Memphis basketball's home attendance increase in 2019-20 was second-most in the country

The Memphis basketball program maintained significant momentum at the box office in 2019-20. 

According to numbers released by the NCAA on Monday, the Tigers' year-over-year average per-game increase of 2,247 is the second-highest number among all Division I schools. Last year – Penny Hardaway's first season as coach – Memphis' average attendance per home game was 6,225 more than the 2017-18 season (the largest increase in the country). 

The Tigers' average home attendance during the 2019-20 season ranked ninth in the country at 16,312. Syracuse topped the list at 21,704, while Kansas was eighth with 16,388 and Indiana was 10th with 16,300. 

Memphis was No. 1 in the AAC, while Cincinnati was second with 11,100. 

In two seasons under Hardaway, the Tigers are 43-24. Last season, which was cut short before the AAC tournament because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Memphis was 21-10. The Tigers are 33-6 at FedExForum since Hardaway took over. 

Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @munzly.