FORT WORTH, Texas — The haze hovering over the end of Malcolm Dandridge's Memphis basketball career has not yet lifted.

But the Tigers center and former East High star, who was one of coach Penny Hardaway's first recruits when he was hired in 2018, broke his silence after Memphis' early AAC tournament exit Thursday.

"I hope them punks that wasn’t letting me play satisfied," Dandridge posted on Instagram after his team lost to Wichita State 71-65 at Dickies Arena. "The truth will come out! Be careful who you allow yourself to be around, them snakes will smile and say they love you, and stab the (expletive) out of you."

Dandridge was held out of the last five games of the Tigers' season to allow the athletic department to look into "a potential issue impacting Malcolm Dandridge’s eligibility," according to a statement released Feb. 24. No other specifics were provided then and none has been given since. But the decision to keep Dandridge out of games indefinitely stems from the possibility of academic misconduct, multiple sources confirmed to The Commercial Appeal in February.

Dandridge, who did not travel with the team for its final two regular-season road games, was in Fort Worth for the AAC tournament. But he did not play in Thursday's 71-65 loss to Wichita State, which effectively ends the Tigers' season because Hardaway said there is "zero" chance they would accept an invitation to participate in the NIT.

MEMPHIS BASKETBALL: Penny Hardaway says there is 'zero' chance Memphis basketball accepts NIT bid

Dandridge was having a career season, his fifth with the Tigers. His first four seasons were marred by injury issues, but he avoided or played through them much of this season. He averaged 8.0 points and 5.0 rebounds in 27 games (19 starts), with a career-high 18.8 minutes per game. He also put up a career-best 39 blocks.

Memphis was 3-2 in the five games Dandridge missed, but his absence loomed large in last week's loss at FAU and Thursday's defeat against Wichita State.

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: Malcolm Dandridge vents after Memphis basketball's loss in AAC tourney