Sporting News (scroll down for Michael Dixon and even further for the below):

Quote:3. Sporting News releases its all-name team Thursday. Past or present, which player in college hoops history combines the best name with the best play? God Shammgod?

DeCourcy: Well, since you stole that one, thank you very much, I’m going to have to go a little closer to home. My wife and I named our second cat—a stray we adopted from the streets of Memphis—Anfernee “Penny” DeCourcy. So that’s going to be my choice. Hardaway was the most spectacular college player I’ve seen in person. Christian Laettner was better, and Shane Battier had a better career, but Hardaway could do things so few players would even imagine doing.

I ever tell you about the most amazing play I’ve ever seen? Immediately after I moved to Memphis in February 1993, I was assigned to write a sidebar for a Tigers game against Marquette. In the second half, one of Hardaway’s teammates went to the line for a free throw. Hardaway set up in the second position on the right side of the lane. The free throw missed and bounced away to the left. Hardaway spun out of his position, cut along the baseline and knocked the ball loose. It rolled up the court toward the foul line. Hardaway and several others scrambled after it, and Hardaway somehow wound up sitting on the ground with his feet facing the opposite baseline—and the ball in his lap.

Without a glance, without hesitation, Hardaway picked the ball up with his right hand and zipped it over his left shoulder to wide-open teammate Billy Smith, who was standing all alone under the goal. I wondered: Does Hardaway do this sort of thing all the time? When he announced he was ending his college career some weeks later and leaving for the NBA draft, the Commercial Appeal asked him to rate the best plays he’d conjured during his two seasons at what then was known as Memphis State. He picked that play No. 1. It was kind of a relief. If that had seemed routine for him, I’d have wondered if he were human.

I remember that play. Memories...

You just got me on another Youtube binge of Hardaway highlights.

I think it was against Tulane. Time was running out. We had to have a three. Hardaway knew he would be fouled, so he caught the ball jumping out of bounds, shooting the ball before he hit the ground.

Also, the bounce pass alley-oop

Also, the triple (2-3-4?) overtime war at DePaul against Kleinschmidt, both players were almost dead (we won)

Also, also, also

My cat is named Penny as well. It flowed better than DeAngelo the Cat.

(09-25-2013 05:57 PM)aTxTIGER Wrote:  My cat is named Penny as well. It flowed better than DeAngelo the Cat.

What about the behind the back pass to Leon Mitchell against BYU when Leon wasn't even in the picture. Then he had a better one to Jerell Horne where Jerell miss the layup and they still showed the replay.

Or the pass against southwestern Louisiana when after a scramble for a loose ball Penny is sitting on the ground and takes the ball between his legs and pass with his off hand to Anthony Douglass. Good times.

I think there was an article in Esquire magazine that used the word "wormholes" to describe his game, as in breaking apparent laws of space and time as he moved on the court.

Hardaway was just flat out amazing.

(09-25-2013 06:54 PM)tnzazz Wrote:  Hardaway was just flat out amazing.

No doubt. My fraternity brother.

The best was when the Memphis ?Allstars? played a USSR team in the Coliseum. Hardaway was dribbling down court, between the USSR key and half court. He passed the ball ahead with his left hand to his right towards a Memphis player....BUT...the ball went to his left (it was actually in his right hand) and hit Billy Smith for a lay up! Amazing. Wish that was recorded somewhere.

I found this interesting:

"Antonio Barton, guard, Tennessee (from Memphis): There were times during his Memphis career we were convinced he was the best third guard in college basketball. None of those times occurred last season"

"Barton passed for only 29 assists in 433 minutes last year, while firing up 73 missed shots."

"So there’s your goal for Barton: more scoring passes, fewer “I’ll get mine” maneuvers."

I was there. Have a dog named Penny as well.

(09-25-2013 04:23 PM)Derby Wrote:  Sporting News (scroll down for Michael Dixon and even further for the below):

Quote:3. Sporting News releases its all-name team Thursday. Past or present, which player in college hoops history combines the best name with the best play? God Shammgod?

DeCourcy: Well, since you stole that one, thank you very much, I’m going to have to go a little closer to home. My wife and I named our second cat—a stray we adopted from the streets of Memphis—Anfernee “Penny” DeCourcy. So that’s going to be my choice. Hardaway was the most spectacular college player I’ve seen in person. Christian Laettner was better, and Shane Battier had a better career, but Hardaway could do things so few players would even imagine doing.

I ever tell you about the most amazing play I’ve ever seen? Immediately after I moved to Memphis in February 1993, I was assigned to write a sidebar for a Tigers game against Marquette. In the second half, one of Hardaway’s teammates went to the line for a free throw. Hardaway set up in the second position on the right side of the lane. The free throw missed and bounced away to the left. Hardaway spun out of his position, cut along the baseline and knocked the ball loose. It rolled up the court toward the foul line. Hardaway and several others scrambled after it, and Hardaway somehow wound up sitting on the ground with his feet facing the opposite baseline—and the ball in his lap.

Without a glance, without hesitation, Hardaway picked the ball up with his right hand and zipped it over his left shoulder to wide-open teammate Billy Smith, who was standing all alone under the goal. I wondered: Does Hardaway do this sort of thing all the time? When he announced he was ending his college career some weeks later and leaving for the NBA draft, the Commercial Appeal asked him to rate the best plays he’d conjured during his two seasons at what then was known as Memphis State. He picked that play No. 1. It was kind of a relief. If that had seemed routine for him, I’d have wondered if he were human.

I remember that play. Memories...

(09-25-2013 07:20 PM)BHtiger Wrote:  

(09-25-2013 06:54 PM)tnzazz Wrote:  Hardaway was just flat out amazing.

No doubt. My fraternity brother.

I was in high school, and he blew me away. Much like Jordan did at that time in the Pro's.

(09-26-2013 09:05 AM)tnzazz Wrote:  

(09-25-2013 07:20 PM)BHtiger Wrote:  

(09-25-2013 06:54 PM)tnzazz Wrote:  Hardaway was just flat out amazing.

No doubt. My fraternity brother.

I was in high school, and he blew me away. Much like Jordan did at that time in the Pro's.

It sucked being an out-of-town fan back then. I missed a lot.

To this day Penny was the best I've ever seen at the collegiate level. Really a do all player with unbelievable court vision. Hate his NBA career ended the way it did, really takes away from what a fantastic talent he was. When I saw Kevin Durant in person during the playoffs against the Grizz a few years back, it brought back memories of Penny and how he stood out from all the other players on the court. When they are truly great like that, it's hard to miss.

He lost me when he said Laetner was better.

(09-25-2013 05:31 PM)cmt Wrote:  I think it was against Tulane. Time was running out. We had to have a three. Hardaway knew he would be fouled, so he caught the ball jumping out of bounds, shooting the ball before he hit the ground.

Also, the bounce pass alley-oop

Also, the triple (2-3-4?) overtime war at DePaul against Kleinschmidt, both players were almost dead (we won)

Also, also, also

This Tulane play stands out to me. I was in awe that he hit that shot. C-L-U-T-C-H.

I have always like Mike, but this line just 100% wrong. Christian Laettner was better, and Shane Battier had a better career.

Not in this universe, Penny would smoke either one of guys.

Laettner couldn't carry Penny's jock. Battier was good, but not in Penny's league.

He must be grading Laettner on the white guy curve.