Skip navigation
Site powered by
Latest news:
msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines: Grammys open with prayer for Whitney Houston

Memphis upgrades schedule with Georgetown

Looking for stronger opponents, Calipari lands 4-game series with Hoyas

John CalipariAP
Memphis coach John Calipari says he upgraded his team's schedule by adding a four-game, home-and-home series with Georgetown.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Memphis coach John Calipari heard enough about how weak his Tigers’ schedule became once they began Conference USA play. He is doing everything possible to counter that complaint.

Memphis announced Thursday a four-game, home-and-home series with Georgetown over the next five years with the first game being played at the Tigers’ FedExForum.

The Tigers will postpone a game with Mississippi one season so the series can begin this year. Memphis won’t play the Rebels again until 2008-09 in Memphis and 2009-10 in Oxford.

“This Georgetown game adds to what was already a great home schedule,” Calipari said in a statement. “I, too, want to thank Mississippi head coach Andy Kennedy for working with us, and I appreciate his help.”

Georgetown lost to Ohio State in the Final Four and finished 30-7 last season. Memphis went 33-4, losing in the regional semifinals for a second straight season.

Memphis will visit Georgetown in the 2008-09 season with the series taking a break in 2009-10 before the Hoyas visit Memphis in 2010-11 with the Tigers going back to Georgetown the next season.

“This Georgetown game is a big event, and I’m sure it will be on national television, which allows us to showcase our university, city and basketball program,” Memphis athletic director R.C. Johnson said.

Slideshow
Image: Snee, 8, son of New York Giants player Chris Snee and head coach Coughlin's grandson plays in the confetti after the New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots in the NFL Super Bowl XLVI football game in Indianapolis
  The Week in Sports Pictures
The Giants on top of the football world, getting ready for the London Olympics and more.

more photos

The Tigers already will be hosting Arizona, Tennessee and Gonzaga this season, which should seriously boost a strength of schedule that ranked 39th nationally at the end of last season. Calipari said it may be the best home schedule in Memphis history.

“With our home games along with playing in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic and the Jimmy V Classic, we quite possibly have the nation’s toughest schedule,” Calipari said.

© 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

advertisement
More news
Image: Keith Appling, Branden Dawson, Brandon Wood
AP
Spartans take big step forward

Arc's five up, five down: After No. 11 Michigan State's 58-48 upset of No. 3 Ohio State, you'd be a fool to discount the Spartans' national title chances now.

Jordan Morgan, Meyers Leonard
AP
No. 22 Michigan beats Illinois

Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 15 points and Evan Smotrycz added 13, helping No. 22 Michigan remain unbeaten at home with a 70-61 win over Illinois on Sunday.

Slideshow
Florida v Kentucky
  College hoops power rankings
A look at the top teams in college basketball based on performance and potential.

NBCSports.com

College basketball videos
San Diego State v UNLV
Getty Images
Highlights: No. 14 UNLV 65, No. 13 SDSU 63
Mike Moser scored 19 points, and UNLV forced three turnovers in the final 42 seconds to win.

Slideshow
Western Kentucky v Louisville
  Three cheers for college hoops
Take a look at cheerleaders in action from around the country.

NBCSports.com