Memphis to Face Iowa State in Sioux Falls
The neutral-site season opener at the Sanford Pentagon is set for Monday, with Iowa State entering ranked No. 18 in the preseason AP poll.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Basketball
Memphis begins its season Monday against Iowa State at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls. Iowa State enters the game ranked No. 18 in the preseason AP poll, and the programs last met in the 2021 NIT Season Tip-Off in Brooklyn, a game Iowa State won 78-59.
Why it matters
The matchup gives Memphis an early test against a ranked opponent in a neutral-site setting. It also serves as a season-opening measure of both programs' early-season outlook.
Iowa State enters as the No. 18 team in the preseason AP poll, and the teams' only prior meeting ended 78-59 in Iowa State's favor in the 2021 NIT Season Tip-Off. Roster availability and early-season form for both teams have not yet been reported.
The players
Memphis Tigers
The University of Memphis men's basketball program, a longtime competitor in the American Athletic Conference, opens its season against Iowa State.
Iowa State Cyclones
The Iowa State University men's basketball program, a Big 12 Conference member, enters the season ranked No. 18 in the preseason AP poll.
The details
Memphis and Iowa State will meet Monday at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, a neutral site. The programs have met once before, in the 2021 NIT Season Tip-Off in Brooklyn.
Timeline
2021: Iowa State defeated Memphis 78-59 in the NIT Season Tip-Off in Brooklyn.
Monday: Memphis and Iowa State play at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls.
Season Trajectory
The 2021 NIT Season Tip-Off meeting, which Iowa State won 78-59 in Brooklyn, is the only prior head-to-head between these programs. Monday's neutral-site opener at the Sanford Pentagon places a ranked Iowa State team against Memphis early in the season, shaping early positioning in both teams' schedules.
The result will shape early seeding considerations and fantasy evaluations for players on both rosters. A ranked opponent at a neutral site gives the outcome more weight in early-season standings and rankings.
The takeaway
An early-season win over a ranked opponent at a neutral site can set the tone for a team's schedule, and this opener offers Memphis that kind of test against Iowa State.
Further reading
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