Martin: Houston has the blueprint Penny’s Tigers need
“Coach Sampson has left the footsteps that I’m walking in. His footsteps going through this thing. He went through his battles and his bruises and his bumps, and now he’s on a high. I’m chasing that,” Penny Hardaway (right) said of coach Kelvin Sampson last March. (AP Photo/George Walker IV, Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)
John Martin
John Martin is a contributing college sports columnist for The Daily Memphian. Martin is a lifelong Memphian who’s covered the Memphis Tigers’ basketball program for more than a decade. Before joining The Daily Memphian team, he was the Memphis beat writer for The Athletic. Currently, he is the co-host of the Jason and John Show on 92.9 FM ESPN, weekdays at 11 a.m. Martin is a graduate of White Station High School and the University of Memphis.
As Memphis basketball lurches into yet another high-stakes offseason, the suggestions for Penny Hardaway have come from every direction. Do this. Don’t do that. Try this. Stop trying that.
The truth is that the answers to every question that Hardaway seeks aren’t very far away at all. Coach Kelvin Sampson led the Tigers’ former conference rival Houston to a victory Sunday night in Hardaway’s home building.
And they won by having the very thing that last season’s Memphis basketball team lacked.
Topics
Subscriber Only Penny Hardaway Memphis Tigers BasketballAre you enjoying your subscription?
Your subscription gives you unlimited access to all of The Daily Memphian’s news, written by nearly 40 local journalists and more than 20 regular freelancers. We work around the clock to cover the issues that impact your life and our community.
You can help us reach more Memphians.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, we provide free news access at K-12 schools, public libraries and many community organizations. We also reach tens of thousands of people through our podcasts, and through our radio and television partnerships – all completely free to everyone who cares about Memphis.
When you subscribe, you get full access to our news. But when you donate, you help us reach all Memphians.
Pay it forward. Make a fully tax-deductible donation to The Daily Memphian today.
Thank you for reading the local news. Thank you for investing in our community.
Related stories
Martin: Sick of watching this Memphis basketball team? So is Penny Hardaway.
What once was the most promising season of Hardaway’s era has turned into the most miserable one – one that fans and players alike seem to be counting down the days on.
Tigers Talk: Upadhyaya and Martin on Memphis’ postseason hopes, loss of Malcolm Dandridge
Parth Upadhyaya and John Martin discuss their level of belief in the Tigers, the team’s postseason fate and the impact of Malcolm Dandridge’s absence.
Martin: These Tigers still want you to believe, so do you?
Wouldn’t it be nice if the Tigers went into conference tournament week on a winning streak continuing Thursday at East Carolina? Wouldn’t it feel like all things are possible? This season can be salvaged.
Want to comment on our stories or respond to others? Join the conversation by subscribing now. Only paid subscribers can add their thoughts or upvote/downvote comments. Our commenting policy can be viewed here.