2008-2009 Memphis Tigers Basketball Preview:
Coming off a disappointing loss to Kansas in the Final Four last season, the Memphis Tigers are hungry to take their team all the way to the top one more time. The team has lost about half of its roster, and will have to fight their way to the top without as much depth and experience as last year's team. Head Coach John Calipari isn't going to let the fact that he will be suiting up plenty freshman get him down, because he feels the absolute tenacity of his Tigers team.
MEMPHIS TIGERs TEAM FACTS:
Location: Memphis, Tennessee
Stadium: Conference USA
Rivals: Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles
The Memphis Tigers first fielded a basketball team in 1920, while the school was then known as the West Tennessee State Normal School. The earliest games were played at a local high school, YMCA and in a room on campus known as the Normal Cage for its extremely cramped environment. The Memphis Tigers made the Final Four in 1973, 1985 and 2008, though their 1985 appearance was stripped by the NCAA for infractions against the program and then head coach Dana Kirk. In the 2000's, the Tigers have made a reputation for themselves as one of the teams to beat every year in Conference USA.
The Tigers play their home games at the FedEx Forum in downtown Memphis, Tennessee. The arena is also the home of the Memphis Grizzlies NBA franchise. Along with basketball, the arena hosts ice hockey games, concerts and special entertainment events. The interior of the FedEx Forum was designed to reflect the rich tradition of music that envelops the city, and there are several paintings and murals that depict famous musicians from the area.
See Also:
Memphis Tigers Football Tickets