Tennessee Vols 10 biggest stories from January 2019

10. Penny Hardaway continues Rick Barnes feud.

This is No. 10 on the list because it’s news that should have died in January. But Penny Hardaway just won’t let things go. To his credit, he is trying to establish a culture with the Memphis Tigers and wants to rally the team. And it does make this rivalry more interesting.

When new came out a couple of years ago that the Tennessee Vols would renew their rivalry with the Memphis Tigers, it was originally thought the rivalry would be Rick Barnes and Tubby Smith. But Hardaway replacing Smith made for the perfect rivalry of coaches and the two different schools on opposite sides of the state.

Because Tennessee basketball was in a better place, they got the first one in December. We know the story of the players jawing at the end and Hardaway misleading everybody about what happen. The feud was supposed to end in December.

It’s made headlines now because Penny won’t let it go. Hardaway went on ESPN this month and said that Barnes was mocking his players and his staff for being more closely affiliated with the NBA, which nobody said. So, again, this had to make the news. But, to be fair, Penny is taking everything personal and a sign of disrespect. Maybe that’s his thing.

Either way, by not letting a dispute from a December basketball game go away, Penny Hardaway is adding fuel to this rivalry on a daily basis. And his actions in January will only make it more exciting going into next year.