Memphis will get No. 10 Louisville at FedExForum on Sunday for a 12 p.m. tipoff, the first time the Memphis Tigers have hosted Louisville since 2014. It is the kind of home game that has been circled for weeks: a ranked opponent, a noon start and a rematch on Memphis' floor after a 12-year gap.
That is why Louisville vs Memphis is drawing attention now. Louisville arrives 2-0 and has already shown the ceiling that comes with one of the top NCAA transfer portal classes in the country, opening with a 14-point win against Chattanooga and a 50-point win against Morehead State. Memphis, meanwhile, is 2-1 and has already put together wins against Iowa State and VCU, so the game lands as a strong early test for both teams.
Memphis also comes in with a wrinkle that keeps Sunday from feeling routine. The Tigers were beaten 105-81 on Tuesday at No. 22 Vanderbilt, even though they have shown they can beat high-level opponents this season. Penny Hardaway could be seen arguing a call with a referee during the first half of a game in Sioux Falls, S.D., a reminder of how quickly the Tigers have moved from two encouraging wins to a loss that exposed their margins.
That is what gives Sunday weight. Louisville has looked sharp, Memphis has already proven it can win big games, and the matchup now asks whether the Tigers can steady themselves at home against a top-10 visitor. The answer comes at FedExForum, where one of Memphis' most anticipated home games of the season is set to tip at noon.
