Memphis (2-1) meets Minnesota (4-1) in a Battle 4 Atlantis (B4A) consolation semifinal contest Friday, Nov. 23 at 12 p.m. (CT).
The Tigers dropped their B4A quarterfinal game to VCU 78-65 Thursday. The Golden Gophers fell to Duke 89-71 in their quarterfinal game.
MEMPHIS-MINNESOTA SERIES
The overall series is tied at 2-2, with the programs protecting the two games on their respective homecourts.
Friday's contest is the first between the two programs at a neutral site.
The last meeting came in the 1992-93 campaign, and the Golden Gophers won that contest by a 70-55 score on New Year's Eve (Dec. 31, 1992) in Minneapolis.
MEMPHIS VERSUS THE BIG TEN CONFERENCE
The Tigers have an overall record of 16-17 versus current members of the Big Ten Conference.
Memphis has played 11 of the 12 Big Ten schools. The only Big Ten hoops program the Tigers have not faced is Northwestern.
The last Tigers victory over a Big Ten foe came in the 2008 NCAA Tournament. Memphis defeated Michigan State 92-74 in an NCAA Tournament South Region semifinal en route to NCAA title game.
THE TIE THAT BINDS
Memphis and Minnesota have a connection through current Tigers assistant coach Jimmy Williams.
Williams served as a Golden Gophers assistant coach from 1971-86 and finished the 1985-86 campaign as the program's interim head coach.
With Williams on staff, Minnesota won two Big Ten championships (1972, 1982) and advanced to six postseason tournaments (2 NCAA, 4 NIT). The 1979-80 squad was the NIT runner-up.
In his time at Minnesota, Williams coached Mychal Thompson and Kevin McHale, both of whom were top-three NBA Draft picks. He also coached Dave Winfield, who had a Hall of Fame baseball career.
MEMPHIS REPRESENTIN'
A total of seven players from the city of Memphis may see action in Friday's Memphis-Minnesota contest.
The two Minnesota players from Memphis are Andre Hollins and Austin Hollins.
A 2009 WHITE STATION STATE TITLE REUNION
Friday's game is a reunion of the 2008-09 White Station High School squad that won the Tennessee Class AAA state championship.
Three members of that Spartans squad - Memphis' Ferrakohn Hall and Joe Jacksonand Minnesota's Andre Hollins -- will be on the court Friday.
IT'S A (NCAA) RING THING
Both head coaches in Friday's Memphis-Minnesota match-up have NCAA championship rings.
Memphis head coach Josh Pastner won his NCAA title as a player on the 1996-97 Arizona squad.
The following season (1997-98), Minnesota head coach Tubby Smith led Kentucky to the NCAA championship.
JOHNSON SUSPENSION OVER
For the first time in regular-season action, junior Geron Johnson will be able to suit up for the Blue and Gray.
Johnson had to sit the first three games as a result of an NCAA-imposed suspension. The suspension was the result of extra benefits received by Johnson from a family friend who assisted the family with his educational expenses prior to his enrollment at the University of Memphis.
