Penny Hardaway has been a fine basketball coach for the Memphis Tigers for six seasons, but his program is only relevant nationally because it can generate embarrassing headlines.
The mediocre hoops product no longer justifies the off-court turmoil — the latest of which included four members of Hardaway’s staff being fired just before the start of preseason practice and the university confirming the existence of an anonymous letter claiming that there were major violations, which were transferred. to the NCAA.
The next coach of this program may not be able to rally the fans, bring in top players or rack up 20 wins like beloved Memphian and NBA legend Hardaway has done. But it’s time to find out. It’s not a Holy Grail quest to find a coach who can approach Hardaway’s results — two NCAA Tournament bids and one win in those six seasons — while also not keeping the lights on in NCAA Enforcement.
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Memphis files a letter alleging possible violations with the NCAA
This program has a championship legacy with legendary players and teams from the not-so-distant past. Scandal is part of that legacy too, but that was back when people were worried about NCAA scandals. It sometimes feels like Hardaway is trying to create optimal conditions for a sequel to “Blue Chips,” the wonderfully tasteless 1994 film starring Nick Nolte as a compromised hoops coach, Hardaway as a bought recruit and Ed “Al Bundy” O’Neill as a compromised hoops coach. investigative journalist.
It’s been a steady stream of investigations, eligibility questions, and suspensions for Memphis since Hardaway replaced Tubby Smith, whose two-season average of 20.0 wins wasn’t far behind Hardaway’s (22.2), and whose integrity never wavered. problem was in his 31 years. career as a head coach.
Academic irregularities are the worst of what is being alleged. In this era of player empowerment and investment, programs that seek to cut education declare that they view these “student-athletes” as nothing more than a means to an end.
Even with a lot of player movement happening and NIL giving them an approved financial rebate, emphasizing and promoting academic pursuits should be as important as ever for college athletic programs. Those who do not do business as such should be held accountable.
Some will call that naive. No one can argue that the money for professional sports is NIL and that money will be lifetime money for more than a fraction of college athletes.
Academic violations involving multiple Memphis players are alleged in the anonymous letter, which was viewed by The Athletics. The Memphis Commercial Appeal reported in February that Malcolm Dandridge was excluded from five games due to academic circumstances. The newspaper reported in March that Leslie Brooks, academic advisor for men’s basketball, was fired the day before the school announced Dandridge would miss games.
It is always possible for such a situation to arise, regardless of the people overseeing a program. But that does not absolve them of all responsibility.
And this is just the latest of many problems for Hardaway’s program, dating back to an 18-month investigation into the recruitment of James Wiseman. Beyond the accusations from academics, nothing terribly damning has happened. But the pattern is pretty clear at this point for a program that has employed at least 41 people — 17 in coaching or operations — since Hardaway was hired in 2018, according to The Daily Memphian.
The allegations in the letter include two improper payments. One of these, for $60,000 to a prospect, would have occurred in 2022. Is it possible that Hardaway didn’t realize at the time that you could take a few simple steps and legally pay a prospect through a third party? The overall sloppiness here, regardless of the veracity of that particular statement, is reminiscent of another great Tennessee sports coach.
Jeremy Pruitt supposedly learned how to do under-the-table business discreetly and professionally at several elite college football programs, then went to Tennessee and handed out nearly hundreds with stickers of his face on them. Pruitt, who would have been defended by UT at all costs had he pulled off a big win, was instead fired for cause in 2021. As Memphis begins a new era with Ed Scott as athletic director, Pruitt’s demise comes to mind.
Hardaway, whose contract runs through 2027-2028, has been an excellent coach. He will always be a Memphis legend. Perhaps his seventh team, with an almost entirely new roster and coaching staff, could find the magic for a third NCAA bid.
But it would be better for Memphis if this is someone else’s first team, even if that means an interim person. The Tennessee government turned a mess into an opportunity, and it worked out pretty well for them.
(Photo: Aric Becker/ISI Photos/Getty Images)