MEMPHIS BASKETBALL'S HOME NONCONFERENCE SCHEDULE
The Memphis basketball program will face one Sweet 16 team and a pair of National Invitation Tournament qualifiers as part of its home nonconference schedule this season.
The Tigers will host SEC champion Alabama on Dec. 14 as part of the schedule released Tuesday. Memphis also will face Saint Louis (Nov. 16) and Western Kentucky (Nov. 19), which joined the Tigers in the NIT last season.
Alabama won the regular-season and SEC tournament titles last season. Despite losing three of its top five scorers, the Crimson Tide – which added 5-star signee JD Davison – is ranked No. 11 in CBS Sports' current preseason rankings.
“We've put together a challenging home schedule to start the season,” coach Penny Hardaway said in a news release. “These first couple of months will certainly help prepare our team for conference play, and we are excited to play in front of Tiger Nation at Fedexforum.”
The Tigers lost to Western Kentucky during the early season Crossover Classic in South Dakota. Hardaway's squad, which won the NIT last season, will also host Saint Louis. The Billikens have former Memphis player Jordan Nesbitt on its roster, and Memphis recently hired strength coach Robb Hornett, who had held the position at Saint Louis the past three seasons.
Memphis also announced the opponents for its home exhibition games. The Tigers will face Lemoyne-owen on Oct. 24 and Lane College (playing under first-year coach and former Memphis star Andre Turner) on either Oct. 30 or 31. Some nonconference dates have not been finalized, including a road trip to Georgia.
The Tigers are expected to add one or two more nonconference games at a later date.
Here is a breakdown of the portion of the nonconference schedule that has been announced.
Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles
Location: Fedexforum (Nov. 9) 2020-21 record: 5-22 overall (0-16 away), 0-7 nonconference
Final Kenpom rating: 313 Conference: OVC
Averages: 66.6 points, 33.6 rebounds per game last season
Coach: John Pelphrey (third season at Tennessee Tech)
North Carolina Central Eagles
Location: Fedexforum (Nov. 13) 2020-21 record: 5-9 overall (0-6 away), 2-4 nonconference
Final Kenpom rating: 330 Conference: MEAC
Averages: 67.3 points, 31.9 rebounds Coach: Levelle Moton (13th season at North Carolina Central)
Saint Louis Billikens
Location: Fedexforum (Nov. 16) 2020-21 record: 14-7 overall (1-4 away), 8-3 nonconference
Final Kenpom rating: 53 Conference: A-10
Averages: 75 points, 38.6 rebounds Coach: Travis Ford (sixth season at Saint Louis)
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
Location: Fedexforum (Nov. 19) 2020-21 record: 21-8 overall (5-3 away), 10-5 nonconference
Final Kenpom rating: 99 Conference: Conference USA Averages: 72.7 points, 37.7 rebounds
Coach: Rick Stansbury (sixth season at WKU)
Virginia Tech Hokies
Location: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, N.Y. at the NIT Season Tip-off (Nov. 24)
2020-21 record: 15-7 overall (3-3 away), 6-3 nonconference
Final Kenpom rating: 52 Conference: ACC
Averages: 72 points, 34.5 rebounds Coach: Mike Young (third season at Virginia Tech)
Iowa State Cyclones or Xavier Musketeers
Location: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, N.Y. at NIT Season Tip-off (Nov. 26)
2020-21 records: Iowa State: 2-22 overall (0-1 neutral), 2-4 nonconference; Xavier: 13-8 overall (0-1 neutral), 7-1 nonconference
Final Kenpom rating: 171 (ISU); 66 (Xavier)
Conferences: Big 12 (ISU); Big East (Xavier)
Averages: ISU: 65.6 points, 31.6 rebounds; Xavier: 74.8 points, 34.6 rebounds
Coaches: T.J. Otzelberger (first season at ISU); Travis Steele (fourth season at Xavier)
Ole Miss Rebels
Location: The Pavilion at Ole Miss (Dec. 4)
2020-21 record: 16-12 overall (10-4 home), 6-4 nonconference
Final Kenpom rating: 51 Conference: SEC
Averages: 68.8 points, 36.6 rebounds
Coach: Kermit Davis (third season at Ole Miss)
Murray State Racers
Location: Fedexforum (Dec. 10 or 11) 2020-21 record: 13-13 overall (4-8 away), 3-3 nonconference
Final Kenpom rating: 173 Conference: OVC
Averages: 76.4 points, 36.1 rebounds Coach: Matt Mcmahon (seventh season at Murray State)
Alabama Crimson Tide
Location: Fedexforum (Dec. 14) 2020-21 record: 26-7 overall (7-3 away), 10-5 nonconference
Final Kenpom rating: 9 Conference: SEC
Averages: 79.7 points, 40.7 rebounds
Coach: Nate Oats (third season at Alabama)
Tennessee Volunteers
Location: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville (Dec. 18)
2020-21 record: 18-9 overall (1-2 neutral), 8-2 nonconference
Final Kenpom rating: 28
Conference: SEC
Averages: 71.9 points, 35.9 rebounds Coach: Rick Barnes (seventh season at Tennessee)
Alabama State Hornets
Location: Fedexforum (Dec. 21) 2020-21 record: 4-14 overall (1-8 away), 0-0 nonconference
Final Kenpom rating: 354 Conference: SWAC
Averages: 64.2 points, 36.3 rebounds
Coach: Mo Williams (second season at Alabama State)
Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @munzly.