San Francisco Primed for First Road Test at Memphis

Saturday, November 8

Memphis, TN

12:00 PM PT/2:00 PM CT

University of San Francisco

Memphis

Mookie Cook Smiling vs. UC Santa Cruz November 2025

Photo by: Christina Leung

11/7/2025 12:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Game Notes

By: Josh Bascos

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - On the road for the first time in the young season, the University of San Francisco men's basketball team (1-0) eyes an early test away from home as the Dons are set to face Memphis (0-0) in a matinee matchup at FedEx Forum on Saturday.

GAME 2 DETAILS:
Opponent: Memphis (0-0)
Date: Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025
Time: 12:00 p.m. PT / 2:00 p.m. CT
Location: Memphis, Tenn. - FedEx Forum
Watch: ESPN+ (Greg Gaston, Trey Drapper)
Listen: KNBR 1050 (Pat Olson)
Live Stats: StatBroadcast

DONS AT A GLANCE

Beginning its fourth season under head coach Chris Gerlufsen, the University of San Francisco men's basketball team won its opener for a fifth consecutive season, cruising to a 98-53 victory over UC Santa Cruz on Monday, Nov. 3, at War Memorial at the Sobrato Center.
In the win over the Banana Slugs, every Don saw minutes and every Don scored at least two points, led by freshman Legend Smiley, who scored a team-high 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the floor and 3-of-6 shooting from downtown in his collegiate debut.
Making a statement in his USF debut, Oregon transfer Mookie Cook logged 12 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 steals in 21 minutes, all career-highs.
After hitting just six threes across his freshman season last year, Veniamin Abosi cashed in a career-high three treys in the win over UCSC, ending the night with a career-best 11 points in 21 minutes off the bench.
San Francisco looks to win a road opener for the first time since the 2022-23 season, Coach Gerlufsen's first year as head coach of the Dons (67-60 victory at Fresno State on Nov. 6, 2022).

SCOUTING THE TIGERS:

Following a 29-6 season and an American (AAC) Championship in the 2024-25 campaign, Memphis is one of nine programs in the country with zero returning players from last season.
Penny Hardaway enters his eighth season as head coach of the Tigers with a completely new roster, headlined by American Preseason First-Team Selections Dug McDaniel and Aaron Bradshaw.
McDaniel comes into his senior season after averaging 11.4 points and 4.9 assists at Kansas State last year, starting in every Big 12 conference contest and finishing fifth in the league in assists. At Ohio State last season, Bradshaw averaged 6.0 points and 2.7 rebounds on 49.0% shooting in 22 games.
The Tigers will begin their regular season on Saturday after losing two tough exhibition tests in October, falling to then-No. 14/15 Arkansas on Oct. 27 (L, 99-75) and then-No. 20/22 Auburn on Oct. 30 (L, 100-71).
With aspirations to make a fourth NCAA Tournament appearance in five years, Memphis will go into its season opener ranking 54th in KenPom and 67th in Bart Torvik's rankings.

SERIES HISTORY:

San Francisco and Memphis will face off for the fourth time in program history, with Memphis holding a 3-0 advantage in the all-time series. Last season, the two squads faced off at Chase Center on Nov. 21, 2024, where the Tigers squeezed out a narrow 68-64 win at the home of the Golden State Warriors to hand USF its first loss of the 2024-25 season. Before last season's matchup, USF and Memphis previously battled on Nov. 19, 1994 (Memphis won 92-84) and Dec. 17, 1971 (Memphis won 82-77).

FOLLOW US:
For updates and more information on the San Francisco men's basketball program, follow the Dons @USFDonsMBB on Twitter, @USFDonsMBB on Instagram, and @USFDonsMBB on Facebook.

MERCHANDISE:
Want to dress like the Dons? Get your official San Francisco Dons gear from the University of San Francisco bookstore today! Click here to purchase.

SPONSOR US:
The University of San Francisco Athletics Department would like to acknowledge and thank our sponsor - Bauer's Intelligent Transportation - for their continued support of San Francisco Athletics. Interested in sponsoring the Dons? Please contact Frank Allocco, the Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director of External Relations, at fallocco@usfca.edu or at (415) 422-4561.