University of Memphis Athletics
Tuesday, November 6
Memphis, Tenn.
7 PM
University of Memphis
vs
Tennessee Tech
Hardaway was an All-American with the Tigers in the early 1990s.
Photo by: Joe Murphy
Tipoff! Tigers officially open the Penny Hardaway era
Nov 05, 2018 | Men's Basketball
UofM plays Tennessee Tech in coaching debut for former Tiger All-American
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- The warm-ups, the dress rehearsals, the practices, the scrimmages and the months-long build-up is over for the University of Memphis and new men's basketball coach Penny Hardaway.
Tuesday night at FedExForum, Hardaway, the former Tigers' All-American and NBA All-Star, makes his official coaching debut when the UofM plays host to Tennessee Tech. Tipoff is 7:02 p.m.
Hardaway was hired in March and has spent the past seven months handling his first program and a steady stream of media requests -- nationally, regionally and locally.
While he's looking forward to his first game, he admits he's not nervous. Instead, he's excited and hoping for a huge turnout.
"You feed off the crowd," Hardaway said. "We need the crowd to come out and pack the building and be as loud as they can be because it really helps the players and it discourages the other team. We have great fans. We're looking forward to them coming out."
Hardaway's Tigers have gone through the offseason workouts and preseason practices and exhibitions against LeMoyne-Owen and CBU, but Tuesday everything counts.
What Hardaway has seen in the exhibitions has been encouraging, but there is work to be done and players to develop. Memphis defeated LeMoyne-Owen 120-66 and followed with a 95-68 victory over CBU.
The Tigers got strong performances in the exhibitions from freshman guard Tyler Harris and veteran guard Jeremiah Martin. Harris had 26 against LeMoyne-Owen and Martin dropped in 24 against CBU. Kyvon Davenport had 35 points in the two games.
Memphis scored on an abundance of fast-break points and dished out a high percentage of assists in the exhibitions. Of 80 made baskets, the Tigers assisted on 55 of them.
"We're running really well and getting fast-break points, but we have to execute in the half-court offense," Hardaway said. "That's what I really want to see us do. I'm a stickler in practice about doing things the right way, getting the right spacing, getting to your spots and setting screens. That's the stuff we want to see. And, defensively, I want to see us continue to turn people over, get after it and push that tempo."
Tennessee Tech also will be playing its opening game. The Golden Eagles feature 11 newcomers and a redshirt freshman.
Martin, the UofM's scoring leader a year ago and preseason first-team American Athletic Conference pick, understands the gravity of the opening game.
"We've got to give it all we've got now," he said.
QUICK FACTS
Tuesday night at FedExForum, Hardaway, the former Tigers' All-American and NBA All-Star, makes his official coaching debut when the UofM plays host to Tennessee Tech. Tipoff is 7:02 p.m.
Hardaway was hired in March and has spent the past seven months handling his first program and a steady stream of media requests -- nationally, regionally and locally.
While he's looking forward to his first game, he admits he's not nervous. Instead, he's excited and hoping for a huge turnout.
"You feed off the crowd," Hardaway said. "We need the crowd to come out and pack the building and be as loud as they can be because it really helps the players and it discourages the other team. We have great fans. We're looking forward to them coming out."
Hardaway's Tigers have gone through the offseason workouts and preseason practices and exhibitions against LeMoyne-Owen and CBU, but Tuesday everything counts.
What Hardaway has seen in the exhibitions has been encouraging, but there is work to be done and players to develop. Memphis defeated LeMoyne-Owen 120-66 and followed with a 95-68 victory over CBU.
The Tigers got strong performances in the exhibitions from freshman guard Tyler Harris and veteran guard Jeremiah Martin. Harris had 26 against LeMoyne-Owen and Martin dropped in 24 against CBU. Kyvon Davenport had 35 points in the two games.
Memphis scored on an abundance of fast-break points and dished out a high percentage of assists in the exhibitions. Of 80 made baskets, the Tigers assisted on 55 of them.
"We're running really well and getting fast-break points, but we have to execute in the half-court offense," Hardaway said. "That's what I really want to see us do. I'm a stickler in practice about doing things the right way, getting the right spacing, getting to your spots and setting screens. That's the stuff we want to see. And, defensively, I want to see us continue to turn people over, get after it and push that tempo."
Tennessee Tech also will be playing its opening game. The Golden Eagles feature 11 newcomers and a redshirt freshman.
Martin, the UofM's scoring leader a year ago and preseason first-team American Athletic Conference pick, understands the gravity of the opening game.
"We've got to give it all we've got now," he said.
QUICK FACTS
- Tennessee Tech has lost five straight games against the Tigers, dating to 1961.
- Memphis is expected to start the same lineup it employed against both LeMoyne-Owen and CBU: Tyler Harris, Alex Lomax and Jeremiah Martin at the guard spots; Kyvon Davenport and Isaiah Morris at the forward spots.
- Four of the newcomers for Tennessee Tech were TSSAA Mr. Basketball Award Finalists.
- In a 101-71 victory over Tennessee Tech during the 1992-93 season, current Tigers' coach Penny Hardaway had 33 points, 8 assists and 6 rebounds.
- Tennessee Tech did not play an exhibition game. The Golden Eagles scrimmaged against Samford and Middle Tennessee.
Players Mentioned
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