The University of Memphis men’s basketball team officially released their non-conference schedule for the 2024-25 season on Tuesday afternoon.
This non-conference slate sets up to be the hardest of Penny Hardaway’s tenure and may turn out to be the hardest put together in program history.
Memphis plays four road games, at minimum seven power conference teams, and is a part of a loaded field in the premier Thanksgiving week tournament, the Maui Invitational.
While there are many premier games on this schedule, the most notable will come in Hawaii, where Hardaway and his team will have a shot at the two-time defending national champions, the UConn Huskies, to open the Maui Invitational. After UConn, Memphis will play either Colorado or Michigan St., followed up with a game against North Carolina, Iowa St., Auburn, or Dayton.
Memphis welcomes three SEC opponents into FedExForum this year as well. The season opens against Missouri on November 4, and the non-conference schedule closes with Mississippi St. on December 21 and Ole Miss on December 28 at home.
Memphis also returns two home and home games from last season, as they will play ACC foes Clemson and Virginia on the road. Memphis beat both teams last year during their 15-2 start to the season.
While the conference schedule has not been released, it is known who Memphis will play. The Tigers will face UAB, FAU, Rice, USF, Temple, and Wichita St. at home and on the road, ECU, Tulsa, and North Texas only at home, and Charlotte, UTSA, and Tulane only on the road
The Tigers’ roster has been completely overhauled from last season, with only one returner, forward Nicholas Jourdain. However, Hardaway brought in a massive transfer class, headlined by reigning AAC freshman of the year PJ Haggerty from Tulsa, Texas starting guard Tyrese Hunter, and Illinois big man Dain Dainja.
Memphis will play two charity exhibitions before officially starting the season. The first is a part of the St. Jude Tip Off Classic in Memphis against North Carolina on October 15, and the second is against Alabama in Huntsville on October 28.
