Hardaway grades schedule
Memphis coach Penny Hardaway didn't hesitate when asked which college basketball program he would most like to play if a television company gave him his choice of a home-and-home series.
"I don't know if that would be realistic, but any game, we want to play Kentucky," Hardaway said. "We've been talking about it, and I'm going to continue to talk to (John Calipari) about it. Because them, Duke and North Carolina, those are teams you want to play on national TV because it's going to be watched."
None of those blueblood programs made it onto the Tigers' 2018-19 nonconference schedule, but the lineup of opponents was still strong enough for Hardaway to give it a "B" for a grade.
"(I'm) very satisfied (with the nonconference schedule) because we came in late and tried to maneuver some things around to get the schedule, in our minds, a little more competitive," Hardaway said.
Vols back on schedule; could Louisville, Vanderbilt be next?
Part of Hardaway's satisfaction comes from the restoration of the Tigers' home-and-home series against Tennessee, which will travel to Memphis on Dec. 15. At the very least, that
move was a colossal step in the right direction toward renewing some of the team's lost rivalries. Hardaway said he still hopes to bring back games against Louisville, Vanderbilt, Arkansas and Ole Miss.
After all, the first-year coach didn't have much control over the schedule this season anyway. Most of the contracts were signed before he was hired, so his scheduling abilities remain to be seen.
"You can't have the hardest schedule in the country, but you want to have teams that have tournament experience and have been well-known for being in the Top 25 for years," Hardaway said.
Should the Tigers get past Oklahoma State in the first round of the AdvoCare Invitational in November, a potential matchup with Villanova would be a game against one of those perenniallyranked opponents Hardaway referenced.
"First of all, to play Oklahoma State first — that's a Big 12 team— that's unreal," Hardaway said. "To be able to beat those guys and the next game you have is Villanova, that's right up my alley. That's what we love about (the AdvoCare Invitational), you're going to get the opportunity to play some big teams."
It's wise by Hardaway not to circle the date against Villanova before the Tigers take care of the Cowboys, but it would undoubtedly be more comforting if Memphis had one more marquee home matchup guaranteed on its schedule.
Memphis needs interest from ESPN, CBS others
The reality is unless a national television outlet is eager to buy into a homeand-home series, it's not likely to happen.
"TV has the power," Hardaway said. "They can call on other schools and say, 'Hey, we want this matchup.' Most teams are not going to turn down a nationally-televised game. We are definitely not because we want it for our fans, our city, our school and for our players. We want the competition."
Whether the 2018-19 schedule is exactly what Hardaway wanted or not, it's still nothing to take lightly.
The Tigers could potentially face five teams that made the NCAA Tournament last season, and eight teams that made the postseason.
Only two of those games against 2017-18 postseason teams will take place inside FedExForum.
"A lot of coaches wouldn't play the teams that we're going to play in our first year of coaching because you want to kind of build wins," Hardaway said. "I want to compete. It's going to make me work harder; our staff is going to work harder. We know what's ahead of us, it's not an easy schedule. We just have to be prepared."