Alabama Basketball Will Open Against Memphis in 2017 Veteran’s Classic at Navy
The highly-anticipated 2017-18 Alabama basketball season will begin with an appearance in the 2017 Veteran's Classic.
The Crimson Tide will face the Memphis Tigers in the first of two games played at the Naval Academy on the opening night of college basketball. Alabama will tip-off at 5:30 PM according to a press release from Navy announcing the details. Both Veteran's Classic games will be televised by the CBS Sports Network.
"The Alabama basketball program is honored to be a part of the 2017 Veterans Classic," head coach Avery Johnson said. "As a program, we have great respect for all members of our armed forces and how they dedicate their lives to protecting our country. We look forward to being involved in every aspect of this great event. Not only will we have the opportunity to see the Naval Academy in person, but it also gives us the chance to personally thank the men and women of Annapolis for their daily efforts to keep our country safe. Most importantly, this will serve as a tremendous educational experience for our student-athletes and one they will remember for the rest of their lives."
In Tubby Smith's first season at Memphis, the Tigers finished tied for fifth in the American Athletic Conference with a 19-13 overall record and didn't play in the postseason. The program has since suffered some major transfers, including the Lawson brothers who were expected to be a big part of the team moving forward.
For more details on the Veteran's Classic, visit the event's website here.