Penny For Your UK Thoughts

Being so long dominant in the SEC, Kentucky fans have a tough time with teams or coaches who look as if they could push or supersede them. Since 1992, it’s mostly been Duke with Christian Laettner slipping a shiv between those Wildcat ribs that they’ve never gotten over.

Now though UK partisans are turning their fire southwest and aiming squarely at Penny Hardaway and the Memphis program that he took over in March.

Hardaway really annoyed Kentucky fans when DJ Jeffries decommitted even though he hasn’t yet announced for Memphis. He’s widely expected to though.

And worse, big man James Wiseman, who was seen for a long time as a near lock for Kentucky, may choose Memphis to be with his buddy Jeffries.

Is it enough to suggest that Memphis is about to supplant Kentucky?

Well no.

Kentucky is still Kentucky and will be Kentucky whenever Calipari leaves. If UK hires another Billy Gillispie to replace him, they’ll just fire him and look for a powerhouse coach.

They'd be happy to hire Hardaway if he is the best candidate and they'd flip to embrace him in about 20 seconds.

Meanwhile, as long as he’s at Memphis and recruiting well, Kentucky fans can focus their wrath and insecurities on Penny. And that would be just fine by most Duke fans.