Cincinnati Bearcats – Memphis Flyer

Penny’s Path

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.

• There’s one (and only one) silver lining to the news that the Tigers’ sophomore tailback, Doroland Dorceus, has been lost for the season with a right-knee injury. When was the last time an injury to a second-string player in this program felt so damaging? Dorceus will be missed, and he’ll be missed because he provided the kind of depth that made him all but interchangeable with first-string tailback Brandon Hayes. Leading the Tigers with 237 rushing yards over four games, Dorceus was second-string only according to the depth chart.

Play calling was not impacted with Dorceus on the field (beyond the priority of getting him the ball). Production didn’t drop with Dorceus on the field. And Hayes was a better player late in games because of the relief Dorceus provided. That all changes with Dorceus removed from the Tiger ground attack. Freshman Jarvis Cooper has teased with his early-season performance (even at Ole Miss last weekend). And Hayes is accustomed to shouldering a workload. Losing Dorceus isn’t a death knell for the Memphis offense. But the grind of the conference schedule just got that much . . . grindier.

• The Tigers finished September right where they wanted to be: 2-2. A win at UCLA or Ole Miss would have been a celebrated bonus, but Memphis wanted (needed!) to enter its conference schedule with a .500 record. This Saturday the Tigers face a real measuring stick for growth of the program. The Cincinnati Bearcats were picked to win the American Athletic Conference, and even after being dusted by Ohio State last weekend, Tommy Tuberville’s squad seems to have the kind of offensive attack that can win games by halftime.

Quarterback Gunner Kiel — a Notre Dame transfer — leads the American in passing efficiency, having thrown for 1,041 yards and 14 touchdowns (two interceptions) in three games. Wideout Chris Moore caught three of Kiel’s passes against the Buckeyes, all for touchdowns that totaled 221 yards, earning Moore the American’s Offensive Player of the Week award despite his team’s lopsided loss. The idea of Memphis cornerback Bobby McCain battling Moore downfield is a scintillating angle to the Tigers’ first conference test. Cincinnati gave up a whopping 710 yards (on 101 plays) to the Buckeyes. Memphis may get the chance to win a shootout in the stadium where Justin Fuente’s old friend, Andy Dalton, now plays on Sundays.

• The Larry Porter years weren’t all bad. Ron Leary and Dontari Poe were teammates in 2010 and 2011, each suffering 21 losses in 24 games. Last weekend, Leary and Poe played important roles in the Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs, respectively, winning big games in Week 4 of the NFL season. Starting at left guard for Dallas, Leary has been part of three straight wins for the Cowboys and helped tailback DeMarco Murray take over the NFL’s rushing lead with 534 yards. And coming off a Pro Bowl season, Poe has established himself as one of the two or three best nose tackles in the NFL. (The Chiefs are 2-2 after steamrolling New England Monday night.) Both Leary and Poe were recruited by Tommy West. They’re reminders that, even in the darkest of days, a college football program can yield a little light.