What Penny Hardaway said about reducing Memphis stars PJ Haggerty, Tyrese Hunter’s playing time

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Be prepared for less PJ Haggerty and Tyrese Hunter.

As good as they’ve been for Penny Hardaway, the Memphis basketball coach knows he can’t keep playing his star guards at the same rate.

Halfway through the season, only four players in the country are averaging more minutes per game than Haggerty’s 36.4. Only 33 players have been on the floor more than Hunter, who is averaging 35.1 a game.

“Yeah, we’re going to have to change that,” Hardaway said after the 20th-ranked Tigers (12-3, 2-0 AAC) held on to beat North Texas on Sunday. “And we are. We’re going to change that.”

Hardaway’s remarks came after Haggerty scored 27 points and logged 38:05 in the win over the Mean Green, “which is way too many,” he added. Hunter played 37:42 in the same game.

Memphis is off until Jan. 11 (1 p.m., ESPN+) when it hosts East Carolina at FedExForum.

The Tigers made a midseason move for the second straight December, welcoming former Virginia and former Georgetown guard Dante Harris. One of the primary motivating factors for Hardaway was adding someone to the mix that can help get Haggerty and Hunter off their feet a bit more.

“I was always looking for another guard, because that three-man rotation can’t play 37, 38 minutes a night, and then be fresh for the conference tournament and the NCAA Tournament,” said Hardaway.

Harris, after playing seven minutes against Ole Miss and eight versus FAU, did not play Sunday for precautionary reasons after tweaking his ankle in practice. Utilizing Harris against FAU, along with PJ Carter (12:51) and freshman Jared Harris (8:26), Haggerty (31:01) and Hunter (33:51) were afforded some respite.

Hunter’s spare time on the practice floor this season has stemmed from a knee injury. But Haggerty’s has been more about load management, according to Hardaway. Because he has played so many minutes, the Tigers have not required as much of his time in practice.

Hardaway believes that, too, needs to change.

“I need him to practice. I don’t…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/penny-hardaway-said-reducing-memphis-110749548.html

Author : The Commercial Appeal

Publish date : 2025-01-07 11:07:00

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