Memphis Tigers' head coach, Penny Hardaway, expressed frustration and urgency after the team's loss to UAB. Hardaway admitted to struggling to motivate the team and hinted at potential changes to the starting lineup. He also acknowledged the impact of winning 10 games in a row, stating that some players were unhappy due to their stats. Hardaway praised Alex Lomax's leadership and emphasized the need for toughness in the AAC. He declared that there are no more excuses and vowed to coach games differently to address the team's challenges.
JQ: "There's no disconnect between us and Coach. This is on us — this is on the players. This isn't on P at all. I really think Coach Penny had us prepared these last two weeks for these games, and we dropped the ball."
Penny says there's no disconnect between him and players. "I'm really close to my players. I'm more than a head coach to these guys. They know exactly what we want. They text my phone all the time, (asking me) to stop taking the blame for the games, but it's my job to do that."
Penny on restoring team's confidence: "I think that's player-led. ... There just seems (to be) a huge disconnect with this group right now. I can't put my finger on it."
Penny is unfailingly honest. Dudes looking for their own while the team is rolling is not a good sign. https://t.co/YtDmSS5FIF
Penny on the AAC: "This league is about toughness. It's not about talent. We have the most talent by far of anyone in this league. It's about fighting and toughness."
Penny says the starting lineup could be changed moving forward. "I took this job to win. I did not take this job to lose."
Penny: "The excuses are done. There are no more excuses from everyone. You'll see us coach the games more differently now because we just can't wait anymore."
Penny on sense of urgency among Tigers coaching staff: “You’ll see us coach the games much more differently now, because we can’t wait any longer.”
Penny: "It was a gift and a curse to win 10 games in a row. Because we knew on the inside what was still going on. You win those 10 games, there were still a lot of people unhappy about winning those 10 games in a row because maybe their stats weren't where they needed to be."
Penny: "Alex Lomax, I did not take him for granted. I knew exactly what I had in him...Alex just ultimately wanted to win the game, and that rubbed off on everyone else." Penny says this year's "emotional leader" was Caleb Mills before he got injured.
Here’s some insight from Penny after Memphis’ loss to UAB. I asked him what response he’d gotten from Tigers in week between Tulane & UAB game. “The teams that I’ve coached, I’ve always been able to reach them. I just haven’t been able to say the right words to this team yet.” https://t.co/4vxoybeNfk
ICYMI: #NJDevils captain Nico Hischier was "embarrassed" after another bad loss yesterday. Hischier added: "If we want to be a playoff team, we have to figure something out.” https://t.co/U3yhbGgxeQ