Penny Hardaway rips Rick Barnes, calls Tennessee coach 'low class' before cursing Barnes' name
It has now been more than three days since Tennessee went into Memphis and handed the Tigers a 102-92 loss in the thrilling revival of the in-state rivalry game.
However, Memphis coach Penny Hardaway still hasn’t let go of his bitterness after the loss. On Tuesday, he went after Tennessee coach Rick Barnes during his press conference.
Hardaway, who had an icy handshake with Barnes after the game, started by saying he thought it was “low class” the way Barnes talked about the Tigers, especially when it came to some (rather egregious) flops:
Penny Hardaway said he thought it was “low class” how Rick Barnes talked about his team when it came to flopping and other things. Said he’s focused on the wrong things.
— Jonah Jordan (@_JonahJordan) December 18, 2018
Barnes is generally considered to be one of the classier coaches in the business, but that didn’t stop Hardaway from continuing his attack of the Vols coach:
“Rick Barnes is doing a little bit too much,” Hardaway said.
— Jonah Jordan (@_JonahJordan) December 18, 2018
And, on his relationship with Barnes, Hardaway didn’t hold back, saying he doesn’t need a relationship:
“Never have. Don’t need one.” On if he has a relationship with Rick Barnes.
— Jonah Jordan (@_JonahJordan) December 18, 2018
After his presser, he couldn’t resist taking one more shot at Barnes, cursing the Tennessee coach’s name:
Penny Hardaway ended his chat with reporters like this … "Rick Barnes … Get the &*$% out of here."
I've never heard a coach talk like Penny just did about Rick Barnes.
— Mark Giannotto (@mgiannotto) December 18, 2018
Barnes and the Vols are ranked No. 3 in the country, and have likely already moved on to their upcoming opponents. Hardaway, meanwhile, can’t let go and is embarrassing his program in the process.
The war of words continues between Penny Hardaway and Vols coach Rick Barnes. Today—it was Penny’s turn at the mic. pic.twitter.com/H8D9rLYgBd
— Mike Ceide (@MCeide_WREG3) December 18, 2018