Memphis males’s basketball coach Penny Hardaway had it with reporters on Thursday and unleashed an expletive-laced tirade throughout his postgame press convention.
The Tigers misplaced to SMU 70-62. With Memphis having one of many high recruiting lessons coming into the 2021-22 season, it constructed the hype for the season. Memphis was ranked as excessive as No. 9 within the AP ballot earlier this season however has utterly fallen out of the High 25 after beginning the season 9-8.
Jan 20, 2022; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Tigers heart Jalen Duren (2) talks with head coach Penny Hardaway (proper) as he waits to examine in through the second half in opposition to the Southern Methodist Mustangs at FedExForum.
(Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports activities)
Frustrations boiled over Thursday night time after shedding to the Mustangs.
“Cease asking me silly f—ing query,” stated Hardaway, who beforehand starred within the NBA for the Orlando Magic.
“We don’t have our full roster. Y’all know we don’t have our full roster. … I’m teaching actually laborious, my boys are enjoying actually laborious, I’m not embarrassed about nothing,” he stated. “We’ve 4 freshmen beginning, y’all must act prefer it. Act like we obtained 17- and 18- and 19-year-olds out right here attempting to discover ways to play in opposition to 22-, 23- and 24-year-old guys.
JOHNNY JUZANG SCORES 28 AS NO. 9 UCLA HOLDS OFF SKIDDING UTAH
Memphis Tigers guard Earl Timberlake (0) drives to the basket through the first half in opposition to the Southern Methodist Mustangs at FedExForum on Jan 20, 2022, in Memphis, Tennessee.
(Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports activities)
“Come on, man. Cease disrespecting me, bro. Like, don’t try this. I work too f—ing laborious. I work approach too laborious for that. Y’all write all these bulls— articles about me and all I do is figure. We obtained younger children on the ground. They obtained younger children on the ground.”
In keeping with 247 Sports activities, the Tigers had the highest 2021 recruiting class. Memphis had two five-start commits and two four-star commits. The hype was palpable.
Memphis Tigers head coach Penny Hardaway provides route through the first half in opposition to the Southern Methodist Mustangs at FedExForum on Jan. 20, 2022, in Memphis, Tennessee.
(Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports activities)
Memphis might nonetheless sneak into the NCAA Match, however even with a number of 20-win seasons lately, the Tigers haven’t made the large dance since 2014.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
Supply: Fox Information
