Penny Hardaway calls Rick Barnes ‘low class’ in tirade during Tuesday press conference

Memphis head coach Penny Hardaway is still very upset, it appears. Tennessee went to Memphis and beat his Tigers last Saturday in a physical contest. Everything appeared to be fine until Jordan Bone and Alex Lomax starting jawing at each other. That led to Hardaway claiming that Tennessee came over “with their fists balled up” ready to fight.

Rick Barnes poked some fun at Hardaway’s comments last night, but Penny took the entire situation to another level today. Check out his comments via the Commercial Appeal today.

“If you just watch the film I’m not making anything up. We even had it on the phone. I don’t know who Rick Barnes thinks I am but I’m not a dude that’s going to mess around about anything. I just call it like I see it. No matter how he’s trying to make things seem and I think its kind of low class how he’s trying to downgrade my guys for flopping and all that. Man, come on, give me a break”

Here’s a look at all the Memphis flopping from Saturday. Maybe Penny skipped this part of the film.

“I don’t have to when a coach disrespects my team. I’m going to stay respectful as long as I have to but Rick Barnes is doing a little bit too much. He really is.”

Does this add to the rivalry?

“Oh, absolutely it does. I think it’s more something that on the page of maybe the recruiting that we have to do in the state. Maybe he wants to get the upper hand on me or whatever. … I have no complaints about anything else I just called it like I saw it and the comments that he made about my team when it comes to the flopping and all that. That’s low class. I would never do that to another team.”

Did you have a relationship with him before?

“No. Never had one. Don’t need one. He’s good. He’s a legendary coach in this game.”

Once Hardaway’s interview concluded Hardaway said, “Rick Barnes, get the (expletive) out of here.”

Talk about low class, huh?