Memphis will conclude its non-conference schedule with its most important game of the season.

The Tigers (9-3) will face a regional rival for the second straight year when they face No. 16 Ole Miss in their final game before kickoff on Saturday, Dec. 28 (1 p.m., ESPN2) at FedExForum The American Athletic Conference plays next month.

Coach Penny Hardaway’s team, ranked No. 42 in KenPom and No. 46 in the NCAA NET rankings, is coming off a 79-66 home loss to Mississippi State on Dec. 21.

With Memphis also losing 85-72 at home to Arkansas State on Dec. 8, the program is looking to avoid its first three-game home loss since the 2017-18 season. (Former coach Tubby Smith’s Tigers lost back-to-back home games against Cincinnati, Wichita State and UCF.)

The Rebels (11-1), No. 30 in KenPom and No. 31 in the NET, are on a five-game winning streak since losing by 2 points to then-No. 1 on Nov. 29. 12 Purdue at the Rady Children’s Invitational Championship in San Diego. But coach Chris Beard’s team has only faced three opponents ranked in the NET top 100 so far this season, picking up wins against BYU (No. 44) and Louisville (53) and a loss against the Boilermakers (36). . .

Memphis has played nine top 100 NET teams.

This matchup represents a Quadrant 2 opportunity for Memphis and is likely its last chance of the season to compete for a spot in the top four of the NCAA Tournament, which Hardaway has openly stated is his goal. The Tigers, seeded No. 5 in ESPN’s latest bracketology update and with a combined record of 7-2 in Quads 1 and 2, have no Quad 1 chances in their 18-game AAC schedule and only five Quad 2 chances.

Memphis and Ole Miss last met last season when the Tigers lost to the Rebels 80-77 on December 2, 2023 in Oxford, Mississippi. The Tigers have a 22-10 lead.