Penny Hardaway addresses Memphis basketball's troubles: 'I did not take this job to lose'
Memphis basketball grabbed national attention earlier this season, reeling off 10 wins in a row and climbing as high as No. 10 in the national polls. But coach Penny Hardaway knew everything wasn't perfect.
"It was a gift and a curse to win 10 games in a row," Hardaway said at his weekly radio show Monday night. "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."
That streak quickly gave way to a three-game losing run that included Sunday's loss at UAB. The Tigers (15-5, 4-3 AAC) were favorites at home against South Florida, but lost after blowing a 20-point lead, and dropped a road game against Tulane before the UAB game.
Hardaway has talked ad nauseum about the difficulties of integrating a team made up primarily of transfers and has alluded to issues within the team for the past three games. But he believes Sunday's loss could be a turning point.
"Guys got to understand: We have to do it together," he said. "And I think now, after losing yesterday, it might be the first time all year where they just looked and said, 'OK, it's us. We have to do better.' But not until then."
Hardaway also talked about losing Caleb Mills, who had been the "emotional leader" of the Tigers before his season-ending injury on Jan. 4. He likened Mills to Alex Lomax, who served that role last season.
"Alex Lomax, I did not take him for granted. I knew exactly what I had in him," Hardaway said. "Alex just ultimately wanted to win the game, and that rubbed off on everyone else."
Memphis is back in action Wednesday at FedExForum against Rice (7-13, 1-6) and Saturday against Wichita State (9-11, 1-6). Hardaway said there could be changes to the starting lineup.
"I took this job to win," said Hardaway, a Tigers legend who took over as head coach in 2018. "I did not take this job to lose."
Reach sports writer Jonah Dylan at jonah.dylan@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @thejonahdylan.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Penny Hardaway says Memphis basketball's win streak was gift and curse
