the Tigers have checked plenty of boxes regarding athleticism and physicality, they haven't had a player comfortable and skilled enough to take important shots. As a result, five of Memphis' eight losses last season were one-possession decisions, including both defeats against Houston that could have otherwise propelled the Tigers to an at-large bid.

Bates is the obvious answer here but he can't do it alone. Duren, a 6-10, 235-pound center, has an imposing frame and should be a force in the paint. He still has room to grow and could take his lumps against more experienced bigs, but he should be good for a nightly handful of dunks and second-chance baskets.

There is plenty more help outside of the freshmen, though. Leading returning scorer Landers Nolley is back for Memphis after tallying 13.1 points per game last season. The NIT MVP had 27 points and drained seven 3s in the semifinal vs. Colorado State, with a handful of scoring explosions throughout the season.

DeAndre Williams and Lester Quinones might not see jumps in per-game averages but could be even more effective with a better supporting cast at Memphis. Williams, at 6-9, is a capable distributor and his disruptive defensive abilities help lead to occasional fast-break points. Quinones, meanwhile, had his moments last season and could have breakout scoring nights if defenses are keying in on Bates and Duren.

Can Memphis still be elite defensively?

While most of the questions center around the offense, Memphis can't afford to slack defensively. The Tigers owned the nation's top defense last year according to KenPom's adjusted defensive efficiency metric. Allowing just 0.86 points per possession, Hardaway's group made things insufferable for opposing offenses.

This isn't the same group as last season, though. To begin, big man Moussa Cisse transferred to Oklahoma State. While Cisse was hardly an offensive threat — and a disastrous 32.4 percent from the line — he anchored the defense. Cisse's block rate of 10.5 percent ranked 22nd nationally and he also cleaned up the boards on both ends.

DJ Jeffries also left, taking his all-around skillset to Mississippi State after two seasons. Together, Cisse and Jeffries recorded 70 of Memphis' 136 blocks as a team.

While a major dropoff isn't anticipated, it would be hard to envision the Tigers being the nation's top defense once again. Duren isn't the same type of rim-protecting big like Cisse and Bates is still a scorer at the end of the day. Williams could be the AAC's top defender, though, and the Memphis roster is still littered with athletes who can serve as disruptors. Transfer additions Earl Timberlake (Miami-FL) and Chandler Lawson (Oregon) also project to be quality defenders over time.

For Memphis to have any hopes of reaching and advancing in the 2021 NCAA Tournament, it had to beef up the offense. The Tigers accomplished exactly that, and it should still serve as a net gain even if the defense isn't nearly as imposing.

The offseason could not have been better for Tigers fans. Hardaway's staff has arguably the nation's best roster with plenty of depth to play with throughout non-conference play. The real test starts now, though, as the pressure is on for Hardaway to not only reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time but also enjoy an extended stay. No matter how it unfolds, the Memphis Tigers will be nothing short of must-watch TV this season.