John Calipari provides update on building 2024-25 non-conference schedule

With somewhat of a roster put together at this point, new Arkansas basketball coach John Calipari can finally work on building a schedule. Although the Razorbacks know their SEC opponents for the upcoming season, including Oklahoma and Texas, the nonconference slate has still yet to be announced.

Calipari was asked about the possibility of adding a potential home-and-home with Memphis, where he coached from 2000-09. The Tigers and Razorbacks met this past year in the Battle 4 Atlantis, with Memphis winning 84-79.

Memphis coach Penny Hardaway has expressed a desire to renew the series with Arkansas, which was a big rivalry in the 90s and early 2000s. Calipari didn’t rule out that possibility, but noted that he is focused first on sorting out national TV appearances.

“You know when I asked to see my team before the press conference, what?” he began. “There was no team. So after I got five guys I felt comfortable that I could start doing other things. I said, ‘let me see the schedule.’ There was no schedule. Now I’m starting from scratch. Gotta get the national stuff done first. We’ve been called by CBS, ESPN and different events. They want us in, but I’ve gotta get through that. Then we’ll look (at) do we want to do any home-and-homes?”

The Tigers and Razorbacks played every season from 1991-92 through 2002-03. However, their Jan. 2, 2003 matchup marked the end of that series for more than two decades until this past season. Now there is a renewed to desire from both sides to revive the rivalry.

Arkansas and Memphis even met in a 1995 Sweet Sixteen classic that went to overtime with the Razorbacks winning 96-91. Given Calipari’s history at Memphis, it seems like something that could be a possibility.

“We’ll see,” Calipari said. “I have fond memories of Memphis and my time there. So we’ll see how it all plays out.”

Memphis is just one possibility for a team that we could see on the nonconference schedule for Arkansas basketball in Calipari’s first season. His status as one of the most successful and well-known coaches in the country is likely to attract many quality opponents.

He also must continue to fill out the roster, which currently has only eight players. The Razorbacks have added four transfers and also have the nation’s No. 2 recruiting class in the according to the On3 Industry Ranking with three incoming freshmen.