Wake Forest Athletics
Deacon Basketball Will Open Season Against Memphis
9/17/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Sept. 17, 2003
Coaches Vs. Cancer Classic officials made official today what has been rumored for some time --Wake Forest will open the 2003-04 basketball season Nov. 13 against the Memphis Tigers at Madison Square Garden in New York.
The Coaches Vs. Cancer Classic is a two-night, eight-team event with each team playing one game. The Deacons and Tigers will kick things off Nov. 13 at 7 p.m., followed by Marquette against St. John's. The following night, Pittsburgh takes on Alabama and Gonzaga faces St. Joseph's. All four games will be televised by ESPN2, making the Wake-Memphis game the first nationally televised college game of the season.
Memphis, 23-7 last year, will participate in the Coaches Vs. Cancer Classic for the second straight year. Last season the Tigers began the year by beating eventual NCAA champion Syracuse in the event. Wake Forest last participated in the Classic in November of 1998, beating Illinois 75-73 in overtime before falling to Temple, 59-48, the following night.
Wake Forest, 25-6 last year and defending ACC regular season champion, is 0-1 all-time against Memphis. The Tigers beat the Deacons in the second round of the 1982 NCAA Tournament in Charlotte.
