As widespread speculation surrounding the Pac-12's courtship of the University of Memphis stretched into a second week, Memphis basketball coach Penny Hardaway was feeling diplomatic Monday.

Penny Hardaway's new Memphis basketball team went through its first official, full-fledged practice early Monday morning.

It isn't often a team's coach ( Penny Hardaway, in this case) hands out a handful of pink slips exactly two months before the regular season tips off, then sees that same coach accused of major NCAA violations in a widely circulated anonymous letter.

I’m loyal to where I’m at,” Hardaway said. “Obviously, the AAC is a better conference than people are giving it credit for.”

Memphis basketball coach Penny Hardaway reacted to the news of the school's decision to remain in the AAC in an interview with The C Appeal.

After a tumultuous week where Memphis basketball has made national headlines, Penny Hardaway defended his program in an interview.