Arkansas head coach John Calipari will make a much-anticipated return to FedEx Forum on Oct. 27 when the Razorbacks face Memphis in the Hoops for St. Jude Tip Off Classic presented by Bad Boy Mowers. The event benefits St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and will air on ESPNU. The game will tip off at 8:00 PM.
Arkansas basketball exhibition vs Memphis will be televised
Calipari’s connection to Memphis runs deep. He served as the Tigers’ head coach from 2000 to 2009, compiling a 252-69 record. His teams won seven league titles, made six NCAA Tournament appearances, including a national runner-up finish and four Sweet 16s, and captured the 2002 NIT championship. He coached future NBA stars such as Derrick Rose, Dajuan Wagner, Rodney Carney, Shawne Williams, and Tyreke Evans, producing seven All-Americans and 22 all-conference selections.
After the announcement that John Calipari and Arkansas will be playing in the St. Jude Classic the former Tigers Head Coach talked about how much this city means to him.
— Griffin S. DeMarrais (@GDeMarraisTV) September 2, 2025
"I want the school to do well... the city of Memphis is a special place"@WMCActionNews5 pic.twitter.com/XcGkIzGxZD
On the other sideline, former NBA star Penny Hardaway has built an impressive resume of his own since taking over the Tigers in 2018. He’s posted a 162-68 record, led Memphis to three NCAA Tournament appearances in four seasons, and captured the 2023 and 2025 AAC Tournament titles—the program’s first since 2013.
Arkansas hasn’t played in Memphis since the 2002-03 season, when the Razorbacks rolled 90-73. The all-time series is dead even at 11-11, with Memphis taking the most recent matchup in the 2023 Battle for Atlantis, 84-79.
“The Tip Off Classic is more than a game. It’s a powerful expression of what can happen when a community unites to hoop for hope,” said Ike Anand, CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising organization for St. Jude.