Memphis Coach Penny Hardaway Upset Over Utah State's Late Dunk

Hardaway criticized the Aggies' sportsmanship after a blowout win over his Tigers team.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Memphis head coach Penny Hardaway was visibly upset in the postgame handshake line after Utah State guard MJ Collins Jr. slammed home a windmill dunk in the final seconds of the Aggies' 99-75 victory over the Tigers. Hardaway felt the late dunk was disrespectful, but Utah State coach Jerrod Calhoun defended the play, saying they have to maximize every possession to boost their NCAA Tournament resume.

Why it matters

The incident highlights the ongoing debate around sportsmanship and whether teams should stop scoring late in blowout games. Hardaway's criticism also shines a light on the challenges mid-major programs like Utah State face in building a strong NCAA Tournament resume.

The details

In the final seconds of the game, with Utah State already leading by 22 points, MJ Collins Jr. threw down a flashy windmill dunk that brought the home crowd to their feet. Hardaway was visibly upset in the handshake line afterward, exchanging words with Collins and the Utah State coaching staff. Hardaway later said on the radio, "You can't keep scoring the ball. You've just gotta have some type of class -- seriously."

  • The incident occurred immediately following the final buzzer of the February 15, 2026 game between Memphis and Utah State.

The players

Penny Hardaway

The head coach of the Memphis Tigers basketball team.

MJ Collins Jr.

A guard for the Utah State Aggies basketball team who threw down the late dunk that upset Hardaway.

Jerrod Calhoun

The head coach of the Utah State Aggies basketball team, who defended his player's actions after the game.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“You can't keep scoring the ball. You've just gotta have some type of class -- seriously.”

— Penny Hardaway, Memphis Head Coach (Tigers beat writer Parth Upadhyaya)

“So every possession is measured, and we've gotta score the ball there unfortunately. We play by the rules. Those are the rules that KenPom and Bart Torvik and the NCAA Selection Committee want us to play by. I would never have done that to Coach Hardaway (otherwise).”

— Jerrod Calhoun, Utah State Head Coach (Tigers beat writer Parth Upadhyaya)

What’s next

The loss dropped Memphis to 12-13 overall this season. The Tigers will look to bounce back on Thursday when they visit South Florida, while Utah State will host Boise State on Wednesday.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing debate around sportsmanship in college basketball, as well as the challenges mid-major programs face in building strong NCAA Tournament resumes. While Hardaway felt the late dunk was disrespectful, Utah State's coach defended the play as necessary to maximize their scoring opportunities and impress the selection committee.