Memphis has confirmed via press release that the Tigers will face John Calipari and the Arkansas Razorbacks on Oct. 27 in the second annual Hoops for St. Jude Tip Off Classic. It will be the first of two preseason games for Memphis, adding yet another opportunity against a team that made the NCAA Tournament last year.
“The Tip Off Classic is more than a game,” said Ike Anand, who is the president and CEO of ALSAC, which is the fundraising arm for St. Jude. “It’s a powerful expression of what can happen when a community unites to hoop for hope. 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.”
When the Razorbacks tip off against the Tigers, it will mark the first time Calipari has returned to the Bluff City since he left Memphis to coach Kentucky in 2009. Calipari led Memphis to great heights during the 2000s, highlighted by the 2008 run to the national championship game.
The preseason event is a doubleheader with Memphis women’s basketball, which will play Vanderbilt, to raise money for St. Jude. Last year, the Tigers faced North Carolina, falling to the Tar Heels 84-76. Both games will air on ESPNU, with the women’s game scheduled for 5:30 p.m. ET and the men’s game for 8 p.m. ET.
