Penny Hardaway on Memphis Tigers’ Success at Maui Invitational

Penny Hardaway, the head coach of the Memphis Tigers men’s basketball team, has been making waves at the 2024 Maui Invitational. Following the Tigers’ semifinal win over Michigan State, Hardaway and his players, including PJ Haggerty and Tyrese Hunter, spoke with the media about their performance and the team’s overall strategy.

Hardaway expressed his satisfaction with the team’s energy levels, despite playing three games in three days. He attributed the team’s resilience to their preparation and the players’ ability to trust in their work. “It’s just we’ve let Tyrese and PJ take off, go get back with your team,” Hardaway said, highlighting the importance of his key players in maintaining the team’s momentum.

Tyrese Hunter has been particularly impressive, showcasing his three-point shooting skills with 12 three-pointers in the last two games. Hardaway praised Hunter’s work ethic and his ability to adapt to the team’s system. Hardaway recalled being impressed by Hunter’s performance as a freshman at Iowa State and targeted him in the transfer portal. “His work that he’s putting in every day is just paying off,” Hardaway noted.

In the game against Michigan State, the Tigers made significant defensive adjustments at halftime to counter Michigan State’s three-point shooting. Hardaway emphasized the importance of these adjustments in securing the win. “We knew that at some point they were going to get hot because they’re a good team,” he said.

The win has also brought a sense of full circle for Hardaway, who as a player never got the chance to play in the championship game of the Maui Invitational. Now, as a coach, he has the opportunity to lead his team to the championship game, potentially against North Carolina).