July 19, 2007

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Tiger fans already know most of the 2007-08 men's basketball opponents, and on Thursday, the dates of Memphis' non-Conference USA portion of the slate were released. The entire schedule, along with times and television, will be announced later.

The Tigers tip off the 2007-08 college basketball season Nov. 5 when they host the Memphis Regional first round of the 2K College Hoops Classic (Benefitting Coaches vs. Cancer) at FedExForum. The 2K Classic second round follows on Nov. 6.

Other teams participating in the Memphis Regional are to be announced. Other 2K Classic regional sites are Connecticut, Kentucky and Oklahoma. The classic's semifinals and final are to be played Nov. 15-16 at New York City's Madison Square Garden, a familiar venue for the Tigers in the John Calipari era.

Memphis makes a return trip to Madison Square Garden Dec. 4 when it meets Southern Cal in one game of the Jimmy V Classic doubleheader. The Tigers also play a neutral-site contest versus Middle Tennessee at the Sommet Center in Nashville Dec. 15.

Memphis' lone true non-conference road game is a Dec. 19 contest at Cincinnati.

In addition to the 2K Classic region in early November, the Tigers may have the best home non-league schedule in the program's history with Arizona (Dec. 29), Georgetown (Dec. 22), Gonzaga (Jan. 26) and Tennessee (Feb. 23) all visiting FedExForum. All four teams were 2007 NCAA Tournament participants and all are ranked in ESPN.com's summer top-25 poll (Georgetown, No. 5; Tennessee, No. 10; Gonzaga, No. 15; Arizona, No. 20).

The Feb. 23 in-state rival match-up with Tennessee will bring ESPN's Gameday crew back to the Bluff City. ESPN Gameday came to Memphis in February 2005 when the Tigers clashed with Louisville.

Memphis also has home non-league dates with Arkansas State (Nov. 20), Austin Peay (Nov. 27 or 28), Siena (Jan. 3) and Pepperdine (Jan. 5). The Tigers have one exhibition date slated against Christian Brothers Nov. 12.

Although the C-USA schedule will be released later, the Tigers know their home and road conference contests. Memphis plays home-and-home series with Houston, SMU, Southern Miss, Tulsa and UAB. The Tigers host East Carolina, UCF and UTEP, while playing on the road at Marshall, Rice and Tulane.

2007-08 Memphis Basketball Non-League Schedule
Nov. 5-6 2K College Hoops Classic FedExForum
Benefitting Coaches vs. Cancer
Nov. 12 Christian Brothers (Exhibition) FedExForum
Nov. 15-16 2K College Hoops Classic New York, N.Y.
Benefitting Coaches vs. Cancer
Nov. 20 Arkansas State FedExForum
Nov. 27 or Austin Peay FedExForum
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Dec. 4 vs. Southern Cal (Jimmy V Classic) New York, N.Y.
Dec. 15 vs. Middle Tennessee Nashville, Tenn.
Dec. 19 at Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio
Dec. 22 Georgetown FedExForum
Dec. 29 Arizona FedExForum
Jan. 3 Siena FedExForum
Jan. 5 Pepperdine FedExForum
Jan. 26 Gonzaga FedExForum
Feb. 23 Tennessee (ESPN Gameday) FedExForum
Mar. 12-15 Conference USA Tournament FedExForum