MBB Preview: Arkansas at Memphis Exhibition – Hoops for St. Jude
Who: #14/15 Arkansas Razorbacks (0-0, 0-0 SEC) Memphis Tigers (0-0, 0-0 AAC)
What: Hoops for St. Jude Tip Off Classic presented by Bad Boy Mowers
When: Monday – Oct. 27 – 8:00 pm (CT)
Where: Memphis, Tenn. • FedExForum (19,200)
How (to follow):
– TV/Stream: ESPNU/Watch ESPN (Mike Corey and Mark Wise)
– Radio: Learfield Razorback Sports Network (Chuck Barrett and Matt Zimmerman)
– Sirius/XM: None
– Live Stats
– Arkansas Game Notes
– Memphis Game Notes
– SEC Men’s Basketball Schedule
FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas head coach John Calipari will return to the FedExForum sidelines on Monday (Oct. 27) when the #14/15 Razorbacks face the Memphis Tigers as part of the Hoops for St. Jude Tip Off Classic presented by Bad Boy Mowers, benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
The matchup is the second of the Razorbacks’ two preseason exhibitions. The game will be a doubleheader with the Memphis women hosting Vanderbilt first. Arkansas and Memphis are set for an 8 pm (CT) tipoff and both games of the doubleheader will be televised on ESPNU.
“The Tip Off Classic is more than a game. It’s a powerful expression of what can happen when a community unites to hoop for hope,” said Ike Anand, President and CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “It’s deeply meaningful to witness these incredible college programs take the court not just to compete, but to champion the mission of St. Jude. The energy in FedExForum, the pride of Memphis, Arkansas, and Vanderbilt, and the generosity of fans fuel the work St. Jude does for children with catastrophic diseases both here and around the world.”
Calipari, who is entering his second season as the Arkansas head coach, served as head coach of the Tigers from 2000 to 2009 and led Memphis to a 252-69 record over his nine seasons. Memphis won seven league titles – posting a 117-25 conference ledger, reached six NCAA Tournaments – including a national runner-up and a total of four Sweet 16s – and a pair of NIT berths, winning the event in 2002 and reaching the Final Four in 2005.
Calipari had a 153-19 record in games played in Memphis during his tenure with the Tigers. (Note, one of the 19 losses came at the hands of the Razorbacks.) Memphis called The Pyramid home for Calipari’s first four years and went 60-9 in the facility. The Tigers moved to the FedEx Forum for the 2004-05 season and Calipari led Memphis to a 93-10 scoresheet over the five seasons. In addition, while the head coach at Kentucky, Calipari played two games in the FedEx Forum and went 1-1, beating UCLA in the NCAA Sweet 16 before falling to North Carolina in the Elite 8.
Among his 50-plus players coached over nine seasons at Memphis were the likes of #1 overall NBA pick Derrick Rose as well as first rounders Dajuan Wagner, Rodney Carney, Shawnee Williams and Tyreke Evans.
Calipari produced seven All-Americans while at Memphis as well as three conference players of the year (Antonio Burks, Rodney Carney and Chris Douglas-Roberts), six conference freshmen of the year (Wagner, Sean Banks, Darius Washington, Williams, Rose and Evans) and a total of 22 all-conference selections.
This game will not count towards the all-time series record. However, Arkansas and Memphis have each won 11 games in the 22-game series. The Tigers won the last meeting, 84-79, in the semifinals of the Battle for Atlantis on Nov. 23, 2023.
The last time Arkansas played in Memphis was the 2002-03 season, which was Coach Calipari’s first year as head coach with the Tigers. Arkansas won, 90-73. (NOTE: The following year, Cal’s Tigers came to Bud Walton Arena and won 72-69.)
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