MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis men’s basketball team will host No. 14/15 Arkansas Monday at FedExForum in the Hoops for St. Jude Tip-Off Classic presented by Bad Boy Mowers, benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
The game marks the first exhibition of the season for the Tigers and the return of former Memphis head coach John Calipari to the FedExForum sidelines for the first time since 2009. Note: Calipari did lead kentucky into the 2017 Elite Eight at FedExForum, falling to eventual national champion North Carolina on a Luke Maye buzzer beater.
The event will feature a doubleheader, as the Memphis women’s team faces Vanderbilt in the opening game. Tipoff for the men’s matchup between the Tigers and Razorbacks is scheduled for 8 p.m.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.”
As part of Calipari’s reunion to Memphis, more than 30 of his former Tigers will be in attendance and the group will be welcomed on the court in a pregame ceremony just before the 8 p.m. tipoff.
Memphis has won at least 20 games in all seven seasons under head coach Penny Hardaway. Entering his eighth year, the Memphis native faces one of his biggest challenges yet after replacing every player from last season’s 29-6 team that swept both the American Conference regular season and tournament titles.
Reigning American Coach of the Year Hardaway and his staff retooled the roster with 15 newcomers, including 13 division I transfers. The group’s talent and depth helped memphis earn the preseason favourite nod from the league’s head coaches, receiving 143 total points and 11-of-13 first-place votes. (Teams could not vote for themselves.)
Last season, the Tigers recorded three victories over Associated Press Top 25 opponents, including wins against No.2 UConn (99-97) in the Maui Invitational, at No.16 Clemson (87-82) and at home versus No. 16 Ole Miss (87-70). Memphis also collected nonconference wins over Missouri (83-75), Michigan State (71-63) and virginia (64-62).
Hardaway has assembled another challenging schedule for 2025-26. Memphis will play two exhibition games against AP Top 20 opponents – no. 14 Arkansas and No. 20 Auburn – before road matchups at Ole Miss (Nov. 11), No. 11 Louisville (Dec. 13) and Mississippi State (Dec. 20). The Tigers will also host Baylor (Dec. 6) and Vanderbilt (Dec. 17), and compete in the Baha Mar Championship.
Memphis Tigers Men’s Basketball: Key Facts and Figures (2024-2025 Season)
Here’s a look at key statistics and information surrounding the Memphis Tigers men’s basketball program as of October 26, 2024:
* 21.7: The average points per game scored by Memphis during the 2023-24 season. https://gotigersgo.com/sports/mens-basketball/stats/2023-24/team-stats
* 3: Memphis is one of only three programs nationally to have won at least 18 games in each of the last 24 seasons (since 2000-01), alongside Kansas and Gonzaga.
* 14: Under head coach Penny Hardaway, the Tigers have a 14-10 record against Southeastern Conference (SEC) opponents over seven seasons.They have been especially strong recently, going 10-4 against SEC teams in the last three seasons.
* 15: The Memphis roster features 15 newcomer additions for the 2024-25 season, with 13 being transfers from Division I programs.
* 739: The Memphis Tigers collectively boast 739 games of Division I experience among their 15 players. Five players have played in 80 or more games: Tariq Ingrham (98 games), Zach Davis (95 games), Dug McDaniel (92 games), Thierno Sylla (84 games), and Sincere Parker (83 games). https://gotigersgo.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster
* 64-3: The Tigers have an notable 64-3 record under Penny Hardaway when shooting 50% or better from the field.
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