When the Memphis basketball team scuffled throughout January, some wondered aloud whether these Tigers could comprehend exactly how much basketball means to Memphis.

Since many of the players on Penny Hardaway's roster have no direct ties to the city, fans frustrated by the team's four-game losing streak began questioning whether they cared about Memphis as much as Memphis cared about them.

First-year Tigers point guard Jahvon Quinerly said he got a grasp on the team's importance to the city years ago and has never lost sight of it. On Dec. 14, 2021, Quinerly played in front of an announced crowd of 15,266 at FedExForum as a member of No. 6 Alabama basketball. The Tigers snapped a four-game losing streak that night, beating Alabama 92-78.

"Well, I knew how much the city cared when I came here and played when I was at Alabama. I mean, it was electric in here," he said following Saturday's 65-63 win over Wichita State. "And I think that team had went on a bad losing streak as well as before they came in and beat us. You could just tell the crowd, I mean, the fans that are still with us − I mean, you can tell this is a basketball city."

Quinerly added he might be one Tiger who appreciates that more than most considering he arrived in Memphis after spending the previous three seasons at Alabama, where football is king.

"That's something that I personally miss, going to Alabama," he continued. "You know, that's really − football is No. 1 and basketball is on the rise. But you could tell this is a basketball city. And I think the guys know that, too. We're fighting to keep this thing alive, for sure."

Memphis (16-6, 5-4 AAC) gets back on the court Thursday (6 p.m., ESPN2) at Temple (8-13, 1-7).

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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: Coming from Alabama, Jahvon Quinerly values Memphis as 'basketball city'