Following last Thursday’s win over Wichita State at FedExForum — with a road game at Cincinnati looming three days later — University of Memphis basketball coach Penny Hardaway mentioned the Bearcats having been a “thorn in my side” for quite some time. I asked the 1993 All-America if he talks to his players about 1992 and the origin of that thorny relationship. “No,” he said. “I never talk about my time against Cincinnati. It’s a rivalry that’s been here forever. The motivation [for them] is here. They know the importance, for sure.”
In case you need a 30-year refresher, Cincinnati — coached by Bob Huggins at the time and led on the floor by Nick Van Exel — beat Hardaway’s Tigers four times in the 1991-92 season: twice in the regular season, again in the Great Midwest Conference championship game, then most painfully (and by 31 points) in the NCAA tournament’s Midwest Regional final, leaving Hardaway and the Tigers one victory short of a Final Four appearance. (Hardaway led the Tigers in scoring that day, but with merely 12 points.)
If the 51-year-old Hardaway resists mentioning his playing days — particularly the disappointments when he was not quite 21 — as a motivation tool, good for him. Coaches with decorated playing careers often stumble when they expect the same level of performance (and motivation) from current players that they knew in uniform “back in the day.” And a crushing defeat — or four of them — 31 years ago had nothing to do with Sunday’s big win at snowy Cincinnati.
But with Hardaway now merely one win shy of his 100th as Memphis coach, connecting the dots between the man’s current role in blue and gray and the one many Memphians still celebrate from his playing days is a pleasant exercise. Only six other coaches have reached the 100-win plateau with Memphis, and the only one among those six who also starred as a player for the Tigers — Larry Finch — now has a statue on the university’s south campus. Hardaway is still finding his legs as a head coach, and doing so in an atmosphere quite different from most of his predecessors. But he occupies that atmosphere as a hometown hero, which makes all of this worth watching. And celebrating.
“I haven’t had a chance to think about the milestone,” said Hardaway last Thursday. “I’m blessed to be the coach here. I haven’t lost that feeling of wanting to win for the city and for this university. My wins [total] is great, but I’m a team player. It wouldn’t happen without all the great players and staff. When [the 100th win] comes, I’m sure I’ll be excited.”
• Sunday’s game against Cincinnati was the 85th meeting between the Tigers and Bearcats (Cincy leads, 47-38). The only two programs Memphis has faced more frequently are no longer conference foes: Louisville and Southern Miss. The Tigers will host Cincinnati at FedExForum on February 26th, and the teams could meet again in the AAC tournament. Then it appears that will be it for this rivalry, as the Bearcats depart for the Big 12 (with UCF and Houston) next season.
There’s no positive spin in losing Cincinnati on the Tiger schedule and gaining the likes of North Texas, Charlotte, and Rice. So Hardaway will be tasked with finding rivalry games for the nonconference lineup. He’s mentioned a desire to add the likes of Louisville and Arkansas back to the mix. Here’s hoping Cincinnati gets a phone call, too.