Memphis basketball: Penny Hardaway gives injury update on Kendric Davis, Malcolm Dandridge

Memphis basketball star guard Kendric Davis is expected to play against Texas A&M on Saturday (6 p.m., ESPNU).

Tigers coach Penny Hardaway said Friday that Davis, his leading scorer (19.5 ppg), tweaked his right ankle late in Tuesday’s loss against fourth-ranked Alabama.

“Kendric’s feeling good. Well, I can’t say ‘good;’ he did tweak his right ankle again,” said Hardaway. “But it’s not severe.”

That’s the good news. The bad news, which came earlier this week and was reiterated by Hardaway on Friday, is senior big man Malcolm Dandridge will not play against the Aggies. Hardaway said Dandridge suffered a Grade 2 sprain to his left ankle in the second half Tuesday. He was, according to Hardaway, scheduled to undergo an MRI on Wednesday but they decided to postpone it because of swelling.

The Tigers (8-3) will likely increase Kao Akobundu-Ehiogu’s playing time in Dandridge’s absence, while also lining DeAndre Williams up more at the five position and giving Elijah McCadden more minutes as a small-ball four.

Akobundu-Ehiogu has played in 10 games, averaging 8.6 minutes. He’s averaging 1.3 points and 1.6 rebounds. Despite the limited usage, the 6-foot-10 athlete is tied for the team lead in blocks (12).

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“He knows and understands now that it’s go-time, for sure,” said Hardaway. “(We want him to) set good screens, protect the rim and rebound. He’s grown a ton in practice with his footwork, his ball handling, his finishes. He’s getting a better understanding of what we’re trying to do and he’s had a great attitude throughout (the season) as well.”

No change to the starting lineup

While the Tigers lost Dandridge on Tuesday, the game against Alabama marked the debut of 6-3 transfer guard Damaria Franklin.

He scored eight points and grabbed six rebounds in 18 minutes. Franklin missed the first 10 games while awaiting an NCAA ruling on his mental health waiver request.

Hardaway said he was pleased with the way Franklin played, but he does not plan to alter the starting lineup to include the former Illinois-Chicago star. Hardaway plans to continue to roll with Davis, Alex Lomax, Jayden Hardaway, DeAndre Williams and Chandler Lawson against the Aggies.

But Franklin will get plenty of playing time, Hardaway said, including alongside Davis and Lomax. That three-guard combination would give Memphis a smaller look, but that doesn’t matter to Hardaway.

“Those guys are tough and toughness wins, in my book,” he said. “That three-guard lineup is gonna be together a lot.”

Franklin said it doesn't matter to him whether he's in the starting lineup or not.

"That's really not my focus," he said. "My focus is just on getting in the game and doing what I've got to do."

What does he feel like he's got to do?

"I would say just bringing that dog," he said. "Just doing whatever coach asks me to do. Go out there and play defense. Not so much on the scoring end. Just doing the little stuff. I'm going to do whatever it takes to stay on the floor. If that's rebounding, playing defense, getting 50-50 balls, whatever. I'm up to the task to do it."

Penny Hardaway declines to comment on new NCAA sanctions

On Thursday, the NCAA announced, and Memphis acknowledged, that the Tigers committed recruiting violations during the 2021-22 academic year.

Specifically, the violations involved in-home visits with a prospect before the appropriate recruiting period based on that prospect's year in high school. Coaches aren't permitted to conduct in-home visits with a prospect until they complete their sophomore year of high school.

As a result, the program has received one year of probation (on top of the three years' probation from the infractions case recently settled by the IARP), a two-week ban on all communications related to recruiting, a reduction of in-person recruiting days by four, the loss of two official visits, and a $5,000 fine. Memphis also self-imposed multiple penalties during the 2021-22 academic year.

Hardaway was asked about it Friday.

"I wish I could talk about it, but I can't talk about it," he said.

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

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Kendric Davis injury: Memphis basketball guard to play vs. Texas A&M