Skip navigation

Memphis upgrades schedule with Georgetown

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

John Calipari
Eric Gay / AP
Memphis coach John Calipari says he upgraded his team's schedule by adding a four-game, home-and-home series with Georgetown.
INTERACTIVE
1992 Olympics:USAB
Which Final Four school has the best alumni?
Check out the big names from each school and vote for your favorite.
Slideshow
NCAA Sweet 16: Arizona Wildcats v Louisville Cardinals
  Three cheers for Madness
Take a look at cheerleaders in action during the NCAA tournament and more.

more photos

updated 7:28 p.m. ET June 14, 2007

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.

Story continues below ↓
advertisement | your ad here

“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.

Slide show
Image: Johnny Magallon, Jorge Luis Garces
  The Week in Sports Pictures
Manny messes up, the Tour takes off to Spain, Nomar returns 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.

© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Sponsored links