Alex Lomax reads all the articles and social media posts.
He’s seen all the accolades and noted all the criticisms.
“Being from Memphis and growing up here, and then being the point guard at Memphis, it’s just different,” Lomax says, contemplating the last several years he’s spent leading the Tiger basketball team. “And when I hear the negative stuff, no matter what's being said or no matter what has been said, I know I've been through worse. I don't feel like anything that has happened over my last five years at Memphis has been worse than anything that happened in my first five to 10 years growing up in Memphis.”
But how does he do it?
How does Lomax, who has been at the forefront of praise and criticism from local media and fans alike since he first stepped on the court for Memphis, deal with the pressure?
He writes his own story.
“I read the stories,” he says, “But I like to focus on the stuff I write about myself.”
“Being from Memphis and growing up here, and then being the point guard at Memphis, it’s just different,” Lomax says, contemplating the last several years he’s spent leading the Tiger basketball team. “And when I hear the negative stuff, no matter what's being said or no matter what has been said, I know I've been through worse. I don't feel like anything that has happened over my last five years at Memphis has been worse than anything that happened in my first five to 10 years growing up in Memphis.”
“I just put everything into perspective and I am aware that everyone has their own opinion,” he says. “So it’s respected — every opinion is respected — so it's no problem with anything that has ever been said because, you know, you can have your own opinion.”
Lomax’s game-day preparation doesn’t start with music or a stretching routine.
It starts with a pen and a clean sheet of paper.
“I like to think I am a very deep person,” he says. “I get up in the early morning, and to just clear my mind, I just start writing — writing about everything that is going on with me — and just try to clear my mind so I can have a great day and not have too many negative thoughts.”
He has plenty of positive material.
The fifth-year senior has been a contributor at point guard for Memphis since his freshman season, a statement not many Tiger guards can claim. Last season, he lead the team with 114 assists and 48 steals despite battling an ankle injury.
And when Lomax does have a break-out game, it’s usually when the lights are the brightest.
Last season, Lomax had nine assists with no turnovers against Cincinnati, the first such game by a Tiger in at least 12 seasons. In his junior season, he finished the Feb. 6 match-up against Cincinnati one assist shy of a points-assists double-double. In his sophomore season, six-foot Lomax grabbed a crucial rebound off of a missed free-throw and helped ice the Tiger’s victory against No. 19 Tennessee.
But then there are the performances when things don’t go the Tigers’ way. During those times, Lomax says he worked on ways to deal with the pressure.
“I just put everything into perspective and I am aware that everyone has their own opinion,” he says. “So it’s respected — every opinion is respected — so it's no problem with anything that has ever been said because, you know, you can have your own opinion.”
“But Coach Penny, my granny, and my family just did a great job of helping me grow up the right way and be respectful. So none of those things bother me or get to me because regardless, good or bad, I'm just going to be pure, just try to grow to be the best man I can be.”
Just getting around him every day, practicing with him every day, playing with him, playing against him, he's the same animal. He’s a beast on the court and off the court because he's making me better and I feel like we make each other better.”“There is a saying that iron sharpens iron — that’s us every day.”
Lomax finished his senior season leading Memphis to an NCCAA tournament appearance and its first tournament win since 2014.
In the victory against Boise State, Lomax finished with a gritty 9 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists, despite aggravating an ankle injury during the game.
“It was such a tough year for me (due to the injury). It was tough for me to even get through some practices some days due to the pain,” he says. “But everyone in the program knows, when I step on the court I'm going to give it my all. And battling through an ankle injury for almost two years, it was pretty tough because it weighs on you a lot physically and mentally, but it made each moment sweeter for me because I could have easily just said, I'm going to sit down and rest my ankle and just let you guys have it.”
Lomax thought his senior season would be his last, even though he had another year of eligibility. He planned on pursuing opportunities to play professionally, but playing all season on a bad ankle took its toll. Lomax’s ankle injury required surgery in the offseason, making it difficult to pursue a deal with a pro team.
So with his potential pro career on hold, Lomax consulted coach Penny Hardaway on returning to Memphis for his fifth year. Hardaway had already secured the top transfer in the country in Kendric Davis, leaving many Tiger fans to wonder how Lomax would play alongside Davis should he return.
But Lomax says he saw it differently. He knew competition with Davis at the point guard spot would only make him better.
“With Kendric, he's always been one of the best guards in the conference, and every time we played SMU, we circle that game on the calendar because he’s somebody who's going to make me better night in and night out,” he says.
“He's going to compete at a level ten level night in and out just like me. So just battling with him over the years, maybe talk smack here and there, it was fun because I know he's going to go to war at all times.”
The combination appears to be working, with both guards helping Memphis to several early season wins including an upset to undefeated Auburn on Dec. 10.
Lomax would finish with 13 points alongside Davis who finished with 27.
“(Davis) wants to do whatever it takes to win, so we kind of got the same mindset,” Lomax says. “Just getting around him every day, practicing with him every day, playing with him, playing against him, he's the same animal. He’s a beast on the court and off the court because he's making me better and I feel like we make each other better.”“There is a saying that iron sharpens iron — that’s us every day.”