Strange: Will Vols be flavor of the day?

Video

Men's basketball coach Bruce Pearl talks about the 2008 match-up between Tennessee and Memphis. Watch »

When it comes to barbecue, there's Calhoun's and there's The Rendezvous.

Unique flavors from different ends of the state, each with a devoted following.

When it comes to college basketball, there's Tennessee and there's Memphis.

Unique flavors from different ends of the state, each with a devoted following.

Happily, a crowd at Thompson-Boling Arena and a CBS television audience get to sample both flavors of basketball Saturday when this colorful rivalry renews for the 20th time.

"They're two good programs, two programs who have a chance to get to Final Fours,'' Memphis coach John Calipari said this week.

Thus far, only one has.

Memphis has been to not one but three Final Fours (1973, 1985, 2008).

Of all the yardsticks by which to compare the Vols and Tigers, that just might be the trump card. In college basketball, the Final Four is the grandest stage.

But so much more goes into the making of a great rivalry.

Memphis began basketball in 1920 and has won 1,365 games. UT began in 1908 and has won 1,434 games.

Since the start of the 2000-01 season, Memphis has won 228 games, Tennessee 172.

Memphis has finished in The Associated Press top 10 final ranking five times. Tennessee has done so twice: 1967 and 2008.

Tennessee is 13-17 in NCAA tournament play. Memphis is 30-21.

Tennessee has four Sweet 16 appearances. Memphis has five - plus three Elite Eights and those three Final Fours.

Tennessee has played in one conference in the modern era, the SEC. Memphis is on its fourth, Conference USA.

Memphis shares its home court with a perennial loser, the NBA Grizzlies. Tennessee shares its court with a perennial champion, the Lady Vols.

Memphis has attracted 11 McDonald's All-Americans (two jumped directly to the NBA), Tennessee six. This year, each team has one (Tyreke Evans for Memphis; Scotty Hopson for UT).

Memphis has seen 47 players drafted by the NBA. Six former Tigers are on active rosters. UT has had 42 players drafted. C.J. Watson is the only active ex-Vol.

Tennessee has produced two Associated Press first-team All-Americans: Bernard King and Dale Ellis. Memphis has three: Chris Douglas-Roberts, Penny Hardaway and Keith Lee.

Allan Houston (2,801 points) is UT's all-time scoring leader. Lee (2,408 points) holds that title at Memphis.

Tennessee has suited up at least a dozen players from Memphis, eight of whom were significant contributors:

J.P. Prince, Dane Bradshaw, Scooter McFagdon, Terrence Woods, Tony Harris, LaMarcus Golden, Lang Wiseman and Michael Brooks.

Memphis has had one player from Knoxville: Joe Proctor (1968-71).

Memphis has a coach, Calipari, who is in his 17th season with 427 wins. Tennessee has a coach, Bruce Pearl, in his 17th season with 406 wins.

Most of the numbers favor the Tigers. Memphis is, after all, a basketball school. Tennessee is a football school that happens to play good basketball more often than not.

And yet there are these numbers:

Of the 19 meetings in this intrastate war, Tennessee has won 12 to Memphis' 7.

Of the past nine meetings, Tennessee has won seven.

Memphis has never beaten a ranked Tennessee team. Tennessee has beaten a ranked Memphis team four times.

These numbers, too, weigh heavily into the making of a great rivalry.

Unique flavors from different ends of the state.

Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276 or strangem@knoxnews.com.

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
Want to use this article? Click here for options!