Penny Hardaway agrees to be next Memphis coach

[deucetz]

Penny Hardaway agrees to be next Memphis coach

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basket ... gers-coach

Former Memphis star Penny Hardaway has agreed to a deal to become the next Tigers men's basketball coach, and a news conference is expected on Tuesday, sources told ESPN.

Good for the league.

[Pony ^]

He will probably get his recruits that he already coaches in AAU...but can he coach them up on the college level. Time will tell

[PonyTime]

It is obvious that the Memphis fans really disliked Tubby.

I don't follow Texas Tech much, but are those Tubby's recruits that are leading that sweet 16 team right now in Lubbock?

So a guy who built a couple of programs up from the bottom and has a Nat Champ is canned after two years for a High School Coach...

Let's see how this plays out.

[SMU Section F]

This may be the ultimate "wait and see" situation. Huge risk by Memphis. If it pays off, they'll be geniuses, but if it doesn't, their next coaching search is going to be an absolute nightmare...

[Pony_Law]

It is obvious that the Memphis fans really disliked Tubby.

I don't follow Texas Tech much, but are those Tubby's recruits that are leading that sweet 16 team right now in Lubbock?

So a guy who built a couple of programs up from the bottom and has a Nat Champ is canned after two years for a High School Coach...

Let's see how this plays out.

Tubby doesn't get credit for Tech's 2 freshman that are world beaters. Tubby hasn't done a bad job at Memphis he just didn't connect the right way with the fan base. Hardaway is a home run as far as their fan base is concerned. It appears he will be a decent recruiter. The question is he an effective college coach. Time will tell.

[leopold]

The next big rumor is that Larry Brown is going to be an assistant coach. If this happens it's genius. It's great for Memphis and great for LB, and the question as to whether or not they will be 'coached up' will quickly be put to bed.

I hate the way they treated Tubby - I don't think they were fair to him - but this could be a great hire for their program and for our conference.

[PonyLaw90]

The word is LB is out bc of NCAA concerns.

[PonyTime]

I hear he already has lined up at least one assistant...

[sadderbudweiser]

Memphis already fired a "good recruiter who couldn't coach." Then they hire a good coach who can't recruit and fire him before he actually gets much of a chance to coach. Is Memphis like a third-world banana republic? The Trump white-house?

[Rebel10]

Coach Tubby Smith would be a good coach for East Carolina imo.

[skyscraper]

Jeff Goodman @GoodmanESPN
Larry Brown unlikely to be on Penny Hardaway’s staff at Memphis, source told ESPN. Multiple NCAA issues.

[skyscraper]

Gary Parrish @GaryParrishCBS
Memphis President Dr. David Rudd said he estimates the men’s basketball program lost $4.7 million this season while season ticket sales dropped to around 4,000. That, as much as anything else, is why the school has made this change from Tubby Smith to Penny Hardaway.

[PonyTime]

Gary Parrish @GaryParrishCBS
Memphis President Dr. David Rudd said he estimates the men’s basketball program lost $4.7 million this season while season ticket sales dropped to around 4,000. That, as much as anything else, is why the school has made this change from Tubby Smith to Penny Hardaway.

Very short sighted IMO. Penny might sell some seats this year, but at what cost for the future?

The UCONN hire is much more important for out conference though.

[PonySnob]

Gary Parrish @GaryParrishCBS
Memphis President Dr. David Rudd said he estimates the men’s basketball program lost $4.7 million this season while season ticket sales dropped to around 4,000. That, as much as anything else, is why the school has made this change from Tubby Smith to Penny Hardaway.

Very short sighted IMO. Penny might sell some seats this year, but at what cost for the future?

The UCONN hire is much more important for out conference though.

[RI Stang]

That report on Hurley was discredited. He may go to UConn, but appears to be torn between staying at URI, going to UConn, or going to Pitt (offering the most $$$ and obviously most prestigious conference). As a Rhody fan, I hope he stays, but if not, hope he does go UConn as he will turn them around quickly IMO, which would be another nice boost for the conference (as I think Penny will be with the recruits that he'll be able to bring in).