John Calipari says Arkansas, Memphis basketball discuss exhibition game

John Calipari might soon be coaching inside FedExForum again, facing off against Memphis basketball coach Penny Hardaway.

The Arkansas coach − who spent nine seasons with the Tigers, leading the program to the national championship game in 2008 − broke some big news May 13 for a One Razorback Roadshow fan event at Ghost River Brewery.

Calipari told reporters his current and former programs have discussed playing an exhibition game ahead of the 2025-26 season in conjunction with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

“We talked about an exhibition game, and I think that would be something with St. Jude’s involved,” Calipari said. “If they could bring back my players and do something that celebrated that group, I’d have great interest in that.”

In October 2024, the Memphis men’s team hosted North Carolina while the women’s team hosted South Carolina as part of the inaugural Hoops For St. Jude Tip-Off Classic.

Since Hardaway was hired at his alma mater ahead of the 2018-19 season, he has been outspoken in his desire to schedule Kentucky (when Calipari was the Wildcats’ coach), as well as Arkansas. The Tigers last faced the Razorbacks (with current USC coach Eric Musselman as coach) at the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas in November 2023. Memphis won that game, 84-79.

But, to this point, Calipari has not coached against Memphis, the program he guided to a Sweet 16, a pair of Elite Eight appearances and a spot in the national title game. Among the more prominent Tigers that Calipari coached at Memphis include Derrick Rose, Tyreke Evans, Chris Douglas-Roberts, Joey Dorsey, Antonio Anderson, Shawn Taggart, Willie Kemp and Robert Dozier.

Should Arkansas make the trip to FedExForum, Calipari wouldn’t be the only former Tigers coach back in Memphis during the 2025-26 season. New UNLV coach Josh Pastner, who succeeded Calipari in 2009 and coached the Tigers for seven seasons, returns for a game on Nov. 16.

Other non-conference games set for the 2025-26 season, include two neutral-site games at the Baha Mar Hoops Challenge (Nov. 20-21, Nassau, Bahamas), home games against UNLV (Nov. 16), San Francisco (Nov. 8) and New Orleans (TBD) at FedExForum, as well as road games against Louisville (Dec. 13), Ole Miss (TBD) and Mississippi State (Dec. 20).

Hardaway has signed 11 newcomers since March as part of another major roster reconstruction.

“I think Penny’s doing a great job,” Calipari said. “Having all free agents at the end of every year. And the leagues that are above you are coming down to grab your guys. That doesn’t mean your program is below them. But they’re in a bigger league that has more resources. It just makes it hard, and that’s why I say he’s done a great job.”

Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com, follow him @munzly on X, and sign up for the Memphis Basketball Insider text group.