Penny Hardaway had finally gotten his Memphis basketball team back on track.

He had just guided the Tigers to a come-from-behind home win over Wichita State to snap a four-game losing streak. The victory, on Feb. 3, stopped the bleeding from devolving into full-on hemorrhaging.

But in the immediate aftermath, Hardaway decided there would be no celebration. He did not want his players to be lulled into any sense of security. So he took them to the film room at the Laurie-Walton Family Basketball Center and put it all into perspective. The Tigers watched video — a lot of video — of the ugliest things they’ve done. The worst shots, the most egregiously bad turnovers, the atrocious defensive and rebounding effort — all of it.

“It was like, ‘OK, this is where we are,’ ” Hardaway said after Sunday’s 90-78 win over Tulane at FedExForum. "Then, we showed some good to say, ‘This is where we could be.' '

It was an aha! moment for many Tigers, perhaps none more so than David Jones, according to Hardaway and his teammates. Sure, Jones was the team’s leading scorer and top rebounder. The St. John’s transfer was also racking up some nice numbers on defense, registering more steals than any other player.

But those things came with a high price tag, because Jones also turned the ball over more than anyone else. He took too many ill-advised shots. There were too many defensive lapses. Although he was still the most productive player on the court for the Tigers (18-6, 7-4 AAC), he also was leaving too much on the table. Too many things that could be unlocked — both for him and for his teammates — with only a few minor adjustments.

Since that film session, Jones’ all-around game has improved, and Memphis has been the better for it. He had four assists in both Thursday's win at Temple and Sunday’s win over Tulane, something he had done in only one game in the previous 22. Jones’ scoring has been more efficient, going 15-for-24 (62.5%) from the field in the two games (including 8-for-12 from the field on Sunday for 23 points, plus 10 rebounds). He had four turnovers against Temple and three against Tulane. That’s after he had nine turnovers in a loss at UAB on Jan. 28, which was the fourth game this season he put up five or more.

Point guard Jahvon Quinerly said Sunday that he, too, has been harping on Jones “all the time” about working smarter, not harder.

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“Sometimes the right play is just to get off the ball when you’ve got two (defenders) on you,” he said. “Once you get two on you, you’ve created the advantage already, (and) you’ve got to get it to the next open guy.”

Earlier this season, according to Quinerly, it was difficult getting through to Jones because “he was scoring at will.” But more recently, opponents have dialed in more on stopping Jones — or trying to.

“That’s an area he needed to grow in, and he is growing in,” Quinerly said. “I’m happy for him. We’re just looking to see more of that from him. His evolution has been (going) really well.”

Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or follow him @munzly on X, the social media app formerly known as Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Why 'evolution' of David Jones is so important for Memphis basketball