Date for exhibition between Arkansas and Memphis set, per report

Arkansas men’s head basketball coach John Calipari and Memphis head coach Penny Hardaway discussed the possibility earlier this summer of an exhibition match between their programs.

It was reported on Monday by Hitmen Hoops that a showdown between the neighboring state programs is scheduled for Oct. 28.

It will be played at the FedEx Forum in Memphis and will also be Calipari’s first time to play Memphis since he left the Tigers for Kentucky in 2009.

NEWS: The Memphis vs. Arkansas basketball exhibition game will take place on Tuesday, October 28th at FedEx Forum, per a source.

Exciting game for Memphis fans as John Calipari makes his first appearance against Memphis since leaving for the Kentucky HC job in 2009. https://t.co/pXubcThskB pic.twitter.com/uLaT1fVNwp

— Hitmen Hoops (@HitmenHoops) August 18, 2025

Arkansas won its exhibition game against 2024-2025 preseason No. 1 Kansas 85-69 in Bud Walton Arena last fall in what was Calipari’s first contest as the Razorbacks’ head coach.

Memphis finished the 2024-2025 season with an overall record of 29-6, including 16-2 in American Athletic Conference play, before the Tigers were upset by Colorado State in the Round of 64.

While this game will not count towards win-loss records, the Tigers are one of the many enticing showdowns for the Hogs in 2025-2026 that will also feature a neutral game against Duke on Nov. 27 in Chicago, Louisville in the SEC/ACC Challenge on Dec. 3 at Bud Walton Arena, plus other neutral contests against Texas Tech in Dallas (Dec. 13) and Houston in Brooklyn (Dec. 20).