Memphis basketball is going on the road for 8 straight days. Here’s Penny Hardaway’s secret to success.

Penny Hardaway thought he wouldn’t do it again.

“I never wanna play away from FedExForum that long ever again,” he said on Dec. 14, 2023, after Memphis basketball had played six consecutive road/neutral court games. “It’s gonna be hard for me to do that again.”

Hardaway is technically fulfilling his promise. The Tigers aren’t playing six straight road games this year. They are playing four, though.

Memphis takes on San Francisco at the Chase Center—home of the Golden State Warriors—Thursday (9 p.m., ESPNU). It’ll then participate in this year’s Maui Invitational, which opens with a matchup with back-to-back national champion UConn next Monday. Hardaway’s club also meets either Michigan State or Colorado next Tuesday before concluding the tournament against North Carolina, Auburn, Iowa State or Dayton next Wednesday.

Memphis won’t return to FedExForum until Dec. 4, when it hosts Louisiana Tech.

It’s safe to assume Hardaway somewhat regrets last year’s claim.

“Man, I don’t know what I was doing,” he said Tuesday.

Memphis thrived during last year’s extended road trip—finishing 4-2 with a Battle 4 Atlantis Championship appearance and a victory at Texas A&M, which made the NCAA Tournament.

So, what’s Hardaway’s secret to finding success away from home? Embracing the challenges.

“You’re not seeing any familiarity. You’re not at home. You’re never gonna sleep in your own bed. You’re never gonna have your home crowd. You’re always gonna be outnumbered on the road. We’re gonna see what we’re made of,” Hardaway said. “To me, this is the type of stuff that you live for when you’re a competitor.

“A lot of coaches won’t do this. I’m watching around the country, you might have two great teams play one game and then the rest of the games are mediocre or less than mediocre. We’ve actually had a good game every game and we’re not gonna have a bad game at all in the non-conference [schedule]. It’s just gonna be heavy hitter after heavy hitter—especially these next four.”

Hardaway on adding another player, Tyreek Smith joining Kansas State

Tyreek Smith, who was dismissed by Memphis basketball earlier this month, has found a new home.

The 6-foot-6 forward committed to Kansas State Monday. He plans to redshirt the rest of this season and join the Wildcats in 2024-25. Disputes over both playing time and NIL compensation marred Smith’s brief time as a Tiger, but Hardaway holds no grudges.

“I’m happy for him,” Hardaway said.

Smith’s absence opens another scholarship for Hardaway, and the seventh-year headman might use it to add another player from the transfer portal before December’s deadline. Hardaway acquired former Kansas State forward Nae’Qwan Tomlin last December. Tomlin averaged 14 points and 6 rebounds in 21 games for Memphis.

But Hardaway isn’t necessarily searching for star power this time around. Any potential addition won’t join the Tigers until after the fall semester ends.

“It’s always dangerous, now that I’ve seen it…At the end of the day, more talent can hurt you or help you. Coming in December, it’s always gonna be tough for that young man to try to get in with the guys that have already been here since June. But it’s a chance that you take if you get that opportunity,” Hardaway said. “I think it’s [about] the fit more so than the actual talent. If we see fit, then we’ll probably be like, ‘This can work for us.'”