Savannah St at No. 23 Memphis 8:30 pm EST

— -- MEMPHIS, Tennessee (Ticker) -- With a new facility and four returning starters, No. 23 Memphis tips off its season Thursday when it hosts Savannah State in the first round of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic at the FedExForum. After playing the last 13 years in the Pyramid, the Tigers are sharing the FedExForum with the Memphis Grizzlies. Coach John Calipari is hoping that the facility and its plush accommodations will help the Tigers build on its four straight postseason bids, including two straight trips to the NCAA Tournament. Memphis, a preseason No.2 pick behind Louisville in Conference USA, won a share of the 2003-04 conference title with a 12-4 mark and a 22-8 record overall. The Tigers are led by sensational sophomore forward Sean Banks, the C-USA Freshman of the Year in 2003-04 after averaging 17.4 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. For Memphis to be successful this season, it will have to find a replacement for guard Antonio Burks, the C-USA Player of the Year who is playing this season with the Grizzlies. Calipari lured top freshman recruit Darius Washington to replace Burks. Washington, who turned down the lure of the NBA, averaged 32 points and six assists as a high school senior. He excels in the up-tempo game the Tigers like to play and has long range on his jumper. Joining Washington is a second prized freshman recruit, Joey Dorsey, a 6-8, 250-pound bruiser. Savannah State, which is an independent, has won just 22 games the last five years. The Tigers are coming off a 5-23 season and have just two starters returning: forwards Donald Carson, who averaged 8.8 points per game, and Sherrard Riddick, who scored just under seven per game. The Coaches vs. Cancer Classic features a new look this season with 16 teams from 16 different conferences competing at four regional sites. The winners of each site will advance to play in the semifinal and championship rounds at New York's Madison Square Garden on November 18 & 19. The Memphis-Savannah State winner will play the winner of the George Mason-IPFW contest.