Ex-NBA Star now Memphis basketball coach Penny Hardaway got heated after 102-92 loss to Tennessee and let the media know how he felt about opposing coach Rick Barnes according to ESPN.com
Tigers coach Penny Hardaway took multiple shots at Volunteers coach Rick Barnes during a news conference Tuesday, finishing it with “Rick Barnes, get the [expletive] out of here,” according to the Memphis Commercial Appeal.
Hardaway was not happy with these comments from Barnes regarding his team.
“We knew they were going to come out and flop, and that’s what they did,” he said Tuesday, according to the Knoxville News Sentinel.
Hardaway did what he should do and stood up for his players blasting Barnes for his assessment of his players.
“If you just watch the film, I’m not making anything up,” Hardaway said at Tuesday’s news conference. “I don’t know who Rick Barnes thinks I am, but I’m not a dude that likes to just mess around about anything. I just call it like I see it. No matter how he’s trying to make things seem, and I think it’s kind of low-class how he’s trying to downgrade my guys for flopping and all that. Man, come on, give me a break.”
This hate seems to stem from the fact the Hardaway is having a great time recruiting athletes only after taking over the team last spring bring in the No. 7-rated recruiting class featuring No.1 prospect James Wiseman. This should continue to bolster the inner state rivalry which is a win for the fans. Check out the video and see where both teams get chippy.