Memphis Hosts Arkansas, John Calipari in St. Jude Exhibition

Memphis basketball will host Arkansas and former Tigers coach John Calipari on October 27 at the FedExForum in the second annual Hoops For St. Jude Tip-Off Classic, a doubleheader benefiting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. This game marks Calipari's first return to Memphis as a visiting coach since leaving the Tigers in 2009, and it will be the first time he faces Memphis as the Arkansas coach. The event also features a women's game between Memphis and Vanderbilt, with all proceeds supporting St. Jude. Calipari spent nine successful seasons coaching Memphis before moving to Kentucky, and he has expressed interest in renewing the rivalry, requesting that all former players he coached be welcomed back for the game. The men's game will tip off at 8 p.m. CT and be televised on ESPNU, while the women's game starts earlier at 5:30 p.m. CT. Memphis will showcase a new roster led by Penny Hardaway, while Arkansas features players with ties to Memphis, adding to the intrigue of the matchup.