Memphis to hire Hardaway as coach
Former Memphis All-American Penny Hardaway is heading back to his alma mater — as its men’s basketball coach.
Memphis will announce Hardaway as its next coach on Tuesday, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Monday on condition of anonymity because Memphis hasn’t publicly announced the hire. Memphis has scheduled a news conference for Tuesday.
The 46-year-old Hardaway replaces Tubby Smith, who was fired after going 40-26 in two seasons with Memphis.
Hardaway is a fourtime NBA All-Star and three-time AllNBA player who will be making his college coaching debut with the Tigers. He has been coaching for years with his own AAU program, Team Penny, and won his third straight Tennessee high school championship at Memphis East last weekend.
Purdue center Isaac Haas appears to be done for the season even if Purdue’s medical team or its crack engineering department can create an elbow brace that allows him to play in the NCAA Tournament.
Even if the NCAA approves a protective device for Haas’ fractured right elbow, coach Matt Painter said, there are still limitations and it wouldn’t be beneficial for Haas’ health.
“He had the best brace you can have and he couldn’t shoot right-handed free throws with it,” Painter said. “He wants to play. But at the end of the day, you have to put people out there who can help you.”
The 7-foot-2, 290pound Haas was injured during the second half of last Friday’s win over Cal State Fullerton when he crashed hard to the floor while fighting for a rebound. The next day, the Boilermakers’ trainers and doctors fitted him with a bulky brace, which allowed Haas to run with his teammates at practice. The NCAA, however, disallowed the contraption out of safety concerns for other players.
Kermit Davis, who spent 16 seasons at Middle Tennessee, was introduced as Mississippi coach. Davis, 58, replaces Andy Kennedy, who coached Ole Miss for 12 seasons and was the winningest coach in program history before he resigned with two weeks left in a disappointing season. OKLAHOMA STATE 71, STANFORD 65: Jeffrey Carroll scored 26 points and tied a career-high with five three-pointers, Kendall Smith added 19 points and Oklahoma State (21-14) beat Stanford (19-16) in a second-round game in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The Cowboys outscored the Cardinal 29-18 in the fourth quarter. They trailed 54-53 before Carroll scored five points during a 12-1 run for the only double-digit lead of the second half. Michael Humphrey scored 15 points and grabbed 20 rebounds for Stanford.
UTAH 95, LSU 71: Sedrick Barefield led five starters in double figures with 17 points and Utah (21-11) hit 14 three-pointers en route to a second-round victory over LSU (18-15) in Salt Lake City. The Utes built a 21-point first-quarter lead after a 19-2 run, with eight points from Barefield. The Utes’ lead reached 27 points in the second quarter. Tremont Waters had 19 points, eight assists and four steals for LSU.