Siena (RPI #128 '06/'07) To Play at Memphis in Early January

Siena to play Memphis next season

June 11, 2007 at 1:33 pm by Pete Iorizzo, Staff writer
Albany (NY) Times Union

Siena reached an agreement Monday to play a men’s basketball game this coming season against Memphis, expected one of the top three teams in preseason polls.

The game will be played in early January in Memphis, where the Tigers have won 29 consecutive games.

Memphis, a member of Conference USA, posted a 33-4 record last season, when it reached the Elite Eight for the second consecutive year under coach John Calipari. The Tigers figure to receive strong consideration for the No. 1 slot in The Associated Press preseason poll.

This game adds to a Siena non-conference schedule upgraded considerably from last season. This year the Saints also face Stanford, of the Pacific-10 Conference, and Saint Joseph’s, of the Atlantic 10 Conference.

Other non-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference games include matchups with the University at Albany, James Madison, Holy Cross and Dartmouth. Siena also plans to participate in ESPNU BracketBusters and the National Invitation Tournament Season Tip-Off.

Siena can schedule one more game. The Saints are believed to be seeking a series with a regional team to begin on the road during the 2007-08 season.

“This is something great for our program,” Siena coach Fran McCaffery said. “This gives us a chance to see just how far our team has come.”

The agreement, signed Monday morning by McCaffery, calls for just one game, so Memphis will not visit Albany to play at Times Union Center during the 2008-09 season.