Calkins: Penny Hardaway gets a thrilling win — and more evidence that this team might be the one he needs.
University of Memphis forward Rihards Vavers (middle) celebrates with fans after defeating Virginia Commonwealth University on Saturday, November 7, 2026. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)
Geoff Calkins
Geoff Calkins has been chronicling Memphis and Memphis sports for more than two decades. Calkins has been named the best sports columnist in the country five times by the Associated Press sports editors, but still figures his best columns are about the people who make Memphis what it is.
Free throws?
It was going to come down to free throws?
It must be Memphis Tigers basketball season again.
This time it was Jayden Reid at the line. Memphis trailing VCU by a single point. Only 5.7 seconds left.
Reid had just missed a free throw moments earlier. His teammates had been missing them all night.
Now Reid was back at the line again. The 10,312 Memphis fans in the place were all standing, hoping and fearing all at once.
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Memphis Tigers Basketball Memphis vs. VCU Subscriber Only Jayden Reid Penny HardawayThank you for reading The Daily Memphian. Your support is critical.
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