Memphis, Vanderbilt basketball considering charity game for hurricane relief

Memphis and Vanderbilt are in preliminary plans to play an exhibition basketball game at Memorial Gym to raise funds for hurricane relief.

Memphis associate athletics director Mark Alnutt confirmed the planning phase in a text message on Wednesday, saying, “We’re still in discussion not even close to the contract phases and final approvals on both sides.”

The game could be played as early as late next week.

The NCAA recently approved a waiver for Saturday’s charity game between Kansas and Missouri for hurricane relief.

Memphis and Vanderbilt have not worked out where the funds raised from the event would go, but hurricane relief to the Virgin Islands is one possible destination.

Vanderbilt played in an exhibition summer tour in the Virgin Islands in August, just a few weeks before Hurricane Irma struck the region.

At SEC men's basketball media day Wednesday, Vanderbilt coach Bryce Drew did not acknowledge a possible charity game against Memphis, but he mentioned the devastating toll taken on the Virgin Islands.

“We met so many great people (in the Virgin Islands),” Drew said. "We were devastated when we saw the damage. Some people have made the comment that we saw it the last time how it was for a long time.

"That's really sad because it's such a beautiful place."

A Tennessee spokesman said  that the Vols are open to playing another exhibition contest but no game has been scheduled as of Wednesday.

Memphis is scheduled to take on defending national champion North Carolina in a closed scrimmage Friday at FedExForum and will play Division II LeMoyne-Owen at FedExForum on Nov. 3 in an exhibition game open to the public. 

Vanderbilt will host Illinois Oct. 29 and play at Baylor Nov. 4 in closed scrimmages.

Memphis features eight new scholarship players in a revamped roster after the team’s top three leading scorers transferred during the offseason. The Tigers went 19-13 last season during coach Tubby Smith’s first campaign and failed to reach postseason play for the third straight year. On Monday, the Tigers were picked to finish ninth in the American Athletic Conference preseason coaches poll.

Vanderbilt returns three senior starters from a team that went 19-16 and made the NCAA tournament in Drew’s debut season. The Commodores were picked seventh in the SEC preseason media poll on Wednesday.

Memphis and Vanderbilt last played on March 23, 2005, in the quarterfinal round of the National Invitation Tournament. The Tigers won 81-68.

Reach Adam Sparks at asparks@tennessean.com and on Twitter @AdamSparks.