When Penny Hardaway walks into Brookhaven Pub & Grill for his weekly radio show each Monday during the season, the Memphis basketball coach is always greeted warmly by the fans in attendance.

On Monday night, a little more than 24 hours after the Tigers (20-8, 9-6 AAC) took down FAU at FedExForum, there were a few more special guests in the building.

"First, it's good to see those guys. What's up, fellas?" he said.

More than half of the team, including stars David Jones, Jahvon Quinerly and Nae'Qwan Tomlin, showed up — a first in at least the past decade. After a season that has featured a few rocky stretches and talk of locker room disharmony, it was the most recent sign of togetherness — an encouraging indication that maybe the Tigers' troubles are behind them as they appear to be hitting their stride.

Memphis has won back-to-back games after losing six out of nine and falling completely out of the NCAA tournament at-large conversation. Last week's wins over Charlotte and FAU aren't enough to bring the team back on the March Madness bubble. But with three regular-season games left before the AAC tournament, Hardaway believes the Tigers can elbow their way back to relevance.

"We understand the frustration of the city and the fans, because they have a right to feel that way," he said Monday. "But we are fighting really hard to get back on track. This shows the guys are more unified by being here tonight. (We're going to come) out this week, play really hard and show the city we appreciate the ones who are hanging in there with us."

The Tigers travel to East Carolina (14-13, 7-7) on Thursday (6 p.m. CT, ESPN2). After that, they return to host UAB on Sunday (4:30 p.m. CT, ESPN2).

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"Super proud of that group for coming back from Texas (where the team lost to North Texas and SMU) the way that we did," Hardaway said. "Regrouped and gained some momentum going into East Carolina."

Hardaway admitted the criticism the Tigers faced during their extended struggles was warranted because "we were supposed to play better than we did in those six (losses), for sure.

"But we're working toward something, (and) there's still a lot of basketball left."

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: What Memphis basketball did that Penny Hardaway says shows unity