Kentucky Basketball: Penny Hardaway wants UK on Memphis Tigers’ schedule

Penny Hardaway was named head basketball coach at Memphis last week, and his hiring has potential to make a splash in college basketball recruiting.

In making his initial media rounds in his new role, it has become obvious that he also wants to make a splash in his scheduling.

In an interview with ESPN’s 929 in Memphis on Monday, Penny talked about who the Memphis Tigers had hoped to add to the schedule in the next few years.

In addition to adding the in-state rival Tennessee Volunteers, he hopes to work with John Calipari to set up a home and home series with the Kentucky Wildcats.

“I’m trying to get a home and home with Cal,” Hardaway said on the show. “Cal promised me if I became a head coach, we’d get something set up.”

I suppose it is possible that Calipari made that comment to Penny, but could that really include the possibility of Kentucky playing at Memphis?

In addition to Calipari’s disdain for playing true road games in the non-conference season, he has not exactly been welcomed back to Memphis with open arms since leaving to coach Kentucky in 2009.

When Calipari was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015, the University of Memphis announced plans to honor Calipari and his contributions to their program. The program was canceled shortly after the announcement, and Memphis played no role in supporting or honoring Calipari for this occasion.

While a home and home is not likely, adding Memphis to the schedule a neutral site could be a great thing for both fan bases and would add to the potential recruiting rivalry between Cal and Penny.

Would you like to see Memphis added to Kentucky’s schedule?