North Carolina, South Carolina to play Memphis in St. Jude Tip Off Classic

Both basketball programs at Memphis will be taking on some of the nation’s best inside FedExForum early on to begin the upcoming season.

St. Jude announced the matchups for the St. Jude Tip Off Classic in a post on social media on Thursday. Memphis will be playing North Carolina on the men’s side while the Tigers will then face South Carolina on the women’s side.

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The countdown to the first ever Hoops for St. Jude Tip Off Classic is on! 🏀

The University of Memphis Tigers will face off against the North Carolina Tar Heels and the South Carolina Gamecocks in support of kids at St. Jude. 🔗https://t.co/klwuqYeODV pic.twitter.com/SGXRWvx4AG

— St. Jude (@StJude) September 12, 2024

“The Hoops for St. Jude Tip Off classic is a powerful example of what can be achieved when sports, compassion, and a shared commitment come together,” said Richard C. Shadyac Jr., President and CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “This event isn’t just about what happens on the court – it’s about rallying teams, fans and entire communities to support the lifesaving research and treatment happening at St. Jude.”

“We are deeply inspired by and grateful to the University of Memphis, the University of North Carolina and the University of South Carolina for championing this cause and helping move closer to a world where no child suffers from cancer,” Shadyac Jr. closed in his statement for the releases.

The presale for tickets to the event will open tomorrow on Friday with Memphis’ beginning at 11 a.m. ET. North Carolina and South Carolina will then have theirs beginning an hour later. The rest of the general public can purchase tickets after that on Saturday.

Memphis has a men’s program that went 22-10 last season as they now enter their seventh year under Penny Hardaway. As for the women’s side, the Tigers went 13-17 this past season in their debut under Alex Collins.

UNC will play in this towards the start of their fourth season under Hubert Davis. They’re coming off their best overall record yet under him at 29-8 and an appearance in the Sweet 16. They now bring back some key pieces from that roster, including their backcourt in RJ Davis and Elliot Cadeau.

South Carolina also comes in as the best current program in women’s collegiate basketball under Dawn Staley. They’re coming off an undefeated season at 38-0 where they won their second national title in three years and their third over the past eight seasons. They too bring back much of their team, including basically all of their own backcourt in MiLaysia Fulwiley, Te-Hina Paopao, Bree Hall, Raven Johnson, and Tessa Johnson.

These four teams at three schools will now meet on October 15th not just for quality basketball but for an even better cause.