Hardaway hopes Tigers get tested in Bahamas
Sun. Sand. Smiles.
Sure, Memphis basketball coach Penny Hardaway wants plenty of that for his Tigers when they travel to the Bahamas on a seven-day excursion designed to promote plenty of fun and team bonding.
The basketball? Eh, Hardaway would rather Memphis’ four exhibition games – against a collection of Bahamasbased professional teams – not go quite as swimmingly as everything else. Speaking to reporters Tuesday, less than a week before the team departs for Nassau, Hardaway was frank in response to the specific goals he has set for the foreign tour.
“I wish every game will be like a knockdown, drag-out, physical deal, where the refs are allowing us to play,” the second-year Tigers coach said. “And see how our guys respond to that. If you go and beat everybody by 30, 40 points, or whatever, I don’t know, I’m just saying, then guys might get a false sense of what it’s really like.”
Tasked with giving Memphis the stiff competition Hardaway is looking for will be Commonwealth Bank Giants (4 p.m. Aug. 14), the Bahamas National Team (4 p.m. Aug. 17) and Raw Talent Elite (11 a.m. Aug. 18). The fourth opponent, which will go up against Memphis at 4 p.m. Aug. 15, is still to be determined.
If recent history is any indication, the Tigers won’t have to wait long to find out how they handle adversity. The Commonwealth Bank Giants, who have won back-to-back New Providence Basketball Association championships, nearly pulled off an upset win over Temple last week before beating Mcneese State on Sunday.
The sophomore is competing for carries in a crowded running back group behind Patrick Taylor.
The 5-foot-11, 178-pound Watkins was the Offensive Player of the Year for the scout team last season. He was impressive during spring practice as both a ball carrier and a pass catcher, which didn’t surprise running backs coach Anthony Jones Jr.
Jones faced Watkins twice in 2016 when he was the coach at Cordova, and both times, Whitehaven won with Watkins rushing for 238 and 149 yards.
“When I watched him in high school, I was in shock,” Jones said. “Now I see it on a daily basis.”
Watkins and Kenneth Gainwell dominated most of the carries in the spring game, and Watkins has cited his fellow tailback for helping him become more aggressive. During his high school career, Watkins relied more on finesse and speed.
He still has his speed, but he’s adjusting to be in attack mode like he sees from Gainwell.
“I can’t just turn it on like that,” Watkins said. “Somebody has to make me mad or I get hit real hard. I’m really trying to have it at all times when I step on the field.”
Watkins always admired hometown favorites like Anthony Miller, Mose Frazier and Tony Pollard. Now he hopes to be next in line.
“He has earned everything that he’s gotten so far,” Jones said. “It wouldn’t shock me that he has an unbelievable season.”
You can reach Tigers football beat writer Evan Barnes on Twitter (@Evan_b) or by email at evan.barnes@commercialappeal.com