KNOXVILLE – Penny Hardaway got the first crack at describing what took place Saturday afternoon between Memphis and Tennessee at Thompson-Boling Arena. The opening postgame comment by the Tigers’ coach could’ve sufficed for the last word.
“Unbelievable game,” he said.
Hardaway’s hyperbole likely was amplified by the euphoria of Memphis’ 51-47 comeback victory. But it also paid tribute to the loud setting created by a sellout crowd of 21,868. The turnout was so loud and boisterous that the Tigers’ players couldn’t hear each other at times on the court.
While the game lacked offensive artistry, it overflowed with athleticism and competitive ardor. You were advised to brace yourself for what might happen from possession to possession.
The latter dimension caught the critical eye of Tennessee coach Rick Barnes. He was impressed enough by that quality to describe what took place as a “high-level basketball game” despite all the missed shots.
“I thought both teams played really hard and I thought both teams were fighting and scratching for everything they could get,” Barnes said. “I thought it would play like that from the start.”
The coaches seemed to be in agreement regarding the game they witnessed and their appreciation for it. Will they be as like-minded about sequels?
As it stands, the series ends after a neutral site meeting in Nashville next season. It’s future beyond then is yet to be determined.
Hardaway is in favor of it. He said that he would love to keep it going. And he also conceded that the events surrounding last year’s game “got out of hand”
He took a big step on Saturday in rebuking his comments during the fallout that resulted from a late-game scuffle last season between both teams. It played out for several days after UT’s 102-92 win in Memphis. Hardaway criticized Barnes for what he considered disrespect toward his players.
“When I read those things today, it kind of made me cringe a little bit,” Hardaway said. “So I kind of understood what was going to happen. … when I read it, it wasn’t a good look.”
Hardaway said that he and Barnes talking about it “a little bit” at halfcourt before the game. Afterward Hardaway said, “That will never happen again.”
Ironically, the memory of his comments helped gin Saturday’s atmosphere to Kentucky-like proportions and beyond. The Memphis players drew loud boos…during pre-game warm-ups.
The youthful Tigers were unfazed by the surroundings and the victory they achieved will heighten the stakes of the series going forward.
But how far will it go?
“I’ve said leading up to this, we’ve been able to move our program, I think their program has moved,” Barnes said. “You have to have flexibility in your schedule. I’m not saying we will or we won’t. But like I said, I’ve got respect for Memphis.”
Barnes punctuated his lengthy response to the matter by saying, “We’ll look at it and, again, we’re always going to do what we think is right for us.”
Vols forward John Fulkerson, who’s from Kingsport in upper East Tennessee, considered what took place on Saturday with the width and breadth of Tennessee in mind.
“Growing up in the state,” he said, “I would want this.”
* * *
Dan Fleser is a 1980 graduate of the University of Missouri who covered University of Tennessee athletics for the Knoxville News Sentinel from 1988-2019. He may be reached at danfleser3@gmail.com